Rare Earth

How Does Uruguay Exist?

 Sorry we took a week off, it was my birthday/our anniversary and I wasn't really feeling the stress of it all.

This is somewhat of an update to that old Laos introductory video idea. I wanted to give a bit of a historical overview so all the future stories had more of a backdrop. Plus, I had so much footage of Artigas I kind of had to!

Thank you all so much for watching. Hope you're keeping safe indoors and spreading more joy than virus.

Yours as ever,
K...

How Wind Turbines Make You Sick

I presented this story at my stage show this past January in Toronto, and since then have been itching to find a way to tell it on the channel.

I'm thrilled to have found these turbines in Uruguay and Japan and had the foresight to film them before the virus hit, hence having the footage to make this happen.

I hope you all enjoy it, and none that of you get sick. Real, or imagined. This is the story of Wind Turbine Syndrome.

Love to you all,
Evan (and Kata)

This Dog Licked My Foot

I already made a video using graffiti as a symbol in Albania, but I wanted to try again in Uruguay. Because this was a thing that happened to me that felt symbolic, and in turn a nice way to switch over to our series in Uruguay.

Uruguay could have been a huge hassle for us. But meeting Nico made it easy. Trusting people, respecting them, and having them be truly willing to help in return, is what makes this series happen no matter where I am. And because of that I wanted to make a litt...

The Roof That Keeps Bermuda Alive

This is the second in my little two part working holiday to Bermuda. Another somewhat happy story, thankfully.  

After this we're headed to Uruguay, a country I knew virtually nothing about until I showed up at the airport. Like Bermuda, it will be a lot less heavy than our last few seasons, which I for one appreciate.

Granted, then we get to Cuba where I go to a cock fight. Which was gross. But that's not for a while yet. Until then, enjoy!

All our love,
Evan an...

When a Traffic Circle Loved Us

Given quarantine and everything that's going on in the world, I thought I'd pull something up that's got a happier vibe. I filmed it this summer while visiting a friend on a quick vacation and figured now was the rainy day I was saving it for.

This is the story of Johnny Barnes. Bermuda's most loving traffic stop.

Love from our Torontonian isolation,
Evan and Kata

p.s. If you need to take a break from the Patreon to deal with what is about to become a major economic st...

The Balkan Series in Full

Hi Patrons!

Kata and I thought that we'd wrap up this interwoven series by, well, weaving it. This video, nearly an hour long, is the combination of our short time in Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia. I added a little bit to the end as a finale, but for the most part its just the combination of the last few weeks cobbled together.

As such, and also because we don't want to put any more stress on what I'm sure are virally sensitive budgets, we won't be charging for this one. It's jus...

The City Where They Murdered Yugoslavia

I'm not at all happy with how this video turned out. It has so much unachieved potential. But men tried to murder me just a few hours before I shot this and Francesco was traumatized and had to go home immediately, taking the only remaining camera with him. So I did what I could in the hours I was given. In a way, it was cathartic.

As a child, Sarajevo was the first piece of history I "witnessed". It fundamentally altered the entire course of my life, knowing what could happen to us. Wh...

The Croatia Question

I'm really enjoying editing this season. Such deep and complicated history with so much beautiful footage. And working with Zygmund on the music has been great too. 

As we work on these videos, the episodes still keep evolving. Evan decided to add a couple more sections to the script, so we ended up ditching some of the original A roll for a more in-depth story. 

Evan doesn't have internet access this week, so he hasn't actually seen the video yet. So anything you might ...

Where Two Bullets Killed Millions

And so it begins.

Choosing which people to focus on in history to paint a metaphorical picture is hard. Pronouncing names is hard. Summarizing nearly impossible to summarize history with only a day to write it is hard. But I'm trying! All I ask is that people take the full picture of the series into display before rushing to judgement about an individual portion. 

If I ever get a chance to do this on a larger scale I think the one major changes I'd make is to include the mass...

