YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money

Remember the days when YouTube was just a site for people to post silly videos? No? Well come to think of it, neither do I. With video subscriptions pulling in big bucks from advertisers and investors, it makes me wonder if it's so hard for people like me to join the YouTube bandwagon.
Picture it, video footage of me in my day-to-day life. It's like a comedy routine, and if I find my life funny I'm sure other people will too. You'll see me at school, scrambling to pass in late assignments and make up tests while balancing my social life, then at work, attempting to teach children how to swim, and then we cap it all off with touching segments of my wonderful family, including my nagging mother, my clueless father, and my indifferent brother. Well, at least I have the dog.
So who would be interested? I'm not sure...possibly other teenagers who need a break from their own hectic lives and would like a voyeuristic journey into mine. I'm relatable, sensitive, and I use my sense of humor to make the best of certain situations, what's not to like? Partners of YouTube, if you're listening, I'm available!

About Me By Me For You

I would say that my autobiography is coming along well considering when it comes to tech-savvy I am not the brightest crayon in the box. I have a lot of pictures chronicling my life since birth and a few video clips that provide a window into my life as it is today. I want it all to flow evenly with music and transitions and I want to make a point at the end. I'm not really sure what that point is yet.

"Digg" In

Digg.com is a website that collects interesting articles from other websites hoping that online browsers will find them interesting. The tactic clearly works, as some segments have been "digged", or approved of, over 3,000 times. The interactive features on the site basically depend on the sites the articles come from, but every article can be digged and commented to the heart's content. Digg.com covers a variety of topics ranging from Metallica to Mumbai. Many of the most "digged" articles relate to some sort of politics, but the #1 most "digged" is about a battle between Stephen Colbert and Kanye West on iTunes. Why? I'm not sure. I don't like either of them.

Check it out!

Understanding The Teenage Brain

PBS claims that there is logic behind the inexplicable behavior of teenagers. Their videos on understanding the teenage brain are clearly geared towards parents and other adults who forget what adolescence is like. The truth is, there is no science behind the way we behave. Every kid is different, and to try and figure them all out collectively is simply stereotyping. Some things are true about us, such as hormones being the reason for mood swings and certain attitudes, and the fact that besides infancy, this is the most critical developing period of our lives. But you don't need a PBS documentary to figure that out. Everywhere you go you're going to meet mild-mannered kids, prudish kids, rebellious kids, high strung kids, and kids that are good for nothing. We may not all be perfect, but who is? Adults? I think not...

To view video segments on "the teenage brain" click this link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/view/

Terms of Note

Wide Angle-a shot pertaining to a lens having a relatively wide angle of view.

Low Angle-a shot pertaining to a lens being low or on the ground for a low angle of view.

Close Up-a shot from close range for intimacy.

Extreme Close Up-a shot from an ever closer range for even more intimacy.

Editing-eliminating, deleting, cutting, splicing, or assembling the components of a project.

Narration-the reciting of events, especially in chronological order.

Documentary-of movies, television. Based on or re-creating an actual event, era, life story, etc. and contains no fictional elements.
Fiction-made up or not true.

Non-fiction-based on real events or stories. Factual.

Examples of these terms in NY Times videos:

Mixed Martial Arts Go To School-there are many low angle shots in this video to capture students wrestling on the ground. There are also narrations, not just by the reporter but by a third party such as students and teachers who are active in this field. It is non-fiction.

Guggenheim Gala-there is an on-and off narration by Melena Ryzik as she reports from a benefit at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. There are also many wide angle shots to capture artwork, people, and more people. Close ups are done on people's faces as they are interviewed.

Guggenheim Gala

A video on the New York Times website that I found interesting was UrbanEye: Guggenheim Gala. In the segment, Melena Ryzik reported from a benefit at the famous museum. It is all video and the camera does not shake. There is an on-an-off narration as well as many conversational interviews with the New York well-to-do and close up shots of artwork at the gala. It is a good video because it is a voyeuristic journey into New York nightlife.

New York Times Election Recap

The New York Times website multimedia graph of the 2008 elector shifts state by state is very helpful because you can see voter patterns in 2008 compared the the last election in 2004. For example, with just the click of a mouse you can see that Obama was more popular in the suburbs than Kerry and whites in Florida still remained republican after all these years. The graph is helpful because it is a visual representation of statistics the average voter wouldn't already know. View it in the politics section of the New York Times website!

