As you know, I've been doing my due diligence and Googling for info on New Zealand to prep for a potential vacay there. I'm still undecided whether I want to backpack it on my own or join a small-group tour that's a cross between adventure and budget. I'm leaning toward the tour, even though this vacay is supposed to simulate what it'd be like to be on the road alone.
Most of the tours I'm looking at treat you to a traditional Maori dinner and the videos I've seen of these things look like the Maori version of a luau. Instead of doing hula, they do the haka. My YouTubing research quickly led from these tours to haka done by various sports teams. The majority of the videos are of the All Blacks, a Kiwi rugby team. I don't know if they're the only team that does the haka or even if they're the only team in NZ. I don't know anything about rugby, but once I started watching the videos I couldn't stop.
There seems to be a variety of different haka, but the most common is the one that starts off, "Ka mate, Ka mate, Ka ora Ka ora." This is the one with which I'm familiar (and I assume most other people are as well). It bothered me that I didn't know the words beyond those first few lines. I think it's mostly because the chants are shouted and the words are never distinct enough to understand. Even after watching several videos, I still couldn't get the words down. I finally had to Wikipedia them and read the words while listening to YouTube. Who knows if Wikipedia is even accurate though.
Watching the various videos of the All Blacks, I noticed that these rugby guys are pretty hot . . . even with the ugly, macho-man faces they're making (or is it because of that?). The guys, of course, are all fit and muscular and they're yelling at the top of their lungs as I imagine the cavemen of old used to. And yet, despite all the movement and progress gained through women's lib, I still find their behavior oddly sexy. I mean, there's something to be said about the masculinity, agility and dare I say virility that these guys exude while doing this haka. Their intensity and focus is both intimidating and alluring. It's kinda like looking into the eyes of a wildcat.
And just so you know, I still can't get the words to the haka right. But I'm going to keep trying . . . you know, for educational and cultural exchange purposes and all! LOL!
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YouTube. Show all posts
June 10, 2010
May 18, 2010
Corporate Jumps on the YouTube Bandwagon
There's no avoiding it. My company is jumping on the YouTube bandwagon, which means that I'm writing scripts and casting actors from our current pool of staff members to create some kind of viral uprising.
Has Corporate even considered whether this is an effective means to reach our customers? Has anyone analyzed the ROI on this project? It doesn't seem likely. They just want to use today's social media (Twitter and Facebook are just around the corner) for the sake of using it.
So now we're embarking on unnecessary journey with no real map to getting where we need to go. It feels as futile as a uncovering a map for buried treasure and immediately hiring a ship to take me there.
The retarded thing is that Corporate doesn't want to use the media as it is fundamentally intended. The best part about all this web 2.0 stuff is that there's instantaneous feedback from your audience. You get to interact with them immediately rather than attach a note to a pidgeon's leg. However, it doesn't seem like Corporate wants any kind of feedback. They want to continue the old school method of shouting the loudest in order to be heard.
While we are using the current resources available to us, we are not using it wisely. I think we'll just end up abandoning this project halfway through. We'll do a couple videos and then people will lose interest because there's always something better just beyond the horizon. What a waste of time.
Has Corporate even considered whether this is an effective means to reach our customers? Has anyone analyzed the ROI on this project? It doesn't seem likely. They just want to use today's social media (Twitter and Facebook are just around the corner) for the sake of using it.
So now we're embarking on unnecessary journey with no real map to getting where we need to go. It feels as futile as a uncovering a map for buried treasure and immediately hiring a ship to take me there.
The retarded thing is that Corporate doesn't want to use the media as it is fundamentally intended. The best part about all this web 2.0 stuff is that there's instantaneous feedback from your audience. You get to interact with them immediately rather than attach a note to a pidgeon's leg. However, it doesn't seem like Corporate wants any kind of feedback. They want to continue the old school method of shouting the loudest in order to be heard.
While we are using the current resources available to us, we are not using it wisely. I think we'll just end up abandoning this project halfway through. We'll do a couple videos and then people will lose interest because there's always something better just beyond the horizon. What a waste of time.
May 10, 2010
1990s Music & Memories
Ever since I commented on this World Wide Ed blog, I've been clicking around YouTube listening to all the music from that era. I suppose despite my old soul and love for all genres of music, the 1990s were my growing up years.
Those were the days when summer vacation lasted an eternity. It was when somehow, seemingly overnight, a guy you've known since hanabata days became something more. It's when you rocked different colored slouchy socks, hairsprayed the living hell out of your bangs to make the perfect wave and had to get your jeans ripped just so. It was when you had your first crush and first kiss. It's when you watched Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five religiously and listened to stuff like this:
or this:
Is it completely sad that I know all the words to both songs? Wait, don't bother answering that.
