YouTube has now taken on the role of a self-appointed arbiter of political correctness, gun control, and thought regulation.

Los Angeles, CA—The platform recently announced new terms of service concerning videos related to firearms education. These new censorship measures are driven by ignorance and emotion.

The controversy and politics surrounding guns are often misunderstood, even by the well-educated. Meanwhile, other significant societal issues like drug abuse, DUI, and various tools of violence receive far less attention. Guns have been increasingly glamorized by violent movies and video games.

Neal Mohan, a 50-year-old Indiana native of Indian descent with an MBA, is currently at the helm of YouTube. He is navigating the platform amidst loud public outcry, leading to what many see as a sociological disaster.

YouTube enjoys legal immunity, allowing it to selectively publish content unless Congress or the courts intervene.

Content creators are increasingly frustrated with YouTube's algorithms, which direct viewers to and away from specific videos. Erratic monetization decisions can devastate creators who depend on YouTube revenue to make a living.

Creating compelling videos is hard work, requiring skills in research, writing, photography, video editing, and sound engineering. Despite advanced technology and successful influencers like Casey Neistat, the current path to YouTube success involves avoiding any potentially controversial topics. Many creators now resort to AI to produce their content.

YouTube's policies affect all creators, not just those related to firearms. For instance, even those teaching camera use and videography have been impacted. The terms of service are often confusing, vague, and inconsistently applied, reflecting a subjective and increasingly restrictive political correctness.

The platform has grown so large and convoluted that its management appears out of control. While legal immunity offers some protection, YouTube still faces potential litigation.

YouTube should cease its algorithmic manipulation, but it likely won't, as it seeks to control the thinking of its millions of viewers and influence public policy. It has become a self-appointed, left-leaning thought police.

Most other social media platforms are similar, though X may soon overtake YouTube as a video-sharing space. Content creators need a platform driven by advertising sponsors, free from algorithms and censorship.

The Big Picture, Why Broadcast and Print News is on Life Support

Los Angeles, CA—I’ve worked in TV news as an investigative freelancer for nearly 30 years.  I never sought nor obtained a formal journalism education but was drafted into TV news strictly for my investigative ability.  I was lucky to be given a, second to none, on the job journalism education by many gifted reporters, producers, media lawyers  and TV news consultants. 

For the last 15 years I’ve watched the slow death of news, as we knew it.  News consumers have left broadcast and print news in droves. They’ve escaped to Internet bloggers and vloggers for their information. 

Left behind are the folks that simply never learned computers or even smart phones.  Because they’re technophobes they’ve become a captive audience for television and print news.  Then there are the illiterate and poor.  Few of these folks are great targets for advertisers other than drug and reverse mortgage companies.

I think print is failing as society has moved away from reading or even writing to video or voice.  Its sad but simple literacy has been on the decline in America since the invention of radio and TV. 

Despite vast technology changes TV news has changed little since the days of Edward R. Murrow.  A TV news anchor sits at a desk and drones on from a teleprompter.  Reporters in the field tell their stories all in identical fashion.  In this mix is nearly zero originality or creativity.  Every channel is virtually the same! To add insult they even run their segments of news, weather and sports at the same time.  Even the commercials are run in identical time slots.

Murrow has been dead for over five decades!  Since then technology and our capabilities have changed dramatically.  Still the suits running TV news are too cowardly to change with the times. 

However ownership of big media has introduced massive amounts of political propaganda.  The endless talking heads claiming to be experts in government do little more than alienate 50% of the audience. Today you get a little news while the talking heads tell you who to hate!  Anymore, it’s never a case of, “We deliver and You Decide. “  It’s more about, we tell you what to think.

The lack of creativity along with the over-abundance of Leftist opinion is killing broadcast news.  The serious decline in literate Americans at the same time is destroying print news.

YouTube has really broken the mold.  They’ve somewhat democratized the process of just who is allowed to produce video content.  It’s true that most offerings are experimental crappy video made by those that don’t yet have a clue.  However some have developed both terrific video making skills and personality.   Over time they’ve learned the craft quite well.

There the Internet standouts that became millionaires like Casey Neistat. They don’t provide news, just diversions and entertainment.  Others run the gamut of the political spectrum.  Nobody seems to provide pure news anymore. 

Because of serious competition TV News business must be like Barnum and Baily’s Greatest Show on Earth, or it will simply fail today.   TV news must learn from talented bloggers like Neistat who can make a creative and interesting story out of something as boring as paint drying.  Our audiences that advertisers count on are not sophisticated or particularly wise.  There is that thing called, the lowest common denominator and they need to be entertained with serious eye candy and music.

If TV news wants to survive they need the millennials.  TV news has no choice but to quickly learn from Casey Neistat and move forward.  

Avoiding controversial editorial opinions is also something that can unify rather than divide and jettison your audience. 

YouTube, Music, Copyright, Compensation and More Importantly Fair Treatment of the Artists and their Property.

