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Teleprompter use is featured here – read on!

After an exhaustive but exhilarating trip throughout Italy I met my friend, Marina, in Montalcino and we decided to pamper ourselves at a spa.   Not just any spa – we chose Bagno Vignoni, which is approximately 50 kilometers south of Siena in Tuscany.

Tuscany

The journey itself is revitalizing – the roads offer views of undulating fields of wheat, vineyards, olive groves and verdant hills where green-black cypresses stand tall and majestic.

Tuscany

Tuscany

Bagno Vignoni

The thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni were enjoyed by the Romans during the Middle Ages.  From the 12th century and throughout the 13th century, Bagno Vignoni became a stopover point for Christian pilgrims traveling this route on their way to Rome.

Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni

Bagno Vignoni is quite unique but also offers the usual spa treatments, massages given by able hands.   It has a very beautiful square layout.   The public no longer uses its gigantic pool.  Warm reflections of stone buildings, tiled roofs and potted geraniums dance across its surface to the delight of all visitors.

We stayed at the Hotel Posta Marcucci, which offers unparalleled hospitality.  There is what looks like an enormous pool dug from the hillside.

Thermal pools - Hotel Posta Marcucci

It is actually divided into two pools – one is warm and soothing the other cool and invigorating.  While you swim or simply float you bask in the warmth of the sun and look out over a captivating landscape.  Its beauty and silence heal body and soul.  Being immersed in the healing springs make you feel renewed and ready for further adventures.

So, you may be asking – what does this have to do with teleprompters?  Surely, you didn’t give a speech there!  You are right, I didn’t.  However, in conversation with other guests at dinner, teleprompter use came up!  The usual questions – What do you do?  Where else have you been?  Is this your first trip to Tuscany?  Is your trip for work or pleasure?  Both, of course.  It was over a fabulous dinner and a wine tasting of Barbaresco and wines from Montepulciano and Montalcino that my experiences with teleprompters were recounted.

Several seemed impressed with my success and promised to not only use it themselves when back at work but assured me they too would recommend teleprompter use!

Italy, I miss you already!

Ciao!

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The teleprompter has become a must-have tool!

Our sojourn in Italy continues to amaze, enthrall and inspire us all.

Among our favorite stops were Rome, Pompeii, and Chiusi, an incredibly fascinating Etruscan city.

Rome - The Spanish Steps

Pompeii

Pompeii

Etruscan Art - Chiusi

Etruscan Art - Chiusi

At each stop, on a previously scheduled day and time, I welcomed the various groups again in various languages and again aided by the now indispensable teleprompter.

The use of the teleprompter has after a few events become an integral part of the program and each time enhances the presentation.

The other guides and I have become so proficient at our presentations and have incorporated the use of the teleprompter at every meeting.  Its use has made what at times can be a stressful situation so easy and yes, enjoyable!

Teleprompter, an essential tool!

Feast your eyes on some more photos of the most beautiful, magnificent, fascinating, enthralling sights in Italy.

Tuscany

Tuscany

Tuscany

Tuscany

CIAO!

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Lucca!  Our excitement upon entering this walled in city could not be contained within its walls!

Lucca

Lucca

For those who read my post re my use of the teleprompter in Pisa – this is my next stop – and yes, the teleprompter (telesuggeritore) was indispensable here also.

For those who are new to my stories about my travels and the use of teleprompters  – read on!  I thank you for your patience.

Lucca’s ring of walls encloses countless Romanesque churches, defensive towers, paved streets, numerous museums and monuments – the sort of place conducive to relaxing in a beautiful setting.  The city center is closed to traffic.  The locals ride bicycles or walk around the city’s magnificent walls.

San Michele

One of Tuscany’s most beautiful churches, San Michele, has a most interesting façade, delicately twisted columns and tiny arcades.  It is sublime.

San Michele

San Frediano

Another glorious church, San Frediano, beckons with a façade decorated with reliefs of the apostles, the months of the year, shepherds, prophets and scenes from the life of Moses.

