TheDaySheet

Festival Concept

2009-11-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

Just having a little fun today. Playing around with easy festival lighting ideas. Only requirement is that it fits on a 40x40 roof. I think this would work. It really depends on how many band members you have. The walls are Cobra panels from Element Labs. I have never used them before but I think they would work well in this application. The rest of the lighting is 28xVl2500 spots and 18xVl500 washes. Most of the lights hang from ladders on the perimeter or the roof. This puts a good deal of weight on out side of the roof structure allowing a greater number of fixtures. Simple rigging of the ladders will keep weight down. The ladders combined with the lights from the midstage truss and set pieces would make for a nice little show. A small lighting package with big punch. I would most likely add some more 500's to the DS for band wash. It is just a quick Idea.

Neuhaus Lighting

VideoScreen 4

2009-10-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

In a previous post about Vectorworks 2010 I wrote about the video screen plug-in by Landru Design. After viewing the VW 2010 demo I wondered what had happened to this plug-in since I noticed that VW included a video tool. I was happy to here that it is still alive and kicking. It turns out that Andy Dunning found and read the blog and was quick to point out that his plug-in VideoScreen 4 is still out there. I am glad it is. After looking at his website I can see that Andy's plug-in offers a lot more than the VW2010 tool. I really like the VS4-LED part. I have always had trouble explaining what a low res LED wall looks like. Now I can just show my clients. In this age of visually illiterate clients it is a must to be able to show them a 3d rendering a not a 2d plan. This is what makes Vectorworks and it's plug-ins so powerful. Being able to switch back and forth from 2d plan or section to a 3d model is very powerful. Thanks Andy for writing such a cool plug in. Everyone should check it out. While you are at it you should check out his other plug-ins.

Vectorworks 2010

2009-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Vectorwork new release 2010 is coming soon, I can't really tell you when. But soon. I was asked to listen to a product demonstration today. The webinar which was hosted by Nemetschek NA pointed out how the new release will bring some 80 new features. A yearly release of Vectorworks if becoming expensive, and time consuming to keep up to date. Updating software every year can be a very big hassle. It maybe my experience from updating from 12.5 to 2009. I know there were some big changes made between those releases. My complaint is having to update all the plug-in I have already purchased. May I suggest that Nemetschek take a look at making Vectorworks backwards compatible with third party plug-ins.

Many of the images that Vectorworks advertise on there website are amazing. I have never been able to render anything like that. I wish I could. I have read a lot of material and bought several books on the subject and still ever got the results I wanted. I understand that Vectorworks is a very complicated program. That being said, it would be nice if a program like Vectorworks would have an extensive library of online tutorials. I have purchased other software packages like Daylite and Rapidweaver who have done that. Is is very helpful. When I have a question about how to do something in these programs I know that a an online tutorial will be there to show me. If these smaller and much cheaper packages can offer this much free support I am sure Vectorworks can do it as well. I know that the books and training classes are a good source of revenue for Vectorworks or Nemetschek, but selling the program would make you more money.

Vectorworks should be in the business of making all there users experts. If every user of Vectorworks was an expert it would create a synergistic effect creating more business for its users and more sales of the software. Vectorworks, mission should be not only to create the best software on the planet but should also be to make sure all there users can use the product to the highest possible level. What good is a product update if the users can not take it to the highest level.

So what is new. The Event Planning menu is very nice. It allow you to quickly build small over head plans for event layout. This would be nice for an intern at a event planning firm to use. It allows you to build your room, stage, and seating all quickly in 2d, but you are working in the 3d so cool. It is a nice little add for the spotlight. Blended screen tool is really cool. I wonder what happened to VideoScreen 3 by Landru Designs? Anyway, I am sure there are lots of added features and functionality to 2010. The little hour demo I watch could not possibly cover most of it. I hope that it rocks. But I may never really know. I am not planning on updating to 2010. I was disappointed with my rendering results with Vectorworks 2009. I also suspect that upgrading to 2010 will cause me to repurchase all the plug-ins I use. Most of these new versions will have small changes in the update. While this is nice, I could have stayed with the old plug in.

