Post-Its

At Seesmic, we made a video describing how to use the interface. It was kind of silly because one of the owners, the french guys appeared all over the screen in miniature, directing the viewer to buttons that needed pressing. Apparently it was a big hit in web business world, and people wanted to know how we did it. That was pretty simple... green screen and Final Cut, no big mystery. But viewers requested a making of video, so this is what we gave them...


I give you that because TeamJaded has been neglecting you on the video front. I'll be back in a little while with a bigger update.

Here's the link to that intro vid if you wanted to watch it.

Carrotmob!

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word Carrotmob?


Ok, that was pretty lame. I apologize (I found that here).

The Carrotmob I’m actually talking about is a non-profit started by Brent Schulkin. I’ve never met Brent, but I can tell you, anyone who posts this list of detailed personal values get an A+ in my book for honesty and openness. He also gets an A+ from TeamJaded for starting Carrotmob- a DIY do-er.

In an email forwarded to me, Brent says:

"If you didn't know, I'm trying to start a new non-profit called Carrotmob. This Saturday is the first campaign. If it is successful, the network will grow, I'll get funded and hire people, and I will have found a so-called "career", that elusive catch that we have all been seeking since we first learned what an "astronaut" was."

A sentiment regularly felt by those trying to Make It Happen. So TeamJaded urges you to support Brent and Carrotmob… Go do this:

“On Saturday, March 29th, at 1pm, come to K & D Market (on 16th St at Guerrero in San Francisco) and buy whatever you want. Buy a lot. We're going to be tracking everyone's purchases and then calculating how much revenue we brought to the store. K & D has committed to spending 22% of all the revenue we bring in on energy-saving measures identified by an SF Energy Watch audit, in order to make their store more environmentally friendly!”

Need more info? Go here. Got more Questions? Go here. It's pretty simple. Buy things you already buy. Help make the world a better place. Carrotmob made this lovely graphic to illustrate:


You still wondering what exactly IS Carrotmob?

From Carrotmob.org:
Our goal is to improve the world by helping companies embrace socially responsible choices. Our primary focus is the environment. We recognize that corporations must keep profit as their top priority. Historically, this fact has meant that the environment has suffered, since companies have made more money by harming the planet. We are going to put rewards in place that will make environmental responsibility the more profitable choice. Companies will do what we want, not because of negative pressure, or morality, or a boycott, or a petition...there are enough sticks out there. We need a big juicy carrot. They will do what we say because they won't be able to resist the profits.

And for those of you who hate reading, you probably didn't make it this far... but here you go:

Thanks to Rachel Strader for passing this info along.

Witness the Hub

This is another taste of Seesmic. I had the opportunity to cut Loic Lemeur's show yesterday. Loic is the company's founder and he also hosts a daily vlog called Seesmic Du Jour that details his experience launching Seesmic. The show is usually cut by Mr. Whit Scott, but he was busy playing Ultimate Frisbee in Italy.

The Reason that I'm sharing the show on TeamJaded is because Loic has an interesting guest. He talks to a guy named Sameer Padania who works for an organization called Witness. I'll let them explain what Witness is all about...


Oh, and notice the color in that video? So vibrant. That's our Canon A1, I love that camera.

Bingeaux!

Louisiana is it’s own country.


Well, at least it feels like it. Driving down I-10, I was bombarded by a language of words I’d never seen… or heard. In fact, I’m pretty sure without a Louisiana native reading the road signs, I’d have no idea what these words even sounded like.

For example: Atchafalaya. Or Calcasieu. Or try this one: Tchoupitoulas.

The only true Louisiana word I had come in contact with prior to this experience was "Lagniappe" (at TV Land we would make promos called “Lagniappes” because they served no functional purpose other than being entertaining). Coincidentally, about 8 years ago, Jeremey worked at Lagniappe Magazine in Lake Charles, LA.

Anyhoo, in the past few weeks, I’ve acquired a whole new vocabulary. And let me tell you, Louisianans sure know how to make speaking entertaining. Seriously, say these words out loud. I promise, they’re fun to say. Kinda like the word “Mahogany” (it just rolls off your tongue, right?).

