omg you wore the fedora.
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My Brother's Last Wish: To Leave a $500 Tip...For Pizza
- Thread starter Seth C
- Start date
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Dynamite Shikoku
Congratulations, you really deserve it!
I just saw you on the news in Australia, OP
Same. You've reached Australia! Good work!
I won't lie, something got caught in my eye when your mother talked about Aaron and her promise to him. It's such an incredible way to mourn. She's an awesome lady.
Thanks! I'll let her know. We just landed in Charlotte after volunteering our seats yeaterday and spending the night in Newark. Should be back home in a few hours.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
no man, don't even tell the guy. that would be brilliant, he'll just think some dude tipped him with an envelope, will be too polite to look and then shit his pants later in his car. Make sure there is a note so he doesn't try to return it.
talisayNon
Member
lol i heard SethC on NPR New Jersey on Friday
unreal
unreal
If only they would have me on "This American Life" then I'd have a long enough segment that I could listen to myself in soothing NPR style when I need to fall asleep.
RangersFan
Member
Seth, Sarah is kinda cute in the cbs segment, you should go for it, that is if she's single...just sayin' 
But then it'd get into your subconscious...you'd start talking like that all the time. No one could stand you...except NPR fans. haha
RumblingRosco
Member
Cool CBS segment. I'm happy to see this continue to get coverage.
As promised, a video with some behind the scenes footage and pictures of our trip to CBS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHutknlaNeE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHutknlaNeE
So today, on the first day I am supposed to receive a (very small) payment from Google for the ads on the site and videos, my account is instead disabled for "invalid activity". So now not only will we be giving away $56,000 over the course of 112 dinners, but all of it, including web hosting, the food, and travel will have to be paid for entirely from my pocket. Awesome, thanks Google. Glad I could provide over 3 million impressions for you and you didn't want to share a penny.
Sorry, I'm venting.
Sorry, I'm venting.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
You must have violated the policy in some way. It may have occurred due to a jump in traffic from your television appearances, which may be against the TOS. Unfortunately, Google are notoriously ambiguous about ad sense account deactivation and instead of giving a clear answer they usually just direct you to the terms.
Sorry to hear about it but don't let it bother you too much, it happens.
Sorry to hear about it but don't let it bother you too much, it happens.
WTF
I looked through their terms and we certainly didn't violate any of them. Of course, I'm not in control of it if someone maliciously bots my website or whatever. Appearing on CBS is certainly not against their terms of use, and to be honest it didn't create any spike in traffic or ad revenue (or donations). Being on CNN early on did, and when it hit the AP news wire it did.
I appealed it, and replied to every single "invalid click" reason in their terms individually. I'm sure even if they do re-enable adsense they will keep 100% of the money I had already earned, and leave me only with what we get going forward (which will be next to nothing).
The only reason it bothers me is because frankly, I have no other revenue stream to support this business. I have $56,000 to give away, and giving it away cost me money. It costs money to host the website. It costs money to pay for dinner. It costs money to travel to places to give away the money. If I want a better lens and a camera body that can accept a mic, that costs money. Even if we gave every tip in Lexington (which we really can't do), that is 116 meals. It's fine, we will manage, but the ad money would have been a way to at least buy a GH2 and a new lens.
Just re-watched and I see what you mean. I have one stray hair sticking out. Who knows? I have some blond hairs and some white ones mixed in. I assume it was one of mine. Darn you, hair and make-up. You should have fixed that.
Jackben
bitch I'm taking calls.
That would be disgusting, extremely immoral and greedy. Hope that's not the case.
Just re-watched and I see what you mean. I have one stray hair sticking out. Who knows? I have some blond hairs and some white ones mixed in. I assume it was one of mine. Darn you, hair and make-up. You should have fixed that.
A testament to high-def. Hell, for all I know that was some awesome earpiece you were wearing and that was the wire.
Was the first waitress excited to go to NYC?
I can't see there being any other better result here. As of right now not only am I not getting the ad money I've already earned, but I'm not ever allowed to get money in the future, and my entire account is locked out such that I can't even view how much money I was supposed to have earned. They kept trying to display ads in YouTube, though! I had to manually disable those from each video.
Yeah. Also, this happened when I woke up on the morning of the one month anniversary of Aaron's death. Obviously, it wasn't going to be a really great day no matter what. I also had a bitter YouTube comment from a first cousin:
"They should be ashamed of themselves. They are making money and getting publicity off of their loved ones death. They could have afforded to do this for Aaron themselves, a one time tribute to Aaron, but what do they do? Tape it, put it on Youtube and end up on the news. Sad and Pathetic if you ask me.
One of Aaron's 1st cousins"
I do, and NBC will be here next week. Does Google care about bad press at this point? I doubt it. Even if CNN ran a story, does it make any difference to Google?
Couldn't hurt...someone up top catches wind they're dicking over a popular and trending charity they might reverse their decision.
Good luck man. Its funny how Google is one of the most villainous tech giants when people leaned on them like they where the messiah a few years ago.
Yup. I'm not sure if people were just expecting you to finance this out of your own pocket or not but you shouldn't to.
Hey all, the fifth $500 tip for Aaron is online. Not sure why the names flash on screen so briefly. It doesn't happen when I watch the actual video, just the YouTube upload. Hmm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqp-3D9wOIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqp-3D9wOIA
JeTmAn81
Member
Are you planning on doing these more than once a week? If not, looks like you'll be at it for a couple of years. There will be a crazy set of videos once it's all done. I wonder if you couldn't take a chunk of money and use it for something a bit bigger? Perhaps a foundation? I don't think people would be angry if every single cent didn't go to a big tip.
