We spent a lot of time on YouTube and Google Video, but got tired of dealing with their clunky interfaces and having to switch between the two to get a fix. Necessity is the mother of invention, or in this case, maybe laziness was the birth-mother. For whatever reason -- here we are.

Much thanks to MetaFilter for getting the word out. I can say with confidence, that MeFi is the best community on the Internet. Well worth the $5 donation. (It would be cheap at $50)

I'm also very grateful to the creators of Digg, Pligg and Ricardo Galli

These first couple of weeks have been pretty crazy, thanks for your patience and the great contributions - especially from our regular contributors, many of whom have some very nice video sites as well: Alowicious, GVOD, haixiu, atomly and you.

Lastly, thanks to my fellow MetaFilter alumnus, The Ininerate Surfer, James Roe. I didn't know James before he posted VideoSift to the blue on Metafilter - since then, he's come on board as a moderator, contributor and developer.

It's going to be a bumpy ride for Internet video over the next 12 months. In addition to VideoSift issues, we'd like you to use this blog to take on the latest developments in copyright, takedown notices and fair use issues. Buckle your seatbelts.