20 - North Shore News -— Sunday. July 16, 2000 BUSINESS NEWS photo Terry Peters JOHN Porter shows the Casablanca Avio digital video editing system. North Vancouver-based Porter distributes the device in B.C. Don’t abdicate too much THE list of ingredients for Real Game Soup didn’t include the bul- - lets used to shoot the © ‘venison, hare and _» pheasant... >: Nevertheless, the label on the can warned: “Although the ingredients are carefully examined during preparation, customers are advised to check for lead shor.” 1 smiled when I saw the British company which made the soup was called Trustin the Foodfinders. It struck me no matter how much we'd like to “trust in” those who . provide for us, we must accept the final responsibility for protecting ourselves in both our perscnal and finan- cial lives. The traffic light for me might be green but I still glance both ways before I start to drive or walk across the intersection. Even if somebody runs the red light, hits me and suffers a penalty for being at fault, I would probably suffer far more. When I talk to or visit my banker, broker, lawyer, accountant, doctor, dentist or other expert, I would like to think he or she is fully aware of my situation. But realistically, I accept I am only one of dozens, if not hundreds, of clients/patients. Also, for whatever reason, Vide N. Van man distributes digital editing device GOT a video camera? Check out something called the Casablanca Avio. It’s an afferdable video editing device that will satisty the budding Steven Spielberg in you. North Vancouver resident John Porter has been in the video business for vears. His company is Triangle Video Productions. He’s seen video technolo- gy rake guantum leaps over the course of a 12-year career. Porter ig, particularly excited about the Avio, a device he now has othe distribution rights for in B.C. The Avic digital editing device ($2,895) plugs into a TV and brings to any novice with a video camera an casily applied range of effects, tides and transitions. Some specs for this hard- ware and software package made in Germany by MacroSystem: Boa built-in hard drive with MPEG-2) compression and enough room to store up to 3.5 hours of DV quality video or five hours of S-VHS/Hi8s; @ support tor three stereo audio tracks for music, narra- tion and sound effects; @ an Intel Pentium processor; @ trackball intertace; B intuitive software. The Avio first became available in B.C. in May. Said Porter, “Most people MMX are using it or their own home purposes. “Now they have the abilitv to do what they've wanted to in the past at a reasonable price, but [’'m finding a lot of budding film-makers, people who have digital cameras but can’t afford to go to the on- line suites in town and spend amvwhere from $50 to $150 an hour to use a professional editing suite. “Having this — system, which is fully broadeastable, they're able to do it within a budget,” he said. For more information con- tact Porter at Triangle Video Productions at 984-9911, — Michael Becker responsibility to advisers the adviser/expert might not be running on alt cylindvrs that particular day. So I always summarize the reason for my phone or per- sonal visit. If it’s been a long time since our last contact and something particularly important has prompted this visit, ] might prepare a brief written updater and agenda for us both to follow. And I examine the advice I receive critically to make sure IT understand and feel comfortable with the sugges- tions. I encourage you to do the same with all the people you trust to help you. Nobody can or will take as great an interest in your affairs as you — even if you ask: “What would you do if you were me?” Even more to the point, nobody stands to gain — or lose — as much as you. You might feel tempted to turn over management of a difficult part of your life to somebody else. But make yourself stay in control. Even “when you delegate some _contro! with a mutual fund, for example, stay enough in touch so you can decide sponsored by GD o& GS ur] whether to continue to allow the fund manager to invest your money. : It can be easy to shrug off responsibility. So I do appre- ciate Trustin the Foodfinders’ reminder that although it has done its best, I should still sip my game soup carefully. Mike Grenby is a columnist and independent personal financial adviser. He'll answer - questions in this column as space allows but cannot reply personally. Contact him. at- . Visit him online at .