Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.6) with PIPE id 20722033; Sat, 12 Mar 2005 03:02:04 -0800 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.6 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #326 Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 03:01:45 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.4 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00, US_DOLLARS_3 autolearn=ham version=3.0.2 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.2 (2004-11-16) on prxy.net X-Spam-Level: X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4f2 X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #326 1. Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU by Stephen Litterst 2. Re: Peeeeeeps by Mike Brubaker 3. Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU by "Andy Leviss" 4. Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU by Herrick Goldman 5. Re: Glasgow by David d'Anjou 6. Re: peeping in toronto. by "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" 7. Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU by Herrick Goldman 8. spending money in Canada by "David R. Krajec" 9. PDA recommendation by "David R. Krajec" 10. Re: PDA recommendation by "Ronnie Thevenot" 11. Re: PDA recommendation by Michael Heinicke 12. Ice shows by "Pamela Abra" 13. DMX Channels by CB 14. Why carry equipment? by CB 15. Re: Why carry equipment? by CB 16. Glasgow AND Peeps... by Martha Kight 17. Listers talents by Martha Kight 18. ice shows by "Pamela Abra" 19. Re: Why carry equipment? by "Tom Heemskerk" 20. Re: 520i by "Klyph Stanford" 21. Re: ice shows by "Tom Heemskerk" 22. Re: Peeeeeeps by "ladesigners [at] juno.com" *** 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: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:40:15 -0500 (EST) From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU In-reply-to: Message-id: <4435.172.141.15.187.1110598815.squirrel [at] 172.141.15.187> References:

> --------------------------------------------------- > We happen to be discussing the ETC Revolution, which is ETC's new > intelligent Source Four. It uses the same basic optics, the same lamp, > the same everything as the standard Source Four, just automates > everything. It's the SAME EXACT FRICKIN' LIGHTING, just with more > flexibility. > > Go back under your bridge, Frank. *TWEEET* All right folks. Time to stop the Frank-bashing. We all know he works in a different style than the rest of us. We all know how he feels and that there's no way we can change his mind or his practices. So it's time to stop this futile practice of throwing ourselves against the wall, and start acting like professionals again. I understand that many of us are concerned about the younger members of the list thinking that Frank's way is the best way, but all this Frank-bashing probably isn't encouraging many of them to grow up to be like us. If you really can't stand Frank, set up a message filter. If you feel obligated to respond to his messages, please try to keep it civil and professional. Sorry to be the hard*ss but it was starting to get out of hand all around. Steve Litterst ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.2.0.14.0.20050311224509.01e49798 [at] mail.insightbb.com> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:46:01 -0500 From: Mike Brubaker Subject: Re: Peeeeeeps In-Reply-To: References: What days do you fill in as a judge? Remind me to get into trouble then... Mike At 01:33 PM 3/11/2005, ladesigners [at] juno.com wrote: >Mmmm...As in taking the shielding off and placing it in right in front of >a telco or TV dish on an office building roof, with a device created to >power it on and off at random intervals? >/s/ Richard ------------------------------ From: "Andy Leviss" Subject: RE: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 21:50:30 -0500 Organization: Duck's Echo Sound Message-ID: <000301c526ae$4122eca0$a19afea9 [at] AndyLeviss> In-Reply-To: Steve Litterst wrote: > I understand that many of us are concerned about the younger > members of the list thinking that Frank's way is the best > way, but all this Frank-bashing probably isn't encouraging > many of them to grow up to be like us. > > If you really can't stand Frank, set up a message filter. If > you feel obligated to respond to his messages, please try to > keep it civil and professional. You're right, Steve, and I think I speak for most of us when I say that we really do try, just sometimes we can't hold it in anymore. I also want to clarify that my, "Go back under your bridge" comment was meant to refer to the internet definition of a troll, implying that Frank often posts with the primary goal of causing a disturbance, rather than contributing anything useful. It was not in any way, shape, or form meant to actually compare Frank to an ugly, hairy little creature who lives under a bridge and yells at those who try to cross. --A -- Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.6.2 - Release Date: 3/4/2005 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:52:23 -0500 Subject: Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU From: Herrick Goldman Message-ID: In-Reply-To: Awww and I was