Nearly there!

It’s been a very long, hard week getting the site up and ready. Or, however long it’s been. But, we’re nearly there! A quick editing pass, validation of the PayPal integration, and some last bits and pieces here and there. And then, we can go live and announce! Amazing! Cheers to all Rando

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Design Requirements Round-up

As I went fast through the design process, there were many notes jotted down on sticky-notes, in my normal notebook, the backs of old printouts, in the OneNote pages, and any other place I had at hand when the idea struck me. Going back, I found these items spread throughout, telling me exactly what was wrong with tie-wraps, and exactly what needed to be right about these. Hopefully you’re with me in agreeing that I’ve nailed it. (No mic-dropping; it hurts the mic) In addition to “Cool AND Useful”, they have to… Fit over the tube easily and snugly, without …

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Blog’s lookin’ a bit sparse there!

Getting this WordPress site up and running has been both fun and puzzling. For example, you’re probably marveling at the wonderfully uncluttered, even spartan look of this post. Um, yeah, only partially intentional. While I do love clean and tidy, in truth, there’s some not-yet-configured things making it all look unloved. Soon, it will all be better ;-). Cheers! Rando

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Wow! Talk about Whirlwind….

Fastest and Fullest yet so far! What on earth are you on about, Rando? This launch! Of 4CELNK.com? Yes! Well, unlike most other products that take a year or more, this one has come together with surprising speed. It’s as if the pieces of this puzzle were there all along, just waiting to fall together in thought. When I say fast, I mean idea to in-Market in under two months. Yes, MONTHS. This one is 2018-027, the 27th design-start so far this year. Yeah, it’s been a busy year for new designs. This one, though, is special. I can tell. …

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We knew this was coming: Internet Sales Tax

Interesting thought regarding Internet sales tax. I did some very light reading, and nearly all of the states have a minimum amount of business required in the state, typically on the order of $10K to $100K minimum receipts, per year, before you’re required to collect and forward that. Some also have a threshold number of transactions of some dollar amount of more. Which means that nearly all small internet-based businesses will be completely exempt except for a) where they actually live and work, and b) states with no minimum. Did I hear you say “status quo”? So for me and …

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Making a Banner Image

More “studio reality”, aka “why PEOPLE refuse to sit for Thom’s photos…” This is the last image in a series of nearly 130 exposures trying to get that one shot that can go on the end-flap of the wrap-around labeling for the product. The cropped image at bottom is the result. Zoom in and notice edge-to-edge tack sharp focus, especially as it relates to the visible air between the arms of the two end pieces. Heh Heh. (Technical) Photo geeks rock! Regards, Rando

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So…you say you’re a photographer, eh?

When someone says “I can take pro-level product-ad photos with my iPhone”, and I smile politely and tell them “I’m sure you can.” Yeah, this is how we do it for reals. Note the camera is literally overhead, 180mm macro set at f20 for tack-sharp 24MPixel images. Click through the images here and below, and prepare to be amazed. You might be wondering why you can’t you see those (horrendous) red walls in the reflections of other photos. It’s because the strobes are throwing about 400 watt-seconds (Ws) of light at the table, completely swamping any light coming from external …

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What’s he up to now? Cutting WOOD?

Yeah, yeah, anyone can cut holes in a board. What fresh hell is this you have cooking up? Well sure, anyone can cut HOLES. But, can just anyone make THIS kind of holes? That are actually bosses with fillets around and on top, and a chamfer at the entry? All sized just right for a specific set of tubes? Oh…and while you’re drilling those flat-bottomed holes, would you might being so kind as to make a mirror-image copy? You know, for the top…. They’re intended to look like “something a human can’t make–easily” but that doesn’t really draw attention to …

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