Tag: video

The Next Season Of Kombi Life Is On Youtube

Carl Setzer2 Comments

I’ve written about the Youtube series Kombi Life before. I’m fond of these folks, love the show’s concept and delight in the way Ben and Leah are using all the tools this internet age is giving them to live out a dream.

The first series took them from south America to the Arctic Ocean. Now they’re heading for a global tour. They just posted their first season on Youtube, which starts with a west coast search the right VW Kombi to loading it on a ship in New York (and them into an airplane).

Go watch their current series (below). If you’re as charmed and delighted as I am, consider joining the “Kombi Crew” on Patreon, as us supporters are called. I hope to see you there!

 

A few videos of Lynnwood’s Snow

Carl Setzer

After sitting indoors all day, my wife obliged my wish to get outside. We walked towards James Village in the hope of finding someplace open for dinner. We ended up at the Lynnwood Hop n Drops (formerly Hop Jacks).

With the wind blowing, the snow was casting interesting shadows, which I tried to capture below.

Let me know what you think.

A Look At The Unique Culture Of Lynnwood

Carl Setzer

Well, the Lynnwood of the 1980s. The gentrification of the past several years has changed things quite a bit. However, this really captures an element of the town I did most of my growing up in.

 

This video comes from the legendary Seattle TV show, “Almost Live“. This TV show ran for around 15 years, and introduced the world to Bill Nye.

Enjoy this wee view to a Lynnwood that’s, for the most part, faded to memory.

A YouTube Series Featuring An Old Dream Of Mine: Kombi Life 

Carl Setzer2 Comments

I discovers this YouTube series last year: Kombi Life. These folks, Ben and Leah,  spent several years driving a VW van (Kombi) from South America to Alaska. I had the reverse idea a couple of decades ago. I researched the logistics for some time,deciding that this would have been very un-fun, so to speak. My decision on that was impacted by a friend who was driving a Baja bug to South America. He was robbed of EVERYTHING down in Chiapas. The ordeal of getting back to the States was, shall we say, unpleasant.

Also, since this was pre-internet, with no YouTube or Patreon, funding this was going to be a monumental challenge. I worked out that it would take several years of aggressive savings to pull it off. Then there were the logistics of repair….well, it became over the top.

So, the idea of a global adventure in a VW van faded. I still think it would be fun to travel the US in a VW bus. As much as I love the old Kombis I think I’d be more inclined for modern comfort and look at a Vanagon. But, anyway, I think it’d be a delightful way to explore the US. Whether I’d stop it and do something like Kombi Life, or just do tours…I don’t know.

Anyway, check out Kombi Life. They’re currently launching an around the world tour, driving from Arizona to Australia. It’ll be a heck of an adventure.

Darth Vader vs Obiwan: Reimagined

Carl Setzer

For years I thought redoing this pivotal lightsaber dual would be fantastic. Of all the technolgoical updates that could’ve been done with the Original Trilogy, this is one I felt would give more weight to the story.

Someone else agrees, and is working on it as we “speak”. I do so hope this isn’t vaporware.

“An evening walk in Edmonds, WA”

Carl Setzer

I’ve been focusing on getting more exercise lately. Once my focused attracting beautiful women. Now, as I’m in my 50s, I’m more focused on preventing diabetes, and other ailments. Diabetes, in particular, scares me. I’ve seen enough people, though, who have balance issues, strength, and all that. Thus I know there are far more benefits than alleviating my fears. 

So, I try to get out more. So many benefits. I need to embrace that.

Found a Must-See Film: Kubo and the Two Strings

Carl Setzer2 Comments

A few days ago I stumbled upon this trailer: Kubo and the Two Strings. A stop-motion animated films of epic proportions. Yes, I know that’s a cliche, but I find it far too fitting to not use it.

Anyway, I’m deeply disappointed in myself for not noticing this film before. The trailers, by themselves, are truly beautiful. It has a stellar cast (Matthew McConaughey, Charlize Theron, George Takei, amongst the most luminary), and 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s clearly a film that needs to be seen. Just got to figure out where or how that will work out as I doubt it’s in the theaters any more (was released last year). But Kubo is on Netflix!

So, enjoy the preview below. Let me know what you think. Especially if you’ve seen it (no spoilers, por favor).

 

Follow up thoughts on Travel Dreams

Carl Setzer

Yesterday’s post on my old Travel Dreams, and then a comment by JoanJet (probably not the rock star…) reminded me of another piece of this: it’s evolution.

JoanJet wrote about her plans to throw an iKamper (check out it’s Kickstarter campaign) on the top of her Navigator and hit the road. That’s very close to what I picture myself doing….eventually.

Looking at the iKamper campaign reminded me of this film by Zangs Films: Our Land – Traversing Oregon.  (They had a similar camper set up on their Landcruiser in the film). It reminds me of what’s great about the Pacific Northwest, our current policies around public lands and how important they are to maintain.

Anyway, check out the film. It’s worth your (just over) 15 minutes.

(*if you liked the film, check out the behind the scenes blog post from the folks at Zangs)