From the pantry in my house, I've eaten some chocolate truffles for the first time ever. I had a box of truffles initially for my sister-in-law from Morris National. She didn't want them, and the truffles basically rested in the pantry for months and months... until just last night. After having some of these chocolate truffles, I've gotten to taste what makes these candies so sweet and indulgent. The pack of truffles I've had consisted of about ten truffles. There were four different kinds of truffles from this pack- Mississippi Mud, peanut butter, french vanilla, and raspberry. I only know one of them from my taste-test. One was DEFINITELY peanut butter. I think the ones I liked most were Mississippi Mud truffles. I just want to say that those truffles were very good! Dark chocolate and gourmet chocolate can be delicious and healthy. So this can help.
These aren't the truffles I've had, but an idea of what chocolate truffles look like:
I named this blog entry as chocolate truffles because most people know of truffle fungi. In addition to chocolate truffles, there are even chocolate truffles with liquor. I am not a smoker or a drinker, so it's VERY rare I discuss tobacco or liquor.
So if you get a chance to eat some chocolate truffles, go try some out! Here are some chocolate truffles on Amazon (please read "An Important Amazon Note" in the sidebar for more information on all Amazon products featured in my blog):
Thanks for reading my blog entry! Enjoy some truffles! :)
MSR Houston is a competitive racing facility south of the greater Houston area. The 17-turn road racing facility is over 2.38 miles (3.38 kilometers) long. This facility can be found in Angleton, Texas, USA. It's really the only great road course in the Houston area. That is, unless you want to race at Texas World Speedway's road course in College Station. Also, I don't know of the status of Liberty Motorsports Park up in Cleveland, Texas. The track was created in 2007 and has served as a test track for the former Champ Car World Series. It is a great track for amateur racing and for testing. While the course may be flat just about all the way around, it's a competitive course. This is a tough flat course.
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
APR 23 2012 - updated look of post and added Search Description
Here is a look at this track:
^ from: speedsportlife.com - aerial view of Motorsport Ranch Houston.
I love the configuration to this course. It can be run clockwise or counterclockwise/anti-clockwise. The normal direction (counterclockwise) is the lap I'll try to describe in this blog entry. This course really has an international circuit feel as its configuration suggests. Yes, while this track is about as flat as most of Houston, it's still as intense a challenge as you'll ever find. I've even downloaded MSR Houston for rFactor. That's where I came to grips to what this course has to offer.
Speculation (Commentary).
This track is awesome as it is. It has the feel of an international-style racing track by way of its configuration. The track has a world-class style layout to it. But with many of the open spaces and almost featureless settings, the track doesn't really feel complete or proper as a racing course (at least to me). If the people at MSR Houston wanted to invest and spend a lot of money to make this course look the part of an FIA or FIM race track, or if they want this track to look as lovely as courses like Barber Motorsports Park, I wonder what changes or additions would be made to make this course look like a true international racing circuit. Here are a few talking points:
• I would wonder if you have to drag out the pit lane. Or maybe perhaps... would there be proper pits along the front stretch? When I say "proper pits," I'm talking about garages that can be accessed on pit road, like on a number of mostly European circuits. Would you probably have a few sets of proper pit garages along the pit straight and on the right side of the front straight?
• Where would you put grandstands if you wanted to grow and expand this course? The front straight and back straights would be great places for big grandstands. How would you lay everything out is the real question.
• Do you change the starting point away from the pit straight to somewhere on the front straight? Standing starts would be fun on the front stretch. And honestly, I think having the whole diamond edge as the first complex of turns would be much more interesting than having Let it Rip as the first corner.
• I also become a bit uneasy about the little stream that runs through the front straight and back straight because of how rainy southeast Texas can be (especially in the warm weather months).
These are just my own opinions. Still, it's a great racing track.
One Lap Description.
Remember that this lap description is based on the COUNTERCLOCKWISE configuration.
The first corner is called "Let it Rip," and it is somewhat of a moderate left-right chicane. The Carousel (Turn 2) is a very long sweeping right that leads to the front straight. Turns 3 through 5 comprise the Diamond's Edge. You go full speed into Turn 3, but consider Turn 3 an appetizer to having to slow down hard heading into Turn 4 and escaping Turn 5. A left-handed sweeper at Turn 6 follows out of the Diamond's Edge. Floor the gas (or twist the throttle for you bike riders) hard as you blast down the back straight. Turn 7 is a smooth left-hand sweeper that gives way to the sharp left-right complex at Turns 8 and 9, called the Bus Stop. Turns 10 and 11 lead to the Keyhole. Turn 10 is a very sharp right-hander followed by a sharp left-hander at Turn 11. The radius of the corner increases to the left as you exit the corner. Turn 12 is a moderate right-hand kink that leads to a very smooth Turn 13 (called "Launch"). Turns 14 and 15 make up the Gut Check. Turn 14 is a very easy right-hand kink that leads to an easy Turn 15. Turns 16 and 17 make up "Sugar & Spice." Both corners are sharp left-hand corners that lead onto the Pit Straight. And there- a lap is complete!
Here is a video lap of this course:
^ counterclockwise direction
^ clockwise direction
I did a search on Trackpedia for lap times around this course, and here is a look at what actual lap times were recorded around this course. I will feature only a few of them.
I think this is an excellent race course. Thanks for reading this blog entry of mine. Learn more about Motorsport Ranch Houston by visiting MSR Houston's Official Homepage or by Becoming a Fan of MSR Houston on Facebook. Thank you for reading! Have a great day! :D
Music has always been a hobby for both myself and my brother. I have always been a piano and keyboard person while my brother is a guitar person. I can remember having a toy piano in my youth. I always dreamed of having a proper piano. However, it wasn't like I wanted to attend any piano classes or whatever. So I've taught myself how to play piano and the keyboard. What you're going to see in this blog entry is a personal look at keyboards that I have used before and what I remember most about each of them.
There have been a number of people I've talked to that hate MIDI music. Thing is, when you can't make your own music with real instruments, MIDI is a worthy alternative. You can easily piece together different keyboard strokes to make various sounds. The real magic to MIDI is in putting everything together. Think of turning keystrokes into instruments. You have to find the right kinds of instruments to make the best-possible music.
SoundFonts.
One beautiful thing about MIDI is that you can use things like wavetable synthesis to replace the MIDI sounds with that of decent instruments. Another lovely thing is that you can replace the boring MIDI sound effects with more interesting sounds by way of SoundFonts. SoundFonts take your regular MIDI sounds and replaces them with very realistic sounds. This can even be used in various applications that allow for SoundFonts to be used in making music. This includes any music-making programs that allow for VST and VSTi implementation. Some SoundFonts are free to download, but you'll have to pay for some SoundFonts.
--- Keyboards I Have Used ---
Here are a look at keyboards I have used before.
Casio Rapman.
^ from: synthmania.com - The Casio Rapman was the first-ever rap keyboard. It came complete with three drum beats, a microphone, and a wheel for scratching sounds.
While hip-hop and rap were MUCH different back in the early 1990s compared to today, at least this keyboard gave you the chance to mix your own music. Its 31 keys didn't give you too many options to make anything really spectacular. For what it was, however, it was the first keyboard that I've used and enjoyed. Maybe my finest moment was playing an actual song. I actually did "Three Blind Mice" with this keyboard! I don't do real songs. Instead, I mostly make my own material.