And now I present:

Abby’s List of Fun Louisiana Words! (click on the words to learn what they are)

Boudin: [boo-DAN]
Étouffée: [ey-too-fey]
Jambalaya: juhm-buh-lahy-uh]
Gumbo: [guhm-boh]
Bayou: [bahy-oo]
Creole: [kree-ohl]
Doubloons: [dŭ-blōōn]
Gris Gris: [gree-gree]
Muffuletta: [muhf-uh-laht-uh]
Picayune: [pik-ee-yoon]
Pirogue: [pee-row] Not to be confused with the Polish "Pierogi"
Iowa: [eye-uh-way]
Bingeaux: [Bingo]

They don't have Counties here either... they have Parishes. And apparently state law is based on Napoleonic Code. Now you know why Louisiana is basically another country.

Also, on a final note, say this word out loud (for real): "Oyster"
Did you say "Oi-stchur" or "Oi-ster"?
Just wondering.

The Bees Bounce

Karl Rove isn’t the only one getting out of town; it looks like the Earth’s bee population is taking off as well. Up to 60 percent of bees have vanished from the West Coast and 70 percent from the East Coast and Texas. The mass exodus is attributed to a vague syndrome called Colony Collapse Disorder, but I’ll get to that in a minute…

What I think is amazing is that not very much is being made of this mysterious Bee vanishing. You might say to yourself, “what do I care if the bees disappear?” Honey is just bee puke and the thought of a bunch of bulimic bees collectively puking a jar full of thick amber throw up… well that’s just disgusting. Besides who likes getting stung? And an animal that hasn’t evolved past suicide as a defense measure is sort of suspect anyway, right? Plus they’ve been around for millions of years and their society hasn’t progressed one bit. Matriarchal totalitarianism, that’s hardly a meaningful contribution to civilization. And while all those statements are totally valid and understandable, it might surprise you to know that bees don’t just puke honey and sting people. They also pollinate a sizeable portion of the fruits and vegetables we humans eat.

According to Zac Browning the vice president of the American Beekeeping Federation, “Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food.” They pollinate at least $14 billion dollars worth of crops in the U.S. alone, including apples, nuts, pears, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, tomatoes, sunflowers and cucumbers. Along with citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and melons. (From here.)

Einstein once said, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then Man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more life.” So no bees equals no food. (And no food equals no us.) So unlike losing Karl Rove, losing the bees is something that we definitely need to be upset about.

What makes matters worse is that nobody is quite sure what’s causing Colony Collapse Disorder, only that the bee’s aren’t coming home to the hive and they haven’t left a forwarding address. Some theories blame pesticides, some blame mites or UFO’s, and others claim that cell phones are disrupting bees navigational systems causing them to spazz out and get lost in the wilderness. (Steve jobs I’m looking at you.) There’s even a theory that claims the missing bees evolved into Namura Jellyfish causing the vast Jelly plague in Japan.













Some scientists doubt that theory.

Whatever the cause, one thing’s for sure. We can add disappearing bees to the long list of possible cause for impending human annihilation. Put it right after global warming, but at least three stops up from the Rapture. (Sorry Bushies.)

Think of the bees the way we should be thinking about the polar ice caps. And I don’t mean as inconvenient barriers to Arctic oil reserves, but as the metaphorical canaries in the coal mine. Without the bees, we’re fucked. What does it say about a society that is so disconnected from its food supply that it barely understands or cares that no pollinating insects equals NO food supply?

But hey why trouble ourselves with it too much? Big Love’s on tonight and that show is awesome. Instead lets take a collective walk through the park, and maybe even stop to smell those beautiful, fragrant flowers… while we still have them.

And speaking of (birds and) bees...

Cheers! Tiki Bar TV & Pimm's Cup

My favorite drink is the Pimm's Cup. The Pimm's Cup is a delicious cocktail consisting of:

1-2 shots Pimm's No. 1 Liqueur
Ginger Ale
Lemonade (or Champagne)
Cucumbers
(with additional and variations on these ingredients)

So if you enjoy reading teamjaded with a refreshing cocktail, I can guarantee you’ll love watching Tiki Bar TV. After only a couple episodes, you’ll realize every problem can be solved with a great cocktail! The production, acting, and writing is superb. And to that, I say “Cheers!” Or if I were in another country I might say:

Belgium: Op Uw Gezonheid!
China: Wen Lie!
Denmark: Skal!
Ethiopia: Letenatchie!
Germany: Prosit!
Indonesia: Selamat!
Israel: L'Chayim!
Italy: Alla Salute!
Japan: Kanpai!
Morocco: Saha Wa Afiab
Poland: Na Zdrowie!
Russia: Jobnyem!
South Africa: Gesonoheid!
Spain & Mexico: Salud!
Sweden: Skal!
Ukraine: Bud'mo! (how has Budweiser not jumped on that one?)

