"LET'S GO!"
*yes, I just quoted myself on my own blog. If it looks weird, then we are in agreement... it feels weird too.
Passport Photo Women’s Clothes Transparent Template
Creating Virtually Free Passport Photos:
- This is the best iPhone Passport photo maker: (opens iOS App Store)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/passport-photo-id-photo/id917389447?mt=8 - This above app is free, but you can buy additional features to ‘unlock’ different sizes. Honestly I just needed the 2×2″ photos.
- After I took the photo, I emailed it to myself and ‘painted’ the not-so-white background with the brush in Lightroom (cranked up the exposure all the way):
- I then made a 4×6 image in GIMP and lined up all of my passport photos. (below example)
- I then sent my 4×6 photo to Walgreens where they printed it off for $0.33 + tax.
- This certainly beats paying $10-15 at Rite-Aid or Costco for a passport photo. Now it’s safely on my computer, and I can send this image to the print-shop whenever I need more ID photos.
Hope this helps and safe travels!
-Beau w/ Knok.org
Knok Studio
Seattle, WA, USA
Example:
Use this transparent PNG file (pant suit) for Passport Photo Women’s Clothes Transparent Template
Emmons Glacier Route from Camp Schurman, Mt Rainier summit trail
Mount Rainier/Emmons Glacier
Climbing Mt Rainier Summiting via Camp Schurman
As of July 28, 2019, excellent, clear conditions up to the summit.
Our team turned around at about 13,000 feet due to feeling nauseous (altitude sickness). This is even despite spending an entire day at Camp Schurman to adjust to the altitude. But it’s just one of those things that you can’t “push through“ without dire consequences.
Goodies
Use at your own risk. Conditions change HOURLY on Mt Rainier.
- GPX file (GPS recording) Camp Schurman – Emmons Glacier Route Mt Rainier through Inter Glacier note: rename to .GPX after you download. WordPress is silly and denies .GPX uploads “for security reasons.”
- PDF map (download) of our GPS track
- My review on the AllTrails app + the route
The goal of the trip is not to get to the top of the mountain but back to your car.
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.“
A few tips:
– The White River Ranger station opens at 7:30 AM. Be there early, especially if you are planning to camp Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night. We were there at 7:25 AM, and there were already 10 people ahead of us in line. Plus there was no internet at the station, so they had to manually call in every single reservation to verify them. There appeared to be very little interest in attempting to fix this issue or find a solution. (ah the efficiency of the federal government… It’s a good thing they’re not responsible for something really important, like our healthcare.)(oh wait)
– Wear/bring trail shoes for the hike in.
– There is a bear box that you can put food in. Absolutely use it. There are mice everywhere throughout the camp, and they will climb in your bag. We even had a team who unzipped their tent and a mouse actually jumped all caps into the tent. It took them quite a bit to get the little guy out.
– Melted glacier water is available at Camp Schurman. No need to melt snow. Just purify it.
– Super windy at night (both nights we were up there). Be sure your tent is stakes down tightly. The wind folded our tent flat, but dang the REI Half Dome is amazing.
– Conditions of the trail up the Emmons glacier are good. Of course there will be collapsed ice bridges, so be sure to have an experienced team who knows who crevasse rescue skills.
– If it’s sunny, snow will get slushy at or before 10am. If you’re still on your way the mountain at 8:30am (our turnaround time), I wouldn’t suggest it. Have a turnaround time and stick with it.
– There are crevasses on inter glacier. No need to rope up, but just watch your step, ESPECIALLY when glissading down. There’s a big enough one to break both your legs if you fall in it.
– Plenty of water along the trail, all the way to inter glacier.
– if you lost a black, lightweight Marmot glove… It’s up there at Schurman, sitting on a rock.
– Rope up on Emmons. Always. Even on the way down. Odds are you won’t feel like it, but just do it.Overall it’s a fantastic route, and probably even safer it than DC considering the experienced climbers on this route and no rock fall being pushed on you from the Cleaver.
Just keep in mind within the next two weeks the route will be dramatically different, especially with all of this sun. Things are opening up and the climbing season for this route is on the downward trajectory in terms of popularity/safety.
