I had planned to do a blog post about my disabilities by now, but I have not gotten around to it.  I doubt anyone is hanging on my every word, though, so I'm not awfully contrite, heh.

Recently, I participated (in a very small way) in an initiative called "Change One Thing - OneTube for Orbvious."  This was a collaborative video by a number of 'tubers intended to publicize the plight of Ben and Amanda, who post on YouTube under the name Orbvious.

Find it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1piomPTarA

I'd like to take a moment to explain why I decided to participate.

Ben and Amanda have made accusations against the court system in Australia for the handling of Amanda's custody case.  She claims reprisal against her was motivated by her earlier embarrassing disclosures against that selfsame court system.

You can find more information about Ben and Amanda's claims here:

http://orbvious.blogspot.com/

True?  False?  Not my place to judge; I'm far away, and I don't know Ben and Amanda personally.  I can say "plausible," though.  I've seen instances elsewhere of such abuses of governmental power.

Governments can abuse their powers.  And if it happens against ordinary citizens, and in-channel redress is unreasonably blocked, there are only 2 options.  Accept it, or appeal to the court of public opinion.

Ben and Amanda have been taking their case to the public, but the Australian media seems to consider the case toxic.  (I'll come back to that point in a moment.)  So they are reaching out to the world stage, to try to force a reexamination.

Why would I help with that?  Because there are *no* other avenues for taking on a national government, and because I do not think it will damage Australia for Ben and Amanda to succeed in getting journalistic attention for their case.  Because if an abuse of power did happen, the perpetrators in the court system need to be humiliated.  And if it did not, a serious journalistic examination will vindicate the government and crucify Ben and Amanda.  Journalists have no love for liars.

They seem utterly unafraid of that outcome, a point which seems to lend credence to their claims.

This is what a free press is for:  to add checks and balances to the democratic process of governance.  Unfortunately, of late, the "free press" has come to be largely dominated by the same wealthy men that dominate governments.  Journalistic integrity has become impaired.  Because of it, democracy is slipping away from many countries at this moment, my own included.  In my lifetime, a case like Ben and Amanda's has gone from being automatically interesting to journalists because of its potential to embarrass politicians, to being automatically toxic for the same reason.  So it takes a lot of pressure to get journalists to take on a case that may prove embarrassing to a government.

With journalists wimping out at the command of their wealthy, politically-connected bosses, governments are losing their fear of exposure.  Governments need that fear.  It's the only thing that keeps them honest; without it, there can be no democracy, only authoritarianism.

That is the reason I supported the OneTube video.  Not because I believe Ben and Amanda have suffered a wrong - I don't know if they have, and I am not in a position to verify their claims - but because the Ben and Amandas of the world deserve access to the court of public opinion, including the critical scrutiny of professional journalists, there to succeed or fail on the merits of their cases.

If you'd like to become more involved, see the video, visit Orbvious' blog, and consider joining the MySpace OneTube group, which is here:

http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupid=104526808&Mytoken=9AEB7743-316B-41AC-AD2E252CBD3ACC113231484

Warm thanks to my friend OutbackPuck, for prodding me to articulate my reasons for participating in OneTube.

Here are some useful links to content guides for YouTube.

YouTubeStars is a Kenny Crane's blog. Kenny is a journalist, and he features not just stars, but many interesting lesser-known posters. Find it here:

http://youtubestars.blogspot.com/

Another good blog, YouTube Review, features many excellent YouTube posters.

http://youtube-review.blogspot.com/

And there's a bulletin board site for talking about YouTube where some of the stars hang out, and a lot of other interesting folks.  This is a great place to catch up on gossip!

http://www.youtubetalk.com/

There are two channels on YouTube that I know about which review and feature YouTube posters.  Both are very good guides, and new reviews are being produced often.  You'll probably enjoy watching these videos; I sure do.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=YTGuide

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=YourTubeNEWS

Hope you enjoy.

Recently, my Sam McGee poetry reading (an amateurish, unpolished video, though not a bad one) was featured on the front page of YouTube.

