Trial by File

I recently took part in an online group project. It was all about collaborating and putting out an ebook in a short amount of time. Let me stress - short amount of time.

One thing really blew me away. It wasn't what I expected would amaze me the most about this process, like "working together" themes.

This is it - some people were just so good at writing, editing & getting to the point. I mean, maybe my favorite writers (like James Joyce and Aristotle) tend to go on, and I know I'm the queen of run-ons, non sequiturs and ok, bad puns. But near project deadline, to actually experience people who took a thick rope of text and turn it into a Haiku - with such clarity and ease.... made me realize two things:

1. I really suffered writing papers in school. I don't think they did.

2. Having an idea and writing it for others to understand is a process.
Maybe it's just having an organized mind. Maybe it's a skill you pick up. It's blogging my mind.

Amazon Grace

Man, I always get caught up in the free shipping option at Amazon. Like for instance, I was pre-ordering a book today by Seth Godin so I could be in a membership tribe he's starting.

Now I know I don't like being in any group really, I share the same point of view on this matter as the late great Groucho Marx who said "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member".

I mean, how do you be a big proponent of individuality, creative thinking, originality, out of the box thinking, in fact no shape thinking, and form a membership group out of people who are like that? Tribes.

However, I'm a fan of Seth's, and from the books and seminars I have attended, I'm sure his Tribe will be more like the set of all non-membering sets. I'm already in the Null Set.

That's probably the only math term I remember, thanks in part to the terrifying Mr. Schudel, my 7th Grade Math teacher, who referred to the class as "ill mannered children" if any verbal response was uttered prior to a long drawn-out traditional and proper hand waving ceremony.

Anyway, I got grabbed into the vortex of wanting for only $11.99 more, to qualify for the free super saving shipping. So, I went back and ordered a book to cover the difference. As I was checking out, I thought, well, why don't I get a few more books now that I have the Super Saving Shipping - tighten the old belt and all.

Well, four other books later, I am ready to check out. I actually complete the order. Then I see it. Expected date of arrival October 27th.

Gasp. I know the pre-ordered book "Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us" (which made me think of the yam ceremonies of the Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea, Ringo Starr's drum set and that episode of the Twilight Zone "To Serve Man") would be delayed, but my other four books were now slated not to arrive for a good two months. What to do?

I found out that I could cancel my order or arrange it so I could just order the pre-order without penalty.

Now I was back at square one. Do I get one extra book I can wait for 2 months for along with the Tribe book or do I just get the Tribe book and well, not get an Amazon special?

I went back in my account and got the pre-ordered book. Then, again, I paused, went back and added another book, to make the free Shipping Super Saver.

I was about to check out when I realized I had just spent more money to save money.

That's how I grew up - my mom bought the Cheese Doodles strictly for the free Scotch tape in the bag.

A nagging voice inside of me pointed out, "you know, the shipping for the pre-order is only $3.99. You'll get the book faster without..." as the free shipping delays the book by a week - or so Amazon claims.

Maybe it was my mood, but I canceled the other book I used for the free shipping and went for broke.

Now I kind of wonder if this has to do with marketing or math. As I recall Mr. Shudel yelled a lot and didn't like ill mannered children.

Whoo Hooo Bonnie's gonna sing!

Well I'm at a 4th of July party - the annual and I found my singer! I'm so happy. Of course, Bonnie's getting a Wordpress Website - but I'll do anything to get my song sung. Ok, it's gonna get worse, well before it gets better. Happy fourth to everyone!
P.S. I ate too much. I only eat BBQ things at Glens. According to my research on eBay, I should be eating this stuff - it's very popular. Make it organic, would ya?

How many blogs would a permission blogger blog if a permission blogger blogged permission?

Well, after eBay Live! there's also so much to do.....

Hey guys, I gotta get into the loop. I went into Manhattan yesterday and saw how much it had changed since I was a youngster skipping down the avenues.

Boy, Times Square, which I used to squrrie by quickly on my way to the theatre used to have about two places to eat in close by and a ton of "adult" bookstores...

Driving by yesterday on Broadway I saw every commercial sign flashing on huge billboards and streaming Ads - almost like if you took the most warped individual from a Madison Avenue Ad Agency who wanted to take "Information Overload" to it's most extreme conclusion. That's Times Square today. Oh, I know I should have a video for you, but next time!

The famous Seth Godin calls talks about Permission Marketing. I just bought a ton of his books at eBay Live! I bought an extra one because I was in the eBay bookshop buying them when he came in to autograph all his books. Seth, make a groovy autographed stamp - I'm sure you can invent one that has limited edition numbers and different colors with special squidoo ink. Make a litho stamp for book signing. Then only autograph a few on top of that in pencil. Those are the ones that will make it into the New Media Museum.

In the mean time (and I'm including Greenwich), I'm going to try to create my own little Times Square in cyberspace.

