Rare Earth

Ok everyone, it's time we had a quick chat about the future. Francesco is gone. And while we are all wishing him the best in what is undoubtedly the right decision, the kid was 50% of this series. He was the heart. It's not a simple transition to lose him. Yet, most clouds have silver linings, and in his life upgrade, it has me thinking about my own. I'll be releasing an update video to explain further when able, but to summarize, starting in the upcoming season in the Horn of Africa, I think I'm going to split our content into two different categories. I haven't yet thought of what to call them. Essentially, I want to make better content, in all directions. And to me, that means drawing a clear divide between the videos we make that are legitimate, and those that are just me free wheeling around a camel market. They both deserve to be seen, but they aren't the same thing. All of this is going to take some time to figure out, and the upload speed from where we are makes weekly videos impossible anyway. So, for the time being, I'm unfortunately going to have to take a hiatus. Apologies to those who need your fix. I'll be back with a bigger dose in no time. All my love to everyone who cares about our little series, Evan

We're back! It has been three hectic, action packed months, but we're back. If you don't want to watch the update, here's a quick summary: - I'm not dead - We're dropping twenty new videos from Ethiopia and Somaliland starting tomorrow. - We're starting a Rare Earth merch store (designs to come): https://teespring.com/stores/rareearth - Our Patreon is getting an update: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth - We're going to tell dumb stories on our second channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQjh... - hire Bekele: https://www.facebook.com/senait.tours - My dog is a couch hog Hope you like the new season! Sorry if it sucks!

I'm a freak. I have a hitchhikers thumb and I'm colourblind. Protect me, I am the promise of the future. Fun fact: I filmed the a-roll of this episode with a 103 degree fever, as was unfortunately the case with about half the episodes this season. The bloopers are pretty much just me throwing up off camera. A special thanks to all our patrons who held strong throughout the break. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. Today's episode is about a dam they'd never let me get close to, and the countries who wish to destroy it. I didn't get a chance to review this video after it was edited due to birthday celebrations, so here's hoping there are no mistakes... Patreon account, for those who care: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

Abba Mahari was Moses to Ethiopia's Beta Israeli community. Right up until he wasn't. For this, and the following three videos, much of our footage from this section was unfortunately lost. Trust me, I'm more annoyed about it than you are. Luckily, the ship righted itself fairly quickly after this point, but if they're feeling a tiny bit sparse, that's why. Honestly, I doubt on your end it will even be particularly noticeable, but I felt like mentioning it anyway. Also, even though I know it won't help to say it: Please don't make pointless political comments about Israel or your personal hatreds. This isn't the place for it and I'm tired of cleaning it up. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

This video was easily our most difficult this season. Not because the location was hard to get to, or the subjects hard to film. They were pleasant, helpful, and forthcoming. No, the reason that this episode was hard is because the person I hired to film it got day drunk and threw away everything from this entire week. I honestly have no idea why. Every single thing he was there to film, he threw away for no reason at all, then lied about it. We sent him home not long after I realized what happened, but by that point it was too late to go back and fix it. So, today's episode has been clipped together from the 20% remaining footage that was filmed on personal phones, off-hand on the second camera, and during Eric's filming practice. I'm aware the episode is... rough. The drone is even of a nearby similar looking village, rather Awra Amba (sorry). But I didn't want to throw the whole episode away, so we did our best and here it is. Awra Amba. A cult by any other name. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

Harar! Where feeding various animals chunks of goat has become a tourism bonanza. The town itself is probably the most unique and interesting place we visited in Ethiopia, and we ended up doing about four episodes from the area rather unexpectedly. The city has an intensely cool history, lots of glory and horror and humanity, and most of all - hyenas. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

f we found the Ezana stone before the Rosetta, I suspect you'd already know this story. But we didn't, so we don't. When I say slaves at the start of this video, I meant pirates. I have no idea how I didn't notice that until now. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

