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Tax Code Changes Coming for Freelancers

Tax Code Changes Coming for Freelancers

This is the time of year when business columns turn their attention to tax strategies for the coming year. The lighting, projection and staging businesses are heavy with freelance professionals and that's a topic that's right in their wheelhouse. However, 2011 is going to be a wild ride for freelancers when it comes to both taxes and healthcare legislation. For starters, we nearly started the New Year with a lot of uncertainty about what the actual tax rates are going to be.

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Eleven 2011 New Years Resolutions

As we enter each New Year, many resolutions are made that center around losing weight, breaking bad habits, finding love, etc. I thought it would be much better to provide a list of resolutions aimed at the Automated Lighting Programmer. So here are eleven resolutions to help you with your craft.

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Fusology

Thomas Edison invented the fuse more than a hundred years ago. Three days later, it blew and was subsequently bypassed with an aluminum-coated gum wrapper.

 

That last sentence is pure conjecture and has no basis in fact. Some might say it's an outright lie but I prefer to think of it as poetic license. That's when a writer is allowed to tell blatant lies with impunity. So please don't impugn my poetry.

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Blinded by the Light

When I was a young man, I toured with the Talking Heads. They were a "new wave" band with a big following and a light show that was out of the ordinary. The show consisted of all white light – no gels, except for one song where the rear cyc turned red, and all tungsten fixtures except for one HMI 2.5k fixture we used once. Wherever we went, there was always some older stagehand who would question what we were doing at the time and then remark, "Well, I guess we just did it differently in my day."

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GoboMan Announces New Laser Cutting System

GoboMan has recently acquired a new laser cutting system for manufacturing custom gobos. The laser cutting system enables the production of accurate laser cut custom gobos with a shorter turnaround. The company's U.S.-based operation is using the new laser system, which is safe to operate and has low power consumption – benefits that can be duplicated in other manufacturing locations, according to the company, which invites dealer queries sent to customerservice [at] goboman.com.

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Luminair for iPad v1.1

Synthe FX has updated Luminair for iPad to version 1.1, adding support for external MIDI control, the OSC protocol and the ability to send DMX over Wi-Fi via sACN E1.31. With external MIDI input, Luminair users can now turn any MIDI controller into a DMX lighting console.

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Analog Way Smart Edge

Analog Way's new Smart Edge is a high-resolution seamless switcher with dual output edge blending. It offers 10 universal analog inputs including two fitted with DVI and two fitted with HD-SDI, 100% digital processing, and it outputs digital and analog signals in SDI, DVI and VGA (RGBHV).

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GefenPro 3G SDI Fiber Optics Extender

The new GefenPRO 3G SDI fiber optics extender from Gefen offers a long-range method of extending any 3G SDI source. The transmitter/receiver system is packaged in a small dongle format designed for rugged construction with a small footprint. Sender and receiver units are connected to the 3G SDI source and the remote destination up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) away.

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Wybron Launches New Mobile Showroom

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Following a 15-month tour with the original Wybron Mobile Showroom, the company has launched a new version of the traveling show concept, the Wybron Mobile Light Lab. It will begin its Visuality 2011 Tour in February with over 100 events in the U.S.

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