This is an ongoing comparison of day to day life of me, in the USA, and a few people that are from, or live in Ukraine, during the Russian Invasion.
Often on the news, we will get a 1-2 minute story on someone, but it is rare to learn about them. After all, they are only in the news for such a short time. Different Lives is about daily life between a person in the USA, and people in Ukraine. What is it like to be in the middle of a war? How does your day differ from someone who is facing bomb shelters, air raid sirens, and the fear that your area will be the next target? What are the thoughts, joys, and fears?
My name is Doug, 51, married, a dog, cat, and no kids. I live in Las Vegas. I am a photographer, at times photojournalist, and I am a CEO of a company that sells camera accessories. The title is just that, a title. I am also the marketing guy, customer service guy, shipping guy, sales guy, and chief bottle washer. My other interests includes holiday light shows, wood working, and classic cars, like my 89 Chrysler Lebarons.
Sergiy is a 45 year old guy, in a committed relationship, and owns a small factory produce idler pulleys and wheels for DIY projects and deals with bearings for all sorts of products. Sergiy lives in Dnipro
Nikita also lives in Dnipro, owns a software company, and now is a member of Civil Defence Team defending his town
Kateryna is a 36 year old mom of an 11 year old, english teacher in the Capital City of Kyiv.
Doug: My day today, picking up heat guard for the dog, filling up the van at Sams club. Pick up a few things at Walmart. Came home, built a rack for firewood. Dog to the park, watch a bit of the news. A very ordinary, day.
Sergiy’s day: Most of the day for me was a marathon of shopping for necessary food and medicine among empty shelves, many stores to provide for my loved ones and those in need of care. It practically took all day. There is a possibility that the invaders will cordon off the city, and therefore, I must be sure that everyone has everything. Feelings of anxiety, closed pharmacies and shops. Empty shelves: no bandages and blood pressure pills (locally produced), no bread, candles, bottled water and long-term storage products … It’s idiocy – to drive around the city and come a second time to the same supermarket just because I saw candles there… In the event of a power outage. We have about 0 degrees at night, by the way. I asked Sergiy how many people he was providing for?
He sent me two images, one of sandbags, and another of empty shelves.
“so the city is preparing for explosions at the household level. And in the second photo there should be bread on the shelves. I provided everything you need to the smallest detail for 10-14 days for 4 people”
I told him the closest we have come to this was during the first weeks of covid, but I Think people are not panic buying in Ukraine. Sergiy went on to say: “we also went through this with the pandemic. But now the circumstances are somewhat different. We have the memory of our grandparents, whose lives were crippled by the Second World War. I remember their stories about it. And now we’re going in circles again, but now they’re saying they’ve come to save us from neo-fascism. And they call us brothers…” Do you think it will be harder to get supplies in the coming weeks? “we are separated by a bridge across the river. This bridge could be a target. Therefore, I know that they have everything for the next two weeks.”
I asked him if they had much shelling, or if its been quiet. “We’ve been quiet for over a day now. But, it’s a matter of time. Now an air alert has been declared in the regional center 50 miles from us. Yesterday there was announced the evacuation of the population. It has already been announced that the enemy alliance will bomb Chernigov (this is the border with Belarus and there local and Russian troops are shelling our territory).”
Then I asked a final question. “What scares/bothers you the most right now? or is it all the uncertainty?”
Scares? yes, they can use Chernobyl or the red button if they fail. Probably this.I knew it was almost midnight in Ukraine, and Serge said he was going to sleep, adding “I hope..”
Doug: Today, I have to try to do some product photography, and help Becky with some things around the house. I have a headboard I am refinishing, and am about ready to start putting it together. As Becky and I do almost every Friday-Sunday morning, we chat in bed in the morning, our dog soaking up all the attention she can, often the cat, Bella joins us
Sergiy’s account of today and what he went through the night:
“Hello Doug. Me and my family are ok. The night was very difficult for all of us and almost without sleep. At some point, I even decided that I was going crazy. It hit the psyche so hard. Everyone has an alarm suitcase and everyone is ready to run to the basement or bomb shelter at any moment (there are few of them, they are small and not always in good condition).”
Sergiy continues with “ “Civilians and soldiers are dying in our country. Today, Russian occupiers hit an orphanage near Kiev with one of the Grad artillery mounts. There were 50 children there and our Foreign Ministry qualified it as a terrorist attack. So far there is no information about the victims and injured.” Sergiy showed me a link to a Travel Blogger who speaks Russian, that is from the Ukraine. I will give a link but these words stick out in my mind: “We desperately need your help to show that Russian troops were deceived by Putin. They were not even told that they were going to invade Ukraine. And they said that this is a continuation of the studies.” A link to the video: https://fb.watch/boLluMoQZO/ This was a good reminder for me, not to place blame on Russian people, and hearing how many Russians have protested in Russia and ‘detained”, knowing that their protest can bring severe actions that can affect them for the rest of their life.