When Bosnia Turned Muslim

Hello lovely Patrons, 

Happy Saturday! This is the second episode of the Bosnia series - again with beautiful music from Zygmund. While this is a video mostly about Bosnia, it includes some shots from Croatia and Slovenia as well. Losing the camera mid shoot is to be blamed for that. But also, I couldn't resist using those pretty landscape shots. 

As always, thank you all! 

Kata (& Evan)

The Rise of the Yugoslavs

This season was the toughest to film so far. Not because there wasn't beauty everywhere, but because we were mugged/attempted murdered very violently and lost all our gear at the absolute worst time. But you probably already know about this...

And while the footage, audio, scripts etc. aren't perfect, we are just proud that we got the episodes done at all.

And... we have music for this season! Zygmund de Somogyi, a pianist and composer with the greatest name has created music for ...

The Stone Lion Racism Test

This week, I test if another no-no word of the YouTube algorithm for no other reason than I stubbornly finding the title amusing.

Our first episode of February asks the age old question: Who can build a Shisa?

As always, our love to you all,
Evan (and Kata)

The Conspiracy Behind Asia's Lost City of Atlantis

 Is it a city so ancient it defies our understanding of history? Or just a rock?  

I took a little swim around so you could decide.

From a personal standpoint, this was one of the best things I've with the series in quite some time. I've wanted to go on this dive for decades now, and at some point it clicked in my head that I could now. Much love to all of you for helping the little boy inside me fulfill his dream.

As always, our deepest thanks.
Evan and Kata...

Why Okinawans Live Longer Than You

Hello Patrons and welcome to 2020!  

I'm sorry I've been away for a while, between the Christmas break and the stage show here in Toronto I've been a busy little beaver. And if I'm busy that means Kata has been swamped, as well, and she's the one doing all the work around here anyway.  

We aren't exactly coming back with a bang, as we only have a few more videos left from Japan and I wanted to save the best for last. But it's a story I wanted to tell, even if I am a li...

How To Start A Death Metal Band in Japan

My friend Remy, previously Rameen, runs a bar called Remy's, previously Fujiyama. He's a great person, and the last man on earth I'd expect to find screaming death metal at a small crowd in a military town.   

Yet, there he is. And in him, a story about life.

This episode was so much fun to film and produce. Simply because I want it to do well I can expect it won't, but I have huge love for all of you for letting me make it happen. You're the best.

As always, TH...

Is Japan the Perfect Nation?

We filmed this episode on our last day in Okinawa. We were concerned that it might receive a lot of backlash, so we almost scrapped it. However, after a friend asked essentially the same questions discussed in the video, we decided to go ahead with it. Plus, we still had lots of footage to show. 

Thank you all and please don't get too angry ;) 

Kata & Evan

Why Every Japanese Criminal is Guilty

This video is a bit of a different stance than I normally take, as it is a fairly generic look at Japan rather than focusing on a single (rock) entity.

But I had been thinking about this issue for quite some time, so I figured it would make for a good video. It might not be the most hard hitting or personal, but I'm happy I got it out of me.

Thanks to everyone! We are so thankful for your support.

All the best,
Evan and Kata

The Best Way to Enslave a Dolphin

This episode is about aquariums, because I was at an aquarium.

I feel almost incapable of not mentioning that the best part of the aquarium was the goats. Every day you could come around at a certain time and they'd let you take them for a walk. And there's no world in which I don't want to take a random goat for a walk.

I should also probably mention for legal reasons that there are no names this week because this specific video is not (supposed to be) a commercial entity. If it ...

The Spartan Death Trials of Yonaguni Island

Sorry everyone, we had to re-upload the video. We accidentally released it yesterday even if just for a second. But now, after re-releasing it at the right time, nobody seems to be getting notified on YouTube. So we decided it was best to re-upload. 

This is a story of sacrifice. And taxes.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm not super happy with it as I was with some of the others this season. It's an interesting story, just not fully captured. Maybe if I'd had more than 5 hours to spen...

Should Japan Kill This Cat?

We met so many cats in Okinawa that I decided they deserved a story all their own.

A story about killing them.

As always, thank you! We really appreciate you being here.

