Turns out the world isn’t going to end on December 21, 2012. NASA debunks that via YouTube… so don’t let your credit balance soar by that date.
Turns out the world isn’t going to end on December 21, 2012. NASA debunks that via YouTube… so don’t let your credit balance soar by that date.
Hey it’s Friday. With only one more day before the Apocalypse/Rapture begins, here are some last-minute things you can do. Hey, if you’ve been procrastinating, don’t worry. These are fairly quick ones.
I only had to read about one of the batch of dead birds to suspect Notradamus must have predicted this. But alas, it seems we’ve had a few (source: BBC):
While there are no doubt some rational and scientific explanations, it’s just too easy to see this as an irrefutable apocalyptic warning here… common, people, especially with 2012 approaching.
Dr. No also predicted the BP Oil Spill (Associated Content, Yahoo):
“A great stench will come from Lausanne, but they will not know its origin, they will put out all people from distant places, fire seen in the sky, a foreign nation defeated.”
Famous “Damus” saw the coming of The Man With the Golden Voice (homeless guy), although clearly it wasn’t in his top-10 quotes:
“A man from poverty shall emerge to divine success, and make Kraft voiceovers.” (Okay I took some liberties with the interpretation of that).
NewsyVideo — a certain credible journalistic news source, as evidenced by the authentic news sounds and graphics — provides perspective about “the collective freakout” and the “real story.”
Some free, personally curated video collection for braving the pending imminent apocalypse:
2100 pages and 50 jotter books, but it got full marks… so the displeased eskimo may be pleased with this work.
LisaLavie1 and other amazingly talented YouTube singers joined together in song in a 2010 version of “We Are the World” for Haiti. Who says community isn’t vibrant in social media’s most visceral form (online video)? The video links to the 2010 remake of Quincy Jones’ version (which has surpassed 11 million views), and to wearetheworldfoundation.org. Credits for this YouTube homage are below.
Mike Kalombo created the track:
http://www.youtube.com/KlassicMaster
Lisa’s boyfriend, Alphacat spent 3 days editing it along with Lisa (they have a duo channel):
http://www.youtube.com/AlphaLavie
Alphacat
http://www.youtube.com/Alphacat
Troye Sivan
http://www.youtube.com/troyesivan18
Melissa Polinar
http://www.youtube.com/Mpolinar
Ben Sharkey
http://www.youtube.com/Bensharkey
Iann Guérin
http://www.youtube.com/iann72
Bruce & Daniel
http://www.youtube.com/Dcfan4life
Mishal Moore
http://www.youtube.com/MishalmooreMusic
Ahmir
http://www.youtube.com/Ahmirtv
Blair Perkins
http://www.youtube.com/blairperkinstv
Lyne Sullivan
http://www.youtube.com/LyneSullivan
Lois Mahalia
http://www.youtube.com/LoisMahalia
Chris Cendana
http://www.youtube.com/Ccendana
Jumoke
http://www.youtube.com/JumokeTv
JRice
http://www.youtube.com/Jriceproductions
Luna Mae
http://www.youtube.com/luuntjemae
SamDaSinga
http://www.youtube.com/SamdaSinga
Anhayla
http://www.youtube.com/Anhaylarene
Maria Zouroudis
http://www.youtube.com/MariaZouroudis
Lisa Lavie
http://www.youtube.com/LisaLavie
David Choi
http://www.youtube.com/DavidChoiMusic
Richard Rick Rose
http://www.youtube.com/rickmusiq06
Nick Pitera
http://www.youtube.com/Goonieman86
Aj Rafael
http://www.youtube.com/ilajil
Lucas Teague
http://www.youtube.com/LucasTeague
Jessica Sanchez
http://www.youtube.com/Jsanchezfan
Thia Megia
http://www.youtube.com/Thiamegia
Shan Malaika
http://www.youtube.com/Shanmalaika1
Airto
http://www.youtube.com/Airto
Emmanuelle Auger
http://www.youtube.com/Emmanuelleda
Laura Broad
http://www.youtube.com/blawah2000
BeeKay
http://www.youtube.com/BeeKay86
Sheena Melwani
http://www.youtube.com/SheenaMelwani
Dan Talevski
http://www.youtube.com/Danjt87
Frank Bell
http://www.youtube.com/Faure45
Orlando Dixon
http://www.youtube.com/museman18
Iman Crosson
http://www.youtube.com/alphacat
JR Aquino
http://www.youtube.com/JRAquinoMusic
Eric Arceneaux
http://www.youtube.com/EricArceneaux
Stacy Dudero
http://www.youtube.com/jstizzel03
Meghan Tonjes
http://www.youtube.com/tonjesml
James Dupre
http://www.youtube.com/JamesDupreMusic
Heidi Jutras
http://www.youtube.com/Dididole
Anna Moya
http://www.youtube.com/user/AnnaMoyaM…
Laura Song
http://www.youtube.com/Lis1127
Renee Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/ReneeThomasMusic
Jon McSingee
http://www.youtube.com/Jonmcsingee
Laurence
http://www.youtube.com/Laurence0802
Nick Gardner
http://www.youtube.com/nrhgardner
Jon Cahlander
http://www.youtube.com/JonCahlandermusic
Julie Corrigan
http://www.youtube.com/JulieCorrigan2
Today, December 17, is the third-annual “Project for Awesome,” where thousands of Nerdfighters will be using online-video to “reduce world suck.”
