Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.1.8 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #47 Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 03:00:27 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #47 1. ordering my book by Linda Essig 2. Not really a stagecraft list anymore (was: plagiarize) by Boyd Ostroff 3. Re: plagiarize by Tony Miller 4. Re: Weird Dimmer Problem by Jerry Durand 5. Re: Not really a stagecraft list anymore (was: plagiarize) by "Michael Banvard" 6. villiage was/ is by b Ricie 7. Re: villiage was/ is - could be by StevevETTrn [at] aol.com 8. Weighty Subject by "MARK OBRIEN" 9. Re: Weighty Subject by Kate Daly 10. Re: Weighty Subject by Stuart Wheaton 11. Moving on from plagaris-ze to guns... by MissWisc [at] aol.com 12. Re: Wha...? by "Tony Deeming" 13. Re: plagiarize by MissWisc [at] aol.com 14. No need to pick sides by MissWisc [at] aol.com 15. Re: Weighty Subject by "Scott C. Parker" 16. "Hollywood" loads by John Bracewell 17. Re: "Hollywood" loads by MissWisc [at] aol.com 18. Re: Weighty Subject by FREDERICK W FISHER 19. Re: Weighty Subject by tommy [at] etainternet.com 20. Re: "Hollywood" loads by Stuart Wheaton 21. Re: Neutral Currents (was Weird Dimmer Problem) - a bit long by Mitch Hefter *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 09:48:11 -0500 From: Linda Essig Subject: ordering my book Message-id: <5.2.0.9.2.20040620094758.02411d90 [at] wiscmail.wisc.edu> Kevin et al: it doesn't look like Amazon has it yet. If you wait about two weeks, distribution will (hopefully) have begun by then. Drama Bookshop will definitely carry it. Thanks for your interest! - Linda ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 11:26:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Boyd Ostroff Subject: Not really a stagecraft list anymore (was: plagiarize) In-Reply-To: Message-ID: On Sat, 19 Jun 2004, john rourke wrote: > Could we get back to Stagecraft, please? Aw c'mon, why start now? Why would we want to get back to something as boring as "stagecraft" when we can read everyones' views on Wal*Mart, Home Depot, Michael Moore and Hillary Clinton? This isn't really much of a "stagecraft list" anymore, it's just a soapbox where people who are interested in stagecraft can rant about their social, political and other off-topic views. Yeah, I know it's as though a bunch of us were hanging around a bar and talking about whatever was on our minds. But I'm sorta losing interest (which is probably why I don't hang around bars with theatre people) since these off-topic posts are so numerous. I just delete about 90% of the list mail without even opening it. But maybe I'm just getting too old for this stuff? Anyway, if the list continues to evolve in this fashion pretty soon I'll be signing off. Again, that's why I'd prefer a web-based forum so I could quickly identify topics of interest without enduring the flood of socio-political stuff filling my inbox. Boyd Ostroff ooo Opera Company of Philadelphia Director of Design & Technology ooooooo 1420 Locust St, Suite 210 ostroff [at] operaphilly.com ooooooo Philadelphia, PA 19102 http://tech.operaphilly.com ooo (215) 893-3600 x225 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 16:54:57 +0100 Subject: Re: plagiarize From: Tony Miller Message-ID: Just one last thing before we it let drop. According to both the Chambers and Oxford English dictionaries it is listed as "Plagiarise or Plagiarize" both spellings work and on the right side of the pond it is usually spelt with an 's'. Now can we get back to Stagecraft, please? Tony Miller Leeds, UK.=20 > pla=B7gia=B7rize ( P ) Pronunciation Key (plj-rz) > v. pla=B7gia=B7rized, pla=B7gia=B7riz=B7ing, pla=B7gia=B7riz=B7es > v. tr. > To use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own. > To appropriate for use as one's own passages or ideas from (another). > > v. intr. > To put forth as original to oneself the ideas or words of another. > > Could we get back to Stagecraft, please? > > John Rourke > Portland, OR ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.1.1.0.20040620090601.0296e848 [at] localhost> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 09:06:44 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Weird Dimmer Problem [I'm reposting this since I didn't see it and one or two other messages of mind come through.] At 09:13 PM 6/18/2004, you wrote: > From what I read in the Power Quality publications, the wide spread adoption >of switching power supplies in computer gear is creating more havoc than our >*few* theatrical dimmers ever did to the power supply system. >There is some debate as to just how much of a problem the harmonics really >are. But, I hear that it has gotten the attention of European regulators who >may ban such gear? >Thus the increasing interest in alternatives like IGBT dimmers. The big