The cries from the 2oceansvibers out there who missed the 2oceansvibe feature on SA’s number one TV magazine show, Top Billing, were overwhelming. I knew I had to SOMEHOW get it onto the web for you to see!

Just to run you through the process – I recorded the show on my PVR decoder at The Safe House. So what that does is it stores the show in digital format on the PVR machine – for use at home. There is no facility to transfer this data from the machine to another machine, or computer, or disc or flash drive. Granted, there is a USB port on the decoder – but it doesn’t do anything,

So my friends at iKraal lent me a VIDEO MACHINE. That’s right – an old school style VHS video player/recorder. Awesome! I would hook up the machine between the PVR and the TV and record the show! There was only one problem – I needed a VHS tape..

Not the easiest thing in the world, I’m sure you can imagine. I went to Caldis on Long Street where the staff completely ignored me and managed to muster a mumble confirming that they had no VHS tapes. A very different attitude to when I bought the several plasma screens and DVD players and stereos in the past.

So anyway, should you ever require a VHS tape, I can confirm that Pick n’ Pay at the Waterfront sells them. I got a TDK 180 – quite mean! So I took that home, recorded the show from PVR onto tape and took the tape to iKraal, who have the facilities to transfer that video BACK into digital format! From there I could put it on “le web” – which is what the French call it.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how we got to this point!

So sit back, relax and enjoy the 2oceansvibe feature from SABC 3’s Top Billing show, 15 October, 2009. Wait for the box to load under this sentence and press play!

*Slow connections are advised to press pause to let it load up before playing.

I’m fine with that..

Regular readers will know that there has been all sorts of Top Billing activity over the past week or so. Their crew joined us on the day that we shot the 2oceansvibe Show last week with Goldfish, and they filmed some behind-the-scenes stuff for the weekly TV magazine show, Top Billing.

And it’s coming out TOMORROW!

Thursday night, 19h30, SABS 3

We had LOADS of fun shooting the feature and I can’t tell you exactly what happens, but there were some hilarious moments that you’re not going to want to miss! I should take this moment to warn you that my hair is extremely mellow and I use a stunt double in some of the scenes.

No spice.

Check out this teaser that has been playing on TV this week. It gives a little mention to warm you up.

They use a lot of footage from that Goldfish concert next to the pool on the roof of the Cape Royale. The one we had after shooting last week’s Olmeca 2oceansvibe Show.

Were YOU there?

Will YOU be on TV?

God knows – you’ll have to watch and find out!!!

And I see Kevin Pietersen cracked the same show as 2oceansvibe (raises eyebrows). Hah! Nice one. That should “raise his profile” a bit!

Don’t blame me if there is another “coincidence” and this episode does a Caster Semenya YOU magazine record-breaker vibe on us. It’s always possible – especially with you lot 2oceansvibing behind the scenes.

And this time we won’t have to pretend the numbers were due to Caster’s makeover “cover story.”

So I’ll catch you there.

Thursday night. SABC 3. 19h30.

Meantime, check out the Top Billing Website here.

*Thanks to Gabbi, Sunay, Kelly, Julian and Wiimpie at Top Billing for the boom directional mics, 2oceansvibe cocktails, Dreamy Burgers and good times at Caprice..

We are QUITE the authority on a number of things these days, I should tell you. Oh yes, I am now a “branding expert” [makes "inverted commas" signs with fingers above head] of sorts.

It’s true – look!

CLICK HERE for GottaQuirk interview
with Katharina Scholtz

Pretty rad interview I had that day with spunky Kat from Gottaquirk (a division of Rob Stokes’s Quirk Marketing). She did a good job so, if you’re interested in blogging (aah, touch yourself) or the 2oceansvibe brand and the journey so far, check it out here.

See that dead horse lying there?

Ja, watch this.

[grabs whip]

Once again, I’m not claiming this, but I’m just SAYING, that the latest issue YOU Magazine [*cough* of which I am a cover story] is currently featured on CNN (here). This, shortly after being featured in the Daily Mail (here), as well as the BBC (here).