Even if you understood nothing in the headline or lead, I encourage you to keep reading because you’ll learn a lot about online-video through this story.
John and Hank Green were brothers who lost contact over the years, and decided to change that through daily vlogs to each other (which they posted for the rest of the world as Vlogbrothers). I find myself increasingly frustrated with people in online video that don’t know their name… and give them the look of disgust you get from a sports enthusiast when you say “I hope Tiger Ruth helps the New Orleans Rangers make it to the Superbowl.”
Unlike other popular online video creators, the vlogbrothers put their loyal viewers, ideals, intellect and charity above themselves. This has created a genuine fan base of people (we call ourselves Nerdfighters), who would pretty much do whatever the Green brothers asked unless it involved hurting small animals. We’re bonded on the pursuit of increasing awesome and decreasing suck. After all a good planet is equal to awesome less suck (put mathematically, that’s GP=A-S). In my opinion, increasing awesome is easier that decreasing suck. It’s easier to bond around a cause than a complaint.
Today, like the two prior years, hundreds of video creators will make “Project for Awesome” videos to promote good causes (here’s mine, which is to promote awareness of autism). “We want to make the world a better place, and so we’re thanking people who have dedicated their lives to do that, and promoting their cause with our time and our money,” the brothers write on their website.
So here’s what to watch for today:
Now let’s say your heart is made of ice, and you really don’t care about community or charity. What can you learn from this as a marketer? Well to keep it real, you’d unlikely be able to replicate this, because people tend not to rally around a brand or commercial effort like this.
But it does show the influence that a few people can have on a larger group (the YouTube “community” that is still vibrant), and in turn to a much wider audience of YouTube grazers (the rest of the world). Give people something to care about that’s bigger than your brand or you, and do something selfless (to help reduce world suck). That’s a noble cause, right? And maybe we’ll see major charities or brands tossing their hats in the ring this year or next.
The Vlogbrothers (Hank and John) helped orchestrate another “Project Awesome,” and I’m sad I missed participating. This thumbnail collection (right) is a collection of “Project 4 Awesome” videos, which are featured on YouTube’s homepage. Individual creators recognized a charity of their choice to help “end world suck.”
While I’m glad to see YouTube editors recognize this powerful grassroots movement, I’m far more struck by the image I saw 2 days ago. The most popular and highest-rated videos of December 18 were those created as part of this program.
The brothers didn’t need to feature the already popular Julia Nunes (Jaaaaaaa), but her “P4A/Office/Lupus” video was one of my favorites. First, I’m a huge fan. Second, you can see her sincerity and humility about asking viewers to help the Lupus foundation, even though a family member has Lupus. Third, she opens with the theme for my favorite television show since 1893 when TVs were invented. She’s going to knit a hat for the highest bidder on eBay (I awakened this morning, and grabbed my laptop, coffee and credit card… but alas, the bidding at $800 is past the Nalts price range).
John and Hank aren’t just interesting video creators, but very purposeful, intelligent and passionate. John’s an author, Hank a musician and more. And their viewers, who proudly call themselves “nerdfighters,” rally not just around the brothers, but around the values they share… ending world suck and all.
Folks, this is social media at its finest, and so far from self promotion known by many on YouTube (including myself). However it makes these creators and channels more appealing. For instance, I’ve seen the Elevator Show and met Woody, but his appeal for MS made me realize he’s not just funny- but he has a heart. It prompted me to watch about 10 episodes of his show that I hadn’t yet seen.
It will be interesting to see how the “grazers” of YouTube (those who surf specific videos or scan the homepage) will respond… will they roll their eyes and return to hot babes and cats? Or will they help the Nerdfighters grow the army of awesomeness?
Two closing thoughts:
It’s nearing the end of John and Hank Green’s experiment called Brotherhood 2.0. They’ve used video to communicate each day for the past year… each posting a video on alternative days, and communicating in no other way. And they’ve invited the world to watch…
The two recently helped initiate “Nerdfighter Power: ’07 Project for Awesome” takeover of YouTube. I’m not really sure how to explain it, so I’ll let John. Or maybe Hank should explain it.
I participated in it (to help reduce world suck), but didn’t quite know about this whole Brotherhood 2.0 thing at the time. How? I’m a friggin’ Viral Video Genius, and I am just finding out about this!?
Now I’m infatuated by it, even if they are ghosts of ZeFrank. Check out their FAQ.