Did Knut the Polar Bear Die from Overexposure?

He entered the world to international acclaim, but where are all the "oooohers" and "aaaaahers" now?

On March 19, 2011, Knut, the irresistibly cute and cuddly polar bear, staggered and drowned in his cage at The Berlin Zoo, never to be heard from again. That’s right. As onlookers watched (and filmed) in horror, darling Knut, barely 4-years old, bit the big one.




This is the same furball whose birth made callous news people blubber and fawn like adoring grandparents. No one could get enough of Knut. His adorable little smushy face graced the cover of every newspaper and popular magazines. Heck, his first video may still be going viral.

At least now Zsa Zsa Gabor can sleep easy. With Knut’s death, the bubbe-meise of celebrities dying in threes has come to fruition. First Jane Russell, then Dame Elizabeth Taylor, and now chick-magnet Knut. To be fair, Taylor completed the trilogy, but news of Knut’s death traveled slowly. I doubt Gabor realizes Taylor’s death actually bought her a reprieve.

A neurologist who studied Knut’s brain scans claims he died from an epileptic fit. I wonder if something more sinister is to blame. Neglect? Abuse? Failure to keep his magnetic mug in front of the cameras? I can’t remember the last time I watched a video of the fluffy charmer.

Perhaps to some degree we are all to blame for Knut’s untimely demise. The poor wretch died the same way he was born – on film – but what about those brief years in between? Who was filming then? As he aged from the height of "Knut-Mania" to the dirty brown punching bag of female cage mates, zoo attendance waned. And so it seems did interest in Knut.

Some have speculated it was the stress of stardom that did him in. Maybe, like so many child stars who turn from darling to dull right before our eyes and lose their careers in the process, Knut was a has-been who saw the handwriting on the wall. Maybe the poor dear simply decided to go out on his own terms, turning in circles and plopping into the abyss.

Hopefully, Knut is now in a better place, a place where cameras roll day and night and he is the bright shining star never fading from glory.

Then again, the limelight is never as glamorous as it seems.


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Raunchiest Celebrity in Washington Regurgitated

Don't understand how personal matters can derail coverage of local events, but once again the beast has reared its ugly kisser.

This beauty sat in my editing bin for over a month. Yowza! I really am behind keeping up with the times. But couldn't let the 15th Annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington roll without a nod. Thankfully, recent developments have enhanced its relevance.

Last year's fundraiser drew pointed appreciation for runners-up, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter and the lesser-known Ana. Continuing the "aw ya got robbed" tradition of underdog love, vlogger extraordinaire James Kotecki got his share of laps for a raunchy take on Election 2008.

Winner Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas and former presidential contender, must have bribed someone for the title 'cause let's face it, Kotecki wiped the floor with Huck's routine. He even scored extra brownie points for non-partisan telling it like it is. Note these deleted lyrics from Kotecki's act:

Palin is the Governor of Alaska/There's just one question I gotta ask her/ She's got a bang'n body that we all want to hit/Does that negate the fact that she don't know sh**?

Speaking of dope raps about Palin, last Saturday's SNL Weekend Update kicked Kotecki's initiative up a notch. A sketch likely to live in the annals of SNL folklore featuring ready-to-pop Amy Poehler, Alaskan themed dancers and co-anchor Seth Myers bopping with the real Sarah Palin bore more than just a passing resemblance to its raunchier predecessor.

If only Kotecki could have foreseen the comedic boost of hilariously funny backup, he might have walked off with this year's crown. Food for thought as local competitors gear up for next year.

DC Concierge Rouses A Good Chunk of Washington

It's been an incredibly long night. The relaunch party for DC Concierge brought me out of my usual cocoon. N Street's The Space looked like a remodeled garage with chandeliers and big screen TV. Reminded me of the basement parties we used to throw while parents obliviously snoozed upstairs, minus the parents of course.

So many people. The crush to the bar was excruciating! Made the small talk and exchanged cards, but really came to give my best to the DC Concierge. Now there's a gal who knows how to throw a party. Flooded the place with cameras to record all the guest for prosperity (at least that's the way it felt). I wonder if she'll post any photographs online (duh).

Rushed home to watch CNN's public service forum at Columbia University. Fell in love with Obama all over again, although McCain's answers made me feel like Democrats will win this election no matter what.

Almost...

Curse you, former Beauty Queen. A pox on your lipstick brain!

Manhattan's Times Square Leaves Quite An Impression

Lights, camera, Manhattan!

There's something about the crush of people pounding the pavement that makes my skin start to crawl. I don't know, maybe it's me, but I need space while waiting for the "Walk/Don't Walk" sign to save my behind.

Everywhere you go in Times Square, people, lights, billboards, noise. Thrilling sure, but way too much intensity. Move here. Go there. Outta the way. Gotta get by. People fighting over every scrap of pavement. After an hour, I'm longing for the quiet and boredom of home. Give me the empty after midnight streets of Park Heights any day over the hotbed of Times Square.

Well, maybe not today.

Rube that I am, we hit Manhattan from a huge backup after the Lincoln Tunnel. Talk about traffic at a standstill. You try coming off the Jersey Turnpike into midtown to Times Square. Navigating a free for all doesn't get any more nerve wracking, especially to a clueless out of towner like me. Aggressive driving skills and my own "put a sock in it" attitude got us by, but imagine a courteous driver trying to inch their way into motion.

Meanwhile, the lights turn red, they turn green. Horns honk. Drivers swear. Red, then green. Red means stop and so does green. Nothing but me, the car idling in front of me, and some squeegee guy thrown in for good measure, just in case my innards weren't already coiling like a slinky on crack.

I had more than had my fill by the time we reached our destination. By then, it was all I could do avoiding weavers and darters while scoping out a garage. The last time I had parked on the street cost me a battery and $75 ticket. No matter the price, I'd learned my lesson. Now all I had to do was find a garage. Funny thing about successful public transportation, it makes garage businesses scarce. And jacks up the price in those that remain.

For the record, all day parking cost $35, a bargain when considering the replacement cost of a battery.

With the Caravan safely in the hands of our Samoan valet, we hit the ground running at 47th and 7th. As far as the eye could see, people, signs, lights, action. More action than some people may witness in a lifetime. There's the naked cowboy and lady liberty posing for cash. Cameras and more cameras clicking everywhere you turn. Open air sightseeing buses passing every few minutes. Billboards upon billboards, so many billboards they had to install a jumbotron to get attention. Smack dab in the middle of everything is a performance stage going wild. Live performers dancing, clapping and singing up a storm. And stores. Block after block of anything in the world anyone could possibly desire. If that's not enough, street vendors abound. Just wouldn't be Manhattan without the knock-offs and shysters.

But we were there for dinner and a show and the Big White Way delivered like a champ. Locating the discount ticket booth went well, but paying with cash did not. Nothing about needing cash on their website. Luckily, my blunder was easily remedied. With several working ATMs nearby, the closest at Bank of America, we scored excellent seats to Hairspray at the Neil Simon Theatre. You'd think we natives would tire of a musical set in 1962 Baltimore, but no, we can't get enough of the Pigtown fairytale.

