It has now been four years since I first joined a small, elite group of creative people called video bloggers. At the time, anything and everything we did was viewed as ground breaking. The first of it’s kind. This not only included the video content, but also the internet side; hosting, displaying and RSS(ing). A local Chicago group of video bloggers formed soon after the beginning and a personal hobby became city wide, then worldwide (via internet).

Then one bloody day came YouTube. Videoblogging, once a specialty and rarity, was now nothing more new and regular then Twitter and Facebook status updates. The Chicago videobloggers somewhat disbanded and my own interest in the medium had been put on the back burner of passionate things in my life. I still would produce new videos for the LimeBlog now and again, but no longer worried about their release frequency or story telling qualities.

Last month, this all changed for me due to a couple events that took place. I released a video blog of literally random clips called Parallel Universe part 1. I did this because I wanted to upload something, yet had no solid story line, hence the random clips. Nevertheless, it caught the attention of a blogger at ChicagoNow, who ended up including it in a write up about Chicago video bloggers. The excitement that I once had with video blogging four years ago came instantly back to me. The passion returned that I had recently lost just from a simple mention (and also in what some friends had to say). A few days later, I went to a film fundraiser with a few people who I knew worked on the film. I realized during that event how much excitement and interest I still have for the film making process at any level. Both events reminding me that I am not only interested in film, but another second level passion, motion graphics. Incidentally, I was originally introduced to the local Chicago scene of motion graphics a few years ago, thanks to video blogging!

At this point, I see the clouds forming and am putting on my creative thinking cap. I reminded myself what I have already accomplished with my video blog to give me even more push on my next projects that are to be taken somewhat seriously this time around. LimeBlog has appeared in short film montages that have taken place in California and New York City showing such videos as OverVlogged and I Just Remembered. The PFLAG organization in Ohio asked to use I Just Remembered for one of their presentations, which was fine by me! A guy down a few blocks from me stopped to tell me on the street that he used Self Heating Latte in one of his school presentations. I have also adopted YouTube for one method of video delivery, where Coconut Chicken Curry has done pretty well on. Even the DC Cowboys contacted me to have video from the Chicago Gay Games on their site.

So, it has been fun as a hobby so far… I wonder what would happen if I take this to the next stage?! We… shall… see!

Kev!

Photoswap; addicting iPhone app

Originally uploaded by vectorlyme

This has been one of the most addictive and entertaining apps released yet for the iPhone… and it’s not even a game! Give it a try behave tho! http://www.padadaz.com

Recently, I was getting ready to move from my two bedroom apartment that I share with a roommate into a studio apartment. One of my many fears in this move was how to get all my crap that I have into a much smaller place. After viewing a few studios, I soon realized that I really was in trouble in fitting all my mementos, collections and stuff (no way to describe) into such a small place. The weird part was that I was excited to go through this horrible process, as it would finally make me downsize.

Well, due to some other issues in life, I have ended up deciding on staying another year where I am at. Though bummed that I did not make my own personal goal this time around, I was relieved in now have much more time to still go through the same process, as I will try again to get my own place next year.

One of the reasons why I have such an eternal struggle is that I am an organization freak. I also constantly have design in mind and the more ‘white’ space I have around me the less anxious I am in life. The problem is, that I am also a sentimental sap. Anything from a birthday card, to a little note from a cute guy at the bar (rare), to a newspaper clipping of a mention of Bea Arthur I KEEP. It’s all very organized. Current scrap book items in a couple folders in my desk drawers. Older scrap book items thrown in a huge plastic storage tub. Now there are two of them. You get the picture… now multiply by 10 at the least. It’s an real issue for me and I need resolution now, for I cannot put this issue off any longer.

