draft
I am walking to my local pharmacy, CVS. I go in the back way, talking on my phone, as usual, in this case about superhero movies and stereoscopic conversion. I say that some of these movies are too dark to be great in stereo and trying to think of an example, someone says "Venom".
She is working in the back of the store, attractive some would say, that is if you like hot, slender women with 1/2 " hair that has been bleached white, skintight jeans, ritual scarification, and excellent knowledge of the Marvel superhero cinema.
We agreed that the relationship in Venom between the antihero (youre a loser, eddie), the ex-girlfriend and the symbiont ("I like her." "This may be the last chance you might have to apologize to her") is charming.
Her name is Feral. She talks to me three different times while I am at the store. I practically run away. When was the last time I actually talked to a non-gender specific girl type person who I might ask out? Long, long ago, in a different life.
I hope she works there, I might be able to see her again.
If I was in a playwriting class, I would write this up as a skit.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
The Democrats Are Too Afraid
draft
We are back at the same old issue. Democrats too afraid to take a stand on principle for fear of ... fear of ... fear of ... what? Rousing the Trump base? I have bad news for you, the Trump base is not only aroused, they are never NOT aroused. I like Nancy Pelosi, I am not too stupid to understand what she and Shumer (whose name I can never spell) are talking about. But my patience with these people is over. I expect the Democrats will nominate Biden, I expect that Biden can win over Trump. Who cares?
Yes, I know what is going on. I know what Pelosi is thinking, and why it makes sense. But I am a little broken issue on this issue.
Sad!
We are back at the same old issue. Democrats too afraid to take a stand on principle for fear of ... fear of ... fear of ... what? Rousing the Trump base? I have bad news for you, the Trump base is not only aroused, they are never NOT aroused. I like Nancy Pelosi, I am not too stupid to understand what she and Shumer (whose name I can never spell) are talking about. But my patience with these people is over. I expect the Democrats will nominate Biden, I expect that Biden can win over Trump. Who cares?
Yes, I know what is going on. I know what Pelosi is thinking, and why it makes sense. But I am a little broken issue on this issue.
Sad!
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Steve Gano
draft
A good friend recently passed away, unexpectedly. Steve Gano was a graduate of the Media Lab and a mutual friend of dozens of people I know. Very sad. Very sudden and unexpected.
A good friend recently passed away, unexpectedly. Steve Gano was a graduate of the Media Lab and a mutual friend of dozens of people I know. Very sad. Very sudden and unexpected.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Captain Marvel.... Dont Ask Dont Tell?
draft
I am having a complicated (aka "meh") reaction to Captain Marvel.
On the positive side I should make it clear that the opening night audience in Santa Barbara had no reservations, they liked this movie. Second, this is certainly some sort of solid representation film with standout feminist and pro-cat sensibilities. But is it really that solid if we have a "dont ask dont tell" situation going on here? A very strong cast, but to what end? I saw it all coming a mile away. Carol Danvers/Brie Larson is hot in her BDSM-inspired latex onesie, or whatever that was.
At the end of the day, this felt more like a classic movie for TV but repurposed for the big screen. I think it could have told a very similar story but been much stronger.
I am having a complicated (aka "meh") reaction to Captain Marvel.
On the positive side I should make it clear that the opening night audience in Santa Barbara had no reservations, they liked this movie. Second, this is certainly some sort of solid representation film with standout feminist and pro-cat sensibilities. But is it really that solid if we have a "dont ask dont tell" situation going on here? A very strong cast, but to what end? I saw it all coming a mile away. Carol Danvers/Brie Larson is hot in her BDSM-inspired latex onesie, or whatever that was.
At the end of the day, this felt more like a classic movie for TV but repurposed for the big screen. I think it could have told a very similar story but been much stronger.
Notice that they carefully look away from each other... Oh no, we are not in the closet, not us!
But then I realized, after a day's thinking about it, that this is perfectly in period, It would be an anachronism for two gay women in the USAF to come out. It would hurt their careers at the very least. So of course they would be in the closet. So in retrospect, this is an entertaining nuance.
But then I realized, after a day's thinking about it, that this is perfectly in period, It would be an anachronism for two gay women in the USAF to come out. It would hurt their careers at the very least. So of course they would be in the closet. So in retrospect, this is an entertaining nuance.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Corrupt American Justice System
draft
The sentencing today of Manafort convinces me that our legal system is in denial about what is going on here. The system failed again and there is very little chance that relying on a corrupt and failed system like ours will result in justice. A black kid who steals food would be given more prison time than Manafort received.
Dont these people understand what is going on? No, I guess not.
The sentencing today of Manafort convinces me that our legal system is in denial about what is going on here. The system failed again and there is very little chance that relying on a corrupt and failed system like ours will result in justice. A black kid who steals food would be given more prison time than Manafort received.
Dont these people understand what is going on? No, I guess not.
Monday, March 4, 2019
GAN Generated Rainforest Flower Images
draft
Generated by a variation of a GAN from rainforest flowers as suitably modified.
Assume that these images are used in a large rendered scene where the textures are also used to generate suitable geometry.
[3/19/2019 Notes: Back in the day, this would have been enough to get me into many magazines and get lots of publicity! Not anymore! Now I must walk the path of ascetic renunciation of all worldly fame! Sad!]
Generated by a variation of a GAN from rainforest flowers as suitably modified.