Hope to see you there!

Dedicated

I was standing in the make-shift store at eBay Live! in Chicago. All of sudden almost out of nowhere someone came up to me, grabbed my wrist and said "Janie Ruth fell ten feet off a balcony - she's in surgery that's all I know".

What? A cold chill went through me as I thought of this funny lady who I had just met at a dinner she had organized two days earlier. "I think she was at the art museum, I'm not sure", the young woman said.

If you read earlier posts from this blog, you'll see Janie Ruth had joined in along with a small group of OSI rock stars on a forum where life started to imitate art, and art started to imitate life.

It would take an irreverent, wild, slightly sarcastic, clever and extremely funny group of people to pull off one of the best threads I ever encountered on the Internet in any forum.

The Malaprops, pings and pongs, lightning fast comments back & forth took form manifesting itself by utilizing New Media and Social Networking at it's best. Video clips appeared and counter-video clips promptly appeared as responses to in kind.

Janie Ruth embraced and championed the new media with an incredible zeal and used it to express her razor-sharp wit.

Tears started to well up just thinking of how severe the fall must have been.

I later learned from a friend who knew her for over 15 years that she had been by herself. Her daughter had come to Chicago with her. I was told one of the top neurosurgeons was in the emergency room when she was brought in. He probably saved her life. We are getting updates and each little bit of news of her progress is so welcomed.

The Search For Jeremy Continues

Marlene, of the FishLips Defective Agency took a different route due to an unfortunate incident of yet another Garmin device discovered stolen from the "Save Jeremy" Golf Cart. After the Golf of Mexico, Marlene was sited in Kansas, after a brief secret meeting with another Certifed eBay Education Specialist, who requested we not reveal her name. The ES told the Kansas Fish Niche Daily reporter "Marlene seems to be hearing "Voices". I heard her say "Jeff, it looks like we're not in Kansas any more". I'm not quite sure what to think!

My personal feeling is Marlene is searching for Jeremy in The Land of Oz. Take a look for yourself.



JR, Marlene's partner at FishLips, in a stunning revelation thought Marlene was way off trek. Talk about giving a dog a bone....



Then, to add in Salt Lake to In Jury, Dany and Cindy set up this survey, like they don't know..... just lookit.... Boy the lengths some people will go to cover up.

Pikes Peak at Pikes Place.

Sung to the tune of
"Summertime" lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin, parody by WebWendy

"Summit Time,
And the live! is at eBay
Fish are jumpin'
And the Copper River is high

Your Go-Daddy's rich
And your domains are good lookin'
So push up little eBay
Don't you cry

One of these lawn things
They're going to price up sniping
Then you'll spread your pings
And you'll take to the Skype

But ‘til that lawn things sold
There's a-nothing can calm you
With go-daddy and mailman stamping buys

Summit Time,
And the live! is at eBay
Fish are jumpin'
And the Copper River is high"

WebWendy all rights reserve price

It's Dog Eat Dog Out There

Marlene and JR, in SEO of Jeremy formed "The Fliplips Defective Agency". We only know for sure that Nina is a double agent, working for both sides. First she was 007but I spotted her a mile away... she was really No. 14 - there's your double or nothin...

Not since "Cape Fear" has the tension been so great.

The Mission Fish:

"Marlene's To Do List:
1 - find hunky Cholon
2 - save Jeremy!!

So Cholon is on the list to save as well. How do I tell M & JR he was found having a Cholon-oscopy?

Jeff, a dog working with the Agency was in hot pursuit. It was reported by loco authorities that Marlene spent ten hours in the Golf of Mexico Cart trying to track down the Seattle Sea Creature clue. I'm trying to keep up with them, but things move rather slow in the Fish Niche Tank.



Before you could say 1PetsPalace, look what I found....




Not only that, Madame Virgo replied aw well with a fishy story - another McGriffith, if you ask me.


It reminded me of another photoclue posted long ago... I think this one had to do more with Madame Virgo's (or one of her familiar pets') paternity issues.

Flip Cameras Sited In Law Suit For Changing Brain Chemistry

In a recent independent double blind study done at Fish Niche University, it was written in "The New England Journal of Niches" on Friday that users of the "Flip Cameras", small devices that enable aspiring movie moguls to quickly upload their data to online sites like Yoo-hoo, Utube, Vimeo and other Social Networking sites have literally "flipped out" themselves.

"There seems to be a strong correlation between using these flip video cameras and a change in perception" stated Dr. Urchin Fishstein, a noted professor of Scales at Fish Niche University. He continued "We've been seeing a disproportional increase in extremely bizzare videos being posted since the onslaught of the use of flip cameras, most popularly sold by an S Corporation owned by a Madame Virgo called "Clover City Flips."

It appears along with sending the Flip Cameras ordered thru Clover City Flips, buyers also recieve a dried package of some sort of beverage called "Peppershots".

