Gas stations are an odd situation. Gas stations were a natural for self-service once the safety issues were substantially addressed. Most guys can figure out that a nozzle has to fit into a hole before good things can happen.

Restaurants are sometimes vertically integrated. We have a Burger King near us that is a company store, and the headquarters are not that far away. The service and cleanliness is much better than many of the franchise stores. It isn't always the case, but sometimes vertical integration does work, even in today's environment.

I agree in principle that there is a need for unions, but I have problems that neither companies nor unions seem to admit much responsibility to the customer, especially when under duress. It seems to me that in the inevitable squabbles between union and management, the odd man out is often the customer, who suffers disruption of services, taunts from crossing picket lines, poor quality or even sabotaged products, and surly attitudes by both management and union. In extreme cases, the government sometimes has to step in and operate as ombudsman for the customer and general public, which is not a particularly good situation for anyone. These are the hazards and pitfalls of our society. They aren't pretty , but I guess the system works better than the socialism of France and some other countries.

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I have seen one too many occasions where the most undesireable person is retained--or in a position of authority simply because of senority or an ability to kiss up to da bosses. High senority people tend to think that they are untouchable because of senority--and it has also been my experience that these type of people also get very lazy and detrimental to quality job performance because senority makes them untouchable! I have also seen the most incompetitent and stupid people get promoted simply because they know how to kiss-up!

I have had the pleasure of working with people who are anything but PC! The majority of these people have a high level of ethics and are very straight forward and blunt--but honest. Unfortunately, many of them have failed to be promoted simply because playing politics and kissing up is more important than competitence!

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70mm print film weighs about 10 pounds per 1000 feet. So a three hour 70mm print running 112.5 feet per minute weighs about 200 pounds.

I agree that a 70mm print might FEEL like it weighs 1200 lbs.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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He told me the following. 4screens 8 shows a night 6 days a week. Sound broadcast over FM radio. Anything over 7hrs per night=overtime. Build ups and tear downs are seperate extra fees. Overtime projector maintenance is seperate fees. Gets paid for dry runs if necessary. Full benefits, medical/dental/glasses, and retirement.

I was responsible for 10 screens per day in a all THX all digital 20 plex running no less than 30 shows during a 6-8hr shift. I described my daily responsibilities in "Shit Hot Presentation".

The fact is that I was responsible for much much more than the IATSE guys, and my salary/benefits came no where near matching theirs! Keep in mind that I was a projectionist at this theater and that I never worked the floor! And ya, I know what it is like to schlepp prints around!

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