Assume that these images are used in a large rendered scene where the textures are also used to generate suitable geometry.
[3/19/2019 Notes: Back in the day, this would have been enough to get me into many magazines and get lots of publicity! Not anymore! Now I must walk the path of ascetic renunciation of all worldly fame! Sad!]
Liza Keith Memorial March 3, 2019
draft
Memorial for Liza Keith at Restaurant Hama in Venice on March 3, 2019.
Memorial for Liza Keith at Restaurant Hama in Venice on March 3, 2019.
Allen Battino, Phillipe Bergeron, Joseph Goldstone, Jerry Weil
Darnell Williams (Rosa Ferrer is waiting out in the car)
Donna Tracy, Di Piepol, Debbie Goydos Nelson
Reid Baker
Picture of Liza Keith (on the right)
Aliza Corzon Chaimedes, John Nelson, Scott Anderson
Jane Stefan and Jimbo Hillin
Tom Lynnes and Joan Collins
Scott Anderson, Jimbo Hillin, Donna Tracy, Mark Hardin
Scott Anderson and Aliza Corson
Friday, March 1, 2019
Movies Not Yet Made
"Hell on Wheels"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_on_Wheels
"Mercury 13"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_13
"1969 Peoples Park Riot"
http://www.dailycal.org/2017/04/21/remembering-bloody-thursday-1969-peoples-park-riot/
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Naming a Project is So Annoying
draft
If at first you walk down the dark path, forever is your destiny affected. What you name a project may indeed be changable later, or it may not be. So, choose wisely.
A piece of software to assemble various elements to create a single render stream for an image shall be called ... what?
Contenders (to be updated)
Opaque
Wedge
If at first you walk down the dark path, forever is your destiny affected. What you name a project may indeed be changable later, or it may not be. So, choose wisely.
A piece of software to assemble various elements to create a single render stream for an image shall be called ... what?
Contenders (to be updated)
Opaque
Wedge
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Short Trip to Joshua Tree (postmortem)
draft
Instead of just hauling ass down the road for a month or two, I decided to start off slowly and do a few day trip to Joshua Tree. Many interesting things were learned and here is a list of a few of them.
1. Check the weather. We had a record setting blizzard during the exact time I chose to go. It was exciting but maybe not the best choice. For the kids and adults of Joshua Tree, this was a peak experience. They had not had a snow storm like this for at least 11 years, according to one native.
2. Many exciting new symptoms seem to be present when I travel when sick, without the usual medication and in a blizzard. Memo to File: Do not do this again.
3. Just a little further down the road from Joshua Tree is a 24 hour medical center. The staff was very nice to me and let me hang out until I felt better. They were particularly impressed with the blizzard. A reminder that even medical workers on the night shift can act like big kids.
4. The Safari Inn was a perfect little motel for a great price.
5. The Crossroads Cafe was very good and I immediately fell in love with the hostess.
6. The mexican restaurant is just so so, but it is open 24 hours which is nice.
7. Google Maps does not check the weather when giving directions and nearly got me killed.
8. Joshua Tree is really nice when there is a foot of snow dumped on it.
9. Azuza, CA apparently stands for A - Z in the USA.
10. CalArts is right on the way to Joshua Tree if you take the Santa Clarita route.
11. Its important to pack critical items (like vitamins, medication, food, etc) in a place where you can trivially find them in your car when you are sick, havent slept for 24 hours, you are in the middle of an amazing snow storm, and everything in the car has been shuffled several times.
Other Notes:
12. The wind farm on the way to Joshua Tree is really interesting. Plays on size and scale.
13. There is a nice donut store back up the road from Joshua Tree in Yucca Valley.
Instead of just hauling ass down the road for a month or two, I decided to start off slowly and do a few day trip to Joshua Tree. Many interesting things were learned and here is a list of a few of them.
1. Check the weather. We had a record setting blizzard during the exact time I chose to go. It was exciting but maybe not the best choice. For the kids and adults of Joshua Tree, this was a peak experience. They had not had a snow storm like this for at least 11 years, according to one native.
2. Many exciting new symptoms seem to be present when I travel when sick, without the usual medication and in a blizzard. Memo to File: Do not do this again.
3. Just a little further down the road from Joshua Tree is a 24 hour medical center. The staff was very nice to me and let me hang out until I felt better. They were particularly impressed with the blizzard. A reminder that even medical workers on the night shift can act like big kids.
4. The Safari Inn was a perfect little motel for a great price.
5. The Crossroads Cafe was very good and I immediately fell in love with the hostess.
6. The mexican restaurant is just so so, but it is open 24 hours which is nice.
7. Google Maps does not check the weather when giving directions and nearly got me killed.
8. Joshua Tree is really nice when there is a foot of snow dumped on it.
9. Azuza, CA apparently stands for A - Z in the USA.
10. CalArts is right on the way to Joshua Tree if you take the Santa Clarita route.
11. Its important to pack critical items (like vitamins, medication, food, etc) in a place where you can trivially find them in your car when you are sick, havent slept for 24 hours, you are in the middle of an amazing snow storm, and everything in the car has been shuffled several times.
Other Notes:
12. The wind farm on the way to Joshua Tree is really interesting. Plays on size and scale.
13. There is a nice donut store back up the road from Joshua Tree in Yucca Valley.
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