The play has been running so long they now have George Wendt (Norm!) in the role of Edna Turnblad. And to our utter delight, Ashley Parker Angel as Link Larkin. Really, he is to die for, and such a good sport. After the show, he came out to sign autographs, even posed with us as souvenirs (which is more than I can say for old George). We were in heaven.

I suppose it would be rude not to mention other actors, but only a handful stood out in my mind. Ken Marks as Wilbur Turnblad, definitely a funny man of ultimate caliber. And the understudy for Penny Pingleton, whoever she is, hit a high note with excellent timing (sorry I lost the last minute change in casting or I'd mention her by name). And of course, Charlotte Crossley as Motormouth Maybelle. Loved the rhyme, loved the sublime.

Marissa Perry was fun and energetic, but needs help with her Baltimorese. The nasal twang got to me right off the bat and is so NOT the accent. Honestly, the "uh-oh-oh" in Good Morning, Baltimore sounded like Betty Boop on the crapper. After she graciously came out to greet fans and sign autographs I didn't have the heart to say anything bad.

But the cartoon nasal has got to go!

Wrapping this up because I'm tired and over extended. The food in New York is amazing. We dined at My Most Favorite Food, a clean upscale cafe with outdoor dining. No table for us outside, but snagged one in an out of the way corner with a bridal shower unfolding below. Hungry women unwrapping presents, now there's entertainment of a different color. Loved the homemade gnocchi. Hated the bill.

But hey, parking, good food and a show I expected to pay out the wazoo. The rest of our Manhattan experience? Priceless.

Silly Haikus With Slice of Celebrity Gossip

Every now and then, a circuit trips. A glitch in the well-oiled machine. We interrupt this celebrity politics blog for a quick trip to the gas pump and massive replenishing of the wallet. In the meantime, enjoy my mental breakdown.

Good gawd, look at you
Somebody finally snapped
Blue is your color

No idea whether this facockte shockwave will load in your browser. Thrown in for good measure. Cheers!

Hey girlfriend, you rock
Kiss kiss. Paris sends regrets
That's so yesterday




Let the Sunshine in
Oh wait, she walked out the door
You can still save face



Sadly, after three years of dating and less than eight weeks of marriage, SNL alum Chris Kattan and model Sunshine Tutt are on a hard break. Can they find a way back to happily ever after? Guess it's back to the salt mines.

Better to Be Leisurely Than Funny or Die

As a rule, by the time the MSM sinks its collective teeth into an entertaining vehicle of originality, the model has been driven around the blogosphere so many times it's scrap metal.

Keeping up drives me bonkers, the challenges many. Back in my dating days, my mother helped keep my chin up with a gentle reminder. It only takes one. Mom never said anything about finding the "right" one, but hey, no body's perfect.

These days, I'm on the prowl for that lucky break, the story that will push this enterprising upstart into the stratosphere of "must reads" allowing yours truly to live out the rest of her storied existence in a tattered bathrobe and three day old underwear.

How's that for setting the bar? A girl can dream, can't she?

She can also waste her time watching too many videos.

This morning was no exception. I don't know what I was thinking, maybe that I could sift through the drek of video repositories magically locating the one shining jewel that would finally allow me to lead an El Dorado life of leisure...maybe...possibly...

No such luck to save my life.

Still, there's one thing the publicity-grubbing whores and hard-scrabble publishing hounds can't take away from me. I know what I like. And last night's Hilton rebuke was hilarious. Of course when WBAL radio talk show host Shari Elliker mentioned it on today's program, I knew right away the feng shui had run dry.

Time to move on to the next big thing. If you can call it that. And I think I can.

FunnyOrDie.com started out as a somewhat eclectic collection of video talent, the brainchild of former SNL funnyman Will Ferrell, John Hugh's successor Judd Aptow, and some other dudes I've never heard of who must be very big names in the biz. After one of Ferrell's productions went viral, I wandered around for a look see, occasionally embedded a funny video or two, then continued along my merry way.

It never occurred to me to lay anchor. I already spend so much time over at YouTube, they could name a link after me. Why punish myself with yet another account? Only recently, in part due to the Hilton viral, did I return to Ferrell's upstart. And let me tell you, FunnyOrDie is not just another receptacle for lousy video.

It's a niche site for lousy video showcasing celebrities.

To someone like me, that's radical. No more network middle people. Just raw creativity in all its naked glory, good or bad, funny or die, leaving me to decide which videos to promote or kick to the curb. Awesome.

Don't get me wrong, anyone can open an account, upload videos and grow an audience. Just like YouTube, the site attracts raw talent, some of which comes off the street and some of which is mainstream Hollywood. The main difference is the way the place connects people like me with mainstream talent, something I hopefully plan to leverage for the benefit of The Spewker in the months to come.

Before the Googleplex gets some lame idea to start a "Celebrity" category over at YouTube, a few words of advice (look at me throwing out words of advice to the Googleplex - as if). Don't. If this rube from Pigtown is using a dinky blog to promote FunnyOrDie as THE site for the next hot property, it can only mean one thing. This ship has sailed. Ferrell is the original. And when it comes to entertainment, nobody -- not even a Baltimore hon -- will flock to a knock-off.

Okay, maybe a Baltimore, hon....

In the meantime, here's a sampling of Whitehouserace, a farcical series mixing up politics and pop culture in a way that skewers everyone. Nobody escapes unscathed, plus the changing intro voice over is pure gold.

The creative genius behind the "23.95" series should upload more episodes before the general election. This sampling is at least seven months old. Outdated but not forgotten. FunnyOrDie has hit its stride.

I'm not sure why, but embedding these videos isn't working. If the problem doesn't correct itself, you can view the episodes here and here.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

A Blogger Success Story: Rogue Interview with James Kotecki, Part II

This article is a continuation of an impromptu interview with video blogger James Kotecki that took place at the 2008 Politics Online Conference in Washington, D.C.

Part I of the interview can be found here. For more background about James Kotecki, check out his cheeky bathtub review.

SCPB: So, you don’t think at some point though, the old media is going to say, "Look, this is who we are, but bloggers, this is who you are and never the twain shall meet."

JK: Absolutely not, I mean, there’s an example at Politico.com where I work right now. We have people on staff. My title is video blogger although Politico is more of a mainstream organization. A lot of people came there from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, other places like that. We have blogs that are written by reporters. There are sites like The Huffington Post which is known as a blog, it has its slant certainly, but on a number of issues it is still very credible and its analysis is at least – if you don’t agree with it – at least worth reading to see what that side of the aisle has to say.

SCPB: What makes somebody trust a site like, let’s say, The Huffington Post more so than they would trust a site like The Spewker that doesn't have any backing? I’m just writing it because this is what I think and feel. What is it that gives credibility to somebody who wants to get out there, start blogging, and find an audience?

JK: The credibility I got early on, and all I can really do is speak from my own experience, but, um, Emily actually asked me this early on, "Why should anyone believe in the analysis that you’re providing?" And I thought, well, I don’t know (laughter)...