"We are still investigating this phenomena" said a representive of Utube. "We've never seen anything like this before - and we thought we had seen it all".

JR Might Find Break in Finding Jeremy....

We know the secret now, but we still are trying to figure out the clues. But, a few savvy OSI's realized big time they were being taken for a ride. The clues started to take on a life of their own. What does the contest have to do with Jeremy being tied up and not a word heard from him - not even an animal appearance... and what became of Mike the Mole? Marlene and JR formed a Detective Agency and are out to save Jeremy.

Go figure...

No Mole's Barred - Marlene Strikes Batch!

Looks like Marlene and JR are pretty serious about finding Jeremy. Can you blame them? He's been their tied and true friend for all these months and now he's in danger. Who knows what Janelle, Dany and Madam Virgo has in stall for him. Not to mention his arch-enemy Mike the Mole, who wants to take over his job.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm cheering Marlene and JR on!

Sung to the tune of “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho” - author unknown, parody writer unknown also as WebWendy.....

"JR & Marlene fought the battle for Jeremy
Jeremy, Jeremy
JR & Marlene fought the battle for Jeremy
And de baths come bubbling down."

George Kastanza:

"You may talk about the plan of Madame Virgo;
You may talk about the plan of Janelle;
There’s none like good ole JR & Marlene
And the battle for Jeremy.
Up to the Fish Niche Spa
They marched with spears and planned.
“Go blow dem ram horns,” JR cried,
Cause de Peppershots’ in my hand”
Then Marlenes’ golf cart horn did blow:
Strupets begin to sound.
JR commanded de chicken to sprouts,
An’ the baths come bubbling’ down.

"JR & Marlene fought the battle for Jeremy
Jeremy, Jeremy
JR & Marlene fought the battle for Jeremy
And de baths come bubbling down."

WebWendy 2008 All Rights Reserve Price

See more on the dangerous adventures of Marlene and JR on my blog
http://webwendy.blogspot.com

Save The Last Clue For Me....

Man, was I surprised to see this clue pop up called "Janelle's Secret". This was the clue I wasn't supposed to see a week or so ago. I kept trying to analyse it and from that point on I just knew my skype started being bugged, people on park benches with newspapers were watching me, I couldn't even go the Fish Niche spa without someone tailing me. Now I know why, I finally know!!! I saw the wrong clue at the wrong time. No wonder I had to climb over the faces of the Presidential Primary candidates.... Man, now I know how Ingrid Bergman must have felt in "Gaslight". Well, it's all clear to me now. They were trying to shut me up so I wouldn't tell the others about the Maltese Falcon outfits we have to wear at eBay Live! Man....

Janelle talks with the McGriffith and a Banner Is Born

What a small world. Notice how Janelle kept on the down-low when talking to Uncle Griff on his radio show about what really goes on at OSI. Kidnappings, reinactments of the Mann Act, depriving employees their basic rights and keeping them tied up all day with tasks outside their job descriptions... I hope Cliff will represent the Rock Stars vs. OSI if there should be any legal action necessary to get Jeremy back.

I have to get the podcast where Janelle makes it seem oh so normal to the outside world, while we insiders haven't seen hyde nor hair of Jeremy. What will Marlene and JR do??

src=”http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/5/4/3/7/3/2/webimg/142397497_o.jpg”>

Kidnapped WOW L@@K RARE All tied up Jeremy

In the most shocking video clue yet, the worst fears concerning the fate of Jeremy came to pass today when this clue was released. Speculation ran rampant as OSI Rock Stars Marlene and JanieRuth, and I dare include myself, thought that something might have gone "Fowl" with our dear boy Jeremey. Rock Stars had many different reactions to this video. "This has gone too far" protested on outraged Rock Star. Still, others commented on how much the rope and bandana might bring on eBay. Overlooked by Film Noir Director Dany and Vimeo Award Winning Actress Ms. Virgo was the obvious deletion of "Rosemary's Baby" and "Play Misty For Me" from the list of past inspiration films leading up to this trailored clue.

Don't worry Jeremy, WebWendy will rescue you. Once I write another Peppershot Potion Number Nine song not even Ms. Virgo will be able to cast her spell checks on you!



Man, what a bad rap JanieRuth and Marlene got for the alleged kidnapping of Jeremy.

This song says it all... Sung to the "Mighty Mouse" song - parody by WebWendy

"Mister Turbo Lister never hangs around
When he hears this Lighty sound.

"Here I come to shave our J"

That means that JR & Marlene are in the way.
Yessir, when there is a wrong to write
JR & Marlene will join the flight!
On the sea or on the land,
They want to get the situation well in hand.
So though Jeremy's in danger
We never compare
Cause we know that where there's danger
They are there!
They there!
In the Store!
On the Boards!
What a Pair!
We're not twittering' at all
We're just listenin' for his call (what calls do prarie dogs make?)
"Here I come to shave our J!"
That means that Mighty Marlene and JR are in the way!"

