Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Institutional Risk

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I saw this video for Central Institute in Australia this morning. Recruiting students is serious business at educational institutions and the approach and manner in which this is done varies wildly. Central commissioned two former students to make a video that would speak to potential students. Time magazine calls it “perhaps the best technical school recruiting video ever.”.

It’s definitely different than anything I’ve seen in the recruiting world and I can’t imagine the conversations with school officials that must have transpired to get it approved. Vomit, curse words, beer and death are topics not usually associated with schools trying to attract new students.

Risk. Is it part of success?

VIDEO: Flying Like a Bird (not on a Vespa)

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My friend Dan Leri sent a link to this video this morning asking if my friend Paul Ruby had one of these. I replied he has two. Seriously though, the short flight recorded in this video is nothing short of an amazing achievement. Every now and again I need to be reminded of the summits people attempt. For one person a ride on a Vespa in cold weather, for another soaring like a bird over the Grand Canyon.

Click the full screen button on the lower right.  It’s an HD video and more powerful at a larger size.

Sam Abell, Photographer, on Patience, Passion and Slowing Down

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Sam Abell is a photographer who I have admired for a long time. The passion he brings to assignments and stories is rare in a world bent on speed and media lifespans measure in hours or days. Listening to him talk about making photographs and spending more than a year to make one photograph had me wondering if I had the patience or commitment to pursue anything that way.

At the end of the video he reveals the photo and a story that happens afterwards.  I won’t reveal the ending but as he describes the man in the plane thumbing through the magazine I know that guy.  Me.

I need to slow down.

VIDEO: Off-Road Riding with the BMW GS

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I came across this video on Twitter and thought it did a good job reflecting what off the pavement riding is like with those big BMW GS and GS Adventure bikes. And a smattering of the smaller BMW dual sport bikes like the F800 GS.

I remember riding a 1970 Kawasaki dirt bike in far more serious terrain and places that I would never attempt with one of the big BMWs. Even so, this video makes riding off the pavement look great.

Failure and Imagination

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J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

I don’t often post non-riding items on Scooter in the Sticks but this video warrants a look.  Early this morning I watched author J.K. Rowling deliver a powerful message on the lessons of failure and the power of human imagination.  I expected Harry Potter but heard something more striking.  Rowling talked about imagination as a unique and special power.   

At the end of her address she offered a challenge to graduates that is equally appropriate to riders and their journeys.  Rowling  invokes the words of the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca:

“As is a tale, so is life, not how long it is but how good it is.”

So I guess I’ll continue to focus on the good trips.

I found this video quite by accident at Alison Day Designs.