Come on – that’s QUITE mean?

[looks at himself in the mirror]

CLICK HERE for CNN feature

YOU Magazine is, essentially, the most well-known South African magazine in the world at the moment.

Coincidence? I don’t know.

Let’s get a close up of the 2oceansvibe “cover” story:

Bottom left – that’s it, my boet

I’m just SAYING…that IF this becomes a record-breaking seller, I could, IN TIME, claim that I was a “cover story” for that particular big-selling issue.

Pushing it?

I don’t know.

[points, runs]

*CLICK HERE for 2oceansvibe’s “YOU Magazine” article.

[thanks ryan]

Ok, look, I’m probably completely overdoing it I just wanted to show you how big MY issue of the YOU Magazine is going. The likes of the BBC and Daily Mail are writing about it nearly every day. They are very focused on the cover story to do with the make-over given to SA gender-row athlete, Caster Semenya.

That’s pretty big exposure. So all I’m saying is that it’s interesting to note that this happens to be the same issue as the feature they did on me. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I mean, I am also featured on the front cover.

Bottom left. Suck it in.

Read Daily Mail article here

That’s right, baby shoes! If this becomes a record-breaking seller, I could, IN TIME, claim that I was a “cover story” for that particular issue.

Would that be pushing it?

Maybe you might think so. But you know what I think?

[points in the sky over your shoulder]

[you turn to see what seth is pointing at]

[seth runs]

[you turn back and seth is gone]

[there is a note on the ground in the same place he was standing]

[you read the note. all it says is "touch yourself]

*CLICK HERE for 2oceansvibe’s “YOU Magazine” article.
[thanks johnny]

It goes without saying that the 10 September YOU Magazine issue which featured yours truly (on page 130) is causing absolute mayhem overseas. No, no, not because of me, but rather the fact that it features Caster Semenya.

YOU Magazine decided to gave her a make-over, after the controversy surrounding her gender.

This, from the BBC:

South African runner Caster Semenya, whose gender was queried by athletics officials, has defended her looks and taken part in a makeover in a magazine.

Ms Semenya, the 800m world champion, posed for the cover of South Africa’s You magazine.

 

 

“I am who I am and I am proud of myself,” the 18-year-old said.

“I’d like to dress up more often and wear dresses but I never get the chance,” she said as she was photographed in several outfits.

The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says the outfits show a softer side of Ms Semenya, who most of the world has seen only in a green-and-gold running outfit and training shoes.

The outfits included black leather trousers with a sequined top, a grey knee-length dress worn with a grey cropped jacket and a black-and-white cocktail dress worn with stilettos.

The controversy over Ms Semenya’s gender has angered many in South Africa, including her family who insist she is female.

And our reporter says her makeover has become a talking point since the magazine hit the shelves on Monday evening.

Listeners have been phoning up radio stations to give their thoughts on “the new and improved” Ms Semenya.

Some felt she should not have been “improved” while others said it was a “great look”.

Ms Semenya, who has said very little about the gender controversy surrounding her, says she is not bothered by the negative publicity following her gold medal at the Berlin World Championships last month.

[read more here]

It’s all HAPPENING!!

Buy the latest issue of YOU Magazine (on shelves now) to check out the pics from her make-over.

And, in the meantime, check out her cover photo HERE!

[thanks paolo]

Well would you believe it, I’m in the latest YOU Magazine! Even more exciting is that I’m in the issue with SA gold medalist, Caster Semenya, on the cover! And they’ve dressed her up all woman-like! Awesome!

The 10 September issue cover
Stunning!

So, for those of you who are yet to find a doctor’s waiting room with the latest issue, here it is.

CLICK HERE for Page 1 CLICK HERE for Page 2

I don’t quite know what to say. I mean, do you think I come across sexy enough? I just wish they had used some of the other shots they took. Like the ones of me doing yoga with my shirt off. Or the ones of me in the shower (yes, obviously from behind).

Those were HOT!!

