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The Tribal Fez

Seth Godin defines a "tribe" as: "a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate."

One my favorite tribes is The Order of the Fez. A short bus full men who like to wear fezzes. We communicate via blog and email. The notion of a "leader" is somewhat antithetical to fezorocity (our defining Force), but since I maintain the blog I perform that role as needed. More of a recording secretary.

This weekend two of our members sent a music video that nicely captures what the OOTF is about.

Taisir Yanis, Fez #16

انه في حين كان رأينا منذ اكثر من الدخان الابيض معبد فاس. حتى رفع رباعية لقطة Espresso ونرحب فاس # 16 ، taisir yanis. Taisir هو المالك / المالك وسوء الحمار barista من البن في المنطقة ، على مادة الكافيين في نقطة الصفر جيفرسون سيتي ، ميسوري. منزل fezzes # 14 ، 6 # # 1 و. Taisir كتابي من اللغة الانجليزيه هي... متشكك ، ولذا فاننا video'd التماسه للاستحقاق. جميلة نحن على يقين من انه يتحدث العربية ولكنه سوف يكون خلال ايام قليلة علينا قبل ان تحصل على النسخ. ولكن نظرا للطريقة التي تسير الامور ، نحن حظيت باهتمام انه قد يكون من المفيد ان يكون ليتحدث العربية الأعضاء في النظام. انا انفاق المزيد من الوقت مع نوعية taisir من طرف زوجتي حتى بوسعي ان اشهد على الجداره. انضم لي ان ارحب taisir الى النظام الملكي وتعالى من فاس. يمكنك استخدام التعليق على الوصله ادناه او البريد الالكتروني في taisir yaniscoffeezone@gmail.com. [Video]

Radio with pictures

I gotta face it. I'm a radio guy. I have neither the face nor the concentration for TV. That's my take-away from this morning's live webcast from the Coffee Zone. Just too many things to keep track of. Watch the chat stream, monitor the audio (which is several seconds behind what is being said), look at the camera... whew!

As I replayed our half-hour chat I found myself thinking, this would have been much easier (and less painful for all concerned) if we'd just streamed the audio. Pictures added nothing to our little experiment.

We had 9 or 10 people watching, giving us encouragement in the chat room like parents at a grade-school production of 12 Angry Men, whispering our lines from the wings ("Turn up the mic!").

I think I'm going to look for some sort of live event for the next webcast. Perhaps the 4th of July parade or something. Stay tuned.

Fezorocity

Over on the Order of the Fez blog we're asking the Brotherhood to submit essays defining (describing?) that ineffable quality we call fezorocity. Here's one graf from Dr. T. Everett Mobley:

"Some years ago, one of the numbers presented in a high school choir concert was a choral setting of Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”. The director asked me to recite the poem for the audience before the choir sang.  Later, I was asked how long it took me to prepare.  I replied that there are those of us who have been waiting their whole lives for a chance to declaim “Jabberwocky,” and no additional preparation is necessary. Thus it is with fezorocity, yet it may be that this quality simply lies smoldering within you unrecognized, awaiting only enlightenment to quicken the spark."

Only known photo of Order of the Fez

OrderoftheFez.com

My very own Atomic Fez

At long last I'm the proud owner of a Fez-o-Rama fez. And I was able to help out with a worthy cause at the same time. While my leopard skin fez makes me feel like the love child of Idi Amin and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle... it doesn't approach the quality of workmanship of the Atomic Fez. Fezmonger Jason even threw in an extra tassel (maroon) for formal occasions.

Photo Booth not quite ready for prime time

One of the new features (toys) in Leopard I've been most excited about is the addition of green screening in iChat and Photo Booth. This is the effect they use on The Daily Show (and the evening news) to make it look like the reporter is standing in front of the White House or the Supreme Court.

Mr. Jobs left me with the impression that I could put a still image or video behind me and have hours of fun. You can see the result above. I think I could get the lighting and the green screen working but the sound is off for some reason. One hopes this is fixed in a future update.

Order of the Fez #8: Howlin' Hobbit

The ranks of the secret (some would say cult-like) Order of the Fez have swollen to eight with the induction  of Howlin' Hobbit:

"Attached you will find a picture of me performing at The Pink Door in Seattle's fabulous Pike Place Market. This was several years ago and I was part of the Lucky Devil Girly Show, a burlesque troupe."

How could we refuse the application of someone that had been part of the Lucky Devil Girly Show? No way. Don't miss the link to Howlin's music.

West Coast Fez

Bay Area buddy Jamie Nelson is the newest member of the Order of the Fez. Jamie might look familiar due to expensive (and painful) cosmetic surgery that allows him to pass for a young Larry David.

Jamie is thrilled "to be part of the fez-wearing, non-little-car-driving, elite" and is the first tassel-less member.

"I like the more stripped down, Istanbul "street" look: More stability in a strong breeze off the Hellespont."

Jamie is the 7th (often regarded as a mystical and powerful number) member of The Order.

Order of the Fez: And then there were six

In an elaborate (and secret) ceremony, held in an undisclosed location, the newest member of The Order of the Fez was inducted last night. John Wells became the sixth member of the recently formed order and you can read his rambling, semi-coherent application statement here.

The Order of the Fez Blog

There has been such immediate and passionate interest in the Order of the Fez, I decided we needed a little blog where we could post news and stuff, without cluttering up smays.com. When I discovered that OrderoftheFez.com was available, I saw it as an omen. When OOTF membership reaches 9 (a mystical number in our order), I'll put the domain in place. For now, you can bookmark www.smays.com/fez.

Order of the Fez

For those who missed it, I wore my new leopard skin fez all day on Monday. It created a bit of interest (fez buzz). The most common question? "Where can I get a fez?"

My answer? "That's what separates the fezz-less from... those with fezzorocity. If you're not resourceful enough to acquire your own fez, you don't deserve to wear one."

Dear readers, I give you Bob Hague, Supreme Potentate of the Badger LaFolette Chapter of the Order of the Fez (Fez #2).

Bob and I will be drafting by-laws and deciding on The Secret Grip in coming days, and if you'd like to join us (throw your fez in the ring, as it were), just email a photo of yourself wearing a fez. (Word of caution: No fez sharing. You must own your own fez to a member in good standing)

Don't delay. The highly prized LFN's (Low Fez Numbers) will go quickly.

If there's an amusing story behind your fez ("I mugged a Shriner and have the video"), please feel free to share it.

On behalf of Supreme Potentate Bob, I challenge you to get your fez on!