YouTube to the rescue

I am a Comcast subscriber and I also like to watch CNN Headline News. However (and I've written Comcast about this), Comcast News Network INTERRUPTS Headline News at :25 and :55 to insert some boring interview topic of their own - like they don't have enough channels they already own they have to interrupt something else! The response I got from my e-mail complaint was that they never actually interrupt real news - just the human interest stories at the end of the half hour - yeah, the ones they tease the whole half hour to keep you watching only to have them yanked for some boring Comcast Newsmakers spotlight that can barely hold my attention. I will say that I lodged the complaint a while ago and was surprised at the swift and relevant response from Comcast.

Anyhoo, I was flipping thru and the story they were teasing was about Marie Osmond on Dancing with the Stars. They wouldn't tell you what happened to her in the promos - and of course, that story on CNN Headline News went up at five minutes to the hour so I never got to see the story.

I found it on YouTube. It's much more dramatic that her dance partner doesn't catch her, because she makes a really big thump when she hits the floor. The Headline News promos made you think she went nuts or made some out-of-character comment. Nope, she just fainted.

But if it weren't for YouTube, I wouldn't have seen it. Stupid Comcast.

"Pass the Buck" on YouTube

The movie short which got me into IMDb is now available on YouTube.

"I" update

I mentioned that I subscribe to ichannel on YouTube, and view their companion blog connectwithi.com where the brother posts video blog entries. After his first post, I responded with a video of my own and he actually gave me a shout out and thank you in his second video blog entry (which is so much better and funnier than the first).

Yes, my video is not the best quality, but neither was his. My point was that you can get a lot done in 15 seconds - or a minute. The odd thing is that somehow in the conversion on YouTube from my .AVI raw file, the sound and video got out of sync. I think I sound good (mostly because I don't fumble and do any UMs or AHs), and I do like my facial expressions, but I do appear to be some sort of live-action anime because my lips don't match the words.

What I'm watching on YouTube

I am picky when it comes to viewing content online. If I'm going to invent a few minutes of my time, I want something original, well executed with high production value. So here's some well written, well acted, well edited series which I highly recommend.

God, Inc. by francisstokesdotcom. It's a comedy about working in the corporate offices of God. Think if The Office were in charge of controlling the world. The production company has their blog on - you guessed it - francisstokes.com. You can even buy God, Inc. merchandise. Watch all six episodes. The link is to the first episode: "In The Beginning, There Was Paperwork..."

I on ichannel. It's the story of a man only referred to by the letter I, who's life is invaded by a video blog and comments can effect the plot of the series. Think Truman Show where the star knows he's being watched but those around him aren't in on it. There's a companion blog on connectwithi.com. There's ten episodes so far on YouTube, and the blog contains extra footage from I's brother. The link is to the Episode One: I feels someone watching.

Then there's JackDanyells. He's a clever vblogger and easy-on-the-eyes talking head. His clips are high quality with editing and effects (not that grainy home video feel at all), yet he still maintains that home-made feel as he'll often play multiple roles in one clip. He's many videos to choose from, but some must-see's are The YouTube Guided Tour and The Dictionary of Jack: Moot.

Enjoy!

CNN's AC360 response to Fox News ad

CNN's new print ad in response to Fox News Channel's ad calling Cooper "the Paris Hilton of TV news." Classy.