BBC Online

BBC is a website where the good old Brits report global news in an interactive fashion. There are many political stories but not many sports or entertainment stories. There are many visuals, which makes it interactive. One thing that caught my eye is the presidential election coverage. People in other nations know all about our government but most of us can't even name Britain's prime minister.

The History and Mystery of Halloween

Halloween began as a Celtic harvest festival in which there would be bonfires and costumes worn to mimic or placate evil spirits. Trick or treating evolved from Irish children going door-to-door begging for a scrap of food to the more extravagant wearing costumes and asking for candy. Today it is a widely practiced holiday where we celebrate the occult and dance with "the devil". Many traditions of Halloween include carving jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, visiting haunted houses and watching scary movies. It is my favorite holiday :)

A Good Biography

A good biography includes many photographs and details of the subjects life, both personal and professional. A really good biography tugs at your heart strings, makes you cry, and then makes you want cookie dough. It also depends on the subject. Marilyn Monroe's 1966 biography was especially moving and provocative because of the glamorous and troubled life she lived. My autobiography might not be as moving, but the brush is in my hands and it's up to me to paint that picture.

Seven

My mom got me the movie Seven for my birthday. Last night I decided to watch it because I was in the mood for a scary movie and my computer wasn't working. I heard it was supposed to be really scary and exciting. Well it wasn't. I had to shut it off because I was so bored. Does anything scare me anymore?

The Golden Girls

I'd like to take this time to confess my love for the Golden Girls. I feel like without that show, I wouldn't understand humor, friendship, or cheesecake. And I'm pissed because Lifetime replaced it at 4 and 4:30 by Wifeswap...seriously? Do Lifetime viewers really prefer shitty reality shows over hilarious Emmy winning sitcoms? I don't know. All I know is my undying love fore Dorothy, Sophia, Rose, and Blanche will continue. THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND!!!

Robert Swan

Robert Swan is a man who walked across the North Pole and the South Pole. Now he raises awareness about global warming. Visit his site at www.2041.com

On Elaine McArdle

Yesterday (via in-school field trip) I met Elaine McArdle, an accomplished journalist who has written for the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, and the Boston Globe Magazine. Her personality while speaking drew me in immediately, and if I hadn't been to lazy to rifle through my bag for a notebook, I would've taken notes.

Main points in her speech were the importance of being objective when writing and never to insert your personal opinions into an article. Just the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. She also stated that in order to get information from a person you must be friendly and approachable, not harsh and demanding.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her story and her insight on creative professions. It's hard to get into the writing world, she said, but with an inspiration like her I only want it more.

Questions for Elaine

Elaine McArdle,

1. How did you get started in journalism?

2. What is journalism in Boston like compared to journalism in Louisiana?

3. Why do you call your husband your "partner"?

Autobiography.

If you want to be good journalist, writing an autobiography is a good thing to do because if want to know more about other people you need to know yourself.

America's Next Top Model

Last night on America's Next Top Model, all they did was show clips from previous episodes. I wanted to see somebody get eliminated!!!!

Blah

I have nothing to blog about this morning. This is a blog about nothing.

Quotable Quotes

"Welcome to the age of un-innocence."
-Candace Bushnell

"This world is bullshit."
-Fiona Apple

"It's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world."
-American Beauty

"Men cheat for the same reason that dogs lick their balls, because they can."
-Samantha Jones (Sex and the City)

The Bonnie Hunt Show

I'm sorry, but who gave Bonnie Hunt her own show? Her mom? All she does is talk about sweatpants and cookie dough in that accent which I've decided is a cross between Fargo and a dog. Honey, leave it to Oprah.

My Autobiography

Last night I watched Chicago. A.K.A. the greatest movie of all time. I want my autobiography to be flashy and exciting just like that. Hahahahaha not really. I'm going to add a hella bunch of pictures and have somebody cool narrate it.

Sixteeeeen Candles

It's my sixteenth birthday! So far I don't feel any different than when I was fifteen...but I'll get back to you.

A Not-So Serious Post

Last night I polished my sneakers. Now they're really shiny and white. I recommend sneaker polish to everyone. Why buy new shoes ever again?

