From: GitsyTC@aol.com Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 17:41:03 EST To: Balloon@fooledya.com Subject: Larry's CD Attack of the 50 foot Demon (Review and Recommendation) Hi List, I have had the pleasure and advantage of obtaining Larry's newest CD ROM, Attack of the 50 foot Demon. It is really wonderful and done very professionally. I had first seen what was going to be on it by going to the Balloon Weaving section of BHQ. I wanted very much to expand my balloon knowledge to include weaving or as Larry calls it the creation of Balloon Fabrics. I spent quite a bit of time trying to download the video clips from Balloon Headquarters. Unfortunately, because of my connection this proved difficult, but it did give me enough of a taste of what would be on Larry's CD to let him know... I WANT IT! And indeed I did, and am so glad! The other reviews that have been done on Larry's CD are excellent and I completely agree with them. Kevin Kinney's review gives you a great idea of the technical things you would need to know of how the CD navigates and amount of video in it. One of the greatest things I found in how Larry produced his video segments, which I have never seen anyone else do, is to edit out all the squeaking. You are looking only at Larry's hands and the balloons as he is demonstrating his plaiting (fabricking) techniques, with his voice over done to explain what he is doing. This makes it VERY easy to really focus and learn, as well as pleasant. The editing that was done to go from one point to the next in this is also EXCELLENT. These really are the nicest done balloon video clips I have ever seen. In Kevin's review he had put under "What, you want to hear something negative?" that "Larry's giving you the basics (which are not basic at all), and leaving the specific execution up to you. What you do with all of these techniques is limited only by what you can think up, but the creativity portion is yours. " To me this is a sign of an excellent teacher... one that gives you the basics and allows you to run with it to learn even more from yourself. A parent that always carries the child will never have a child that will walk and then eventually run... a parent that loves their child will allow them the frustration and bumps of learning to walk so they can experience the joy of accomplishing it and then running like the dickens. (to of course drive them nuts.. but hey it goes with the territory! ) The great thing about being able to access all or most of the information that Larry has on his CD online, is that you can get a preview of what you will get... having the CD means you don't have to wait for downloads and that you can access this information even if you cant get online! Yeah! AND, to top it off, the video quality on the CD far exceeds the video quality on the 'net. If a larger, clearer picture appeared online, you'd spend your life downloading it! That alone is a huge benefit in owning your own copy. The price of Larry's CD is extremely reasonable, simply by virtue of being able to access everything without needing to take the time to download it, and then when you add the fact that the information on it gives you limitless things you can do with what he shows you... well, he is practically giving it away! As an aside, the fact that it uses the web browser you already use with your computer means that you don't have to learn how to use any new software to immediately take advantage of this CD. I was so inspired by Larry's CD that immediately after watching the first video clip I picked up my balloons and made a very cool crystal (out of clear and gold balloons) vase that stood about a foot and a half tall and filled it with a dozen red balloon roses, long stem of course, made with 160's. It came out so wonderful. I brought it to a friend whose Mom had just had knee surgery and wound up with 3 orders for them from people that saw it being brought in! You will truly be inspired by his CD and the availability of being able to access everything so quickly and easily. I definitely say it is a must have for the serious balloon professional. Yours in Smiles and Laughter, Terrie "Gitsy" Basko "Specializing in Fun!" <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/gitsytc/index.htm">Welcome to GITSY'S WORLD!!</A> AND "Specializing in WebDesign" <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/gtcads4u/">G.T.C. Web Designs</A>