just starting to enjoy the thank you notes I was receiving off list, Besides I haven't reached my Frank bashing quota yet. I have 2 more alotted for this fiscal quarter. On 3/11/05 10:40 PM, "Stephen Litterst" wrote: > > *TWEEET* > > All right folks. Time to stop the Frank-bashing. We all know he works in > a different style than the rest of us. We all know how he feels and that > there's no way we can change his mind or his practices. So it's time to > stop this futile practice of throwing ourselves against the wall, and > start acting like professionals again. > > I understand that many of us are concerned about the younger members of > the list thinking that Frank's way is the best way, but all this > Frank-bashing probably isn't encouraging many of them to grow up to be > like us. > > If you really can't stand Frank, set up a message filter. If you feel > obligated to respond to his messages, please try to keep it civil and > professional. > > Sorry to be the hard*ss but it was starting to get out of hand all around. > > Steve Litterst > > > -- Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com 917-797-3624 "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Message-ID: <96c90e3405031120012f7417df [at] mail.gmail.com> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:01:35 -0500 From: David d'Anjou Reply-To: David d'Anjou Subject: Re: Glasgow In-Reply-To: References: Until getting out of the city I found taxis a cheaper alternative then a car in Glasgow. > As far as the expens goes, the car looks like it'll be $250 minimum for a > week, nad if the public transport is adequate, to heck with that! Also - if you didn't already know - beware of pubs closing at ridiculously early hours and Glasgowlians (sp???) drinking at a riduculously rapid pace to try and fit a full night's worth of alcohol into the 30 minutes between closing the theatre and last call, then doubling that amount between last call and jumping in a cab to the OTHER pub that is open later, (arriving just for last call) then doubling THAT amount in the next 30 minutes before heading to an open-till three nightclub - at which point i don't remember what happens - but I'm sure you should watch out for it as well... Did I mention I rather liked Glasgow? -- David d'Anjou Technical Communications Supervisor Cirque du Soleil ------------------------------ Message-ID: <297C9E3B63B2D3119C8100508B5ED28F16020073 [at] exchange2.ubc.ca> From: "Riter, Andrew (Head Ltg)" Subject: RE: peeping in toronto. Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 20:12:04 -0800 We'll just slap a 10,000% tariff and 5000% dumping tariff on Peeps in retaliation, cause you're causing a glut in the market and hurting our producers; tie up NAFTA courts, ignore their rulings, and through the Beaver amendment keep the $4,000,000,000 Cdn ($36 US) and give the money to our peep suppliers; close the borders to your beef peeps because 3 (THREE) came down with Mad Peep disease; refuse to sell our subsidized (cheap) peeps that our taxes pay for to your (US) seniors; and investigate Enron for causing the peep shortage in California 2 years ago. Any one objection to this post can meet me in Toronto. Thankful for the RCMP protection (GRIN) Andrew M. Riter Head Lighting Technician Chan Centre > > From: "Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson" > Subject: RE: Peeeeps > > All the moreso since the lumber, pharmaceutical and the deaths of four > CMP. > doom > > -- > Dr. Randall W.A. Davidson, Risk International & Associates, Inc. - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:24:54 -0500 Subject: Re: ETC Expression/Express Wireless RFU From: Herrick Goldman Message-ID: In-Reply-To: I thought they were green with skin like stone? Didn't Bilbo kill off a few? On 3/11/05 9:50 PM, "Andy Leviss" wrote: >It was not in any way, shape, or form > meant to actually compare Frank to an ugly, hairy little creature who > lives under a bridge and yells at those who try to cross. > > --A Um sure Andy we believe you. ;) -- Herrick Goldman Lighting Designer, NYC www.HGLightingDesign.com 917-797-3624 "To the scores of silent alchemists who wreak their joy in darkness and in light bringing magic to life, we bow most humbly. "-CDS ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "David R. Krajec" Subject: spending money in Canada Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:37:37 -0600 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: I just called around. Bad news - AmEx, Visa and MasterCard all charge at least 1% exchange fee for buying good and service in Canadian dollars and converting to American dollars. If you have a Chase Bank MasterCard, you will be charge 1% by MasterCard and 1% by Chase Bank. Isn't that fun? Good News - Discover doesn't charge any exchange fee. Caveat Emptor ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: "David R. Krajec" Subject: PDA recommendation Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:44:59 -0600 Message-ID: In-Reply-To: I use my HP Ipaq everyday. I sync it to my computer at home and at work. That way, my contact list is always with me. The only downside of Microsoft ActiveSync (the software used to synchronize the PDA