YouTube Has Removed Friends

YouTube is in the middle of a major re-design process right now. The entire YouTube site is being changed. The home page, the channel page, everything is getting a makeover. I have been updating Pirate Lifestyle TV from the old design to the new design.

A huge change, a major change, a change that will seriously affect how we communicate is the removal of YouTube friends. Yep, friends are now officially gone. All of your friends, like me here on Pirate Lifestyle TV, have migrated to the all-new Contact list, which is an address book…basically.

YouTube's explanation, "Friends and Subscriptions work similarly in a lot ways and a large amount of users were both subscribed to and friends with one Channel, making receiving updates incredibly confusing for many."

Kiva

Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. 




I just made a loan to Celia Jenny - http://www.kiva.org/lend/373474

Celia Jenny is 42 years old, a widow, living with her father and her 14 year old son. She lives in the Ventanas canton of the Rios province.

The service point El Recreo is located in the San Vicente Las Lomas area, belonging to the Ventanas canton. This service point is dedicated to short cycle farming such as growing corn, rice, beans and soy beans.

Jenny has been making a living growing corn, beans and rice for the last three years. She buys her products in Ventanas and sells her production in the same place.

Tasty Apple Smiles - Yummy Fall Treat

Your young and old scallywags and hooligans will absolutely love this treat.

In this video, I will make a yummy tasty fall treat, you will see all the ingredients and exactly how to do it, so you can make these treats for your scallywags and hooligans.

CaptRob

Generate, Create and Use QR Codes on YouTube Videos

I have been playing around with QR Codes for a while and I have also posted a few blog articles. If you look around, you will notice QR Codes are everywhere. Here is a magazine with a QR Code and here are a bunch of bananas we picked up at the grocery store and they have a QR Code on them. Why?

I was watching a Chris Pirillo video and Chris was doing a QR Code experiment. This got me to thinking? 

YouTube does not allow us users to link outside of YouTube. The exception is in the description of a video. But here on the video, all links must be in YouTube.

So generate a QR Code for one of your URLs and add it to your videos and see what happens.

CaptRob

Troubleshooting a Charger System Problem on sv Bella Rose

Ahoy me hearty.

Well, last night I noticed the fan running a LOT on our Xantrex battery charger. Cheri and Jonathan are away, and I am sitting here by myself (and the pets). I was reading, TV turned off, and my laptop was running. So it was quiet, and I could here the fan clicking on and off, in what I thought, short intervals. I didn't actually measure them but is was probably 15-20 seconds...

  

 

Knowing something wasn't right and even though it was after 8pm, I decided to look into it. I removed the pots and pans fron their cabinet and removed 2 screws from one side of a pegboard that separates the boat guts side from the pots and pans side. Bending the pegboard out (it was still attached on the far side), I could see the current lights on the charger were randomly flashing...Not a good thing. Grabbing a flashlight I looked in and saw the vents on the charger were covered with a quilt, I mean bunch of lint and dust. 

So I shut down the charger and vacuumed up the crude. I double checked the batteries in their cabinet and they looked fine and felt cool (not hot). I let the charger set for about one hour and then decided to go ahead and turn it back on, rather than leaving it off until morning. 

More too come as I continue with this problem...

CaptRob 

YouTube Launches New Channel Design

About December 1^st the YouTube Team launched the new Homepage, new Channels, and a new overall design.

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-more-into-what-you-love-on-youtube.html

Many partners have been playing around with the new design for several weeks, using Cosmic Panda and more recently Channels_Preview.

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2011/12/get-more-into-what-you-love-on-youtube.html

Obviously the change is coming, maybe in a few weeks, but definitely within a month or two. So last week I began to seriously play with the new design. It is easy (now) to opt-in and opt-out of the new design and I figured I might as well get used to it before we have no choice! J

Note: when you opt-in to the new design everyone visiting your channel will see the new design.

Here is an image of my new design and my old design.

As you see, my old background was a photo of water and had a half-dozen photo images, three per side. By any standard it was busy, looked best on 1366 pixel or smaller monitors, but this was the norm at the time.

