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It had been the winter of our discount tent..

Posted by Jim on March 21, 2021
Posted in: Motorcycle, Photography, Travel. Tagged: , .

  FINALLY! After an unusually cold and snowy winter, I’ve been able to get the bike out. (Even the drone has been grounded due to wind and weather.) We’re finally well above freezing, although the wind chill seems to be on the cold side for this time of year.

  I have been using the down time for reading and researching new tech and upgrades to my current rigs. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to start implementing some new ideas with my 360 videos. After a recent “pucker incident” (see below), I’ll be upgrading my mounting system, but the big addition is GPS telemetry. This will be added to motorcycle videos as well as Drone videos (coming soon). 

 

 I used Telemetry Overlay from App Prototyping Barcelona (thank you again, Jaun!) for the overlays. The workflow is to edit the video first in the Insta 360 Sudio app, using FreeCapture to edit, but do NOT change the in point just yet. Export the video, then import it into Telemetry Overlay, import the GPS data from the .insv file, and edit your overlays. The interface is brilliantly easy to use, very intuitive and there are several excellent tutorials available for figuring out the “fiddly bits.”[1]You know, around the Fjords.

After exporting from Telemetry Overlay, you can pull the video into another editor, such as Final Cut to trim, insert transitions, color correct, edit audio, etc., or you can set in and out points in Telemetry Overlay, export, then post. (Which is what I did in the above video.)

  My current method of capturing data for the motorcycle is to use the Insta 360 GPS Smart Remote that will record the data to be the software. It works, but as is seen in the video, the data it captures is not the most accurate. I may finally cave in and purchase the Garmin I’ve been wanting expressly for this purpose. Sure, I could use my phone, but it is already in use while I ride as my stereo and, well, as my GODDAM PHONE!

The Insta 360 Studio Speedo

  While it the Insta 360 Studio works, I don’t care for the futuristic style of the gauges in the app, and with the data not being so accurate, I prefer the Telemetry Overlay software as it can utilize other .gpx files and even synchronize the data. 10/10 would buy again.

  Naturally, into every life a little rain must fall. I had currently been using the Small Rig clamp with ball joints to angle the selfie stick to get the shots I wanted. I generally will clamp it onto my luggage rack, or engine guard, set my angle and “off we go.” Well, after 3 years of using this method, I finally found a problem. It’s one of leverage. The ball that connects directly to the clamp uses a standard 1/4 20 thread, so far so good. But, if that ball is facing out to the right of the motorcycle, with the selfie stick extended 5 feet vertically, and the wind pushing it to the rear of the bike with the camera at the top, what you have is, in fact, a breaker bar trying to unscrew that ball. Quite efficiently, I might add, as the end of this video shows.

  With no small bit of luck, the camera never hit the ground as I was able to catch it with the toe of my boot. However, the lens guards that I rely on to protect the most expensive camera I currently own, did go flying (literally) into traffic. The force was enough to pop open the case, but the camera never came out.

  I have since received replacement lens guards, but have also found ND filters that act as guards, so I hope to have better videos coming soon. Additionally, I’ve ordered Manfrotto clamps for mounting the camera and will be posting/doing a post with mounting advice (hopefully as good as that) coming soon.

  In the meantime, let’s go for a ride. Feel free to scroll around.

Jim says: “Why do you build me up, Buttercup…”

Footnotes

Footnotes
↑1 You know, around the Fjords.

Truth in Advertising

Posted by Jim on March 15, 2021
Posted in: Food, Humor, Misc, Personal. Tagged: , , .

Every now and then, something just sticks in my craw. (And I think we all know how painful that can be.) With everything going on, a little forethought from companies would go a long way to building some good will as well as brand loyalty. 

Today’s grievance – packaging! I don’t ask for a lot. I have simple tastes and am a creature of habit. For example, I like Raisin Bran. Simple, good old fashioned Raisin Bran. It needs nothing, in my opinion. Great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and anytime in between. 

I understand that to maximize profits, a company must explore options, create new products, and expand their market. That’s why so many car companies offer 3 variations of the exact same car. There’s the Buick Encore, Enclave and Envision. Nissan has the Rogue, Murano, and Pathfinder. We all see it. It’s the same t-shirt, small, medium, and large.

Back to Raisin Bran. Kellogs, for some reason, decided to mess with Raisin Bran. Fair enough, update a classic for an evolving market. Use brand loyalty to expand with new(ish) products and increase profits.

