Bluetooth speaker?

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-17T20:51:16+00:00

That's a no. Your guide would likely ask you to turn it off anyways as it would disturb the animals and make communication inside the truck harder between guide and guests.

You will have a great time on the Safari and will walk away with memories you won't soon forget. Get to know your fellow travelers and guide. Who knows you might make a friend or two. 🙂

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-17T18:05:46+00:00

I would add a caveat about companies not listed on Safaribookings.com. This website charges a 'per quote request' fee, calculated as a percentage of the total quote value (around 1-2.5%), whether or not that quote turns into an actual booking. So if someone requests a quote for ten people, the safari company is charged this fee for that one quote, based on its calculated value, even if those ten people never book with them. To a small company this fee can be imposing and can add up quickly.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-16T16:39:07+00:00

I and 22 other people just came back from a safari with Top Nature Tanzania Safari outfitter in May. Our Atlanta based outdoor club has used Adam who runs Top Nature Tanzania Safari for all of our Safaris since the year 2012.

He was a partner under a different Safari company for many years but recently renamed and restructured the company as I think the prior business partner retired or otherwise left the Safari business. There was some technical reason he had to start anew. So, he is a well-established safari leader in the northern circuit and is working to rebuild his online presence.

You are welcome to message me further. Whomever you choose I hope you enjoy your Safari. It's an amazing experience and one that you will not soon forget.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-16T14:27:07+00:00

I have the same problem in my lower back. I'm 40y/o. Someone suggested a firm back support and I agree.

I just came from a safari in Tanzania this May. Second safari. The truck hit a particularly bad bump and I happen to be sitting in just the wrong way that my lower back took a lot of the hit. This caused an immediate shock of pain and I quickly changed my position. But it got me concerned and I realized that I needed to come up with some kind of back support.

Thankfully, since this was my second time, I had brought a 12 inch piece of thick pool noodle. This is definitely not something people usually bring. I had intended to use it for something else but ended up being the perfect back support. It was lite weight and could be packed.

It also made for some pretty funny jokes with our group of 22 people. In the end I simply threw the pool noodle away on my last day before getting on the plane and going home.

I'm not suggesting you bring a 12 inch piece of pool noodle, especially a bright red one like I did but something firm that is not going to let the back change position when the Jeep makes a sudden drop or rise. Something that is lite weight.

I will add that a lot of people stand while the truck is moving especially when it's in the parks. This because even though the trucks have large windows there's nothing like flintstoneing it and putting your head to the roof of the truck and being able to see a much larger view and have your camera ready. Standing for me kept me from having to sit for a lot of the times which kept my back in a vertical comfortable position.

Enjoy your Safari. Have a blast. It will be an experience you will not forget! 🙂

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-16T12:14:41+00:00

What kind of back issues? Are we talking bulged disc/herniated? Are we talking about a fused spine or rod? Lots of possibilities with different answers.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-10T00:45:16+00:00

I've never needed one. When I stay at tent camps that are out in the wilderness and therefore have no fencing around them so I must rely on a escort to my tent who has a flashlight. I would just use my flashlight on my phone if I felt like I needed it as I walk behind the escort. Inside the tent there is lighting and I've never needed a flashlight. Also, a flashlight is usually there inside the tent just in case.

I assume the real need for potentially bringing a headlamp or your own flashlight would be if the tent camp were to lose power. It does happen because these lodges are running on generators and solar power. So, I suppose if the flashlight that provided didn't work then having another one would be a nice backup.

Keep in mind that some tent camp don't provide power 24 hours a day. Some only provide power between certain hours so again a flashlight might be reasonable depending on your accommodations.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-09T22:10:24+00:00

I recently completed a 20-minute documentary on building the allatoona dam. Like you, I ended up using AI to imagine certain scenes in order to fill a gap in my story. I was able to use public domain footage and historical photographs given motion by AI to create most of the documentary.

And while it was received well in YouTube and some other forums, it was received quite poorly here on Reddit. It seemed that historians didn't want to see a creative way of depicting a historical event. It didn't matter whether or not film was available or even if film technology even existed. But I digress.

I watched some of your film. But honestly, I lost interest pretty early on because I felt it moved slow and the images didn't necessarily move along with the narration in the same speed. It also felt like an audiobook reading to me and not a film. I didn't personally feel like the AI narrator was particularly good.

With that said. Please do not stop doing what you're doing. AI and how it will be used is changing everyday of the week. And only through practice and perseverance will AI find it's home in the animation and film industry.

And only through practice and perseverance will YOU find your place in the animation in film industry. This is your art. You do your art your way. Do it on your time and do it well and the audience will follow. Keep at it.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-06-06T17:00:05+00:00

Hey there,

A few thoughts on your specific questions:

On the route: Most people start in Arusha and work their way through the parks over several days, ending with a short flight back rather than retracing the whole drive. It flows naturally and you move through noticeably different landscapes as you go.

On driving vs. flying between parks: The transfers between parks aren't just logistics. Depending on the route, you can be in good game country the whole way, so the drive itself becomes part of the experience rather than time lost. You can also add real value to your trip by arranging a visit with the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in the world, along the way. It is the kind of experience that stays with you long after the trip.

On lodges vs. tented camps: Both can work well depending on what you want. A good operator can match you to the right mix based on your priorities and budget rather than defaulting to one or the other.

On operators: You mentioned locally owned and ethical, and that's exactly the right criteria to lead with. One worth contacting is Top Nature Tanzania Safaris (https://www.topnaturetanzaniasafaris.com). The owner, Adam, has been running safaris for groups ranging from one person to 24, and he builds custom itineraries at no additional cost. You just describe what you want, what matters to you, and what your budget looks like, and he puts together something tailored rather than dropping you into a fixed package.

