Ventura Beaches, DVD Conversions, 80s Action Movies
This week, I took on a new project. I am doing video Conversion From DVD to .mp4 file. My husband has about a dozen video DVDs of his live shows and TV appearances to convert to computer files. I said yes. It's the kind of thing I can do in my situation. I can sit in my chair and fiddle with computer software until I need a nap or a file conversion. While doing the transfers, I had a flashback to 2002, while I researched how to do the modifications that I did similar work 20 years ago. It was the way way back when people ordered videos by mail order. And the very earliest sales of DVD copies. Those were the days. Today, I am grateful that one of my computers still has a CD/DVD drive.
I am trying out NCH Suites for the conversion software. It came recommended on a YouTube video where I learned everything. In the Suite is a tool called Prim Video File Converter. I thought it was a big fail, but I let it run while I stepped away, and upon my return, it did as promised and converted my first disk. The part that struck my memory was how I had to watch the whole reproduction to make sure it worked. Software lies. It says it's done, but the part I want to play is only audio, not the video feed. I have to keep trying.
Next, I realized that my computer already has video editing software courtesy of Microsoft. Once I get all the files loaded up, Mark and I can use the editing software to snip out the bits of his work to share on social media, or maybe he will want to start his website. That should keep us occupied this fall and winter. bur
Looking for the perfect beach in Ventura County
We have done a bit of exploring along the Malibu to Ventura stretch of California Beaches. The Beach Boys have a song called Surfing USA, and they name all kinds of local beaches. We have visited many song-designated beaches to find a perfect beach that fits our criteria. A dog-friendly beach, with parking and restrooms, also it needs to be easy to load in, and hopefully, some surfers to entertain us. This week, we visited Oxnard Beach Park. It is about an Hour and fifteen-minute drive, with easy free parking, restrooms, and a vast beach area. A top five find this year. We were surprised how few people were on the beach, fewer than ten. We cheated and let the dog run off-leash until we ran into a lady walking her dogs. It's not easy to load in, but I think we will be back again.
It also ran this week: We were directed to Sycamore Cove by the park rangers; this was our first visit. It has one thing none of the other beaches we have visited offer: fire pits. Parking was cheap, standard porta-potty restrooms. A shower and drinking water are available, too. Load-in was as easy as can be. The downside is that this stretch of beach can be windy beyond comfort. Our umbrella blew away at one point. I want to go back so we can build a fire!
What Read this week.
I picked up a bit more sci-fi this week. Wayward Galaxy 2. I enjoyed the first one so much that I picked up the second book to see how many loose ends might be resolved. Not many is the answer. A comical character speaks English but only uses references from 1980s action movies like Predator. In the commentary, the authors discuss how many VHS movies they had to watch to build up the Broady vocabulary. I am tempted to watch some of them again. I watched them in the theater when they first came out.
The adversaries, the Rupac, are of an unknown number and vintage. From book one, we know the advanced team of scientists and army rangers have no idea how long they have traveled in space. When they arrive on the alien planet and meet the descendants of the ship's company, they are expected to welcome after setting up camp. They know something has gone wrong. Book two adds more origin story to the Rupac as the American Colony clashes with elements of the Rupac who have also come to the planet as rivals among themselves and the Americans.
The original colonists are getting along with the new army ranger arrivals. However, the leadership of the combined groups will come to a head soon. I am looking forward to book three. I think the advanced technology described in book two will allow the colonists to go toe to toe with their foes.