Casio CTK-500.
^ from: lahore.olx.com.pk - I go from a 30-something key keyboard to a 61-key keyboard. Quite an upgrade from the Rapman, I'd say!
The mid-1990s was when me and my family moved to a new house (which is our current house). After we won the lottery, we went ahead and bought some things for the new house. One of those was a keyboard I wanted to get and play. The keyboard was great in trying my hand at more advanced music. I've made a few songs with this keyboard, but mostly used it to play the different rhythms. I felt like I could do MUCH more with this keyboard than with the Rapman because it had 61 keys for which to make music with.
A key point for me was in the fact that I wanted to make MIDI music. Unfortunately, neither keyboard I've used previously has MIDI capabilities. That was, until my brother got me one keyboard to where I could totally practice my MIDI ability...
Casio CTK-671.
^ from: forum.muzikant.org, by way of imageshack.us - the Casio CTK-671 is my current keyboard. It is well-known for being able to upload rhythms and instruments to it, but many have criticized it for a lack of being able to load and save MIDI files to it from some external storage device (like a floppy disk).
The Casio CTK-671 is my current keyboard since about 2003. Its biggest feature is that you could add some extra rhythms and instruments to it. The most important feature was the fact this keyboard was MIDI-compatible. This was a chance for me to make some of the dream songs I've wanted to make from my keyboard and translated into MIDI music. I've made a good number of MIDI music songs for personal use.
These days, I'm trying to utilize my keyboard to make tracker music.
--- My Next Keyboard? ---
I am very satisfied with Casio keyboards. Despite this, if I wanted a new keyboard, I want to go from Casio... to Yamaha. The big reason why is two letters- XG. XG MIDI from Yamaha delivers amazing quality instruments, not to mention a broader array of instruments. I don't think I'd want a digital piano or even a real piano. I am not sure if XG is still alive and well in this day and age, but XG is surely solid and powerful even to this day.
--- Keyboard and MIDI Resources ---
My way of thanking you for reading is by offering you resources in case you loved my material.
Online Resources.
More will be added in the future. Keep checking for updates.
* TiMIDIty
^ I mostly just use the SoundFonts for TiMIDIty. They sound very close to a set of SoundFonts I once had when I previously had the Creative Audigy SE sound card installed on my PC. Best thing is, TiMIDIty is free, as are the SoundFonts you can use for it!
* synthfont.com
^ SynthFont is a great program to use in listening to your MIDI files with any set of SoundFonts you may have. That's even if you don't have a sound card that supports SoundFonts.
Remember- more resources will be added in future blog edits.
MIDI and Keyboard Resources on Amazon. NOTE: This section contains links to Amazon products. You are welcome to click on images and links to learn more about each item. You are free to order any items featured in this section or in any widget if you choose. Please see "An Important Amazon Note" in my blog's sidebar to see more information on any Amazon items shown.
(3 feet long)
(5 feet long)
(10 feet long)
(15 feet long)
^ This is a standard MIDI cable from HOSA good for all MIDI operation. All of the graphics indicate the various lengths of MIDI cable available based on my Amazon search. Pick one that will best suit you and your needs.
^ When I got my current PC for Christmas back in 2005, the one thing I missed more than anything was being able to make MIDI music. I had to purchase a USB-driven MIDI cable for which to make MIDI music. Mine is from Turtle Beach, but the one above is fairly basic if you want to make MIDI music to be played/recorded on your computer. This is a very inexpensive USB-driven MIDI cable. Consider getting this if you don't have a traditional MIDI jack to your computer. This is good for both Windows and Mac computers. For Windows, this is good for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. No AC adapter is required.
^ Because I sit on my bed to play my keyboard, I don't need to use a proper keyboard stand or a keyboard bench. Get this for your large portable keyboards. The stand can be adjusted to certain positions to rest your keyboard on as you play, so it's very adaptable.
^ Heavy keyboards need heavy keyboard stands. Try this one for your larger keyboards! It will be sure to keep your larger keyboard from winning the fight on being too heavy for any average stand. This is good for big older keyboards as well.
^ A keyboard stand and a keyboard mean nothing if you don't have something comfortable to sit on. This is a keyboard bench from Yamaha that will give you something comfortable to sit on as you play. Just make sure not to lean back too far or anything.
^ Keyboards that have sustain pedal effects can get this pedal. I have no experience using pedals for proper pianos or keyboards, so I can not explain this any further.
^ This is my current keyboard. If you just want a more-than-decent keyboard for which to make great-sounding music, you can't really go wrong with this keyboard. Okay, so it's not a professional keyboard. But if you want a pro keyboard, you can always find one from Casio (or somebody else). The keyboard is maybe seven years old. This is still more than decent of a keyboard to use. You can still jack in a MIDI cable for which to enjoy MIDI music. You want to make great keyboard music or not? If your answer is yes, please give this keyboard a try!
I want you to be able to enjoy making MIDI music. So what I've done is include a number of other Amazon resources to help you out. Click on items in the widget to find something that may interest you.
For keyboards and keyboard accessories:
For MIDI software:
For books on MIDI:
If you're looking for mroe resources on Amazon, but none of my widgets were of any help, then just click on the graphic below to begin your search for ALL things music instrument on Amazon!
That concludes this blog entry. Now you have some insight on my past with music keyboards. Please let me know how I'm doing by posting comments. Don't forget also to purchase some material I've posted from Amazon if you see ANYTHING that you like. I'm doing this for YOU so that YOU can get things based on relevant material in my blog and blog entries. Subscribe to me on FeedBurner to keep up with all of my blog entries and to be in the know for when I post something new. Until next time, take care!
A lighter variety of electronica can be found with lounge and chill music. This is where you hear music with an electronica-style beat, but it is mixed in with some smooth instruments and vocals. Think of this as a softer alternative to more pulsating electronica songs. For those knee-deep in electronica culture (especially trance), this kind of music can usually be the kind of cool down music to help you ease up after hearing some trance or some hard trance. It may even get you into the mood when waking up or just starting your day.
I love what one YouTube channel has done in educating people on electronica. Learn about the kind of music I'll be discussing by following this video:
It was for this reason that I replaced my "Electronica" blog label with "Electronic Music." It may lead to some gray areas as to what is really considered true electronic music, but I want to be as professional with my blog material as possible. I don't want to be cursed out by people just by providing some inaccurate and questionable facts. I also don't want to be that person who gets hated on just for taking a stand that's against what most others believe in. I still interchangeably refer to all electronic music as "electronica," but I want to keep as many readers/viewers happy with my content.
--- The Lighter Side ---
None of the music I'll be discussing in this blog entry will be anything uplifting or with intense beats or intense instruments. Instead, this is all about electronica that can still be great to listen to without anything severely uplifting. The kinds of music you will hear in these YouTube videos shows that you can still listen to quality electronic music without necessarily have to listen to the most uplifting trance songs.
Chill, lounge, and downtempo represent the lesser extreme of electronica. I think there are elements that make these genres what they are. I'll express how I perceive these three sub-genres in this blog entry. While my mind is fixated on more pulsating music for Saturday nights, I sometimes find myself listening to lighter electronic songs usually after midnight or after 2:00 AM. This is the music that is made for dialing it down after enjoying some pulsating electronic dance music. However, these songs can also be enjoyed during the day. You can wake up and listen to this music. You can read a book at Barnes & Noble listening to this music, and all the while, enjoying a double chocolate chip mocha frappuccino at the Starbucks within the store. You can probably even study with this music. If you don't feel like listening to any kind of extreme music, you can opt to listen to this style of electronic music. That's if you still want to listen to electronica without having to listen to any other kind of music. Or think about it like this- this is soft rock or acoustic rock for the electronic music fan.