problem is when you have a highly capacitive or inductive load, the current is drawn out of phase with the voltage. This causes a lot of "imaginary power" (really-really bad term) also known as "reactive power" to flow back and forth in the wires. Since most of what flows one way flows back the other way, your power meter doesn't charge you for it (think of it as a loan and payback twice each cycle). This is real amperage flowing, so the wires have to be sized for it (all the way back to the power company). In the past the big problem was motors, always inductive. The power companies have compensated for this by putting capacitors across the lines (in the USA they will be rectangular boxes on the power poles with only TWO connections to each). These capacitors will cancel out an equal amount of inductance. As long as the power company checks the lines from time to time they can add/remove capacitors as needed. Big motors don't come and go often, so it may be years between updates. Now comes computers and switching supplies. Without "power factor correction" circuits on them, these look like a capacitor on a dimmer (there is part of every half-cycle when zero current is drawn, then it jumps to pure capacitive). The capacitors on the poles now only make this worse. And the dimming waveform has all the problems we've discussed already. So, Europe is ahead of the USA, but eventually EVERY switching supply larger than an AC adapter will be required to have power factor correction. Oh yes, switching supplies also draw a HUGE amount of current when you turn them on. You thought a cold lamp was bad, a "bare" switcher for a PC can easily draw 50 amps for a couple of cycles. This also has to be controlled in new supplies, otherwise coming back from a power failure would blow your mains. And, just to complete the switching power supply hassle to the power companies...when you have a brown-out (intentional lowering of the AC mains voltage in order to conserve power), switching supplies actually draw MORE power (constant power output plus inefficiency). ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com ------------------------------ From: "Michael Banvard" Subject: Re: Not really a stagecraft list anymore (was: plagiarize) Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:49:02 -0500 Organization: Sapsis Rigging Midwest Message-ID: <001501c456ee$dfb9afb0$6601a8c0 [at] Gelert> In-Reply-To: It's a seasonal thing, ain't it. Summer stock is the majority of the activity, and I've never met someone in the process of building a summer show that had the time to sit down and pose a question to the group. Even though I've been absent for quite the long while, it still feels right, as far as the seasonal topics go. Fall and Spring are the best time for this list, as far as "Stagecraft" goes. I'm just happy to see that all of my "friends" are still here, contributing, agreeing, bickering, and generally making themselves known. No surprise here, really. It's still the Stagecraft list. We just don't seem to be talking about stagecraft very much of late. - Michael Michael J. Banvard SRI Midwest Saint Louis, Missouri (866)773-1174 (314)773-1174 fax www.sapsis-rigging.com Check out the Long Beach Long Riders cross country fund raiser for BC/EFA at http://sapsis-rigging.com/LBLR.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20040620191216.3555.qmail [at] web50605.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:12:16 -0700 (PDT) From: b Ricie Subject: villiage was/ is In-Reply-To: >I don't interpret it mean that I'm supposed to >dedicate my life to feeding and clothing all the >children on the world, >but >rather that I should be aware when there are >children around me. That >they >are safe, not doing dumb stuff, and that my behavior >affects them. My >primary focus is on my own children. And to be >honest, the "village" >had >better talk to me first before it decides it has >something to do with >raising them. African Proverb or not the statement is still relevant world wide. The problem is the villager's used to stay at home, now they are all at work and the TV, X-box, and other mind numbing things have come to replace the villagers. The village is a synonym for society. I understand that people are protective of their offspring but I also see that as part of the problem. If I am not empowered to discipline or praise your child when you are not around, then the village fails and fractures. I am not saying my standards are better or worse than others, I am saying there is right and wrong as defined by society. If I see a child or anyone for that matter doing something wrong I am gonna call them on it without consulting anyone. I do not have children, but that does not stop me from knowing right and wrong. If I see a child litter I am going to make them pick up the trash and put it in