San Frediano

Among the most interesting sights is the Torre Guinigi.  It dates back to 14^th century.  It is topped by a grove of ilex trees whose roots have grown into the room below.  It is worth climbing the tower not only to see this but also to enjoy the most incredible view of the city and its surroundings.

Torre Guinigi

Torre Guinigi

I could go on and on about Lucca’s attractions including the Roman amphitheater, but I fear I may sound like a lecturer.   Suffice it to say, it is a pleasure to explore the city and all it offers.

Let me just for a moment tell you about how having access to the teleprompter once again not only saved me from an embarrassing moment but how it helped me impress my listeners.   I was about to address the group of students, their guides and assorted guests when I noticed that I had misplaced my notes.  I panicked given that my remarks were to be given in various languages.   It was suggested we have lunch first and talk afterwards.  That gave us time to get the teleprompter and to set it up.  It still had the input from my speech given in Pisa.  I was able to appear organized and coherent and given my ability to extemporize added more information as I went along.

Puccini

Oh, by the way, Puccini was born in Lucca!

What an asset – teleprompters rule!

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Forgive the above attempt at being humorous.   I can’t help it given that I had such a great time leading a group of students to Tuscany, Italy not long ago.

And, yes, a teleprompter is an important part of my story.

Read on, please!

A friend of mine became pregnant and chose to stay at home with her family.  I happily went in her place.  Our small group was composed of several graduating students who had never travelled to Italy.

Our trip began in Pisa (photos taken by yours truly) where we were joined by other groups and their guides from different countries.   Several languages were spoken and not everyone understood English.  I had to conduct the welcoming introduction in French, Spanish, Italian, English and Japanese, yes, Japanese!

It was not simply a question of saying, “Welcome” in each language.  I had to stir their interest after a long flight and inspire them to really delve into the history and beauty of Tuscany.  Clearly, my remarks had to be carefully crafted.  They were and the evening went smoothly with the help of that wonderful contraption, the teleprompter!

Another good friend (who lives in Florence and works for a local TV station) drove to Pisa to help me out.  I do know that I am very lucky to have such good, generous friends.  The trip from Florence only takes about an hour.

He brought a teleprompter operator with him who proved invaluable.   Stefano is one of those for whom speaking several languages fluently is effortless – a true polyglot.   He is the consummate professional – incredibly patient, informative and knowledgeable.   He was born in Livorno and has varied interests, including history and architecture.  I must share something else with you.

He and Pilar, the guide from Barcelona, fell in love.

But I digress – I must impress upon you how amazing the use of teleprompter was.  I highly recommend it.

On to Lucca!

The Presidential Teleprompter aka speech prompter,  aka Autocue is used by presidential and politicians, actors, business people and virtually anyone who wants to be free form having to worry about memorizing his/her speech instead of concentrating on the best delivery.

The units come with an experienced, professional operator, laptop, cables and all the necessary software.  It will be delivered in New York City or Los Angeles for $895 for a 10 hr day.

American Movie Company  | 917.414.5489 or 212.219-1075

Available in the NY Metro Area. Free delivery for full-day rentals in NYC.

Fits on same tripod as the camera for “through the lens” viewing or on separate tripod (supplied) just below lens. Copy may be submitted by email, CD or thumb drive in a .txt or Microsoft Word format.

For some reason President Obama has been singled out for his use of the teleprompter.  It only enhances his unquestioned ability to communicate.

Here is an example of the brouhaha surrounding the use of the teleprompter:

The Truth About Obama’s Irish Teleprompter “Gaffe”

Chris Mathews commented on Mitt Romney after his use of the teleprompter at victory speech in New Hampshire.  He also referred to Matt Lauer’s interview with Mitt Romney and his allusion to class warfare. Mathews said “This gets to a broader question as to why Romney needs to be scripted, why he’s really good with a teleprompter,  why he always gets in trouble in spontaneous moments.  He seemed surprised by Matt Lauer’s comments.