SCPB: ...you don't know (laughter)...

JK: ... at first I didn’t know, but then I thought about it for a second and I realized if I continued to put out this analysis and I continued to do it consistently and build up a persona, and if I have a persona brand, if you will, of authenticity combined with humor, combined with legitimate information ...

Emily: It builds up trust.

JK: Yes, it builds up trust in people. The authenticity and the light-heartedness are probably part of that because you’re not taking yourself too seriously, too pompously. With the analysis I was providing, if people could think about it and it made sense to them, that's how I found my audience.

SCPB: I was one of your early followers, I just want you to know that.

JK: I appreciate that, I appreciate that very much.

SCPB: I saw you evolve on YouTube and it was quite exciting.

JK: Thank you. I think that’s how you build up trust, just keep putting it out there and if it’s consistent it should reach people. I mean, if nobody had believed anything I was saying about politicians who use YouTube, yeah, it wouldn’t have worked. But at a certain point, there’s a tipping point between building up enough people who trust what you say, then people will follow you and take credence in what you say. Especially if you get enough media mentions, then you are an expert. It doesn’t matter. Nothing else matters, basically. If you get enough media mentions, you’re an expert.

Eventually, The Economist said I was probably one of the most foremost experts on YouTube presidential candidates.

SCPB: That’s unbelievable.

JK: That was. I think that was kind of Economist snark, in a sense, because if you think about what they’re saying, it’s such a very narrowly defined expertise, it’s almost laughable.

SCPB: But it was in a year or less that this happened?

JK: Yes, that happened probably about five months after I started.

SCPB: Do you ever think that something like that could happen in the future again or is it just because you got in so early?

JK: Part of it was timing. And part of it, a big part of it was I picked the right topic, unbeknownst to me.

I thought it would be a good niche topic. I didn’t know how good of a niche it would be. It was the perfect confluence of the media really cared about it, very few people were talking about it or could talk about it credibly, and I was able to talk about it in a way that turned out to be compelling to people. In a sense, I was lucky to have picked that right topic.

SCPB: And I think you were lucky to have had Emily.

JK: Oh, absolutely. I had media consulting in Emily, but what I would say to people who were interested in kind of replicating some of that for their own subjects is keep playing. Definitely, micro-target on a niche, but don’t necessarily be married to the first one that you choose. I just did politics, maybe you have to go narrower. Maybe you have to move over to a niche that’s related to but isn’t the same as the small niche you've already done. Maybe you have to broaden it a little bit.

I think, it’s all about playing around with it. What’s so great about the Internet, YouTube, blogs, and everything else is it only costs your time and effort. It does not cost hardly any money to do. You can afford to play around with different topics and see what catches on. Then, once you find a thing that catches on, produce more of it. You’re not going to be able to know necessarily ahead of time what that is, although you can try to figure it out.

SCPB: But once that catches fire, just go with it, so to speak

JK: Once it goes, once you realize this could be something interesting, yes. I had kind of a gut feeling that, okay, YouTube and politics could be something really interesting. My topic was specifically about how presidential candidates are using YouTube officially in their campaigns. A topic that was very very niche, only a few other people even today have talked about it thoroughly, but especially at the time there were only other two places I knew of that were really talking about it at all.

I thought maybe the media would be interested in something like this because I think it's interesting. I didn’t know how soon it would happen, how quickly it would happen. But I realized early on that the topic would be beneficial to discuss if the media got involved in it too. Luckily, they did.

Part of the reason I was aware of the power of the mainstream media was because months before, a few months before I started video blogging, I did about thirty interviews in a week about scandal on Capitol Hill because I’m a former House page. A lot of news organizations contacted me in a very short period of time. It was a fascinating study into the power of the media to amplify a message. I was aware of that from the very beginning, although like I said, I would have been willing to play around with more topics had that one not stuck.

SCPB: You seem a little bit self-effacing, somebody who doesn’t think too much of themselves or maybe tries not to be too blown up, but I’m going to ask you this question anyway. Do you think you were responsible in some respects for the CNN/YouTube Debates?

JK: No. I think that was probably something CNN was thinking of, that YouTube was probably thinking about before I came into the picture. I think it would have happened without me too.

At the same time, when I first joined YouTube, there was no news and politics section. It was actually called "News and Blogs" which they broke into two sections, "People and Blogs" and then "News and Politics." I think they were already thinking about building out "News and Politics" for the election. I don’t know if they realized how big it would be and I don’t know when they had the idea for the YouTube Debates, but I was very gratified to be a small part of a chorus of people calling for more interaction between politicians and candidates.

Part of the reason I knew I was hitting the right notes in my analysis of YouTube and politics is because few other people were talking about it. As more people started to talk about it, they began to discuss new ideas.

I think everybody at the same time was coming up with a similar sense of an idea for how [the Internet and political elections] could really work and revolutionize how things were going. I’m just happy to be one of the people that was able to articulate that at the right time and at the right style to catch the fire.

SCPB: How old are you?

JK: Twenty-two.

SCPB: I have to say, your parents should be very proud of you.

JK: Thank you very much. I love my parents very much.

SCPB: And what part of the country are you from?

JK: Well, [Emily and I] are both from Raleigh, North Carolina originally. I moved there when I was four. She moved there when she was like, eleven. We went to high school together in Raleigh. And then we moved to D.C. She went to American University and I went to Georgetown.

SCPB: Well, thank you so much for this interview and this time. It’s so appreciated. I’m sure your fans out there are going to appreciate it too.

Follow James Kotecki at Politico and PoliticoPlaybook

A Blogger Success Story: Rogue Interview with James Kotecki, Part I

Plenty of times in my life, a door has opened but I passed it by. Not ready to enter. Too busy to enter. Or didn't think entering was a good idea.

I'd like to make excuses for letting so many months pass between the time of this interview and appearance of the article, but truth is I grabbed the opportunity as it came knocking and didn't have time to follow-up. Unfortunately, this interview wasn't the only one that slipped through my fingers from GW's 2008 Politics Online Conference.

My only saving grace is the timelessness of the topic. What was relevant then is still relevant today. James Kotecki is a good egg, the kind of young man most people cheer. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally print this interview. But I don't think I had a choice. If I simply let it go, the world would be a less enriched place. I couldn't have that kind of pox hanging over my head.

James is a true Internet pioneer with pearls of wisdom. For better or worse, here's what transpired in the lobby of the D.C. Renaissance Hotel, March 4th or 5th, take your pick since it's been too long to remember, 2008.

The first thing that strikes me about James Kotecki is his fresh-faced optimism and youth. Here's someone whose meteroic rise in the blogosphere took him from a college dorm to the featured video blogger on YouTube, to a featured subject at The Washington Post, to video correspondent at Politico in less time than it took Barack Obama to lay claim to the Democratic presidential nomination.

James is an instantly recognizable Internet celebrity. Still, I get the feeling he's such a trusting young soul that if I dangled some colored candy and called to him from afar, "Hey little boy, come with me for a mouth watering treat," he'd follow the candy, no questions asked.