Rock on, friends! Hope this helps!
Top 4 Lightweight Items that makes
(or would’ve made) my trip better
Awesome climber gift ideas too
- 3.4 oz blow up pillow on Amazon – Increasing your sleep quality increases your energy. Take care of your sleep.
Italian Roast instant coffee on Amazon. Caffeine is a natural way of decreasing altitude-caused headaches. This instant coffee tastes great and is lightweight. Just drink plenty of water because coffee is also a natural dryadic.
Backcountry Access Shaxe Speed Shovel. You’ll need a shovel. You’ll need an ice axe. Why not combine the two? Use the ice axe’s intended shaft, right? This thing is a brilliant way to cut weight.- MSR Dragonfly stove. This things just keeps running and running. Case in point: I left the fuel bottle out all night long, sitting in the snow, and yet still it fired right up the next morning. JetBoil? Heck no. I’ve had to sleep with those JetBoil canisters to keep them warm, and even then they only last a few minutes in the cold temps. The Dragonfly stove is amazing. For the 3 day trip, we heated water for a party of 3 using just 1 bottle of white gas fuel. (and even then the bottle wasn’t completely depleted) Note: If we had to melt the snow, we’d have needed an additional bottle. Melting snow takes forever, but with the fresh supply of melted snow up by the Camp Schurman helicopter pad, there was only the need to heat it up for our freeze dried
meals.
Warning Disclaimer
Technical rock climbing and mountaineering is inherently dangerous. Any person using our recommendations, routes, maps, or gear in any manner is personally responsible for learning the proper techniques and good judgment. We strongly recommend that every climber seek instruction by a qualified professional. You are responsible for knowing and respecting our products capabilities and limitations. Always know the maintenance and use history of your equipment and destroy retired gear to prevent future use. The use of secondhand equipment is strongly discouraged. You are responsible for your own actions and decisions. Failure to follow these warnings can result in severe injury or death. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All the photographs and illustrations on this web site are protected by copyright and should not be used without Beau LLC’s expressed or written permission: Reachout@chevassus.com
Epic new Kickstarter, just launched: Camo Tactical Hair Clips (Tacticlip)
Tacticlip on Kickstarter
Newest variation: since our last successful Kickstarter (previously the black one, now on Amazon), we have been working hard to implement your ideas. In this new & improved Tacticlip® you’ll find a powder-coated finish with a specialized AU (arid/urban) camouflage pattern. We’ve designed a pattern that utilizes various shades derived from the toughest arid and urban environments on the planet.
Right here on Kickstarter.
The original was featured on Geekologie.
SPECS
Official specs:
- Hair clip
- Raptor Claw point tip
- Serrated Edge (does not cut hair)
- Wick Holder
- Mini-Screwdriver
- Wire stripper
2 Steps: How to build a fanbase
My 2 rules for building a fanbase:
- Deliver quality content
- Deliver it consistently
Follow these two rules and no matter what industry you are in— it doesn’t matter whether it’s nonprofit or real estate—you are absolutely guaranteed to cultivate genuine advocates and supporters.
Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’ll be successful
Remember: Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’ll be successful.
“But she works 60 hours a week among three jobs, and she’s barely making ends meet. She deserves more. The system is not fair.”
Despite what politicians, Nike, and Disney promises you…
Hard work ≠ Success
This is a very difficult lesson. It’s something most adults don’t grasp, even up until their death bed.
Yes “hard work” is important, if not vital, but there are a lot of other factors.
Among many factors that lead to success, there are:
Raw skill/talent- Demand/how rare that skill is
- Experience
- Consistency/dependability
- Teachability (my personal favorite)
- Creativity, ingenuity, & innovativeness
- Integrity
- Communication skills
- Passion
- Initiative & drive
- Autonomy & independence
- Standards (quality of results)
- Connections
- Ease-of-replacement
- Temper
- Patience, grace, & adaptability
- Love (both for his work and people)
- Good hygiene
- Geographic placement
- And sometimes just dumb luck. (“Providence” for us Jesus-followers ?)