LA tabloid blogger and the epitome of bad health, Perez Hilton, was caught smelling 2oceansvibe’s jockstrap as one of his cockroaches captured us getting some footage for part 6 (part 2 comes out today) of the 2oceansvibe Pauly Shore Zinzi series, currently being shot in Los Angeles.

Perez “carbs” Hilton shows his uncoolness by not noticing my incredibly awesome Lambda Lambda Lambda T-shirt which I often have to cover up before entering stores because of how it kills.

Shame.

This, spotted on perezhilton dot com:

Click here for original article

Yes, I do recall that little cockroach who took the pic. I remember clearly pulling out the camera to film him as well. Terrible little thing, he was.

Keep watching the 2oceansvibe Pauly Shore Zinzi series, and look out for that exact moment – coming up RIGHT HERE. Part 2 comes out today at 11am.

Nice one, fatty.

Some of you may remember the pics (taken by Max) we posted last month of Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman in character as Francois Pienaar and Nelson Mandela respectively (here).

Did you enjoy the use of the word “respectively” back there? Ja, that’s how I roll.

Well anyway, given Damon’s New England heritage, Meredith at The Boston Globe took a liking to the pics and got in touch. Next thing we were talking talking about Matt Damon and how he enjoys Jack Black Beer! All of which made it to the final article – online and in print!

Check it out:

As you can see, Matt Damon has gone bleach blond to play rugby star Francois Pienaar (see below), the guy responsible for helping South Africa win the rugby World Cup in 1995.

 

 

The photo above was recently taken on the set of “Invictus,’’ Clint Eastwood’s film about the Cup, in which Morgan Freeman will play Nelson Mandela. According to Seth Rotherham, who originally posted this picture on his popular South African blog, Damon is well liked around Cape Town. “Friends of mine involved in the movie say Matt is a complete gentleman and has won over everyone,’’ Rotherham told us.

The blog writer added that Damon has developed a love for a South African brew called Jack Black Beer. He must not be able to find Sam Adams or Harpoon down there.

[source]

I had an interview the other day with the cool cats at TechSmart.co.za. I thought it went very well.

Here’s a little tid bit:

Six awards including blog of the year, best original writing and most humorous. Did this come as a surprise?

With six nominations, I certainly was hoping to get at least one or two. But six? And the best overall? No – I simply refused to think that far. I lived with professional rugby players for a few years in my early 20’s and talking about winning before a match was taboo in our house. “Jinxing” the match and all that, is an absolute no-no!

When did you start blogging and why?

About seven years ago, before blogs were really blogs. I just made a website to showcase photos of parties that my friends and I had been to the previous weekend. Just for everyone to see. In the days when my buddies had internet access, but no email. Then I started commenting on the pics and writing little stories to fill the spaces. Strangers told me they enjoyed it which was weird – but appealing. They found it funny and urged me to keep writing. I enjoyed writing (and still do) so I continued!

What inspires you to blog everyday?

Just everything I do and see and think. Like any discussion you would have with a friend in a bar or a braai or a restaurant – exactly the same thing, except I type it for everyone else to see as well. Whatever I’m talking about, I’m writing about.

CLICK HERE for the rest of le interview.

Thanks for the good times, guys.

And the great jokes.

Last week I gave you the first part (here) of my interview I did with the From the Couch boys in Hout Bay.

Loads of fun.

Here is the second part:

You enjoy that Baby float joke at the end?

Ja, thought you might. I was thinking about making you smile at the time.

I got the joke from Dan Nicholl. Which he probably got from me in another life.

Mark C spotted an honourable mention (here) in a recent mybroadband investigation into South Africa’s biggest websites. It certainly made for interesting reading and something perhaps YOU should read as you navigate this ever-changing SA media landscape.

It was noted :

SA’s biggest websites and blogs

South Africa is currently experiencing strong broadband adoption and Internet usage growth – something which was expected many years ago but was hampered by government interference and a monopolistic fixed line environment.

According to a recent research report by World Wide Works South, Africa’s Internet population is expected to grow as much in the next five years as it has in the 15 years since the Internet became commercially available in South Africa.

