If you haven’t checked out my YouTube channel, now is a good time

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Caleb J. Ross in General News, Video | Leave a comment

YouTube recently unveiled changes to the channel layout (again). The most potentially impacting change (aside from the visuals) is the addition of a Channel Trailer, which is simply a video that auto-plays to people who have not yet subscribed to a channel. Once you subscribe, you’re no longer susceptible to the auto-play. This sounds like more an incentive to avoid being annoyed than it is to subscribe to a channel, but who am I? Not YouTube apparently.

Anyway, the change did motivate me to make a Channel Trailer of my own, which is something I probably should have done long ago. Check it out. This trailer summarizes my channel nicely, in just around 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Admittedly, that amount of time is practically feature-length in the world of YouTube trailers, but I’ve never been one for brevity (as evidenced by this unnecessary parenthetical statement you are currently reading).

Click the image below to watch the trailer. Then subscribe to my channel, dammit!

Click the image above to watch the Channel Trailer

Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Watch book-related videos, win something cool.

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Caleb J. Ross in General News | Leave a comment

As I get more and more into this YouTube channel thing, I’m starting to understand more about the YouTube community. One thing I’ve noticed is that when channels hit subscriber milestones (100 subscribers, 500 subscribers, etc.) they do something special as a way to say thank you. So, I’m going to do just that.

I currently have 75 subscribers. Once I hit 100 subscribers I am going to give something away to one randomly chosen subscriber. What will that giveaway be? Not sure yet, but I promise it will be good and it will be made by my very own hands. I generally err on the side of handmade slipcases and a copy of one of my books, but who knows, maybe I’ll do more.

Here’s how it will work:

You MUST be a subscriber to my YouTube channel.
Once I hit 100 subscribers I’ll make a video outlining the giveaway details.
Win a prize (or lose).

I anticipate item #2 above will go something like this: If you are a subscriber AND you comment on the giveaway video, I’ll assign a number to your comment and use a random number generator to do the ugly work for me. Then I’ll reach out to you with the good news.

Considering I’ll have only about 100 subscribers during the contest, your chances are damn good that you will win. Many channels with 500+ subscribers do giveaways, too.

Also, don’t think of this as charity for me. You’ll be subscribing to get amazing weekly(ish) videos containing book reviews, book skits, and other bookish buffoonery.

Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/user/calebjross

And PLEASE, share on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and all the rest if you feel so compelled.

Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

Consider sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Think of it as a way to tell a friend “I’m thinking of you.”

Someone hates me. Who is responsible for #FCJR ?

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Caleb J. Ross in Book News, FCJR, General News | 2 Comments

I recently learned of a book called FCJR which seems to be an expose of sorts. While I don’t know for sure what FCJR stands for (Finally, Cancer Just Rebelled, Faulty Car Jams Roadway, Flatus Causes Jocular Resentment), I can only assume it’s something bad. Based on the reviews of this book, I’m starting to think that I’m a pretty shitty guy.

The book, written by someone who calls himself Anonymous (I think it’s Greek) was brought to my attention recently during an episode of Booked Podcast. Starting with minute 47:30, episode 99, you can hear the hosts, Robb Olson and Livius Nedin, describe the book as an expose that elicits some pretty hostile reactions.

I haven’t yet read the book. I’m not sure I want to.

But, for no logical reason, I’m including a bunch of links below to help you find out more about it.

The likely culprits have been narrowed down to those people pictured below. I’m still investigating, so if you are one of the people pictured below, you can expect a call from Jack Daniels’ legal team. Prepare to be subpoenaed with roses and fresh cookies.

Subscribe to my amazing, hilarious YouTube channel. Just click the button below.

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Surreal Grotesque Magazine likes I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin: “This novel is easily comparable in subject matter to Chuck Palahniuk and Kurt Vonnegut with satisfying results.”

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Caleb J. Ross in General News, Media | 1 Comment

New review of I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin in Isssue 4 of Surreal Grotesque Magazine (pg. 43). Many, many thanks to Surreal Grotesque, and to the reviewer, Courtney Alsop, for taking the time.

“This novel is easily comparable in subject matter to Chuck Palahniuk and Kurt Vonnegut with satisfying results…Ross has crafted a splendid story of identity and validation when one has no roots or beginnings.”

Open publication – Free publishing – More bizarre

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