But ultimately one thing matters: God himself. Is He opening up doors for you to be “successful” by our culture’s standards?
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31
Tacticlip – Multi-tool Snap Hair Clip ‘Knife’ for Survivalists – New Gadget
Tacticlip: Improve, overcome, & adapt
The Tacticlip® design was inspired when I realized many women don’t have a pocket for a knife. But they still have one place of innovative storage that is readily accessible: their hair.
Thus Tacticlip® was born. After over a year of research, field-testing, and drawing on the best design elements from the most highly rated keychain multi-tools on the market, Tacticlip® was established.
The most common question I get is, “Will Tacticlip cut hair?” Answer: No, Tacticlip does not cut hair. It is not a “razor edge,” which is why it is not classified as a knife. It operates just like a conventional hair clip (e.g. Tacticlip® does not snag hair), only there’s a raptor claw tip integrated into the design.
If you want to see how we’re doing on Kickstarter, feel free to: See Tacticlip® on Kickstarter
Love,
-Beau
Designer of Tacticlip®
Launched 2018
Seattle, WA, USA
A Millennial’s Perspective: Why I Don’t want to go to Church? THE PEOPLE.
Something I have been struggling with: Are you frustrated with the self-centeredness of supposedly “mature” Christians?
You can’t have a decent conversation with them without them bringing up their irrelevant vacation to Mexico?
Categorically these people are the exact reason why most don’t go to church. I myself am tempted, nearly weekly, to spare myself the awkwardness of church and just sleep in.
I could offer a pretty strong theological argument for ditching church and instead going on a Sunday morning jog while listening to a sermon. I mean Jesus went off alone to grow with his relationship with God… why can’t I do that on Sundays? Right?
But here’s what keeps me coming back to Jesus AND his broken church who he relies on to do his work on earth: The realization that in the same way I “deal with selfish people“ is EXACTLY what Jesus does for me.
See if he is patient enough to endure my frequent “all about me“ attitude, then I can deal with other frustrating people. And really these people don’t need to get their act together, because all they need is Jesus.
And that’s all I should expect from them.
Because that’s all that matters.
It’s really quite simple: the same grace and forgiveness he has for me is channeled out of me to other people.
If I’m not channeling that same forgiveness, that is the indicator I have not personally accepted (nor am I channeling) God’s forgiveness in the first place. (see Matt 18:21-35)
Bottomline: if I am avoiding church because Christians annoy me, that’s the indicator I don’t understand God’s grace in my own life.
?? Top 10 Ways to Succeed as a “Rabbit Cam” – Stunt Videographer / Adventure Race Videography
Q: “What is a rabbit cam?”
A: A rabbit camera is a videographer who runs in the event or event. He/she is embedded with the athletes and captures a wildly unique and exciting first-person POV (point of view).
Q: What makes the “rabbit cam” view special?
A: The rabbit camera video is the most engaging footage because the audience feels like they’re in the race themselves.
My background: I have been hired by NBC Sports on countless occasions to run as a “rabbit cam” in obstacle course races (e.g. Spartan Races, Tough Mudders). I suppose you could say I am a “professional rabbit cam,” which sounds funny but hey… they keep hiring me for a reason! ??
Key Ways to Succeed as a Rabbit Camera
- Go with a gimbal. Jittery footage will make-or-break the video. You don’t want to give your audience motion sickness (see Blair Witch Project). Here’s a good example of a rig. Remember: less is more. I’ve seen people with decked-out GoPro rigs, and they lose 90% of the race because they can’t keep up.
PRO TIP: If you can’t afford a gimbal or you’re swimming (e.g. filming World’s Toughest Mudder) and thus cannot submerge your gimbal, go with a head-mounted camera. The head is the next smoothest object and is infinity more stable than a chest mount or hand-held selfie stick.
Dress for success. Wear a shirt that protects your elbows (you will be crawling) and compression tights that cover your knees (again. crawling.).
