Videos

Dash Cam: Compilation 4

South Florida Driving 101 time again.  The next video is live on YouTube.  Driving lesson 4 from Fort Lauderdale to Homestead and back again footage courtesy of dK2.  This is just one day of driving experience in South Florida.  Too many titles to mention.  There seems to be a theme in this one of no turn signals.  The people turning in the construction zone reached a new level of dumb.  Look close, they’re working below grade in a manhole.  Not sure why the police officer parked in front of that work crew wasn’t issuing tickets or at least warnings for crap like that.

“Merging Lane Hog” was a particularly interesting piece of lane hoarding.  Not sure what that person was trying to do.  Driving didn’t seem to be one of them.  “Confused ?” reminds me of one thing, the night my friend and I caught a guy robbing a store.  Something about the way the car stops, jumps forward, then moves again.  Exactly the way it began in the highway median that night.

More editing fun with the cloud thought bubbles in “Signal? It’s just an afterthought”.  That was really fun and challenging to make.  And, totally low-budget in every way.  Just the way I like it.  During editing I’ve been noticing a few things in the back ground that went unnoticed at first and unfortunately I’ve deleted them already, videos documenting interesting art, architecture, major highway construction, city skyline kind of things.  Things that are part of a changing history.

It has inspired me to make sure to keep that material and make future videos for everyone to see what things looked like at that particular time.  There is a new title “Building Art”, it features slowed down footage of art visible on buildings or structures.  As always this video is family friendly. -13

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Dash Cam: Compilation 2

South Florida Driving 101 Compilation 2.  Here is video two of your south Florida driving education.  This lesson features “waste not, want not, a stich in time”, “trading places”, “no time for signaling”, “ambulance cut-off”, “special technique parking”, and “yellow-line drifter”.

This video like all the others offered an opportunity to learn something new when editing in iMovie.  I’ve wondered how to highlight a particular moving object or item.  After watching a couple of YouTube videos I was able to add an arrow to follow and highlight two moving cars.  I’m not very good at it, it’s totally amateur and low-budget.  Perfect for this project.  Watch my edits and you’ll see.  I like to use all the editing tools but still keep that 70’s B movie low budget feeling.

Ride along for more south Florida now you know why the insurance rates are so high driving.  Please remember, buckle up and watch for motorcycles, ’cause we’re not driving bumper-cars at the county fair.  -13

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Dash Cam: Compilation 1 What better to do with my Dash Cam video?

South Florida Driving 101.  Experience all that driving in south Florida has to offer. Heart pounding cut-offs, pedestrian-zombies, package-twine-mattress-haulers, crisscrossing-panics.  Get your South Florida Driving safety education from the experts in rude, incompetent, insane, dumb and dangerous driving.  All for free.  Just ride along with us.  For this ride you don’t need a seatbelt or insurance and rear-seat drivers are welcome to.

Great title and funny text for my new and sure to continue video project.  Why didn’t I think of this before now?   To think of all I’ve deleted of such good footage of horrible driving is disappointing.  The close calls, the laughs, the anger, the mayhem.

No more.  I’m going to starting running several cameras while I’m on the road and outfit my friend’s car since she drives everywhere down here and always has great stories.  We’re going to capture them on video if we can then add them to the project.

The idea came to me once again while I was listening to the jingles on iMovie and YouTube audio libraries.   It seem to me there were a lot of good jingles under 2 minutes that would be perfect for featuring the madness we all see when driving.  I feel the time is perfect for making these videos because most things only last seconds and 2 minutes is not too long to watch.  Also many videos need to be repeated and slowed down so we can see the action.  It all seems like a perfect fit.

This video is my first one of the project.  I had a lot of fun editing this one with the many transitions, slow motions, text, all of it.  The beginning is my favorite with the animated map and water splash type opening.  I think it’s really cool what can be done with iMovie, a dash cam and some old iPhones.  Welcome aboard, hope you enjoy the ride! -13

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Austere Medicine: RICO RS-6 Aspirator

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Anyone looking for an aspirator that will function in austere conditions may find the Rico RS-6 will work for them.  I’ve used these before for military and civilian applications and have never had problems.  What I like most about this suction unit is how it is made to be portable or stationary and can be powered by engine, electric or hand.  It doesn’t get much better when looking for something for austere conditions in my mind.  This one was an eBay item that I was lucky enough to get for $43.00.  A really great price.