Nikita: I have not had much chance to talk a lot with Nikita, But he has joined up to help protect his city. These chilling words from his post will haunt me forever. “But from this day I’m part of territorial defence., in a month maybe be I will be alive., or maybe no. I don’t know” I shared his post on my Facebook Page.
My day today, I am working on a kickstarter campaign to introduce a new product to the photography world. I have images to go through, some things to photograph for it, and finish up loose ends so we can launch. I will take my dog Sophy to the park later, and continue training to help her get desensitized to other dogs. I will probably have the news on all day because I am a news junky. This evening, I think it will be a quiet night at home, Dinner with Becky, and Sophy snuggling on my lap. Becky will probably wake me up about 9-9:30 to go to bed. I really have very little concerns other then how will this invasion will affect us, how much will gas go up? What other things will go up. Will my kickstarter do ok even though inflation is going through the roof
Sergiy: Sergiy’s day is quite different. Concerned about the invasion, making sure his loved ones and his employees will be take care of, Pulling financial support together for his employees, making sure important documents are together. The conditions overnight, he not able to open his factory, he and his employees can not work. Also thinking if the Ukraine becomes a gray zone, where can he move production. I ask Sergi if his fears were more business oriented right now and his reply: ” This is a wild state. Our region was shelled during the morning, so far only the infrastructure. Other areas fared worse. This is fear that can subdue the brain and change human behavior. So far, I’m fine. But, there were already attacks of fear. The fact is that the Russians are very poorly disposed towards the Ukrainian people. Torture, cellars, mockery, looting… They consider us a fictional nation. So they have been taught by the media for about 15-20 years.In fact, the average Russian also dislikes Ukrainians thanks to the Russian media. There are so many lies about us, that we are fascists … You can’t pull it on your ears” Gosh, we went through something like this with our media. And we thought ours was out of control. Nikita I hope to learn more about, right now he is on the way to his parents home. My fear of having to fill up my van today, and what it will cost, the fear if my Kickstarter Campaign will do good seems trivial. I am not at risk to lose my entire livelihood, or even worse, parish. There has been victims already, including an innocent child.
During CES 2020, I acquired several pairs of TWS Earbuds. My goal was to try them with a bluetooth device called the Legend by Racing Electronics. This device has a scanner feature so I can listen to teams, drivers, officials and race commentary. Having one less wire around me as I carry my gear around to cover the sport makes such a big difference. But, its difficult to find good bluetooth headsets that provide enough sound isolating. I dove deeper in making my own custom ear molds with ok results.
These are the brands of TWS earbuds I worked with for the spring race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Mpow: M20, M10,
Ifrogs: Airtime Sport and Air Time
Pamu: Pamu Slide mini
I also worked with a few corded blue tooth headsets, but they had issues so they will not be mentioned. One I thought had really great potential, but, I could not keep them working.
I did not test the Mpow M10 or the Pamu Slide Mini at the track due to the design, (more like a earpod by Apple) I was not able to make a custom ear mold for them. However I will review them because they are both very good sets.
All of the others, making a custom mold was fairly easy, Though none of the earmolds I made gave really good sound isolation. Granted, The areas of the track I often work, I am not more then 5-10 feet away from cars going 190 MPH. All of the devices I tested worked great in the stands.
Battery life: All of them had enough battery life for a normal race day. Of course, this race weekend was not a normal. Plenty of rain delays, and rare back to back races. I had to switch pairs out close to the end of a very long day. Another thing I like about all of the TWS sets where that they all had a charging case that gave extra power, easy to slip in to charge between events IF I did not have custom ear molds attached.
Down to the nitty gritty!
IFROG AIRTIME
iFrogs were the first up. I have been working with ZAGG, the parent company of iFrogs for many years. I first tested the AIRTIME Set. The design has changed just a little, mostly the rubber piece that helps keep it in the ear
IFROGS Airtime
I found that the rubber pieces were a little uncomfortable when I was not using the custom ear molds. The most comfortable set of the rubber pieces I promptly lost one at the track. I have put a pair of foam buds on them which help keep them in the ear. The new design, which is pictured above look to be more comfortable.
What blew me away was the sound quality. It felt like there was deep bass, and all the tones would meld to give a great sounding experience. Like wise when listening to just talking (like listening to the radio broadcast), Everything was clear even at a high power. They do have a EQ feature that i never used. The size was perfect, and did not feel cumbersome in my ear. I would like an opportunity to try out the new rubber pieces and see if they are more comfortable for everyday use. Unlike all of other sets, I am able to keep the foam tips on while charging.