the garbage, not because I know better than their parents about raising children, but because I do not want to live around litter. If I see a child playing with fire I am going to take it away from them. I am not going to ask the permission of anyone, I am just going to do it. If I see a group of children throwing rocks at street signs I am going to make them stop, and I am not going to consult their parents. I will do those things because I don't like litter, I don't want things to burn down or people to be injured, and I don't want to pay more taxes to fix street signs that were destroyed by the bored and un-supervised. The above three examples are true stories, and I do not apologize to the parents for stepping forward. The right thing would be for the parents to step forward and apologize for letting it happen, along with a thank you for taking interest in what their children were doing when no one was around. I take my "village" with me and will be proactive in it whether it be Africa or Cape Cod. ===== Brian Rice b_ricie [at] yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ From: StevevETTrn [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1ef.238eb27a.2e0766a0 [at] aol.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:16:00 EDT Subject: Re: villiage was/ is - could be Brian Rice writes: >I am not saying my standards are better or worse than others, I am saying >there is right and wrong as defined by society. At the risk of being redundant (with my previous post) and of beating this *dead horse* thread: ALL civilization, worldwide, is being redefined as "standards" are being upended and overturned. For many, there is no objective measure of right or wrong (transcendent source, "endowed by Creator"). There is only the subjective measure of personal feelings (thoughts, attitudes, prejudices) or the collective measure of the legal code (if it isn't illegal, or I'm not caught, it's OK). The authors of the United States Constitution warned that the system they established would only work for a collectively moral (read God fearing) people. So while some care about the many; and many care only about the self; all should care about the Ultimate. Art often anticipates the future. Therein lies our opportunity to serve the greater good with our craft. Steve Vanciel Orlando, FL ------------------------------ From: "MARK OBRIEN" Subject: Weighty Subject Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 17:15:29 -0700 Message-ID: Greetings, I am working on a show, in a theatre on a University campus. Last week, some enterprising students collected up about 20-20 stage weights that were being used as door stops around the building. So far, so good. Next, they painted them all bright red, and proudly painted "door stop" on them. They then proceded to distribute them back around the building. Even though it is none of my buisness, it irritated the hell out of me for several reasons. These weights should live backstage, so that they may be used as stageweights. If we run short on the deck, I think these students should be the ones to go upstairs and get new ones. And lastly, If these RED weights get into circulation, what are the chances that they may be mistaken for "pipe weight" markers? Am I being petty in being annoyed? Mark O'Brien Tucson, AZ _________________________________________________________________ From ‘will you?’ to ‘I do,’ MSN Life Events is your resource for Getting Married. http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=married ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.0.0.22.2.20040620202629.01d88538 [at] popd.ix.netcom.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 20:30:01 -0400 From: Kate Daly Subject: Re: Weighty Subject In-Reply-To: References: >Last week, some enterprising students collected up about 20-20 stage >weights that were being used as door stops around the building. They shouldn't have been anywhere but in the theater in the first place. Here's hoping your fragile audio equipment and your expensive power tools are better supervised than the stage weights. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <40D633F6.2040902 [at] fuse.net> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:03:50 -0400 From: Stuart Wheaton Subject: Re: Weighty Subject References: In-Reply-To: MARK OBRIEN wrote: > Greetings, > > I am working on a show, in a theatre on a University campus. > > Last week, some enterprising students collected up about 20-20 stage > weights that were being used as door stops around the building. So far, > so good. > > Next, they painted them all bright red, and proudly painted "door stop" > on them. > > They then proceded to distribute them back around the building. > > Even though it is none of my buisness, it irritated the hell out of me > for several reasons. > > These weights should live