As I played around most of last week attempting to create a background for the new channel design, I was very frustrated. No matter how much I tried, I was very unhappy with how cluttered my channel looked. I realized I was trying to bring the old to the new.

After looking at a few other partner channels that have switched over to the new channel design, I noticed they were all using a simple and clean design. I realized the way to go was a simpler background that doesn’t compete with the focus of the channel, the videos. So, I went with a simple feathered background, a dark-blue background that will look good on any sized monitor and a brighter light blue that draws your eyes to the featured video.

I used the same banner on my new channel design background as I had on my old design. On the new design the banner is part of the background and it is not a separate image. So now I have a bright, clean, and simple channel background.

Here is my Partner Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

What do you think of my new channel design?

Have you switched to the new design?

What does your background look like?

CaptRob

Empire Ave Louie Report For 12-03-2011

Empire Avenue report. Yesterday I had ZERO shares sold. Thank you to all my shareholders. I appreciate your trust and dedication!! Arrrrr.

Capt Rob

Empire Avenue - Great Day!

Ahoy again me hearty!

To be honest, I didn't plan to post about Empire Avenue so soon. But I had such a great day yesterday, I wanted to share it.


Today is December 2nd. Here is my Louie report you can see my growing and improving statistics. The most noticeable things, everyone is buying and only one person sold one share (weird? 1 share?). My value is growing, all statistics are up (in the green). And my daily dividend are very good.

I was off-line most of yesterday. Zoe, one of our cats had to go to the Vet. Thursday is our shopping day, and my Admiral and Deck hand are leaving for Maine today (Friday) so we were getting organized. 


CaptRob

Empire Avenue Update

Ahoy me hearty!

Today is the last day of November. Here is an Empire Avenue update. Looking at my Louie report you can see my growing and improving statistics. The most noticeable things, everyone is buying and very few (2 people) are selling. My value is growing, all statistics are up (in the green). And my daily dividend is around 1.00 eaves.

http://www.empireavenue.com/captroblee


Arrrrr.

CaptRob

Empire Avenue Report after long Thanksgiving Weekend

I have been "playing" Empire Avenue for a bit longer than three months. And I have been growing slow and steady as she goes... :)

I think I have maintained my position pretty well during the long Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. 


Look at my statistics in the image.

Buy buy buy!!!


CaptRob

Happy Thanksgiving Me Hearties, Arrr

Happy Thanksgiving!

How To Observe Thanksgiving

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
- Anonymous

TIKI

Scarlet

Two photos of Tiki and Scarlet playing outside today, Thanksgiving.

Arrrrr.

CaptRob

Klout Update of My Profile

Ahoy and good Monday morning.

When I check my Klout score this morning I immediately noticed a full two point increase. From 53 to 55 (and it was a full 2 points).

After a little research, Klout explained that there has been a problem with the Facebook updates and therefore the score hasn't been correct. Supposedly this has been fixed.

In addition, for as long as I can remember, I have been a Syndicator on Klout. With my position in the upper left quadrant. Yesterday my position changed to the far lower right corner and I am now a Specialist.

Be havin' a wonderful week!

Arrrrr.

Rob

Dancing in a Grocery Store Video

Justine of iJustine posted a Vlog University video on Wednesday.

In this Vlog University episode, like every episode, she gives out a "homework" assignment.

The homework for the next episode is to dance in a grocery store :) Shoot and upload your video as a response to this video for a chance to be featured next episode! 


So...On our weekly Thursday shopping trip I shot video of me dancing in the grocery store.

I did some heavy editing so only I appear. And condensed it down to a total length of 3 minutes.


CaptRob

Live Your Dreams Now!

Are you a pirate? Can you be livin’ a pirate lifestyle? Yes, you can be living the pirate lifestyle if…

I want you to be doing what you want to be doing, when you want to be doing it,  f&*% the rules.