At the time, I had about 325 subscribers.  Which was in my mind quite a lot of subscribers; more than I could know personally, unless we'd corresponded.  Some of them did correspond, asking questions about food and soliciting my opinion about health matters (about which I am inexpert), sharing ideas about YouTube, talking about videography, sharing experiences with low self-esteem, and many other subjects.  These conversations are what I'd hoped to get out of YouTube, and they were the highlight of my day.

I usually responded to every comment on my videos, and some interesting exchanges took place.  Some of my viewers knew things I did not about the subjects I'd posted on.  I think at least half the value of my vids are in the comments section.  (That's one of the reasons I don't like to permit embedding of my videos on foreign sites.  Viewers at those sites can't see the comments.)

Then I was featured, my in-box exploded, and I've had to change how I use YouTube.  I can no longer respond to every comment.  It may take days to even discover that new comments have been added to a video.  I can no longer welcome each new subscriber with a nice note on his or her profile.  I've become distanced from my viewers.

I can still keep up with correspondance.  Barely.  There's quite a lot of it.  What's worse, some of the messages I get are from seekers after publicity, from people whose only concern seems to be how popular they are.  Some of them seem not to have seen my vids at all; the *only* reason they write to me is the hope that my noticing them will confer upon them instant celebrity.

I don't think my powers are quite that extensive, heh.

I've never wanted popularity, and I don't feel I earned the popularity I have.  *Anything* featured on the front page will increase popularity.  Some very poor content has been on there, and it always generates lots of subscriptions and comments.  It's not that I think "Sam McGee," or my other videos, are deplorable.  It's just that I've figured out that quality and popularity aren't necessarily connected, in the strange physics of the YouTube universe.

Earned it or not, wanted it or not, I've now got over 1600 subscriptions, and the number is rising daily, even after "Sam McGee" has been taken down from the front page.  Perhaps that isn't a lot compared to the real stars of YouTube, some of whom have tens of thousands of subscriptions.  But it's enough to distance me from my audience.

Which makes the next blog I plan for my MySpace profile even more important to me.  I'll talk about how YouTube distorts reality and leaves, if not "false," at least "incomplete" pictures of me in viewers' minds.  I'll try to counter those false impressions, at least a little.

Many commenters on my videos have been leaving comments so effusive with praise, you would think they were seeing a saint.  I wish that could be true; I wish I could live up to such an exalted impression.  But it's not true, and I cannot.

I can still post educational videos and poetry readings.  And I will.  I'll read every comment and try to answer all the correspondance.  I'll try to keep up with the videos on my own subscriptions' list.  But as popularity rises, I'll probably be more and more distanced from my friends on YouTube, and from people with common interests who could become my friends.

YouTube will be less satisfying for me.  But satisfying myself was never my primary purpose.  Getting information to people who might need it was.  So I really have nothing valid to complain about.

I was recently interviewed about YouTube stardom by a reporter for VARA-TV Magazine in the Netherlands, and have decided to reproduce the questions and answers here for my friends.

1. What was your initial motivation for putting your videos on YouTube?

My motivation for creating videos for YouTube was to help people, particularly people suffering from obesity. As perhaps you know, obesity in industrialized nations has been steadily rising for the past 50 years. Two years ago, I wanted to find out why. My conclusion was that industrialized diets are deficient, and I learned several important principles about food that I had not known, some of them surprising. Sharing this information is the reason I began to post videos.

2. Did the response exceed your expectation, or is it what you expected?

The response did exceed my expectations. Initially, I hoped to attract a small audience of people like me who were struggling with their weight, with whom I could share information (and learn, too, I'm not an expert). And at first, this is exactly what happened. The YouTube experience was everything I'd hoped for, and a dynamic and interesting conversation about food and health was started. I met some wonderful people. More people
drifted into the discussions, and my subscriptions rose. I started posting in July; by October, I'd reached 325 subscribers, more than I'd ever expected. Then one of my videos was featured on the front page of YouTube, and in two days my subscriptions nearly tripled.

It's rare for a video blogger to be featured on the front page, so that was completely unexpected.

3. What do you think makes your Service poem such a hit, as opposed to other people reciting poems, or as opposed to your other videos?

I think just about anything YouTube puts on the front page will be a hit. Even crass content draws a lot of views if it's shown on the front page. The Service poem video is just an amateur reading, there's nothing exalted about its quality; professional actors would chuckle to see it.

