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Video Blogging and the Ego of Self

Anil posted this video on his blog. It is an interesting video about how the TV Craze started even when we were kids. I remember as a kid, my father was one of the first to have a video camera back in the early 80's. There are videos of me and my brother making music videos, me always trying to grab the camera from my dad, family gatherings, etc. Later in High School friends and I made our own shows and movies together on weekends for fun. I think that my generation has grown up with video. The question is do we really act differently in front of the camera now or have we become so accustomed to it that it is as if our whole lives have become one big reality show with everyone and no one watching. It's no wonder that people nowadays are suffering from something called the Truman Show Disorder. It's where people believe that they are constantly being filmed, everyone friends, family etc. has been replaced by actors, so on and so forth. Is it any wonder when almost every cell phone has the ability to capture video and broadcast it to the world that we feel this paranoia?

So here is my take on it. Unfortunately I don't see it stopping. I don't see it slowing down at all. So how do we cope, how do we maintain our sense of selves rather than the "Show Selves" we wish to portray to the rest of the world? For me personally I do have a "Show GabeMac" that i am on Mobuzz.tv, and another GabeMac offline. Of course there are similarities, but on my own video blogs, the personal ones, I open to the world as well. Such as when i turned 30, my grandmother died, or when Tamara and I broke up. Those are extremely personal videos that I opened to the world. Many friends and family say that I am nuts for doing that, yet at the same time, many online friends have expressed deep appreciation for those videos to me in confidence. Is it safe to do so? Is it right to do so? I don't know. All I know is that it has become a part of my life in sharing and exchanging with the world. Many are afraid that Big Brother is watching all this. In the end, I think it's actually lots of Little Brothers watching, and when everyone's secrets are out in the open, we become aware that everyone has those secrets. Those moments of weakness, pain, joy and love. Of course they are special, but they will no longer become something we have to be ashamed of.

I think the main question to leave you with here is through video blogging are we increasing our EGOs, giving them steroids and loosing our true selves, or will the EGO become so inflated that they burst leaving just a true self and harmony in the end. I'm curious about your feelings. This is all very new folks, and we have a lot of growing up to do and understanding with this new medium.

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Dreaming of Leia

I don't know about you, but to me a woman dressed up0 like Princess Leia from Jedi is about the hottest thing in the world. I mean I can honestly say that's when I first felt the urge to have an erection as a kid when I saw jedi. Ok that and Olivia Newton John's Get Physical video. Not sure why Olivia did that to me, maybe I was into the movie Xanadu to much at the time. In any case, it's humpday, er Wed.day so I figured a little pick me up to get me through the week. A perfect leia search. So here are some pics, and come join me as we oggle, er um view the dream of som many 30-25 year olds. Asian Leia (maybe to Asian, but I have a soft spot for Asian women) Ok the one on the right isn't what I'm looking at, the one on the left is almost a dead ringer for Leia though. leia-9.jpg Nice but not quite sure I could handle her. Looks like this leia has a taste for expensive black cars, kinda MIB style. To much alien for me. leia-7.jpg

Ok. This is it. Is this Olivia Munn from Attack of the Show? Ok, I'm sold this is my new Leia pinup girl. Wallpaper activated!

leia-2.jpg

Oh m an, someday if I dream hard enough maybe I could be Skywalker Hefner for a party. I know, my next b-day is women in leia costumes only party. Dudes can come as jedi of choice. leia-23.jpg

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Spike on G4TV with Comicon

[Annecy Animation Gods and me]

My Buddy Spike called me up today and was dumbstruck that I moved to Spain. "I guess you can no longer be the Fake dutchie" he said. We talked for a bit and he told me he was on G4's Attack of The Show during Comicon. Always fun to see Spike in his element. For more check out Spike and Mike's website for some great Sick and Twisted animations.

Here's my interview with Spike back in the XOLO days:

And the G4 show:

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Teaching Video Blogging in Amsterdam

gabemac
gabemac

If you are into Theater and Video, this is going to be very cool. The TF (Theater Festival) organization is looking for students and creatives to Video Blog the Theater Festival in Amsterdam this September. As training I will be giving a 2 day workshop to at the Machouse in Amsterdam on the 21 and 22 of August to those that want to participate.