backstage, so that they may be used as > stageweights. > > If we run short on the deck, I think these students should be the ones > to go upstairs and get new ones. > > And lastly, If these RED weights get into circulation, what are the > chances that they may be mistaken for "pipe weight" markers? > > Am I being petty in being annoyed? > Yes, no, maybe...You said it is none of your business... Stage weights are also known as "Universal theatrical doorstops" so those students just codified what is standard practice. But, from a safety standpoint, stage weights keep doors from closing, so if these are fire doors, the students are causing fire safety problems. If the doors are not fire doors, then painting the weights bright red will help keep people from bashing their toes on them, which is good. Red doorstops are also easier to find in a hurry, and won't leave rust stains where they sit. Very rarely does a theatre run out of weight, but if this is a fear, then the red ones will be easier to find when you collect them. As a member of the 'village' did you ask these children why they were doing it? Did you tell their supervisor what they were up to? Did she support their actions? Are you their supervisor? How does the decision to do this affect you? Is the pipe weight color the same? Do the pipe weight weights have 'door stop' painted on them? Often pipe weight is also marked by a spreader plate or wrapped by a strap to keep them from being pulled accidentally. On this subject, I'll never forget the look on the face of a friend of mine who picked up a stage weight that had migrated from the theatre, he picked it up off the radiator, got a few feet along the hall and then the heat trapped in the weight suddenly made it's presence known. STuart ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <81.ecb1d5a.2e07966e [at] aol.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:39:58 EDT Subject: Moving on from plagaris-ze to guns... Saw a Wild Wild West show for kids yesterday. There were several acts which included real guns (Winchester rifle, Colt 45, others I wasn't able to i.d.) using "Hollywood loads" or "Hollywood bullets." The performers were excellent and consistently demonstrated safe gun handling and explained they weren't using real bullets, but I'm hoping some of you smart, not-summer-stock -challenged folks could answer a few questions. (This is related to stagecraft because it's street theatre.) 1.) One kind of blank had small wax plug as projectile. When this hits the target, does it break apart, collapse, melt, or what? Would it eventially melt in the barrel and clog it? (They were using it to shoot soda cans along with a "don't try this at home" bit.) 2.) They were using balloons as targets. At what range is the gas coming out of the muzzel enough to break a balloon? Or were these some of the wax ones? The blank into the side of a soda can at close range was VERY impressive. They handed the can around for the crowd to see. Thanks! Kristi ------------------------------ Message-ID: <009801c45730$e2904950$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: Wha...? Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 02:41:33 +0100 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Guncheon" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 3:28 AM Subject: Re: Wha...? > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > >> <> > >> > >> Other than being a sound bite, exactly what is that supposed to mean? > > > > It's quite a true statement - inferring that it takes a lot of people > > (parents, other family members, teachers, friends, youth leaders, etc, > etc) > > to raise kids, and that could be equated to the number of people resident > in > > a village. > > > > Capice? > > Not yet. > > I can see it also implying some of the following things: > > Parents are not capable of raising a child by themselves and "need" someone > (the experts, the general public, the mob, the government) else's advice, > rules, input and control. > > Parents are not expected to and therefore do not have to have responsibility > for raising their children. > > It's okay to put your children in day care or similar. In fact it's > preferred. > > The inference is subtle, yet there in my opinion, that this statement > weakens the idea of responsibility of the parent to care for their children > and in some respects, actually questions the ability of a the parent to > raise their children. I can also see it providing the parent with an excuse > for shifting some of their obligation to someone else, i.e. "the village". > At the same time, it does propose that we are all responsible for caring for > all children, all the time. I don't interpret it mean that I'm supposed to > dedicate my life to feeding and clothing all the children on the world, but > rather that I should be aware when there