I just finished reading The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Here’s my book review video:
It is a shame for this book. The writing is truly brilliant, but it was squandered on a meandering, myopic, mélange of a story lacking enough plot to keep the reader engaged. Sure, the descriptions of New York, the set pieces of the rich and famous partying are intriguing in themselves, but without building toward anything, they fall flat.
Here’s a short video for folks arriving in Aruba via cruise ship (or those of you who want a quick overview of the island). You’ll see the gate where you exit the port area, a few tour buses, some shops, activities, and a few sights.
I hope you enjoyed that little informative piece. More videos from Aruba and elsewhere are on deck, so stay tuned, and don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook to stay current.
Some people contemplating a trip to Aruba asked me about the local currency. I explained that the florin is the name of the official money, but that US dollars are also widely accepted. In any given transaction, you might even see the two currencies mixed. Hence, a little video, explaining the exchange rate and showing the different notes and coins:
As you saw in the video, the exchange rate isn’t complicated. If you’re in the tourist area, you’ll mostly see US dollars. However, if you venture out to the local joints I mention on The Bent Page, you’re more likely to encounter the florin. Either way, with a fixed exchange rate, it’s pretty much the same, at least in terms of the ratio. Enjoy your visit whatever money you’re spending. Bon dia.
Creating videos for this blog is tons of fun. However, it does require some specialized equipment. It doesn’t have to be super expensive, just designed for the job at hand. The RODE Videomic is the perfect example. It is a directional microphone, which means that it records sound from a specific area. Here’s my video review of the RODE Videomic, which contains an on-location shot from Aruba, providing a good demonstration of the piece in action.
Given the wind and water noise at the shoreline, I was impressed with the RODE Videomic’s capability. My voice was clearly heard and the people behind the camera could not be heard at all, which is what this microphone is designed to do, record the sound from straight ahead. For the price point, RODE has done a great job. Thanks!
The Bent Page 