Teff. It's the primary staple of the national diet of Ethiopia. It forms injera, the daily bread of an entire nation, and has been around since the very dawn of agriculture. But today, despite being more important to the nation's survival than ever before, Teff is facing its greatest threat: the Dutch. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

I wonder what the algorithm thinks of this title. Don't care. I wrote this whole episode because I wanted you to see Samuel the amorous donkey attempt to court his unwilling lady love. I hope you enjoy it. As always, thanks for being here. We appreciate ya. Your support keeps us going: https://www.patreon.com/rareearth

I'm really drunk, so I don't want to write a description. This is a story about coffee. I hope you like it.

God is just what we make of it. Even when they aren't. A huge, huge, huge thank you to Zion Train Lodge http://www.ziontrainlodge.com - if you're ever in the area, this is the place for you. Nice people, good vibes - an oasis in an otherwise dangerous little city. Plus, French Rastas.

Chewing Khat at this point is tradition. It is so much a part of East African culture that you can even use it to bribe the police.

The battle of Adwa is among the most famous battles in history. Hard to call rare. So instead, I want to talk about an obelisk. All joking not aside, everything, of course, is a matter of perspective. To me, for example, Italy's greatest shame is Francesco (thanks for filming the scenes in Milan, buddy). It took a lot of work salvaging this episode from the lost footage, so a huge thank you to Kata for all her effort. Unfortunately the season in Ethiopia/Somaliland was a true challenge, and there was nothing we could really do about it. Sorry! Can't win 'em all!

Wow, what a pointless episode. It seems like he put this together at the last minute as a response to some side-bet he'd been running with his wife during the filming! What a loser." You are correct. That's exactly what happened. I am a loser. But sometimes in life you've got a lick a new floor, even if it tastes all fluffy. Enjoy!

My plan to save the bees? We get a bunch of hipsters drunk. Edit: It is crazy to me how many people don't understand I'm joking and don't believe the premise even when the video contains a section explaining how I'm joking and don't believe the premise.

Abel Wabella is a good man. An innocent man. The common man. And all he wants now is to tell the world the truth.

It is my understanding that Somaliland receives around five hundred tourists a year. We were three. But within a single day, street assaults over tattoos meant we were two. Then one. Naturally, it was an extremely difficult place to film. I did my best with what I could. That said, I had a unique and life-affirming visit and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Wonderful people helped me get this footage without asking for a single thing in return, and showed me kindness that one usually reserves for family. We met hundreds of educated, friendly, progressive humans, many of whom are international leaders their field. Everywhere is a spectrum, and in Somaliland we saw it all. Their work and their desire for freedom deserves recognition well beyond what it has received. A massive thanks to everyone who welcomed us and helped me film without disruption. You quite literally made this season possible. As this is the first real video I've filmed entirely by myself, and among Kata's first edits, we're both pretty nervous. It's a sensitive topic. But she did a triathlon this morning and did her best ever, so I feel that's a good omen. As she always reads this stuff religiously, I'm gonna sneak a note to her in here: Congrats Kata! You're the fastest person of all the people.

This is part two of our history of Somaliland independence. See the first episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xOvc... A huge thanks to Eric for stepping up to the plate when everything else fell apart.

Laas Geel was so cool. I did not enjoy trying to film with the gimbal, though.

I don't expect a lot of people to watch this episode, but it was the main reason I went to Somaliland in the first place and it damn well needs to be heard.

We happened to be driving past Liechtenstein on our way to filming and came across this story. I couldn't find it online in English, so I decided to make the pit stop.

I didn't expect much from San Marino. Even filming this episode I was a little annoyed with how little I could find worth telling. But this story entertained me, and Kata edited it beautifully. I'm super happy with how it turned out. I hope you all enjoy!