It's the lighter side of electronic music, but electronic music nonetheless. You still enjoy songs that still have a good beat to them. And really (with all due respect), you're getting a style of electronic music that is more dependent on instruments and vocals than any extreme beats. That is perhaps the key to the kind of music expressed here in this blog entry. So get ready to enjoy some great music here.
WARNING: This blog entry features a lot of YouTube videos. In fears that this blog will not completely load properly, I've included a Page Break that will allow you to view the entire blog entry as it was meant to be shown.
Click "Read More" to view the rest of this blog entry (or disregard this paragraph if you are reading the full version).
At their very core, karts are the most basic pure race cars. These machines are among some of the most fun (and sometimes dangerous) machines to drive. Those who ride in karts for fun just love the thrill of driving these machines around a certain neighborhood or on some makeshift tracks. Kart racing can be enjoyable ranging from childhood to far into adulthood. The thrill of kart racing is incredible and enjoyable. Those who just want some thrills mostly do go-kart racing at family fun centers. Those who really take karting more seriously compete in various leagues ranging from local racing leagues to major championship karting series. Where do most kart racers usually anticipate going in the future? Many aspire for racing in major series such as NASCAR, the IndyCar Series, the American Le Mans Series, or that kind of racing you might have heard of before- Formula 1. A variety of races and race series help to enhance the profile of kart racing.
This blog entry concerns kart racing. It may be updated based on how much traffic I can get to this blog or if I simply wanted to add some extra content.
LATEST UPDATE(S):
MAY 27 2012 - made several updates (useful old posts need new life)
PERSONAL NOTE: Thanks to everyone for continuing to support my work. This is a popular blog post thanks to people like yourself. Please show me your support by subscribing to John's Blog Space and by Following my blog here if you enjoy my work. Love John's Blog Space? If so (and if you haven't yet subscribed or followed), Subscribe and/or Follow!
--- Karts and Kart Racing in General ---
The original premise of this thread is on kart racing, but I've decided just to talk about karts in general. Here are some random pictures to set the mood:
^ from: indykarts.com.au - a racing kart in Australia.
^ from: thegrid.co.uk - Tony Kart is one of the best kart racing teams in the world. They also make some exceptional racing karts.
^ from: karting.co.uk - Superkarts can lay down laps at or past the time of much larger, much expensive, much advanced race cars. This even with no suspension!
The appeal of kart racing comes in racing something so low to the ground but pretty fast for its size. Many people see go-karts as slow machines that aren't as fun as being in big cars. Some others just see go-karts as being only good for charity events and family fun centers... and not much else. However, considering how many racers started out in karts, you begin to appreciate just what kart racing can do in the development of a driver and his/her racing career. So kart racing can be quite a big deal. It is something you do not want to sell short under any circumstances.
Now that you have a look at karts, let's continue on with karting.
--- Basic Thoughts on Karts and Karting ---
Nothing can be more enjoyable than driving or racing a kart. I know having done some karting at a family fun center (no longer with us) and at a proper indoor kart track. The family fun center deal was fun. It was back in 1997 or so as I raced around this course shaped like a capital "G." I felt like I was flying on such a small course! That's the beauty of karting- driving fast without needing a license. I did about two different sessions of racing on this course in that one night. Today, that course is now just a big parking lot for some business.
Nothing was as exciting as doing kart racing at a place once known as Davy Jones Kartzone. This was a facility based near Ferrari of Houston. I use the past tense because this track is also no longer operational. The appeal of this place was in how this track was so adaptable for both adults and kids. It was an indoor track that had some electronic limiters to regulate speeds. The track was exceptional! It was a tough track with some tough racing. I mostly raced against my brother and his friends, one of those friends would later become my sister-in-law.
For the one looking to go up the motorsports ladder, kart racing is usually the premier outlet of future racing talent. For the recreational kart driver, karts provide the thrill of going full speed (in karting terms) on a set track. It's a fun way to get around whether you have a driver's license or not (I don't have one). A number of cities have a lot of different kart courses ranging from family fun centers to dedicated kart tracks. Kart tracks can be held at family fun centers, indoor kart tracks, temporary kart courses (such as a custom-built race course around city streets or in parking lots), and even kart courses within major race tracks. There are also proper kart tracks made for racing. For faster karts, the full track is open for kart competition.
--- Types of Karts and Racing Karts ---
Types of karts in pictures.
Recreational Karts.
^ from: motopowersports.com - a two-seater recreational kart.
Recreational karts are made for just that- recreation. They weren't meant to be machines to really drive or race hard. These are usually enjoyed by children. Besides children, there are mostly recreational karts at various kart facilities. Most of them probably have six or 12 horsepower engines. Some recreational karts have off-road tires for which to enjoy some recreational off-roading.
Racing Karts.
^ from: kartsportnews.com - a kart made for racing.
^ from: house.25u.com - Shifter karts can literally be a handful to race. You'll have to keep the kart in its paces while also making timely shifts.
The majority of this blog entry has been about racing karts. A number of these karts either have or don't have their own transmissions. Shifter karts are capable of higher speeds. As you can imagine, trying to keep a kart on the track while also making timely shifts can be pretty challenging. Some racing karts have about 80cc engines, but you may see some powerful ones with 125cc engines. Some of these racing karts even come with digital readouts on the steering wheel similar to what you might see in most advanced race cars.
Speedway Karts.
^ from: - one variety of speedway karts, karts specifically made and tuned for racing on short ovals.
Much like you have flat track ovals for motorcycles on short ovals, there are karts specifically made for racing on short ovals. These can be tarmac or non-tarmac ovals these karts race on. Dirt tires for karts are usually installed to handle dirt roads.
Superkarts.
^ from: mskart.cz - a superkart made by Czech kart maker, MS Kart. Superkarts have aerodynamic bodywork and are insanely fast.
Superkarts are the ultimate karts. These are karts that have aerodynamic bodywork and can lay down lap times as easily (and I use this word loosely) as some elite race cars. I mostly know superkarts for having 250cc engines, but I've heard of some that have 125cc engines. According to Road and Track Magazine, Eddie Lawson (4-time 500cc World Champion) lapped Laguna Seca in superkart at 1:23.875 about five or six years ago. Let's compare this with some other times:
Machine
Lap Time
Eddie Lawson in a 250cc superkart
1:23.875
Formula Mazda
1:25.069
480hp ALMS GT2 Ferrari F430 GT
1:23.611
250cc Honda motoGP Motorcycle
1:22.823
Audi R8 LMP Race Car
1:15.392
2007 Panoz DP-01 with Sebastien Bourdais
1:05.880 (lap record)
^ (all times courtesy of trackpedia.com)
Dirt Oval Racing Karts.
^ from: hazelwoodracing.com - a common saying is that dirt is for racing. Well, here's some kart racing on dirt.
If you love your kart racing on dirt, you have some options. The least of which includes racing on some dirt ovals and some other dirt tracks. This is where you see karts equipped with dirt tires racing on dirt ovals.
Recreational Karting.
