Rare Earth

The Single Biggest Layoff in Canadian History

When you're talking about Newfoundland, it's basically impossible not to mention the cod. They were this island's engine for hundreds of years. They were the main driver to colonize this country, and once kept the largest empire in human history fed. But the moment we took them for granted, they all died.  

This is the story of the cod.

Also, as an aside: Kata and I got in a pretty nasty car accident a few nights ago, and my writing arm is all but dead for the time being. I w...

The Extinction Omelette

Hello Dear Patrons,

Welcome to yet another look at the rather destructive history of our species. Today's episode is about how even if you love omelettes, there's wisdom in not cracking all your eggs.

If I'd had time and footage, I would have started this video with the collapse of the megafauna when humans first met this continent. We've always been fairly good at pushing things too far, it seems. I hope you'll accept this analogue in its stead.

Much love to all of you for ...

First Man

The coldest, windiest, worst place to set up a colony. Unless you count where they came from. Vikings!

Evan told me earlier today that the description of this video should be "whatever". So whatever. Enjoy! :)

Kata

Advising Sean Penn on How to Be an Astronaut

Featuring Kaya with increased hopefulness levels and guest starring Albert who has no idea what's going on. 

This Common Ground video was brought to you by Anina. :)

Happy Halloween! 

Canada's Beating Heart

Welcome to Season....uh...five? I've lost count. Let's go by location. Welcome to Newfoundland!

This episode is all about history. We're trying a new system with seasons where we provide a historical base episode up front, and then are free to be a bit more abstract as the season progresses. Hopefully it will translate onto your end.

From our perspective, this season has been incredibly fun to film. Likely the best ever. We've added a new crew member named Eric, who will be joining us as...

The Best Show I've Ever Made

It's Wednesday and there's a new Rare Earth? It sounds too good to be true!  Well, you're right. It is too good to be true. But still not as good as the decorations in our Airbnb. 

This is a video about Rare Earth's older brother, Generator. 

The Foreigners Invading Canada

This video is for my wife, who gets her passport this year. It is for my niece, who will some day call this her home. For Mamie, who sacrificed so much to bring us to this frozen country.

Since today's episode is just a throwaway between seasons, we've decided to go more artsy than usual. Let us know what you think of this experimental style. 

Thanks for watching and the support!

Filming out of Planes and Helicopters

Featuring Kaya, the hopeful dog. 

Huge thanks and vielen Dank to Marc for sponsoring this Common Ground episode! 

Have a nice day everyone!

Kata

The Pyramid Scheme That Collapsed A Nation

Watching people get sucked into a pyramid scheme is one of the most frustrating parts of long-term friendships.

Today marks our final video about America, er, I mean Albania. Both, I suppose. New season starts next Saturday. 

We intend to change things up a little bit. Experiment with the videos. Maybe you'll hate it. I have no idea.

Either way, next up: Home sweet home.

Thank you as always, beautiful Patrons.

A Dictator's Birthday Present to Himself

Enver 'Never Ever' Hoxha: Whether demanding they write his name in a hillside or erecting giant bronze statues to his glory, he was always looking out for the little guy. Not an egotistical bone in his body. No sir.

With only 1 Albanian episode left after this and the last Albanian 'things' packaged up for shipment, Evan and Francesco are already in Newfoundland. So stay tuned for rocks, cods, vikings and more! 

Happy Thanksgiving and/or just weekend! We love you guys,

Kata 2018-10-06 18:01:02 +0000 UTC View Post

Common Ground: One and a Half Rare Years

Dear Patrons,

We are back with another (2nd channel) Common Ground video - finally. This one is dedicated to every video patron who has been keeping score on when we'd come out with another (and also Anina Keller).

Francesco has finally returned, and therefore we are back filming. Soon we'll be in Newfoundland, making umpteen episodes about the blustery weather.

To make up for the delay, I thought I'd let someone else take my place and do the talking this time.

Enjoy...

The Statue of George W. Bush

Admit it, that's a funny statue.

We are currently filming the first episode in the next series, starting at my cottage and then on to Newfoundland. Very excited for the changes we're making to the style. Pretty sure you're all going to like what we're trying out.

Enjoy!

Zog: King of the Bloodfeud

Hello dear Patrons, and welcome back to Albania.

This episode is about justice, and the schism between our personal desire for vengeance and our social need for lower crime.

But more than that, it's about a man named Zog. Who, judging from the name alone, is probably a wizard.

Enjoy!

The Bay of a Thousand Names

Grama bay is gorgeous!

Also, conversely, a place to see thousands of years of low-quality tagging from people of all backgrounds. From Pompeii Magnus to modern Albanian beach-goers, the walls ripple a unique type of history.  

Man do those boatmen know how to hustle, though.

As a side-note: My sister's wedding was lovely, thanks to those who asked. But now that all is packed up and everyone is ring'd, we'll be back on our regularly scheduled second channel programming...

The Other North Korea

Extremism is the enemy. We give it a bunch of names, put it on a fake spectrum, and rail on each other about how our extremes will be better, but it's all the same thing. Extremism is the enemy.