We went to see a piece of art while waiting for our flight to Malta, and it made me reflective, so I wanted to talk about it. This is the Sihlfeld Graveyard Grief Machine. It's an art installation from the graveyard's Forum, which is a space meant to inspire contemplation about death. It is not the most amazingly filmed episode, especially since I couldn't do the A roll until I was back in Toronto, so I hope you enjoy the random cutaways to scenery, as Swiss scenery is always super sweet.

The last of our small country tour is Malta. I did a bunch of videos here, and this is sort of the foothold for them all. It was so much fun, and such a beautiful island to film on. I had a great time here. Thanks so much to my sister for visiting to help keep up our sanity and convince me to rent nice places to stay. Also, yes, I know it's a bhad opening joke. I'm aware. Terrible humour told dryly is what gets me up in the morning.

No matter what you do, don't go on Google reviews and hyperinflate Bugibba Temple's social value to trick tourists into visiting. I definitely wouldn't giggle about that.

And to think, if Rose had just drawn a couple eyes on that door Jack might be with us today. Another short and sweet episode. Hope ya'll like it! See you next week!

This is a story about loss. And, as is my custom, a rock. The trail is sometimes so beaten that there's nothing left, but if you ever get a chance to see Gozo, take it. I love Gozo. Just don't stress too much about seeing the Azure stump.

I am a child trapped in a man's body, and I expect to die a child trapped in a man's body. But as long as I keep getting to make dick jokes, all will be right with the world.

As usual, I take a broad swipe at modern religion and politics, all while supporting the thing I hold most dear: freedom of expression. This video was made in response to a casual misunderstanding delivered over some really good pizza. I wish more misunderstandings came with good pizza.

Today's video is in conjunction with thousands of #teamtrees creators, big and small. Millions of normal people, taking a moment to help. Please consider donating your hard earned dollars to https://teamtrees.org/. I'll be giving the money earned from our ad revenue and Patreon this week, which should be a few thousand to start. I even added more ad varieties this week (sorry!) just to push it that much further.

This is the saddest thing I've ever produced. Nobody expects you to make it to the end. But Tomiko made it. Somehow, she made it through everything. If you'd like to know more about her story, her memories are recorded in the book "The Girl with the White Flag". It's a hard read.

Yonaguni: An island pulled straight from the pages of middle-ages Japanese lust poetry. An island sailors whisper about to new crew. An island of women. Before I forget: A massive thank you to all the new Patrons. Kata and I were blown away by the response. Incredible to know how many of you are invested enough to take part. I'd love to do something special in return. Maybe pins? Everybody likes a pin.

No, they shouldn't. But also, kind of, yes, they should? It's tricky. Watch the video. Stay away from my cats.

This is a story of sacrifice. And taxes. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not super happy with it as I was with some of the others this season. It's an interesting story, just not fully captured. Maybe if I'd had more than 5 hours to spend after the strep throat issues, but alas. Either way, those poor mothers. Not exactly egalitarian on further reflection. It's strongitarian. Agrarian. Pretty nasty, really. One more from Yonaguni before we head back to Okinawa honto! Our next episode is about an extremely remote conspiracy theory that I had to scuba dive to see. It was fun.

This episode is about aquariums, because I was at an aquarium. I want to mention that the best part of the aquarium was the goats. They're not exactly normal aquarium fare. Every day you could come around at a certain time and they'd let you take them for a walk. And there's no world in which I don't want to take a random goat for a walk.

Every system of justice is inevitably found to be unjust. The question is in which direction, and how far. This is a fairly basic outline of Japan's idiosyncratic nature. Sort of an easy week for me. Hope you like it!

I suspect this one is going to get a lot of backlash. That's ok. As long as you have to think about it for even a split second, I'll be happy. Also, just to preempt. Yes, I'm aware that's not the political definition of socialism. I speak colloquially.

My friend Remy, previously Rameen, runs a bar called Remy's, previously Fujiyama. He's a great person, and the last man on earth I'd expect to find screaming death metal at a small crowd in a military town. Yet, there he is. And in him, a story about life.