Ah, but in reality, Mr. Kotecki is one of the scheduled speakers at a busy conference in downtown D.C. Hundreds of people mill about. I just happen to be at the right place as he disembarks from the escalator.

Composure, composure. My first inclination is to gush. But then, it's easy enough to tell him I'm a fan and ask for an interview. James is more than happy to comply.

Classy. A guy who quickly reached the stratosphere but doesn't mind giving back.

"James Kotecki," I call out walking in his direction. "Do you have time for a brief interview?"

"Uh, sure, no problem," he responds sounding somewhat unsure. Maybe he's not used to being recognized by complete strangers at a 500 plus person conference. "Let me just tell Julie Germany [head of IPDI] I'm here."

"No problem," I reply and hover nearby.

This is one fish I don't want to get away. Julie is surrounded by a small crowd of people as James confirms his arrival. They speak briefly and glance my way. Maybe he's also confirming my media credentials. No matter. This was one conference where I somehow procured a media pass rather than sneak in and play correspondent.

For moral support or perhaps because he didn't want to leave her stranded, James insists on locating high school sweetheart now fiance, Emily Freifeld, a podcaster at The Washington Post, before he'll sit down.

Certainly. No problem. Anything to make him comfortable. I suppose I could be a stalker, a fan-crazed nobody who likes to corner Internet celebrities for no purpose other than the thrill of playing news reporter. By all means, find your fiance.

Emily is waiting patiently in the plush lobby of the Renaissance Hotel. We make our way back up the escalator, finding a relatively quiet spot with a comfortable looking arm chair and love seat. Emily, who is also young and fresh-faced but with a slightly greater air of worldliness, reconnects with James out of earshot. They speak briefly and agree to provide a few minutes of his time.

I am both relieved and nervous with nothing prepared other than my zeal to document James's formula for success and follow it to a tee.

_________________________

SCPB: How did you get out there, noticed, picked up for a professional job on the Internet? Some background, please.

JK: Blunt force was the key.

No, basically, it started off with a web cam. I had a web cam to video chat with Emily. We were going to different colleges, so I got this web cam and I thought okay, why not start making videos?

SCPB: What year was this?

JK: This was a little over a year ago. January 2007. I started making videos. I thought there’s so much stuff out there on YouTube and so much of it is bad. Yet, that stuff is getting a lot of views. Maybe people will look at my stuff too. I think I can have something to say.

I made a couple videos about politics because politics is my favorite subject, it has been for a while. The first few videos I made were ... very boring and very bad.

SCPB: How so?

JK: In the sense they were just talking about what the mainstream media was already talking about. It was basically me mimicking what they were saying about the front running candidates at the time. They were bad in the sense that they weren’t entertaining, especially the first video. It was just me in my dorm room talking to the camera in a very deadpan sort of way. My energy was very low. There was nothing visually interesting. After doing this, I realized I needed to be doing something different. So, for the next video ...

SCPB: Wait. How did you realize you needed to do something different? Was it because your videos weren’t getting a lot of views?

JK: There were two reasons. One, Emily told me I needed to do something different (Emily laughs) because she said I needed to be something more interesting. But also, I watched it myself and thought this isn’t even something I want to watch. So there’s no possible way anybody else wants to watch this (laughter).

The first thing I did was make my videos a little more visually interesting by taping pictures of politicians to pencils and flipping [them] around. It was kind of like imitating picture in picture, you know, inside a newscast. I didn’t have the technology to do that, nor did I have any idea how to do that. I just put their pictures on pencils and flipped them around. And that was very appealing to people.

I also realized that I needed to pick something different for a topic. This whole broad idea, just politics generally, was too vague and too bland.

SCPB: Too much like everybody else?

JK: Exactly. I started pecking ... hunting around. I came across a video from Chris Dodd who was running for president at the time. It was basically just him in a somewhat low “res” video, very simple video straight talking into the camera kind of like a video blogger would, you know, like other video bloggers on YouTube.

And on the video description it said, “Upload a video response.” So, I thought okay I will. I’m a political geek. I'd like to talk to a presidential candidate Senator. Sounds great. I did a video response critiquing the way he was using his video to communicate. "You know, can do this better." "You’re not doing this as well." "Why are you in a building that looks like it’s just in a random warehouse somewhere? It’s kind of off-putting," "You could be talking to the camera this way..."

SCPB: A kind of a snarky comment video?

JK: It was a bit snarky, but it was also things I believed he should be doing better. I think it was well-intentioned snark.

SCPB: Were you an early supporter of Dodd?

JK: Uh, no, I was not. I just thought it would be cool to talk to a presidential candidate. I realized this could be somewhat of a niche for me, that not a lot of people were talking about how the candidates were using online video.

At the time, this was in January ’07, early February, I looked around for other candidates who were also using online video to communicate and there were, maybe, six presidential candidates total I could easily find. Soon, I began to discover more and then more of them started to get their own YouTube channels and online video. So, I made videos about all of them, commenting about how they were using the web and how they were using online video.

SCPB: So distinguishing yourself from the pack was pretty important.

JK: That was key, to have a niche, to be one of the first people to talk about something. Also, I kind of embodied the niche in the fact that I was just using a cheap web cam myself to communicate from a college dorm room. I was embodying the very trend of online video communication I was discussing. I also talked about how YouTube can be used as a two-way conversation between candidates and voters. Not just as a one-way broadcast, but the voters can talk back and the candidates can talk back to them.

After a while, YouTube featured one of these videos which gave me a lot of popularity and got me on the radar screen of The Washington Post. YouTube was very interested in a similar message. They used my video as a way of promoting that message, of conversation, of using it more in more interesting ways than just what politicians were doing at the time. Unknowingly, I was helping them out. In return, they helped me out. In a sense, it was mutually beneficial for them to feature that video for awhile.

SCPB: What about people who aren't promoting a message YouTube is pushing or necessarily likes. How can they get featured?

JK: When you talk about pushing, there’s never been any kind of control over my videos, there’s never been anything like that. YouTube has reached out to and wants to make a more concerted effort to reach out to people who are creating consistent content at a certain level of quality to promote that. Not about ideology or what it is specifically, but just on a general level they want to keep promoting the best content, they want to encourage the creators of that content to keep creating. Featuring my video was one of the ways to do that, same as featuring other videos across a number of different genres.

SCPB: YouTube was a stepping stone.

JK: Featured videos led to The Washington Post getting in touch with me for an article Jose Antonio Vargas was doing. I think it was specifically about web video, maybe just the Internet and politics in general. Once your name is in The Washington Post, even as a person related to this topic, more and more media sources begin to contact you. At that point, I kind of became a kind of – quote unquote – expert.

And like I said, the fact that I was a college kid in a dorm room using the same technology I was talking about gave me a lot of credibility. A lot of credibility that I might not have otherwise had.

