Sorry, just wanted your attention.

I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
staff are hopeless..

I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.

1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)

2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
screens, but I can't get past the cost)

3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
application?

4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
Flash cards with a Mac?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Rick

Rick Stuart wrote:

> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
>
> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)

Yes, with a suitable capture card.

>
> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)

Yes.

>
> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?

Probably. It certainly supports the G3.
>
> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> Flash cards with a Mac?

Yes, with a suitable USB card reader.

HTH

=:~)

--
news at cdss dot fsnet dot co dot uk

Rick Stuart wrote:
> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to
> me, so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get
> to this point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating
> price-wise.
>
> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)


I've used a pass thru from VHS to a Sony Digital8 camcorder(TRV720 I think).

>
> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)

Yup

>
> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?

Yup. Works with iPhoto

http://www.apple.com/iphoto/compatibility/camera.html

> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and
> Compact Flash cards with a Mac?

Yup. I use a Dazzle 6 in 1 USB reader.

> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Rick

In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.

iMovie and iDVD are also much better designed than anything available
for Linux. You can accomplish quite a lot with that combination.

> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)

You will want a Canopus DV bridge. It takes in video from a wide variety
of sources and feeds them to your Mac via FireWire. OTOH, if you have a
DV camera, it may also do this.

> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)

Yes, if you get the correct adapter.

> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?

Yes: http://www.apple.com/iphoto/compatibility/camera.html

> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> Flash cards with a Mac?

With the appropriate USB adapter, yes.

--
Woofbert, Chief Rocket Surgeon, Infernosoft
Woofbert's Law on Learning Linux: When attempting to learn Linux,
study it thoroughly before you begin.

On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 20:38:15 GMT, Woofbert
<woofbert.spam[at]infernosoft.com> wrote:

>In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
> Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>>
>> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
>> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
>> staff are hopeless..
>>
>> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
>> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
>> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
>> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
>> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
>> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.

>> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
>> screens, but I can't get past the cost)
>
>Yes, if you get the correct adapter.

FWIW, all shipping Tower Macs include the adapter.

They won't help you because once they see you looking at a Mac they KNOW you
are retarded or like one of those Columbine teens and thinking you might
shoot a bunch of people to "be different".

"Rick Stuart" <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net...
> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
>
> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
>
> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)
>
> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?
>
> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> Flash cards with a Mac?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Rick
>

MuahMan wrote:
> They won't help you because once they see you looking at a Mac they KNOW you
> are retarded or like one of those Columbine teens and thinking you might
> shoot a bunch of people to "be different".
>
> "Rick Stuart" <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net...
>
>>Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>>
>>I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
>>give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
>>staff are hopeless..
>>

Thanks, That clears up a serious question I had. Of course their
assumptions would be understandable....Of course it might be that they
remembered me from all the times I tried to get them to sell me a PeeCee
without an operating system so I could install Linux....



"If Stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out? -
Will Rogers"

George Graves wrote:
>
> In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
> Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:

[snippage]

> > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
>
> VHS is analog (there is a digital VHS, but I'm assuming that's NOT what
> you are talking about). Therefore, an analog video capture card is
> required. If you have a digital video source, OTOH, nothing more is
> needed as the video is transfered digitally via the Mac's built-in
> Firewire port.

When I mentioned transferring VHS tapes to DV to a colleague of mine who
deals with this kind of thing all the time, he recommended that I use
any DV camcorder to do the conversion. Apparently, the encoder in most
DV camcorders is far better than those in standalone NTSC to DV converters.

-jcr

In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
>
> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)

Yes. You'll probably want a Firewire converter box. Mine was made by
Sony.

>
> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)

No problem at all.

>
> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?

Yes.

>
> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> Flash cards with a Mac?

Yes. You just need a USB reader.

