(NOTE: To be better optimized for slower connections, I've gotten rid of all the embedded videos. Just click on the link to go straight to the videos I've created.)



November 2008 Pick:


* "Introducing Myself" (embedding disabled, click link to see video)
This was how it all began- on my bed, with certain webcam settings, with 320 x 200 resolution. This was the first video I've EVER released online of any kind. Over time, I'd evolve and change things up to evolve all the further.

* "The Black College Football Experience Explained"
It was intended to be about college football at historically-black universities. Unfortunately, I've been called a racist and gotten all kinds of foul comments. It was for this reason that I disallowed all comments entirely. Just goes to show you how racist some people on YouTube can be.



December 2008 Pick:

* "My Somewhat Quick SanDisk Sansa Review"
This was a nicely-viewed video where I shown off the special something I got for Christmas. I had to have comments approved because I kept getting hated on. One even asking me why I still live in my mother's house among other things.



January 2009 Picks:

* "John Congratulates the Utah Utes on Winning the 2009 Sugar Bowl"
This was the first video to really get me noticed to others. I earned the respect of people from cougaruteforum.com for my efforts, among others.

* "Why Should You Care: Dakar Rally"
In what has become my own personal trademark, I ask "Why Should You Care?" about certain racing events. The reason why is because I can talk ad naseum about racing events, but unless I give you a reason to care, you probably don't give a rat's backside about the event. So therefore, I ask "Why Should You Care?" in regards to racing events. This was the start of my "Why Should You Care?" lineup of videos.

* "Why Should You Care: 12 Hours of Sebring"
The reason why I'm highlighting this video is because it would serve as the first video as to where I do my latest videos. This was the first of three videos I did on one beautiful late January afternoon.



February 2009 Pick:

* "College Basketball: The Unusual Suspects"
This was the first video of mine that utilized the integrated microphone to my Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP. The first to use the microphone, unknowingly to me.

* "College Basketball: The Unusual Suspects"
I announced my ambitions on YouTube, including reflections of my past in this video.


* "Audi LED Daytime Running Lights: Stylish or Ugly?"
It's my most successful Audio Only video. I offer my thoughts on the lighting styles of recent Audis. This was also my first video in which in the More Info area, I make note of my fan clubs.

If you love my videos and channel, join my Myspace and Facebook fan clubs here:
JohnMarineTube Fan Club on Myspace
JohnMarineTube Fan Club on Facebook



March 2009 Picks:

* "Why Should You Care: Bathurst 1000"
After making this video, this would be the start of making a bunch of videos that made me popular among Australians. It would later garner into being given and accepting an invite to australianmotorsportforums.com.

* "GT5 Commentary: GT Needs a Greater Motorsports Presence"
This was the first video where I attempted High Definition video. It was my first video recorded at 960 x 720. It wasn't TRUE HD, but it was a nice attempt at making such a video.



April 2009 Picks:

* "John's 100th Video! - Looking Back and Moving Forward"
I added lots of subtitles to avoid having to do constant annotations. It's a cluttered mess, and really, it's two videos in one. Part of it is just me talking about my channel and videos. It's a look at how far I've come up to this point.

* "College Football Preview: BYU vs. Oklahoma Prediction"
When making this video, I made a bold prediction. I took BYU to beat Oklahoma in their match at the new Cowboys Stadium. Making a bold pick is one thing; backing it up is another. When I picked BYU to win, I was nervous. But when the game unfolded and BYU won 14-13, the BYU Cougars saved my ass BIG TIME. As a by-product, I'd pick up lots of views for this video, including a number of new subscribers.

* "The Student Athlete"
As I learned that zooming out leads to better-quality images, and as I tested using a new webcam position, this gives me the chance to show myself better. I simply zoomed out to its maximum setting. And as a result, I look much better than I ever have. This would be a mainstay camera position once I found a suitable setup.



May 2009 Pick:

* "John Salutes Fast Lane Daily"
This was the first video of mine that I use my current opening: "I'm John Marine, and you're watching JohnMarineTube!"



June 2009 Picks:

* "John Achieves 50 Subscribers!"
I've reached a milestone of 50 subscribers in this video. I show my heartfelt thanks to all whom have subscribed to my channel.

*
^ "GT5 Speculation: World Rally Championship"
This video was about my ideas regarding the World Rally Championship in Gran Turismo 5. The reason why I picked this video was because I thought this video deserved a lot more views than what I ended up with. After one day or so, I got up to 302 video views. Then for weeks (and maybe a few months), the views STAGNATED at 302! Now it's just moping along as a forgotten video. This is also where I've become more confident using the webcam's microphone rather than my headset.