Although it is portable it is not ideal to be hauling around by hand and would be better suited for mounted applications that required the occasional use away from your transportation/station whatever/wherever it may be.  The way I have this unit set up is a connection in my POV since it’s the designated medical/emergency response vehicle for our homestead.

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The other way this set up works good for us is a backup in an aid-station or in camp to the electric/battery operated aspirator that usually uses disposable collection basins.  Or this could be connected as the collection basin for the electric portable aspirator in place of the disposable ones.  Although I would not want to use this without the disposable liners it can be and is designed to if necessary.  The other surprising item that works well with a little modification to power the Rico RS-6 is the little FoodSaver handheld like the one below.  It works so well that it is part of our emergency aspirator kit.  I’ll have a video/blog on that as soon as I put the footage together.

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Here is a video that’s just under ten minutes that shows all the items that originally came with the Rico RS-6.  I’ve cut most of the ramble out to save you some time.   Another item of interest for those who may need the information is the scanned PDF of combined printed material that was with the original packaging.  That link is just above the video. -13

OPERATORS MANUAL RICO MODELS RS-4 RS-6 RS-5X

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Vacuum Sealer Project: Another easy-open packaging video!

Another video about how to make your vacuum sealer packaging easier to open with a pattern notcher.

This goofy video was totally inspired by the Jingle track playing with the video.  When I was making a longer version of a video with the same topic I was searching through iMovie’s sound library for a little intro sound.  As I was listening to the tune this video idea popped into my head.  I thought it would be cool to try to communicate similar information in the 36 seconds it takes the tune to play without a voice speaking over the track.

I went back to my improvised shop set up in the living room and recorded this in about 15 minutes and spent about an hour editing.  It’s kind of silly and dumb and totally low-budget but I actually like it and it was fun from beginning to end to make.  Have fun hope you enjoy it. -13

 

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Vacuum Sealer Project: How to make your packaging easy to open

Several years ago I packaged an emergency kit in vacuum sealer packaging.  Tested it, and was completely shocked to discover how tough the packaging is and how difficult it can be to open without using some other instrument or object.  Attempting to open one of them by hand-only proved impossible to do without assistance.  It also made me realize how important and useful the tear-notch on freeze dried meals made for backpacking could be.

An individual, with an injured hand and/or dentures/front dental work would be at risk for not being able to open the package without assistance from an object or the tear-notch.  With a tear-notch it may be possible place part of the package underfoot and tear with the uninjured hand.  I know this for sure, I cannot do it without the tear-notch.

The first experiments with nothing more than a simple straight cut with the scissors worked fairly well.  I noticed though when I decided to cut a “V” shape into the margin on the packaging that it was easier to open and the tear didn’t seen to veer off like the single cut did.  Sometimes when I was testing the single cut way the tear would not always follow into and open the package, it would follow the margin and made it just as difficult to open.

I like the V cut over the single cut because it is more visible and easier to use.  There are a few things I don’t like about the V cut.  First it takes two cuts to make, that is a lot of cutting when making multiple packages and more than one tear-notch for each package.  The cut must be more accurate to ensure that the two cuts meet at the V point, if they don’t it may create another more difficult package to open.  It works great but it’s much more time consuming and requires a certain degree of accuracy unlike the single cut.

Not happy with either of those things I searched for another more efficient way to make those notches.  I was trying to think of what to search for online when I remembered something I had seen in a sewing supply catalog I had but couldn’t remember what it was.  Lucky me I had kept the catalog and found it.  The item is a pattern notcher.

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A, Style-45N, 1/16″ x 1/4″ Pattern Notcher. Turns out it works perfectly for this purpose.  It cuts the perfect notch for getting the package open plus all one needs to do is put the margin edge of the packaging into the notcher until it stops then close the notcher with your hand and done!  Wow what a really fantastic solution!  I can quickly and accurately place the notch and make the cut in seconds then move onto the next pressing homesteading project.

I made a short video about my experience and demonstrate the way that “Works for me”.  Hope you find this information useful. -13

 

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Austere Medicine: Improvised, Field Expedient, Emergency, Metered Dose Inhaler, Asthma, Spacer-Chamber

“Improvised, Field Expedient, Emergency, Metered Dose Inhaler, Asthma, Spacer-Chamber”.  My goodness what a title!

Finally made a video on the MDI-spacer I made from parts I had on hand.  Every single item used in the making of the kit was already in the homestead inventory.  When I set out to make it I was surprised that I had everything I needed.  It took me I think most of a day to collect all the items then think it through to come up with the kit in the video.