And…

“Yesterday, President Obama’s teleprompter was stolen. Police are on the lookout for a thief that’s eloquent and spreading a message of hope.” –Conan O’Brien

For reasons I’ve never fully understood, Republicans love teleprompter jokes, and yesterday’s GOP gathering in Florida featured one tired line after another. But as Evan McMorris-Santoro noted, Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a horrible public speaker, took the joke “a little meta.”

The first-term Gov. Scott (not known for his public speaking skills, to be sure) started reading his speech off a set of prompters at the podium. As he started talking, the state GOP sent reporters the prepared version of his remarks.

You know where this is going.

From the prepared remarks (complete with what appear to be prompter directions to emphasize the joke):

“Good afternoon, and welcome to Presidency 5!

“I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I looked out here. I saw all the TV cameras and a teleprompter. I figured President Obama must be here – giving another speech about raising taxes!“[emphasis in the original]

Most reasonable people should be able to accept a simple rule: if you’re telling teleprompter jokes from a teleprompter, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re telling bad teleprompter jokes from a teleprompter, it’s time to think of a new bit.

And there’s another:

CPAC Speakers Mock Obama’s Teleprompter

Brendan Smialowski for The New York TimesAs he addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference, Marco Rubio stood by a teleprompter while he ribbed President Obama about using a Teleprompter.

The Conservative Political Action Conference opened Thursday morning in Washington, and one leitmotif has emerged as an early favorite: noting that President Obama likes to use a teleprompter when delivering a speech. It was mentioned by David Keene, the head of the American Conservative Union, in his introductory remarks; by Stephen Baldwin, of the famous Baldwin brothers, as part of an attack on Mr. Obama; and by Marco Rubio, the Tea Party-backed candidate who is challenging Gov. Charlie Crist for the Republican senatorial nomination in Florida. Mr. Rubio is clearly a star of the gathering here.

He offered a riff on why it was such a good thing that Washington was shut down by a snowstorm last week. “And the president couldn’t find anywhere to set up a teleprompter to announce new taxes,” he said to laughter.

Mr. Obama, of course, has shown that he is plenty adept at speaking with or without a teleprompter, but the ribbing speaks to a bigger point: Many conservatives here believe that Mr. Obama used his speaking abilities to sneak a big-government agenda on to a public that is in fact not really supportive of his view of the role of government.

“This time I hope Americans will expect more from their next president than the ability to give a great speech,” said Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina. “Just because you are good on TV doesn’t mean you can sell socialism to America.”

One last point: For all the carping, the speakers are standing in front of a lectern and looking at – a teleprompter.

And that prompted former Representative Dick Armey, the head of Freedom Works, to ask from the lectern: “By the way, what are these things? I always thought if you knew what you were talking about and had something in your heart to say, you didn’t need them.”

 

Obama Teleprompter Jokes a CPAC Favorite

If you can bear one more teleprompter aside.

THE SAD TELEPROMPTER JOKE…. Appearing at CPAC yesterday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) demonstrated the far-right’s dry and sophisticated wit, while showing his own attention to detail.

“President Obama was in a grade school classroom speaking to elementary school children and he was using a teleprompter,” Pawlenty said Friday in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he added. “That’s not a joke. That’s a real story.”

Actually, it’s not. The tale spread by bloggers over the Internet and in some media, including the Comedy Channel’s Jon Stewart, blended together two Obama appearances Jan. 19 at the Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia, to make it appear he used the teleprompter when speaking to a classroom of 30 pupils.

In reality, Obama sat on a chair and spoke with the pupils without the device.

 

OK, so Tim Pawlenty doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That’s hardly new.

But the fact that the right is still obsessed with this — often telling teleprompter jokes while literally reading from teleprompters – has quickly transitioned from odd to sad to pathetic.

All modern presidents have used teleprompters to deliver speeches. It’s never been noteworthy, better yet “controversial,” until today’s right-wing GOP decided it’s hilarious – so much so that, as Pawlenty demonstrated, they’re willing to lie about it.

It’s worth pondering what, exactly, Republicans hope to accomplish with this. Apparently, the far-right thinks it can convince Americans that President Obama is, what, not as brilliant as he seems? The party that revels in anti-intellectualism and makes heroes of obvious dim-bulbs like Bush and Palin seriously believes the president is dependent on a prepared text to tell him what to say?