The most excellent way to be supportin' Capt Rob and Pirate Lifestyle TV is ta LIKE & FAVORITE & THUMBS UP this video an' be sharin' it wit' ye friends on Facebook an' Twitter.

A humble pirate "thank you" fer doin' this. Arrrrr.

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=PirateLifestyleTV *** Don't be missin' a show.

Sail Around the Web-O-Sphere wit' Capt Rob!

Website:  http://www.piratelifestyle.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/PirateLifestyle

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/CaptRobLee

Google+: http://Gplus.to/CaptRobLee

All You Can Eat Steak Dinner

Ahoy me hearties.

Last night, actually it was afternoon, we went to a restaurant near the beach for dinner. My mom is visiting (down from Chicago 'burbs) for a few days. Friday night happened to be all-you-can-eat steak night. So of course, this is what I ordered.

Don't tell anyone, I had three steaks. :)

This eating out, and pigging out, is really hard on a guy. Whew...

CaptRob

Creating a Custom YouTube Video Thumbnail

I have received many requests to explain how I make my thumbnail images.

So in this video, I will show you exactly how I do it, you will see every single step to design and create the thumbnail for this video.

To sart, you want a clean, simple, and bright background. Mine is a blue color that fades to white at the bottom.
 
If you have any questions about custom thumbnails, ask in the comments on the YouTube video. I will do my best to help you.

The most excellent way to be supportin' Capt Rob and Pirate Lifestyle TV is ta LIKE & FAVORITE & THUMBS UP this video an' be sharin' it wit' ye friends on Facebook an' Twitter.

A humble pirate "thank you" fer doin' this. Arrrrr.


YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=PirateLifestyleTV
*** Don't be missin' a show.

CaptRob

Snag It Screen Capture Software

I just downloaded the 30 day free trial version of Snag It screen capture software. It is rated #1 screen capture software. It is very powerful. I am basically looking for video capture. I use GIMP image editor so I don't need all the fancy static capture. And it saves video in AVI format which doesn't thrill me. YouTube doesn't like AVI, which isn't critical for me, I can convert the video files...But this adds another step. Sigh...

But I did a test run and it is pretty slick.

Stay tuned for more information.

CaptRob

Empire Avenue Really Close to the 100 Eave Stock Price

This is my private "Louie" page from this morning. The blue represents buyers, investors. The tiny red slice represents sellers. Mostly buyers, investors!

My dividend is well above 1.00 at 1.09.

My stock price is steadily climbing, currently at 99.23. Just 0.77 eaves from 100.00! Woo-hoo.

I am doing well "playing" the game. I am number 65 on the top 100 Empire Ave leader board and my Empire avenue score just went up from 55 to 56. So tomorrow I hopefully will rank even higher! 

As you see, I should reach the Century Mark (stock price of 100ea) very soon. Probably some time in the next few days.

Here is my EA profile: http://www.empireavenue.com/captroblee

Thank you for investing!

CaptRob

Empire Avenue In Reach of the Century Mark

Are you on Empire Ave? This is my private "Louie" page. Mostly buyers, excellent DIV, growing stock!

I am doing well "playing" the game. I am number 65 on the top 100 Empire Ave leader board. As you see, my DIV is good, heck, all my stats are good. I should reach the Century Mark (stock price of 100ea) very soon. Probably some time next week.

Here is my EA profile: http://www.empireavenue.com/captroblee

CaptRob

Klout Follow Up

This is a follow up post to the Klout post of Oct 27, 2011.

http://captroblee.blogspot.com/2011/10/klout-statistical-tool-or-game.html

In this thread I questioned whether Klout is a tool or a game. Please read it to see what I am talking about.


Today, when I visited the Klout site I saw a pleasant surprise.

I have some good news about my Klout Score. Evidently some adjustment has been made. Remember, before the algorithm change, my Klout score was a steady 56-57. After the change it dropped to 50 and slowly decreased to 49.47, 49, yesterday.

Well, today it jumped up to 54!! Woo-hoo. Something must have been adjusted.

Thank you Klout for whatever happened! I definitely feel better about my score today.

