[VIDEO] If I believe the YouTube page this live cam became active April 25, 2019. You can also access this cam on my railcam page when you see the below image once you press play.
This had been alluded to in earlier videos on Virtual Railfan's YouTube channel where they had planned to place a 360 live video camera on a former railroad embankment east of the LaPlata, Missouri Amtrak station. Having seen the train come and go with the cams at the train station seeing the train from this embankment is a very interesting perspective. It's one I hope you would want to check out also.
[VIDEO] YouTuuba does a video about the process for producing some of his videos for his channel. This video is about 30 mins and shows the cameras he uses (mainly still cameras), the storage media he uses, the GPS devices for his train trips, and of course his editing process. Some good pointers for those you who are looking to find ways to really up their YouTube game.
I've only recently started uploading videos to YouTube. I have hours of footage I have yet to upload and edit from an old miniDV camera (I still own one, but haven't used it in years). Of course in recent years many of the vids were shot n an iPhone with the added accessory of olloclip lenses for cellphones. Most of the time I'm very satisfied with the results.
One the other hand I see what YouTuuba is saying. If you're planning on any photography/videography have some redundancy. You don't have to do everything on these wonderful smart phones no matter the quality of the image or video. Something I need to get into the habit of myself as I could shoot pics or video with either my iPhone or my iPad.
Though one thing is true in my case, the reason I do use my iPhone or occasionally my iPad is that often they're readily available. Especially my iPhone as it's usually always on me when out and about. As far as a camcorder especially my miniDV camcorder it's bulky and not as easy to fool with when you realize it's time to record a moment for history. It's not as convenient.
So perhaps I should invest in a camera similar to what YouTuuba uses. That or buy a camcorder more up to speed for 2019. MiniDV camcorders are very aughts and largely obsolete (I probably would have to search far and wide for a miniDV tape. Though memory cards as the one seen in the above video are currently readily available to consumers.
[VIDEO] A new take on a TV classic. The bridge of the original USS Enterprise seen on the CBS All Access series Star Trek Discovery. The Enterprise itself was redesigned for this series different from the 1960s model and now the interiors which we should see in the 2nd season finale.
You can read more about it at TrekMovie. And now I want to subscribe to CBS' streaming service. Time to binge watch a series!
[VIDEO] Tonite is the nite! Right now you can watch the WrestleMania kickoff show where you will see the cruiserweight championship defended by 205Live stars Tony Nese vs. the champ Buddy Murphy. I believe there will also be a pair of battle royals one with women and one with men. And for the men it will be the Andre the Giant battle royal.
This will be a long show with about 15 or 16 matches. I feel like it would be grueling but last year when I watched my first WrestleMania I had the time. Just not as much as last year.
[VIDEO] On the heels of my recent post regarding the Montreal screwjob and we're less than a week away from WrestleMania here's an hilarious segment from the HBO talk show Last Week Tonight. I got wind of it from a coworker recently and had been hearing about it online as of late through my usual pro-wrestling sources especially on YouTube and finally decided to check it out.
My response to my coworkers were harsh as I often assumed they were talking about not very well known talent. Then I see Jake "the Snake" Roberts depending upon the kindness of his fans for a needed surgery. Though it does underscore my point that these wrestlers as athletes and entertainers have to work very hard to take care of themselves. But then easy said...
Pro wrestlers especially the world famous superstars of the WWE are considered independent contractors. I'm not going to get into the legality of this, however, this distinction allows WWE and other promotions to avoid having to provide their performers benefits. Benefits that even I as a worker take for granted such as health insurance, 401K, even paid time off. Wrestlers seem to perform 365 with few breaks, of course that's not to say they don't take time off and hopefully it won't be because of injury.
A lot of these wrestlers once they retire die young. They noted a few high profile wrestlers who died such as Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, King Kong Bundy whom all died in their 50s or 60s. You will see in the above clip that Piper predicted accurately that he wouldn't make it to 65.
WWE is a company that made close to $1 billion as you see in the above clip. And aside from their regular pay per their contracts no other guarantees other than the dates they work. The performers as Piper states do get a wonderful entrance plan however not an exit plan. I would expect the wrestlers who truly plan for their futures outside of the business will often find a way.
Then again could a publicly traded corporation as WWE do a better job of taking care of their past and present performers? It's noted that some progress has been made to better protect the wrestlers from chairshots to the head and more concerns about concussions. However, perhaps WWE could allow their perfomers some benefits, especially as far as their health care.
BTW, I'm glad to be one of many passionate fans of the WWE Universe. I'm glad the fans stepped up to the plate when wrestlers request a little help for their own medical expenses. It just goes to show we appreciate their efforts to entertain us and we hope that companies like WWE will better take care of them in the future.
Finally, I've generally avoided late night comedy in recent years especially during the Trump era. I want to be entertained not subjected to diatribes with regards to a politician they're opposed to. A good job directed towards anyone in the political establishment goes a long way. However this piece is refreshing and at times had me rolling. It was serious but we're still talking about a comedy show, perhaps there are times when current events and humor can sometimes converge. This is one of them and consider the outrageous activies on Raw or SmackDown which lends itself to the humor of this segment.
[VIDEO] I saw the documentary Apollo 11 on Friday and it was great to see archival footage and even some modern graphics depict the mission that landed men on the moon. I can't believe it's been 50 years since that historic achievement in human technological history. The greatest engineering and technological challenge had been achieved and the names Armstrong, Collins and Aldrin will forever be part of human history.
It's fascinating to see the trip happen in just about real time, the trip to the moon from launch until lunar orbit was three days for Apollo 11. It was fascinating to see the Saturn V launcher being moved to it's launch pad, it was cool to see the preparations for this historic space voyage, it was amazing to see everyone there for the launch of this mission, and then all the footage in space. It was interesting to see the Apollo spacecraft probably filmed through a telescope of some sort get propelled towards the moon on their three day journey.
I can only imagine that the animations were with the voice overs were made by a public relations officer with NASA who described all the maneuvers the astronauts were expected to make. These maneuvers ensured that the astronauts will make their flight objectives. They get to their destination and they don't veer off course from getting to the moon and returning to earth safely.
I was almost reminded of the movie that was released last year with Ryan Gosling playing the Apollo 11 mission commander, Neil Armstrong - First Man. It's great to see the real story as it was shot back in 1969 shown to the public.
[VIDEO] I didn't have a wrestling post this week so, how about a post from WWE's YouTube channel about WrestleMania rings. It's appropriate because we're slowly but surely approaching next month's WrestleMania extravaganza, the grandest stage of them all.
We visit with Mark Carpenter who's been a longtime ring maker for WWE. I saw WrestleMania III last year and he was the one created those carts for the wrestlers which were made to resemble a wrestling ring. Then they found some other work for him especially for WWE's ring.
He created the rings and then made changes to the steel cages for WWE and now he has a regular job with them. He's the one who created the stage - err the ring - for the performers. You see in this video that he's working on a ring with a heating system that will keep the dynamics of the ring as if it's indoors. See at this year's WrestleMania which will be in at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, WWE Superstars will be performing out doors. That means they do need a ring that functions like the superstars are performing indoors and I would imagine the weather of New Jersey in early April won't quite be that warm.
This had been alluded to in earlier videos on Virtual Railfan's YouTube channel where they had planned to place a 360 live video camera on a former railroad embankment east of the LaPlata, Missouri Amtrak station. Having seen the train come and go with the cams at the train station seeing the train from this embankment is a very interesting perspective. It's one I hope you would want to check out also.