^ from: brownsguides.com - Karting is a great destination for many people. For many others, there are always family fun centers with kart tracks, such as thie Andretti Indoor Karting and Games facility in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA. And yes- THE Andretti family has their name lent to this place.
So you have an idea as to how fast they can go compared to some more capable machines.
--- Kart Racing Videos ---
You've done enough reading. Now, it's all about seeing the pros go to work! Here are a few YouTube videos for your enjoyment:
Shifter kart racing:
Superkart racing (from 1990):
Speedway Karts:
(tarmac)
(non-tarmac)
Just for Fun:
--- Kart Racing Resources ---
(added: April 10, 2011)
I want to thank all of my readers for finding this blog post! I want to thank you by adding this section. The resources you will find here are all items to help you to begin or maintain your kart racing. I hope to add more resources in the future.
--- Resources: Kart Manufacturers ---
If you are looking to shop for karts from varying kart makers, I can help you here. Feel free to visit these manufacturers to find a kart from a manufacturer. Click on the headings to each manufacturer to visit their official websites and to perhaps build a kart for you to order.
Shockwave Karting is an American maker of various kart chassis and other products for kart racers. There are dealers for Shockwave Karting across the United States, in Canada, and even a dealer in New Zealand. Learn more about Shockwave's racing team from their website as well.
TONY KART is an Italian kart manufacturer with a multitude of success in kart racing. The familiar white color with green and red accents are iconic and distinctive of TONY KART. You can shop for both kart chassis
Kosmic Racing Kart is yet another kart manufacturer with a good deal of experience. Their karts are noted color-wise by their white colors with navy blue and magenta accents. They offer racing karts for a variety of applications. You can also learn more about the Kosmic Kart Racing team by visiting their website.
Exprit Racing Team is a brand launched by TONY KART in 2009. No karts are offered for sale, but you can see some of their karts offered from this Italian make by visiting their website.
Zip Kart is a British maker of kart chasses. Their experience and heritage goes for over 40 years. They have a variety of karts and kart teams in a variety of different classes of road racing karts. Zip Kart has been responsible for being the kart manufacturer that helped launch the careers of championship-winning races. Drivers that have raced with Zip Karts include the likes of Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard, and Martin Hines among others. From their website, you can check out their karts, purchase parts and accessories, racing gear, tires, and more. You can actually order karts from their website (currency in British pounds oe in Euros)
--- Resources: Kart Dealers ---
These are kart dealers you can visit to shop for or learn more about kart chassis.
This is the BRP Rotax link for kart engines. Power your kart proper with their engines.
(More material may be added in future edits.)
I salute all of you kart racers out there and fans of karts. I had initially planned on showing you some stuff on Amazon to offer kart resources to you, but I can't find enough to help compliment this blog entry. So instead, I'll end it here. However, I may edit this blog entry to include more material. This may even depend on how much traffic I get for this blog entry.
I personally never understood what makes this even remotely fashionable. Let me set the mood- you see someone wearing dark-colored tights or socks with light-colored shoes. It is good to emphasize bright-colored garments to cause a diversion, but I've never understood or liked wearing dark tights/socks/stockings with light (usually white) shoes. I make reference to tights, so let me please note what kind of tights I'm talking about... I'm talking about an average pair of tights with feet to them. I'm not talking about the footless tights or leggings that have been "it" fashion deal for most of today's femmes.
Here is an example:
^ from: chictopia.com - dark tights with white sandals. Fashionable to some, but I just don't get this look.
Wearing black leggings or tights can add an immense slimming effect. However, when pairing black tights/leggings/stockings with light-colored shoes... I just don't get it. Plus, it just looks wrong to me. Why have dark tights with light shoes? I think black tights/socks/stockings with mahogany-colored shoes is okay. Most other combinations are just wrong to me. Here is another example:
^ from: chicisimo.com - black tights with peach-colored pumps.
I've never understood this look, especially black tights with bright-colored shoes. But then again, I thought I knew fashion until I've gotten a rude awakening from a number of people online. It's one of those '80s styles I've just so despised. The '80s are as dead as the dinosaurs, yet someone has to keep going back to the '80s as if we need to keep being re-reminded of this overrated decade. And since getting a bad rap from certain people who know much more about fashion than I do, this only reassures why I've taken any spirited fashion commentary to my blog because I am happy to know that I am responsible for me, rather than someone watching over my comments and crying foul over my comments.
Even more of a "why?" fashion look is the look of black socks or tights with white or bright-colored peep-toe shoes or sandals. I think just wearing black or dark socks with light-colored open-toe shoes or sandals is equally wrong.
The exception to this would be certain shoes that aren't very bright or loud. For example: black tights with mahogany boots, black socks with brown oxford pumps, or black stockings with dark-colored velvet pumps.
What makes this look so fashionable to most femmes anyway? I just don't get this look at all. What do you make of this look that I've discussed?
PERSONAL NOTE: I try to offer my own opinions on things, but I'm also mindful on if I've offended anyone. I apologize to anyone whom I might have offended if you like this look I've discussed. These are all just my opinions. I try to express things without making any insensitive comments. So I'm sorry to anyone whom I might have offended in this blog entry.
If the Nintendo 64 had a decent challenger to Gran Turismo, it was World Driver Championship, a game featuring fantasy cars racing around on a variety of mostly street courses. The premise of this game is through the intense realm of GT racing. You race GT2-spec cars across a variety of cities around the world (otherwise, why call it WORLD Driver Championship?). The cars are all fantasy, but car fans will be able to easily identify what each car even remotely resembles. You can race with much faster cars by improving your rank in the game.
This blog entry is about "World Driver Championship" and how I feel about it as a whole.
--- World Driver Championship at a Glance ---
^ from: taringa.net (it was the best I could find) - World Driver Championship, perhaps the most beautiful racing game on the Nintendo 64.
World Driver Championshipis about full-speed racing on mostly city streets with GT2-spec cars. GT2 is defined as a class of cars that are modified for racing, but not extremely modified to where they bear no resemblance whatsoever to their road-going counterparts. Up to eight cars can race at once on each track. You begin racing on a few different courses at a time. With progress through the tournaments, you can race the more powerful and faster cars. You can also race on some of the tougher courses with progress. Your racing adventures take you to places such as Hawaii, Rome, Sydney, Kyoto, Las Vegas, the Black Forest, and more. This game was created and developd by Boss and published by Midway.
That's really it to the basics of this game.
To help you learn more about this game, here are some YouTube videos to give you a preview of what to expect for this game:
^ Introduction and a little look at some of the cars and tracks available.
^ Racing sample- Kyoto B.
Maybe the most enticing element of this game was the enhancement in graphics by going with a widescreen format. It comes at the expense of, however, a letterbox screen.
--- My Thoughts on World Driver Championship ---
This was a game I remembered renting long ago. It was a great racing experience, but not really enough to make me want to consider getting it. The sounds may be weak for a system like this, but it is still very manageable. The music is mostly generic rock music. It can be terrible at times. As for the graphics, there's no way you can deny this is a gorgeous game (even for the N64). The amount of challenge in this game is very acceptable. It is an intense experience. All the tracks are in lovely detail as well as with how the cars all look. It's a beautiful game.
