[Bob Cole]

Thanks Richard! That’s a great solution.

— Bob

[Bob Cole]

These are funny. Thanks.

Although they aren’t strictly comparable, the first film I saw with this technique was called “Doubletalk,” back in the 1970s: a young man meets the parents while picking up his date. We hear what they say to one another, as well as what they’re actually thinking. It was brilliant at the time, though I don’t know what I’d say if I saw it now — probably too tame for today. (I’d love to know, from a film-history pov, if anybody knows of other films with the “unspoken thoughts out loud” idea. Shakespeare did some nice work with those soliloquies, come to think of it.)

Then there’s a very funny film about low budget indie filmmaking. If you haven’t seen “Living in Oblivion,” with Steve Buscemi as (I think) an independent director… you’re in for a treat. I think it tries a little too hard for meaningfulness, but there are scenes “on the set” which you really should see, if you’ve ever tried to make a film with an actor, a cameraman, or a sound recordist.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Shane Ross] “Sony PVM-14L5 Multiformat monitor. This monitor does HD and SD via component. And 16:9 Great monitor.”

This monitor is $1550 at BH, the specs look great, and it is probably a necessary item for the desktop, but it is not that large.

What are the drawbacks to using consumer HD monitors?

[Bob Cole]

[Arniepix] “Casio makes a family of dirt cheap thermal printers that are supposed to be really good. Prices start at $75 or $100.”

I thought the Casios would be great too. My local Office Depot had a stack of those that they were practically begging customers to take off their hands. I bought one and returned it without opening it when I realized that the replacement thermal cartridges would cost too much.

Unlike DRW, I have trouble with the Epson R’s. I am on my third or fourth R300. They are definitely for light duty only.

[Bob Cole]

I think they WH pix are public domain, though there may be fees involved for printing copies. You may want to call the White House press office and ask.

As for DOD images, there could be obstacles involving security issues, but again I think if you can get your mitts on them, they should be public domain.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[john sharaf] “Both units (whatever they are) turn on only when both are plugged in”

Thanks. I should have figured that out from your description of wiring in SERIES. I guess you could even wire it up as a little receptacle box, leaving the input wire trailing out of it for the local plug.

— Bob

[Bob Cole]

[David Roth Weiss] “at least I should be entitled to a promotion and a guaranteed bi-weekly paycheck”

It’s in the mail.

[Bob Cole]

[john sharaf] “make a pigtail in series”

John, how does this work exactly? Do you have to have all the units turned on before powering up the line? Is there any danger, if you don’t have one of the 110 units turned on, of blowing out the bulb on the first one you turn on?

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[David Roth Weiss] “they’ll immediately begin to appreciate your Harvard education”

Isn’t there some code of ethics about outing somebody without their permission?

I could of course tell the world about DRW’s 110% approval rating from the Americans for Democratic Action, the ACLU, and the American Communist Party. But that would cross a line so I won’t.

[Bob Cole]

[David Roth Weiss] “I have to disagree. I think its reality. And, while reality may be a bitter pill, its better for everyone if the client is grounded in reality”

Perhaps the “any two” line is useful at some critical point in the negotiation. But for first impressions, I just think it’s negative and off-putting to put it on a website. I also think it’s sort of condescending to talk to a client that way. But perhaps that’s just me.

I would be delighted if my competition used the “any two” line on their website, and I’ll make sure my website is full of client benefits. (In actual fact of course I don’t even have a website so I’m speaking purely theoretically here. But this discussion is interesting, as I am girding myself for actual marketing, after 30 years of referrals.)