It's not that I think this music is the epitome of discerning tastes. In fact, I competely admit that it's not. There is a ton of music (even in this era) that is way better than this pop candy. However, it is the music that most reminds me of my childhood.
When I hear this music, I think of how young and innocent we all were back then. Even the lyrics to these songs are so naive . . . or is that just the cynicism I've developed over the years?
Listening to this stuff makes me realize how sterile today's music is. There's no emotion, even from the emo crowd. You can't feel the same angst that you could in the '90s. The R&B songs were the best back then. Despite being sorta mass produced, at least they still seemed like they had a soul. Once the boy bands of the late '90s gained popularity, there was no stopping the slide into mediocre and then lodging in just plain horrible.
Can it be possible that I'm already having flashbacks and reminiscing at my age? LOL These slo jams really take me back.
Those were the days when summer vacation lasted an eternity. It was when somehow, seemingly overnight, a guy you've known since hanabata days became something more. It's when you rocked different colored slouchy socks, hairsprayed the living hell out of your bangs to make the perfect wave and had to get your jeans ripped just so. It was when you had your first crush and first kiss. It's when you watched Beverly Hills 90210 and Party of Five religiously and listened to stuff like this:
or this:
Is it completely sad that I know all the words to both songs? Wait, don't bother answering that.
It's not that I think this music is the epitome of discerning tastes. In fact, I competely admit that it's not. There is a ton of music (even in this era) that is way better than this pop candy. However, it is the music that most reminds me of my childhood.
When I hear this music, I think of how young and innocent we all were back then. Even the lyrics to these songs are so naive . . . or is that just the cynicism I've developed over the years?
Listening to this stuff makes me realize how sterile today's music is. There's no emotion, even from the emo crowd. You can't feel the same angst that you could in the '90s. The R&B songs were the best back then. Despite being sorta mass produced, at least they still seemed like they had a soul. Once the boy bands of the late '90s gained popularity, there was no stopping the slide into mediocre and then lodging in just plain horrible.
Can it be possible that I'm already having flashbacks and reminiscing at my age? LOL These slo jams really take me back.
January 25, 2010
YouTube is the Greatest Thing Ever
I do not even know what we all did before the invention of YouTube. I mean seriously, I've been watching videos for over three hours now. And it's not like I'm bouncing around from one stupid video to the next. I searched a specific topic (ie. JET) and found some very cool and informative vids out there by current JETs. Amazing, simply amazing.
The info that is shared through these vids are so engaging and as a viewer you're able to learn so much. The visual nature of it all grabs your attention, even when the video editing skills aren't the greatest. Most people are still able to get the main point across. For someone like me, who is searching for info, it's awesome.
I like how there are so many perspectives on something generic like "living in Japan" or "teaching in Japan." I'm finding all the videos really helpful, especially the ones from the newbies (the people who went over in 2009). They've been there for about six months now and should be settling in. They'll have the best perspectives of the country. My favorite vids are the ones about their hometowns. It's nice to see the different locales where JETs are placed. Some look like fairly large cities. Other that I've seen are totally in the inaka (country).
As I watch these videos, I'm kind of getting anxious about not hearing about the USA interviews. The list of people selected to get interviews is supposed to be posted in late January. Um, it's late January and there's been nothing. I cannot refrain from doing a daily check of the JET website, just in case the list is there. Hmm, now that I think about it, seeing the list posted would be useless to me. I don't carry my ID number around so even if the list was live I wouldn't know if I was on or not. I better start carrying that list around.
The info that is shared through these vids are so engaging and as a viewer you're able to learn so much. The visual nature of it all grabs your attention, even when the video editing skills aren't the greatest. Most people are still able to get the main point across. For someone like me, who is searching for info, it's awesome.
I like how there are so many perspectives on something generic like "living in Japan" or "teaching in Japan." I'm finding all the videos really helpful, especially the ones from the newbies (the people who went over in 2009). They've been there for about six months now and should be settling in. They'll have the best perspectives of the country. My favorite vids are the ones about their hometowns. It's nice to see the different locales where JETs are placed. Some look like fairly large cities. Other that I've seen are totally in the inaka (country).
As I watch these videos, I'm kind of getting anxious about not hearing about the USA interviews. The list of people selected to get interviews is supposed to be posted in late January. Um, it's late January and there's been nothing. I cannot refrain from doing a daily check of the JET website, just in case the list is there. Hmm, now that I think about it, seeing the list posted would be useless to me. I don't carry my ID number around so even if the list was live I wouldn't know if I was on or not. I better start carrying that list around.