to your computer) is that you can only sync to two computers. If you have a desktop at home and a desktop at work and a laptop for the road, you have to make a choice. Somebody check me on this - if you get the right PDA, you can use it as a wireless RFU to use with your lighting system. I think. If it works, how cool is that?! David K. ------------------------------ From: "Ronnie Thevenot" Cc: drkrajec [at] stritch.edu Subject: RE: PDA recommendation Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:29:46 -0700 Message-ID: <000001c526c4$815b3190$0502a8c0 [at] ronnie> In-Reply-To: It depends on your board of course, but I know you can get one for some ETC boards. I was disappointed to see my Palm wasn't on the list but I believe that some HP Ipaqs may have been, depending on your model. It was via a wireless 802.11b wireless router/access point. The main drawback (as mentioned on a recent thread) would be the battery life. (Wireless puts heavy strain on the battery.) -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of David R. Krajec Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 9:45 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: PDA recommendation For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I use my HP Ipaq everyday. I sync it to my computer at home and at work. That way, my contact list is always with me. The only downside of Microsoft ActiveSync (the software used to synchronize the PDA to your computer) is that you can only sync to two computers. If you have a desktop at home and a desktop at work and a laptop for the road, you have to make a choice. Somebody check me on this - if you get the right PDA, you can use it as a wireless RFU to use with your lighting system. I think. If it works, how cool is that?! David K. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20050312054252.59043.qmail [at] web81703.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 21:42:52 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Heinicke Subject: Re: PDA recommendation In-Reply-To: 6667 > Somebody check me on this - if you get the right > PDA, you can use it as a > wireless RFU to use with your lighting system. > I think. > > If it works, how cool is that?! Yep. We have one here at work. An Ipaq IIRC. The console is a Strand 500. Works over WiFi. Our ME keeps threatening to sit in the office and run shows off of it instead of being in the booth... Mike H ------------------------------ Message-ID: <005901c526c9$14734db0$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References:

Subject: Ice shows Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 22:02:31 -0800 Has anyone been on tour with "Stars on Ice" , "Champions on Ice" , "Ice Capades" etc??? Just curious. Thanks Pam ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050312000247.016ecce0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 00:02:47 From: CB Subject: DMX Channels >Oh, and incase you're curious, I use an Expression 3 linked via MIDI >Show Control to a laptop running HOG PC to control my movers. ...and straight coils the remote cable. That thing is starting to look liek a handset cord... Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050312001918.016ecce0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 00:19:18 From: CB Subject: Why carry equipment? > Why do tours carry their own >light and sound equipment? So, you arreive today, and the gig opens tomorrow night. Let's see, is it going to be easier to get six guys set up a sound system or one guy to figure out all those cues, EQ's, mixes, matrices, and busses on the venue's console. "I wonder what part of the snake actually still works." "Whaddya mean, we can't do that here? We did it at the last venue!" Yeah, sound, although if you ain't in the sound business you'd never know it, it's pretty complex. I know, I know, any one of you'se could walk into a venue and patch in some wireless mics and turn on the console and 'VIOLA', sound. This from the folk that are so afraid of video that they found some lame-ass excuse as to why it falls in the sound dept., when everyone knows that cameras capture light and CRT's reproduce it. Shoot, most of the monitors don't even MAKE sound, unless you count hum. Really, its for consistency. It'd drive the A1 and the actors nuts to try to wedge the show into whatever happened to be laying around. Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20050312002954.016ecce0 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 00:29:54 From: CB Subject: Re: Why carry equipment? >The uplink guy pulled up in a chartreuse microbus (just kidding about >the color) and started pulling parts out to set up the dish. It took >about two hours, as it looked like he was assembling a barbecue grill. >I wish I had taken pictures. So do we, Marko old boy, so do we. Hey, don't knock VW microbusses. 'Interplanetary Productions' used to do some fairly big rock shows out of two of them. We'd get stupid stares when we pulled up, and they'd jsut get stupider when we lkept pulling huge boxes and amp racks and crap out of them. It was like watching the clown car unload. We had some great huge horns (remember component systems?) that had to go in the sun roof after the rest of the gear was packed, and had just about the same curve as the top of the bus. And, we did a live television remote to a live studio show out of my bus once. Shot the 'Kitchen Musicians' in a real kitchen at 818 E Speedway next to 'Greasy Tony's' there. My bus was orange, though. Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:17:30 -0800 From: Martha Kight Subject: Glasgow AND Peeps... Chris - While in Scotland You *gotta* try to find the time take a ferry over to the Isle of Mull in the Western Hebrides Islands and go to Tobermory (A lovely little waterfront village), perhaps go to the Tobermory distillery, and get a room at the wonderful, charming Mishnish Hotel - my favorite pub in all the world is the Mishnish Hotel Pub. Great music, great company. Cheap, friendly, clean, comfy. Have a look: http://www.scotsell.com/tobermory.jpg it's a famous image, and the yellow one in the center is the Mishnish. GREAT view of the Loch. This one's a bit further out and shows the wee pier http://www.jameswiseman.com/photos/tobermory/IMG_2229.jpg They're having Highland Games in July, but if you're to be there before that look here anyway - http://www.mishnish.co.uk/mhg.html some nice info under "All Year Round on Mull" including a theatre Festival at the end of March! ANd this *one* more http://www.jpotter-landscape-photographer.com/ppImgStore/30/Tobermory.jpg shows a wee kirk(Scots for church) which is now converted into a theatre- I think Aros Hall, mentioned in the previous link with the Theatre Festival- where I was delighted to stumble across a wonderful amateur locally written musical about St Columba, who brought Christianity to Scotland. A *lovely* group of folks who welcomed a fellow theatre person from across the pond. :) It's about a block from the Mishnish. And there are a couple of decent restaurants in-between. The distillery's just another block further round the curve of the shore. And find a lovely bottle of Scapa - an Orkney Malt (Just had to go taste it to describe :) ) that's sweet-ish, but with plenty of body & character. YUM (smacking of lips) OK OK!! I'll quit now - you have Google too :) But get a car if you can and drive 'round the island - brilliant! And - I must say how deeply proud I am of my sister Pat(whom, I believe, also has stayed at the Mishnish!) and her unending font of fabulous knowledge, - yet annoyed that she hasn't heretofore shared Peeps Jousting with her wee sis. ;) Cheers! -Martha Kight Synergy Stage Sacramento, CA ------------------------------ Message-Id: Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:13:23 -0800 From: Martha Kight Subject: Listers talents (Catching up on the list...) I make a mean tatted lace - anything! Baby hat, booties, antimacassars ("doilies" for the less lace-initiated :| ), trim for some swell clothes,costumes, yeah yeah - but I once made a tatted Swatch Guard for a friend, who bought a new Swatch watch(OK - IT WAS THE 80's!!) while we were travelling in Europe and his guard broke and he didn't want to scratch the watch. One-of-a-kind, I'm certain. (I could tat the Stagecraft List Survivor crew a nice rigging for a boat, or perhaps fishing net from coconut husk fiber, since that's where it originated!) :) Hey Keith!!! >I want a fall arrest harness for my peeps, , , >can't be too safe ya know ? I'll tat ya one!!!! and I play guitar, am a calligrapher and collect editions of "Death of a Salesman" and pineapples (yup - inspired to it when playing Fr. Schneider in "Cabaret"). And see Springsteen whenever he's playing - if I can get there, I do. :) I am also a --- a-HEM --- costumer. ;} Aside from the wretched office "day job". -Martha Kight Synergy Stage Sacramento, CA ------------------------------ Message-ID: <00c701c526d9$199f34b0$fedcb440 [at] pamscomputer> From: "Pamela Abra" References: Subject: ice shows Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:57:12 -0800 I am guessing that the average ice show tour is like a rock concert tour with all of the lighting, costumes, props and sound equipment. Probably a small touring crew who would go from city to city and hire the local crew to help??? Thanks Pam ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2463.204.244.226.78.1110614371.squirrel [at] 204.244.226.78> In-Reply-To: References: Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:59:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Why carry equipment? From: "Tom Heemskerk" > a venue and patch in some wireless mics and turn on the console and > 'VIOLA', sound. > C'mon, anyone can find the viola knob - it's in between the cello knob and the violin knob, just underneath the "suck" control.... ------------------------------ From: "Klyph Stanford" Cc: cad [at] landrudesign.com Subject: RE: 520i Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 03:08:12 -0500 In-reply-to: Message-ID: The following is based solely on personal preference and experience as a designer and programmer. YMMV. The 520i is a tracking console. It took me a while to wrap my head = around making tracking work, but now that I understand it, I would rather drink bleach than design a show on a cue only console. =20 There is a great deal