Well, Bobby, I have the resolution! Aside from the time it will take to do all of this (again giving myself about a year), I have seem to come up with a solution that I am at peace with. If it is a piece of paper, I am going to scan them all, 300dpi and organize them in folders, digitally, on my computer. If it is a tangible item, I’m going to take a photo of it, or maybe even a few photos to get a three dimensional view. Then… in the garbage it goes! The last step will be to upload these uncolored corrected, unstraighten image files to my Flickr account, marked as private. This way, I can always see my ’stuff’ from anywhere at anytime and it will all be safely backed up on some server out of the house. This is also good to do with current things I have now that I think about it… god forbid a house fire where you lose everything… I think photos and videos are always the most important things, aside from life itself.

So, that is the plan, Stan. I know I can do it all eventually. Took me 2 years to transfer all my 8mm video tapes to DVD, but I did it! All 86 of those bitches at about 2 hours each. But, I love the convenience of having my footage of 15 years all digitized.

What do you think? Do you have better ideas or do you just throw it out and say screw it. Really, that isn’t a bad idea either, but I like to look over the things that are/were important to me later and life and think back, ‘that was a waste of time’.

Kev!

With the many fake dynasties, delusions of grandeurs, glass ceilings and ignorance of real relationships that I am seeing in others right now, it’s only appropriate to get sidetracked and think about me right now and what brings happiness in my life. So, why not start with something parallel; music!

I’ve rediscovered for the umpteenth time an all time favorite album of mine that I always forget about. It’s when you are asked, what is your favorite artist or album, I always omit this from the list simply because I forget until the tunes just pop into my head and remain there for weeks on end. The band is INXS and the album is Welcome to Wherever You Are. Simply brilliant for oh so many reasons. So, today I just want to bring light to it, but won’t rant and rave the specifics. Just check it out for yourself over whatever music service you are using. Give it a couple listens, read into the lyrics and remember the short life and legend of Michael Hutchence.

Start with the first track, Questions (which I’ll quote the lyrics below). This is the song I listen to on my iPhone every time I leave the house of every day. It sort of resets me for whatever is in store for the day. Don’t we all need that? And what perfect time to do so just as you leave the house. Try it! Yes, you will most likely get sucked back in to the dramas of the day, but you can simply try it again over and over, the next time you head out the door. It’s like trying to stop a bad habit… keep trying. Luckily for you, my brilliant sun, this is a habit you will want to be addicted to!

Kev!

Questions

How do you know when it’s time for you to go
How can you stop when you don’t know how to start
How can you go back when you don’t know why you’re here
How can you see when your eyes begin to fade
How will you hear when you’ve heard it all before
How do you do all the things you want to do

How much can you take when you’ve taken all you can
Hoe can you act when you’ve never seen the script
How can you choose when you don’t know which is right
How far can you go if you’ve been there before
How can you shine if you’ve never seen the sun
How does a child become a man without a child
How can you heal someone that doesn’t want to heal

You got to love yourself first right? Well, that being said, I bought myself a gift for my 23rd… ooops, 33rd, birthday and nobody can do anything about it I do feel the love now, I do. Thanks Kevin, you are the best!

So I don’t have a high def flat screen, nor do I have a Blu-Ray player… but what I do have is the fever for quality. The Canon HF100 called to me to fulfill this fever… and from what I can tell so far, it is doing just that. Yet, at the same time remaining super small and compact which allows me to take it everywhere versus the lovely large clunky very sweet HD cameras that we are used to.

All future LimeBlogs will now be in horribly satisfying clarity and brilliance (more then usual)… so do look forward to that. Hopefully will have something new within the week, but first I must play and test and play… but not rewind, because there is no tape! Just a cute little memory card.

Unfortunately, there are consequences that come along with the goods. A) I’m older B) you will be able to see that much better the grays in my chin hair and recently debuting wrinkles around my eyes. But, that gives a guy his substance right? Well, screw it, it’s not going to stop me… ish.

In the meantime, enjoy nothing but random crap that still looks good below!

Canon HF100 on Vimeo Test 01 from Kevin Buckstiegel on Vimeo.
(Click this link above to see HD version)

Thanks again Kevin… I do… love you!

*sigh*
Kev!