[Bob Cole]

There was this really loooong spot in the middle of the game, with all these old people singing and playing guitars? I don’t remember the client but I’m guessing the AARP.

[Bob Cole]

[David Roth Weiss] “You guys are kind of Ivy League crustacean afficianados by comparison.”

“Ivy League” and “crustacean” and “afficianados” in reference to Baltimore? Ummmm, have you ever been in Baltimore????? If you called something a “crustacean” in Baltimore you’d probably get knocked upside the head. And if you called someone an “afficiando” the waiter would probably say, “The gay bars are uptown, Mister.” And if you used the expression “Ivy League,” you’d probably get, “POISON ivy?”

But at least most people in Baltimore speak English.

Thanks Jeff for coming to the defense.

Another Baltimore story. My sophisticated niece visited, and wanted to make some fancy new yuppie drink which required mint. We drove everywhere (in November) looking for some “fresh mint.” The last place we tried, the guy behind the counter looked puzzled and said, “You mean, CE-ment?”

[Bob Cole]

In defense of Lowel, sort of… I still use my very ancient Lowel D and Lowel Tota-lights, inside Chimeras. I especially like the Tota-lights as they are so easy to pack. Chimera’s speed-ring for the Tota-light has its own good tilt mechanism, which is the most vulnerable “working part.”

So if I had a Tota-light I’d buy a video Chimera and speed-ring for it. I’d spend any more money on a good fluorescent fixture for a host of reasons,and it probably would not be a Rifa or a Caselite.

[Bob Cole]

[Gary Taylor] “In just about every State an insurance company will underwrite your policy and determine your premiums based on your health history.”

That should be illegal, for both ethical and practical reasons. We all wind up paying for uninsured folks in the E.R., yet we are all forced to pursue our own “best deal” just to keep from getting the short end of the stick. The people who created and maintain our current system (for their own benefit of course)should be ashamed. And it isn’t really O.T. to discuss this here, because it has an adverse impact on the independent contractor-types who make up a large part of the folks in our profession.

[Bob Cole]

I suspect that the biggest factor for many people in the U.S. is health insurance. If you are buying health insurance as an individual, and you or anyone in your family gets into a significant accident, or becomes very sick, you could be on your way to bankruptcy. It’s the kind of thing that you can blissfully ignore for years, but when it bites you, it can be devastating. A pre-existing condition can make your health insurance premiums look like the salary from your first good job (if anyone will insure you at all).

Even though they’ve been cutting back coverage and demanding more contributions from employees, corporations tend to offer better health insurance for less, than individuals can find on their own. I’m no expert, but from what I’ve heard, U.S. Federal laws provide a much greater tax advantage to businesses than individuals for buying health insurance.

[Bob Cole]

I think that not revising any layers might do the trick. I tried that, and it seems to work. Thanks.

Of course being able to add layers in PS without wrecking the .psd-derived comp in AE would be even better. I will eventually upgrade my AE and PS, when the right deal comes along.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[Ron Shook] “Bob & DRW,

Good work on my weekend giggle guys.”

As you know, I very much appreciate the advice that DRW and Ron give so freely on these forums. It was just too long since somebody needled David.

Speaking of needling, have any of you noticed that on most shoots, very quickly there is one “butt” of the jokes? It’s probably the same kind of dynamic as is displayed on shows like “Survivor,” or more tragically, is exploited by unprincipled politicians throughout history, all around the world, who single out Celts, or Jews, or blacks, or Danes.

Anyway, don’t blame David for teasing me about the polluted (yet still pretty nice) Chesapeake Bay. He can’t think very clearly, breathing ALL THAT SMOG IN L.A.

— Bob

[Bob Cole]

[David Roth Weiss] “its obvious he’s eaten way too many of those polluted Chesapeake Bay crabs.”

So David, are you cancelling your order for a bushel of crabs?

— Bob

[Bob Cole]

Thanks. Numbers are good. I can deal with 5% — it’s advice like “leave a comfortable margin of error” that leaves me wondering what to do. I’m not even sure where I heard this in the first place.

— Bob C

[Bob Cole]

[mike s] “Thank you so much for passing along the information and for the quick response. I really appreciate it.”

Once you get to know DRW, you’ll realize that he’s just making up his answers half the time….