2008 All Rights Reserved Price

Looks like Madame Virgo came pretty close to burning her fingers and her bridges by casting the first gauntlet. In her Parrot reading session, she suggest JR (the Grit Card) and Marlene (The Owl Card) have somehow played a hand in the fate of Jeremy.

Trojan Horse Clue Found at Flightline Fabrications

Talk about outer space! There I was totally engrossed in reading fascinating stories on Flightline's incredible blog about the ancient City of Troy, then about Artifact: P-38 Lightning “Glacier Girl”, when all of sudden, literally out of nowhere there it was -- an OSI Clue about eBay Live! embedded right after The Historic Launch of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, well the plane, the plane.

It reminded me of the time when I was around twelve years old. My friend Stephanie and I were watching the Million Dollar Movie on tv. My mom always kept the "junk food" in this one huge draw in the kitchen. Steph went to find the usual stash of "Yodels" or "Hostess Cupcakes". Instead, she came back with a quizzical look holding up a bag of Cheese Doodles - which were never in my house before. "Why did your mom get this? she asked." "Don't know" I said.

Well, a few minutes later as we were making our way down the big plastic bag of doodles, Stephanie suddenly felt something in the bag and screamed - "there's something strange in the bag"... I turn the lights on (they were off for the movie) and I bravely inspected the foreign item inside the bag. I found myself holding a new roll of Scotch-tape in a plastic container. On the bag it said "Free Scotch Tape Inside". Need I say more?



This clue, being on Flighline's blog and all made me feel so patriotic that I just had to write this little tribute for the boys at Flightline and OSI.

Sung to the tune of "Over There"
Words & Music by: George M. Cohan. Parody by WebWendy

"Johnnie get your pin, get your pin, get your pin,
Sell it on the BIN, on the BIN, on the BIN,
Hear them calling you and me;
Every son of Libearty
Hurry right away, no delay, go today,
Make your daddy glad to have had such a plaid
Tell your feedback not to pine,
To be proud her toy's online.

Chorus:
OSI here, OSI here
Send the keyword, send the keyword,
OSI here
That the hunks are coming,
The hunks are coming,
The moms run streaming everywhere
So prepare,
Stay Adware
Send the keyword,
Send the keyword to be rare
We'll be Over-ture, we're coming Over-ture.
And we won't be back till it's OSI over there!"

2008 WebWendy all rights reserved price

Mike The Mole Shows The Badger

The OSI boards were a flurry with bets, dares and true grit. JanieRuth was told if she wore a fruit hat, she'd get a clue. If you recall from our last clue, she turned up in a Fish Niche hat, but you just don't say "no" to a outraged Southerner in a fish hat who gives you a what-for!

Here's one of the clues as a direct result of our sufferaget.


Badge from Dany Byrne on Vimeo.

OSI Rock Stars Get Sold Down The Salmon Copper River by Janie Ruth

We all know that desperate times call for desperate measures.

OSI Rock Star Janie Ruth pleads and goes out of her comfort zone to eek a clue out of the OSI Power Block 3. Hey, if you're going out on a 90 degree day to buy a Fish Niche hat, you could be suffering from a lack of Omega 3, if you know what I mean.

Now cry me a river, but when I saw this cry for help, I understood, I really did. But JR did you have to sell us out? huh? huh? It's ok, we know you were working as a double agent - that's the only thing that saved you. Salad, baby...


GRITS - Girls Raised in the South - Just don't wear Fruit on their Heads! from jane reding on Vimeo.

The Psychic Clue or is it the Psycho Clue?

Wait.... I feel a song coming on...

Sung to the tune of "Love Potion No. 9" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Modified by WebWendy in parody paradise.

"I took my tripods down to Madame View,
you know that psychic with the gold-post truth
She's got a pod down on 39-Steps and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9

I told her that I was a flop with flicks
I've been this way since 1956
She looked at my palm pilot and she made a magic sign
She said "What you need is Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9"

She burnt lawns and learned around and gave me a link
She said "I'm gonna Bling It! up right here using pink"
It smelled like Ballentine, it looked like Squidoo Inc.
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink

I didn't know if it was day or night
I started recording everything in sight
But when I kissed the clue at the Fish-Niche Spa so Fine
He broke my little bottle of Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9

Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9
Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9
Peppershot Potion Numbs-you 9"

2008 WebWendy all rights reserved price

____________________________________________________________________________________
Postnote: It's clear that this latest clue, Psycho, er Psychic has taken OSI to a new level. In this clue, Cindy clearly is getting vibrations via Nina, dressed like Xena Warrior Princess, standing in as a cell tower transmitter directly to eBay Live! headquarters.

