[Tig] SoCal Fires - no posts? - Got Clean Optics?

[Nichols Craig]

I saw a lot of smoke in Burbank and not so much in Hollywood. Still,
since there is so much particulate matter in the air, it would be a good
idea to check optics on film transfer machines for cleanliness. Even
though indoors, the optics sometimes get a thin film of grunge after
fires. Reagent Grade Isopropyl Alcohol and non abrasive wipes (like
Berkshire) are recommended for Thomson Grass Valley equipment. In
stubborn cases, high grade Acetone can be used if you stay away from any
painted surfaces. 

I've seen a lot of smoke here in Thousand Oaks area and in Burbank, but
it is definitely better than it was days ago. The fire of 2005 was much
worse for us because it was in our backyard. There were tons of
firefighters and air support then, and though we did not lose anything,
we did have to evacuate.

For this firestorm, my sister had an on again off again mandatory
evacuation in Del Mar, but they are fine and my Mom had to evacuate
Rancho Bernardo, but her house is ok (at least the answer machine
works). 

The problem this time is winds were so severe, and resources were
stretched to the max. 

Disclaimer - I work for Thomson Grass Valley - I gain nothing from sale
of Berkshire wipes, Acetone, or even Alcohol ;^)

Craig Nichols
Sr. Support Engineer - Digital Film Applications
Thomson Grass Valley 
2255 N. Ontario St. Suite 150
Burbank, CA 91504
818-729-7720
800-549-8949(24hrs)

-----Original Message-----
From: tig-bounces at tig.colorist.org [mailto:tig-bounces at tig.colorist.org]
On Behalf Of SKIADCOCK at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:40 AM
To: rob at colorist.org; tig at tig.colorist.org
Subject: Re: [Tig] SoCal Fires - no posts?

Thanks to Dave Pickett for supporting the TIG.
 ====

If these had been smaller fires that happen every year in Santa Ana
season,  
I probably wouldn't have posted, but given the magnitude of it & knowing
some 
SoCal TIGers could be affected I did.  No intent to downplay any
disasters 
in other parts of the world, just that one small part of TIG-world
might be 
affected.
 
My clients from the UK & Australia contacted me to see if I was ok (I
am, 
smoke & ash & heat aside), so it is getting coverage  overseas.   BBC
online has 
it as the #1 emailed story, presumably  due to the magnitude.
 
Not sure I'm up to date on the stats, but so far 19 fires, 640 square
miles  
have burned, 1,500 houses burned, 500,000+ evacuated, and over $1billion
in  
damages.  Bob's google url gives a better view of where the various
fires  are 
located.
 
Hopefully our fellow TIGers are & will be fine.  But definitely
thoughts go 
out to those who aren't.  My next door neighbor's father is up  here
from the 
San Diego area.  His house was one of those that burned, but  at least
he's 
ok. I know quite a few people that were evacuated in the LA  area, as
well as 
further south.  They're staying w/ friends or camping  out at hotels, if
they 
can find any with vacancies.  That's a lot of  displaced people.  One of
my 
local clients had part of his roof blown  off due to the winds, but so
far no fire 
damage.
 
And I'd like to give a shout out of thanks to the firefighters who are  
fighting the various fires.  They truly are today's heroes.  And I
believe it when 
Bob's mom said they're dead to the world when they're able to  catch a
few 
hours of sleep.  My sister is a park ranger in the national  parks, has
had 
training in fire-fighting, & has been called out before  to help in
major fires 
(not this time).  She's described what it's  like, and it's pretty
brutal.
 
On a roll-eyes note.  For the US-based TIGers, Rush Limbaugh (radio  guy
for 
those outside the US) thinks the fires are being exaggerated &  they're
not 
that big a deal.  What a moron.
 
Hopefully the Santa Anas will die down soon, & we can resume our
regular 
schedule of discussing DI, etc.
 
Cheers.
Sharon Adcock



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