A Quick Take on Drone Photography

Paul Borrud's video recapping a surf trip off of Indonesia has been making the rounds on social media today and for good reason. The footage is incredible and surreal enough to make almost anyone envious. While I certainly fall into that category, and as breathtaking as the scenic backdrop is, I came away from the video with a much different appreciation.

The way the video was shot represents a significant shift in the way action sports have been captured in the past year or two. I wrote earlier about GoPro and how quality video can be shot by much smaller, more maneuverable cameras. This, in conjunction with the rise of commercially available drones, has really opened the door for new unique aerial perspectives.

The little drones have many key advantages over using a helicopter to accomplish the same goals. Namely, of course, is price. Renting a helicopter would cost many thousands of dollars per hour, whereas, beyond the initial purchase, the drove is relatively inexpensive and can be transported much more easily. Furthermore, as far as capturing the action, it is substantially more maneuverable, can fly into tighter spaces and doesn't drown everything in the near vicinity with debilitating rotor wash (notice that the water remains crystal clear as it flys overhead).

To continue this point, check out this outrageously entertaining angle of a fireworks display. It  serves as a perfect example of what is capable when you take out the risk of injury and drastically lower the investment in equipment.

Net Neutrality: Legislation Actually Worth Following

Enter John Oliver. The Brit comedian started his career as a long-time corespondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. An undisputed fan favorite, Oliver was tapped to take the helm of The Daily Show last year when Jon Stewart took the summer off to direct a feature film. Eventually, like many before him, Oliver left Comedy Central to pursue further aspirations. Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Ed helms are all notable alums who launched successful careers following their stint on The Daily Show. 

HBO teamed up with John Oliver to create Last Week Tonight. Focused on political and cultural satire, Last Week Tonight is similar in principle to what Oliver was doing so well at Comedy Central. While it took a few weeks for Oliver to find a certain level of comfort in his new role, he and his writers wasted no time in creating excellent content.

This brings us to Net Neutrality. On a very basic level, Net Neutrality is the idea that all content on the internet can exist on the same level playing field. An important point that Oliver brings up in his bit is that this principle allows small businesses and start ups to have a fighting chance against much larger and well-established companies. They have the same access to consumers and their content has the same ability to influence as businesses with substantially larger budgets. 

The proposed legislation, and what the major internet/telecom companies are lobbying for, would charge companies for the speed to which their information is accessible. Major companies would need to shell out major fees to make their content easily accessible, and thus more appealing to consumers. Small business with much smaller budgets might not be able to afford this, and thus, their content is more easily lost in the trillions of pages of the internet. 

This chart features Netflix's customer streaming performance. You may notice a dip and coincidental spike related to Comcast that is not nearly as dramatic with other providers. Netflix signed a paid peering agreement with the cable company in, you guessed it, February.

This is a substantially important issue which could result in major changes to the way businesses operate for years to come. For a more in-depth look, listen to John Oliver's explanation below. 

A Bespoke Automobile: The Singer 911

Anyone who is interested in cars and their manufacturers will eventually develop a unique taste of their own. Brands will suit their style or fail to connect based on performance, image, quality, etc. I am no different. Having grown up driving two Buick LaSebres, I have sworn that I will never own or drive another one. I not entirely sold on Lexus, and I think that Mercedes are entirely too flashy. I also don't particularly care for Porsches.

That said, there are exceptions to every rule. Case in point: a California based company called Singer produces a modern adaption of a classic Porsche 911. And I absolutely adore it. The folks at Top Gear featured it last year and they do a good job of painting a picture that explains where it fits in with the 911 lineage and why it is unlike anything else on the market.

Now to the proverbial elephant in the room. Base prices start around $350,000. $350,000!! And that is on the low-end of the spectrum. I understand it's a modern adaption and has carbon fiber body panels, updated suspension, etc. But the simple fact is, with that price range, it's in the same league as many other brand-new supercars. Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Maserati; I'm sure that you've heard of them.

On a personal note, and not particuarly helping its case, the $300k mark also puts it right up next to this:

The new Aston Martin Vanquish. And frankly, in the fictional world where I could spend that much on a car, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't take the Aston. The Singer is beautiful and is absolutely something I would enjoy having in my garage, but it doesn't hold a candle to the beauty, passion and performance of the Vanquish.

If you're interested in a bit more detail, Chris Harris from /DRIVE took a tour of the Singer factory and spoke with many of the design leads about its development and production.

Surfing Waimea River. Yes, River.

Nestled in the comment section of this video is a raging debate amongst users with, supposedly, doctorates in environmental studies, coastal geography and whatever topic their keyboard-fueled opinions spew from. Some see this as a majorly destructive spectacle put on by locals for a few laughs, while others claim it eases pressure on growing bodies of water near the beach.

Admittedly, I know shockingly little about the coastal estuaries of Kauai and how this may or may not affect their natural habitat. What I can appreciate is this: this is amazingly entertaining to watch.

Passion + Innovation = ?

Mighty Car Mods is a popular series that features two Australian friends who build and restore cars in their spare time. Their work features Do-It-Yourself (DIY) videos, performance builds and themed projects like the one showcased below. US viewers may find their vehicles largely unfamiliar because the market is so different from what we see here in America, and because a large part of their style is influenced by neighboring Japan.

What I think has driven the popularity of the series is a) their charismatic personalities and b) the undisputed passion that they have for cars. Furthermore, they are absolutely not afraid to think outside the box and create something that would have many people scratching their heads. Take a look:

On the subject of passion, it should be noted that the duo use music that they themselves have created and produced. It is my understanding that both of their professional careers are actually within that industry and what lead them to being introduced years ago.

Their side project has developed into an incredible platform to showcase their talents seems to be beneficial to both careers. It was just announced that Moog was taped by Audi to make a track for one of their recently released promotional videos touting the new A3.

Savile Row: Britain's Silk Road

     This is somewhat of a sequel to a previous post about the components of a perfect suit. Savile Row is arguably one of the most well-known roads in Britain, if not all of Europe. Located in central London, the road is steeped in centuries of tradition and style. Customers from all over the world travel  to visit the bespoke tailors and take advantage of their absolutely uncompromising standards of style.

     As you will see there is a certain amount of competition and rivalry between the tailors, each with their own idiosyncrasies and pedigree. The competition seems friendly though, and it's fantastic to see them all come together for the general interest of the Row. The emergence of a competing business on the Row is not uncommon to them, but the nature of the competing product is. Abercrombie and Fitch could very arguably be the antithesis of the image the bespoke tailors represent and how they envision Savile Row. I think that heritage and history go a long way towards cementing one's credibility in today's world, so I do feel compassion for these small shops in the face of a global corporate giant. While Abercrombie and Fitch may not last on Savile Row, you can be certain bespoke tailoring will live and breathe for years to come.

Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7

BASE Jumping the Tallest Building in the World

     Pretty incredible story about two BASE jumpers who set their sights on the virgin jump off of the Burj Dubai while it was still under construction. Not only were these two men meticulous and thorough with their planning but they were also creative and patient with their execution.

     Notice how the jumpers swing their arms back towards their feet during the jump, a tactic called tracking. Tracking alters their body position, and thus, the airflow as they fall towards the ground. It allows jumpers to cover more distance horizontally and "track" away from objects. The Burj Dubai steadily grows wider at its base, making tracking a necessary component of the jump in order to adequately separate themselves and their canopies from any hazards during the deployment of their main chutes.