If you enjoyed this review and if you have a Nintendo 64, I encourage you to buy this game if you want to get this game. Buy from Amazon:
What is the greatest racing game ever? In the 1980s, you'd be tempted to say Pole Position. Pole Position was a generational leap in racing games when the first game was released in 1982. No other racing game of its time scratched the surface of what Pole Position had to offer. Any gamer that truly loves racing games seriously needs to offer respect to a game series like Pole Position.
--- Why Should You Care About the Pole Position Series? ---
People in today's culture will likely fall in love with games and game series like Blur, Split Second, Burnout Paradise, the GTR series, and games like that. Before any of those games came along, Pole Position was king. The greatest element of Pole Position was the fact that this was one of the first racing games that had an emphasis on qualifying. If you failed to qualify on your hot lap, your race is basically over as you won't have enough time to get a second lap completed. It was a racing game series that exemplified the importance of qualifying for a race. Before you can race, you must qualify. I think this is the greatest emphasis on the Pole Position series and for racing games in general. It was also a Manual/Standard transmission game. We have the luxury of Automatic transmission these days, but the two-speed Manual is what a number of old racing games have had.
In addition, it was an elaborate progression in making realistic 3D-style graphics. Race tracks have never been more believable when Pole Position 1 came out. That Chase Cam view would be used in VARIOUS future racing games. Even details such as crashes were pretty realistic in the violent explosions after hitting something.
This game has brought too much to racing games for most people to negate or disregard. Pole Position was the Gran Turismo of the '80s. And if you're not at least respectful of what this game has brought to racing game history, then you aren't a true racing game fan. Plain and simple.
--- Pole Position 1 ---
^ from: fraserking.co.uk - Pole Position went a long way in changing racing games forever.
"Prepare to Qualify!" The woman saying this gets you ready to qualify. Pole Position has only one track, called the Namco Circuit, but is basically the Fuji Internetional Speedway. The track is fairly simple. The real key to good and bad laps is how you handle the super-sharp left-hander at about the halfway point of the course. It's possible to just let off the throttle or quickly downshift to clear the corner successfully. Also learn to properly find you way around rivals while not crashing into them.
GOLDEN RULE OF CLASSIC RACING GAMES: Avoid crashing at all costs! Allow yourself one crash. But if you crash more than once, you will NOT finish. Guaranteed!
--- Pole Position 2 ---
^ from: fraserking.co.uk - Pole Position 2 offered up three more courses in addition to the course from Pole Position 1.
Pole Position 2 continued where Pole Position 1 left off. This game let you choose from the track in the previous title, but also included three more courses. The tire squealing was now a bit more realistic in accelerating and in braking. Three new challenges await. And just like the previous title, it's all about qualifying.
Test.
The first of the three new courses is the Test course. The Test course highly resembles the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in layout. This is where you can enjoy high-speed racing. It's still very important to use caution in the corners and make sure not to overlook any of the opposing racers blocking your line. No need to brake unless trying to avoid rival cars.
Wonder.
If Wonder's layout seems familiar, that's because it is vastly based on the Suzuka Circuit. The ferris wheel at Suzuka even gives you a hint as to what track you are at. This is the most difficult track in the game with about two really critical zones. Completing this course will be difficult, let alone getting Pole Position here.
Seaside.
Seaside is completely based on the Long Beach Grand Prix course. However, it has a structure similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. This course is more tricky than difficult. The most important corner to get right is the final corner heading towards the finish line. This track
Namco.
This is basically the same course from the first Pole Position. If you can complete this course in Pole Position 1, you should have no problem beating this course in Pole Position 2.
This blog entry concerned Pole Positions 1 and 2. I'm not even counting "Pole Position 64" for the Nintendo 64, which was basically a re-branded version of "Human Grand Prix: The New Generation." It wasn't very well-received. You can play "Pole Position 1" and "Pole Position 2" on console by playing games like Namco Museum. They may even be available for download for major game systems and even on mobile devices. No matter how you play these games, both aforementioned titles are classics that simply can't be forgotten (then again, since when do classics become forgotten?).
Thank you for reading! Don't forget to subscribe as well as comment!
Racing Modifications probably aren't likely for Gran Turismo 5. A long time ago, I had planned a YouTube video about the Racing Modification progress. So here is a little study I did on Racing Modifications. Racing Modifications from Gran Turismos 1 and 2 are based on taking a car from stock appearance to a real race car.
(NOTE: All pictures in this blog entry are my own work, and not stolen from any other image gallery):
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
DEC 7 2013 - few edits made; "John's Gran Turismo Space" namesakes changed to the blog's new name- "John's Race Space"; Personal Note added
This blog post may be incomplete. Future edits will complete this blog post. Also- this blog post is VERY old, and the information included before edits is as old as of the date of this blog's initial post. Later in this post, a link to my JRS blog post has been included for people wanting more info on Race Modified cars in Gran Turismo 5.
PERSONAL NOTE: Thank all of you for making this blog post popular. I want to let you know that "John's Race Space" (formerly "John's Gran Turismo Space" features many more resources for GT and TT, but also other racing games and insight on other racing games. Most of what you are about to read here is mostly outdated. So make sure to visit "John's Race Space" for more material. Other than that, thank you for visiting my blog!
--- Racing Modifications in General ---
So what are Racing Modifications? In a basic sense, it is a makeover for street cars to become proper racing cars. Look at the Dodge Viper GTS below. The top picture is a base Dodge Viper GTS, and the bottom picture is a Racing Modified Dodge Viper GTS.
^ TOP PICTURE: base Dodge Viper GTS. BOTTOM PICTURE: Racing Modified Dodge Viper GTS.
Enhanced bodywork and some other modifications are added to further enhance the race car image. The thing that interests me on past Racing Modifications is how incomplete most of them are. That incomplete factor relates to how certain cars don't have driver numbers and things like that. I sometimes wonder about properly placing sponsors and decals on cars. I think it's time to make this customization process the best ever.
The main deal about Racing Modification is that it's a top-to-bottom customization process primarily in lightening the car and making a paint scheme. For if Gran Turismo 5 brings back this level of customization, it needs a new sense of direction. I don't think you have to be required to go down to a Stage 3 Lightweight just to have a Racing Modification like in Gran Turismo 2.
What you will be reading is a certain study I've done on Racing Modifications that I've done in addition to thoughts on Racing Modifications for Gran Turismo 5.
--- Racing Modifications: Gran Turismo 1 ---
Have you 80K or 82K Credits? Any car can be given a racing makeover with a Racing Modification. They can range from simple paint jobs to complete race cars. Racing Modifications only allow you two different colors. Sometimes, the color choices were ludicrous. For example, everyone knows the Castrol colors are white with red and green accents. But when you choose a different color scheme, you could choose white with red and green accents... or white with red and BLUE accents. Also, I could never fathom the traditional Subaru blue replaced with a black color for the Impreza Rally Car in GT1.
Here is an example of a Racing Modification in Gran Turismo 1:
^ - Racing Modification for the mid-1990s Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO.
Racing Modifications only granted you two color choices. Anyone who knows their Japanese race cars know that this design is based on the Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO that raced in Super Taikyu back in the mid-1990s. The original car was green and white with Puma livery. Here is a sample:
^ from: chollian.net - the Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO Puma as raced in Super Taikyu in 1996.
--- Racing Modifications: Gran Turismo 2 ---
Gran Turismo 2's facility for Racing Modifications is different. A Stage 3 Racing Modification is now required before going with a Racing Modification, granted a car has a Racing Modification available. What was different about Gran Turismo 2's model was that some Racing Modifications have different types. Let's take a look at GT2's facility.