The research also shows that the number of Internet users in South Africa grew by 12.5% to 4,6-million in 2008 – the first time since 2001 it has grown by more than 8%. The increased growth rate is expected to continue for the next five years, taking the Internet user population to the 9 million mark.

This strong growth in Internet adoption means that there is a new wave of users who are getting their news online and are using the Internet for communication, ecommerce and social networking. This begs the question as to which websites are the most popular among South Africa.

According to Alexa, which measures the popularity of websites, Google is the most popular website among South Africans. Facebook is second while Yahoo completes the top three. The rest of the Top 10 is YouTube, WikiPedia, Blogger.com, News24, Microsoft Network, Gumtree and Windows Live.

When it comes to local websites News24 remains by far the most popular online destination in South Africa. According to the latest Nielsen Online Ranking Report – which ranks local websites according to unique monthly visitors – IOL was second, followed closely by MSN (nice one, Ad).

Biggest local blogs
When it comes to local blogs audited statistics like the Nielsen Online Ranking Report is not available, but South African blogging aggregator Amatomu gives a good indication of which blogs are the most popular.

According to Amatomu, Keo.co.za, the leading rugby blog in South Africa, is the most popular local blog. The second most popular blog is another ruby blog Rugbydump while Charl Norman’s Carblog completes the top three. The Top 10 is completed by Coke Zero Fest 2009, Thought Leader, The Times Planet Blog, Times Multimedia, Adii Freelancer & Business Strategist, 2OceansVibe and MSFT.NET Blogs (ZA).

More advertising spend
The strong growth in online readership and the increasing popularity of local websites translated in accelerating online advertising spend. According to World Wide Worx online advertising in South Africa grew at the fastest rate of all countries in the English-language world in 2008, and is likely to repeat this performance in 2009.

[more here]

Personally (as was reiterated by Chris Mills at iMod) I feel that Afrigator is at the forefront of the blog aggregation standards game for South Africa.

But, that aside; there seems to be more recognition with regards to South African blogs being an accepted serious form of media – more fine tuned to genuinely deliver to the consumer. Something that the 35 year old white female media buyers out there should consider, as they continue to drop hundreds and thousands of Rands on double page spreads and worthless radio ads.

It’s amazing how much more you can get for your buck, when you compare blog exposure to a 30 second R10,000 radio ad. Exact Google stats confirming your audience are one thing, but does that R10,000 you spent on the radio ad (which is gone once it’s aired. Gone – forever) have any added value, like a strong Google ranking?

No, it doesn’t.

Blogs of all shapes and sizes are coming to the forefront and it’s only the finger-on-the-pulse brands out there who are maximising the very obvious advantages of talking to an audience who believe what they’re reading.

In an economic climate such as this, how long can you afford to blow money on wasted “traditional media?”

More people I know talk about things they’ve seen and heard about on local and international blogs, than any other medium.

How long must that carry on, before it becomes “traditional?”

[email editor@2oceansvibe.com for a rate card and stats]

There’s a beautiful new round of interviews that have gone down over the last week. There was also the very spicy one on Sunday in the Sunday Times Lifestyle section (CLICK HERE FOR THAT), as well as the GoTravel24 interview and the Digital Edge podcast interview.

In case you missed those, check it out:

Kelly Wheeler
March 27th, 2009

 

 

Seth Rotherham is one of South Africa’s most successful bloggers. 2oceansvibe is top of my Google Reader and was nominated for an incredible six SA Blog Awards with the ceremony due to take place next Friday in Cape Town.

From his loathing for crocs to his excellent advice on how to torture Butler’s delivery guys, Seth has a loyal following who share his love for Cape Town, frivolity and saying exactly what you think. Bless the internet.

 

(photo courtesy verstercohen.com)

 

We chatted to him about holidays, Cape Town and even porn. And it’s his birthday today, so we let him say pretty much anything he wanted.

GoTravel24.com: How do you live your motto “Work is a sideline, live the holiday”?