To turn on and off, and to control features like answering phone or activating Siri, the button gives a satisfying click. Pairing was simple and painless. As soon as you pull them out of the case, the pair instantly.
The next pair I tried out was the MPOW 20. These I think were my favorite. They were the most comfortable, and stayed in my ear. The body almost felt they were molded just for my ear.
MPOW 20
The Rubber tips that came with them were comfortable enough, though I am partial to foam tips. The biggest issue with the foam tips is that most cases do not have enough room to keep them attached to charge.
Sound was also great, much like the Airtime. The bass was rich, and listening to music, it just seemed to put you in your own little world.
As a bonus, the case it self can be used to give you an emergency charge on your phone or other device. I did not use this feature yet, I am also a huge fan of My Charge which I will review in a later post.
Other great features of the M20 is has a IPX7 waterproof rating, so if your caught in a rain storm you don’t have to worry. Each change gives you about 6 hours of life. For us older folks that need to feel that click when you press something, the MPow 20 does not have it. It takes a little while to get used to not feeling a satisfying click.
The worst part of the M20 by Mpow, is that I put the set in my pocket with out the case. While pulling out my keys (I think) I lost one. I have not checked to see about a replacement, or if i need to replace the whole set. They can be found on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Headphones-Bluetooth-Waterproof-Cancelling/dp/B08181ZBTT
Third up is IFROGS Airtime Sport
These are the pair I grab when I am working out in the garage. You tend to forget they are there, they are that comfortable. You don’t have the feeling they may fall out of your ear. The sound quality while is very good, just not as great as the Airtime or M20. By no means does the audio sound like a cheap set of earbuds. Again, when using them it takes you into your own little world. The case has the same issue for me, where the foam tips must be taken off to charge. Though a 10 minute charge will give you another hour of play time. I was able to keep these charged for an entire day of racing, just popping them in for a charge during a caution, or if I went to the media center to download images. These are true wireless. just set them on a wireless charging pad and the case starts to charge. No more cable hunt to plug them to charge.
Pairing again, was simple, and when I take them out of the case, they pair automatically.
To sum it up, all three of these pairs were beyond my expectations. All three sets worked for what I had hoped: A custom ear mold, and to work while photographing a NASCAR race. For me, the M20 and the AIRTIME Sport are the most comfortable to wear. With out the rubber pieces and foam tips, the AIRTIME set is as comfortable, but there is that fear they might fall out. Every one if different. What is comfortable to me, might not be to others, and vice versa. I had planned to also test on a overseas trip, but Covid-19 canceled my travel plans. I will update once we are traveling again.
I can only imagine if i had great sets of custom ear molds!
Wow. I had 17 updates to do before I could make a post. I guess I am a little behind eh?
CES 2020. hard to believe I have been going to CES 13+ years now. I remember winning a 512 meg usb drive, and I was just so happy. Now press kits come on 8 gig drives. It is amazing just how far tech has come.
I only have a few things to report on from the show. The biggest will be True Wireless ear pod comparison. With Racing Electronics coming out with the Legend device with blue tooth, wireless scanning race control and race radio (PRN, MRN), and drivers has never been easier, and less cumbersome with a good bluetooth headset. just having one less wire makes a big difference. So these are the things I will be testing on:
Comfort
Battery life
Noise cancelling and noise isolation
Ease of set up, pairing and use.
I have unique opportunities when I cover NASCAR. If it works while photographing NASCAR, it will work just about anywhere.
My wife has her car, and we have our van, and I have not one, but two “Classic” cars. There is no way I can keep all the keys on one keychain. I have my classic cars on one ring, my van keys and garage padlock key on another. Often if I am going to work on one of my Lebarons, I have to bring both sets of keys. Not any more. Tapplock sent me a Tapplock One, A smart fingerprint padlock. This makes things so much easier for me. I don’t always have the right keys on me when I need to get in the garage but I always have my fingerprints.
Programming was easy through the app for your smartphone, I had both my wife’s and I fingerprints registered in a very short time. Another nice thing with the app, is that the app can also unlock the padlock. This might be useful if its wet/rainy and not able to get your fingers dry enough for a good read of your print.
The boast is that the battery in the TappLock One can last a year. I do wonder how many years the battery itself will last. To charge the battery, you have a proprietary magnetic charging cable. Here is where I found the only flaw in this whole set up. The magnets seem very weak. If you get caught letting the battery die, you will have to get creative in finding a way to keep it connected. While am not a fan of proprietary cables, I can understand why they used this method. A regular USB cable could compromise the waterproof design.
To sum up, I wish we had 10+ of these back in the days when my dad owned the campground. He had pockets of keys, and lost and misplaced sets often. This could of made life just a bit easier back then. I could use at least 3 more my self, I have another gate, and these would also work great for the athletic club lockers.