Racing Modifications: Real Cars.
^ This is what you end up with if you give a Racing Modification to a late model (in GT2) Toyota Celica GT-Four. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec would be the first GT to feature the proper Celica Rally Car.
Racing Modifications: Real Race Car, Fictitious Paintscheme.
^ - a Nissan 300ZX Racing Modification with a familiar certain paint scheme.
If you even remotely know your racing liveries, a yellow car with black accents is usually a Pennzoil paint scheme. Instead of the "Fairlady Z" graphics, there should probably be "Pennzoil" graphics.
Cars With Multiple Racing Modifications.
^ - a few cars in Gran Turismo 2, like the Volkswagen Golf, have multiple paintschemes.
An example of a car in Gran Turismo 2 with multiple Racing Modification types is the Volkswagen Golf above. This car comes in three different types. Some paintschemes for cars are basically a a single skin in multiple colors. The picture features every paintscheme in order as you select "Change Type." Another car with multiple paintschemes in GT2 is the Honda S2000 (among a few others).
--- Racing Modifications: M.I.A. in GT3 and GT4 ---
The only thing even remotely close to a Racing Modification is in GT4 (Gran Turismo 3 has nothing even remotely close to a Racing Modification):
^ my Ford GT in Gran Turismo 4 in Midnight Blue with White Stripes and a rear wing.
Adding a rear wing makes a car at least feel like a complete race car. However, it does little else to make a car really feel like a race car. I'm most disappointed in Gran Turismo 4 that there aren't a lot of races for road cars with Racing Tires. A street car (especially a fully-bred for racing car) handles terribly on Standard/Sports tires. The assumption that races requiring Standard/Sports tires disallows race cars. Of course, you can just slap on some Standard/Sports tires to enter race cars into these events (unless the event disallows Non-Production cars).
I'll show off MUCH more on this deal later in this blog entry using Gran Turismo 4.
Are you reading the full post? If not, click "Read More" to see the rest of this post. Or more importantly, check out my blog post on "John's Race Space" (JRS) featuring this topic. Most of this material is mostly obsolete at this point. Click on the banner below to go to my JRS post, or "Read More" to continue your reading of this post:
Teemaree is a beautiful name. Teemaree herself is equally beautiful. The range of talent for her is like a diamond. And like a diamond, she sparkles in almost everything she does in every facet of a diamond. I first came across Teemaree online as she was one of many of hot go-go dancers I've seen as I first introduced myself to the mystique and allure of go-go dancing girls. Teemaree is more than a go-go dancer, though. She's also done acting, singing, DJ'ing, and more. I said that her range of talent is like a diamond. There's your evidence this beautiful lady is capable of almost anything.
Here's Teemaree in this picture:
^ from: shadoworldforever.com - Teemaree is a go-go dancer who also is a DJ and an actress, among other talents. (Picture was from my blog entry "Go-Go Dancing")
--- Teemaree: Go-Go Dancing ---
I briefly touched up on Teemaree in my blog entry simply called "Go-Go Dancing." Go-go dancing is my best memory of Teemaree because that has been what I've loved most about Teemaree. Go-go dancing brings out the sexy appeal of a young lady who dances to the beat while dressing up as eye-catching as possible. Teemaree is actually one of the first go-go dancers I've really admired and respected. That was even before coming across names like Sasha Singleton, Sunisa Kim, the beautiful Helen Su, Flo Jalin, or any other go-go dancer.
Where Teemaree really shines to me is in how she was the host of the first-ever reality series about go-go dancing, called "Sweat, Boots, and Booty Shorts." Teemaree basically shows what it's like go-go dancing the night away at various clubs with various beautiful women. It was a no-crap look at go-go dancing that I became a fan of watching on Myspace. I then started watching a few more of these episodes on YouTube. When seeing her dance in platform boots five inches off the ground (I've mentioned these boots in my "Go-Go Dancing" and "Platform Shoes, Sandals, Boots, and Sneakers" blog entries), I see a lady who is very talented and knows how to electrify any crowd. She's got some hot moves and wears some lovely outfits. Teemaree usually sports a hot bikini top, some cute bottoms or shorts, a handful of sweet accessories, and a sky high pair of patchwork platform boots. Teemaree is even athletic as she's built nicely. She has a nice belly along with a tattoo around her navel. With go-go dancing being one of the sexiest jobs as reported by E! once, Teemaree was featured go-go dancing in a brief segment.
--- Teemaree: Away from Dancing ---
Outside of dancing, I've seen Teemaree in a variety of other media. For one, I saw a YouTube video of Teemaree as she was a contestant on ABC's very popular "Wipeout" competition. I've seen other videos where she was doing a few commercials and spots. Another thing about Teemaree- I think she has a lovely speaking voice. She's also a singer and a model. I've heard a few of her songs on Myspace and seen a few of her DJ work in YouTube videos.
Here's a YouTube sample of her when not dancing or DJ'ing:
--- What I Would Say to Teemaree (if she read this) ---
Greetings! Keep up the great work with all that you do. I've been a fan of yours since seeing your go-go dancing pictures. Even more so when looking at the "Sweat, Boots, and Booty Shorts" videos. You are immensely talented and immensely beautiful. Keep up the great work! Much love and respect! :D
Would I Want to Meet Teemaree?
(ADDED: March 1, 2012)
Absolutely! Why would you not want to meet someone you praise so much for their craft?
All in all, Teemaree is a diamond who sparkles in many ways with many levels of talent. A diamond also describes how her beauty sparkles with a lovely body, a lovely voice, and some lovely moves dancing.
William Shatner has one of the most amazing voices of any famous celebrity. The Canadian-born Shatner voice is outstanding. I honestly wish I knew more about William Shatner to understand what all he's brought to media. While I'm not a Star Trek fan (I'm more into Star WARS than Star Trek), I best know him for being Captain Kirk as well as the author of the widely-popular Tekwar novels. According to William Shatner's YouTube channel, I learned that he graduated with a Business degree from McGill University having Assistant Manager jobs.
Here is the (born March 22, 1931)-year old William Shatner:
^ from: - the legendary William Shatner.
Here is a sample of William Shatner's YouTube channel and his amazing voice, along with his daughter, Lisa Shatner:
--- What Would I Tell William Shatner if He Were to Read This? ---
William Shatner, I have great respect for you. You have one of the most wonderful speaking voices of anyone. Hearing you in commercials and in other forms of media is just amazing. You have a wonderful personality and just very cool. Keep up the great work with all that you do, and congratulations on all the accolades you've received throughout your illustrious career. You've even inspired me to speak my mind and speak clearly to others. Thank you so much for all that you do.
I think this is the first "Famous Person" blog entry I've done for a male. But really, William Shatner is a wonderful person. Another blog entry complete. Make sure you subscribe if you love my material!
After talking about this camcorder in blogs and videos, it's time I do a proper review. This concerns the Insignia NS-DV1080P- my first camcorder. What you're about to read is a full review of this camcorder based on various facts and figures I've been able to use in using this camcorder. I'll even tell you of a few things to be aware of if you want to get this camcorder. I am even trying to do a video on this camcorder for YouTube.
The item is NOT available on Amazon, so I'll link you to some other sites in case you want to learn more about or even buy this camcorder. One more important note- this is my own commentary. I would NEVER steal someone else's comments and damage the integrity of my blog.
