the ankle bone's connected to the...oh @#&@*$!!

• The camcorder plugs into the wall socket.
• The firewire cable plugs into the camcorder.
• The computer plugs into the... no it doesn't.

We've borrowed a camcorder from some friends. Unfortunately we can't seem to get the data from the camcorder into our computer to burn a DVD, because the firewire jacks on the camcorder and the computer both require the smaller firewire plug, while the cable has one each of smaller and larger plugs. We decided to try USB instead.

• The camcorder plugs into the wall socket.
• The USB cable plugs into the camcorder.
• The computer plugs into the USB cable.
• The data travels from the...no it doesn't.

Well, everything got tethered properly this time, but we still couldn't transfer the data. Why? It turns out that this camcorder (and many others), while it can be attached to a computer with a USB cable, will not lift one lousy finger to transfer video in this manner. USB can only be used to transfer still photos from the memory card.

• Husband and maikaojai get into the taxi.
• The taxi drives us to the mall.
• We walk from store to store, brandishing our inadequate firewire cable and pointing at the small end, personifying the stereotype of the crazy farang harassing the hapless Thai sales associate.
• The mall has no firewire cables with two small ends.

Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law are arriving in Bangkok tonight for a visit, and we've asked them to bring along this kind of cable, which Husband assures me is to be had at the magical kingdom of Fry's Electronics. Stay tuned for updates; if it doesn't work, you may soon find yourself reading a post titled "Do you KNOW how much camcorders cost?"