Welcome to Albania. Welcome to the world.

Sorry for the lack of Common Ground videos. My sister is getting married this week. We will be back soon. 

The 750,000 Bunkers of Albania

Bunkers! Albania's most visible uniqueness. A negative that's so definitive of the nation that it has almost become a positive.

It kind of felt like going to Albania and not doing a video on the bunkers would be like going to Rapa Nui and ignoring the Moai. They're worth thinking about, I'd argue.

Love to everyone from our cottage paradise,

Evan (and Kata)

How to Become a Saint

Albania!

Armenia was a blast, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Definitely a highlight of the world. But now we're in Albania, a country that never gets as much love as it deserves.

Today's episode is on sainthood, and what it takes to be remembered.

Enjoy!

Common Ground: Our Last Night in Cuba

This episode is a weirder one, I suppose, because it involves the idea of sex and prostitution. People are pretty weirded out by sex, I find, but personally I'm more weirded out by dudes banging on my door late at night. This episode is about one of the more frightening moments of the filming so far. Our last night in Cuba.

Thanks to theLovitas (and all our Patrons) for making this possible. Y'all rock.

The Other 300

The Battle of Halidzor. An almost legendary tale of Armenian resistance and defeat. A now distant high point of a perpetual cycle.

Just to note: The landscape that this filming took place in (Syunik province on the triple border of Armenia/Azerbaijan/Iran) is some of the nicest on earth. Goris to Kapan is one of the better drives you can do in the world. Totally worth a visit.

Common Ground: Making Friends With Strange Men

Another (slightly delayed) installment of our not-at-all-award-winning patreon storytelling series, Common Ground.

This one is about friends. Hope you enjoy it!

Huge thanks to theLovitas for sponsoring this week's episode. We couldn't do it without you.

The Spear that Pierced a Living God

The spear of destiny. The holy ark. The planet we're all so excited to touch. This video is about relics.

Thank you! We love you guys.

Common Ground: Saveth the Tuk-Tuk Driver

Yet another inane story from our travels. This one is about one of the best characters we've met, and a truly nice and worthwhile person. His name is Saveth, and he loves sending us photos of each other.

Huge thanks to patron theLovitas for getting this engine going.

The Undeniable Pain of Getting Drunk

Alcohol!

One of our oldest and most polarizing pastimes. We've brewed it, bottled it, banned it, and barfed it. But for as long as we've been farming, it has been a part of our society.

Thanks, Patrons. We love you guys.

For those of you awaiting our letters from last month (now postcards so they can be better souvenirs), Francesco has sent them from Milan so they might be a bit delayed. They're on the way!

Common Ground: Stuck at the Bottom of a Hill

Another irreverent little story from the travels of yours truly. This episode is brought to you by the incredibly generous donation of TheLovitas, for whom we are forever grateful.

Thanks everyone! Hope you enjoy my stupidity yet again.

The Armenian Pagan Neo-Nazi Problem

Way too many videos of mine involve Nazis. The world needs to calm it on the whole Nazi situation, thanks.

A side note: We just finished our final episode in Albania and I get to fly home! Looking forward to seeing my wife and dog. It's been too long.

Common Ground: Stomping on a Giant

We filmed another batch of our irreverent storytime videos. This one is about a man in Chile we disliked. Also, I look terrible, so you get to enjoy that as well.

Today's story (as well as the rest of the upcoming batch) is brought to you by Patron TheLovitas. A huge thank you to our nameless hero. Your support means the world to us.

Dads as Dumb as Cavemen

This week's video is intentionally lighter than usual. After the end of Chile and our jaunt over to Artsakh, it felt appropriate.

But despite not being so heavy it was still a fun little episode to film, and includes the best drone shot I've ever taken. Plus, so many cows!

Huge thanks to everyone for your support. Special shout out this week to Patron Michael Hartnell, for being here from the very beginning. We appreciate it beyond words.

Enjoy!
Evan

Common Ground: Fighting with a Japanese Pimp

Hello Patrons! Sorry for the delayed upload. This video was supposed to go out Wednesday (or earlier), but we've been away from reliable internet on the laptop for a while now.

Now that we're back, please enjoy one of the dumbest stories from my life.

(Just FYI: We'll be putting out another few next week, as we're still very far behind on these.)

All the best,
Evan

Dying for a Homeland

This is an interview conducted with a first generation Artsakhian, Samvel Saryan. He's a young man who has led a life I have no experience in, and because of that I really wanted to hear about his world.

It is a bit long (our longest ever), obviously one-sided, and there are subtitles for those who have trouble with the second language English.

I hope you enjoy it! Love to you all.

A Common Ground to welcome new Patrons.

For all you new to the Patreon account, we have a tier that prompts us to make videos about our stories from the road. We call those videos Common Ground, and this one is dedicated to our ever-present queen of the second channel, Anina Keller.

This is our third installment in that series, about hitchhiking in Japan and the old women it terrified.