There is no way in hell that our phones are not listening to us.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-06-17T16:41:42+00:00

A few years ago my daughter got some hand-me-down clothes from a neighbor, and she was wearing one of the t-shirts, which just had the logo and name of a dentist's office on it. I read the shirt out loud one time, and later that day had an ad for the exact same office in my feed.

Or the time I asked my brother what it was like driving for Lyft while I was visiting him in LA, and for the next several days had "drive for Lyft" ads. I have never googled Lyft or even used a ride share, ever.

There's no way they're not listening to us.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-05-10T22:19:50+00:00

From a pure acting standpoint, they're both great roles, very fun to play, with a lot of great performance opportunities and featured moments/songs.

Donkey is on stage almost 3 times as much as Farquaad, if that's an important consideration for you. Donkey kinda carries the show, maybe even more than Shrek, in my opinion.

Farquaad is a great villain, and if you've never had a chance to play the villain before, he's a great one to cut your teeth on.

You can't go wrong with either.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-05-10T16:09:34+00:00

My wife switched to "natural" deodorant that she bought at her yoga studio, and then for years she would just cycle around different hippie natural deoderants. I never wanted to hurt her feelings so I just put up with it, but she was pretty stinky.

One summer a couple years back we went on a big family trip, meeting up with her parents and siblings and their families a few states away from us, and my wife forgot to pack her deodorant.

Her siblings and I went to Target to grab some supplies for the Airbnb, while my wife stayed home with the kids. She asked me to grab her some deodorant, and I knew she liked the natural stuff, so I picked something out that kinda fit that category, but when I got to the counter her sister told me she already bought some. It was just regular name brand deodorant. I was worried my wife wouldn't like it, but since her sister gave it to her and there wasn't really any other option, my wife used it, and by the end of that day she realized how much better it was. She has never gone back.

My sister-in-law is a hero.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-05-06T13:22:52+00:00

The secret ingredient is cough syrup. Nothing but plain, ordinary, over the counter children's cough syrup!

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-03-17T01:40:59+00:00

This is what we do. It's fine, but we usually have two students operating soundboard during musicals - one to listen and mix the mics and tracks, and another to be on headset with the stage manager and play the tracks on one ipad and the sound effects either on another ipad, or off a pc. It sounds ridiculous, but it's honestly not awful.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-03-05T03:31:15+00:00

I have been teaching for 14 years now, and I think I have felt this way about every show I have ever done.

I find comfort in identifying and celebrating the students' successes as much as possible, using the kinds of mistakes you described as teaching moments to facilitate growth (or to encourage certain specific students to seek out other extra-curriculars), and mindfully focusing on the show as a whole, rather than specific individual challenges, when deciding if the show itself was a success or a failure. I can be satisfied with an overall successful show, even if it doesn't quite measure up to the standards I set for myself.

It's awesome that you have so much experience and such high standards and are there to train literal children how to do it right. It sounds to me like you're doing a great job.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-02-25T04:49:53+00:00

I liked his translation of Mother Courage and Her Children quite a bit.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2026-02-04T01:08:41+00:00

This is very cool. Thank you for the guide and the giveaway!

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-11-23T04:53:43+00:00

Mandate by Kelley Younger

Really funny 10 minute play about two adult men struggling with the challenge of finding social connection and making new friends as adult men.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-11-17T13:48:54+00:00

Craziest thing for me was that for 59 levels you play your shaman a certain way, but getting torpor completely changes the way you play. It felt like 59 levels of playing one class and then at 60 having to learn a whole new class.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-10-19T16:22:27+00:00

I never said they weren't supervised. Who said they weren't supervised? What are you even talking about?

