Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Vblogging

Between fake news, spoiled sports millionaires and really dumb reality shows, I have not been watching much commercial TV lately. As an alternative I have started watching YouTube videos which have turned out to be surprisingly entertaining and informative. There are some talented people out there who make a very good living producing professional videos.

After a long and exhaustive study of these videos (okay, it may have been a few hours of binge watching while consuming mass quantities of alcohol), I believe I have discovered the secret to successful vblogging...
  1. Initially, you have to reach a large number of viewers. This is generally done by creating a video that goes viral. First, you need an interesting title such as “What Would A Chair Look Like If Your Knees Bent In The Other Direction” or “Microwaving Cats For Fun & Profit”. Second, you need an eye catching thumbnail photo (aka "clickbait"). Scantily clothed women or cute kids/pets work best. Third, you need a video about something that very few people have seen before. Things like a politician telling the truth or California reducing taxes would be good examples.
  2. Second, although a viral video will get you a large number of views, you need to produce quality, engaging videos on a regular basis to add subscribers to your channel. This is known as WORK! I suspect this is where Millennials still living with their parents lose interest in this post.
  3. Lastly, you need to create the illusion of a personal connection with your viewers. I believe this is why attractive, young women and eccentric, hyperactive men do well. This is also the reason I will never make the big bucks vblogging as the only people interested in my lifestyle are insomniacs looking for ways to fall asleep.
I hope this short tutorial is helpful and will prepare you for a successful career as a YouTuber.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Havasu 95 Speedway

My neighbors were kind enough to invite me to join them for today's races at the Havasu 95 Speedway, a short track south of town. Although it was fun watching a variety of cars race around the track, it got progressively colder throughout the afternoon with a bitter wind that chilled you to the bone...

Jim, Diana, Shirley, Tom


Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Desert Snakes

I have been telling my neighbors that they do not have to worry about rattlesnakes in the desert this time of the year as they are hibernating in their underground dens. Then, I get this photo from my friend, Terry, who said they came across this monster yesterday while riding in the desert...


Well, I guess I can always get a job with the Fake News Network.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Earp Falls

I took advantage of today's nice weather by taking a leisurely Sunday drive to Earp Falls on the California side of the Colorado River...

Crossed the Parker Dam into California

Enjoyed the view on the way to the falls

Arrived at the falls

Avoided the road hazards on the way home

All in all, a nice day exploring off-highway.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Hobo Graveyard

Franconia, AZ is a derelict railroad siding stop that was formerly the site of a section house for the Santa Fe Railroad. Today, all that is left are the concrete foundations, a couple of grave sites and a whole bunch of rusty cans. I had heard there were a number of hobo graves here but these were the only ones I was able to find...



I did, however, come across a couple of modern day hobos...

My neighbors, Jim & Diana

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

Pizza Ordering Shoes

What do you give the man/woman/in-transition (no gender bias here) in your life who has everything? How about a pair of shoes that order pizza...


Using Bluetooth technology, you simply pair-up your shoes with the Pizza Hut app on your smartphone and then press a button on the shoes to automatically order your pizza and have it delivered to your door. All that is needed now is for a beer company to develop a similar product.

Regrettably, this is where I have to apologize for getting your hopes up. This was a promotional program developed by Pizza Hut for "March Madness" and a limited edition of only 64 pairs of shoes were made. Guess we are back to buying generic gift cards for friends and family.

Here is the iJustine video that made me aware of the promotion...


Sunday, January 07, 2018

Blockchain

"Blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value.”

I first heard the word "Blockchain" when it was invented back in 2008 by an unknown person(s) known by the pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto, for the digital cryptocurrency, Bitcoin. In recent years, I have been reading more and more about how this technology has the potential to change the digital world as we know it. However, I had no idea as to how it would work or what it could be used for.

Lately, I have been watching YouTube videos from the TED Talks channel which quote "shares the best ideas from the TED Conference with the world, for free: trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses, all giving the talk of their lives in 18 minutes". The video that prompted this post is titled "How the blockchain is changing money and business" by Don Tapscott. In my opinion, it is easy to understand and a great introduction to the technology and its potential.

Thursday, January 04, 2018

How to reply to spam

Just in case you are on the east coast and are experiencing Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth about global warming, here are a couple of videos regarding spam emails that may give you some ideas on how to entertain yourself while trapped indoors...