Category Archives: YouTube

IVISII Ring Light

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When I started messing around with video there were no smart phones; no YouTube or Vimeo; no social media. And while most of the gear changed over the years, my lighting was usually a couple of desk lamps that made me look like I was being interrogated.

When the pandemic hit and we started seeing lots of folks — including some professionals — streaming from their homes, I started noticing some of them using a round light that did a much better job than my little banker’s lamp. So I ordered one.

There are undoubtedly many companies making these but I went with the IVISII Ring light, based on this review:

At $150 it’s something of an indulgence but self-indulgence is what I’m all about these days. Once we get it we’ll share some video and you can decide if it was worth it.

Turbo Encabulator

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YouTube notes: “This is the first time Turbo Encabulator was recorded with picture. I shot this in the late 70’s at Regan Studios in Detroit on 16mm film. The narrator and writer is Bud Haggert. He was the top voice-over talent on technical films. He wrote the script because he rarely understood the technical copy he was asked to read and felt he shouldn’t be alone. We had just finished a production for GMC Trucks and Bud asked since this was the perfect setting could we film his Turbo Encabulator script. He was using an audio prompter referred to as “the ear”. He was actually the pioneer of the ear. He was to deliver a live speech without a prompter. After struggling in his hotel room trying to commit to memory he went to plan B. He recorded it to a large Wollensak reel to reel recorder and placed it in the bottom of the podium. With a wired earplug he used it for the speech and the “ear” was invented. Today every on-camera spokesperson uses a variation of Bud’s innovation. Dave Rondot (me) was the director and John Choate was the DP on this production. The first laugh at the end is mine. My hat’s off to Bud a true talent.”

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Yuval Noah Harari: COVID-19’s Impact on Humankind

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I’ve read all three of Yuval Noah Harari’s books and found them… interesting, to say the least. I’ve been eager to hear his take on COVID-19 and was a little surprised to get it from an interview by James Corden, who I think of as a late-late-night comedian. But his questions were brief and to the point and he allowed his guest to answer the questions without interrupting.

Hunkered Down

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UPDATE: This is definitely a work in progress. My uke guru is suggested some changes. Thinking it might be fun to add one new verse a week for as long as COVID-19 hangs around. We’re talking epic. (Put this on YouTube for anyone having trouble streaming here.)

UPDATE: I’m going to record this again and change “Chinese Virus” to “Donald Trump’s Virus”