One advantage of upgrading is the new symbol libraries. Oh boy!!! As a lighting designer I really like to have the new symbols. Sure I could always repurpose older symbols and just update the key. BUT THAT IS LAME. Hey VW guys why don't you develop a free quarterly update for users of Spotlight. I am talking all users. Start by updating the symbol libraries for v.11 or v.10. They should not have to upgrade to get current symbols. I am not just talking about lighting instruments either. Go a head and make more symbols of band instruments, stage accessories, sound gear, and generic scenic elements. The more extensive your symbol libraries are the faster I can work. For example. My client wants to see a 57 Ford Mustang on stage. You guys should already have something close to that in the library. For me to go find it on the net or build it from scratch could take hours. Hours of time I don't have. Lighting guys or event guys don't work on a design for month like architects. I often have a day or two to get concept drawings to a client. It is all about work flow.

Anyway, I hope 2010 is a good update. Someone please tell me how you like it.

Good spot light Ops?

2009-08-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a new guy on spot light. Sometimes it can not be helped. They have to learn some how. The amazing part of the whole night was how my new spot light guy did not know stage directions. I understand that there is always a first time. But a first day is something else. I never understood how a show critical job could be given to a guy on there first day. I know I worked years before I got to run a spot light. I think that the industry has lost a lot of integrity. Take all the recent rigging problems and roof collapses. It sounds like people are getting injured and killed at a larger rate than even last year. This job is getting more dangerous by the day. Promoters, are cheaper than ever. Hiring guys at 6 bucks and hour to build a stage and hang thousands of pounds of gear over the audience and the artist. It is only a matter of time before something tragic happens. I hope it never does. Remember what I was saying about he first day. I have seen riggers on there first day. If I know more about rigging than the rigger, he should not be working. I am not a rigger, but I know what is safe and will work and will not. The first day is going to get someone killed.

Big Valley Storm

2009-08-04T22:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR_yq3mB0bM

FAQ's

2009-07-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

I get asked a lot of questions about my show. Here a some common questions and the answers I ways give.

Q. I have these spot lights, do you think they will be bright enough?
A. If you have to ask, NO. Do your home work and see if the spotlight you are providing will work for the venue. I have never been to this venue. It is your job to know what will work correcly for the gig.

Q. Do you really want the lights patched to your plot?
A. I understand this is your first show. Welcome to the bisiness. Yes always patch the lights to the plot.

Q. Are two spot lights going to be enough.
A. Honestly, if they both work for the whole show, yes. Spot lights are very important to every show. If both of them broke, how would we see the artist? I look at it this way. I have two spares for everything at a show. So if the bare minium is two spots. Then you need two spots and two spares. So just bring 4, or 5.

Q. The propoter does not want to pay for the extra lights. Will the artist pay?
A. NO! I get this question at a lot of festivals. Most of the time it revolves around something like ACL bars. I understand that the artist managment agrees to festival lighting. Most people would agree that festival lighting would include, 120k, 2 or 4 moles, 4 acl bars, and at least 2 spot lights. When you summited a bid for the show your company agreed to provide these items even if you did not know it. So just bid the show accordingly.

Q. We are having some problems with the downstage truss. Four lights are not working. Is that ok?
A. I am going to go with NO!!!!!! Please make sure everything works before it leasves the shop, then again after you set it up, then again after you gel, then after you patch. You should have checked these lights almost 6 times before I see them. On this note are you going to return the money the promoter paid for those 4 lights? At the very core of this issue is someone paid you for all those lights working. Please don't make me the bad guy. I will inform your client about the money they are due back.

Q. Where were you guys last night?
A. I don't know. What I do know is how the lights were yesterday. I hope yours are better. I am going to remember if they suck.

Q. Do you guys give out tshirts?
A. We do. But now that you have asked you don't get one. I will be more than happy to do what I can to get you as much swag as you want. In return your gear should all work and your service should kick ass.

Q. On your plot you only have 42 lights on the downstage. Do you want the rest of them?
A. Once again, I understand this is your first show. I don't want things that are not on the plot. If they are on the plot you should bring them.

Q. Can I post pictures of your show on my website?
A. Sure, that is fine. As long as you do not claim that you designed the show, or provided anything that you did not. For example. Every picture of my show should; 1. Be appoved by me or artist managment. 2. should have designed by Ed Neuhaus under the photo.

Production Solutions, I remember my first festival.

2009-07-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Production Solutions in St. Louis SUCKS!!!! I know I should not say that about anyone, but it is so true. Let me count the ways.