July 2009 Pick:

* "Big Breaks in Life"
Personal input was put into this video as I talk about big breaks in life. I even mentioned my subscriber goal of 100 here. Thanks to the generousity of my friends, I was able to reach and surpass 100 subscribers.



August 2009 Pick:

* "100 Thanks to 100 Subscribers!"
This was it- 100 subscribers! I reached triple-digit viewers in this video.

* "My YouTube Fears Address"
Confidence in life means negating your fears. I expressed my fears on YouTube in this video.



September 2009 Picks:

* "Never Judge a Book By Its Cover"
This was the first video I created that would serve as a precursor to confidence in High Quality video. Over time, I felt I would appear in better quality and be able to make better videos.

* "GT5 Speculation: Lamborghini"
This video was the first to debut an introduction song I was working on. My confidence in making 640 x 480 videos was increasing as I was looking for a good way to compress the videos so that I didn't have to spend so much time uploading them. My confidence was increasing as I felt I may one day make that one impressive video that people will view and talk about.

* "GT5 Speculation: Showrooms"
This video debuted my whiteboard. I used the whiteboard to explain points further. The next challenge was in showing everything properly. I was growing confidence in making videos. Later in September, I never thought I'd ever make a successful video until making this one below:

* "What Was KanYe Thinking?"
This video is currently my most viewed of all time. In just one day, this video garnered over 500 views, then 1,000 views. It was the quickest video to 1,000 all the way to a current total of 4,439 views. The success of this video was so overwhelming that a blue window appeared on my YouTube home page wanting me to take advantage of the opportunity to make money on my video... by becoming a YouTube partner! In ten months on YouTube, this is my most significant video. It shown that I did SOMETHING right in getting views and subscribers. I even picked up a great number of subscribers in a multi-day period since this video.

* "John's Review of ToCA Race Driver 3"
The current style of intro is what was implemented in this video.





October 2009 Picks:

* "GT5 Commentary: Don't Forget the Classics!"
In an attempt to try something different, I tried to raise awareness for breast cancer, I wore a pink wristband I got from a party back in July last year. I wore this in all of my October videos and even provided links to different sites to help the fight against breast cancer.

* "Some People Will Do ANYTHING for Attention"
This was a failed opportunity. I was anticipating this video get success because (1) it was based on a current event (the Balloon Boy incident), and (2), I spoke my mind on the issue the best way I could. But, it failed.

* "GT Fans Conceding Defeat to Forza 3?"
This is my most-discussed video of October 2009. It now has 1,000+ views.

* "Why Should You Care: Macau Grand Prix"
This video was the debut of my current webcam, the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000. Note how smooth the frame rate is with this camera compared to any of the past webcams. This is also a video where I now use my intro as my outro for my videos.




If you love my videos and channel, join my Myspace and Facebook fan clubs here:
JohnMarineTube Fan Club on Myspace
JohnMarineTube Fan Club on Facebook

This three-video block features three different topics. Want to know more about my three videos? Have a look at these:
^ "F-1 World Grand Prix Memories" -6 min., 27. sec.
This game has a special place in my gaming heart as it introduced me to F1. Also, it was one of the best racing games I've ever played. Find out why in my video.
^ "How Would You Penalize Flops in Basketball?" 2 min., 19 sec.
This video is a discussion question for all of you. How would you penalize someone who flops in a basketball game? Flopping is where you make a foul look worse than it actually is. Either that, or trying to get a cheap foul call to help your team win.
^ "John Talks Formula SAE" 5 min., 50 sec.
I talk about as much as I know about Formula SAE and why you should care about it. This is where students of colleges and universities the world over compete in a competition that's about building your own formula race car. Competitions are mostly autocross competitions with certain key areas focused and graded: cost, efficiency, design, and of course... performance.

I haven't done a blog in some time on Myspace, especially not one about any personal issues. So allow me to start on making this blog entry here.

Okay. So here's how things are going for me lately:
* I can't seem to make any more friends online, meaning I can only lose friends at this point.

* I can't seem to get more YouTube channel views and video views. Likewise, my consistency in providing more content is now severely lacking. There are so many different video topics I'd love to try out, but never got around to them or even having the creativity and motivation to do so.

* My [Myspace] fan club for my YouTube channel group (JohnMarineTube Fan Group) still has only three members (including myself). I have lots of fans of my videos and channel on (another social networking site), but not so many on Myspace.

* I've wanted to try to complete my application for the University of Houston-Downtown, but I'm again unmotivated to complete it.