We will be going through everything from camera work, sound, live moblogging, review of various video sharing sites and more. It will be 2 days of non-stop Video Blogging tips, tricks and techniques. So if you are interested got to this site for more info or email Carolien Labib [ carolien (AT) tf.nl ] to sign up. The course will be in English, because my Dutch is slipping away. Sign up quickly while there is still space.

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Interview with Apple Co-Founder Steve!

About a month ago I had the pleasure to interview Steve Wozniak for mobuzztv. It was for me (an Apple Fanboy) a DREAM COME TRUE! Steve also known as iWoz or Woz is the man responsible for building the first Apple computers. Most people talk about Steve Jobs, but Jobs was the man with the marketing ideas and style. It was Woz that actually designed and built the first Apple and Macintosh computers. Many say Jobs is the Father of Apple and Woz is the Mother of Apple. It was a great way to start my run at mobuzz, to interview a man who has shaped my life and experience with technology in such a big way. I know it sounds like I am ass kissing here, but it really was a honor and something I WILL NEVER FORGET! He was really nice, and someone to follow with his charity work and educational passions. So have a look at the interview and let me know what you think of it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FBpvIcbG6Y[/youtube]

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First Mobuzz show is online

I have my first Dailybuzz with Mobuzz show online now. I'm still trying to find a nice style for the show, but Anil said to really be myself and not try to be Olivia, so I did that. I'm not sure what the Mobuzz fans will think, but at least there will be little to compare as we have 2 completely different styles. Some will kike it, some will hate it and some won't care either way I think. That's how it goes. I'm curious what you all think. So far it's been real fun and we are thinking of all kinds of new things to do with the show. I'm really excited about it. The team is great, the city is fun, the job is good for me, now the public reaction is what I'm waiting to see. Cheers!

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Presenting @ Mobuzz TV

Dailybuzzintro
Dailybuzzintro

As of today I will be the new host of the Dailybuzz on Mobuzz. Anil de Mello is an old friend and he needed a new host fast. He called me last week and asked if I would come down and help him with the show. "Of course!" I said. So I came down to Spain, got a tour, and started filming the shows right away. The whole team here is really fantastic. Spain is a lot of fun. It's perfect for me right now as well. I see this as an opportunity to reset and reload. New scenery, new people, new opportunities, because the last half year both privately and at work at XOLO Media drained me.

Those of you who know me are of course asking, what about XOLO Gabe? I'm still working as an advisor for XOLO, as well as other things. I still enjoy teaching Design for Virtual Theater and Games in Utrecht, working with the guys at cellspace on the Virtual Immortality project, and advising on the new Alternate Reality Game start-up Quest Away. AND I am just really psyched to be working at Mobuzz as well. Life treats you great sometimes! The whole team has really made me feel welcome, and today was really fun to get back into editorial and presenting in this fashion. I hope everyone will enjoy my personality on the show and I get to make a lot of new friends.

Go Vlog Yourself, and I'll see you on the dailybuzz.

P.S. Could anyone recomend some good teach yourself spanish podcasts? Leave a comment.

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Climbing Again

Me and Viola

It's been a while since I've been climbing. I started when I was about 12 or 13 in Germany. GabeB started climbing with me for a hile, but I haven't really been since I broke my ankle a few years ago. Mainly because GabeB said he didn't really like it anymore. And I feel safer climbing with 2 people rather than 1.

All is not lost though. I ran into an old school mate Viola in Feb. by chance in Utrecht, and she had just gotten back from a 3 month climbing and hiking trip through Asia. We went for a couple of drinks and she was amazed to hear that I love the outdoors and love climbing. It was inspiring to hear her stories and we've been trying to go climbing since. Last week we did, and it was great fun! It's great to have a climbing partner again. Like Viola said everyone our age is a couple and it's cool to find someone as a climbing partner. And I have to say she is a better climber than me. In any case I got to get my climbing gear out again, and feel not so jealous of my buddy Rupert going to Turkey climbing for his vacation. So time willing I'll be doing more climbing now which is a nice supplement to the weekly yoga I'm doing. And I have to say it's getting me

back in shape. Since January I've lost about 15 kilos and reduced my body fat down to 13%. Mainly by diet, lots of going out and yoga.

I hope this inspires you to get out this summer and start doing some activities and enjoying nature again, if you don't already. If you want some more inspiration have a look at this video from Rupert that he posted about his climbing tour in Turkey. Rupert, let's go climbing together soon mate!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90xfWYnz9KM[/youtube]

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