It looks like they might be data DVDs after all (he can't remember), because VLC just doesn't want to know:
main debug: Activated
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 0 items, index -1
macosx debug: using Leopard AR cookies
main debug: looking for services probe module: 5 candidates
main debug: no services probe module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 183.653 ms - Total 183.653 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 183.653 ms)
macosx debug: notification received in VLC with name VLCOSXGUIInit and object VLCEyeTVSupport
main debug: looking for services probe module: 5 candidates
main debug: no services probe module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.378 ms - Total 2.378 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.378 ms)
main debug: adding item `100312_1429' ( dvdnav:///dev/rdisk1 )
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist
main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1
main debug: processing request item 100312_1429 node Playlist skip 0
main debug: resyncing on 100312_1429
main debug: 100312_1429 is at 0
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for '100312_1429'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 22 (../../src/input/input.c:214)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path '/tmp'
main debug: `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk1' gives access `dvdnav' demux `' path `/dev/rdisk1'
main debug: creating demux: access='dvdnav' demux='' path='/dev/rdisk1'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
main debug: no fetch required for (null) (art currently (null))
dvdnav warning: cannot open dvdnav
main debug: no access_demux module matching "dvdnav" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2161.244 ms - Total 2161.244 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2161.244 ms)
main debug: creating access 'dvdnav' path='/dev/rdisk1'
main debug: looking for access module: 0 candidates
main debug: no access module matched "dvdnav"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.403 ms - Total 0.403 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.403 ms)
main error: open of `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk1' failed: (null)
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play
macosx debug: input has stopped, refreshing interface
main debug: TIMER input launching for '100312_1429' : 2229.020 ms - Total 2229.020 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2229.020 ms)
Thanks again for your time and advice......BC