Below find two fabulous videos. The first is Tiki Bar TV: episode 25, “Blue Hawaiian (guest staring Diggnation’s own Kevin Rose). The second is an intricate recipe on how to make your own Pimm's Cup. Teamjaded asks you to please watch responsibly.

Meet Bush? No thanks.

The last line of a New York Times article about Jeremy Hernandez, a Minneapolis bridge hero, says:

“When President Bush’s staff contacted him to request a photo opportunity, “He was just, like, ‘Nope,’ ” she said.”

Whether you believe Mr. Hernandez is skirting publicity or making a political stance, it’s a telling statement that Digg users have gotten into an uproar about the post. It’s number one as of this moment, and comments regarding the article make more of a statement on our society than the article subject itself.

1. Mr. Hernandez is worried about publicity. Except how weird is that? Shouldn’t EVERYONE want a photo-op whenever possible? Or wait, maybe he’s making a political statement trying to prove to society that celebrity status isn’t all it’s cracked up to be? Oh crap, maybe it’s just too much work. He didn’t want to waste all his time flying and being escorted to DC, just to shake a mans hand. I mean, he wanted to go fishing.

OR

2. Mr. Hernandez dislikes Bush. By snubbing this photo opportunity he says to our government, “I don’t support you. Take that.” Or wait, maybe he should have taken the photo op, and told off Bush to his face. Oh crap, it’s too late, now he’s on the “against us” list.

If you think he hates Bush or hates Publicity, this Digg post and its surrogate comments amuse.

A sampling:

“Owned. I wouldn't want to be in a picture with that assclown either.”

“The article does not say why he declined, yet everyone assumes his reasons are political.”

“He's already had one brush with disaster - my guess is he doesn't want another one.”

“He should have gotten an "I'm with stupid ->" t-shirt!”

“The summary is taken way out of context. Shame on you Blakovitch for stooping to this level to make this kid look like he hates Bush.”

“He should have taken him up on the opportunity and called him out on some shit when he was there. The article also says that a college offered him a full scholarship so good for him, its good to see good things come to those who do good deeds.”

Funny. And Sad.

Funny. And Sad.



Funny. And Sad. (Murphy's Law at it's finest)





Funny. And Sad.



David Segal from the Washington Post wrote quite possibly the best article on how 15 seconds of fame has a whole new meaning thanks to online video. He starts:

There was a time, not long ago, when a 10-year-old boy could head to a neighborhood fair, get his face painted like a Halloween zombie and blurt out something utterly inane to a local TV news correspondent and nobody would ever think about it again... more.

Stuff On My Cat, My Cat On Stuff

Stuff On My Cat

Updated 7/20/2007: Thank you so much to Mario at Stuff On My Cat for posting our video and linking to our blog! Thank you to everyone who commented and enjoyed Maggie's 'stackage'. You're all amazing.

Although we at TeamJaded are dedicated to interesting news, people, and the occasional politics, we do enjoy our fare share of fun websites. I for one, am a huge fan of Stuff on My Cat. Everyday it makes me smile. So when we purchased a new camera (Canon XH-A1), I decided to shoot my cat while figuring out the settings. What happened was something I never expected. A video where I put stuff… on my cat. Yes, you read that right. It’s slightly amusing, as Maggie (my cat), acts as if nothing is happening.

A while back I wrote about Maggie. I thought I’d share it with you now that you know how deceivingly cute she can be.

This was written August 12, 2006, 9 days after I moved from NYC to SF.

I have a foster cat. Her name is Maggie.

Last week Maggie went on the most exciting adventure up to this point in her 2-year-old life. However, I presume the trip from east coast to west coast may have been more exciting for the passengers on Jet Blue Flight 97.

Upon boarding the plane, it was realized that the cage she was traveling in was approximately 'yay' centimeter too big to fit under the seat in front of me. Maggie, cage, and I proceeded to the rear of the plane hoping for a smooth transfer into the airline-supplied cage.

All goes smoothly, and Maggie pops her little head out of the top of the gated cage. Then she pops her front paws out. Then she wiggles a bit. I'm trying desperately to push her resisting body back into the cage, only to realize her harness (yes, she's wearing a harness) is caught on the wires. She looks frantic. She's wriggling with all her might. The passengers are now crowding around the scene like lookie-loos in an accident. Maggie is caught halfway in and halfway out of the plastic-bottom, wire-top box. Finally the man in front of me picks her and the cage up, takes her to the back and finesses her out. We lock the hole with a twisty tie. Maggie, all tuckered out from her exhausting and embarrassing endeavor, sleeps the entire 6-hour flight.