A Serious Post

In the wee hours of this morning I watched a captivating documentary on the KKK on the History Channel. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I can't believe people used to (and still do, in some places) think that way. I'm shocked that congress allowed the violence and terrorism to go on for so long and there are still hate groups similar to the Klan in America today.

But in a way I feel lucky. We live in a time and place where we can pretty much love, worship, and be whoever we want. America today is not perfect, but it is not the way it was in 1950. Hell, we might even be looking at a black man running our country. And for the first time in my life I feel like I'm truly proud to be an American.

Imploding...

I'm sitting in the language lab watching everyone around me do their work. The carpeted walls are starting to get to me. The Office was cancelled last night because of the damn debates. I can't get into my own locker. Do I really have a reason to live? What's my motivation? Why do I need to kn0w how to say "They will eat"? Of course they will eat. The world is just going to eat and eat until we all implode. And the cockroaches will laugh at us.

Ugh

It agitates me that I'm the only one in my Interactive Journalism class who ever does the assignments on time. Then we have to waste 20 minutes at the beginning of class so everyone else can take their sweet time doing what I was obsessing over the night before. I can't even read or comment anyone else's blog because they're blogging RIGHT NOW. AND I'M JUST SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING!!!

What Do Girls Consider Cool?

I should know. Most of my friends are girls. But they're not your average girl consumers. Nothing about me is average I suppose...

My friend Sarah spends most of her money on Marlboro 100s. Ashley enjoys makeup and emo clothes from Hot Topic. Alexis likes Dock Martens and her laptop.

But from my pathetic wasted years at WHS I've learned that for the typical girl to be "cool" she needs Ugg boots, an STD, a valid record of all episodes of either "The Hills" or "Gossip Girl" and an IQ of 52.

What Is Cool?

Hhhm. I've been asked to identify what I think is cool. So what is cool? Not me, that's for sure.
My taste is different from other teenagers. I don't shop at Hollister or Abercrombie or any of those stores. I don't go to keg parties. I absolutely hate The Hills.
I guess I've always had an inclination to what fascinates me, not what everyone else is doing. I love the whole '80s throwback thing that's happening now. M.I.A. is amazing. Britney Spears is cool no matter what she does. I love thrift stores and vintage stores.

What's cool is what's different. What catches your eye. It makes you say "whaaaat?" and then "ok".

Family Guy Season Premiere

It pains me to say so, but it seems that everybody's favorite animated family (aside from The Simpsons), is getting less and less funny every year. Last night's episode was Brian-heavy, with few quips from Stewie and many overkill puns that seem to be in there just for the purpose of taking up time.
Last year I realized that the show was going downhill since Cleveland and Loretta separated. So when she appeared in last night's episode to win Cleveland back I got my hopes up...only to be disappointed when Cleveland refuses to take her back, which was a sign that there is no improvement in future episodes.

The Newbury Comics in Fresh Pond is better than the one in Harvard Square.

Bigger, better, more variety. Will I ever have to enter The Garage again? I don't know. But I do know that I will be returning to Fresh Pond very soon to purchase the love of my life (shown above).

Fair on the Square CANCELED?!

People of Watertown MA, take a good look. Because the next time you will see these festivities is in September 2009. We all know what went wrong. The weather. It's always the f*cking weather. It became clear this morning as the rain drops fell violently on the good people of Watertown, dashing their dreams of what could have been on September 27th, 2008.
Why am I so bitter? I'm not sure. I hate the majority of Watertown. But I always viewed FOTS as the one day where all the townies can get together in unity and just enjoy themselves, not to mention fried dough, french fries, and bowl upon bowl of free candy. I've had good and bad experiences at FOTS. In 2004 I lost my younger brother in the crowd and it took an hour to find him. In 2005 I watched the Syzlaks and met my best friends. In 2006 I had my first gyro...mmm...and almost threw up on the spinny cup ride.
It's tradition. It's celebration. It's not happening this year. And this is one townie who refuses to believe it.

The Office Season Premiere

For those of you who didn’t watch, last night’s season premiere of NBC’s The Office was BOOOOOMMMB! Some highlights include Michael growing a goatee, Ryan coming back to replace Pam as receptionist, an office weight-loss competition, and a very special proposal. Can’t wait til next week!!!