Posts

Uncomfortable Conversations

I was just featured as a guest speaker on the Thriving Women Network Uncomfortable Conversations on the Maui Fire Disaster. I talked about improving the water quality in the Kula and Lahaina areas. After the devastating fires on Maui, the Hawaii Department of Health issued an Unsafe Water Advisory. People are warned not to drink or even shower in the water in those affected areas. I brought over some Agua Munda water filters to improve the water quality.

The Hawaii Department of Health has issued an Unsafe Water Advisory, since the start of the fires here on Maui August 8, 2023. Because of the intense fires in Kula and Lahaina, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) like Benzene, Toulene, and Xylenes have leached into the water supply. Because of this,  People in Upper Kula and Lahaina are warned not to drink the water, and the water is not even safe to brush your teeth or take a shower with.

The County of Maui has distributed potable drinking water to affected areas with water tank trucks. Sometimes the tank truck water contains bacteria or microorganisms. Agua Munda and Kumpi Mayu Foundation has donated water filters that can help with improving the water quality by filtering bacteria or microorganisms out of the water. Help us bring more water filters to Maui to improve the water quality!

Help out by donating to Kumpi Mayu Foundation

Help out by donating to Hungry Heros Hawaii

By admin, ago

Virgin Galactic Launch

Virgin Galactic demonstrated the first commercial flight to space today. Richard Branson, fellow passengers, and their pilots launched from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico today. The Virgin Mothership Eve carried the Virgin Spaceship Unity 22 spacecraft on this mission. The Mothership flew them up to 50,000 feet, then released the Unity 22 rocket-boosted vehicle. The Unity then powered up to 50 miles above the Earth, where the occupants could free-float for a few minutes, then strap back in to return safely to the planet. Once safely home, Virgin Galactic dubbed them “Astronaut”. Maybe they should be called “Space Tourist that pays $250,000 to have a seat” instead. Normalizing space for millionaires. There is a drawing for all interested though.

I saw a news item this morning before the launch, of Elon Musk spending time with Richard Branson. Perhaps Virgin Galactic will have Elon Musk’s Tesla-autopilot in future Unity spaceships.

Disclaimer: I have purchased one share of SPCE, just to watch their growth.

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc – Ordinary Shares – Class A
SPCE as of Jul 09 4:00 PM ET
49.20 -3.49  -6.62%

By admin, ago

California Dreaming

StillI am still here in California this summer, still feeling somewhat in limbo.I usually go to Maui, for a working holiday, at least a couple of times a year. 

I haven’t been on a trip away since February and March of 2020. I flew to Maui and Kauai for a couple of weeks. Then I flew to San Diego to help a friend move to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I spent 8 days driving through the countryside, then arriving and enjoying the two Cabos.

I flew back to Los Angeles, and customs and the airport was almost empty. I returned to San Francisco, then a week later, in mid-March, we went into COVID lock-down.

Since then, I haven’t felt like enduring the hassle of COVID testing, flying in an airplane for so many hours, and paying inflated car rental prices. Go figure…

I am feeling like driving in the state, and enjoying all the wonderful places to visit here. I like driving, enjoying the scenery and listening to SiriusXM satellite radio. Where to?

By admin, ago

BMPCC with Sirui 75mm Lens

I just received my Sirui 75mm F1.8 anamorphic lens, through supporting their Indiegogo campaign. This is reputed to be a great portrait lens. An Indiegogo campaign is how I also acquired the previously released Sirui 35mm F1.8 anamorphic lens. These Sirui lenses are reported to be a good color match with each other. I do not have an unlimited budget, so I did not get their 50mm and 24mm lenses.

I bought the two anamorphic lenses with the hope of truly using my BMPCC 4K as a cinema camera. The ultrawide format that anamorphic lenses allow you to shoot, the dramatic lens flares, and these new sharp manual focus cinema camera lenses will allow for a high end movie look. I use a Tilta Focus Puller (not shown here), with focus gears, but I am waiting for those to be shipped.

The camera and lens are rigged with a Smallrig cage, with a PowerEdge battery base, a Smallrig handle with SSD holder, a camera handle with monitor mount. I attach a Blackmagic Video Assist 7 inch monitor or a Feelworld 7 inch monitor on top. There is also a Rode Wireless Go II receiver, wikth two mic transmitters.