4. How has your YouTube stardom affected your daily life?

The attention I've drawn from being featured has not changed my life, except to explode my in-box.

5. What advice would you give people who want to be a YouTube star?

My advice is: set aside that desire. Focus instead on building relationships, having conversations. Be kind, courteous, and honest. Express yourself.  In your videos, share and do things you are passionate about. Be patient, and take it one day at a time.

Enjoy the journey; don't worry about the destination.

If you do all of those things well, people will respond positively to you. Your popularity will rise.

I have a confession.  I peeked in the "woman searching for men" classified section of MySpace.  *blushes*

I did it for amusement, not for any particular desire to hook up with anyone.  You see, I'm *perfectly* aware that I'm "Mr. Wrong."

How so?  Ah, where to begin? 

Well, age is one thing.  Most of the women searching for love on this site are thirty or forty years younger than me.  That's so wrong!

But wait, there's more! 

Some women can forgive some amount of age difference if there's wealth involved.  I actually don't think ill of those women, because after all, wealth assures the necessities of life that raising children demands.  It's a reasonable desire.  But... nope.  I'm not wealthy.  Wrong again!

But wait, there's more!

I've got, let's see... *counts* two chronic diseases.  Now, don't think I'm ungrateful, these diseases have given me endless hours of interesting experiences.  But diseased old men aren't much of a turn-on, are they?  Thought not.

Oh, what are they?  Type II diabetes and the chronic form of Lyme disease.  Both are incurable and at least one, possibly both, are progressive.  You can't catch them from me.  But they aren't exactly what you look for in selecting a mate, eh?  Wrong-o.

But wait, there's more!

I'm not housebroken.  At least, not to the extent a husband ought to be.  As an old bachelor, I've got bad habits.  I'm comfortable with them, but I can't imagine any reasonable woman would be.  And I'm really, honestly too old to change.  That's just wrong!

But wait, there's more!

I don't *want* to have a relationship at my age.  My hormone levels have happily subsided to the point where gratifying them would hardly be sufficient compensation for the emotional storms that come with a serious relationship.  And though I like kids, I think *someone* should refrain from reproducing.  The population is exploding, after all.  I've sucked it up and volunteered.  Bottom line, I *like* being single.  It's comfortable.  And so, so wrong!

Boy, this is fun, cataloging all the ways I'm Mr. Wrong.  Alas, I'll run out of space if I keep going.  But I think I've given enough of an idea.  I'm about as wrong as a Mr. Wrong could be for the women on MySpace looking for love. 

It's quite a distinction, isn't it?  I'm rather proud.  *beams*

Now that that's out of the way, why on earth would any females ever want to talk to me?

Well, they wouldn't.  Not ever.  That is, they wouldn't if all they want out of conversation is love, sex or some variation on either.

If, on the other hand, people - men or women - want to talk about other things, I might not be all that bad a person to talk to.  Believe it or not, there *are* things you can discuss that don't involve people trying to get into each others' pants.  Politics.  Science.  Humor.  History.  Music.  Nutrition.  Gosh, the list is endless.  And as it turns out, I'm not a bad conversationalist, unless your vocabulary consists of monosyllabic words dominated by profanity.  In which case, we're probably both happier not talking.

Hit me up, then.  But for the right reasons.  :-)

I've put some videos up at YouTube.  They aren't set for external links, so you'll have to go there to see them if the subject interests you.

Eleven videos are up on "Healthy Eating," videos which provide information many people may find surprising about food and dieting.  You can access them from my profile page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Urgelt

Also available is a video on prejudice as it affects obese people.

Oh, am I obese?  I've been there.  Right now I'm not clinically obese.  I still have some weight to lose to reach my ideal weight.  I'm confident I'll get there.  About 18 months ago I adopted a plan that works for me, and it's going very well.

Obesity is a disease, and it's not a simple matter of "eating too much."  In fact the whole subject is horribly complex.  Traditional media is chock full of bad information and stereotyping and isn't very helpful.

I'd enjoy talking to anyone who is interested in this subject.

SarahJParent is a YouTube video poster with attitude.  You have to see her videos to grasp her peculiar genius, or insanity, it's not easy to tell which.  Among other things, her video persona is a pyromaniac.  Funny!