Los Angeles, CA—YouTube has changed entertainment and news in a big way.   It’s brought the true democratization of mass media allowing virtually anyone to create, and broadcast whatever he or she desires.  Saying that, there are those issues related to what content gets special behind the scenes promotion by YouTube.  There is a lot of trash mixed in with some stunning content.  YouTube is also a training ground for those that want to shape and hone their skills.

Music lovers routinely steal or borrow music content created by others for their video’s soundtracks. This has created copyright pandemonium.  However it’s not really a bad thing for the artists. In fact new exposure of forgotten music of decades gone by has boosted legitimate sales!

I’m a chronic music thief!  I do it because I fail to see the harm and I don’t get punished.  More importantly I need great music for the videos I create.  There is copyright free material but it’s really lame in most cases.

I’ve become addicted to camera drones and sharing my incredible videos with friends and strangers alike.  I can either do a voiceover or add music to the soundtrack.  Drone video was made for exceptional music. I have to find and borrow music based on type and length so my videos become enjoyable.

Right now YouTube compensates artists through shared advertising revenue. However my numerous friends in Europe are blocked from my videos because of compensation issues.

I say these issues must be worked out for art’s sake!  I’d be willing to pay a reasonable fee to insure my videos are seen everywhere in the civilized world.  I don’t mind the advertising provided it’s fair to the music artists.

Below are some of the drone videos where I placed “borrowed” music.  It’s my hope that viewers will be encouraged to legitimately purchase those songs for their music various devices. 

Cilla Black Sings:

Frank Sinatra Sings:

Richie Havens and Amy Winehouse Sings:

Carice van Houten Sings:

  

My Music Copyright Infringement Dilemma is Troubling, There Must be a Solution!

Los Angeles, CA—Like most of my blog visitors I love music.  I have my favorites from Gershwin to The Doors.  The artists that have entertained me deserve all of the reward for their work.  Every musical recording is a labor involving numerous people that worked so hard to create.

The music industry exists because of intellectual property rights.  Without these rights so many of the hits we enjoy everyday may never have pleased our ears.

My video host YouTube has settled most copyright issues with the use of music within the USA.  Advertising and iTunes links have solved many of the problems.

There was also a surprising discovery made by the copyright holders in the form of increased sales when a video featuring their products was popular legitimate sales of the music increased too.  Old forgotten hits suddenly were reanimated into moneymaking popularity once again!

As many of my visitors know I’m into the camera drone technology.  My drones shoot amazing video but the natural sound is the annoying sound of the whirling rotors and motors.  I must replace the soundtrack with music or a voiceover.  Music is the obvious choice. 

There is lots of copyright free music out there but most of it sucks in a big way.  Of course I want to use my favorite material. The problem is that my videos are blocked out in Europe because of unresolved copyright issues.

I want so much to share some great music that matches the videos.  I’d be willing to pay a reasonable fee for the privilege to have these videos seen worldwide. 

I have many friends in Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands where I can’t share these videos. 

I will give you two examples.

While I was in Carmel By The Sea I sent my drone up over the beach for the soundtrack I used my favorite actress on the planet.  She  is a multi-talented Dutch lady, Carice van Houten.  She sang this classic 1930’s American song in her terrific film, Black Book called 100 Years From Today. 

Late this summer I was asked to shot a scene in the Palmdale desert for a film for my film director friend, Pablo Lewin.  The film is in post production right now and I’m not sure what Pablo has in mind for the soundtrack covering my shot.

Pablo gave me permission to show this scene on YouTube and I immediately knew the music I wanted to use!  It’s from the film Baghdad Café but is sung by Patti LuPone and is called, Calling You.   How perfect it was! 

There has to be a way to solve this problem. 

Needless to say my European friends will not be able to see these.  

 Carmel By The Sea

The Palmdale Desert Scene:

YouTube, a Showcase for Stephanie Carrie’s Talent!

Stephanie Carrie will make you laugh for sure!

Los Angeles, CA—Most of my visitors know that among other things I’m an actor too. 

I met Stephanie Carrie when I attended Tom Todoroff’s Acting Studio here and made some other life long friends along the way.  Nearly every one of Tom’s students has some kind of TV or film credits but making the coveted A list is really tough.  

We've all learned that even the best talent does not translate to fortune and fame.  It’s more about having a very effective agent.  It also boils down to the agent selecting the you as their talent and not then other way around. 

Carrie is an actress, singer, writer and comedian.  Like everyone she struggled and paid her dues.  She also recently started a web series.  

Carrie has a YouTube channel and put something up yesterday that caught my eye. 

It’s a satirical parody of the crisis in the Ukraine and that thin-skinned Russian fellow, Vladimir Putin.  Carrie has obviously payed attention and also just happens to fluently speak Russian.  I just hope that she does not wind up in the Gulag like some members of Pussy Riot over this offering.

I hope Lorne Michaels of SNL spots Carrie and put her in his lineup where she belongs! 

Sit back and enjoy, Let It Go, Putin!