November 2, 2009
YouTubing the Night Away
Why am I up at 1:15 a.m. when I have to go to work in several hours? Well, at first it started out as well-intentioned research for JET. I was watching videos made by a girl (intro2the1) who has been in Japan on JET for over a year now. She's got a channel called Dear Life Japan, and it's pretty insightful stuff about basic things in Japan. I like that it's not only about her school life. She also covers issues in real life, cultural differences and even societal topics like abortion and suicide. It's really good stuff.
Now, for about the past hour or so, I've been listening to David Choi's videos. The boy can sing man. Gotta support the Asian talents out there, right? I came across this video he made of his grandparents and uncle singing a Korean folk song. I have no clue what they're saying, but they sound good to me. They are so cute, especially his grandmother. Here's the video:
Now, for about the past hour or so, I've been listening to David Choi's videos. The boy can sing man. Gotta support the Asian talents out there, right? I came across this video he made of his grandparents and uncle singing a Korean folk song. I have no clue what they're saying, but they sound good to me. They are so cute, especially his grandmother. Here's the video:
September 23, 2009
Shaolin Warriors, Blaisdell Concert Hall
I just got back from the opening night of the Shaolin Warriors performance at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. The show started at 7:30 p.m. and ran till about 9:30 p.m. There was a 15 minute intermission at about the halfway point.
Overall, I thought the show as interesting but not terribly original. If you've seen a kung fu-like performance by Chinese acrobats before, it'll probably be okay if you skip this show. While there were moments that were extremely jaw-dropping, those moments were few and far between. There was a lot of focus on the technical elements and not enough tricks.
I realize that the form and function of their martial art is a very important aspect of learning the artform. However, as a layperson, I found it to be quite boring. Give me the showmanship and the "wow" factor. It could just be that I'm from the YouTube generation, but I found myself thinking that I could be at home and have watched this entire performance condensed to a nine minute video and be perfectly happy. All the good stuff would've been captured in a video clip and the acrobatics would've been just as good . . . or maybe even better. Oh well, it was a good experience anyway.
Overall, I thought the show as interesting but not terribly original. If you've seen a kung fu-like performance by Chinese acrobats before, it'll probably be okay if you skip this show. While there were moments that were extremely jaw-dropping, those moments were few and far between. There was a lot of focus on the technical elements and not enough tricks.
I realize that the form and function of their martial art is a very important aspect of learning the artform. However, as a layperson, I found it to be quite boring. Give me the showmanship and the "wow" factor. It could just be that I'm from the YouTube generation, but I found myself thinking that I could be at home and have watched this entire performance condensed to a nine minute video and be perfectly happy. All the good stuff would've been captured in a video clip and the acrobatics would've been just as good . . . or maybe even better. Oh well, it was a good experience anyway.
August 7, 2009
Don't Let The Bastards Keep You Down
You ever feel like throwing shit around, ripping stuff up and then stomping outta the room? Felt like that today at work.
Today, I officially hate my job.
It has now become extremely taxing for me to get up every morning to drag my ass to work. Of course, I'm too responsible to just not show up, but I daydream about it sometimes. I daydream about hitting my boss upside the head like Gibbs does to Tony on NCIS. I daydream about flipping him the bird. I daydream about telling him he's a big, fat weiny!
Not only does my boss suck like a Dirt Devil on crack, he's so annoying that my eyeballs feel as though they're becoming dislodged from all the rolling they're doing. I can, at this point in time, admit to fully hating him. And that is not a statement I make lightly. It's not something I say about everyone who pisses me off. Just the special ones.
I really feel like he ruined my weekend. Despite it being Friday and not having to see him till Monday, I still feel irkatated by the mere thought of him. I feel like screaming because I'm just so frustrated with him and my life. I mean, I'm a good person. What did I do to get stuck with him as a boss? It's like a jail sentence I tell you.
I will seriously begin to think about my future and where I want to do with my life. I don't know if I can stick it out for much longer at this job, and he is too young to retire, so the choice is clear at this point. It is either him or me, and damn it, I choose me!
Maybe I can transfer to another department? Maybe I can find a new job? Maybe I really will apply for the Peace Corps or to teach ESL overseas? God, being a continent away sounds so good right about now.
In any case, I'll have to settle for the simple joy of listening to this song.
Today, I officially hate my job.
It has now become extremely taxing for me to get up every morning to drag my ass to work. Of course, I'm too responsible to just not show up, but I daydream about it sometimes. I daydream about hitting my boss upside the head like Gibbs does to Tony on NCIS. I daydream about flipping him the bird. I daydream about telling him he's a big, fat weiny!
Not only does my boss suck like a Dirt Devil on crack, he's so annoying that my eyeballs feel as though they're becoming dislodged from all the rolling they're doing. I can, at this point in time, admit to fully hating him. And that is not a statement I make lightly. It's not something I say about everyone who pisses me off. Just the special ones.