>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Rick
>

In article <3F0B410E.E4D2EBC5[at]nospam.idiom.com>,
"John C. Randolph" <jcr[at]nospam.idiom.com> wrote:

> George Graves wrote:
> >
> > In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
> > Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> [snippage]
>
> > > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
> >
> > VHS is analog (there is a digital VHS, but I'm assuming that's NOT what
> > you are talking about). Therefore, an analog video capture card is
> > required. If you have a digital video source, OTOH, nothing more is
> > needed as the video is transfered digitally via the Mac's built-in
> > Firewire port.
>
> When I mentioned transferring VHS tapes to DV to a colleague of mine who
> deals with this kind of thing all the time, he recommended that I use
> any DV camcorder to do the conversion. Apparently, the encoder in most
> DV camcorders is far better than those in standalone NTSC to DV converters.

The "Hollywood" bridge apparently causes ugly artifacts. From what I've
read, the Canopus one is very nice. But if you already havea DV camera
thathas analog inputs, you're set.

Make sure that your source is of high quality. A noisy signal (snow and
other visual crap) will not compress as well as a clean signal.

--
Woofbert, Chief Rocket Surgeon, Infernosoft
Woofbert's Law on Learning Linux: When attempting to learn Linux,
study it thoroughly before you begin.

In article <3F0B410E.E4D2EBC5[at]nospam.idiom.com>,
"John C. Randolph" <jcr[at]nospam.idiom.com> wrote:

> George Graves wrote:
> >
> > In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
> > Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> [snippage]
>
> > > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
> >
> > VHS is analog (there is a digital VHS, but I'm assuming that's NOT what
> > you are talking about). Therefore, an analog video capture card is
> > required. If you have a digital video source, OTOH, nothing more is
> > needed as the video is transfered digitally via the Mac's built-in
> > Firewire port.
>
> When I mentioned transferring VHS tapes to DV to a colleague of mine who
> deals with this kind of thing all the time, he recommended that I use
> any DV camcorder to do the conversion. Apparently, the encoder in most
> DV camcorders is far better than those in standalone NTSC to DV converters.
>
> -jcr

That wouldn't surprise me at the consumer level, but I assume that pro
video capture equipment would be much better than those in a DV
camcorder.

--
George Graves

In article <befb9r$4j1kc$1[at]ID-180643.news.dfncis.de>,
"MuahMan" <muahman[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

> They won't help you because once they see you looking at a Mac they KNOW you
> are retarded or like one of those Columbine teens and thinking you might
> shoot a bunch of people to "be different".

Why the fuck don't you just eat shit and die, dog? Christ I'm getting
tired of this asshole.

--
George Graves

MuahMan wrote:

> They won't help you because once they see you looking at a Mac they KNOW you
> are retarded or like one of those Columbine teens and thinking you might
> shoot a bunch of people to "be different".

Why don't you do humanity a favour and just FOAD?

I still haven't forgiven you for that Shuttle crack you made...and I
still have four feet of finest English willow with which to smack you
upside your silly head.

Maybe one day you'll discover masturbation: at least it'll keep your
hands away from your keyboard (well, one hand at least!) and c.s.m.a
will be free of your puerile and jejune diatribes.

Now sod off, there's a good boy - you *are* the weakest <a href>!

=:~)

--
news at cdss dot fsnet dot co dot uk

In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>
> I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> staff are hopeless..
>
> I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
>
> 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
>
> 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> screens, but I can't get past the cost)
>
> 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> application?
>
> 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> Flash cards with a Mac?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Rick
>

If you don't mind, I am curious about something.. have you been able to
do all these things under Linux?

Bob B.

In article <bobb-9E54B5.16184008072003[at]news.fu-berlin.de>,
"Bob B." <bobb[at]sphinx.com> wrote:

> In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
> Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > Sorry, just wanted your attention.
> >
> > I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
> > give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
> > staff are hopeless..
> >
> > I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
> > some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
> > work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
> > COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
> > so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
> > point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
> >
> > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
> >
> > 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
> > screens, but I can't get past the cost)
> >
> > 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
> > application?
> >
> > 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
> > Flash cards with a Mac?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your help,
> >
> > Rick
> >
>
> If you don't mind, I am curious about something.. have you been able to
> do all these things under Linux?