These clowns aren’t concerned with details like reality, but Barack Obama has been on the national stage for several years now. He’s spoken eloquently and intelligently — without notes or teleprompters — in debates, town-hall forums, media interviews, Q&As, and assorted appearances. Obama off the cuff is more cerebral than any figure in modern Republican politics.

I’d hoped we saw the end of this inanity a few weeks ago in Baltimore. House Republicans asked Obama what they thought to be really difficult questions. Perhaps believing their own nonsense about teleprompters, GOP lawmakers thought they’d show the president a thing or two. Instead, he made them look ridiculous, demonstrating a mastery of policy details and depth that they couldn’t hope to match.

These folks have to realize eventually that to attack the president credibly, they’ll have to do better than this.

CAN YOU BEAR ANOTHER ONE?

Letterman Makes Teleprompter Joke!
Update: Obama Without Teleprompter? Nope — He Had a Huge TelePromTV Screen In the Back of the Room

 

…defending Obama, and making the joke at Bush’s expense.

Nothing funny about Obama — why, comedians even expressly repudiate any jokes tossed into their wheelhouse.

Letterman’s point, to the extent he has one, is that Obama should be given slack on his teleprompter addiction — after all, he just wants to “get the words right.” Then he contrasts Obama with a teleprompter to Bushwithout one. Audience laughs. Ha, ha, ha.

Of course, if he wanted to do the with teleprompter/without teleprompter joke, he could have just used Uhh-bama’s stumbles, eh? Like the embarrassing moments tucked into this video.

Nothing funny about this president. Nothing.

So, if you want to see it, here it is:

Critics say Obama relies too heavily on his teleprompter. As Politico notes:

“Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter is unusual — not only because he is famous for his oratory, but because no other president has used one so consistently and at so many events, large and small.”

They make an interesting point, why would a president want to be prepared and careful about what he says? The guy who had the job for the last eight years didn’t need no stinkin’ teleprompter!

Well, David Letterman addressed the outrage last night with his segment ‘Teleprompter Vs. No Teleprompter.’ It was enlightening to say the least.

I ADMIRE JOHN RIDLEY – SO HERE IS HIS TAKE:

 

John Ridley

Emmy-Winning Commentator and Writer for Esquire

The meme going around like a bad cold is that President Obama relies “too much” on teleprompters. A line so oft repeated it’s officially reached the point of late-nite pop culture status.

What makes this kind of nontroversial attack slick is that, different from easily proved instances of excessive use like “too much” Old Spice, the “too much” teleprompter tag is, of course, an empty accusation. There’s no universally accepted measure for the appropriate amount of political telepromptering, which makes it difficult to do the practical math.

Difficult but not impossible.

The most accurate way to measure the president’s teleprompteriness is by comparison of his first 66 days in office with those of his immediate predecessor. Reviewing archived video on C-SPAN and exempting such must-have prompter moments as their inaugural and State of the Union addresses, the empirical evidence is that compared to President Bush, President Obama is indeed teleprompter-dependent. Jan. 23rd, 2001: Bush unveils his education plan — no teleprompter; Feb. 26th, 2001: Bush addresses the Nation’s Governors — no teleprompter; March 19th, 2001: Bush addresses the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce — no teleprompter.

A sampling, but you get the picture.

However…

Not being teleprompter-dependent isn’t the same as being prompter-independent. As to be expected, in those addresses and others President Bush read from prepared text. No big deal and not much different than reading prepared text from a teleprompter. For those who have never actually used one, a teleprompter isn’t some kind of science-is-magic communication genie. Merely having words projected before you does not give one the ability to speak those words with additional weight or emotion.

Ladies and gentlemen, Bobby Jindal.