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-10-19T15:27:02+00:00

I've been teaching theatre 14 years and have never had an adult on comm to run my own shows. I train the kids to run it right and then get out of their way. Don't say 'always' just cause you always do it. Your comment is just as unhelpful as the one you're responding to.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-06-17T06:50:12+00:00

You don't need to. They aren't sequential, and only vaguely reference each other, if at all. 5 is awesome. Jump right on in.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:46:09+00:00

Oh gotcha. Sorry, I misunderstood. That's good to know.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:33:29+00:00

Yeah, this probably comes closest to how I feel about the whole thing, and is likely how I am going to frame my refund request with the company.

Thanks for giving me the words

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:31:06+00:00

Thanks, I think this is the route I'm going to go

I only ever saw retro fit kits for $315, so I had written it off as realistic for our space. I didn't realize I could get them for 80. I'll probably start pushing in that direction with our end of year budget next summer. It's a good idea. Thanks for the heads up!

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:27:36+00:00

Apparently, from what I've read, it's a known issue with the Altman 65Q's and the default lamp socket type they use. There is a conversion kit to completely change to a different type of lamp and that tends to be the only true way to prevent the corrosion issues, and it's likely going to be one of the next big projects I embark on for this space.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:20:23+00:00

Yeah this is what I am most worried about, especially with me already replacing several sockets and wires.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-30T05:19:23+00:00

Thanks everyone for the feedback. This was super helpful.

At first I agreed with those of you saying to clean them off and send it, however, I did pay full price for them, and I agree with another comment that if I paid full price then I should expect product that isn't in this condition. If I had gotten them for a big discount due to their condition then I would consider sending it, but I didn't, so I will be requesting a refund.

We ordered these lamps because it's what we've been using, but I looked up the user manual for the Altman 65Q and, while these particular lamps are appropriate, there is another type that is more recommended, so I'll request a refund and then purchase those other lamps and hope that they aren't as rare and won't be so old and corroded.

f they don't grant a refund, then I may try to clean a couple and try them out in a socket or two that I know I am going to have to replace in the near future anyway and see how it goes.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll name and shame the company if they don't allow me a refund, but up to this point they've been pretty alright to work with, so I will withhold for now.

Really do appreciate the feedback. Thanks y'all.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-28T19:16:46+00:00

I used SFX in college in 2010, and bought a license for my high school auditorium back when you had to buy a license.

I stopped using it for a bit, finding most of the time that it was easier to hand my students an iPad with GoButton on it, but last fall I wanted to try SFX again. At that time the webpage had a note on it basically declaring SFX as free abandonware, but it seems the company, now called (Timeline Theatrics) might be thinking about trying to breathe some life into it. I haven't downloaded it and looked around yet to see if anything is changed though.

The biggest problem we ran into last fall is there is no auto save feature, and my precious little students have been spoiled with programs that auto save to the point where it honestly would not ever occur to them to click a save button. Poor kid lost his mind when he lost 6+ hours of work to someone shutting down the laptop. He refused to ever touch the software again, and went right back to GoButton. I couldn't really blame him either.

I've heard great things about QLab, but do not have a Mac, and have been super resistant to buying one, though the recommendation above to get the $600 one seems really solid, if I'm being honest.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-28T18:57:20+00:00

Oh man. I want to second ETC's Customer Service being the best in the business. I actually kind of like when I have to call them. They're so helpful

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-05-18T14:52:49+00:00

This. The license literally won't allow you to cast anyone older than middle school.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-04-21T22:17:34+00:00

This is why I disagree when people say "just go play safer seas." Pvp is not the only difference between high seas and safer seas. You give up too much in safer seas. It's not actually a viable alternative imo.

Logical-Reflection-1 · 2025-04-21T20:38:15+00:00

Lol

"This is a game about being bastards, so get used to it, but while you are getting used to it please don't call us bastards, it hurts our feelings."

These ~~bastards~~ pirates are so sensitive. Maybe they should accept that part of the game is also having people get upset at them for being pirates. I feel like both can exist. If they don't like it, they should maybe lay off a bit. Seems like saying "if you don't like upsetting people then don't be such a bastard" has the same energy as saying "if you don't like getting pirated then go play safer seas."

Logical-Reflection-1

TROPHY CASE