Evan and Kata

The Fantasy Sex Island of Ancient Japan

Yonaguni: An island pulled straight from the pages of middle-ages Japanese lust poetry. An island sailors whisper about to new crew. An island of women.  

A massive thank you to all our new Patrons. Kata and I were blown away by the response last week - it was unexpected and really amazing to see. It's incredible to know that so many of you are invested enough to take part.

We were thinking of doing something special in return (in addition to the personal videos, which I'v...

A Child's War: Tomiko Higa and The Battle for Okinawa

This is the saddest thing I've ever produced. Nobody expects you to make it to the end.  

But Tomiko made it. Somehow, she made it through everything.  

If you'd like to know more about her story, her memories are recorded in the book "The Girl with the White Flag". It's a hard read.

Thanks, Patrons, for letting me make videos that matter to me, even when they have absolutely no likelihood of success on the platform they're on. I truly appreciate you all.

The Fart-Hating Tree God of Okinawa

Today's video is in conjunction with thousands of #teamtrees creators, big and small. Millions of normal people watching, learning, and taking a moment to discuss something important. Thanks to Destin and Mark for reaching out and asking if I'd take part. It's amazing to be able to feel like I'm helping.

Normally this is where I would ask you for more money, with great personal regret, but loving Patrons, you've already donated. This week, in addition to the money that the ad revenue br...

Should Malta Be Catholic?

Hello dear Patrons,

Today's video was made in response to a casual misunderstanding delivered over some really good pizza. I wish more misunderstandings came with good pizza.

This is our last video from Malta. A shortened season for a small nation, I suppose. We hope you enjoyed it.

As always, thank you so much for your support! It means the world to us.

Kata & Evan

Malta's World Famous Penis Fungus

I am a child trapped in a man's body, and I expect to die a child trapped in a man's body. But as long as I keep getting to make dumb jokes, all will be right with the world.

At least, so long as I pop some cynomorium.

Thanks everyone, as always. Kata and I have been having a long couple weeks on the road of late, so it's nice to release a fun one every once in a while.

Love to you all!

Evan (and Kata)

The Most Important Maltese Tourist Site That Doesn't Exist

This is a story about loss. And, as is my custom, a rock.

The trail is sometimes so beaten that there's nothing left, but if you ever get a chance to see Gozo, take it. I love Gozo. Just don't stress too much about seeing the Azure stump.

Enjoy the video and have a nice weekend! 

The Eyes that Save Us From Drowning

Hello Patrons!

As you might have noticed, the thumbnail isn't appearing on Patreon (Whoa, they changed that! Well done Patreon), which means I scheduled this post for automatic publishing before the video was live. While I'd love to be here to click the button manually as per usual. Kata and I are traveling together this season and are on the literal worst possible time zone for releasing our videos. Plus, she's bedridden with sickness. C'est la travel, unfortunately.

But even s...

The Ancient Temple Nobody Loves

Sorry for the delay on the Patreon post today guys! I was on a plane midair to my cousin's wedding, and it was unfortunately delayed.

I hope you all enjoy this stupid little story about a rock. I really enjoyed making it.

As always, thank you all.

Evan

The Great Siege of Malta

Hello Patrons!

The last of our small country tour is Malta. I did a bunch of videos here, and this is sort of the foothold for them all.

It was so much fun, and such a beautiful island to film on. I had a great time here. Thanks so much to my sister for visiting to help keep up our sanity and convince me to rent places to stay where the toilet doesn't come pre-covered in blood like in Switzerland.

As always, thanks to everyone for the support. It means so much, you have no...

The Grief Machine

We went to see a piece of art in Zurich while waiting for our flight to Malta, and it made me reflective, so I wanted to talk about it.

This is the Sihlfeld Graveyard Grief Machine. It's an art installation from the graveyard's Forum, which is a space meant to inspire contemplation about death.  

It is not the most amazingly filmed episode, especially since I couldn't do the A roll until I was back in Toronto, so I hope you enjoy the random cutaways to scenery, as Swiss sc...