 

 

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Video Projects: Old videos found. Snake in the fence.

Originally posted May 26, 2016 @ 23:41 on WordPress.

An old video I found looking for something else.  This has to be one of my most favorite snake experiences ever.  Watching that snake slither through chain-link fence was so amazing and just cool!  Too bad for the crappy camera work huh!  Having fun with iMovie.

 

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Austere Medicine: Dyna Med Mega-Medic Bag Model: BG169

Originally posted Jun 4, 2016 @ 00:27 on WordPress.

I’ve been wanting to make a product review video on the Dyna Med Mega-Medic Bag Model: BG169 for a long time.  I’ve seen several videos on the bag but they never show the features or dimensions.  The most important parts.  They usually just show the items they keep in them and never expose the interiors very well.  Hopefully this video will address those issues and help others decide whether this bag will suit their needs.

I first noticed this bag in the Dyna Med catalog I used to get back in the mid 80’s and have been using this model ever since then.  There have been replacements due to zipper failures.  That doesn’t bother me much because most of the zipper problems were actually human ones.  It’s a bag design I really like a lot.  It functions well and can be customized and configured for any of your needs.  It can be used as a trauma/bandage bag, splint bag, helmet bag, airway/aspiration management bag, etc.

I can’t think of any project notes.  So I’ve either forgot something or I actually got it all in the video.   Not so sure about that part.  Let see what happens. -13

 

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Austere Medicine: Aesculap / Riester Otoscope – Ophthalmoscope

Originally posted Jun 9, 2016 @ 02:05 on WordPress.

If anyone is thinking of getting one of these surplus otoscope/ophthalmoscope kits check out my video maybe it will assist you in your decision making.  They are fine quality German made.  Glad I got them when I did.  I have three total.  Two in use in kits and one that is for parts. Purchased on eBay for $35.00 each plus shipping.  The one I bought for parts was only $13.00 including shipping on eBay. If you plan on using this as a primary tool then I’d suggest getting two good working ones because it may be the only place to get spare parts.

I hope I’ve covered the most important information in the video.  A note on the ear specula not mentioned in the video is I also tried the “Uni” version from Riester and it was slightly to large.  The metal sleeve was much to tight to use in my otoscope head.  So much so that after I tried to put it in it became stuck and pulled the sleeve out of the speclua leaving it in the head itself.  I had to use pliers to get it out.  Really surprised and disappointed to find the specula so difficult to source.  The veterinary specula are from R.A. Bock Diagnostics, they may carry the human specula for it I never asked.  The other important thing I do not know yet is if any other brand head will fit the battery handle.  If I ever do get a chance to test other heads on my handle I’ll do it and update this page with the info.

It’s nice to have the peace of mind that goes along with being prepared.  Now we can see what and when we need to.  -13

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Hit & Run Accident Survival Kit inspired by the Tillie Tooter story.

Photo by Aleksejs Bergmanis on Pexels.com

I’m not sure how long ago I saw the story where Tillie Tooter was trapped in her car right here in Broward county for about three days before someone just happened to find her. It got me to thinking about what would I have wanted with me if I experienced something similar. After reading the quotes and watching the video of her experience I came up with just a few items one may need for those few days.

Water seems to be the most common thing I hear survivors of anything talk about so it must be the most important since we cannot live without it. I also thought that a high vitamin C content and electrolyte packets would be useful to help prevent dehydration and help sustain/fortify the body in the event food cannot be consumed in that time period.

The other disturbing thing was she had no way to make contact with anyone. No way to signal or indicate her location. The only way I can think of as a way to signal anyone under those circumstances without a phone or radio would be the flares. Sure it could pose a fire hazard but the risk may be worth it. Staying in place doesn’t seem like a good choice. The idea came from the flares carried in some military aircrew survival vest. At least mine did back in the early 80’s.

Mosquitoes! What a nightmare! I cannot imagine what that must have been like in a mangrove. Pond Apple Slough swamp-y-ness! I had a crazy experience in the Everglades once with them a horrific pestilent swarm. I think I would have drank DEET that day. Never again! So its the HOMS bite blocker and insect netting. Enough of that. Hope this video turns out good. -13

 

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Video Projects: First YouTube channel video

Check out this Video Projects: Organic gardening, my homemade compost sifter experience.

Here is it the first video made for my YouTube channel. It was inspired by what I had seen Desert Garden Prepper had made. -13

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