PRO TIP: The shoes are the most important part of your gear. Recommendation: Inov-8 Mudclaw 300 Trail Running Shoe
- Cheer on the athletes. Certainly you can’t give them unfair advantages (e.g. “2nd place is 20 seconds behind you!”) however you are at times in their way, especially if you’re running with them on a single track. So be cool and encourage them. They’re working hard, giving you epic film, so be nice and don’t treat them like a face-less object.
- Go minimalist but don’t forget backups. Your gear will die. I sometimes race with an entirely new camera.
See the downside to being a rabbit camera is you’re by yourself (which being autonomous is actually pretty awesome, if you’re Director trusts you). Odds are you are several miles away from base-camp, which means it’s a smart idea to have extra batteries, SD cards, map of the course, ibuprofen or mustard (for muscle cramps), and a lens cleaning cloth.
PRO TIP: Keep all your gear in a sealed ziplock bag and carried in a running belt like this.
Because you are carrying extra weight–and still in essence doing exactly what the elite athletes are doing–then that means you have to…
- Work out like crazy. I’ve experimented with going into an event green (no working out) and working hard two weeks prior–and the the latter definitely lends to less injuries. Take care of yourself. Sure you can push through the pain, but if you want to keep doing this work, you’ll need to train your body to endure it consistently.
- If you’re live-streaming your feed, carry a radio. Some races you live-stream your feed, say from an iPhone and basecamp is cutting together your feedback. 1,000s of people are watching you on Facebook (some are cheering you on!). Thus you must be able to communicate with base-camp. If your video feed suddenly cuts out, they need to let you know. If this is the case, a small running backpack is a good idea to carry the bulky radio. Most of the time you can get away with being a lone-wolf videographer and simply dump the footage w
hen you get back.
- Jog/walk the course the day before. This might be a pain, especially if the course is +15 miles of mountain terrain, but the more knowledge you have of the race, the better your video will be. You might have to cut switch backs or duck under tape if you lose the top 10 racers. Thus being aware of the course is the only way to know when and where to duck-the-tape and meet up with your racers.
PRO TIP: Carry a map and make edits and notes as you go. You’ll refer to it more than you’d like on the day-of, but each time it will be a life-saver.
PRO TIP x2: If you are military you know prior to an engagement you over plan, over plan, over plan… then on the day-of, through the whole thing out the window.
- Bring garbage bags in your luggage. And Q-tips. And flip-flops. And a towel and soap. You will be filthy.
PRO TIP: If you have to catch a plane and you’ve already checked out of your hotel before racing, of course the last thing you want to do is board a plane with mud caked in your eyeballs and ears. Google around for a trucker-stop for a shower-to-rent. They’re usually 15 bucks. Or if you’re a cheap-stake, find a public pool and pay 4 bucks to use their showers.
- What you should get paid. This is a big question, but let’s be honest: this is a very unique, highly valued skillset. Some athletes will run as a “rabbit cam” for free, just for the fun of it. It is fun, but it takes incredibly good camera work, experience, stamina, and clear-mindedness under immense pressure. Rabbit cam work is also wildly different than conventional camera work because you are putting your body on the line. So don’t be afraid to ask to be fairly compensated. Payment for a rabbit cam can be anywhere from $300 to $2,000 per race. It really depends on the length of the race, location, if the camera crew provides their own camera gear for you, and many other factors.
PRO TIP: Every production crew I’ve worked with is very cool, so I don’t push the negotiating. Just a reminder they are already paying for flights, hotels, and food for you, so keep in mind the production’s tight budget isn’t just paying your salary. Be cool, and they’ll be cool back… and keep asking for your rabbit cam services.
- Run the race. When you’re done filming your rabbit cam, and have successfully transferred all of your footage… run the entire race. Yes, the entire thing. I’ve run nearly every single race after filming, and while your pace is going to be painfully slow (I mean you just ran it–maybe two times already, right?), use this as an opportunity to cheer on other racers and get a free t-shirt at the end of the race. I mean you’re already there, right? Might as well do the entire thing, straight through.
AROO!
-Beau “Rabbit 1” Chevassus
Pro Rabbit Cam
ReachOut@Chevassus.com