So, maybe the better comparison isn’t how much time a president spends reading from a prompter — any prompter — but how much time he spends speaking to a national audience extemporaneously. Thus far, President Obama has held as many solo press conferences as former President Bush over a similar time period — two. Bush’s having been on February 22nd, 2001 and March 29th, 2001. However, both of President Obama’s press conferences have been during prime time with more viewers watching him work without a net. Bush didn’t hold his first prime-timer until October 11th, 2001. President Obama has also held town hall meetings in Elkhart, IN, Fort Myers, FL, two in California, in addition to appearing prompter-free (for better or worse) on the Tonight Show as well as holding a virtual town hall meeting on the internet.

All that is to say: compared to President Bush, President Obama is actually more likely to do “too little” telepromptering during “too many” Q&A sessions before “too many” people.

And while phrases may deceive, numbers don’t lie.

That’s it for now – no more teleprompter anecdotes.

 

Girl with Camera Phone

Camera phones aren’t any longer special: all mobile phones right now incorporate a digital camera, for still photos and videos. The difference in between the different models lies in the quality of the camera as well as the videography options it offers. The very best gadgets readily available on the market solve the problem of taking a cam corder plus a telephone, and they load up the features from both units collectively, in a unique unit, sleek and comfortable to wear. The 21st century has thus introduced the most important successes ever in the history of cellular transmission technology.

According to 2011′s product sales reviews, camera phones sold more copies than camcorders last year. Yet, this doesn’t imply you must leap in to a purchase without fishing for details. You can find lots of web instruments that aid you carry out a decent evaluation to figure out what camera phones are dependable and which offer lower-end camera attributes. The following are some of the factors to check prior to the purchase, given that they help make essential camera factors:

-megapixels; -autofocus; -phone functions that support photo capturing; -the correct form of flash; -image stabilization possibilities.

The world wide web delivers ample information on each of those factors, and also you get the advantages and disadvantages of the various technical alternatives within the type just about any normal individual can comprehend. Now, before you keep on with your research, I encourage you to inquire your self the reason why you prefer looking at camera phones especially. Mobile phones could just take very good images, but none of them would be too much over the amateurish level. Skilled photographers still carry massive ‘guns’ around when they go shooting. If mobile phones had every thing they needed in the video/photo business, they’d carry camera phones instead.

The facts is with camera phones you can get monetary savings. They’re excellent for every day use, for taking nice family moments or taking photos when vacationing. But that’s pretty much it. Camera phones can also be helpful for using social networks or communicating with close friends and co-workers efficiently. Even so, the cost of this very best camera phones obtainable within the market is still too spicy for the average pocket. For this reason, individuals would settle with less attributes and a little lower quality to fulfill the limits of their finances.

You can help to make a really good deal and considerable savings by purchasing renovated camera phones. They come at a fraction of the preliminary price, and they’re scarcely used, usually being returned within 30 days after the acquisition. That’s an idea to explore if you’re convenient with it!

Wedding Photography

Everyone wants to capture the important moments in life, and none is more important than a wedding. Hiring a wedding photographer Los Angeles is the way to remember that special day forever. These are some suggestions for picking the best wedding photographer for you.

Hiring the photographer is one of the first things you should do once you set a date. Many prime photographers book dates months in advance; most marriages are on a Saturday. You do not want to miss out on your number one choice.

As with anything that you want done the right way, choose someone with a lot of experience. Picking a relative or friend to photograph your day, rather than a professional, can be the quickest way to ruin it. Narrow your search to someone who only does weddings, and you have someone you can count on if things do not go just right; he knows how to shoot in all kinds of lighting situations.

Choose a small group of photographers who can work within your budget. Meet with each one and do not be afraid to ask for portfolios to comparison shop. You can learn a lot about who they are and the work they do through adequate consultations.

The photographer you choose needs to be highly skilled. You want him to know how to take traditional photos, but also to take candid and artistic photos of all stages of the ceremony, before, during, and after. He should work seamlessly throughout the day, quickly catching moments as they unfold.

A professional who has high quality camera equipment as well as lighting equipment is a good bet. Ask her how many cameras she will be using throughout the day. Find out how she deals with camera or lens malfunctions, and if she will have extra gear handy. Having an abundance of quality equipment on hand as well as liability insurance demonstrates professionalism and responsibility.

