The "inter-web" and I are good pals. When I first seriously started writing, it gave my voice a place in the world. There weren’t many print markets for short crime fiction out there, especially not the down and dirty variety. But on the web, bloodshed and bullets and brutal head bashing, were no problem. I had a home.
And let’s not forget the web’s role as invaluable research machine. With just a few clicks I can find information on muzzle velocity, illegal cheese smuggling, narcocorridos, whiskey stick fighting… the possibilities are endless.
Maybe too endless.
Often, my forays into internet research have left me…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6bZSM48vU
…distracted.
I blame myself, of course. I should have more discipline. But the waves of words and images have gripped me in their undertow, ripping me away from my work. The biggest culprit is…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rABM8ZsFAGg
…YOU TUBE.
Where else can you find skateboarding dogs and crack smoking prostitutes, the Wiggles and Sadam Hussein swinging from a rope, all in one convenient location? I’ve visited the TUBE looking for inspiration or images to help bring authenticity to my work.
More often than not, I…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjEQARfQ524&mode=related&search=
…end up surfing through a sea of videos. Some funny. Some gruesom. Some awe inspiringly strange.
Am I alone? I think not. Several writers consistently include YOU TUBE links in their blogs, enabling my addiction (I’m looking at you JD!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMlnJLdV5VY
So the question dear Murderati readers, do you suffer from my calamity? If so, how do you avoid the siren call of the Internet while writing?
And, while this might sound like an alcoholic asking for a tequila shot…include some of your favorite YOU TUBE links.
Mike,When I saw the title of your post, I thought it’d have something to do with your changed life . . . and the adventures of balancing it.
But noooooooooo, you have to bring up YouTube. Well, thanks for nothing.
Here are two of my favs:The first one is Christopher Walken dancing to some great music.
The second is the Helsinki Complaints Choir.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTFiHxju7Uc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXV3DzKv68
Hey, don’t blame me, McClean. I ain’t holding a gun to your head }:-)>.
You know my favorite part of that Bruce Campbell vid? It’s when he takes his hands off the keyboard to shoot the ladies the “thumbs up” sign and the music keeps playing.
I am not really tempted by YouTube, thank goodness. The only ones I even click on are the few that come to me via my Horsemasters group, which happens once in a blue moon.
But two of those ARE favorites:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqHMiFU2oJs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x11_gr71WmY
The second one is my horse dream version of getting published! If I can get to that level of harmony with a horse I’ll be very happy indeed.
Pari,
Fatboy Slim and Walken, never has there been a cooler combination. I tried the hands-in-my pockets dance at the club. I couldn’t pull it off.
JD,
If you like Campbell’s song styling you’ll love Richard Cheese.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zysWtY-VPUs
This guy is my hero. (caution, explicit lyrics.)
Billie,
I can’t even stand up on a skateboard. That guy is insane.
About the only things on the ‘Net that don’t absorb big blocks of my time are videos — but then my computer hasn’t ‘felt like’ playing videos (or sound) for well over a year. However, that doesn’t keep me from spending much of my free time with my hands hovering over mouse and keyboard — reading text and looking at pictures.
The alkali metals and water is my favorite of the ones I’ve seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqeVEFFzz7E
Dusty is my enabler, too. But I’m resisting.
I spend more time on blogs than I do on YOU TUBE. There’s no time for a second vice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Gi0BeT1rE
oh, youtube. yes. quite. my other great downfall is my obsessive reading of writer blogs…like murderati. hm.
my faves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJdEFf_Qg4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdUUx5FdySs
The first is Baby Got Back, Gilbert & Sullivan Style. The second is the now-famous Kiwi.
That Walken video was fantabulous.
“illegal cheese smuggling”
i want to know more about this. seriously.
BG,
Now that’s what I call science.
Louise,
You’re better off with your vice.
Naomi,
That was both funny and terrifying. I can’t imagine being that guy on the street.
Alter,
Again I refer you to the great Richard Cheese who does up “Baby Got Back” lounge lizard style.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=darz4vJ4Ko8
I would love to see this guy in Vegas
Simon,
Google it. You’ll be surprised.
Or try “bath tub cheese.” They did a segment on the daily show about it years ago.