1. I arrived at the gig and the lighting package that had been advanced includes 4 sets of ACLs. Guess how many are there? 0. Did anyone call in advance and tell me that there was a problem? NO. When asked about this, a representative from the company told me that they were not in the budget. But 8 MAC 700's where in the budget. Who asked for those? They are nice lights but I don't want them for this show. Also, the sound side of the company had two Midas 3000 desks at the venue. That is a big desk for an opening act. Oh yeah these are the guys who brought the oldest spot light in the world to a show. I worked for a company 10 years ago who had one of those lights. WE NEVER SENT IT OUT!!! HAVE SOME PRIDE IN YOUR GEAR.

2. If you can't patch dimers, find some one who can. Look if you have a sounds company that's cool.. Have a sounds company. DON'T DO LIGHTS. When the guy patching is just an extra monitor guy who does not want to do his job it really shows. It makes you company look like crap.. After all Production Solutions, St. Louis says they do it all. What they really do is audio. Everything else is just a side job. My lighting tech for the day was never around. I had to go to monitor world to find him more then once.

3. WHO USES MEDIUMS ON THE UPSTAGE? really? If you don't know the difference find some one who does. Thanks for putting the one narrow on the up stage. Oh yeah thanks for the wides on the down stage too... 54 MLF and 6 WFL is a cool look. I have been trying to get that for years.

4. What size gel does a source four par take? I know, but the people who work for PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS do not. The local IA climber was stuck in the truss for an hour fixing the gel that was falling out of the cans. PRODUCTION SOLUTIONS please teach your people how to do there job.

5. We had one par on the upstage that did not work. That is fine.. sometimes it does not work... But you should know how to fix it. I was told that there was nothing that could be done because there was no spare cable. WHAT!!!!!. The audio department had plenty of spare everything. They did get it working. Thank you guys for that... But really, have spares.. Spare cable, spare lamps, spare fan outs, spare everything. I know your audio department was well prepared for the show. WHY WAS LIGHTING NOT?

6. The oldest spot light in the world worked great. Much to my surprise. The one next to it could only be about two months younger. I think the serial number on that one was 278. That young gun did not want to work. We started the show with out it. It was fixed with some duck tape and started working around the 3rd song. Way to go lighting guys!!! When the same spot stopped working in the 5th, 7th, and 11th song you guys were no where to be found. I had to get the FOH audio guy to find you.

I remeber my first festival. I was very unprepared. I have since then learned what to do. I guess this is Production Solutions first festival. Maybe the first one with lights. Next time please remember a few things. If the lighting director for a band sends a lighting plot. DO WHAT THE PLOT SAYS. If there is going to be a problem you should call me before I get there and figure it out. I have worked very hard to provide an easy set of instructions on how to do my show. It is hard to screw it up. Production Solutions did. I am sorry that I had to give you a review like this, but the people who pay you guys deserve to know.

Oldest Spot Light Ever

2009-07-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

So, those that have worked with me in the last few years have gotten to see my lighting rider. Many find it very funny, and some find it help full. When I started out writing the rider it was very dry and to the point. Over the last few years I have added things to it. Mostly to add color and express exactly how I wanted the lighting to go. In one such note I commented that I would not allow spot lights older then the Lighting Director to be used on the show. Until today that had not been a problem. Today I found what I believe to be a spot that is older then I. That would be 30 years old. Look at the picture. What you can not see in the picture is the serial number. It is 58. That is right.. The 58th Satellite I ever made. OMG!!!! WHAT THE HELL. So the company who owns these lights is Production Solutions in St. Louis. www.psllc.biz Production Solutions lighting gear is crap. Or maybe it is just there people. They do not know how to read a plot or care about the lighting aspect of the show.

Update on Texas House Bill

2009-06-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

Lighting Designer ban to be pulled from HB 2649
Thursday, May 28th, 2009

PLSN is reporting that Texas State Senator Averitt, who added language to Texas House Bill 2649 that effectively banned entertaiment lighting designers, has stated he will remove that language from the bill before submitting it to the Texas House of Representatives. While he has said he wants a committee to study the issue and make recommendations, this does keep lighting designers legal in the Lone Star State, at least in the short term.

Texas Senate Bill HB 2649

2009-05-28T07:15:00.001-07:00

This morning, the Texas ~~House~~ Senate passed HB 2649, which outlaws nearly all theatrical lighting designers currently working. This bill forces all lighting designers to be either licensed electricians, or registered as an architect or interior designer.

SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1001, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1001.3011 to read as follows:
Sec. 1001.3011. LIGHTING DESIGN; LICENSE OR REGISTRATION
REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform
lighting design services unless the person is:
(1) licensed as an engineer under this chapter;
(2) registered as an architect, landscape architect,
or interior designer under Subtitle B, Title 6; or
(3) licensed under Chapter 1305.
(b) In this section, “lighting design services” means the
preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement
and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting
fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the
specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and
other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop
drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the
installation or operation of lighting fixtures.
SECTION 4. Section 1001.401, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) A license holder is not required to provide or hold any
additional certification, other than a license issued under this
chapter, to seal an engineering plan, specification, plat, or
report.
SECTION 5.Subchapter F, Chapter 1051, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1051.308 to read as follows:
Sec. 1051.308. LIGHTING DESIGN; REGISTRATION OR LICENSE
REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform
lighting design services unless the person is:
(1) registered as an architect, landscape architect,
or interior designer under this subtitle;
(2) licensed as an engineer under Chapter 1001; or
(3) licensed under Chapter 1305.
(b) In this section, “lighting design services” means the
preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement
and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting
fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the
specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and
other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop
drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the
installation or operation of lighting fixtures.
SECTION 6. Subchapter D, Chapter 1305, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1305.1511 to read as follows:
Sec. 1305.1511. LIGHTING DESIGN; LICENSE OR REGISTRATION
REQUIRED. (a) A person may not perform or offer to perform
lighting design services unless the person is:
(1) licensed under this chapter;
(2) licensed as an engineer under Chapter 1001; or
(3) registered as an architect, landscape architect,
or interior designer under Subtitle B, Title 6.
(b) In this section, “lighting design services” means the
preparation of plans and specifications that depict the placement
and direction of illumination of mounted or installed lighting
fixtures in the interior or exterior of a building, including the
specification of bulbs, reflectors, lens, louvers, baffles, and
other hardware. The term does not include the preparation of shop
drawings or other directions from a manufacturer for the
installation or operation of lighting fixtures.

Sugarland in Austin, TX

2009-05-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

First off I have to say wow! I really enjoyed this show. Finally a "country" artist who understand that putting on a show is more then just getting up and signing songs. I think Sugarland understand that a show needs to tell a story and that performing is more then just singing. I am glad that either Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush or someone they pay understand that a shows is more then a sting of songs in the order that suits the lead singers mood of the evening. I am not a critic or a writer so I will simply leave you with a strong suggestion that you see this show.

New Vari Lite Accessory

2009-04-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest Varilite accessory. Now you can get more in the truck. Prices are not yet available. Presenting the Varilite Compactor.

New GW set

2009-04-07T13:22:00.001-07:00

HI everyone, It has been a while. I have been away working on the new GW set for this year. It is not really want you would call ground breaking. But the artist gets what the artist wants. Anyway, I have working on other things as well. I just want to send a shout out to Jim Gregory at Delta Stage Lighting. I hope this week goes well with your rig. Also, Joseph Troudt, I hope you have found those pictures we have been talking about. Not much news but I will leave you with a rendering of the GW set for fun.

www.neuhauslighting.com
www.neuhausrealtygroup.com

Long Lost Photos

2009-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time but I got some photos of a show I did in December of '07. Thommy Hall from Varilite send me these pictures. Thanks Thommy for sending them this way. If anyone out there has pictures from a Big and Rich or Gretchen Wilson show, we would love to see them and publish them.

Light Factory

2009-01-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

So yesterday and old friend ask me if I would check out a program called Light Factory. Light Factory is a computer based programing software. I think it is a lot like the martin show designer. There are several thing that we have all see before but it looks interesting because of the USB control surfaces. So the idea was that I would test this program on my MAC while running parallels. This was great in theory. I forgot how much I hate windows. I have still not gotten windows to run in parallels. I have to say that Light Factory may be a great platform for programming and running lights but does it have to be on windows. Why can't people write lighting software for the MAC? I hope at some point I can test out Light Factory but for now it is not looking so good.

Looking for a new gig

2009-01-09T15:46:00.001-08:00

So most of you of there have been in the position of looking for new employment. I have been very lucky in the last few years to be with stable talent who work often. What do you do when a client decides to work less and cut your rate at the same time. I am a loyal guy who would love to stay with one client for ever. It looks like that is not going to happen. More late.