of flexibility with the 520i. I am a control = freak, and don't want to have anything happen until I press "enter". If double digit entry, or even single digit entry is your thing, a simple toggle = in the setup menu allows you to change entry systems. Just one example of = the level of individual customization for the console (although that does = have the potential to get you in trouble) I found programming moving lights on the 520i extremely intuitive to the = way I think as a designer. And I find using a trackball to control pan and = tilt infinitely superior to using two encoder wheels. (Several years ago I = was programming moving lights on a 300 series console, and was even able to = use a trackball mouse) One word: "UNDO" (and yes, I know the Obsession has an undo key) I do not like that "part" is a soft key, but at least it comes up when = you press "record", instead of being buried in "more softkeys", as it is on = the Expression. My main issue with the Expression is the way cues are handled in the cue stack. When I record a cue, I then want to be in that cue, not some previous cue with channels "captured". I assume this is some attempt to make the console behave similar to a tracking console, but I find it annoying. Especially when my board op forgets to release channels and = put me in the newly recorded cue, and I make further adjustments and record = over the cue I started in instead of the one I am looking at (can we tell I = have been bitten by this a bunch recently?) There is also the annoyance of where pressing "back" takes you. Not to = the previous cue in the cue stack, but instead to the last cue you were in, = no matter where it lies. Very annoying when doing a list of cue notes and = you want to see the cue run in time. Why add extra keystrokes? Finally, I want the console to assume that every time I press a number = key, that I want a channel unless I tell it otherwise. =20 As I said before, this is based on personal preference. BTW, thanx to those who gave info on writing part cues on the Express. And my cell is Winston- Salem, although I now live in Washington, DC Klyph Stanford =20 336.575.7235 =20 "Let's go get drunk on the light once more." Georges Seurat -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of C. = Andrew Dunning Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 12:06 PM To: Stagecraft Subject: Re: 520i For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- I wouldn't mind this being public - or being CCed in the discussion. C. Andrew Dunning Landru Design - Nashville, TN - cad [at] landrudesign.com www.landrudesign.com >-----Original Message----- >From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf=20 >Of jknipple >Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 9:08 AM >To: Stagecraft >Subject: 520i > >For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see=20 > >--------------------------------------------------- > >At the risk of starting another ETC vs Strand thread... > >Could someone who's switched from an ETC Expression to a 500=20 >series Strand board email me off list? We're thinking about=20 >switching to a 520i when the new building is completed, so I'm=20 >just looking for some thoughts/opinions, both positive and negative. > >TIA > >Jim > > >James Knipple >=A0 >Technical Director >REP Stage - www.howardcc.edu/repstage >Student-Alumni Arts - Howard Community College >- www.howardcc.edu/studentarts >jknipple [at] howardcc.edu >410-772-4451 > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2513.204.244.226.78.1110615088.squirrel [at] 204.244.226.78> In-Reply-To: References:

Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 00:11:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: ice shows From: "Tom Heemskerk" > > I am guessing that the average ice show tour is like a rock concert tour > with all of the lighting, > costumes, props and sound equipment. > > Probably a small touring crew who would go from city to city and hire the > local crew to help??? > Dunno if the ones I've done are average, but yup, the touring ice shows can seem a lot like rock shows in terms of gear and crew structure. And, the local ones can seem a lot like the local ballet recitals. The biggest difference for me is when followspotting - I just don't know for certain which direction the skaters will go when they land their jumps... th ------------------------------ From: "ladesigners [at] juno.com" Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 09:13:10 GMT Subject: Re: Peeeeeeps Message-Id: <20050312.011315.3022.150037 [at] webmail16.lax.untd.com> Dear Mike, When they page me, I drive to whichever of the ~30 courthouses that has the missing judge, "kind of like a substitute teacher". I keep my robe (for real), and a gavel (for show), and other necessary items in a soft-sided briefcase in my car. In that I have full-featured AutoCad 2004 on the Laptop that I carry with me to the bench, I can design theatres and shows to avoid 'drifting off' during [boring] attorney arguments /s/ Richard What days do you fill in as a judge? Remind me to get into trouble then... Mike ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #326 *****************************