I'd be interested in knowing which Linux applications do simple video
editing and DVD authoring.

--
Woofbert, Chief Rocket Surgeon, Infernosoft
Woofbert's Law on Learning Linux: When attempting to learn Linux,
study it thoroughly before you begin.

On Tue, 08 Jul 2003 23:44:41 GMT, Woofbert
<woofbert.spam[at]infernosoft.com> wrote:

>In article <bobb-9E54B5.16184008072003[at]news.fu-berlin.de>,
> "Bob B." <bobb[at]sphinx.com> wrote:
>
>> In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
>> Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Sorry, just wanted your attention.
>> >
>> > I am looking SERIOUSLY at a Mac G4 and I have three questions. Please
>> > give me some insight from your experiences, since the compUsa sales
>> > staff are hopeless..
>> >
>> > I am very familiar with Linux/UNIX. I don't do windows. I want to do
>> > some simple video editing and DVD creation. The Imovie app seems to
>> > work pretty well for what I would like based on playing with it in
>> > COMPusa. I have YET to get one of the compUsa guys to even talk to me,
>> > so I will ask here. I priced all the stuff I would need to get to this
>> > point with Linux, and the G4 is a lot less intimidating price-wise.
>> >
>> > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
>> >
>> > 2) Can I use a regular PC monitor? (Sony Multisync. I love the LCD
>> > screens, but I can't get past the cost)
>> >
>> > 3) I have a Canon G1 camera. Will it work with Iphoto or some such
>> > application?
>> >
>> > 4) (I said three, right?....I lied) Can you access SD-cards and Compact
>> > Flash cards with a Mac?
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance for your help,
>> >
>> > Rick
>> >
>>
>> If you don't mind, I am curious about something.. have you been able to
>> do all these things under Linux?
>
>I'd be interested in knowing which Linux applications do simple video
>editing and DVD authoring.

Everyone should get a big kick out of this:

http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue83/stoddard.html

October 2002....

In article <080720032004300857%lloydparsons[at]mac.com>,
Lloyd Parsons <lloydparsons[at]mac.com> wrote:

> > http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue83/stoddard.html
> >
> > October 2002....
>
> Thanks for the pointer. It was an interesting read.
>
> BTW, its really nice to see something that can be done without sed, awk
> or grep.... ;-)

Wait till you read the section on making DVD menus... ;o)

--
Woofbert, Chief Rocket Surgeon, Infernosoft
Woofbert's Law on Learning Linux: When attempting to learn Linux,
study it thoroughly before you begin.

Rick Stuart wrote in <3F0B3BB3.3030508[at]sbcglobal.net>:

>Thanks, That clears up a serious question I had. Of course their
>assumptions would be understandable....Of course it might be that they
>remembered me from all the times I tried to get them to sell me a PeeCee
>without an operating system so I could install Linux....

If I were a minimum wage earning teenager working for CompUSA and you
came up to me wanting me to make your computer buying decision for
you, I'd probably conclude you were a moron and steer you to the Macs
just to fuck with you.

Seriously, are you so stupid as to think the best people to ask for
buying advice are CompUSA staff?

Woofbert wrote in
<woofbert.spam-90B0C4.15335108072003[at]typhoon.sonic.net>:

>In article <3F0B410E.E4D2EBC5[at]nospam.idiom.com>,
> "John C. Randolph" <jcr[at]nospam.idiom.com> wrote:
>
>> George Graves wrote:
>> >
>> > In article <3F0B1DA5.6050006[at]sbcglobal.net>,
>> > Rick Stuart <rickstuart[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> [snippage]
>>
>> > > 1) Can I digitally capture VHS signals? (special hardware/Software?)
>> >
>> > VHS is analog (there is a digital VHS, but I'm assuming that's NOT what
>> > you are talking about). Therefore, an analog video capture card is
>> > required. If you have a digital video source, OTOH, nothing more is
>> > needed as the video is transfered digitally via the Mac's built-in
>> > Firewire port.
>>
>> When I mentioned transferring VHS tapes to DV to a colleague of mine who
>> deals with this kind of thing all the time, he recommended that I use
>> any DV camcorder to do the conversion. Apparently, the encoder in most
>> DV camcorders is far better than those in standalone NTSC to DV converters.
>
>The "Hollywood" bridge apparently causes ugly artifacts. From what I've
>read, the Canopus one is very nice. But if you already havea DV camera
>thathas analog inputs, you're set.