A humble pirate thank you.

CaptRob

Empire Avenue Leader Board

I have been climbing the Empire Avenue Leader board. Slow and steady she goes... :)

I have been at number 70 in all of the United States for quite sometime now. Today, I climbed a point to the number 69 position. Also of note, I am the second person with a score of 54. Maybe, just maybe, I will be advancing from 54 to 55 soon?


Look at my score in the image.

CaptRob

Bananas With QR Code

Geesh. You never know where you will find these QR Codes?


I just noticed the bananas we bought on Thursday at Publix have QR code.

Like everything there is good and bad that goes with it.

Amazingly, a QR Code can represent almost anything, not just numbers. But then you must have a machine to read it. Sigh.

After reading about QR codes (good ol' Google), I installed a free version on my iPhone. The code on the bananas goes to a recipe contest website.

Now that I know what they are, I see the codes everywhere.

Rob

Out and About having FUN

The point of this post is just to mention you can have fun doing normal activities during your day.

For example, when are shopping I always find time to be a bit silly. We were in a bookstore, looking at books and magazines, between Target and Publix shopping. I put on a silly hat and Admiral Cheri took my picture.

What makes it even funnier than me posing with the pirate hat, I was making "Arrrrrrr" sounds. Between photos, Admiral Cheri lowered the camera and said to me, "Ya know, the camera doesn't record sound." Hahahahaha!!

TGIF!! Have a wonderful weekend.

And most important, take some time to be silly and have a moment of FUN!

Arrrrrrr.

CaptRob

Klout - Statistical Tool or Game?

Klout!

Before the update, I thought Klout was a meaningless "fun" number. Remember, when Klout started it was a Twitter influence measurement. Now, after the update, I know it is meaningless. At least with Empire Avenue you know it is a game, and Klout pretends to be a real world statistical tool. Very misleading...

Let me use myself and my wife as an example.

Before the update my Klout score was 56-57 and had been steady here for a long time. I get on my computer by 7am and log off at around 11pm. This is 16 hours. I am active on Twitter, Facebook, FB pages, Google+, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Blogger, YouTube, and more!! 

Note: On Empire Avenue, I am ranked number 70 on the leader board (US) and I have only been here 2 months. I AM VERY SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVE!

My wife logs on the computer in the morning. She checks her email, scans though Facebook, maybe posts something, and closes her laptop. She might check in a few times during the day with her iPhone. And she checks in again after dinner. She is using Social Media for maybe 30 minutes a day. She is on Facebook...period. She doesn't do Twitter, Google+, nada. 

Before the upgrade her Klout score was 23. After the upgrade her Klout score jumped to 43! WTF!?!!??!

So my Klout score is 50 and I am online 16 hours a day on multiple platforms with lots of engagement, my wife is online less than 1 hour a day, reads Facebook and maybe posts something, and her Klout score is 43.

Klout wants you to think Klout is important. Klout is NOT a statistical tool. Klout is a game.

What do you think?

CaptRob

You Might Be A Pirate If

You Might Be A Pirate If ... Jokes By Captain Rob - Pirate Lifestyle TV ™ Quickie 066

Are you a pirate? You don't think so? Well, you might be a pirate if...

I will get straight to the point. I know I am a pirate,

But a lot of you out there don’t think you are a pirate,

so I am going to prove that you might actually be a pirate, and just don’t know it…Yet.

The most excellent way to be supportin' Capt Rob and Pirate Lifestyle TV is ta LIKE & FAVORITE & THUMBS UP this video an' be sharin' it wit' ye friends on Facebook an' Twitter.

A humble pirate "thank you" fer doin' this. Arrrrr.

YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

Subscribe:  http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=PirateLifestyleTV *** Don't be missin' a show.

Sail Around the Web-O-Sphere wit' Capt Rob!

Website:  http://www.piratelifestyle.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/PirateLifestyle

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/CaptRobLee

Google+:  http://Gplus.to/CaptRobLee

Quick Response [QR] code

Ahoy matey. Do you know what QR codes are?