So in other words, I've hit a point in which I am struggling to accomplish many things online and even away from the computer. So I've reached a plateau... and I can only seem to go down. I've even considered scrapping my JohnMarineTube fan club deal from Myspace, leaving only my other fan club on (another social networking site) to be my "official" one. Maybe the trend nowadays is Twitter. But really, with all the fun and such of trying to get into the tweeting business, I don't think I can keep up with that stuff. So if you're expecting me to join Twitter anytime soon, don't.

In essence, I've hit a plateau and have very little hope of trying to rebound. It's just tough times right now for me. I'm not really sad, just feeling a bit... well, hopeless. If you're reading this, thank you. If you have something kind to say to offer some hope and promise, thanks. But right now, I'm on a plateau and making very little progress online anymore. Such a sad time for me. I'm happy, but just sad as a whole.

Here is my official 100th YouTube video:




Join my Myspace fan club here (it's free to all Myspace people!):

JohnMarineTube Fan Group

My most recent videos will be visible here. Don't forget to view my profile page on Myspace to see my custom video player.



Love my YouTube channel and my videos? Then please join my group devoted to fans of my channel, JohnMarineTube! It's open to EVERYONE, so invite yourself or invite your friends... and their friends' friends... and the friends of those friends' friends... (get the picture?) Here's the link:
JohnMarineTube Fan Group

Have a look at these six videos of mine:


(Tribute to One of my Teaching Heroines)



(My 2009 Daytona 500 Memories)



(Fashion Do or Don't? - Miniskirt + Cold Weather Boots)



(Please... Pick Upsets in College Hoops!)



(GT5 Speculation: Other International Locales?)



(Behind the Scenes: Making the Most with the Least)




Comment and rate, but don't hate!

Have a look at the video:



I tell all about my ambitions to be on YouTube, including a past show idea. I wanted to have my own daytime talk show in my youth called "The John Marine Show." Learn more about this sort of confession I have about being on YouTube by seeing more of this video. I even throw in a cheap plug for communitychannel on YouTube.

I've been thinking somewhat about my experience online in social networking. I've been on the Internet since 1997. The way I've always perceived social networking at times is that this is a medium of meeting new people and ocnnecting with others. Throughout my time, I've been on four different social networking sites I can remember. I've dropped hi5 and Friendster to join Myspace and (another social networking site).



--- Hits and Misses ---
I'm more than happy to have united and reunited with friends of mine whom I've known in person. I've been more than thankful to meet various people I haven't yet known in person. Something tends to sadden me in regards to being on sites such as this one. A thing I tend to believe is that often times, friends tend to connect and stay connected through mediums like Myspace. Maybe I think too highly of people and respect people a lot. But sometimes, (and I'm not trying to whine or get on anyone's nerves) there are people whom I'm glad to meet in person... yet don't add me. I've sometimes felt like there are people I can't connect with via the Internet. Sad to say, but this sometimes tie into losing respect from friends. Maybe it's been my tragic experience at Lamar University which has reminded me of how I can be loved so much by people. But sometimes trying to reconnect or stay connected with friends... that I'm thought off in a negative light... to the point where I can't be anyone's friend on the Internet.



--- Have I Accomplished What I Wanted to Accomplish? ---
As a personal story, I've missed seeing my friends from Milby when I've been mostly kicked out in February 1999 (sad anniversary coming up). Because I know and respect so many people, all I tend to ask is that one still remembers me or at least cares about me. I've almost committed suicide in 1998 from feeling like nobody cared about me or that all that comes my way is bad things. So I've looked to the Internet. I've always tried to keep in touch any way I could. Before my late July 2005 debut on Myspace, I've tried to keep in touch via E-Mail. The thing that's always brought me to shame or sadness is when I didn't get any sort of response from someone. If the person doesn't check E-Mail anymore, that's something I can accept. But when it comes to sending out friend requests in hopes I can reconnect with past and current friends, and when I'm constantly denied, I just feel like I've lost respect. I've done some stupid things before (like what led to my downfall at Lamar). The last thing I want to feel is feeling like I'm a terrible human being.



