Project 4

Our class had to create a 3d object in Google Sketchup. The Sketchup tutorials were very informative. Once I started using the tools, things became a bit clearer. It became deceptively easy. I created a gazebo because I wanted to make something that seemed simple but was difficult to construct and was well, pretty. That Google Earth blew me away. I saw the roof of my house. You can look at any address in the world. THE WORLD. It move so seamlessly to the place where you want to go, or any place you wanted to go. Since it was a gazebo I thought about weddings. I found a charming country club in South Carolina for location. I think I will continue to tinker away a Sketchup.

Project 2 cont'd

I couldn't fit all the shots of the pages in one post, so here is the continuation.

Project 2

We were suppose to post our art history project as an Indesign and pdf files. I had no idea how to upload those files here, so I guess I have to post the pages in jpeg format. I can not stress enough how interesting Impressionism is and the history of the artists that brought us this style of art. This project gave me a lesson in researching and organizing information. Maybe I didn't do such a bang-up job:-) I have nine pages of information. Lastly, I learned a new program that will probably be beneficial to me in the future.

Set Your Phasers to Stun!

The new Star Trek movie is set to warp into theaters this Friday. Although warp probably wouldn't be the appropriate term since warp drives were yet to be invented in the age of Kirk (uh oh, nerd alert!) No doubt it will take a huge chunk out Wolverine's audience, but hopefully they will fuel each other with repeat business. I wouldn't call myself a Trekkie but I am a fan of the Star Trek Franchise. My favorite would be the Next Generation but Deep Space Nine would be a close second. Let's not even mention Enterprise, ugh. Ruined the entire franchise. I'm sure it will be awesome (for me at least) due to several reasons: 1) I liked the original Star Trek characters, 2) I like a lot of the actors in these roles (too many to name) 3) JJ Abrams is helming the film and I'm pretty much a fan of his work (Lost, Fringe, Cloverfield) and 4) SPECIAL EFFECTS! SPECIAL EFFECTS! SPECIAL EFFECTS!

I thought I'd post an article from Reuters to give us some perspective..

New movie tells how Enterprise crew mates got together
* Leonard 'Spock' Nimoy tells old fans: 'open your mind!'
By Frank Simons
LOS ANGELES, May 5 (Reuters) - When director J.J. Abrams dreamed up the new "Star Trek" movie, he took the prologue to the original television series to mind, and at least one key person approves -- Mr. Logical himself, Spock.
For new "Trekkies" -- and there will likely be many when the movie debuts in U.S. theaters on Friday -- the 1960s TV show started with a prologue about the voyages of the starship Enterprise and its crew that would "boldly go where no (one) has gone before" in the "final frontier" of space.
To reignite the franchise that spawned five TV series and 10 movies over roughly 40 years, Abrams has done exactly that -- gone where no other "Star Trek" storyteller had gone before -- with a tale of how Captain James T. Kirk, Dr. "Bones" McCoy and the Vulcan Mr. Spock came to be shipmates.
But changing the "canon" -- events and characters that shape "Star Trek" lore -- could leave legions of old "Trekkies" thinking Abrams had done something "highly illogical," as Spock might have once said. Old Spock Leonard Nimoy begs to differ.
"Canon is only important to certain people because they have to cling to their knowledge of the minutiae," Nimoy told Reuters. "Open your mind! Be a 'Star Trek' fan and open your mind and say, 'Where does Star Trek want to take me now'."
Where will audiences be taken? Backward is the way ahead.

They will learn confident Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) was a brawling bad boy from Iowa who joins the Star Fleet Academy, and beats the impossible "no win" simulator test that was dreamed up by the young and "logical" Spock (Zachary Quinto).
Together with crew mates McCoy, Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, Pavel Chekov and engineer Scotty, they board the Enterprise as young men and women on their first adventure in space.
The film, produced by Viacom Inc's (VIAb.N) Paramount pictures, moves at warp speed as the crew engages the villain Nero (Eric Bana) who has an eye for evil.
'GREAT JOB,' SAYS SPOCK
Nimoy, 78, is the only actor from the original TV series and "Star Trek" movies to also claim a role in the new film, playing Spock Prime, who helps set in motion the new future.
He heaped praise on the 31-year-old Quinto for taking Spock in a new direction as he first despises Kirk then grows to have a grudging respect for the man that will become his captain.
"I couldn't have improved on what he did," Nimoy said. "He did a great job, a great job, and I admire his choices."
After more than 40 years, Nimoy seems to have reached a comfort level with the character from whom he once wanted to distance himself. Nimoy even wrote one book called "I Am Not Spock", but later followed it with, "I Am Spock".
Nimoy was "ready to play the wise old character that hands down some help and philosophy to the young people", he said. "Settled, resolved, comfortable ... The Spock I played in this movie is pretty much me. Pretty much where I am in my life."

Whether fans settle for the new "Star Trek" awaits Friday's debut, but among comments at www.trekspace.org was this from Ben J Grimm: "I simply REFUSE to support ParaMOUND in their DEGRADATION of my beloved STAR TREK."
So "Grimm" may be disappointed in early reviews because "Star Trek" is winning raves. At review aggregator rottentomatoes.com, the movie rates a 100 percent positive.
The Hollywood Reporter says "all the familiar characters are instantly identifiable, the film gives Paramount Pictures a new lease of life on its franchise." (Editing by Bob Tourtellotte) (To read more about our entertainment news, visit our blog "Fan Fare" online at blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/)

Thank You, Frank Simons

And So it Begins....

The blockbusters are here with a vengence! First up, X-men Orgins: Wolverine! It's golriously violent and chocked full of the special effects we as moviegoers have come to expect from our summer blockbusters. It opened this weekend with $85 million dollars despite a workprint version being leaked over the internet a few weeks before its release. A workprint is an unfinished cut of a movie, maybe minus some special effects, scenes or other technical aspects. If you ask me I think the whole thing was a studio ploy to help hype the movie. Looks like it worked;-)

This wasn't as difficult as I thought. The interface looked very complicated but surprisingly easy enough to navigate once you watched a couple of tutorials. I just thought that traffic would be the thing that would make Clark Kent crack, not any bad guy. I wish I had more time and footage so I could have experimented with more effects. I understand using copyright-free materials but some scenes from movies would have helped enormously.

The Classics Are The Best

Sometimes you shouldn't mess with the classics. I am not a fan of change. Maybe that's why I don't like the new versions of classic games. I played Namco Museum on PSP. It contained a 3d version of Pac-Man. I was not pleased with it. Although the graphics were better and a bit more complex, it lacked that arcade feeling. I missed the electric blue background. I wonder what it means when I could never complete Pac-Man but I finished the PSP version. There is no other Centipede like the classic version. Iphone version offers three choices: classic, arcade and ultra. I played all and I still will choose the classic version. The graphics may be a little prettier and bright, but the gameplay is too hectic to enjoy with the busy visuals. NO OTHER Space Invaders is as good as the first. I played the one on the 2600, yes I am a little dated. That one had different settings like moving barricades, your fighter was huge and making it hard not to be killed or invisible invaders. I played the Space Invaders game for DS. It looked more military like. It could be visually updated but no extras. I have no objections to a missile command or pong upgrade.