We may give more than one a week but will just post one online. That way I get time to take a break from eating out, etc. We do plan to keep all the donations going to $500 tips though, and if it takes a long time that's fine. It keeps Aaron alive with us.
They let you wear the hat on the show. That's great; now people are really going to be on the look out for you.
Google pocketing the ad money sucks though. I hope you can stick it to them and don't let them get away with it. For a company who's slogan is "We promise to do no evil," they sure are evil and devious in their own ways and this is one of them. That's messed up.
Yet another happy waitress gets $500. Nobody seems to recognize your hat or watch a lot news. It reminds me of Howard Thompson's Feel Good Friday segment that he does for PIX News (I haven't seen it in a while though so I don't know if they still do it). In that video he's in front of my alma mater. That's crazy.
Google pocketing the ad money sucks though. I hope you can stick it to them and don't let them get away with it. For a company who's slogan is "We promise to do no evil," they sure are evil and devious in their own ways and this is one of them. That's messed up.
Yet another happy waitress gets $500. Nobody seems to recognize your hat or watch a lot news. It reminds me of Howard Thompson's Feel Good Friday segment that he does for PIX News (I haven't seen it in a while though so I don't know if they still do it). In that video he's in front of my alma mater. That's crazy.
ErasureAcer
Banned
That was a strangely edited 5th video. The intro waiting for the waitress to show up was uncomfortable and the camera stalking her after she got the tip was just as strange.
I think all the tips should be put online...or at least a story of that particular tip if there is no video.
I think all the tips should be put online...or at least a story of that particular tip if there is no video.
Hmm, will take that into consideration. I included it because there was a loooot of footage of waiting and for me, it's the most intense part of all of it. It's a struggle.
Yeah, when you start feeling snubbed because Google has a problem with you profiteering off your brother's death, it's not really about him anymore. I can't believe how openly admit that you were looking to buy new camera equipment with money earned from site hits.
I'm with the "bitter" first cousin here. This is officially a farce.
I'm with the "bitter" first cousin here. This is officially a farce.
That's cool. Trust me, right now there is nothing that has been profited from any of this. I am hundreds in the negative. I don't mind, it's worth it to see the reaction from those people. But did Google make thousands? Did they profit? Of course they did. Would I have enjoyed getting to return that money to getting equipment so that you guys could see and hear things in the video more clearly? I most certainly would. Instead I'll just spend more of my own money to do it. I'm fine with that, and it's certainly not for me. I'm there in person. I experience it first-hand. I don't need a camera with a mic input.
Everything he said he wanted to do with the ad money was with the goal of keeping his brother's memory alive by continuing with the $500 tips.
Whether or not you agree with him filming it is your own prerogative, but there's no doubt that having it on youtube has likely resulted in more donations and every time $500 is donated that's another day he gets to go out and remember his brother.
I would definitely do everything you can to get that money from google to help you continue to share the happiness and good karma your brother wanted you to spread.
I don't know if that would be a good idea, considering the money was collected for the explicit purpose of giving it away as $500 tips to waiters / waitresses. I would think doing anything else with the money (no matter how well intentioned) could be viewed as fraud.
I'd also think that not filming events could cause some suspicions as well, but I don't know if legally there would be any issues or repercussions.
It's not a financial burden for me. I can afford a dinner a week, whatever. For my sister's family? Perhaps more so. they have one salary and four mouths to feed. they wouldn't eat out much normally. We will work it out, and it will be fine. I'd have loved to pay for their meals with ad revenue, obviously. That would have been a great thing. Obviously I want as much of the family there with us as much as possible. If it becomes a true burden then we can go to dinner and give every waiter there $500. That should fulfill any requirement or obligation.
NervousXtian
Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
I could care less how Seth spends the ad revenue... he's honoring his brother, his family, healing his soul, and inspiring others.
Hopefully Google relents and releases the money due, and you can afford to pay for the meals for your family and get the camera to help you do this.
You're doing great work Seth, and you have all my support.
Hopefully Google relents and releases the money due, and you can afford to pay for the meals for your family and get the camera to help you do this.
You're doing great work Seth, and you have all my support.
Or maybe Google is just a bit known, just like Paypal, for suddenly deciding to not pay out money that they owe people due to their maze of a TOS agreement.
People want to see the videos, they donate towards the tips, cameras will be needed for the filming. There's no farce and there's no fraud. Nobody is running off to Cancun and partying or doing ANYTHING out of line with expectations.
In any case, I heard back from Google. Appeal denied, all ad revenue revoked (even the ad revenue from previous videos from many months ago that was waiting to be paid out), no further appeal allowed, any further communication will be ignored, permanently disallowed from creating or using an AdSense account. They can give no specific reason.
Oh well.
I'll just continue shooting with the camera body I have. I can afford a lens out of pocket to make things look better in dark restaurants, so I'll pick that up.Seth,
Great work... I think you're doing a good thing, and it's always uplifting to see the videos. I haven't read the entire thread so this may have already been mentioned, but I have a few suggestions:
- Choosing an outdoor patio location would be much better for imagery.
- It would be polite to ask the servers for permission putting their reactions on YouTube, especially since the story has gone to the national news outlets. Maybe give them the option to show a group photograph instead. Remember that the important thing is the act, not the reaction.
- It would be nice to invite your mom or other relatives give out some of the tips.
- Do you only choose female servers, or is it just random? Male servers are just as deserving of a mega-tip, and it would be nice to see their reaction. The same is true for elderly servers, but you may have to go to some restaurants for an older crowd in that case (e.g. IHOP).
- Have you had any discussions with publishers? This would make a great book once you finish all the tips. You could compile all the stories together with photographs and even invite the servers to write stories or include photographs about how the tip affected them. Proceeds could go to a charity in your brother's name (minus costs of course.)
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