Cindy, after having received cryptic words from Carmine Miranda and visions of her 1992 trip to Mardis Gras, has finally found her real fish-niche as a Psychic to the Stars. the OSI Rock Stars, that is.

After years of market research, Cindy and Dany both discovered that sucessful psychics (as illustrated by the Ms. Cleo clue below) make more money than Education Specialists.

I hear Cindy aka excuse me Ms. Virgo is taking appointments now - no need to call, she'll call you.

Wait, you'll have to get Skype...

The empty eBay Drop-off center is now going to be Ms. Virgo's new residence in Seattle and will eventually take over all the centers via franchises. In a few years they'll be able to move to Margaritaville.

I also predict a giant Plastic Peppershot Glass Sculpture will one day be a huge tourist attraction in downtown Chicago, where Harry Caray's once stood.

Just saying....

And yes, Ms. Virgo will get the Vimeo Academy Award and the You Tube Fickle Finger of Fate Award.

The Lost Uncle "McGriffith" Clues from OSI

Ok, so it's been bothering me. I admit it. You see, it all started like this. A group of people belong to an online group dedicated to learning more about eBay. Now for those of you reading this who think belonging to such a group is as bad as confessing that you go to Star Trek Conventions, may the force be with you. You gotta do something.

This post is for any one wanting to know what this blog is about (who isn't an OSIer) or didn't follow the fun threads, and needs to school-up.

Meanwhile, eBay is holding it's annual (soon to be bi-annual) event in Chicago called eBay Live! Going to eBay Live! is in a class of it's own in terms of general "experiences". But that's another post.

So, a bunch of "Rock Stars" who belong to a site called not surprisingly osirockstars.com have many forums going about a vast array of topics.

Recently,on one thread not talking about blogging or SEO or how to find items to sell on eBay or how to optimize your eBay store,there was a thread about finding out what Janelle Elms, who started osi had planned for us RS at a eBay Live! meet-up, at the request of the members going to Chicago.

The clues started to take shape in the form of videos. In-between the video clues, which were found on YouTube, Vermento and other Rock Star's blogs, various pictures and other videos which really weren't clues at all started to emerge. I haven't listed those here, but I might start. It's been bothering me.

Why is this post called The Lost Uncle "McGriffith" Clues from OSI? Because many of these clues were called McGuffins after Hitchcock who coin the phrase in 1939.


Of course, anyone at eBay knows we would really call these red-herrings "McGriffiths". I'd post them in honor of Uncle Griff, my most favorite eBay personality and a great scrabble player.

Ok, here's the one that JR posted about Fish Heads. This one scares me. I had to turn off the music to "The Twilight Zone" when I was a kid, and just the other day too. Due to record accuracy, I must include it. JR found it.

The Fish Niche Spa - the rest of the story

This next McGriffith, posted by Ghostleg Media, taught Marlene how to be a nag.... In the-savvy-seller's own words "JR is right - we're not into transplanting body parts. But I did get a good idea of how to sound like a nag ..... Daaaaaaannnnnyyyyyyy, Daaaaaannnnnyyyyy ....."

I'm still cracking up over that! You can lead a Unicorn to Candy Mountain, but they'll kidney stone you when your tryn' to be so good. "Oh to Live on Candy Mountain with the Kidneys and the colored ballons..." Hey, they don't call them McGriffiths' for nothing... Kind of makes you wonder what Dany watches on cable....

This will give you a Charlie Horse

Ok, I have a "feeling" this Ms. Cleo Clip gave someone an idea.... This is a "Classic McGriffith."

Fault Found in OSI "I See Yellow People" Clue

Today a journalist from the KMX Kansas Rag noticed a big problem with the "I See Yellow People" Clue. While many rock stars names were panned during the making of the Clue, hosted by JanieRuth of Funky Finds, it was reported that WebWendy's name was nowhere to be found. Several other rock star names were omitted. We are investigating this incident. Also, we had been previously told that Nina, was Secret Agent 007 based of course on her number on a speadsheet. Here we see her name clearly next to Number 14. What gives? The people demand to know.

Lifestyles of the Niche and Famous

Well it's about time someone used a title of mine in a video or movie. Geesh. This is my favorite clue so far. Well, except for the cigar - too freudian for me.

The Fish Niche Spa - Who needs eBay Live?

Salmonella meets Cinderella or More OSI Clues

Ok, I know you must have missed me. I had a bunch of classes to teach, I had to write a course on social networking - and get this - teach some people how to blog! But, I'm back. I'm not going to let that 24-hour rule throw me off. Um, where was I? What day is it? I did make one discovery. I went to see the new Harrison Ford Movie Indiana Jones and another temple that's doomed. In it, I saw a reference to a prarie dog - maybe even the same one Janelle keeps turning Jeremy into. What a bunch of rotten tomatoes. Hold on while I find the clue.....