Seth: “It’s not hard when you live slap bang in Camps Bay – it’s all pretty much taken care of. I take a dip in the ocean as often as I can – usually first thing in the morning and hopefully later in the day, whilst lying at Beta Beach. I also try my best to wear Hawaiian shirts as much as possible. I suggest people out there do the same – this alone will give you the impression that you’re on holiday. Even if you’re a 9-5er, who says you can’t wear Hawaiian shirts?

Your travel nightmare would be?

“Anything which involves the sentence ‘We don’t have any record of your name here,’ as the little angel ticker tacks away at the keyboard, contorting her face, wide-eyed looking at the screen as her head shakes slowly from side to side…. ‘Nope…. Can’t find it anywhere…’ That’s when I start scrounging through my bag for the Xanors I borrowed from The Roofer…

Are you a member of the mile-high club?

“Hmm, It depends… are you keen? Do you have a plane? Actually, funny story – a friend of ours, “Boegom”, is loath to admit that he hasn’t tried everything sexually. So, when he came back from a trip and claimed to have joined the mile high club, we all gave him the necessary high-fives. Acutely aware of his knack for embellishment, the boys started to push him, ‘SERIOUSLY, Boegie, did you REALLY do it? Tell us more. How EXACTLY did you do it?’ – he nodded, went quiet, and whispered, ‘does a blow job count?’ Whaaahahaha! No, it most certainly does NOT!!! (Love you, Boegom!)

That was just a short excerpt so read the rest here !

You need to check out the rest of that interview , in particular the comments section under the interview – it’s got some AWESOME haters!

Then there was also the Digital Edge Podcast, which has just gone live. this one is slightly different because it’s a podcast. For those of you who think a podcast is something to do with a magical spell involving peas, it is actually an audio interview.

Have a listen to the latest interview, featuring various South African bloggers,as well as yours truly! It’s entitled “Reprobates and Bloggers” – CLICK HERE FOR THAT

I’m very impressed with these guys and would also like to urge you to vote for them in the 2009 SA Blog Awards in the category BEST SOUTH AFRICAN PODCAST. CLICK HERE for that .

Sick!

UPDATE: In case you checked this out earlier – The Sunday Times Lifestyle section interview can be seen here.

I get asked a lost of similar questions by a lot of people and was very impressed with Idea Bounty’s various angles in our recent interview, because it gave me the opportunity to lay it all down.

Check it out.

Interview: Seth Rotherham from 2oceansvibe
Katharina Scholtz

2oceansvibe is a ridiculously popular blog (35 000 unique readers a month) authored by a ridiculously funny man called Seth Rotherham. He’s built up his blog’s culture around a simple phrase – “work is a sideline, live the holiday”. This is exactly what he seems to be doing – while taking his friends (often featured on the blog) and favourite brands along for the ride. We tracked him down via email to answer some questions in the way only he can. Enjoy.

 

Image credit: Andrew VC – verstercohen.com

 

Blogs are arguably not the normal home for the suave and almost-naked-woman surrounded – how did u get into it?

I started 7 years ago before blogging was really happening and/or popular. I just made the site to showcase pictures of friends and beautiful angels taken at parties the previous weekend. Mainly just for my close mates. I used to write the odd funny comment next to the pics and strangers started telling me how they found it funny. That felt weird. And nice. Like when you take a leak in a wetsuit. I continued and here we are today (sans wetsuit).

Work is a Sideline, Live the Holiday – is 2oceansvibe your day job?

Absolutely. Fortunately I’ve developed a system whereby I don’t really have to work. This allows me to focus on 2oceansvibe and, as a result, I can produce this online reality show type vibe and write about what I’m doing which happens to be chilling out doing nice things with nice people. It appeals to the reader as it’s stuff that we all want to do.

Was there a moment of shining light when you thought ‘I’m a lifestyle blogger!’ and if so when did it happen?

Jeez. Probably the day when a 2oceansvibe cocktail appeared on the Caprice Cocktail menu. But seriously, nothing has changed. I started before blogging was a word – I’m just writing about what everyone is talking about.