I really feel like he ruined my weekend. Despite it being Friday and not having to see him till Monday, I still feel irkatated by the mere thought of him. I feel like screaming because I'm just so frustrated with him and my life. I mean, I'm a good person. What did I do to get stuck with him as a boss? It's like a jail sentence I tell you.
I will seriously begin to think about my future and where I want to do with my life. I don't know if I can stick it out for much longer at this job, and he is too young to retire, so the choice is clear at this point. It is either him or me, and damn it, I choose me!
Maybe I can transfer to another department? Maybe I can find a new job? Maybe I really will apply for the Peace Corps or to teach ESL overseas? God, being a continent away sounds so good right about now.
In any case, I'll have to settle for the simple joy of listening to this song.
July 20, 2009
I Survived
I'm writing to you now from a near comotose state. Well, not really. But I'm extremely tired after surviving my three special events at work. Only an idiot schedules things this tight. But let's just leave it at that so I don't go off on a ranting tangent.
After living through this past week, I feel like singing Destiny's Child's "Survivor" from the rooftops:
I'm a survivor.
I'm not gon' give up.
I'm not gon' stop.
I'm gon' work harder.
I'm a survivor.
I'm gonna make it.
I will survive.
Keep on survivin'.
I wouldn't have to if I could just get the damn YouTube video to play with sound. I don't understand how all of them can be muted unless it's me. But I'm playing other vids online and the sound comes out fine.
In any case, I survived and alive to bitch about it.
Editor's Note:
The video is finally working. Here it is:
After living through this past week, I feel like singing Destiny's Child's "Survivor" from the rooftops:
I'm a survivor.
I'm not gon' give up.
I'm not gon' stop.
I'm gon' work harder.
I'm a survivor.
I'm gonna make it.
I will survive.
Keep on survivin'.
I wouldn't have to if I could just get the damn YouTube video to play with sound. I don't understand how all of them can be muted unless it's me. But I'm playing other vids online and the sound comes out fine.
In any case, I survived and alive to bitch about it.
Editor's Note:
The video is finally working. Here it is:
June 18, 2009
Scrubbing On Up To The East Side
Actually, no. I'm not scrubbing in on a surgery, but I am getting to watch a real live Visian ICL get implanted into someone's eye.
Let me back up. In researching this LASIK and Visian ICL thing, I asked the patient coordinator if I'd be able to watch a procedure be done. Luckily, while I was in the office last Thursday I got to see a LASIK procedure. I stood outside the operating room (if you can even call it that) and looked through the window. (It was very Grey's-like if you ask me). Everything went well and it was so quick. This technology nowadays is amazing.
Today I got word that I'll be able to watch a Visian procedure be done. Apparently there's no window to peek through, but I'll be able to watch a monitor showing an up-close look at the eye. This should be good enought to see how the lens is inserted into the eye. I think it'll look very CSI.
I've already watched a bunch of ICL procedures on YouTube, but it's not the same when it's live. I also think it's good to see it being done by your own personal surgeon, ya know? I want to watch the patient go in blind and watch them come out going, "Hot diggity dog, I can see!!!" That would be the best outcome. It's suck if the hobbled out still blind in immense pain . . . or maybe not walk out at all.
Still, I think I'm just overanalyzing this and letting my imagination run wild. Sure there are risks with every surgery. The only way not to take risks is to stop living. Risks are unavoidable. If I take this risk and get either the LASIK or ICL done and leave the office without the need for corrective lenses, I think it'll be worth it.
Let me back up. In researching this LASIK and Visian ICL thing, I asked the patient coordinator if I'd be able to watch a procedure be done. Luckily, while I was in the office last Thursday I got to see a LASIK procedure. I stood outside the operating room (if you can even call it that) and looked through the window. (It was very Grey's-like if you ask me). Everything went well and it was so quick. This technology nowadays is amazing.
Today I got word that I'll be able to watch a Visian procedure be done. Apparently there's no window to peek through, but I'll be able to watch a monitor showing an up-close look at the eye. This should be good enought to see how the lens is inserted into the eye. I think it'll look very CSI.
I've already watched a bunch of ICL procedures on YouTube, but it's not the same when it's live. I also think it's good to see it being done by your own personal surgeon, ya know? I want to watch the patient go in blind and watch them come out going, "Hot diggity dog, I can see!!!" That would be the best outcome. It's suck if the hobbled out still blind in immense pain . . . or maybe not walk out at all.
Still, I think I'm just overanalyzing this and letting my imagination run wild. Sure there are risks with every surgery. The only way not to take risks is to stop living. Risks are unavoidable. If I take this risk and get either the LASIK or ICL done and leave the office without the need for corrective lenses, I think it'll be worth it.
Posts