Well I hadn't paid much attention to them...Until recently. They are pretty darn neat things. Barcodes, the ones we all see on items, are one dimensional images. Because of this, they cannot contain much information. In fact, the standard barcode contains just 12 numbers. And all they can contain is numbers, period.

The new QR codes are two dimensional and can contain most any kind of information.

I created one yesterday with an online QR code generator. Here it is.

It is a link to my YouTube channel - Pirate Lifestyle TV.

That is right!! If you "read" this image with a mobile device like a smart phone, this image contains the information: http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

Wicked sweet. Don't you think so?

Have a look at them and play around with them.

CaptRob

Sail the Seven Seas of Freedom: Living the Pirate Lifestyle

Ahoy me hearty.

This is very exciting news!!

My book, Sail the Seven Seas of Freedom: Living the Pirate Lifestyle, is now available for Barnes & Noble Book Nook. If you have one of the Nook's, you can download my book instantly and begin reading ASAP.

You can still get the print book directly from me, or your favorite bookstore (like Amazon), but this provides another option for you!!


eBook edition for the Nook

Enjoy!!

CaptRob

Sail the Seven Seas of Freedom

Ahoy me hearty.

This is very exciting news!!

My book, Sail the Seven Seas of Freedom: Living the Pirate Lifestyle, is now available on iTunes. You can get the instant download and read it on your iPad, iPhone, iWhatever you have.

You can still get the print book directly from me, or your favorite bookstore (like Amazon), but this provides another option for you!!

Apple iTunes Sail the Seven Seas of Freedom

Pelican Fishing the Lazy Way

This pelican was sitting next to boats in the marina and waiting for small fish to swim up along side the boats. Easy fishing!!! Rather than flying and diving on the fish, this one is smart and doing some easy fishing. Hahaha.

Birthday Morning Moon

Ahoy me hearties.

I stepped outside with the dogs this morning, to a clear sky and a just past setting full moon. So I snapped a photo with my iPhone (thank you Steve Jobs) and I am sharing it here.

It was around 7am, give or take a few minutes.

I hope you have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend too!

Arrrrrrr.

CaptRob

Grizzly Bear Warning Sign - Humor

Here are a couple of grizzly bears and a warning sign. Be sure to read ALL of the sign.

While living in Maine I had my share of bear encounters. Thankfully they all went well. 


Arrrrr.




CaptRob

Another Pirate Law

Pirate Law: Dousing oneself in beer is a perfectly acceptable replacement for a shower.

I know many of you will consider this a waste of good beer...


CaptRob

My helper, TIKI, luvs Coke

This is one of my favorite photos. My helper, Tiki.

Tiki luvs Coke. LOL


CaptRob

Rebuilding a "Tired" Diaphragm Boat Pump

Boat Project!!
 
OK, this is a "real" boat project. People always ask what do we do all day?
 
The shower pump quit working. It started to fail about 2 months ago. I took the pump apart and cleaned it and examined the pump. It appeared, overall, in good shape. The two valves were shot and the other rubber parts where worn out. I got a rebuild kit and put it to the side. 


The pump limped along until Saturday. So I pulled it out and tore it apart and rebuilt it with "some" of the new parts.

I hope you enjoyed this video or a real boat project.


CaptRob

TGIF Party!!

Ahoy my friends. It is Friday again. How is the weather where you are?

Is it raining? Is there any chance of rain? I hope not...Because.

Have a great Friday.

CaptRob

Steve Jobs and his Vision

I was outside and the sky turned a beautiful fire red as the sun was setting...I didn't happen to have a camera, of course, but I did have my iPhone in my pocket.

So I took this gorgeous photo with my iPhone.

Thank you Steve.

This is just one little thing most of us take for granted today.


Steve Jobs is just a year and a half or so older than I am. I will be 54 at the end of next week and Steve is 56. I remember following Steve's progress and success (and failures) throughout our lives. I vividly remember the 1984 Superbowl Commercial for the Macintosh Computer. 