Learning from Mitch Bergsma the Amazing Deaf GoPro Camera Guru

Austin, TX—Recently I’ve joined the GoPro camera aficionados in a big way.  I’ve also learned that YouTube has some terrific tutorials for almost anything.  So I went searching for ways to best exploit my GoPros (so far I have two). 

I found Mitch Bergsma’s YouTube channel and began watching this fellow’s fine instructional videos.  Most of his videos have no sound nor does he speak.   Nonetheless I’m learning a lot from the video tips he provides. 

Bergsma is young, athletic, incredibly creative and happens to be stone deaf!  Having suffered a somewhat serious hearing loss in recent years I’m fortunate in that I’ve been helped with hearing aids that allow me to function quite normally.

Bergsma who was born deaf has also been helped with hearing aids but prefers to work without them.  It’s obvious that he’s adapted very well at a time before the hearing aids were improved as they are today.  Let me be the first to say my hearing aids annoy me but I can’t live without them.

Bergsma communicates in sign language, pantomime and the written word.  He has a great presence and has a great gift for communication even without saying a word.  Bergsma is a true showman!  Among other things Bergsma is a wakeboarder, scuba diver, and video producer.  He does business under the name MicBergsma Productions.  Bergsma also sells the products he profiles on his various Internet sites.

On YouTube MicBergsma has over 70,000 subscribers and that translates to cold, hard cash!  He garners advertising revenue and his strong Internet presence promotes his equipment sales.  I’d say he’s on his way to being a great American success story.

Bergsma posts videos everyday on YouTube about everything like sports, GoPro tips, his life, anything he captured on camera.

Bergsma is an inspiration.
http://micbergsma.com

Cops Working Under The Eyes And Ears Of Big Brother And YouTube

Chicago, IL—Our commercial aircraft carriers have had cockpit voice recorders to analyze aircraft accidents for decades. The pilots union zealously guards that the use of the recordings is for only accident investigation. The contents of the recordings can’t be used for any other purpose.

In an effort to sort out the wide range of highly fictional accounts of police/violator contacts administrators are putting video/voice recorders in police vehicles. Suspects and sometimes police have been known to “recreate” events in courtrooms and sometimes lives are ruined by what the juries and judges choose to believe.

In a perfect world nobody would ever tell lies especially under oath. The fact is if the mouths of humans are moving, they’re probably telling lies. That’s especially true of police/violator contacts.

If the conversations in police vehicles were recorded and made public cops would always be in trouble. The already high police divorce statistics would be off the charts and there would be grounds to fire most officers for one violation or another. You see, free speech is not really free since what you say can get you in a world of trouble. Even cops need privacy.

Imagine being trapped in a car where every word you say during your work shift is recorded and preserved for later use against you. There would never be any privacy. One could argue that corruption would be made more challenging but who is willing to work under those conditions?

So far, several hundred Chicago police vehicles are equipped with the video/voice recorders and many officers are disabling or simply not allowing the equipment to operate.

Police administrators are countering that the officers are being cleared of phony allegations over 90 percent of the time. Somehow I see a deeper divide between police and the public through the recording equipment. Casual conversations will quickly be a thing of the past.

To suggest that cops will get used to this new technological tool is a fantasy.

Any recording system that would be acceptable to officers is the one where exactly what’s recorded is under full control of the officer. The officer needs to be able to activate the equipment at his or her pleasure. I don’t anticipate that happening and the police unions need to step in and draw a line in the sand.

I can’t imagine ever wanting to be work as a cop under today’s conditions. With every man woman and child in possession of a cell-phone video camera, GPS vehicle tracking systems, and YouTube, any other line of work would be better.

YouTube Is Dangerous For Political Tyrants, So Why Not Empower Yourself!

As our mainstream broadcast and print media fades off to the sunset, YouTube has risen. Yes, YouTube is a free for all but it’s free speech at its best.

Those video moments of politicians misleading Americans can be counted on being replayed the very second memories begin to fade.

These days political or corporate corruption can’t seem to escape exposure on YouTube. If the mainstream media chooses to keep the public in the dark, YouTube citizen reporters and producers fill that vast void.

Free speech is the very cornerstone to our free society. As a staunch and unyielding Second Amendment supporter I can say the computer keyboard and the video camera are mightier than the sword. Each right protects the other.

The Internet is a natural enemy to dictators and despots. We must fight to keep it free or they will tax and regulate it out of existence.

The camera and the keyboard are not tools for the exclusive use of Conservatives or Liberals.

If you don’t have a video camera get one! There are some great, new generation, inexpensive, high definition cameras like the $200.00 Flip HD. Learn how to edit and put your exposé’ up on YouTube for the world to see. It is really easy to do!

Don’t be afraid to jump in front of your own camera tell your story.
Be sure to use the YouTube Tag line so people searching on Google can zero in on the names and subject matter of your reports.

Why allow waste and corruption when you have the power to stop it? Why allow injustice when you can expose the truth? Technology has given us the greatest tools ever to protect and defend liberty and we all have a duty to use them.

Once you have that camera, don’t leave home without it!