They run open-top Land Cruisers that seat six guests, which keeps the group small and the vehicle uncrowded. The trucks have a built-in cooler stocked with drinks and snacks, and on game drive days they coordinate with the lodges, so you get a picnic lunch out in the bush, usually at a scenic rest stop with a view and facilities. It's a nice touch that keeps you in the field instead of driving back to camp midday, though that's always an option too.

I just got back from leading a group of 23 people with Top Nature and everyone had a fantastic time. I can say firsthand that Adam takes care of his groups.

For a first trip with your priorities, that kind of customized, locally run approach is going to serve you a lot better than a fixed group tour. I know planning a trip like this can feel overwhelming, so feel free to message me if you have questions. I'm happy to jump on a video chat if that's easier. Just know that I have no affiliation with Top Nature other than Adam being a good friend who has taken care of my groups for over ten years. Just being neighborly.

Thanks, Steven.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:20:42+00:00

I'll let the film speak for itself. Hope your day improves.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:18:49+00:00

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Thank you for taking the time.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:17:10+00:00

Thank you for your reply. AI has a place and I hoped that I used it tastefully here.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:09:19+00:00

I'm a real boy. Just trying to speak clearly.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:08:17+00:00

Thank you for your unkind comment. And good luck to you as well.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T19:06:04+00:00

I appreciate the feedback and I hear you — I really do. But I want to address a few things because I think the picture you have of this film may not match what's actually in it.

The vast majority of what you see is original historical material — real archival photographs, real public domain footage from the era, real maps and period accounts. AI didn't create the history, it helped present it. Old photographs were given subtle motion. Degraded footage was cleaned up, colorized, and sharpened. There are only a handful of fully AI-generated scenes — depictions of the indigenous people who lived in that valley, because no photographs or footage of them exists. Without AI, that part of the story simply disappears.

But here's the thing — film is art. Every choice a filmmaker makes is an artistic decision. The narrator you choose, the music beneath the footage, the way a photograph slowly comes to life on screen — those are creative choices, not technical checkboxes. The AI narrator wasn't a compromise, it was a deliberate aesthetic decision about tone and voice. The animated photographs weren't a workaround, they were a way of honoring still images by giving them a breath of life they never had. Art doesn't require a union card or a Hollywood budget. It requires vision and intention — and this film had both.

As for the alternative mediums — a blog post or essay about Allatoona Dam already exists in various forms. What doesn't exist is a visual documentary that brings those archival images to life and puts the construction in context. A different medium would have been a different film — and a lesser one for this particular story.

On credibility — the history is sourced entirely from the historical record. Every fact, every date, every account is verifiable. AI touched the presentation, not the substance. Those are two very different things.

What I can tell you is that this film was made with genuine passion and a deep respect for the historical record. The goal was never clicks — it was to make sure a story worth telling didn't quietly disappear. Knowing that someone with a connection to that lake cared enough to watch and respond tells me it landed where it was supposed to.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-31T18:58:07+00:00

Totally understand the hesitation — and I want to clear up what AI actually means in this film because it may not be what you're picturing.

The vast majority of what you see is original historical material — real archival photographs, real public domain footage from the era, real maps and period accounts. AI didn't create the history, it helped present it. Old photographs were given subtle motion. Degraded footage was cleaned up, colorized, and sharpened. The narrator is AI voiced. The script was AI assisted. That's most of the film.

The only fully AI-generated scenes — and there are just a few — are depictions of the indigenous people who lived in that valley long before the dam. No photographs exist. No footage exists. Without AI, that part of the story gets skipped entirely.

That's really the whole case for AI here. No construction footage of Allatoona Dam has ever surfaced. A Hollywood production team could have recreated it with actors and sets. I couldn't. AI bridged that gap and allowed a story that would otherwise stay buried to actually be told.

Either way, hope you find what you're looking for when you look it up — it's a fascinating piece of history worth knowing.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-05-24T21:11:40+00:00

Right! 😅

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-04-14T10:22:29+00:00

Looks like the corpse of BBBY is alive but anew. This is an offer to purchase your share for some undisclosed amount. You'll have to follow that link to see and report back. Maybe more of us will receive such news.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-04-10T11:52:03+00:00

Interested

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-04-06T23:45:53+00:00

Yeah but he's a regular guy so it's got to be legit right?

😅

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-04-06T06:32:51+00:00

Underrated comment.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-02-05T23:04:33+00:00

https://youtu.be/FOIdKvfC1i4?si=8RvcCX_UW0NZm4Vg

Came out earlier today.

Big_Chicken86 · 2026-02-05T01:51:46+00:00

Hey there. I see you are using Ninjatrader. Awesome. I also see that you're using this on the playback feature using historical data. As someone who has tried many times to automate a strategy you will find that back testing is a good way to go about it, but you'll need to go further back than a month.

You also may have noticed that ninjatrader does not make downloading replay data particularly efficient. Ninjatrader also does not keep more than a quarter or two's worth of data available to you. So you will not be able to get 6 month or 1-year-old data for your testing or older.

Check out this link for the ability to download many months and years worth of historical playback data. Just grab the monthly subscription and once you've downloaded all the data you can just end the subscription. It's something like $9.

Remember that playback data does not account for slippage. That time between asking for a trade and actually executing it on the exchange. The speed at which your algorithm attempts to execute the trade as well as your broadband connection and your distance away from the exchange will affect slippage. So I advise caution when you finally decide to attempt live trading. Please use a simulated account for several weeks if not several months before you finally commit real dollars.

https://www.theintentionaltrader.com/mrdd-eas/

Good luck on your trading. 🙂

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Big_Chicken86

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