I had just downloaded some lyrics by Peaches which I plan to eventually use in a video of my own, and I got to thinking... if a gangsta rapper wanted to do a tribute song for Sarah, what would it be like?

Probably nothing like this.

Yeah, everyone is.  Those who can't actually do the music bit inevitably try their hand at lyrics.  Most of it's junk, of course, and most of us realize that when we write songs.  But we all do it, don't we?  Heh.

Me too!

And I know what I write is nothing special, but it's fun.  And you might get a kick out of seeing an example of amateurish lyrics.

This particular poem was inspired by the Terra Naomi Virtual Internet Tour.  It is *not* biographical of Terra, in any sense.  Rather, the subject of the poem is a sort of archtype, a representative of the thousands of men and women trying to reach the big paychecks as singers in the music industry. 

But though it isn't biographical, I do offer it up as a little tribute to Terra and what she's trying to do with her virtual tour.  That lady has some serious guts.  Hats off to her.

I wrote this poem and own the rights to it.

This Girl
 
People in the club just keep talking in the haze,
And they talk the same old talk no matter who is on the stage.
Pass the onions, would you hon? Hey this prime rib's underdone.
Did you know I'll get a raise if I stick to my guns?
 
The drummer's stoned again, he can hardly find the beat,
And the licks the gitar's playin' sound like alley cats in heat.
The amps are misbehavin' but it's true nobody cares,
And this girl on the mike, she's singin' to deaf ears.
 
But she can sing like a goddess come to earth in the spring,
And if only you could hear, she's an eagle on the wing.
She could touch your heart with all she is and make you understand
We're not alone, we're not alone, we're not alone.....
Yeah she can sing.
 
Well the tour's been canceled, it's not a big surprise,
And she's all alone and wonderin' where ambition goes to die.
But she can't give up her hope, she won't let it go this way,
So her room's her only stage now, and here is where she'll play.
 
But she can sing like a goddess come to earth in the spring,
And if only you could hear, she's an eagle on the wing.
She could touch your heart with all she is and make you understand
We're not alone, we're not alone, we're not alone.....
Yeah she can sing.

Fun, eh?  And who knows?  Maybe someone reading this will say, hey, I can do better than *that.*  And sit down and write something really good, and share it.  And then maybe a musician will stumble across those lyrics and ask to use them in a song.  Now if that were to happen, someone's day would be made, don't you think?

It could happen.  My earlier point about democritization of music on the web and artists collaborating with fans to produce music is something I believe is happening right now.  This is the beginning.  Where it will take us, I don't know.  But I look forward to finding out.

So if you think you can do better, post your lyrics to your own page, and drop me a line.  I'd love to see them.

This profile is a work in progress.

A bit more about me:  I'm a fairly private person, so I don't intend to "let it all hang out" here.  But I will say a few things.  To my friends I may say more.

Why am I here?  I guess the main reason was to follow the progress of a few musicians I'm interested in.  I'm particularly excited by Kaki King's incredible talent, and Terra Naomi's experimental Virtual Tour fascinates me.

What, not after chicks?

No, not really.  Hey, I'm an old guy who is comfortable with being unattached and doesn't want to throw away his dignity chasing younger women (and most of the women here *are* younger, a lot).  I like women, don't get the wrong idea.  I'm hetero.  But my wild youth (not *that* wild, to tell the truth) is well behind me, and I'm happy that way.

I know there's a horrible stereotype about older men haunting these spaces and trolling for kids.  That's not me.

I do like to talk.  If you're nice, I'll talk to you!  Be warned, I'm wired as most men are:  if you present a problem to me, I'm not the sort who gushes sympathy and comradeliness and makes you feel better.  I'm the analytical type who tries to figure out a solution.  Women often hate that.  So if that's you, you've been warned!

I'm a fairly patient, decent man.  I've got morals and I stick to them.  Those morals have served me well over the years, and I'm not about to throw them overboard.

Part of my moral code is that  I won't condemn you if you're gay, or if you're pregnant and unmarried, or do drugs, or have sex with 50 partners a week, or whatever.  You make choices, you live with them, it's none of my business to judge you.  Ok?

Please return the favor, too!