Ryanne Hodson	The Week of June 19th, 2005

Vlogger

1. What's in your wallet right now?

About $51.00, my Metro card, my Debit card, expired AAA card, health insurance card, expired gym membership, expired driver's license (expired today, my birthday!), picture of my friends Amy and Dave, library card, old work ID, old business card, my beau's business card, never been used Mobil credit card, never been used American Express Card, just junk basically except the money.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

That it's OK to spend it.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

Not spending my money, and hoarding it away in mutual funds and high interest savings accounts. Some would say that was a good habit, but I do need to eat sometimes.

4. What makes you happy?

Videoblogging, my boyfriend Jay Dedman, our cat, my friends, being self-employed most of the time, knitting, chocolate, Virginia, New York City, Boston.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

Feel bad about spending it, save it all and go hungry, then eventually buy a house.

6. Where does money come from?

Saints, patrons, the Man, the Woman, I have no idea, someone else's bank account apparently.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

Buy a house . . . though in Manhattan that would buy me about 1/3 of a house.

8. What is your most prized possession?

It's a tie between my car (1996 Subaru Outback) and my laptop (Apple Powerbook G4).Though I have to sell my car so the computer wins!

9. Who is your role model?

There are many. I like to model myself after a number of my friends, fellow artists, videobloggers and my siblings. Most of all I seek confidence deep within myself. So I guess I'm my own role model.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Being where I am right this moment. Helping to create an international dialog of people using video on the internet to connect. Being a community builder, being self-employed, surviving a move from my home town of Boston to New York City. Getting up and making myself food every morning.

11. How did you become a video blogger?

I finished art school, Massachusetts College of Art, in 2002 as a video editor, performer and all around geek. I worked in television for a couple years, on a local and national level. I was frustrated by the limitations that were put on producing TV. There wasn't enough communication with the audience. For an artist, this is crucial. The feedback loop between creator and viewer are symbiotic, and television does not nurture this relationship. My friend, Steve Garfield, sent me a link to Jay's videoblog in November 2004 and it changed my life. I sent him a comment and he wrote back telling me I should get a blog and start publishing my videos that way.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

To change the political landscape using video on blogs as the medium to get people's voices heard. I'm well on my way.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

A brownstone in Harlem.

14. Favorite activity that doesn't cost a dime?

Sex, but that costs money if you think about it . . . birth control and all that. Sitting in the park? Everything costs money.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

Cooking, sleeping, going out to dinner and ordering fancy drinks. I don't indulge myself very often, it's a problem.

Ryanne Hodson is an early adopter of videoblogging, using video instead of text to speak to the world. As part of the fast-growing vlogging community, she has started to teach others the art of vlogging. Ryanne is the co-creator of freevlog.org, an extensive online tutorial site designed to get everyone's videos on the web. Of course she maintains her own vlog and one of her first entries is about why she started vlogging.

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