Happy New Year

2009-01-05T05:26:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to tell everyone Happy New Year. I hope you will all check back for more posts in '09.

The Full Sail Tech

2008-12-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

It never fails, about once a month I get asked a question about Full Sail. Usually this question comes from a mother or father of someone who would like to be in the industry. Most of the time the interested party is not there and the parents are looking for a reason to get their kids to a real college. While I do believe that a person should do anything they want with their life, I think there are some better ways of doing it. To be fair, I have never been to Full Sail, I know people who have and some of them do very well and others are terrible techs who I have worked with. I often side with the parent and suggest a full college experience. After all if they are willing to pay for it why not. Take those four years to earn a degree in any field you want. You could learn how to do 3d animation, or CAD drafting, or even get your business degree. All three of these things would be very handy if you were a lighting or sound designer. But all of them can be learned from reading a few books. I would suggest getting a business degree and spending your spare time working for a production company in your area. Real life experience is ten times a better teacher then any professor and classroom. There are lots of companies out there who would love to have employees who are interesting if learning from them. Let them teach you. Intern at first if you have to but after that you should have a nice paying position. After all spending money for college is always a good thing. In the end all I can say is that lighting and sound are not anything that one cant learn by doing. This is not rocket science or theatrical physics. Go to school and learn something that you are going to want to do when you are 50. There are very few people who think touring is fun at that age. Once again, I am not ripping on anyone who went to Full Sail. There are great techs that come out of that program. There are also really bad tech who come out of that program. You know who you are. Anyway, I am just sharing my thought on the subject.

A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting, by Steven Louis Shelley.

2008-12-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

I bought this book several years ago when I was interning for the Nashville Ballet. At the time I was working mostly in corporate lighting and I needed a quick read to get me into the world of theater lighting. I can say that this book did prepare me well even though I still made a fool of my self. Shelley, the author, has done a good job of explaining things in a strait forward kind of way. This book gives you an idea of what the lighting process is like. From Concept to design to implantation and focus, Shelley really explains things well. This may not be the perfect book for the beginner but it could not hurt. This book in my opinion is written for the lighting professional who has gotten a theater project they need to produce. At the time I found it very helpful in that regard. For me the book was very helpful understanding the process of lighting for the theater. I understand that many people have come before me and perfected the process of theater lighting. I was not interested in reinventing the wheel merely efficiently lighting a theater. I think this book really helped me on that first project. Check it out, weather you are a concert lighting designer, tech, or just a beginner. You should spend the money to read this book. This book will not make you the next influential designer, but it will make it easy to start on that track. Anyway, I hope I have convinced you to buy this book. I wish I could say I am getting a kick back. I am always taking suggestions for next months book. If anyone out there has suggestions on books related to entertainment of professional growth, please let me know.

Joe Leahy at Light Source Inc.

2008-12-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to Joe Leahy for helping me out the other day. Joe, took care of me like a pro, thanks for the hard work. I wish there where more guys like Joe who know what they are doing with pars. I am sure Joe know what he is doing with other fixtures as well but you can tell a lot about a tech and there company from how the par cans show up. I know that things are never perfect and the rig from Light Source was no exception. That is how I know Joe is a good tech. Even with the problems we had, Joe had it under control. So what that the whole down stage truss was colored backwards, Joe took care of it. Anyway, thanks Joe for the good day. I like standing around with nothing to do. So if you are in the Detroit area and need lights give Joe at Light Source a call.

Black Friday Death

2008-12-01T11:19:00.001-08:00

No doubt by now you have heard about the death of Jdimytai Damour, the Wal-Mart employee who was trampled while opening the store doors on Black Friday. Reports suggest that Damour may have been stepped on by as many as 100 people. This all begs the question. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? I am sorry, but a persons life is a whole lot more important than saving 20% on a piece of crap from China. At the very most that same piece of crap you bought will not even be in your house in five years. It will be in the landfill or in suburbia's version, the garage. Either way no one in the house hold will be using it. So I hope those people out there who killed this man can sleep at night. They know who they are. Not a one of them can say, "I stepped on him but surely I did not kill him." They all killed him. Everyone who stepped on him should go to jail, for being a cheep petty bastard. They all put crap from China over the life of Damour. Also, I have heard that a woman who was pregnant tried to help this man and was injured in the incident. Imagine if that woman was killed with her baby. All I can say that I am starting to think that Americans suck. We as a society need to start considering others and the consequences of our actions upon them. This event is just a long string of things that are leading to the downfall of our society. I really hope that something of someone can improve the moral conviction that we as Americans have lost.

