SEE BUTTON FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

THE PLACE

The Marjorie R. Post Community Park in East Massapequa on New York’s Long Island is one of several parks maintained by the Town of Oyster Bay. CLICK HERE for more information about Town of Oyster Bay parks. Below are moments from the YouTube video linked at the bottom of this page.

THE LENS

All my video shoots are mobile, or at least they have been so far. I haven’t ever set up static scenes or established an on-location base of operations. I’m interested in trying more set-based video shoots in the future, but for now throughout shoots I carry all my gear: camera, lenses, gimbal, tripod, and supporting items. I’ve used various carrying systems, but I’m currently using a Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II backpack. CLICK HERE for more information about the Lowepro ProTactic BP 450 AW II. I bought the pack online at bhphotovideo.com. I’ve been a B&H customer for well over 20 years, having purchased from them over that time a variety of camera and editing gear, which I’ve used around the world. In my experience, B&H, based in Manhattan, New York, always have lived up to their well-earned reputation for providing the highest-quality products and services.

THE MUSIC

I played The Skye Boat Song and Màiri’s Wedding on the fiddle and bodhrán for the soundtrack to the YouTube video linked at the bottom of this page. Both are old traditional Scottish tunes. The Skye Boat Song’s melody achieved renewed exposure starting in 2014 when it was used as part of the theme song for the popular television series, “Outlander,” albeit with new lyrics. CLICK HERE for more information about The Skye Boat Song.

While I played The Skye Boat Song and Màiri’s Wedding on the fiddle for the soundtrack of the linked video, I first learned those tunes on the Great Highland Bagpipes whilst playing with the Amityville Highland Pipe Band, which is Long island’s oldest pipe band, established in 1952. I’m not an active member any longer, but the band still are busy and successful playing parades and events throughout Long Island and the greater New York metropolitan area, and beyond. They’ve recently returned from Normandy, France, where they played several days’ worth of events commemorating the allied D-Day operation, which was instrumental in bringing about the end of World War Two in the European theater. The band currently are based in Massapequa, New York. CLICK HERE for more information regarding the Amityvillie Highland Pipe Band.

THE GLASS

As I ramp up to my first brew day since replacing the main circulation pump on the hot side of the brewery, I’m checking gear at various points in the brewery’s production pipeline. One of those points at the front-end of the brewing process is the brewery’s water-filtration system. I installed an APEC five-stage reverse-osmosis (R.O.) filtration system about 10 years ago to process local municipal water in order to make it useable for brewing. I’m using an APEC R.O. system capable of filtering 90 gallons of water per day. I don’t ever filter anywhere near that volume, so the system easily handles all my homebrewing needs. I installed the system myself with no plumbing experience, guided by the clear instructions provided with the system’s delivery. CLICK HERE for information about the current version of APEC R.O. system I use.

Prior to installing the R.O. system, I had gone through three different activated-charcoal filtration systems, none of which removed enough water contaminants, especially iron and chlorine. Resultant off-flavors were showing up in the finished beer, even with the early malt-extract batches I brewed. (Brewing with malt extract, as opposed to loose grain, usually makes water chemistry less important, because the mash already has taken place.) The iron levels in the local tap water caused a consistent inky flavor in the several styles of beer I brewed with it before I upgraded to R.O. filtration, and the chlorine levels caused even the water I filtered to exhibit a noticeable green hue when viewed through clear glass. The chlorine smell of the local tap water also is unmistakable.

The cleanness of the R.O.-filtered is obvious in the taste and smell. The effectiveness of the filtration plant also is pronouncedly evident during filter changes. Used filters come out of the system dramatically discolored. I change the first three stages of the system’s filters once a year, and the fourth and fifth stages once every five years, as recommended by APEC. See photos below of new and used filters.

I use BeerSmith2 brewing software to help me manipulate water-chemistry for brewing water. The virtually pure R.O.-filtered water functions as blank slate, and addition of various ingredients makes the resultant brewing liquor suitable for any style. (Brewer’s use the term “liquor” to identify the water used in the actual brewing process.) CLICK HERE for information about BeerSmith brewing software.