The Savvy-Seller Flips out from OSI Clue deprevation

Yes it's true the-savvy-seller has us all confused by putting in a clue of her own. I guess it's a flip-wish. Soon I'm going to need to use the Dewey Digital System to keep track of all these clues. Good job, Marlene, but I couldn't help noticing an absence of hunky guys and road kill. On the positive side, I've never uploaded a video to You Tube (See "Confessions of a Social Networking Downloader") so I can't really cast stones.

Twas the weeks before eBay X-Live! and all through the eposide of "House"; not a creature was stirring - except Jeremy and the wireless mouse; The fish niche stockings were hung by the shimmery eye-care, In hopes that Yves Saint-Laurent would be worn here;

Marlene could not sleep, stickers, limos, fish, & bodyguards with Peds; Whilst visions of Peppershots danced all thru her head!

Boos Clues, eBay Live! OSI Mystery Continues

Well, guess what, I have another clue to post. Now this isn't just a real clue, it's a clue about a clue. Hey, is that fair? I wonder who's blog the next clue will be on? I mean, let's face it folks, even the democratic primaries ended...



Not only that, there's a twenty-four hour gag order on displaying these clues. This one was found yesterday on Melissa's site, my connection for getting the good Copper River Salmon and my new partner in the multi-million dollar business we are going to start dealing with fishy deals on meals. This is what I found at Infant Traveler's Blog Of Note, this is the first time we see the historical and official use of "Peppershot Media" being used. Let me know when the stock comes out.



Ok, so I love that show Monk. Maybe we do share a few little habits....

OSI Rock Star Mystery Picture Clue No. 4

Well, here's another photo clue. I found this clue on the-savvy-seller's blog.

I think I feel a song coming on.....
(Sung to the tune "Fame" by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford) parody by WebWendy

"eBay look at me
And sell me what you see
You ain't seen the best of me yet
Give me time I'll make you forget the rest

I got store in me
And you can set the fee
I can catch the fish niche with my hands
Don't you know who I am

Remember my user name
Frames

I'm gonna sell forever
I'm gonna learn how to Blog
Hi

I feel it coming together
People will see me and flog
Frames

I'm gonna make it to Facebook
Light up the skype with a flame
Frames

I'm gonna sell forever
eBay remember my user name!

eBay sold thy all night
Causes, you can make it right
You can boot me straight to the top
Give me gloves and take all I've got to give

eBay I'll be tough
Too much is not enough
I can wrap your Vase, it won't break
Ooh I got what it takes

Frames!



The photos you see below are of the famous JanieRuth.

OSI eBay Live! Mystery Clue In Blue No. 11

Ok, well I had to search and search through many blogs to find this vital piece of the puzzle. Oh Jeremy, Jeremy, wear art thou? Could this all be for bought?

Photo Clue No. 3 Sited

Flightline-Fabrications has sited another OSI clue photo. Perhaps they discovered it in one of those old WWII planes on the's pilot seat.

OSI Rock Star eBay Live! Mystery Video Clue Song Break

After racking our brains trying to figure out what these strange video messages, mostly found on youtube mean, I wrote a song to bring hope and light to the OSI clue breakers.
Looks like we get our 15 minutes of frames, er fame.... And it's time for a song...
(Sung to the tune of Starry Starry Night by Don McClean - modified by WebWendy)

"Five Starry, Starry night, paint your PayPal blue and grey,
Look out on an eBay day
With eyes that know the bidding on my bowl
Shadows on the BIN
Stretch the fees and the Bidpay bills
Natch free shipping stop those phoney schills
In colors in my showy storefront land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how YouTube broke our sanity
How you tried to set the clues
They would not download we did not know how
Perhaps they'll make sense now

Five Starry, starry night
Flaming flicks that brightly blaze
Swirling clues in a Prairie dog's haze
Reflect in recent buys of china blue
eBay changing dues
Mourning files of slumber gains
Weathered Rock Stars feel no pain
And soon begin to form a Rock Star Brand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
And how YouTube broke our sanity
How you tried to set the clues
They would not download they won't embed now
Perhaps they never will"

Tune in, Turn on, Drop out, Join OSI


Hey, I'm an old hippie, don't sue me.

OSI Rock Star eBay Live! Clue Number 10

Now Dany has found a cool new site to upload videos to. Check this out....


What's Janelle's Secret from Dany Byrne on Vimeo.

The tenth eBay Live! OSI video clue

You'll need the latest version of Flash to see this. Hey, is that related to "Flash Dance" or "Flash Drive"?

OSI Rock Star Clues for eBay Live No. 9

Jeremy Undercover

Number 9, Number 9, Number 9? You say you want a revolution? Now a normal person would have systematically put all these clues on their blog as they appeared, not all at once. So, I should tell you that the clues were not all posted in one day but over time. If I have a chance, I'll go back and put the dates in.