Book Club

2008-11-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Neuhaus Lighting is starting a book club. I am going to blog about some of the entertainment books I have read. I know I don't have all the entertainment books out there but I do have lot of them. If there are any that you suggest, I welcome them. While it is true that a book on the entertainment industry is out dated as soon as it is written, there are many things that can be learned from some of these books. Mostly these books will be involved with the entertainment industry, but we are not limited to it. I plan to also suggest some personal and professional growth books as well. Lighting directors/designers must have a technical knowledge of products and technics, as well as, an ability to communicate and relate to situations and there clients. The book clubs only goal will be to make our members better at there craft.
Well now that we have that out of the way lets start with the first book. "A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting" by, Steven Louis Shelley. Go check it out and we will get into it some time next week.

High End Systems Video Pod Cast

2008-11-19T13:37:00.000-08:00

Today I found the High End Pod Cast, so i watched it. I watched 4 or 5 web-episodes, before I started feeling brain washed. There was the one with Howard Ungerleider raving about how the Hog 3 was the best desk around, and the one about the Beijing Olympics, and my favorite the DMX scratch. What is a DMX Scratch you may ask? Is it a new product? No, it is just some programing guys sitting around playing with the show pix. You have to see it. Anyway, there was one thing that I did see of interest. The Showbeam 2.5 demo. Looks like a Showgun but it has a trick that was used on the Vl3500 wash. The interior lens splits down the middle and folds out of the way. This allows the fixture to go from a wide to a narrow beam very quickly. This fixture also has an interesting split beam effect. I don't know how they do that but maybe those guys will invite me over to see it. I only live down the street. I digress, back to the Showbeam. Why does every fixture that High End releases have to look like the Showgun? Is there some huge sale on really big fixture body parts? Or is it just so big that engineering does not have to work very hard to keep the size down. I ask because I don't know the answer. What happened to the days of the studio color and spot. I would still use those fixtures today if they could make them brighter and keep the cost down. Why, does everyone need the brightest? Give me two 700 watt lamps for a 1200. Some time more is better. I guess after that jab I will not be getting a call from High End. I love you guys really. I would love to see your product and have something more to write.

I remember your first flight.

2008-11-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

Can you remember your first flight on a plane? I can remember most of your first flights. Almost every time I go to the airport I get to see someones first flight. I know what you are thinking. There can't be that many people out there who have never flown. Well, there really are a ton of them. But that is not really who we are talking about. Those people don't know any better. They have no idea that your shoes do not require a whole bin to go through the x-ray. Or that a 3oz container of something is not worth bringing on the plane. They have no idea that your wallet can stay in your pocket but your cell phone must go through the x-ray. If they did they would be experienced travelers. Not a first timer. You see most travelers are idiots. That is right I said it.

Lets have the your and idiot traveler quiz.
Q1. When you get out of your car at the airport what do you do with your keys?
If you answered anything but put them in your bag your are an Idiot traveler. Lets face it, you are not going to need them until you get back home. What are you going to unlock when you get to the destination? the hotel? Your house? Your car? WHAT?!?
Q2. Does your wallet set off the metal detector?
HELL NO!!! If you have a normal wallet with money and credit cards in your wallet just keep it in your pocket. If you are one of those guys who likes the money clip then put it in your bag before you get to security.
Q3. If you have a fake hip should you be in the express security line? You know the one reserved for "business travelers" who think they are fast.
NO!!!! Look I feel bad if you have had to have a hip or knee replacement, but that does not mean you are fast in the security line. No matter how much you travel you are not an "experienced" traveler.

That brings me to the "Business traveler" Right now there is one of those silly business travelers sitting across the row from me. She thinks she left her drivers licenses in her rental car. I asked her how she got through security. Funny thing... her drivers licenses is in her carry-on.

And that my friends ends my rants for today.

Space Navigator

2008-11-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I just got the Space Navigator mouse from 3D Connexion. This handy little tool allows you to move around your 3D drawings with out using your arrow keys. It really allows for two handed drafting. Now I have three mice and a keyboard. Imagine how fast I could go if I had four hands. Anyway, for $59 it is a very useful tool. It is also a lot of fun to play with in google earth. I highly suggest you buy this product.