Either the World is mad, or I am!

Edited "November Chat" with Mr B. into 4 parts.

Then spent most of the day rebranding my two Vlogging channels.

I am only making the tiniest of impacts so far on YouTube and thought that some of the bolgers on here might like to lend a hand with the promo which I have described in a nutshell here -

http://znethru-iwf.blog.co.uk/

On the plus side I have a talented young Concert Pianist who has just 'discovered' me and intends to perform some of my work on his own YouTube channel, so watch out for links to blueyoyi coming soon.

YouTube is a massive site and it is not at all easy to make a real breakthrough on there.

I am connected to some of the YouTubers. Most are not terribly helpful although one or two have made the odd suggestion that is worth looking into.

There's meant to be a sub for sub thing going on there - i.e. you subscribe to someone's channel and they subscribe back.

A bit like buying items for 1p on eBay to get your stats up when you first start on there.

Still, nothing is ever quite as straightforward as it seems.

I've spent the odd day bigging up someone's channel i.e. watching every single video they've put up - writing comments on every single video and giving every video 5 stars.

It's a sort of unwritten rule that you have to give things 5 stars to make up for the "wreckers" on there that mark everything 1 star!

Anyway, not much use me moaning on about it. The rewards are big if I can crack YouTube as it is THE site on the Internet for my kind of artistic outlet.

I am just trying to stay positive with things.

Well, I had this sort of brainwave that you can become famous on YouTube if enough people send your videos around via email.

So, I sent the following sort of email around quite a bit;

"I am testing out a world fame theory today. Let’s see if we can all work together to make me world famous within 48 hours.

Here are two great videos I’ve made:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=14jI6oCyq5c (Music)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mveYH_rFxco (Comedy)

All you have to do is get a free YouTube account. Vote for these videos (preferably 5 stars each) if you feel that way inclined, also leave a comment – finally you can “subscribe” to my channel.

All of this is free.

People can also send me a direct email from the YouTube page if they want to find out more or watch any of the other 70 or so videos I’ve put up.

Finally (and this is the important bit) please send this around to 10, 20 even 30 people. Anyone you think that will enjoy this kind of thing!

Here’s to World Fame and flowing Champagne etc."

This was all headed up something along the lines of:

"I am now bored of not being world famous"

Anyway, apart from 100 basic people on my list, I sent it round to a few newspapers here and in USA. I don't suppose anything will happen and normality will resume fairly sharpish tomorrow in the a.m.

I'll tell you one thing - I feel exhausted!

I have just tried to sell an Ikea 2-year old Sofa on eBay.

First bit .01p

So far, so good.

Next bid £1.20p

Even better.

A few hours later, they write to me begging me to remove the bid (which had been at $6 [sic.]

I refuse point blank telling them they have entered into a contract and have to leave the bid there.

Half a day later, they somehow manage to wangle eBay into removing the bid and I am back to .01p

1 day before the auction ends the bidding goes:

£1.20
£5
£10 Bidder #3
£15 Bidder #3
£20 Bidder #2
£20.92 Bidder #3
£25 Bidder #3
£30 Bidder #3
£31 Bidder #2
£38 Bidder #1
£40 Bidder #2
£41 Bidder #1

Hooray. A great victory.

The following morning Bidder #1 pleads with me to remove their bid(s) because they thought it was a Sofa-Bed (inspite of it saying about 17 times in the advert that it is a Sofa not a Sofa-bed and in addition, imploring people to write in if they have questions and/or to come and physically view the Sofa if they live near enough, prior to bidding).

I immediately Write to Bidder #2 and offer it to them for £40. No reply.

I write back to Bidder #1 and tell them under no circumstances whatsoever am I going to remove their bid and please send me the £41 immediately. No reply.

6 Hours later I write to Bidder #2 and offer it to them for £31 which is the level it will be at if all of Bidder #1's bids are removed. no reply.

I write to Bidder #3 to see if they are interested at £30. This bidder has now left a bid on a different Sofa being offered for sale by someone else on eBay.

I have already paid eBay 10p to place the advert (I think it was as low as 10p) but now I will owe them, what 3% of £41 as well which I am obviously not going to get. I have to appeal against this in 7 days' time and reclaim the money.

I do not envisage trying to sell anything else on eBay in the near future.

Also, you can't exactly write in to them via email as they try to fob you off with a load of FAQs.

The whole experience has been (and continues to be) incredibly frustrating.

It's time to Dancersize!

Is this possible? If so, how?

Can I write a sticky post for my new Piano Colours Blog? If so, how?

http://piano-colours.blog.co.uk/

Can I convert a search on iTunes into a URL?

I can look myself up on iTunes i.e.

iTunes UK - search for FeBland (or Febland)

Should come up with 3 hits.

However, can I send this to people as a URL (or link to it from a new website I am putting up).

OK so I have managed to extract tracks from my new CD on to MP3 format using Windows Media Player. First step achieved.

My next worry is this.

How can I reduce these clips all down to exacty 60 seconds?

This is preferred for copyright purposes.

Radio Stations could still get a good taste of the music from the new CD and decide whether they want a copy for Airplay, but without me having to 'give away' copyrighted tracks to the whole world for free.

Can anyone tell me how to turn a(n original) CD (with many tracks) into .wav files so I can publish clips on one of my websites?

"A Whelk's Chance in a Supernova" is Douglas Adams' phrase that springs to mind concerning the below:

TYPE OF APPEAL
--------------
What are you appealing against?: Objection to an on street penalty charge notice

GROUNDS - OBJECTIONS TO AN ON-STREET PCN
----------------------------------------
Please list your reasons for challenging the PCN:

1. I do not know your area of London very well.

2. There appear (in retrospect) to be two time zones for illegal parking
going on in that road.

3. From my car window it said you are OK after 6pm.

4. When we got back to the car, my friend read the notice carefully on the
side of the road I had parked and it said you are not OK until after 10pm.

5. This is the first time (and if I am fined, an expensive way to find out)
that there are different time zone operations for legality on opposite sides
of the same (very small) road.

6. I have learnt my lesson from this day forwards and will always now read
both sides of the road carefully.

7. I wonder if you can find it in your heart to let me off the fine on this
occasion and I will promise never to make this mistake again.

8. I think there should be a sign on the sign saying "this side of the road
only" on the side of the road I was looking at.

9. Many thanks in advance.

MORE INFORMATION
----------------
If you have any further information please type it in here.

I think I just about covered everything in my last message.

I hope you can be flexible on this occasion.

DECLARATION
-----------

As far as I know, the details I have given are correct. I understand that if
I make a false statement I may be prosecuted and fined up to £5,000

Declaration: Yes