Monthly Archives: November 2020

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Snorkeling Tips

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The 8th day of Hawaii I spent the day doing snorkeling activities. This is a good read to remember what I learned:

http://travel.johnmatienzo.com/?p=1276

Also, one additional tip is if you want to take pictures underwater, it would have been good to invest in this (this is what Janie did): https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Cell-Phone-Dry-Bags/zgbs/wireless/17875443011

In terms of snorkeling while you’re on a Kayak, you can easily go on and off without actually tipping the kayak over. For going off, put your snorkeling mask on first properly and tightly (remember to wash your face from the sunscreen), and then quickly “sit” on the edge and slide off. Then put your flippers while you’re in the water. Note, if you want to wear a life jacket, put it on and tighten it before you get into the water. Personally, the mobility is extremely limited with a life jacket, but it does make it easier/less tiring if you’re out for a long time.

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Golfing Tips

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Went to Makalei Golf Course in Kona, Hawaii (first time on a golf course), and here are some things I learned.

A golf course in general:

  • Need to wear a collared shirt, and wear shorts that is Bermuda length (ie. basically almost to the knees)
  • Buy “range balls” to practice in the on-site driving range. Then sneak some of the balls for use on the course (leave the bucket behind at the range part)
  • You can drink on the course. I recommend a flask of good whisky, and also some seltzers. Also, bring some snacks (maybe chips and/or beef jerky)
  • A raincoat was key for unexpected rain
  • I wore regular bike running shoes. Not sure if that is allowed in all golf courses

About clubs/irons themselves:

  • For my first time on the course, my general rule was to start off with a driver club (with tee) first to hit it as far as I could
  • After the first swing, I would switch to an iron (I used a 9 since apparently it is the one that is a bit more flexible with “mistakes”)
  • When the ball is close or on the green, I would switch to a putter
  • I used a regular club as opposed to a “stiff” one

Posture and swinging the clubs

  • First, I think it’s important for your clubs to be a length that matches your height. I had to hold them lower than usual to compensate for the clubs being long
  • You always want the base of the club to be parallel to the floor, but your arms perpendicular to the floor. This means that you need to use / bend your wrist when holding the club
  • For standing, have your feet probably 2 feet away from each other, and parallel to one another. Then as you stand straight, bend your upper body, but keeping your back straight. After bend your knees slightly like you are snowboarding. Then apply the club holding rules as mentioned in the previous bullet
  • For the swing, you want to always keep your left arm straight until you hit the ball, then it bends
  • For your hands have your left hand hold it keeping your thumb in front of you and parallel to the club. For your right hand, have your pinky go between your left pinky and left ring finger, and have your right thumb go over your left thumb, but not parallel with it (make sure there is a “v” formed with your right thumb and your right pointing finger)

Some other things:

  • If you want to just practice your long game (and not your short game), you can basically golf until you land on the green, and then move on (since you can practice your short game in other places
  • Wear a glove on your left hand! Started to see a blister getting formed

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Lighting Equipment

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In terms of comparing the various Intimidator lines with Chauvet, here is a good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmHrRQJHaX0

  • Take away from the above is that the 375z is the only one with electronic zoom capabilities in that video, which is what you want

For an explanation between spot, wash, beams and characteristics under each of the aforementioned, this video does a good job in explaining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsn8vK3oe-E

  • Take away from above video is that LED movers usually use RGB (“additive” for colors) while bulb based use CMY (“subtractive” for making colors”
  • Also, seems like if I didn’t get a 3 in 1, I should probably go for a spot mover, followed by the beam

For comparing Chauvet DJ intimidator’s line of 375z, Hybrid 140SR, and 475z, look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAtGG-Ez6Y4

  • The hybrid uses an incandescent bulb, and it uses a shutter to block light (which is problematic for strobe effects since it is slow). It is also slower with x and y movements apparently
  • The hybrid is better for clubs, and generally is brighter because it is using a bulb
  • The hybrid can do circular and linear prisms at the same time, while the LED based ones can’t (in that video)
  • Main takeaway is that probably because we don’t need something as bright as the hybrid (given the space we’re setting things up), and we want to do fast strobes with fast movements, we should get the LED based ones
  • You also don’t want a hybrid because of the
  • HOWEVER… we DO want a hybrid (spot/wash/beam) LED mover

In terms of comparing boards, look at (although they do not have the ChamSys QuickQ line, only the Magic line): https://www.learnstagelighting.com/should-i-use-grand-ma3-vista-hog-chamsys-or-onyx/

Various effects with 3-in-1 movers (any mover we get should do most of these, preferably all): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BZ-n6RON3s

Great posts to know which lighting companies to consider (and which movers):

  • https://thedjfix.com/moving-head-lights-buyers-guide/
  • https://limitlesslightsandsound.com/blog/top-12-professional-moving-head-lights

An interesting forum regarding the differences between LED and Lamps/HMI: https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/discharge-hri-lamps.39381/

For the mover, it came down to these three, but eventually found the BSW 300:

  • https://www.chauvetdj.com/products/intimidator-spot-475z/
  • https://www.chauvetdj.com/products/intimidator-hybrid-140sr/
  • https://www.adj.com/vizi-bsw-300