Please allow me to delve in all that is Maggie the Cat.

When I decided to house this cat for "a six week trial period", I must admit, I wasn't what one would call "smart" about this decision. In fact, I fully take responsibility for my somewhat ill-advised act of altruistic feline charity.

My hopes of having a companion of independent temperament, who required little to no attention was to be found in a small little ball of fur with unclipped claws.

Cute? She was. Friendly? She was not.

Twiggy was her shelter moniker. Sadly, the stick-like underfed cat that she was fit the ridiculous name. A fierce growl, squinted eyes, and turned down ears was how she welcomed my hand as I tried to pet her calico fur. No such luck. She retreated to the corner of her newspaper-lined cell, foot stepping into her water bowl.

"I'll take her," I say. It was as though all my intelligent senses had taken a coffee break; and while my brain cells were dipping biscotti in espresso, I accepted this miniature life into my studio apartment. For better or for worse, in sickness & in health, 'till "six weeks later" do we part.

Eight months and 2582 miles later, Maggie Francois Scratcher, is still my foster cat. No official adoption has been made, as the shelter never called to check on their precious little demon.

Maggie has successfully wrecked a linen closet, demolished 2 large cardboard boxes, ruined the armrests of a corporate housing suede couch, and, among other things, peed on a suitcase.

She runs laps around the apartment at 5 in the morning. She will attack ankles if not fed at a proper time. She growls with a haunting, low snarl in the middle of the night, hair on end, eyes fixated on emptiness. She tries to escape every time the front door is opened... or the window on a 26-floor apartment.

Now, these things aside, Maggie has learned to be quite the friendly cat. She enjoys a nice bout of catnip therapy, a good tummy rub and a playful jaunt with a menacing ball of trash.

For those who are wondering why her name was changed, please refer to the following songs.

There's actually a song called 'Maggie the Cat' by The Bangs. I have yet to hear it.

Rod Stewart: Maggie May
Oh Maggie I wish I'd never seen your face
You made a first-class fool out of me
But I'm as blind as a fool can be
You stole my heart but I love you anyway
Maggie I wish I'd never seen your face
I'll get on back home one of these days

Beatles: Maggie Mae
Oh dirty Maggie Mae they have taken her away
And she never walk down Lime Street any more
Oh the judge he guilty found her
For robbing a homeward bounder
That dirty no good robbin' Maggie Mae

If one is the lonliest number...

Apparently two can be as sad as one, but I’ve always wondered about three through six. What are they? Why don’t they get to have any intrinsic qualities? Good thing we know seven is the luckiest number.

So, I guess that makes this month (July) the luckiest month during the luckiest year (‘07). How fitting that the new Seven Wonders of the World were announced recently? It’s hard to believe the Pyramids in Egypt didn’t make the cut. I also must admit, I didn’t realize we could actually change the Seven Wonders of the World. I mean, if there were more Wonders, shouldn't we just make Eight, or Nine Wonders? I guess people just like keeping it lucky.

And speaking of Seven Wonders, did you know Gandhi made a list he dubbed, “The Seven Blunders of the World?” Now, I guess I’ve never met Mr. Mahatma, but I didn’t think he was that cheesy. The list however, is something right up his alley. The Seven Blunders are:

1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle

Some relate this list to the seven deadly sins. I guess they could redo the movie "Se7en", but this time Brad Pitt’s job would be really easy. He would just arrest the President and the Vice President.

Daily Smarts

It’s blatantly obvious that I enjoy a good bout of The Daily Show/ Colbert Report. Besides nerdy History Channel & Discovery Channel shows, these two Comedy Central staples complete my TV repertoire. And thankfully, I never watch the network news. It turns out (surprise!) I’m smarter for watching Jon and Steven. According to a recent study, Fox News viewers aren’t up to par when it comes to current events.

And... one would have hoped the Internet would have spewed out a bit of enlightened knowledge on the American public, but sadly, only 69% of people today can name… the Vice President. Apparently, Cheney is really good at keeping information from the public.

But thanks to wikipedia, we can all ooze our vast and unending knowledge into the “free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.” Your wikiality is my wikiality. But who’s wikiality is bigger, you ask? Katie Holmes or Oliver Wendell Holmes? And don’t ask if they mean the Poet or the Supreme Court Justice. Test your knowledge here.