A personal connection with the photographer is a must. You need a level of comfort with him to be natural on your big day. He should be calm, genuine, and positive. Wedding Photographer Los Angeles, TeleprompterRentalLA.com, AmericanMovieCo.com

Monochrome Photo of Beautiful Girl

You understand, there’s something that may be a lot more artistic concerning monochrome photography. I know I get just a little out of the general concept of portrait digital photography. But as a professional photographer, you will without doubt come across the sensation that’s black and white pictures.

I’m able to keep in mind strongly the digital photography called Erina Zagaris who is they digital photographer from the Bay area 49ers. He explained he only agreed to be captivated by the usage of monochrome pictures. The way the mild and also the covering are really much more apparent. This helps give rise to the general sensation as well as feeling with the moment that the monochrome picture catches.

A few of you may be telling yourself that color digital photography offers surely used the place regarding grayscale digital photography, and I would state that generally you might be correct. An interesting note here’s which grayscale photography still keeps a diploma of appreciation for the past in most photography enthusiasts, novice and also expert as well.Possibly 1 reason for this appreciate tonka trucks is actually obviously in which pictures was adopted monochrome motion picture.

Not only this, but many pictures college students are tasked with using black and white photos when they are in their first photography lessons. I know within my very first digital photography class I used to be amazed on the really thought. Simply later on if the photos had been developed did I really start to value monochrome photos.

If you are an amateur or even experienced digital photographer, I’d encourage you to definitely offer monochrome pictures an attempt. I do believe you will be pleasantly surprised on the level of sophistication it will take to essentially display an excellent black and white photo. Then you may be able to consume a few superior photographs for example incorporating 1 stream associated with colour. You might have observed these kinds of photographs just before when the photographer enables one shade to be really obvious in the grayscale picture. As an example I can keep in mind an image of the little girl in the monochrome picture, nevertheless the coating your woman has been sporting had been bright white. It absolutely was fantastic moment in order to capture.

As for taking the monochrome pictures by themselves, more advanced digital camera models possess gray-scale mechanisms that allow for this. You can also possess the shade image transformed using a portrait digital photography software such as “Photoshop.” Have a chance within black and white pictures. I believe you will be happily surprised in the outcomes.

I am not unaccustomed to being in front of an audience, however, I found myself in a situation where I had to deliver a speech in Italian.  I am not fluent in Italian so when a friend suggested I use a teleprompter I saw it as a great idea and embraced it.

I did some research and came upon American Movie Co.  The teleprompter operator was incredibly attentive and sensitive to my needs.   He was totally professional and made me feel so at ease that the stress disappeared.  He patiently instructed me on how best to use the teleprompter.  I became familiar with it and delivered what was a flawless presentation!    In addition to making the teleprompter available on short notice they also managed to enlarge photos of the many pieces of wearable art, jewelry, and other objects which I was showing at this particular venue.  They had several models to choose from and together we settled on the teleprompter autocue pictured below.

You might like to see the beautiful, amazing jewelry in question.  It is made by a cooperative in Lucca, Tuscany called “Belle di Niente”.  It loosely translates to “Beautiful Things from Nothing”.  It is run by a small group of women who make the most inventive pieces from remnants of fabric and leather and most interestingly from plastic, yes, plastic from multi-colored soda bottles.  The idea is to recycle and to imagine.  The possibilities are endless.  The unbridled creativity of these women, all artists in their own right, is awe-inspiring.   What they’ve created is brilliant and aesthetically unparalleled.  I might be given to a bit of hyperbole given that one of the women, Marina Bigongiari, is a personal friend and I represent her work here in the US.  But, don’t just take my word for it – see for yourself.  Check out their website.   If you are interested in any of the items feel free to contact me at:

venturacarm@gmail.com

Belle di Niente

Belle di Niente artists (founders)

Now back to the reason for this entry – the teleprompter – a great asset to anyone who takes pride in making a good impression at a presentation.  The teleprompter was invaluable.