Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 22:58:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Larry Moss <moss@fooledya.com>
To: Balloon Twister List <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Re: Larry's CD

Hi folks,

Now that I've returned from Chicago, it's time to get caught up on stuff
here.  There are a few things I wanted to reply to.  I'll start with my
CD-ROM on balloon fabrics, which I'm thrilled has gotten a couple of really
nice reviews.  I just have a few things that I want to clarify from those
reviews and a few questions I want to answer.  (I never did make a formal
announcement of the CD release, so this will take the place of that
announcement.)

Kevin Kinney wrote:

> The data is accessed via any common web browser (IE or Netscape, for
> example), meaning that anyone who uses the Web, regardless of platform,
> can use it (For example, I';m using a Mac, and it works fine).   

A few people asked me why I did it this way rather than including a viewer.
There are a few reasons:

  All newer operating systems come with a web browser.  By having you use
  software that's already on your computer, I could keep the cost of the CD
  low and make it easy to run off the CD without having to install anything
  new to use up precious hard disk space.

  Most people are familiar with how their web browser works.  This means
  that you don't have to learn a new piece of software in order to make use
  of the information on the CD.

  I wanted to be able to put large chunks of it on the web where people
  could preview it.  I've done that.  If you're really patient, and don't
  mind small pictures, you can even view some of the video online.

Kevin also mentioned the section of the CD in which I describe the
terminology proposed for discussing balloon fabrics.  Actually, I didn't
describe it.  Mark Balzer did a lot of research on that and deserves the
credit for putting together that section of the CD.  He did it initially
for the Balloon HQ web site, and then gave me permission to use it in this
larger collection of balloon fabric instruction.

Again, Kevin says:

> Larry will be the first to tell you that a lot of this information is
> already available on Balloon HQ.  But not all of it.  Certainly not the
> video segment, as far as I know.  ANd honestly, it's been laid out
> nicely here and is easy to use.   

Much of the video is online, but the video on the CD is of much higher
quality since, even at smaller, lower quality, it can be a pain in the butt
to download.  

In a nutshell, for those that missed it, the CD-ROM, which is useable on a
Mac or Windows 9x/NT machine covers quite a few balloon fabric (weaving)
techniques.  Instruction comes in the form of video, text, photos, and
drawings.  It sells for $20.

More info on the CD can be found at
	http://www.fooledya.com/book/attackof.html

Please, check it out.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

Larry Moss
Balloon HQ