Also, I spoke about a topic that was hot in the media. They needed stuff to talk about, the election was heating up. Online video was happening, but there were very few people who understood it. I realized early on that, you know what, I may not be able to understand everything there is to know about this, but I can probably understand more about or as much about this as anyone else. Because it’s so new, it’s a wide-open field for understanding. I can just start giving my opinions on it. If that catches on, then I will be credible because no one else will know more than me about it.

SCPB: But was there more to it than just the topic? Not everyone can latch on to interesting topics that haven't been done before.

JK: I thought about early on going off the model of Jim Cramer whose show Mad Money on MSNBC was very popular. Not because his stock picks are good necessarily — lots of times they’re very wrong – but because he’s consistently entertaining.

SCPB: The entertainment factor.

JK: I knew that if I was entertaining that would be my insurance against otherwise boring content or even wrong analysis occasionally. If I was entertaining, people would come back and keep watching me. I wanted to maintain a high energy level, throwing in visual gags, throwing in pencil puppets lots of times.

SCPB: I think you’ve identified two things here, correct me if I’m wrong, for finding success on the Internet. Authenticity and the entertainment factor. Is there anything else?

JK: No, that’s exactly right. I guess the other third thing is articulation of a message. The message I crafted about how politicians should use YouTube in politics evolved because I looked at more videos and kept making commentaries. I realized that some of what I was saying could be unified to similar ideas across different videos and different political spectrums.

But, I think entertainment is probably paramount because if it’s not entertaining, no one’s going to watch it. If they have fifty other videos on the page, they can easily click away. If they’re bored for a second they can watch something else.

Authenticity is probably next. Having the information be solid is what kept me going to media shows and everything else like that.

It was, in fact, one really reinforcing the other because it wasn’t just that I was popular on the Internet. I was also becoming more of a quote unquote expert in the field through the mainstream media. People who saw me on those channels, I’m sure reflected back positively on my blog and my videos. And so, it’s reinforcing. It’s not one or the other. And it’s not bashing, I’m not one of those bloggers who would bash the mainstream media necessarily because it has been an important part of my success, as has the Internet. It’s worked together. I think that’s an example of what’s going to happen in the future, like, there’s no, there’s just going to be less and less separation between what people call “The MSM” and bloggers. It’s just basically one big blob of media content that is completely interdependent.

Read Part II of this interview here.

Searching for Gypsy Girls in The Mohawk Song

An enterprising crew out of California is gunning to imbue summer of 2008 with the boom boxing beats of "Hawks." Make no mistake, those hair-raising spikes and soft fades are making a definitive come back with a catchy new anthem leading the way.

The Mohawk Song, recently released in a collaborative video, is more than steamy grind and rhyming jibber jabber. It's distinctive rap with a cool stomp, the kind of song that could easily heat up the clubs. Mix in Ellen DeGeneres and soon we could be up to our ears in shaved heads and spiky extensions.

Not that I would ever become a convert, but mohawks rock. They're edgy, in your face, somewhat out of place, punky, and distinctively cool. Like waving a big flag over your face and announcing to the world, "Who cares what you think of me or my hair." A kind of shove it where the sun doesn't shine attitude capable of diverting unwelcome stares to a body part within one's control. Got to admire a hairdo with that kind of clout.

But recently featured Amanda, Bianca, and Erica are nowhere to be found in the viral video contender. After an earnest search for their "Mohawk Girls" video turned up squat, some caring soul fingered "The Mohawk Song" as their possible debut. Sad to say, but if these fresh-faced young souls thought "The Mohawk Song" was their ticket to fame, they got gyped (sorry, no pun intended). Either this isn't their video or Future Stars left the girls on the cutting room floor.

Either way, my search for their tube continues. Links welcome.

Not Linking to the Mohawk Song

Once again, being brief due to lack of time. Yes, believe it or not life is very busy here in the Land of Pleasant Living. But getting back about a week ago, in the land of chill, the MTV Movie Award Show was over, and we little people were exiting the building so to speak.

Yello haired mohawk guy caught my attention, but couldn't get him to give me a pass to the after party. Not only that, his girlfriend freaked when I asked if I could take their picture. Even saw who I thought was Edgar Winter with long flowing white hair (sorry, I don't do autographs he responded when I asked if it was really him). And then, I came across the Mohawk Girls. Aren't they cute?

Poor things could not get in to see the show. I felt sorry for them hanging around at Universal, nothing to do or see, although one of them did say they caught a glimpse of a big celeb as he/she walked on to the property.

I have looked high and low for Amanda, Erica, and Bianco's video, The Mohawk Song. Honestly, these girls are so famous that yellow mohawk guy recognized them from more than twenty feet away. Me, on the other hand, no clue.

Will somebody please send this yodel a link? These girls were so nice and personable. Really would like to review their video, tell about our short encounter, you know the deal.

Puzzling "John Muller" Gossip Tip

Maybe because I'm so green, I don't know how to interpret a gossip tip cloaked as comment punted here at 5:54 a.m. this morning. Around the same time, I finally lapsed into a two hour coma before shuffling the kids off to school and taking the eldest in for out-patient surgery (LOL - in for out - hahahahaha).

I'm so glad I enabled comment moderation. Otherwise, right about now, I'd be completely flabbergasted and flummoxed.

Purportedly, none other than John Muller, dashing co-anchor of New York's CW11 Morning News, is so digging the spew, he's posting whole articles in my comments section, including links to original sources, no less.

Is this some kind of elaborate punk'd? Payback for wee hour spew skewering blogger fraud? Somebody out there messing with my head, trying to get one over on the Baltimoron? 'Cause if so, I'm not laughing over here.

On the other hand, please don't stop sending the gossip tips. Although they won't be published, they're juicy fabulous. Thanks for the heads-up.

I think I love you.

Maybe BarneyCam Should Do Upskirts and Nipple Slips

Celebrity upskirts and nipple slips are all the rage. Everywhere I turn, another blog article or video is out there exploiting famous embarrassment. With so many cameras trained on their every move, you'd think wary celebs would be more careful not to expose their naughty bits.

Nipslips and upskirts must be the inspiration behind Beavercam. I laughed myself silly at the intrepid buck-toothed rodent strapping a webcam to his furry head while trolling Hollywood Boulevard. Having just viewed the riotous DVD of Alvin and the Chipmunks, I see a real future for The Beav.

And then I got to thinking, which came first, BeaverCam or BarneyCam?

Barney, that lovable lolling canine of Dubya and Laura Bush, is the ostensible star of holiday themed webisodes created on behalf of our Executive Branch. I first learned about Barney's star power when White House insider David Almacy spoke at the morning plenary of GW University's 2008 Politics Online Conference.

Let's just say I've been waiting for the right opportunity to set the record straight about these webisodes and though this may not be it, I'm taking my shot.

According to David, BarneyCam was born by strapping a camcorder onto the President's pet and allowing him to romp around the White House grounds. Staffers wanted to provide information about the Executive Branch and limited access to the President on Whitehouse.gov and saw the videos as a way to attract the public. The pilot episode received over 8 million hits.

After reading my article about the Conference, David got the impression that President Bush was dying to be part of BarneyCam, sort of muscling his way in on Barney's success. He wanted me to know that wasn't the case. According to David, the President is and always has been the focus of these episodes.

The first time President Bush joined the cast, he made a joke about the number of viewers, something about whether his episode would get as many hits as the pilot. As I stated in my article, the President's webisode had low viewing stats, not because he was unpopular, but because the White House allowed other sites to embed the video.

Here's the feedback I received from David:

You are correct about the first [Barneycam focusing only on Barney] - I was referring to every one since. There wasn't a specific episode just focusing on the President and the shift occurred starting in 2005 as the Internet grew. The conversation I had with him about the 8 million [viewers] was not a separate meeting but rather just before we taped his part for that year's BarneyCam.

Phew! I am so glad to get that weighty matter off my chest, especially in an article about upskirts, nipple slips, and links to the President's daughter.

Breakfast with Jeff Pulver in Baltimore

In an out-of-the-way section of downtown Baltimore, at the crossroads of Guilford and E. Saratoga, almost touching the inside west of the JFX, sits an oasis of bygone days. Plentiful parking, brick pavement accents, and a rectangular hunk of silver and neon once serving as a movie set for Barry Levinson's Diner. The Hollywood Diner, to be precise, a little known eatery serving "Breakfast with Jeff Pulver."

I spot thirty or so people milling about inside as I enter the crosswalk. The place may have started off packed like sardines, but I'm more than an hour late, who knows? Thankfully there is now room to stretch and breathe. But then, I'm not intending to set any new world records. I'm here to network, have a good time, and press the flesh with THE Jeff Pulver, a larger than life Internet persona, start-up tech investor, and distributor of killer social tags.

Preconceived notions of his popular breakfast parties and the myth behind the man swirl about in my head. Who exactly is Jeff Pulver? Why do Internet movers and shakers flock to his gatherings? And more mysteriously, how did a person closer to my age than the majority of people filling this diner amass a Facebook friend network to put any Hollywood celebrity, real or fake, to shame?


After about an hour of making small talk and exchanging cards, opportunity comes knocking. The diner is emptying out and Jeff, dressed in a festive yellow Hawaiian shirt, turns away from the attractive brunette who's been occupying his time. It's my cousin, Greg, but no matter. Seizing my opening, I deftly move into Jeff's line of vision, introduce myself, and request a short interview.

"About how long will it take," Jeff responds quizzically.

"Oh, ten minutes tops," I surmise. Actually, I have no idea, but figure ten minutes is enough time to dig the essence of Jeff. We plop ourselves down in a corner booth complete with fake red leather upholstery, and briefly give each other the eye.

Immediately, Jeff whips out his camera. "Come one, give me a real smile," he implores.

But my front teeth are badly in need of repair, I'm reluctant to grin widely. At last he relents, sets the camera on the formica table, and our conversation begins.

Jeff Pulver became interested in the Internet back in 1993 when one word domains littered the landscape and Microsoft was a fresh oyster waiting to be cracked. Greater minds than I have recounted his tehnological accomplishments. Jeff harkens his humble beginnings to Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets, although for a technological illiterate like me, he might as well have said punch cards. His latest venture is an engaging aggregator of publicly available primetime television shows, aptly dubbed Primetimerewind.tv. The project is brand spanking new, still working out kinks, but already showing some promise. Unlike similar portals, it operates through remote embedding and is therefore akin to a traffic driver rather than stealer, at least as envisioned by Jeff.

But I want the juice. Why all the get togethers? Jeff, who is based in New York, travels great distances to pull off meets in different cities. What's in it for him?

"I suppose you could call it the Gatsby effect," he begins.

"What? Wanting to be the center of other people's world?" I am truly confused.

"No," Jeff counters, "more like creating something positive from bringing people together."

"How so?," I ask. "Give me a specific example."

"I'll give you two," he responds. "Dave and Ann over there met on my Internet show and now they've launched a new company. And at a recent cocktail reception, I was able to connect friends with a high tech start-up to venture capital."

Very cool. So, Jeff is a people person. Someone who experiences happiness by making other people happy. Let's face facts. It's not everyone who can assemble a crowd of impressive social media types.

"When did you first recognize your talent for making large-scale events happen?" This is an answer I can't wait to hear.

"I began as a D.J. playing parties and dances back in high school."

"High school? Where?"

"Great Neck North, Long Island, New York."

"Graduated?"

"1980," Jeff responds. My mind immediately shifts to disco.

"So, come on," I press. "as the D.J. you're the center of attention. You control the party. Wasn't it all a ruse to become popular? "

"No," Jeff disagrees with my interpretation again. "I look at it as an outsider coming into the inside."

Jeff Pulver an outsider? How can this be? "Jeff, are you married?"

"I've been married 18-1/2 years."

"Children?"

"Twin sons. Ages 14."

"Would you describe yourself as a person who is active in your local community?"

"No, not exactly," Jeff responds. "My community is the Internet. This is where I make my connections."

Looking around, even though the diner had definitely thinned out, I was struck by Jeff's ability to turn a "loose connection of pipes and tubes" into his own personal playground. I knew some of the people in attendance, but others I did not. Yet, all of them, in one way or another, were connected to Jeff. My ten minutes were winding down.

"If you had to sum up the reasons behind your success -- professionally, socially -- in three sentences or less, what would you say?"

"Fearlessness."

"Passion. Everyone needs to be passionate about something."

"And titanium balls."

Whoa. Nads of steel?

"Can I quote you," I ask?

"Sure. Go ahead."

I thank Jeff for his time and interesting insights. As soon as he pops up from the table to land with a lingering group nearby, for lack of a better title, Jeff's right-hand man, Geo Geller, ambles by. Geo is tall, lanky, and slightly quirky, a perfect fit with our surroundings. He is clad in a black beret, white jacket, and flaming red scarf. Long white hair, white beard, and white moustache complete the ensemble.

Geo is a true man of mystery, an artist/photographer/film maker, who delights in obfuscation. No matter how hard I try, I cannot pin this man down for a straight answer.

"Who is Jeff Pulver?" I query.

"Jeff is me," Geo replies. "I am the original Jeff, the original party organizer. Then I turned the reins over to him. I am the best respresentative of both of us when I am not you."

Okay. Left field. But getting back to Jeff. Can I dig any more dirt?

"Everything is a self-portrait," Geo posits. "A contradiction on the contradicting mystery man." Just at that moment, his iphone goes off. Man, I hate those things. A constant reminder of my aversion to new tech.

"Here, talk to this guy," he says handing off the phone my way. "He'll tell you who I am."

I follow his directives and burst into loud laughter. "I think he just called you a dirty tall white man. Any response?" Boy, is this interview off track.

"Insanity is a refuge from sanity. There's a fine line between mental illness and artistic talent." I think Geo is right on and nod my head in agreement. "To be a successful artist," he continues, "you need a certain amount of sensitivity. If you're mentally ill, you're too sensitive. That's why I volunteer at a mental health facility. To reconcile the two."

Love chipping away the mystery man's veneer. Geo's card labels him an insultant for hire. What other words of wisdom can I extract before I go?

"I am always comfortable wherever I am."

"I am responsible for all things irresponsible."

Drat. Back to the gobbledy-gook. Pity that, especially since we seemed to be developing some kind of a rapport.

Wrapping up my time at the diner, I learn more about Geo's creative talents. Online exhibitions featuring sound photo portraits. Another exhibit Geo calls the "Invisble Man Series" transforms out of focus or obscured images of his mother into the focus of the camera.

I hope he doesn't mind me borrowing a mirrored image of him with his mom. I cannot resist. The portrait is stunning. Raw. Real.

Okay, it's time to rip off the social tags and name badge, and hit the road. The diner employees want to lock up and go home. Geo quickly snaps some pictures of me as I get up to leave.

Oh he's good, this one. Out of focus, my front teeth never looked better.

Matt Bai on the Power of the Internet

4:00 p.m. Waiting here in the ballroom for the closing remarks, Can't resist mentioning Matt Bai's lunchtime presentation. For the record, even though Matt is legendary, I had never heard of him or his body of work. Pity because Matt gave one the best presentations at the conference. Witty, informative, engaging, topical... have I left out anything?

No, I am not fawning. After listening to him, I honestly like this guy. Must have been the anecdotes about his toddler son's Thomas the Train PC and his attempts to engage Matt in a computer game called "Banana 4.0."

Or maybe because Matt is not as full of himself as he probably could be. He's a blogger/journalist on the scene since its inception, hand-picked to do a 2005 - quote unquote - book tour up the California coast with Marcus and Jerome of DailyKos. Matt is a rock star. Some paraphrased highlights:

"The Internet isn't changing politics...it's changing everything in our lives."

"Television took some time to become mainstream and has been the major form of influence for the past sixty years. The Internet is even more profound than television. Its influence will last much longer than sixty years."

"The Internet is a two-way dynamic. People can have conversations with the people they like and admire. This is something television will never be able to do."

"We are living in an 'Age of Confirmation,' meaning people are unwilling to go outside their comfort zones. The failure of people to read opinions from the political spectrum is unhealthy for democracy."

"The baby boomers are the first generation who were not born into the same world they ended up leading. Their generation of leaders must adapt to a different world."

"The purpose of the Internet is to empower people and give them more control over their lives. However, no one should dictate their beliefs to other people."

"Another value of the Internet is its ability to change the landscape of America. More people will be able to work at home and as a result they will be happier, their employers will have less costs, and workers will be more productive."

"As more political campaigns use the Internet, the energy for politics will be less about tactics and more about fostering new ideas and innovations."

Matt Bai is an innovator, but he is not about changing the core principals of democracy. He is also a defender of the electoral college. Matt doesn't view bloggers as competition for journalists. Blogging is a different form of expression. It's more of a conversation. And therein lies the power of the Internet.

At the end of his presentation, Matt was deluged by well-wishers. Too bad. I wanted to relate a funny story about divergent political views and my own personal experiences with a certain person in my neighborhood. But, that will have to wait for another time.

What do you know, no closing remarks. The conference is over. Wow. That was fast. Congratulations to Julie Germany and her wonderful group of student volunteers. The conference was a fabulous success.

Still have a couple of interviews to post, but things are winding down at the Renaissance. Hope to get everything done before Mashmeet.

A Chance Encounter With James Kotecki

6:15 p.m. I just met James Kotecki, vlogger extraordinaire for Politico, and his fiance, Emily Freifeld, who creates political podcasts for The Washington Post. James and Emily were nice enough to sit for a rogue interview. Good stuff. James opens up about his meteoric rise to the big times through YouTube and his reasons for making it.

Don't get James wrong. He's really very self-effacing. So much so that when I asked him whether he thought he was in any way responsible for the 2007 CNN YouTube debates, he emphatically responded, "No."

Is that enough of a tease? Because I need a cocktail. I'm about to shut down my computer again and you know what that means....

A Rogue Interview with Phil Noble, Politics Online

1:50 p.m. A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Actually, on the way to lunch. I met Alan Rosenblatt, Associate Director of Online Advocacy for the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Alan had very graciously agreed to walk me to lunch and possibly introduce me to Josh Levy, editor, blogger, and panelist here at the conference. I'm a fan and had asked for an interview. I'm still waiting to hear back. Thought I could streamline the process.

But as luck would have it, as I'm hanging out with Alan around the buffet, who should he greet but none other than Phil Noble. Yes, that Phil Noble, the one whose name I misspelled in the prior post and who was nowhere to be found in the morning break-out session.

Faced with the choice of continuing to seek out Mr. Levy or hang out with Phil Noble, I did what any self-respecting blogger would do.

I let Alan walk into the banquet room without me. I may be green, but I'm savvy enough to recognize opportunity when it comes knocking on my the door. I hope Alan will forgive me. I certainly want to get to know him better and locate the elusive Mr. Levy, but when Phil Noble is willing to talk with you and the rest of the conference is chowing down, you stop and listen.

Mr. Noble and I began discussing the current campaign, his interest in politics, and when he first became interested in the political process. And then, he began to tell the most fascinating story. I couldn't resist. I took out the recorder. For what it's worth, here is my interview with the, as John Harwood of the Wall Street Journal describes him, "...maestro of forward-looking campaigns."

Me: When did you first become interested in politics

Phil Noble: I was nine years old and I was walking through the living room, and my dad was sitting watching the Kennedy-Nixon debate. And he said, "Come here, boy. Watch this." So, I sat and watched it...

Me: ...and it was 1960...

Phil Noble: It was 1960. I was nine years old, and I watched the debate, and when it was over, my dad said, "Well, what do you think?" And I said, "Well, I kinda liked that Kennedy guy." And he said, "Well, why don't you go out there?" And much to my amazement, he told me where the Democratic party headquarters was, so the next day, I just go, I got on my little red bicycle and rode down there and walked in the front door.

Me: And in those days, did you have to have anyone accompany you?

Phil Noble: No, no, no, of course not, no. This is just the small town south, right? I walked in the door fully expecting to see John Kennedy sitting there behind the desk, but he wan't there -- his pictures were there -- and it was exciting! People were running around and the phones were ringing, the hand-cranked mimeograph machine was going, and I was just in there, and somebody walked up to me and says, "What do you need? And I said, "I'm here to help." And they gave me a stack of brochures and patted me on the head, and said, "Here, go give these away."

[laughter]

Phil Noble: So, I went out on the street corner - I'm sure they never expected to see me again - I went out, handed them out, turned around, and came back and said, "Okay. Now what?" And I've been coming back ever since.

Me: As a 9-year old, were you able to digest what was going on in the country at the time, or were you just doing what your father told you to do?

Phil Noble: No, it was exciting. I mean, politics for a 9-year old kid...to see something on television and then the next day be able to -- quote, be a part of it - at 9-years old, and it's -- you don't know what it is -- but you know that it's something really important. And, to be sort of a part of that...

Me: And that's what got you hooked?

Phil Noble: That's what got me hooked. And then, you know, then he got elected and the whole...even at, even at an early age, I mean, his inaugural address really just, I mean this sort of "ask not" stuff...even as a kid...I understood it. I understood exactly what he was talking about.

Me: It was inspiring, right?

Phil Noble: Yes, absolutely. So then, other than one time, one time four years later when my girlfriend was working for Barry Goldwater -- I went to a Barry Goldwater rally -- but other than that, I've never strayed since 1960.

Me: You mean from the Democratic party?

Phil Noble: That's right. I've been a Democratic person ever since.

Me: Did you feel you were instrumental in getting Kennedy elected? You were a 9-year old at the time.

Phil Noble: Well of course, I mean, it was 125,000 votes and I must have given out that many brochures.

[more laughter]

So of course it made the difference.

Me: Is that what Politics Online tries to accomplish now through the Internet?

Phil Noble: Uh...you know, I think what Politics Online tries to do is to say to people that the Internet is radically changing politics and there's a unique opportunity for the next generation to use the tools to remake politics in a way that we've never had before. And that is just as exciting....even as to me as a 9-year old walking into [the Kennedy] headquarters. And now, it's even more exciting because the change is global. The change is bigger. The change is quicker. The change is...

Me: ...the change is instantaneous...

Phil Noble: ...you know, you can literally change the world.

Me: Just from your own perspective, being on the scene, meeting people who are involved in the process, what do you think is going to be the biggest challenge going into this campaign as we narrow the candidates and get our finalists?

Phil Noble: Well, I think a couple of things can happen. Number one: I think Obama, if he stays hot, he may raise a billion dollars, a billion with a big B.

Me: He's a rock star.

Phil Noble: Well...he's beyond "he's a rock star." He's a rock star who, you have to understand, is in the lead. And if he raises a billion dollars, then that's enough to fund a revolution. Then you've got from the White House to the courthouse, resources to really create...a fifty state sweep.

Me: You're assuming he's going to get elected.

Phil Noble: Yeah. I think so. I mean, well, I've been wrong a lot, but I think he may, although I think he may have some trouble today, super super Tuesday. But ultimately, I think he's going to win. And I think McCain is a wonderful guy -- everybody recognizes he's a true patriot-- but I think he is going to sort of fade into becoming a bit player like Bob Dole was in '96. He was just sort of a bit player in [Bill] Clinton's bridge to the twenty-first century, all that kind of stuff. I think that's the potential, a huge potential to have an impact in this country, and even bigger, perhaps even as big as globally. Because there is enornous interest growing in this guy [Obama] internationally, and as soon as the rest of the world figures out how to -- quote, participate in our election -- they're going to. I mean, we may have a half a billion people...

Me: They're already starting to...

Phil Noble: Exactly. So, it's going to be the first global U.S. election and what does that mean? And what are the rammifications for Obama, and the U.S. and the foreign policy going forward? I just think that it's a radically different amount of possibilities out there.

Me: You said that Obama is using the new media in a way his opponents are not. Can you give specific examples?

Phil Noble: Obama's people fundamentally understood what they're doing is creating a movement, and providing the tools to create the movement they want.

Me: The tools? You mean the tools on the Internet?

Phil Noble: Yeah. The online tools. They don't have a pay phone. They have a few donors, they call them up, and they say "Come on, click on this link on our website" and then just make more phone calls. They can turn around a half million phone calls in a few days.

Me: So part of it is the fundraising. Is there any other aspect to it?

Phil Noble: Well, it's everything, everything online. It's the fundraising, it's the ability to enable people to go to their site and do things right now today, in the next fifteen minutes, they are going to make a difference in Ohio and Texas. From anywhere you want to go, from anywhere you are, at any time. And that's stunning, a stunning development.

A friend of mine was in Louisiana. They sent him into Louisiana, and he said, he showed up about two weeks out. Obama showed up ten days out. Had nothing on the ground. Showed up ten days out. Had a rally. Had 10,000 people show up. Got about 6,000 e-mails out about [the rally]. Forty-eight hours later, they sent those supporters e-mails, they said "Click here" on their website, then they made phone calls, and they made about a half million bucks.

Me: You can't compete with something like that...

Phil Noble: That's right. And, you know, if Obama gets beat today and he turns around and says, hell, instead of $60 million, he's going to raise $80 million...

[laughter]

Me: ...people are going to have their say in this election...

Phil Noble: Of course! At some point, an increase in amount becomes a difference in kind. It's a different kind of election. It's totally different.

Me: It's the Cult of Obama.

Phil Noble: Obama-mania. Ya gotta have it.

[laughter]

Me: Thank you, Phil.

Phil Noble: Absolutely.

3:17 p.m. So, there it is, dear readers. Thoughts from the mind of an Internet Politics guru. And I've missed another seminar. But what does that matter when you have the opportunity to speak with Phil Noble, am I right?

Justin Timberlake Super Bowl Commercial Misses the Mark

What an amazing Super Bowl. People can't stop talking about it. The last one and a half minutes of New England versus New York are now the stuff of football legend. Even unflappableTerry Bradshaw had his socks knocked off.

Speaking of lost footwear, I hope adolescent boys and men stuck in Peter Pan mode have a Pepsi jones and plenty of money to burn. Otherwise, that Justin Timberlake commercial won't likely cause a significant spike in Pepsi sales. I don't care what the rest of the world thinks, by the end of that ad the only people I wanted to see were the paramedics. Okay, Andy Samberg, Justin's junk in a box buddy, is an awesome blonde transvestite, but the slurpy stuff or those doodad rewards? Couldn't care less.



Ouch. OMG. Please, oh no, make it stop. Ow. Ow. Ooooo. Nooooo. Ouch! OUCH!! WTF!! Please, not there, no not in the .... OUCH!! Ooomph. Ow. Not again. That's gotta sting. Uh... here's hoping wardrobe fitted Justin with a cup of steel.

Enough. I've had enough. Make it go away. If I see any more, I'll get a charley horse from crossing my legs. Did they have to emasculate and practically kill Timberlake to go for the gold?

And this Paula Abdul comeback. What's up with that? What if someone was busy with more important stuff (like hanging with friends) during the Super Bowl pre-show? Who even knew there was a pre-show? Am I that out of it to think the football game didn't begin until game time?



Granted, Paula deserves an A for effort. She's a sexy dancer with fabulous choreography, but...erm... that song. How do I say this without sounding like Simon? It sucks. Well, that didn't go as expected. Look, that song coupled with Paula's studio enhanced lip syncing felt like waterboarding. The same beat with the same words over and over until if you're not actually drowning, you wish you were.

Paula's act needs better songs. This lip synced number from "What the Buck" is far more entertaining and the dancing is just as fun, if not better. Michael Buckley's got it going on. Surely, Paula can relate to that.

2008 Campaign Trail Hitting Bumps and Grinds

Here's something I like to see. James Kotecki. Formerly unknown blogger hits the big time on Politico. Right mix of news, politics, and celebrities. Gotta admire the spunk of this kid.