My eBay students are going to freak - I promised them I'd send them all out info. on the best tools to use and answer their questions. Not to mention I have two web sites to finish. But, all the clues must be together or this puzzle will never be solved. This particular puzzle won't be solved unless we can bring Timothy Leary back, but just in theory.

OSI Rock Star Siting - Photo Clue No. 8

This had a tag saying "She Can Run But She Can't Hide"




Hey, go ask Cindy. And yes, I'm calling them clues even if they are just sitings. Didn't any of you ever watch the movie "Blow Up"?

Clover City Sells

OSI Rock Star eBay Live! Clue No. 7

Jeremy's Back - or rather he better watch his back.



Here we see our heart-throb showing off Janelle's kitchen. Sure, there might be clues but did you see that black refridgerator? I wonder what's in it?


Comments only if you have a 4.8 or higher DSR rating.

OSI Rock Star Video Clue No. 6

Well here we have The Praie Dog Home Companion. This is what I was telling you about before - Jeremy is bewitched by this whole film noir thing. Maybe he found his niche - in the ground! I've heard of animal husbandry, but this is....



Drama Prairie Dog? Comments please, no holes barred.

OSI Rock Star Video Clue No. 5

Ok, this one is popular. It reminds me of "A Clockwork Orange" but don't ask me why.






This one gives you a bang for your buck. I think Cindy & Dany saw too many "Million Dollar Movies" or for you youngsters, they live on NetFlicks.


Comments on this post need signature confirmation.


Comment only if you dare!

OSI Rock Star eBay Live! Mystery Clue No. 4

Well, for those of you who don't know Jeremy is that sweet guy who sometimes answers Janelle's emails. We didn't know how cute he is. He's a good actor too. He's the new OSI heart-throb, but someone keeps turning him into various animal incarnations because he tries to help us uncover the secret. Some were worried he was being kept locked up and bound.

OSI Rock Star Siting - Not a Video, but.....

Ok, I have to include this... It was a siting of OSI Rock Star Janelle Elms.



The link below might give you more insight into this....



clover_city_sells

OSI Rock Star Utube Video Clue No 3

You'd think they missed out on the 60's, if you know what I mean...





For historic purposes, just before this video there was that secret one never to be seen again. I'll writing a book about it - it's not unlike the stolen third panel of the Van Eyke painting "The Just Judges" from Camus' "The Fall". I shouldn't really mention it because I'll get it trouble, but sometimes footnotes in history have the most color. This should be clue No. 4 - but remember what happened to Socrates.

Meanwhile, what's with this clue? Comment at your own risk.

OSI Rock Star UTube Video Clue No. 2

This one is fishy. It's so fishy, we created a Fish Niche. Clue in Blue No. 2.



If You Can't Join US, Beat Us
Comments welcome at your own reserve price.

The OSI Rock Star UTube Clues No. 1

Here's the first one: Comments on what this means welcome - at your own peril.



Join Us or Beat Us

The OSI Rock Star Rumor Mill

Ok, so go ahead, call me Rhona Barret. Well, maybe don't. In case you don't know, Rhona Barret was a reporter who gossiped about all the Hollywood stars long before "X-tra X-tra" came on the scene.

It seems, however that someone's got to keep tabs on what has become an out of control mystery going on at OSI headquarters.

A group of eBay Sellers, Educators, PowerSellers belong to a group called OSI Rock Stars, a site set up for people who get locked out of their homes by relatives for eating, breathing, sleeping and dreaming everything eBay.

Many of the people who are in this group are going to eBay Live! in Chicago this June. "Rock Stars" who helped creator Janelle Elms launch the OSI site, moderate the forums and contriubte to webinars and podcasts requested a place to meet at Live!

Well, call it the return of "Divine Right's Trip", but we have been getting "clues" in the form of Utube videos on what we can expect from OSI Rock Stars in Chicago.

So far, we haven't done such a great job of figuring out what Janelle and her trusty videographer Dany are up to. It's our mission to find out.

In the interest of archiving this historic event, I'm going to have a post for each video and let history decide how all of us Rock Stars couldn't figure out we were really staying at Mick Jagger's Chicago home and being treated to a private concert by Sir Paul. Hey, I'm just saying.... judge for yourself.....

So, I'll be posting all the video clues in order. As with any good mystery clue video web 2.0 treasure hunt, there is also the "lost" video - one that surfaced never to be seen again. While it may show up in the Louvre many years from now, I only mention it so that "The Secret" has a legacy.

RockStars, OSI

You Tube can be an OSI Rock Star! What's a OSI Rock Star you ask?

We are a group of eBay Sellers, Education Specialists, Trading Assistants, PowerSellers and more who want to be the best on eBay!!!!!

We have forums, webinars, podcasts and famous heavy-hitters to help answer the hardest eBay questions, know all the real rules and tips and tricks.