I also purchased the Sirui tripod and Sirui monopod. Both are quality support gear for my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera with these lenses. I also use Cayer and Manfrotto tripods. I can also use these lenses with my Panasonic GH5 camera, which supports shooting with anamorphic lenses.

By admin, ago

What do we want from life?

What to do? I am having a review, a personal inquiry..

What do we want from life? Health, Happiness, Financial Stability, Relationship, Community.

I had a personal and communal experience this weekend that reset and reactivated me. I feel a spiritual uplift, and a more positive outlook on life.

I am 66, and my birthday is next month. I seem to be doing relatively well, so far.

By admin, ago

ATEM Feelworld Video Village

I am building my Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO Video Village with a DR Pro DJ Laptop Stand and Shelf Bundle, Feelworld Field Monitors, Elgato Stream Deck, Mac mini, etc…

The foundation is a QuikLok laptop/projector stand. Clamped to that is a DJ Studio rack that has been mounted upside down, to attach the FeelWorld P150-3HSD 15 inch broadcast monitor on the top. I just added the 7 inch Feelworld monitor as a Program Monitor, and it is clamped to the DJ Studio crossbar, and it floats right above the switcher.

I used multiple computer and camera inputs. I use a Mac mini M1, an iMac i9, and a Dell Inspiron. I use Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K as Camera 1. I use Panasonic cameras for my other video inputs. I use an Apple TV as a video input, and it can share screen from a device.

I can use the Blackmagic Design Streaming Bridge for Video Over Ethernet out to a video projector, or in from a remote video source. The Streaming Bridge can connect two different ATEM Mini series switchers.

I can send the HDMI Program Out to a Decimator MD-HX Miniature HDMI/SDI Cross Converter to pass-through the HDMI video signal, and to distribute video to projectors in the venue. I can press the Program View or MultiView buttons to switch this display.

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO HDMI Preview Out port plugs into an HDMI Audio Extractor, then passes through to the 15 inch Feelworld monitor. The HDMI Audio Extractor allows my to use my Bose soundbar via the optical connector at home, and headphones. I use a Zoom H5 when I want to patch XLR cable inputs to an audio input on the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO.

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO records to Samsung T5, NVE drives, SSD drives, flash drives, and hard drives.

In the home studio, the Mac mini M1 uses a 22 inch HP display, and the Mac mini HDMI video is also output to the switcher. When I take the rack for an away gig, I don’t need the external monitor for the Mac mini, since I can display it on the 15 inch monitor. The Feelgood 15 inch Field Display has 4 HDMI inputs, and 4 HDMI outputs, so it can be used with multiple device inputs.

I have just added an Elgato Stream Deck, and am learning to use that in my workflow.

By admin, ago

Submarine Net Weights

In Tiburon, California, off of Paradise Drive is a public park on the shore of the bay. Lining the shore are these large cement blocks with rusty metal links to attach submarine netting. These were to block the entrance of the bay. This is a left-over vestige from World War II, when there was fear of enemy submarines coming into San Francisco Bay.

One benefit of the submarine nets being removed was that marine mammals started coming back into the bay. These include harbor porpoises, and the occasional humpback whale.

By admin, ago

iPhone with Filmic Pro

I had an iPhone X that was sitting around idle, and decided to put it to good use. I just saw a good review of Filmic Pro, an app that turns the iPhone into an HD camera. Of course, the iPhone has a camera, so why do you need an app?

Filmic Pro allows you to choose which camera to use, so in the photo, the selfie camera was selected. Filmic Pro displays the image with graphic overlays for the controls. There is an Apple Lightning to HDMI connector plugged in, and there is Clean HDMI Out settings option selected in Filmic Pro.  The Apple Lightning connector allows the Lightning cable to be plugged in to continue powering the iPhone. The Apple Lightning connector allows the iPhone video to be used as another HDMI input to my Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme switcher.

The Apple App Store does allow you to download the Filmic Pro app to each of your devices. I also put it on my iPad Pro, and my iPhone 11 Pro Max, which gives me a choice of four cameras to choose from. Filmic Pro also can be used with Android phones. Filmic Pro also works with other apps from the developer.

By admin, ago