are children around me. That they > are safe, not doing dumb stuff, and that my behavior affects them. My > primary focus is on my own children. And to be honest, the "village" had > better talk to me first before it decides it has something to do with > raising them. > > When I had children, they became the most important people in my life. They > became the "reason" for my being. What I wanted became secondary to them. > > Children are our most precious resource. Lofty and poetic statements about > them like the one mentioned I find rather curious and sometimes > disturbing... especially when made by a politician. > > Laters, > > Paul > If I recall correctly, the original use here on the list was made not in fact wrt Mrs Clinton, but as part of an unrelated post. The reference to HC was part of an explanatory reply when someone here asked 'what the heck's THAT mean?'. I understood the term and it's usage perfectly (I believe) despite not having heard the origins not the Clinton reference, as I gather many others did. I doubt many would accept that the common use of the term means that parents abdicate their parental responsibilities - far from it. However, for ANY child to have a meaningful and rounded education (formal and informal) this takes a hell of a lot of people imparting advice, experience and teachings, and AS a parent, I welcome the majority of assistance wherever it comes from. Yes, all kids will at some stage come into contact with stuff I wouldn't want them to, and possibly potentially dangerous things, but IF the village and I have done our duty correctly, then the likelihood that they choose the wrong path may well be easier to avoid. Ynot ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:52:30 EDT Subject: Re: plagiarize Cc: johnprourke [at] msn.com As you recall, John, I was citing my college's defintion. And there is more than one correct spelling. :) Kind of like the ATM that has a Canadian voice... it askes me to wait for my transaction to "PrOHcess" where most people here say "PrAWcess". Kristi ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1da.2489133a.2e079b00 [at] aol.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:59:28 EDT Subject: No need to pick sides Cc: psyd [at] cox.net That's OK Chris. I started out saying she stole it and folks didn't like that. So I explained my Alma Mater says plagerism is a form of theft... folks don't like that, but yet they're citing dictionary definitions which say the same thing. I'm sorta getting used to people reading half the posts and I've been guilty of the same. Still love ya! Kristi ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.1.1.2.20040620211608.02f1f008 [at] mail.hstech.org> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:18:14 -0400 From: "Scott C. Parker" Subject: Re: Weighty Subject In-Reply-To: References: I heard a story a number of years ago while working in summer stock. A couple of bored technicians carved a fake stage weight out of black foam rubber. They then placed it on top of a very tall boom and left. At 09:03 PM 6/20/2004, you wrote: >On this subject, I'll never forget the look on the face of a friend of >mine who picked up a stage weight that had migrated from the theatre, he >picked it up off the radiator, got a few feet along the hall and then the >heat trapped in the weight suddenly made it's presence known. Scott C. Parker Production Designer/Technical Director High School Tech Production Web Site hstech~AT~hstech.org High Schoolers: come visit the HS Tech Web Site... http://www.hstech.org Our Mission: To assist High School Technical Theater students in their desire to learn about, create, and execute theatrical productions. ------------------------------ Message-Id: <5.2.0.9.0.20040620222522.00ac21b0 [at] pop.lightlink.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:27:49 -0400 From: John Bracewell Subject: "Hollywood" loads In-Reply-To: >1.) One kind of blank had small wax plug as projectile. When this hits the >target, does it break apart, collapse, melt, or what? Would it eventially >melt >in the barrel and clog it? (They were using it to shoot soda cans along >with a >"don't try this at home" bit.) I read your post all the way through, but one thing I'm wondering. Was the "wax plug" really used as a projectile? Was that actually demonstrated as being the point? Here's why I ask. One trick to make a blank give off a lot of smoke is to load the tip with Vaseline or some such petroleum based jelly. Could this have been what the "wax plug" was? -- JLB ------------------------------ From: MissWisc [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1d5.244e5657.2e07a502 [at] aol.