A few years ago, I made a jump from PC to Mac. One of the things I really liked about the Mac was the iMessage, and that I could answer texts on the computer. But not everyone uses iMessage. all know what it’s’ like to answer texts on the phone. It’s amazing just how much work you can get done by texts, and we also know how much time texts can take up when trying to work. Pick up the phone, type on a tiny screen, send, put down phone. And repete, several times a day. Then i tried an app my cell phone carrier has for text messages for your computer. While this app has helped, I now have two messaging apps open, and you know how windows disappear on the computer. My local electronics store had a sale on a bluetooth keyboard that provide connection up to 4 different devices. It never worked great, switching just didn’t switch like it should. It was not long before i went back to the two messaging windows and back to m Mac Keyboard.
Then I met the Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard. You can pair up to 4 bluetooth devices, and it works flawlessly. What’s more, you can pair any Apple, Android or Windows System. The keyboard will act as a native component to that OS. (Reading the directions will tell you just how to do it)
Typing on this keyboard has taken a little getting used to. There is a bit more key travel then the standard Mac Keyboard. This has only taken me a day or two.
Switching between devices is simple, it’s one key press. There does not seem to be any lag in the process, unlike other keyboards I have tried. Its now a great tool on my desk.
I prefer classic Mac looks, but if you can choose between 4 color combinations-.Silver, Gold, Space Gray, and Rose Gold. You also can go back lit, and with or without a keypad.
Last thing to mention, they boast the battery can last up to 1 year. I will let you know how long it really lasts. I have a feeling that Matias will be very close to their claims.
You can check out all of the Matias Products, including Keyboards, and their iRizer line at https://matias.ca/products/
Years ago, while I was in my late teens, early 20’s I had a few radar detectors. Every supermarket would set them off, and they became more annoying then useful to me. Three or four years ago I got ahold of a ESCORT Passport that connects with the Escort LIVE app.(I did a review in the early days of this site which crashed a few times during the start) I have been using a radar detector ever since! No, not because I like to break the law and speed around town or down I 15 on the way to Disneyland. I like the reminder to mind my speed. I like to think of radar detectors as a way to remember to go the speed limit.
Earlier this year Escort sent me Escort MAX 360. Like the Passport, it provides great radar and laser detection. It works with the Escort Live App. The previous Passport will only work if you have a SmartCord Live Power Cord or Smart Cord Direct Connect. The Passport 360 has it’s own bluetooth built in. I have only tested the 360 blue tooth with the supplied power cord, When you use a SmartCord Direct Connect the phone defaults to it, and the Radar can not be found. It does seem to work with the DirectConnect Cord. (The DirectConnect Cord enables to you wire it to a power source, and not have to use one of the cigarette lighter ports)
What is cool about the Max? You can see what direction the radar is coming from! I admit when the radar goes off, I start scanning for our friends in blue. It’s almost a game with my wife and I to see who will spot them first. Now I know where to look! Other things I enjoy about both the Passport and the MAX, is you can customize the colors on the leds, and on the Max (dont remember on the Passport) you can also change the way the alerts look on the screen. It is easy to mark or unmark speed traps. It has a built in GPS so you dont always have to use the ESCORT Live app.
The ESCORT Live app is pretty cool in it self too. It marks where police has been from you, as well as other users of the Live app. Though, I am not a big fan of this feature (people avoiding police could use this feature to well, avoid police)I see where it could be useful for some. The Live app also makes it easier to set up your detector. Changing colors, bands that detected, alert tones are just a few of the things that you can do.
Updating firmware in both units have always been an issue for me. It seems after ESCORT updates it the first time for me, it updates fine. I have yet to figure out why. This could be an issue for some, you either need to stop in to their office in IL, or send it in. (I was passing through once so I stopped in) I am also fortunate I see them at trade shows like CES and SEMA, and they are always happy to help.
Speaking of going to their office, I have only had one experience, but it was a great one. I had a problem with one of my Escort Live Cords. They took the time to repair it, when they could of just sold me another one. They did not charge me for a repair, replaced a suction cup mount that was not holding the passport as firmly as it should, and updated the firmware.
Radar Detector Technology has advanced in leaps and bound since my first try with detectors to today (at least a 20 year span) ESCORT is now a very trusted brand in my cars.
I could fill you in on all the technical details, but if your like me, you would have to look up every other word!
You can check out the Escort MAX 360 at the Escort Website
Four days to cover 8+ halls. It was tough. I did not make it to all 8+ but the ones I did get to, wow! In the next few weeks I am going to tell you about a great new case by Otter Box, Some great ear phones (like a follow up to AfterShokz line) and tell you about my experiences going from toy drones to commercial drones. That’s just a few of the things I am going to tell ya’ll about. Here is a video I shot with the AreoX X5 Drone. I am hoping to get “the next step” in drones so you can see the difference!
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