What a wonderful piece of ART.


So Steve, I will truly miss your passion, persistence, and your vision.....


Rob

Brain Washing

Are you gettin' brainwashed by anything?

BrainWashing: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 

Maybe the media? Like TV?

Think about it...Hour after hour of garbage content. Nothing of real value.

What do you think?

CaptRob

Butterflies

Just a quick post.

There are butterflies everywhere the past few days. I took a bunch of photos with my iPhone.

Be having a great weekend!

CaptRob

A Feathered Friend Visits

Ahoy matey.

Yesterday, me Admiral noticed a feathered friend sittin' on the top of a mast. The sailboat was just 3 or 4 slips down from us.

Do you know what kind of bird this is?

There are many in this area. It was fun to watch, such big eyes. Wow.

How You Can Make Fun Cute Holiday Yarn Pom Poms

Not too long ago I was cruising around YouTube looking at and watching interesting videos. I came across a video about making pom poms with the cardboard rings. 

It jogged my memory of back when I was a kid and we always were doing crafty things. 

You know, back in the day, everyone crocheted, or knitted, and darned socks and patched jeans.

The beauty of making something fun like pom poms. It is family safe, be careful with the scissors. And you change the yarn color for whatever is the holiday coming up. For Christmas you might use red and green.

Watch the video to find out how you can get a set.


CaptRob

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is Today!

Ahoy! -- Hello.
Avast! - Stop, pay attention.
One Aye, as in Aye! - Yes, I agree.
Two Aye's, as in Aye aye! -- I understand and I'll get right on that.
Grog: A pirate's favorite drink, any alcohol other than beer.
Landlubber: someone not used to life onboard a ship.
Beauty, Lass, or Wench: A woman.
And the most important, Arrr! No explanation needed.

Be learnin' the proper way to speak today!


CaptRob

My One Month Anniversary On Empire Avenue

September 13th, Tuesday, was my 1 month anniversary on Empire Avenue. I started on August 13th and I want to give a shout out and say “thanks” to all my investors.

When I started EA, I set a first month goal of reaching 1,000,000 eaves and a stock price of 60-85 eaves. I reached 1 million eaves in about ten days and today I am at 1,720,295 eaves. My stock price is 87.91 eaves.

(from FAQ page) Stock Price 60-85:
Exceptional social media user
Very active on a handful of social media sites
Find it hard not to post on your sites (perhaps you should seek addiction counseling?)
You are followed, nay, stalked — you have a large audience on all sites
It looks like investors like you — they own more of you than you do!


And I am currently at 87.91...

I am President (the #2 position) on the "Video Blogging" index.

To be honest, I am not much for playing Internet games. I don’t do Farmville or any of the many games. Never have and most likely never will…But I find Empire Avenue fascinating, it is a great Social Media metric. I like how I can track my activity on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and my blogs all in one place. If I see my activity slipping in one platform I can pick up the pace.

So I want to take a moment to thank everyone for purchasing my stock, for investing in me. Of course, I think I am a great investment. My stock price continues to climb (much slower now but still going up). My Dividend stays around 0.96-0.98 eaves, and recently has increased to 1.05 giving me well over 1.0 ROI (1.2).

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U Arrrrrrr.

CaptRob

P.S. And because Empire Ave is about being social and making connections. The most excellent way to be supportin' Capt Rob and Pirate Lifestyle TV is ta LIKE & FAVORITE & THUMBS UP his videos an' be sharin' it wit' ye friends on Facebook an' Twitter.

A humble pirate "thank you" fer doin' this. Arrrrr.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PirateLifestyleTV

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=PirateLifestyleTV *** Don't be missin' a show.


Sail Around the Web-O-Sphere wit' Capt Rob!

Website: http://www.piratelifestyle.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PirateLifestyle

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CaptRobLee

Google+: http://Gplus.to/CaptRobLee

TGIF! Work Sucks

Ahoy! It is Friday and I was wondering...
Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?
Living your dreams? Doing something FUN?
Then watch this video!