Here’s my beef. The labelling needs to be VERY different. Raisin Bran Crunch, is NOT a flavor of Raisin Bran. They are very different. And the hint of bitter grain offset by raisins that makes Raisin Bran so beloved, is completely absent in the sickly sweet assault that is Raisin Bran Crunch. (Yes, it’s crunchier, but so what.)

“But, if your so into Rasin Bran, why did you buy the Crunch, idiot?” I hear you. I didn’t do it intentionally. When I find something I like, I stick with it. I’ve been eating Raisin Bran for over 40 years. And, if you’re standing in the grocery store cereal aisle, you’ll possibly spot the difference, if the two products are shelved side by side. (see image)

None of these things are anything like the other.

Now, if you’re in Costco, trying to find your essentials (as they seemingly move around the store at every visit), trying to maintain social distancing, watching out for your parent or child that may be with you, all you see is one “Raisin Bran” on the shelf.. Well, take a wild guess who has two thumbs and has a return for Costco sitting on top of the refrigerator. THIS GUY!!

There are plenty of brands that are guilty of this. But, far and away, the worst offender is Mt. Dew. In the illustration above, there is a bottle of Diet Mt. Dew in addition to regular Mt. Dew.

Did you spot it?

Imagine it’s a hot day, you’re on your way home from work, your mind still on the nonsense that you’ve been dealing with at work all day and already planning for tomorrow’s issues. You stop in to a convenience store to grab a Mt. Dew to cool off. Head back to the cooler, replaying that last phone call in your head, remembering that email you forgot to answer, etc. You swing past the cooler, grab your Mt. Dew, pay, and back into traffic to crawl your way home through rush hour.

You open your drink, still thinking about the office, and look forward to the one little joy you may be able to filch out of the day. and then.. BAM!

The acrid taste of, WHAT IN THE HELL IS THIS CRAP?!? 

That’s right, DIET Mt. Dew. So named because “Undrinkable Sewage” didn’t test well with focus groups. If you’ve never actually tasted it, don’t!

Those bottles need to be VERY different from each other. I recommend a giant “WARNING! DIET MT. DEW!” in a mix of fluorescent orange and red on the label.

So, thanks for coming to my rant, and remember, read those labels!

Jim says: “Only you can prevent Diet Mt. Dew!”

First 360 riding video of the year

Posted by Jim on March 11, 2021
Posted in: Motorcycle. Tagged: , , .

  Finally caught a break in the weather and was able to get the bike out. I’ve been wanting to experiment with the Insta360 One R on the bike. Even though the landscape is a bit dull and barren this early in the year, I managed to get some decent video. I’m surprised how well the in camera audio (with noise reduction) came out, but I still put some YouTube royalty free music over it.

If you have the YouTube app, you’ll be able to “look around” by dragging on the screen, or moving your phone. Enjoy.

Jim says: “I’ll be working on the audio.”

Happy March 4th!

Posted by Jim on March 4, 2021
Posted in: Holiday, Humor. Tagged: , , , , .

Many years ago, King Clyde Glunk faced a dilemma. His kingdom was about to come under siege by the Romans as they advanced through Europe. The King stepped onto his balcony and addressed his people..

“My citizens, we have a grave decision to make. The Roman army is approaching and we are badly outnumbered with no chance of victory. If we fight, we will most likely be overrun with very few survivors left to tell our tale. However, if we abandon our small kingdom to flee and hide throughout Europe, our culture will be lost and forgotten in the sands of time. I will not order you to fight. Instead, I leave the decision to you, good people. Shall we face the oncoming onslaught and fight to defend our way of life, or shall we run? I shall return in the morning for your answer.”

The next day, King Clyde Glunk, weary from a sleepless night, made his way to the balcony to once again address his people.

“Good people, I ask you. Do we run and hide? Or do we head onward into battle?”

There was silence as a lone representative from the crowd made his way to the front. He stopped, and looked up at his King. He removed his hat and began to speak…

“Your Majesty,” he said, “as your loyal subjects, we have discussed this long into the night. We have weighed every option, and have come to a solid conclusion.”

“What say you?” asked the King.

“We shall not run and hide. We shall… MARCH FORTH!”

And that’s how we came to celebrate this holiday. May you and yours have a glorius March 4th.

Jim Says:”For Sam.”