We like the way you manage to keep advertising entertaining on your blog. Do you find it a tough balance to strike?

Not in the slightest. I only advertise brands I like or want to try. If they let me down, or repeatedly let down/offend my readers (my most adored treasure), they won’t be there any longer. Part of the reason people come to 2oceansvibe is to get recommendations on stuff. I’ve always written about products and brands; what I eat, wear, have and do anyway, whether they’re paid for or not – it’s all real.

You’ve evolved a whole culture around your writing, with characters and ‘angels’ (the number of times you mention the word ‘vibe’ is quite something) – how much conscious planning goes into it?

Not much at all. That is exactly how we/I talk. Nothing on the site is contrived. My friends have always referred to each other as the characters shown on the 2oceansvibe characters list. The Chief, for example, would call me and say, “Have you heard the latest spice about our boy?” I’d go, “Which one.” He’d go, “The Insurance Broker.” “Oooh, no I did not… tell me more!!” and so it goes on.

“The Safe House” has always been called that (2oceansvibe or not) and it’s because it is high up in Camps Bay and lets me look down over everything – feeling safe. We always call chicks angels and I think it’s good that we do – because they are!

Vibe is just the most versatile word. “What’s the vibe” – “Check that guy’s vibe!” – “Howz your vibe?” – “A boring vibe” – “Quite a vibe” – “That angel is giving me a vibe” – it goes one. Which vibe are you referring to, exactly?

Do you promote your blog, or did you when you started? (I can’t imagine you reading posts like 10 tips for growing your readership or Problogger).

Nah, there was never any promotion – purely word of mouth. There are little scandals along the way which allowed the site to gain new readers and continue forward. The most recent was the high profile public spat I had with the Idols Judges. Which resulted in me responding to Randy Abrahams with a video which has been watched over 80,000 times now.

I just grab the bull by the horns when the moment presents itself. I think the secret behind 2oceansvibe is a variation of dare-I-say-it “The Secret” (which is a variation of the same thing covered in every good business book of all time). I look after brands and people I trust. I talk about it. The readers trust me, and they follow my lead. In return the vibe grows. Because it’s a good vibe built on trust. We don’t interact with dicks. Ever.

[read more here]

You should definitely continue reading that interview as there is loads more (including some more ridiculous pics) – some of it pretty amusing I am told.

Thanks again, Kat – thoroughly enjoyed that!

CLICK HERE for more.

I’m getting quite a few emails regarding the latest issue of Get It Magazine which hit the shelves this weekend. It’s a free magazine, but look, it’s got a glossy cover!

They’re out of stock at the moment and are apparently replenished every few days. So those of you who missed it, here it is.

Very spicy indeed!

The picture was not posed
That’s how it is – the WHOLE time!

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

As a regular reader, Neil Q knew the importance of sending in this photo of CA 4.

 

CA 4, comes just after CA 3

 

Howzit Seth

Saw this in the parking lot at work.

Too Slow.

Neil Q

 

Nice. Not bad at all.

But I do see your point.

You’re being naughty and probably highlighting the CA 3 story.

That’s apparently what I am, according to Moneyweb, who have just released a makeshift list of South Africa’s most influential blogs.

God I hate the word blog.

But check this out:

 

Seth Rotherham: A controversial figure in the SA blogging community (he is avowedly not part of it), Rotherham was one of the first people in South Africa to start drawing a decent income from blogging. His style of tongue-in-cheek style of glam-blogging is now widely imitated in the SA blogosphere.

 

Oh my God, are you fucking kidding me? a GLAM BLOGGER?!? Whaaah, that’s hilarious! I’d HARDLY call myself glam! Jesus, Gary Glitter was a musician who produced “Glam Rock” – does that mean we’re on the same page?

I’m just a chilled guy, going about his day. In fact, I’ll show you how chilled I am. This is me, on most days.

 

Seth takes a break from being a “Glam-blogger”

 

Very chilled!

HARDLY glam!