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:42:10 EDT Subject: Re: "Hollywood" loads It was a small wax projectile that shoots out from the barrel to make a hole in a can. Looks a lot like the results I got from "bird pellets" from an air gun as a kid. Make sense? Kristi ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 21:45:43 -0500 From: FREDERICK W FISHER Subject: Re: Weighty Subject Message-id: <980b8b97f8cf.97f8cf980b8b [at] wiscmail.wisc.edu> If it were my theater=2C I=27d be annoyed=2E If I was in there temporari= ly as a user=2C I wouldn=27t care much until we ran out of weight for the= show I was working on=2E = Fred Fisher ----- Original Message ----- From=3A MARK OBRIEN =3Comark4=40msn=2Ecom=3E Date=3A Sunday=2C June 20=2C 2004 7=3A15 pm Subject=3A Weighty Subject =3E For info=2C archives =26 UNSUBSCRIBE=2C see = =3E =3Chttp=3A//stagecraft=2Etheprices=2Enet/=3E-------------------------= -------- =3E ------------------ =3E = =3E Greetings=2C =3E = =3E I am working on a show=2C in a theatre on a University campus=2E =3E = =3E Last week=2C some enterprising students collected up about 20-20 = =3E stage weights = =3E that were being used as door stops around the building=2E So far=2C s= o = =3E good=2E =3E Next=2C they painted them all bright red=2C and proudly painted =22do= or = =3E stop=22 on = =3E them=2E =3E = =3E They then proceded to distribute them back around the building=2E =3E = =3E Even though it is none of my buisness=2C it irritated the hell out = =3E of me for = =3E several reasons=2E =3E = =3E These weights should live backstage=2C so that they may be used as = =3E stageweights=2E =3E = =3E If we run short on the deck=2C I think these students should be the = =3E ones to go = =3E upstairs and get new ones=2E =3E = =3E And lastly=2C If these RED weights get into circulation=2C what are = =3E the chances = =3E that they may be mistaken for =22pipe weight=22 markers=3F =3E = =3E Am I being petty in being annoyed=3F =3E = =3E Mark O=27Brien =3E Tucson=2C AZ =3E = =3E =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F= =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F=5F =3E From =91will you=3F=92 to =91I do=2C=92 MSN Life Events is your resou= rce for = =3E Getting = =3E Married=2E http=3A//lifeevents=2Emsn=2Ecom/category=2Easpx=3Fcid=3Dma= rried =3E = =3E ------------------------------ Message-ID: <60072.142.179.101.174.1087787495.squirrel [at] etainternet.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 20:11:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: Weighty Subject From: tommy [at] etainternet.com > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- > > I heard a story a number of years ago while working in summer stock. A couple of bored technicians carved a fake stage weight out of black foam > rubber. They then placed it on top of a very tall boom and left. > > As the owner of a similar weight, I'll say that a much more immediate reaction results from heaving it toward someone's foot. th ------------------------------ Message-ID: <40D65782.1080209 [at] fuse.net> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 23:35:30 -0400 From: Stuart Wheaton Subject: Re: "Hollywood" loads References: In-Reply-To: John Bracewell wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > >> 1.) One kind of blank had small wax plug as projectile. When this hits >> the >> target, does it break apart, collapse, melt, or what? Would it >> eventially melt >> in the barrel and clog it? (They were using it to shoot soda cans >> along with a >> "don't try this at home" bit.) > > > I read your post all the way through, but one thing I'm wondering. Was > the "wax plug" really used as a projectile? Was that actually > demonstrated as being the point? Here's why I ask. One trick to make a > blank give off a lot of smoke is to load the tip with Vaseline or some > such petroleum based jelly. Could this have been what the "wax plug" was? > > -- JLB > > Nope, it is an old target shooter's trick to allow practice in the basement. You fill a pan about 1/4" deep with melted parafin wax and stand primed cases, no powder, just primer! nose down in the wax. After the wax sets, the cartridges will shoot decent holes in a target at 25 feet or so. Not quite like factory wadcutters at 50 yards, but adequate for keeping one's hand in the right habits, and considerably cheaper too! This only works with revolvers and the like, there won't be enough pressure to cycle a semi-auto. Good cleaning afterwards would be essential. This would not be safe on stage. There are many other ways to simulate a projectile hit without adding the risk of real projectiles. The wax bullets could definitely blind you. Stuart ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.0.6.2.20040620212351.02706cc8 [at] mail.DesignRelief.com> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 22:44:43 -0500 From: Mitch Hefter Subject: Re: Neutral Currents (was Weird Dimmer Problem) - a bit long In-Reply-To: References: We rehash this at least once a