Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 8:57 AM EDT

Michael, Very interesting integration of "self" into the blog. I think it's particularly intriguing the way that it brings the reader closer to "you" in a more personal manner (they are "in" your car, no less). It's no longer just your words or use of imagery that engages the reader, but the humanization element of the video. This is personalization on an entirely different level. The only downside to this is that the reader has no means to interact with and become a writer (as opposed to the read-write sense of the blog as an element of Web 2.0) in the video. It seems that there should be a way to work something into that, but the limitations are actually with what a person can do with YouTube in this respect.

That said however, I think I was actually feeling motion sickness watching the video. I'll have to look into that one, but it might be the size of the screen or the limitations of the camera to deal with the "bouncing" effect of the visual. Otherwise, I wonder if the video was too long. Good suspense element, but not sure about the length. 

On another note, you've touched on something else that intrigues me; that we as "Civil War people" have come to automatically assume that markers that have the Civil War Trails marker look are, in fact, Civil War markers. I wonder if everyone else does the same or if it is only those (beyond us "Civil War people") people who have learned to assume that the shape and look of these markers means that the marker must be a Civil War Trails sign. I may have lost this automatic mechanism within me because I have seen my fair share of non Civil War signs that have the same look.

Pretty cool use of another medium in this environment!

Robert

Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 9:34 AM EDT

Interesting...perhaps Circuit City should have commemorated their ponds before they became part of history. I too have become increasingly agitated at all of the big box stores filling the landscape bombarding our senses with bright, ugly signs.

 Looking forward to your next episode!

Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 12:12 PM EDT

Michael, I fell my genre has been violated.... :-) 

 Seriously there are some "often overlooked" markers just down the road from Best Buy:  http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=7535

Craig.

Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 12:46 PM EDT

Thanks Craig. Those are 2 great examples and ironically, not more than a 5 minute drive from the infamous 'Best Buy Pond' marker. Thanks for sharing.

Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 1:48 PM EDT

Michael, there are actually three in the Five Mile Fork "liberal foraging zone." 

There are some additional markers, of course, near Salem Church.  I found Chancellorsville one of the more difficult battlefields to "group" markers in the logical sense.  Just too many moving parts I guess!  (http://markerhunter.wordpress.com/battlefields-by-markers/chancellorsville/)

Tuesday, 7 April 2009 - 8:14 PM EDT

Michael - I'm glad you had your seat belt on. My biggest concern was how much time you spent looking down at the camera (instead of the road) while driving on I-95.

You are a brave man indeed.

;O)

RW

Tuesday, 28 April 2009 - 1:23 AM EDT

Mike, 

That was amazing.  I wish I would have watched this sooner.  I think your mix of sarcasm with knowledge and heartfelt words cap this segment off.  I look forward to watching all of the episodes...

 Great job!!!

Tim