the image thief one, i don't get it (and no offence emant to the author). wide-eyed tourist goes to xinjiang and...well, and that's that. Is everything valid nowadays (even holiday snaps)as long as it has a url? What happened to editorial control? Or has youtube got us all a bit too excited over home made crap?

No offense taken, Mike. Odd, I never quite thought of myself as "wild eyed". At least, not since I quit crank.

I am not sure there is much to "get", except a few minutes of witless fun. You may find that the written pieces the video accompanies have more depth, if that's important. But, if my particular, um, wild-eyed style doesn't resonate with you, well that's OK.

As for whether anything with a URL is valid today: emphatically, yes. I suggest we all revel in home-made crap. Having worked in stultifying commercial television and radio (where I played songs picked by a computer) I am thrilled by the democratization of media. More self-indulgent, wild-eyed stuff coming soon.

As for Danwei, they can defend their own standards. But thanks for the link, Jeremy.

I too wondered how exactly this video fitted into the grand scheme of things, until I realised that it doesn't have to. Good video, well edited, nice people and fun. As for comments about "home made crap", what about all the time and energy people spend on blogs? Most blogs are just a tissue of lies concocting the type of life the writers would like to be living, or simply subject us to the dull lives that they actually do live. The chances are if you run a blog, there is already something missing in your life.

will - it's 'wide', not 'wild' - although maybe they mean the same ;)

As for democratization of media, that's a whole different and deeper subject. I was more concerned with the reasons why I had just spent 8 minutes of my day watching a video where the highlight was how fast the food stalls got set up. I guess, considering the usual tone of Danwei, I was hoping for a punchline somewhere. But hey, looks like you had a good trip. Just confused why Jeremy felt it needed sharing.

I hear you Mike. Perhaps I have a secret crush on Imagethief.

Well, don't let Mrs. Imagethief find out, for heaven's sake, or there will be nothing but trouble.

@Mike: With regards to wide-eyed, that I have no argument with. Been such since I arrived.

Still miss those crank-fuelled nights, though.

wow! comments are getting very judmental :/ let's say, like Zidane made it very clear yesterday, we all have our little weaknesses (though I don't see why publishing this video should be an error). I found Imagethief's video really interesting. And 泡泡辣, believe me, blogging and living a life full of pleasures and unexpected events is totally compatible ;)

To Mike: a small editorial manifesto:

I should clarify my choice of Imagethief's vacation video of Xinjiang as "Monday morning reading":

If you are thinking about visiting Xinjiang, watching the video will probably help you make a decision about visiting Kashgar, Lake Karakal, Turpan and Urumqi more than reading a Lonely Planet chapter would. So the information in the video is worth noting, and linking to for future reference. And Will (Imagethief) is a funny guy who looks good on camera, even when the camera is a small consumer digital stills camera.

I did not title the bit about Imagethief's video "MUST WATCH SENSATIONAL XINJIANG VIDEO SEE THIS OR BE TOTALLY UNCOOL HIGHLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION".

In fact, all I wrote was:

"Click on the link above to read the background or download an iPod version of the video, or watch the video on Youtube below. It's about the blogger's recent trip to Xinjiang, and covers Kashgar, Lake Karakal, Turpan and Urumqi."

My insatiable info junkie Internet habit does not always lead to professionally produced videos or highly polished prose. But part of why the Internet is on fire right now, is that information sources are highly diverse.

As someone who writes on the Internet, I believe that is a very good thing indeed.

fair enough jeremy. i disagree with the lonely planet reference thing (I got no real feel for Kasgar or Turpan, for example) but it is your site, it is all free, and we can ourselves easily exercise editorial control by simply not clicking the link, so no complaints from me.

However, 'Image Thief and the Hell of Yurts' was an enticing heading. Maybe 'Bloke Videos Himself and Friends in Xingjiang' may have been more accurate ;-)
Anyway, its all good in the end.

As Imagethief himslef frequently notes, he is currently employed as a spin doctor: he works for a large PR firm.

Something you should bare in mind when you read the title 'Image Thief and the Hell of Yurts'.

I hate emoticons, but :)