year. Frank Wood does not seem to believe=20 the facts the rest of us are stating. Let me try one last time to explain= =20 the facts and put this discussion to rest: Quite simply, Mr. Wood states that it is not possible for there to be more= =20 current on a neutral in a 3-phase, 4-wire system than the circuit rating=20 (e.g., he says you cannot get 26 amps on a neutral in a 3-phase, 4-wire, 20= =20 amp system with 20 amp loads) because the currents cancel. In a linear system (all full sine waves), this would be correct. However,= =20 if the sine waves are "chopped up" as in most solid-state dimmer systems,=20 this simply does not work any more. In tests done in the mid 1980s (the results of which were used in=20 deliberations on the National Electrical Code at which I was present), we=20 had the exact results I just stated above. The Phase A load was at full,=20 Phase B was at ~ 55%, and Phase C was off. The (3) 120 volt loads were all= =20 2400 watts - 20 amps. Neutral current was measured at 26 amps. No matter= =20 what you may believe Frank, THIS IS FACT! The neutral current cancellation of a linear system does NOT apply - the=20 triplen harmonics generated due to the waveform chopping add together. If= =20 this situation had been created with autotransformers, resistance dimmers,= =20 or even salt water dimmers, there would have been cancellation since you=20 would still have all sine waves with no harmonics and the neutral current=20 would have been less than 20 amps. Other combinations of settings in=20 non-linear systems will produce different results, sometimes less than=20 "full" and sometimes more than "full" current. The National Electrical Code (R) allows for derating the neutral in many=20 installations because of the cancellation that occurs in linear=20 systems. However, it does not allow such derating in non-linear=20 systems. Also, the NEC requires additional derating if there are more than= =20 3 current-carrying conductors in a cable or conduit. Therefore, in the=20 situation above, we have 4 current carrying conductors - additional=20 derating applies (i.e., we have to use larger conductors) in order to=20 prevent overheating of conductors in normal operating conditions. In the example above, as part of the NEC deliberations, we calculated the=20 total heat load in the conduit based on all RMS currents - phase and=20 neutral. With all three phases on full and no neutral current, there was=20 more heat than in the "overloaded neutral" condition above. However, since= =20 we would upsize the conductors, we are in a good position. Mr. Wood has pointed out on numerous occasions that electricity does work=20 the same on both sides of the pond. We know that some of the rules which=20 govern electrical installations in the UK differ from the NEC (which BTW is= =20 the most widely adopted electrical code in the world). Perhaps some of=20 these installation rule differences end up addressing this neutral current= =20 problem, so it is not an "up front" issue. ;;;;;;;; If you choose not to believe the collective wisdom, knowledge, and=20 experience of the List, perhaps you will believe Fluke - a very well known= =20 and reputable manufacturer of test equipment. There have several papers on= =20 their site which address power harmonics in a more technical manner. From= =20 http://www.fluke.com/download/library/1260362_w.pdf : =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D "In a three-phase, four-wire system, neutral conductors can be severely=20 affected by nonlinear loads connected to the 120 V branch circuits. Under=20 normal conditions for a balanced linear load, the fundamental 60 Hz portion= =20 of the phase currents will cancel in the neutral conductor. "In a four-wire system with single-phase, non-linear loads, certain=20 odd-numbered harmonics called triplens =97 odd multiples of the third=20 harmonic: 3rd, 9th, 15th, etc =97 do not cancel, but rather add together in= =20 the neutral conductor. In systems with many single-phase, nonlinear loads,= =20 the neutral current can actually exceed the phase current. The danger here= =20 is excessive overheating because, unlike phase conductors, there are no=20 circuit breakers in the neutral conductor to limit the current. "Excessive current in the neutral conductor can also cause=20 higher-than-normal voltage drops between the neutral conductor and ground .= =20 . ." =3D-=3D-=3D-=3D Let's move on please. . . . Mitch Hefter mitch.hefter [at] DesignRelief.com Member ESTA Technical Standards Committee & Electrical Power Working Group, Member NEC Panel 15; USITT Engineering Vice-Commissioner; Office: Entertainment Technology / a Division of Genlyte Thomas mhefter [at] genlyte.com http://www.etdimming.com http://www.vari-lite.com=20 ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #47 ****************************