flickr geotagging

Today Flickr released a new feature: geotagging. Now you can geotag your pics to your heart's content.

The best part is how easy it it to see photos from all around the world by clicking around on the map under the "explore" option. Coolness. :)

Monday Quote....

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
-- Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

The times they are a-changin'

So a lot has been going on behind the scenes here. And many changes are being made - good changes - and really, really fun changes.

1. Jet Set Show is focusing on teen news and culture and teaming up with some pretty cool people in the process. We're in the process of working with schools and actively looking for teen correspondents. An official call will come soon, but in the meantime, if you know of anyone who may be interested, shoot me an email.

2. RSS Infinity Plus 1 News is growing up and will be moving to it's own home on the web. Oh yeah, it aint' going to be for kids. It's gonna be all puppet news ALL the time folks, and from the name you can guess it'll be taking RSS news feeds to a whole new level. Funny, crass, and giving you a look at the human condition from the puppet perspective. It'll be up shortly (very shortly) - and we're also looking for correspondents - though you have to be a puppet to apply.

3. Karmagrrrl is evolving. If you look at the URL on the web site you'll see it redirects you to Karmagrrrl.org instead of smashface.com/vlog. I'm making this a blog on all things karmically good. It's a passion project with the same spirit I came into this blogging world with - to communicate, but now we're going to bump it up a notch. If you feel a need for karmic realignment, stay tuned. Especially the girls. :)

4. Vidlicious is a project that began as a need for everyone to see the online video women were creating. It's a collective of the most creative female videomakers on the web. There is LOTS to be done in the arena of exposure and collaboratives, so if you'd like to get involved contact me. It will be evolving soon as well.

5. New Mediacracy - well, someone had to make an audio podcast about online video, right? Steve Woolf joins me on this one. We talk regularly about new media, traditional media, monetization, all things video, and wine. A new web site is coming next month - and with it a few guests...

6. Smashface is the umbrella that covers it all. It's the production company Steve and I started for this new online world we've ventured into a couple of years back. They say it's a good sign when a web site isn't updated too often because it means you're hard at work - yeah we've been working all right, but it's time for a new face. So by the fall, there will be lots to look at there.

7. Zadi Diaz - so I'm moving most of my personal videos and blog posts over to zadidiaz.com and starting a blog there where I'll post all things Zadi. Few will come - but those who do get cookies. :)

Well, that's all folks... Oh, I saw Little Miss Sunshine this past weekend. Great film. Go see it. Also, I'm listening to "The Last Kiss" soundtrack, because besides having a very small obsession with Zach Braff, his choice of music rules all. Have a listen. :) :)

The People on YouTube - A Question to All

(Posted on the Yahoo Videoblogging Group)

Note: This convo revolves around copyright issues...

I have a confession to make.. .and I said it on my most recent podcast, but YouTube has sucked me in. I don't know how it happened.

I wanted to point a recent post out to you guys: Video 1 - Renetto

It reminds me of 2004 when I started videoblogging, and this community was just getting started. The excitement people had - that's what's going on over at YouTube now, and I have to say it's both nostalgic and infectious.

I was having this convo with Steve the other day, how most in this community are 2 years ahead of the curve... and why people watch the things they do...

Also, what's more important - communicating/community or protecting copyright? (I would never hand over copyright on some of my stuff, but others I'm not so protective of) When I spoke to Chuck D I was amazed at how he loved YouTube and couldn't give a rats ass about copyright...I've been thinking a lot about that conversation with him as well.

In any case, I'm not advocating one thing or the other - just pointing something out. This video that I'm pointing to has gotten 273 video responses and viewed 62,514 times... And I'm also surprised that when people from within YouTube don't like something YouTube is doing they call them out on it, like this video: Video 2 - Knightengale

So again, I'm asking you all - what's more important to you? A serious question that I'd like to talk about...

Giant Little Girl

taking stock

Thanks guys, for letting me know there are people in this space with me. Not sure why it would matter. I think what's happening is that I'm working all the time and going through a period of social isolation... so...

I'm thinking more about what to do with this blog and realized I never really did what I intended to do with it initially. Why the name I chose for this blog was perfect - or at least why I felt it was perfect. And really at this point I still feel too embarrased to say. So I'm going to take a journey toward it... and toward opening up a bit more.

Why do people v/blog? Is it really to communicate? Or is it something else entirely? Or perhaps a combination? Is this talking? Or just dumping? Is it delayed conversation..like picking up messages or smoke signals?

I teach videoblogging at the local Apple Store here in Los Angeles. (God, I'm missing NYC at this very, very moment.) In the beginning I was so enthusiastic - that was a year ago. Today, not so much. Something has shifted. The space is different. It's like I want to pick up old books, and sit at a cafe, and people-watch without sticking a camera in someone's face. :)

But talking about cameras - I made the final round in Film Independent's (IFP) Project:Involve for the editing/producer/director track. I'm supposed to pick two, but I want to do all three. I'm interested in the mentorship part since I want to meet people in OM (old media) and help bridge it to NM (new media) and tech. I'm supposed to go in for the final interview next week sometime, so wish me luck.

Hah, I guess deep down you'll never get the video/film geek out of me. It's me.

life of a vlogger

It's 5:35 a.m and I'm still up in front of this computer encoding video for jet set show. It's 5:35 a.m. and I'm running out of hard drive space, so my system is running really slow, which is making me even more frustrated. How the heck do I run out of hard drive space so fast? I need to become more efficient with the footage that I bring in - sometimes I tend to bring in an entire tape and then not even bother to media manage it afterwards, so tons and tons of unused footage sits on my computer. Must. be. more. efficient.

So I've been thinking about what to do with this blog... Yep. I haven't been consistent with the updating. Mostly because I've been so busy shooting, editing, etc-ering for jet set that the personal life - er blog - has suffered. And also because, well, who the hell reads it? Can someone let me know? I'm bumping into cobwebs left and right. Seems it's time for a defibrillator.

I've always thought of this as a videoblog. Discriminating against text or photos, but you know what - funk it. I'm just going to do what I can with it, because truthfully most of my video creative energy is being spent on jet set, but I refuse to let this one die.

Okay, here's how crazy I am. Though I'm complaining about time, Steve and I started a audio podcast the other day about videoblogging. It's actually a lot of fun to do. And so much easier than videoblogging. We drink wine, talk shop, and watch old media. Yeah - it's called New Mediacracy.

Anyway... 72% compression done... I could walk away, but I still have to upload the files to the server which pretty much ties me to the desk. Ya know, I may not be so against cloning. 5:56 a.m. I type slow.

So yeah, I'll still post video on this blog - but I won't be discriminating against the other forms of communication anymore... especially when they're so much easier.

I forgot how much I like to just write...6:01am.

08.01.06

I will pass, we will pass,
says the water,
and the truth sings against stone.
The course of the river spreads and shifts.
Wild grass grows
on the banks.
I will pass, we will pass.
So says night to day,
month to year.
Time
corrects the testimony
of winners and losers,
but the tree never rests in its growing.
The tree dies, another seedling comes
to life, and everything goes on.
...
and the sun is not aware of scars.
-- Neruda