--- Social Networking Setbacks That Haunt Me Even Today ---
Another feeling that hurts me as a result- people avoiding me. Like I try to say hello to someone in particular (especially those who I know in person), and they don't even look at me or acknowledge me. It's been these reasons that keep reminding me that as good of a person I think I am, I'm not ACKNOWLEDGED as a good person to some. And in effect, I lose friends and feel even more like being born and living was a complete mistake. Like my 26 years of living was a mistake. It's like being in elementary school playing at recess... only no kids want to play with you or share a laugh. Even if you don't like me, you have to like one thing- I care about people. If I eventually do reach the 1,000 friend mark or even surpass 1,000 friends (not that this really matters to me), at least I've made the effort to try to reach out to as many people on Mother Earth as possible. Something I must still be aware of is that others may not think of me as strongly as I may think of them. I just hate thinking I have this guilty conscience that lessens my worth as a person to some. I've mostly lived a life in which I've always been a liability. Borderlining. Not good, yet not evil. Very few friends have regarded me as someone truly special and inspiring. Very few ladies have actually said I'm handsome. A good number of people whom I've known for at least five or ten+ years still care and respect me as the day I first known them.

Sometimes, I think of myself as a tragic hero not only on Myspace. but also in life. Some friendships tend to go south. And sometimes, I lose friends online. If someone cancels their account, that's acceptable. But if all the respect I've gained goes for nothing and ends up being the result of losing a friend, this becomes a negative because any lost respect online usually translates to lost respect to people I know in real life. As much as I've been such an intelligent person and could really go far in life, multiple setbacks and false perceptions have left me to being a bitter disappointment. It may not be the way others think of me, but when I look back on my life, there were a number of things I wished I could have done to get to where I really want to be in life. Same goes for Myspace. There are a number of things I wished I could have done to be better respected on Myspace with some friends of mine whom I've known in person. I don't think I've done enough to establish myself as a great person to some. All I can ever be is myself. I'm determined, critical of myself, weird, funny, unusual, impatient, sometimes picky, sometimes bitchy, sometimes a ticking time bomb of anger, sometimes hopeless, independent, and countless other things. These personalities carry with me to the Internet. Because after all, I always say that who I am in person should be reflected online.

I sometimes try to offer quick comments to people in saying that I still care and that I don't want to be removed from a friend list. I sometimes feel I have to continually make frequent comments to people to avoid getting dropped. Not getting any comments from anyone in a while makes me feel like I did something to jeaprodize a friendship I've established with someone. Some people sometimes accept my kindest words, but don't say anything back in return or offer any sort of thanks. It reminds me a lot of saying something nice about someone, but not being given any thanks or kindness for what I've done. Like if I make a comment about how beautiful/cute a girl looks or compliment someone's music and don't get a response, I don't know if I should feel like I've done something nice or if I've done something wrong. You never know what to feel until someone replies back to you, expressing his/her/their thoughts. In a way, having such a large friend list has that downside. Who honestly can keep up with 1,000 friends, let alone maybe 100 or 10? It's why I forget birthdays sometimes online. I have some sort of mechanism or feeling that forgetting someone's birthday or not keeping in constant touch with a friend online can lead to losing a friend online (and maybe in real life as well if you know someone in real life online). So I'm careful with words. Like in talking about how attractive a lady looks, I am extremely careful using "sexy" or "hot" in regards to a lady's looks because I've lost friends because of using those words or describing someone in a complimentary way that ends up getting me knocked off of a friend list. Plus, I don't use "sexy" or "hot" much in real life anyways in talking about looks.

One of my favorite social networking experiences happened last year on my 25th birthday. A number of people offered me birthday wishes and greetings both on Myspace and in person. Never have I felt more special to be alive and well and respected than that glorious day. Granted it was my birthday that day, think of many other people who don't get regarded as someone special or likeable. Some time before my 25th birthday came to an end, I almost wanted to cry because I was so happy that for at least one day in my life, I'm something special to someone. If I've always felt like nobody cared about me, at least there is something I can be proud of.



--- Will I EVER Accomplish What I Want to Online? ---
I'm almost never satisfied about anything. I always want to improve and be better than I was before. Change things up, try something new, just adapt to the current environment. There are still friends of mine from school and stuff that I have yet to be accepted by online. And I think it hurts me that some just don't respect or care about me as much as I try to open up to some. The short answer to this question is no. The long answer is absolutely not. Even as I try to connect with some friends via the Internet, something inside of me still seems like there's a disconnect in trying to share a friendship online. Things like this just subtracts from what kind of person I am to others vs. what kind of person I think I am. It's a disconnect that leaves me in sadness and loneliness. But hey... I can't please everyone. All I can do is just try to be myself and hope at least someone with a positive heart thinks I'm someone respectful or of interest.



Other than that, the social networking experience is an exceptional one. But to many people, the real social networking is in meeting people in real life and connecting with friends through handshakes and greetings and eye-to-eye contact. But online, I think I've done a pretty good job for being on Myspace for three years.

I'm going to release a similar blog in the future in regards to being on YouTube. Thanks for reading.