That Canopus ADVC-100 has an undocumented method for defeating
Macrovision. It's also a swell (and inexpensive) DV bridge, great for
transferring VHS to DV.

In article <k2qtgvcpvtj62km9tprhro6eci5tkqfosd[at]4ax.com>,
Steve Hanson <icustomercare[at]usps.com> wrote:

> Rick Stuart wrote in <3F0B3BB3.3030508[at]sbcglobal.net>:
>
> >Thanks, That clears up a serious question I had. Of course their
> >assumptions would be understandable....Of course it might be that they
> >remembered me from all the times I tried to get them to sell me a PeeCee
> >without an operating system so I could install Linux....
>
> If I were a minimum wage earning teenager working for CompUSA and you
> came up to me wanting me to make your computer buying decision for
> you, I'd probably conclude you were a moron and steer you to the Macs
> just to fuck with you.
>
> Seriously, are you so stupid as to think the best people to ask for
> buying advice are CompUSA staff?

In the Before Time, you could have a reasonable expectation that people
who worked for stores that sold technical stuff actually knew what they
were talking about and could give you useful advice that you could base
buying decisions on.

On the other hand, there was this joke early on in the microcomputer
boom: What's the difference between a computer salesman and a used-car
salesman?

The used-car salesman knows when he's lying.

--
Woofbert, Chief Rocket Surgeon, Infernosoft
Woofbert's Law on Learning Linux: When attempting to learn Linux,
study it thoroughly before you begin.

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 22:16:37 GMT, Woofbert
<woofbert.spam[at]infernosoft.com> wrote:

>In article <k2qtgvcpvtj62km9tprhro6eci5tkqfosd[at]4ax.com>,
> Steve Hanson <icustomercare[at]usps.com> wrote:
>
>> Rick Stuart wrote in <3F0B3BB3.3030508[at]sbcglobal.net>:
>>
>> >Thanks, That clears up a serious question I had. Of course their
>> >assumptions would be understandable....Of course it might be that they
>> >remembered me from all the times I tried to get them to sell me a PeeCee
>> >without an operating system so I could install Linux....
>>
>> If I were a minimum wage earning teenager working for CompUSA and you
>> came up to me wanting me to make your computer buying decision for
>> you, I'd probably conclude you were a moron and steer you to the Macs
>> just to fuck with you.
>>
>> Seriously, are you so stupid as to think the best people to ask for
>> buying advice are CompUSA staff?
>
>In the Before Time, you could have a reasonable expectation that people
>who worked for stores that sold technical stuff actually knew what they
>were talking about and could give you useful advice that you could base
>buying decisions on.

Salespeople - /shudder!

>On the other hand, there was this joke early on in the microcomputer
>boom: What's the difference between a computer salesman and a used-car
>salesman?
>
>The used-car salesman knows when he's lying.

:)

George Graves wrote in
<gmgraves-862491.00150410072003[at]newssvr13-ext.news.prodigy.com>:

>In article <187fab45.0307092202.299b3d76[at]posting.google.com>,
> cupertinojustin[at]yahoo.com (Justin in Cupertino) wrote:
>
>> Woofbert <woofbert.spam[at]infernosoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:<woofbert.spam-A4B8F0.23493708072003[at]typhoon.sonic.net>...
>>
>> > What a remarkably original post, Justin. (Quick! What's the price for an
>> > Apple employee?)
>>
>> Do you really think that I read your post and then copied it?
>>
>> It's people like you that scare normal folks away from the Mac
>> platform. You're not doing your beloved platform a favor!
>
>You aren't doing your employer any favors either, spewing your bile.

Shouldn't you be annoying your employees, George?