We don't even stop at eBay! Questions on Web sites, domain names, network marketing, social marketing and well... just about everything related to your online business is covered.

Oh, yeah, it's a lot of fun too!

JOIN THE FUN

eBayers to take Chicago by Storm

Well, it is called the Windy City after all!

Starting June 19th for most eBayers, and several days earlier for eBay Developers and Education Specialists trained by eBay, Chicago will be infused with thousands of eBayers at their annual eBay Live! conference, to be held in the convention center.

While it's probably too late to schedule now - what I'd like to see is an entire audience of comprised solely of eBay Sellers on "The Oprah Winfrey Show".

Can you imagine? Well, first we'd be seeing all sorts of photographs of Oprah behind a big eBay sign starting to appear on eBay. Some will be personally autographed by Oprah herself! Of course, we won't have any idea how this got done, but someone, somehow would be selling them - and they will be certified.

Then, we'll start to see "item's Oprah touched" up for sale, along with the ticket to show. The tickets of course will be on eBay as well, sold alone or in combination with anything else even remotely involved with the show. Some past items from other shows will be sold with the tickets as well - so be sure to read the descriptions over carefully.

Of course, anything else that might be given away on the show would be up for sale on eBay before the show even ended! You heard me, no time to waste here! Any good eBay Seller is going to have their digital camera and laptop with them! As soon as an item is handed to them (we've all seen the troops come out handing packages to the audience) - a quick photo and description later, and in minutes you'll see it being sold. Of course the savvy seller's will have listed the item as soon as it's announced... they'll just find a stock photo and they're good to go.

Now I imagine there are people who will be able to get items from the set of the eBay Audience Show and sell those items - now we may be getting into big-ticket!!! I mean, that's a no-brainer. Of course, one enterprising eBay seller, (probably a Platinum Power Seller) will somehow manage to procure and auction off the entire set Oprah team managed to re-created of "The Mary Tyler Moore" special reunion show. Many might have tired, but I'm sure some eBayer will get the scoop on that and.... sell it on eBay.

Of course, the tape of the eBay-Oprah show will also be sold on eBay. Now of course, there are no digital downloads, but the show can still be sold as a CD.

Gosh, I should have tried to organize this as soon as I heard about eBay Live.. being in Chicago at eBay Live! in Boston. Maybe I should get in touch with Micky Mouse now about Orlando in 2010.

Ok, so some people going to the Convention in Chicago may want to see a the Cubs... That's another post.

P.S. Disclaimer: No show of just eBay Sellers on the show or in the audience is scheduled to be on The Oprah Show during eBay Live! in Chicago or for any other time that I know of. A girl can dream.... Of course, if a producer from the Oprah show is reading this, feel free to contact me at

But in the meantime...

I invite all of my fellow eBayer Sellers, and even non-eBayers to comment on what they would sell if they got to be in the All-eBay Sellers audience of the Oprah Show.

eBay - Dead or at Live!

Boy, there have been so many changes at eBay lately, talking heads turned into spinning heads, Five Stars became the constellation prize and DRS had many eBay Sellers writing DNS.

All in all it seems like some of the dust has settled, and the eBay Live! Heads are looking forward to all meeting in Chicago.

The day before the official eBay Live! opens, a group of people called eBay Education Specialists meet and have a day of learning and networking.

Even though I always wanted to go to eBay Live! since it started, when I went last year it was more fun than I ever imagined. Well, firstly to be fair, my expectations were about what you might find at a Dentist's Convention - but with more high-spirited people.

eBay Live! wasn't like that - it was really informative and fun. The classes, seminars, outbreak groups were terriffic. Meeting the people there was the best part. All the Education Specialist's I met were super. Education Specialist's teach others about eBay in classes throughout the country. A lot of us live in different states, but communicate with each other all the time. We have our own forum on eBay and spend a lot of time trying to be the best teachers we can be. The best part of eBay Live! last year was the ES day of training. If you are in the Chicago area - eBay Live! is the place to be!

It was fun to find out what everyone sells, hear about how got started and how their business grew.

There are classes on almost any topic you can think of - from sourcing items to hearing from top PowerSeller's about tools, techniques and tips they have for you. If you are going to Live!, you should not miss classes given by Janelle Elms! Aside from having written many books, Janelle also started a Web site called The Online Success Institute for continued success on eBay all year round. You learn so many great things from that site - even how to create a blog like this one!

I use my eBay store, WebWendy's to keep up with my teaching, but I'm hoping to expand it and find a great niche. That's niche, not Nietzsche, although you sometimes do need super-human powers to sell on eBay.

It's often difficult to start new friendships or find kindred spirits after you reach a certain age.... but at Live! after three days you felt like you knew people for years.

Last Blog Standing

Gee, it's been a while since I posted on this blog. November. I guess in Blog years, that would be an eternity. Of course, we all know time is relative. I've always been trying to make it a distant cousin.