CNC scanning
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 17.02.07It’s been an interesting week! I’ve gained limited knowledge on CNC operation, and at least one of my landscapes has been scanned as a final 3D model. The sculpey clay used is fairly translucent, so it’s tough to get an accurate reading with the laser. It’s decent enough for a rough scan (which we did previously), but the resolution was pretty low. The best is an opaque medium gray surface with low shine (matte primer spray paint is excellent). Unfortunately, the uncured sculpey hinders drying of spray paint, so we ended up scanning it shiny. It still worked great, since we could get accuracy of about 87% instead of 27%! Nothing more fun than watching a massive machine scanning in 3D with a laser… well, maybe there is, but I haven’t topped it yet this week.
bookmark
Sculpturist?
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 15.02.07
People keep asking if I’m a sculptor now… as if mucking about in plasticene did anything to grant one skill. Sadly, it doesn’t really. Thankfully, I’ve had a little experience with Sculpey clay before, but sadly, I’m still rubbish. Right now I’m working on landscapes for two locations to be used in some visual effects shots (plus some scale models later on). We’d tried modeling everything in the computer, digital elevation maps, and procedural terrains in multiple programs. Nothing was coming together very well, so it seemed that doing it physically was going to be easier. Miniature, of course, since we don’t have 12 square miles to play around with here. It’s hasn’t been the most realistic project so far, but carving in water erosion lines seems to be helping. Oh, and the splinter of wood in the middle of the second image is, approximately, a scale 500 feet.
Eventually we’ll be scanning these on the CNC machine, so there’s more to come!
bookmark
Fresh Apple Vinaigrette
iaian7 » blog » recipes John Einselen, 14.02.07A sharp accompaniment to plain salad greens, and an excellent dressing for chicken salads. Letting it ruminate in the refrigerator for a day or two can only make it better as the flavours blend and mellow. Makes enough for about 3 full salads, or 6 small ones.
read more
Ice and KY
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 13.02.07After a good month of very cold weather (enough to send me playing across the pond at work), we’ve finally gone beyond the usual snow and slick patches. While most winter storms (you know, 1/4” of flurries) will cause uncontrollable chaos in this “southern” state, today it’s been raining. And freezing. Right now the trees are breaking and the roads are even more deadly than usual.
Thankfully, