Saturday, August 19, 2006

News? What News?

Hi Everyone!

I had mentioned to a few of you that there "maybe" and article in a news paper featuring me and some photos of me. I am sad to say that I got the following from the photographer today at 10:45 a.m.

Photographer ( user name witheld by request)
Zen, might as well keep using your screen name...True to form, the story has been delayed, so it will not be running this Sunday after all. Also, there might be undergoing major revisions, which may push up or down the significance of our photo. I tend to think that the photo will survive any changes because video on the internet is a huge battleground for companies like YouTube and Google. Sorry about these convulsions. It unfortunately can happen with these big projects.

I replies that I was a little disappointed, but understood these things can happen. Perhaps, the Photos will be useful in the future article.

So.. Don't go running out to get the paper... I probably will not be there.

As Always, I wish you Be Well! ~ Zen Archer
ZenEbay Primer to the Series

Greetings everyone!
I have Started the Series "ZenEbay" as you can see.. Are you ready to make some money! I hope so. We will go through the entire process here.. get your Ebay and Paypal accounts set up and verified and stay tuned!

Until then.. Be Well! ~ Zen Archer

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Great NEWS - well for me anyway..

Hi Everyone!

This has been an exciting day for me for sure. Some of you answered my bulletin calling for people from Chicago recently. Those who have, already know what it was all about. A news paper in Chicago is doing a news story on YouTube and the users of the service. I was contacted and asked to be part of that interview and to have some photos taken for the paper. I origionaly declined, as I believed that my recent contract with a new website would exclude me from doing such a thing. I offered to assit in finding people in the area, whom I knew of, for them to look at as an alternative. So, I posted that bulletin for all my friends to see. Apparently the paper did contact someone and for some unknown reason are not able to get in contact with them. They in turn asked me to try to contact this person and my attempts were unsuccessful. I wrote back and told them, I had also tried.

Well.. today, I spoke with the (as of yet undisclosed) company I have contracted with and they asure me there would be no problems. I figured.. SURE! now you tell me! haha! I didn't think much more of it. However, as things sometimes seem work, for no apparent rhyme or reason, I got yet another call. From the News Paper! Seems they are pushed for the story and wanted to ask me again, if I was sure.

I explained that I had spoken with "the powers that be" and they said there would be no problem. As a result, I could do the interview & photo shoot. They said they would be in contact with me later today.. and I could expect to see them either Wednesday or Thursday. So.. right now it is looking as if I will be on the pages of the paper. How cool is that!

Here's an other little something extra...

There has been alot of talk on YouTube about vlogers accepting donations from those who watch them. I have vlogged on it myself. My view is, if someone is putting their time and energy into vlogging and others want to donate to the entertainment they get from these people, then I see no reason why that shouldn't happen.

However, YouTube Terms of Service excludes such things on the YouTube Site. If you watch my vlogs, especialy the one on the Terms of Service agreement on YouTube, You know that I try to follow it. in addition, YouTube pages are not customizable enough to put a donation button up. So, doing so on the YouTube Site, can't and shouldn't happen.

I have however, made the button available here for those who would like to use it. ( no one should feel ANY obligation to do so ) I am actualy, just testing the button out here. It will eventualy be moved to my own website. But at least for the time being you will find it here, just below the Blogger Icon in the sidebar.

Thats one more duck in line...

As many of you know, I recently Did a Joke Vlog about "starting a new religion". In that vlog I said we needed a Logo or Symbol. While I was only joking, endust3 almost immediately met the call with a new logo. I liked it alot. The Logo encompasses a number of recognisable symbols, including a yin-yang, a fish, & an Ank Cross. Since my philosophy of Karma-Zen is very much like that (barrowing from multiple inspirations) I thought it was a good logo to actualy use. I liked it so much that I have added it to a couple of items at the Balancing Act cafepress Gift Shop (http://www.cafepress.com/BalancingAct)

So as you can see.. it's been a busy and exciting day!

Thanks for stopping by the blog...
As Always.. I bid you... Be Well! ~ Zen Archer

Cyber Cops & Real Life Criminals..

Good morning, afternoon, or evening, as the case maybe in your part of the world. It’s morning here. About 15 minutes before 8am. I am having a morning cup of coffee, my 1st few smokes and watching the news.
One particular story drew my attention. Seems a young girl (High School Age) had been jumped at her school by 3 or 4 girls. Just another say in paradise, I thought. BUT…these unknown girls made a huge mistake. You see they had a problem with the girl who was jumped due to her “MYSPACE “ page. Once they had committed the crime against her.. They bragged about what they had done.. Guess Where? YEP! MySpace! The girl saw this, contacted her local police who then requested the information from MySpace. Who of corse complied. End of the Story? All of the girls who had committed the crime have been arrested.

So.. I thought to myself.. Well GOOD! When I contacted outside sorces regarding an incident. MANY said, “no one can do anything except the service”. Guess again folks! Yep its nice to see these services comply with requests for information when it involves a criminal case. The Steps are clear. Notify local authorities, and a lawyer. Lawyers can often help to push police to action and usually will do the initial leg work to get things moving. Law Enforcement will then make requests when they are aware a criminal act is in fact taking place. These people who commit these crimes often feel untouchable because they are on the web. Slowly they are getting the message. They are in fact more vulnerable than the victims they pursue.

The Incident I mentioned isn’t the 1st time MySpace has been helpful to law enforcement. In addition graffitti artists ( known as taggers) have also been discovered on services like MySpace. I am providing 2 links below. The 1st is a report of 3 or 4 taggers, averaging age 17, being arrested and paying fines for the property damage they had created. My point here isn’t that Taggers are good or bad.. But that the law in many areas have officers dedicated to finding clues and individuals thorugh the internet. It isn’t just the cases of child molesters. It’s for much lesser crimes. I for one think that’s great!
How often does that really happen, skeptics may ask.. The answer is in this exert from Walking a new beat by MSNBC. “MySpace now contributing to about 150 investigations a month, according to Jason Feffer, its vice president for operations.”

Walking a New Beat
Surfing MySpace.com helps cops crack the case.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12335363/site/newsweek/

Web Site Helps Police Track Down Stoughton Vandals
3 Taggers (graffitti Artists caught and fined)
http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_011133721.html

My personal feelings are that these things should be dealt with BEFORE something happens rather than reactively.
Until Next Time.. Be Well! ~Zen Archer
My Religion!

This by far was one of the most brilliant things I have done. So many have gotten "into" it. With a new Logo, a volunteer virgin, and a few desiples. My fans & friends are truely awesome!
Be Well! ~ Zen Archer

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Little Faith

Just a little something I put together that when I heard this Nickle creek Song..

Friday, August 11, 2006

Creation

Do to the ability to post from youtube directly to Blogger, I have decided to add this blog. This, I hope will help to integrate my blogs, podcasts, balancing act stores, donation buttons, etc. Please feel free to comment or message me, if you have any ideas for improvement to the sites.

Until Next time.. As Always.. I wish you all, Be Well! ~ Zen Archer