PERSONAL NOTE: Thanks to all of you for visiting this blog post! Considering how long ago I posted this blog post, it's great to know that this resource is still valuable enough. I hope you enjoy this blog post and all of its resources!
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
APR 12 2012 - made several individual edits
--- Insignia NS-DV1080P at a Glance ---
^ from: logicbuy.com - Insignia's NS-DV1080P camcorder. It is their top-of-the-line camcorder, but is it worth it? Find out in my review!
Insignia's top-of-the-line camcorder is the NS-DV1080P. As its name suggests, it is capable of video quality up to 1080p. For a budget-type camcorder, you do tend to get a lot. The camcorder has a swivel screen that rotates up to 270°. You can use the camcorder as you normally would, or you could even record yourself by pointing the camera at yourself and press Record. The camcorder features a unique light that can make it possible to do videos and pictures in low-light conditions. Still pictures can be taken with this camcorder. The pictures come out in a resolution of 2592 x 1944, good for 5.0 megapixels. The camcorder is even capable of allowing you to show your saved videos on a standard TV or (with HDMI cables) on HD television units. You can mount this camcorder on a screw-on tripod, and you can insert an SDHC card (up to 8 GB) to boost the amount of pictures and videos you can take. An 8 GB SDHC card gives you two hours of 1080p-resolution video. This camcorder is powered by a rechargeable litium ion battery.
The camcorder will activate automatically when you flip out the swivel screen. You can, however, turn on the camcorder manually using the power button after flipping out the camcorder. The camcorder will be turned off when you properly shut the swivel screen.
--- Basic Specifications ---
Here is a look at what this camcorder is capable of.
Video Capabilities.
This camcorder is capable of five different video sizes, listed below:
• 320 x 200 at 30 fps - QVGA video with a 4:3 ratio at 30 fps.
• 640 x 480 - SD Standard with a 4:3 ratio running at 30 fps.
• 848 x 480 - Widescreen SD with a 16:9 Wide ratio running at 60 fps, the best FPS for this camcorder.
• 1280 x 720 - 720p High-Definition video with a 16:9 aspect ratio running at 30 FPS.
• 1440 x 1080 - 1080p High-Definition video with a 16:9 aspect ratio running at 30 fps.
The camcorder offers stabilization features when recording videos, but your options don't include stabilization at higher resolutions. One of the most disliked aspects is that this camcorder only offers a 2X zoom at the highest resolutions.
Videos can be recorded in either AVI or MOV formats. It ships in AVI format, but you can change the settings to do MOV format videos.
Picture Capabilities.
Still pictures can be taken at 2592 x 1944 resolution. The images appear very lovely on your camcorder. However, they appear grainy and have a lot of noise when you upload them to your computer. They still look great, just that you need to do some extra adjusting to make your pictures look their best on your PC.
I'll feature some tips later in this blog entry to help you correct these issues.
--- My Story With the Insignia NS-DV1080P ---
People recommended that I get a camcorder to make better-quality YouTube videos. I considered my options. The first option of mine was the Vivitar DVR 865HD. I wanted this camcorder because it had great quality while not being a truly proper camcorder. It was what I wanted to get... until I visited a Best Buy, when I saw an Insignia NS-DV720P. Before I thought about wanting to get it (because I had my mom with me), I wanted to do more research on the Insignia NS-DV1080P. As I got to do more research seeing videos on YouTube, I changed my mind from getting the Insignia NS-DV1080P. This video below was the clincher for me:
It was this video that convinced me to get this camcorder. It shown me that great-looking videos were very possible with this camcorder. A few days before my 27th birthday, I got this camcorder thanks to my mom. I somewhat conned her into getting the bundle package. The bundle package included this camcorder, a Dynex tripod, a 4 GB SDHC card from PNY, and a Lowepro carrying pouch.
I took this camcorder with me to do some videos and take some pictures. Some of my "Car Style" blog entries feature cars that I took pictures of at the show. I did about ten or so video clips averaging a total of five minutes. I was purely disappointed about the videos I did, not so much the quality. So when I was disappointed on the videos I did, I canceled my YouTube video project. Since, I've never made any real special videos with this camcorder.
--- Insignia NS-DV1080P Retrospective ---
For those of you who may have seen two past blog entries of mine on this camcorder, I have deleted BOTH of them and added my impressions in this blog entry. This will give you a chance to see what I've thought of this previously. Read below to see my initial impressions with this camcorder!
--- Insignia NS-DV1080P: First Impressions ---
(originally posted: January 15, 2010)
The Insignia NS-DV1080P is the birthday gift of mine. This is my first true
camcorder. It is capable of 1080p video. On my somewhat aged computer, I fear at the possibility of HD video. This is an early report of this camcorder as I've used it for a few hours now...
--- General Overview ---
I wanted my mom to get me the Insignia NS-DV1080P bundle package. The bundle from Best Buy consists of an Insignia NS-DV1080P, a Dynex mini tripod, a Lowepro Ridge 30 carrying pouch, and a PNY 4 GB SD card.
Pictures.
This camera takes awesome pictures. It's not a proper camera, but image quality is quite lovely. You start noticing all the grainy spots when you see the actual images, but for its quality, picture quality is quite impressive to say the least.
Videos.
I got this camcorder to test the waters of high-definition video. With limited success, I made 1080p and 720p videos. I assured my Facebook people that I would post some test videos on Facebook to see how they would look online. I did not install the MediaImpressions material or the ArcSoft material. I wanted to see how much I could do right out of the box with this camcorder.
When trying to record myself, I needed to make sure to have ample distance between myself and the webcam. I have to be very near the webcam for the best-possible video quality in showing my face. I'm still learning the ropes with this Insignia NS-DV1080P.
If I can find a combination I'm comfortable with, I may have my plan go underway to make a video project for the Houston Auto Show. I still have a long way to go if I am to really prosper with this thing.
Device.
The biggest gripe I had about the camcorder was that I had to ram in this pathetic PNY SD card just to get it to stay in. I actually want to get rid of this PNY card and go for a much better brand- SanDisk. And I want to get an eight gigabyte Sandisk SD card.
Accessories.
I've been unsuccessful using the TV camera to show off what is recorded on my card or in my camera's internal memory. The Dynex Mini Tripod is rather small, only six inches tall. But it is pretty durable for what it is. The Loewpro carrying pouch nicely contains the Insignia NS-DV1080P. I've had lots of trouble trying to get my PC to load the stupid PNY SD card this bundle comes with. Even more so, I decided it's best to keep the SD card lodged into the Insignia NS-DV1080P.
Overall, I am pretty much okay with this thing in my first experience with this camcorder. Have I mentioned that this is the very first Insignia product I've ever owned? I've already smudged up this thing for the most part, but I feel I can really make and load some great videos with this device. I need more practice before thinking I can actually create quality videos with this camcorder. I am still not confident enough and happy enough to start doing videos for YouTube (and elsewhere) yet.
--- Insignia NS-DV1080P: Second Impressions ---
(originally posted: February 1, 2010)
Back on January 31, 2010; I had a chance to take my camcorder out on the road and actually use it for once. I had fears that this camcorder would fail me graciously. But here is what has changed since my previous blog post...
