The Happy snapper meets YouTube

I have just tried out the movie function on my camera. I now have a film of our cat rolling around on the sofa and falling onto the floor.  My camera doesn’t have a huge amount of memory, but I can make a film about as long as a Super 8 movie.

I could  save it on my computer, upload it onto Flickr, or add it to Facebook. I’m not going to. I’m going to use YouTube. YouTube’s tagline is ‘Broadcast Yourself’. It seems like everyone has put something on YouTube. Web blogs and confession-cam are there along with short films and music. If you need a bit of entertainment or an instructional video – YouTube possibly has it. The University of Canterbury is on it and so is Christchurch City Council. Even Christchurch City Libraries utilised it in 2009 as part of our  150th birthday celebrations.

Subscribing to YouTube is easy and allows you to add the the collection of film clips. You do have to remember three rules:

1. Don’t upload a clip to YouTube if you don’t hold the copyright to it.
2. Don’t upload a clip that you don’t want you grandmother or boss to see.
3. Check your privacy settings.

I didn’t try anything until I read all about it. I found a book called YouTube 4 You . It’s well illustrated and covers the basics. When I become more skilled, I’ll be borrowing the book again to use part 4 – YouTube for advanced users.

It’s eclectic, it’s interesting and down right weird and I tried it out after borrowing a book from the library.

 

Owl Stretching Time

Life of Python

On Monday 5 October it was 40 years since Monty Python debuted on the BBC. Their name was a combination of the BBC’s desire to have Circus in the title and their idea of a name a dodgy theatrical agent might have.

My favourite Python sketch – “NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition – our chief weapon is surprise, surprise and fear…our TWO weapons are surprise, fear and a ruthless efficiency…our three weapons are surprise, fear, ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope…AMONGST our weaponry are such diverse elements as fear, surprise…I’ll come in again.”

I was so happy when I realised the Library has heaps of stuff by Monty Python (including audio, books and DVD’s) and about Month Python and its members and if you are a YouTuber, you’ll be pleased to know that you can watch high quality versions of their stuff on their own approved YouTube Channel! There is a great clip of them explaining why they’ve decided to fight back against the pirated, grainy, unfunny recordings of them that have been posted on YouTube by others.

 

Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

If you watched the Emmy’s last night and thought the presenter, Neil Patrick Harris was awesome, you love the show How I Met Your Mother, or used to watch Doogie Howser, M.D. then this hilarious super hero musical is for you.  I discovered it while searching on Amazon a few weeks ago, but it started as a free internet show when the writer’s strike was on in America.  It’s the brainchild of Joss, Zack and Jed Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame.  Dr Horrible is an aspiring super villan who is trying to get into the Evil League of Evil and also get the girl of his dreams.  However, his nemesis, Captain Hammer always seems to get in the way.  After being defeated so many times he decides he has to take drastic measures.  Neil Patrick Harris is absolutely amazing as Dr Horrible and he’s a great singer as well as a great actor.  The songs are hilarious, with such titles as ‘My Freeze Ray,’ ‘A Man’s Gotta Do,’ and ‘Everyone’s a Hero.’

You can watch the whole show (in three parts) here on Youtube.  You won’t be disappointed.

 

Watching you…

Search Engine Optimization Bible

Google is the most popular search engine, even being promoted to verb status, but which search engine is number 2? According to Comscore, it’s YouTube with Yahoo! coming in third by .2 million hits. According to a study by Ellacoya Networks, YouTube videos now makeup 10 percent of all Internet traffic!

Interested in getting your content onto the 2nd most popular search engine? The library has an electronic subscription to the Search Engine Optimization Bible by Jerri Ledford, choose “View Online” to start reading. You just need your library card and pin number to access this, you can get a Pin by contacting us, and yes we do IM.