The preferred format for video is MOV. However, I had more confidence in using AVI. I made sure to have DivX installed on my computer. I also made sure to get x264vfw and configure it. Then, I downloaded (or at least configured) ffdshow. Afterwards, I've become more confident making AVI videos. And to put it to the test, I did about 16 individual videos. All of which we no longer than one minute. I must say... the PNY 2 GB SDHC card was more than sufficient. I recorded videos in 640 x 480 standard resolution. To me, this camcorder was more than adequate. Taking over 169 (official) pictures and doing about 16 (official) video recordings, I only occupied 488 MB of the 4 GB card's space.
In the course of a week (basically), I've grown much more confident in using this camcorder. I confidently feel like I can make some true and complete videos with this camcorder. All I basically need is more codecs or better settings for the current codecs to confidently make and edit videos. It is all surprisingly more than adequate for my video and picture needs. I went from giving this camcorder three stars out of five... to four stars out of five. While not overly impressive, while not out-the-box amazing, it's still VERY manageable. Have you the patience for something like this? This camcorder is very manageable.
To all of my YouTube fans, I'm still thinking about how I should do my Houston Auto Show video. I'm happy with my recordings, but not completely confident in my video posts. I unfortunately had some zits on my face. I wasn't very pretty looking (but when am I?). While not a proper and complete camcorder, it still takes a great deal of confidence to get the camcorder going beautifully. My confidence only increases with this camcorder, and I'm becoming happier using this camcorder even with its flaws.
The Insignia NS-DV1080P is Best Buy exclusive. but a very worthy camcorder if you have the software and patience. Believe me.
Now on to the important parts- my tips and (more importantly) review of this camcorder.
--- My Review of the Insignia NS-DV1080P ---
This review comes in two different styles.
The Short Review.
This is a good, but not great camcorder. If you're not reluctant to be patient and give this camera a chance, this is not the camcorder for you.
The Long Review.
While severely flawed, this is not a bad camcorder to be honest. The camera is made and executed very nicely. Nowhere is it near any of the true camcorders in its price range. Still, what you get for the money is a very manageable and decent BUDGET camcorder. While the camera has some negative aspects, it is still possible to take decent pictures and videos with this camcorder. You just have to exercise patience and try to find some ways around making this camcorder work for you. To be quite honest, this is a very good budget camcorder. All you need is a good set of compatible codecs to make the most of this camcorder. The light and color settings are set to Auto. Sadly, you can not save these settings. So every time you turn on the camcorder, if you need to manually adjust the light settings, you'll need to do this before recording any video or taking any pictures. The worst thing about this camcorder is that there is no amazing customer support. You can't even register this camera to get more updates. So you basically are buying this camcorder at your own risk. You can, however, visit Insignia's online forum for all the advice you need and for sharing questions and comments on all Insignia products.
Still want to get this camcorder? Let me offer you some advice from my own personal experiences before I close this blog entry.
--- Insignia NS-DV1080P Advice ---
The advice I have to give you comes in the form of various individual points. Please read what I have to offer to you in helping you make the most of this camcorder.
• The most important thing is to have some good codecs to make the most of this camcorder. The most important thing to remember is that you'll need some codecs that can handle H264 video. I've used a combination of different items, such as DivX and ffdshow. I'm still trying to sort out audio issues when trying to upload these videos through either Windows Movie Maker or Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9.
• If you want to REALLY do more with this camcorder, get an SDHC card for it (up to 8 GB) and keep it there. I've had trouble trying to get my PC to read my SDHC card when I put it into the appropriate SDHC slot, so I basically keep the SDHC card in the camcorder and just connect to the computer using the USB cable. When you jack in this camcorder to your PC, it will load up the regular drive info for the camcorder, and then later give you options as to what you want to do for the SDHC card data.
• Pictures taken can be grainy with some noise included. All you need to resolve this is to use a good graphics program (like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro). Pictures look very nice when you're browsing through your I recommend two things to have images looking better than what they were saved as. Think about it like this- the images saved on the Insignia NS-DV1080P look good only after everything fits to the swivel screen. Try uploading them to the computer, however, and you'll see how the pictures REALLY look in their full detail. That's why you need to do two things to make pictures look better when uploaded to your PC. (1) Use your paint program's Soften feature to soften the image to reduce the noise and grainy details, and (2) reduce the 2592x1944 size images to something more manageable. Examples of manageable resolutions are 640 x 480, 800 x 600, or 1024 x 768. Both of these hints will help ensure that pictures look much more decent than when the images came off of your camcorder.
• The lens cannot be covered. So remember not to mess up the camera lens very much. Take some cloth or some tissue to clean the lens.
• Light in the area will need to be sufficient if you plan on taking any pictures or videos. If you don't have enough sufficient light, try using the two different digital light settings. The initial setting has light levels the way that they are. You can turn on digital light to enhance the light through gamma correction. Adjust the digital light settings again, and the light on the camcorder will turn on to give you better image quality through dark areas.
• Get a tripod if you plan on making videos. That is, unless you want do your videos holding up the camcorder.
• From my research, DO NOT install any of the picture or video editing programs included on the CD. I've heard of how videos can be uploaded successfully, but not have any sound. The camcorder will not lose any functionality just because you don't install any of the included programs. If anything, just download the software that will have the Insignia NS-DV1080P be properly read when connected to the computer.
• The camera smudges up easily, so make sure to clean the plastic coating of the camcorder with cloth or something to keep it clean and free of smudge marks when using it.
• Know when to use the macro switch properly. The macro switch helps you to take better-quality images of things either far away or close by. Keeping the macro switch at the bottom is good for taking pictures and video of things further away from you. Keeping the macro switch at the top is good for taking pictures and video of things closer to you. You'll know which mode is engaged if you see a flower in the bottom-left corner. If you see this flower, then images closer to you will appear sharper while images further away appear blurred.
• If taking video of yourself using the swivel screen, be warned that you may not sound very loud when talking into the camcorder. You may have to speak as loudly as you can so you sound clear. Either that, or you may need to edit the audio settings of your video to increase the volume on sounds.
• If you are unsure as to what codecs are needed to play a certain video, I recommend you look up a program called GSpot. GSpot is a program that helps you to find out what codecs are needed to play a file properly. More information on this program can be found towards the end of this blog entry.
• You can also download Any Video Converter to convert the AVI files to (at least for me) WMV for better usage. I may start doing this so I can better use these files for Windows Movie Maker and Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9.
Now to answer a question that I see when I look at my FEEDJIT data...
Can the Insignia NS-DV1080P be used as a webcam? The answer is: no. When you connect the camcorder to your PC, its only purposes are for recharging the camcorder and uploading pictures and/or videos. It can not be used as a webcam. You'll just have to record videos using the camcorder, then upload your results to the computer.
--- Thank You For Reading! ---
I hope my video has given you some insight on whether or not you want to get this camcorder. Thank you very much for reading my blog entry. Resources and links can be found below:
To purchase the Insignia NS-DV1080P or to learn more about it, visit:
(ADDED: May 14, 2011; edited March 24, 2012)
Even though the NS-DV1080P is not sold on Amazon, here are two alternative camcorders from Insignia related to the NS-DV1080P. Have a look at these and/or buy them on Amazon if they interest you:
I hope these resources have helped you in making your decision about this camcorder. If so, please post a comment to this blog entry. How do I know if I'm doing a good job if you don't comment on my work? So post a comment (all comments subject to moderation). Thank you for reading!
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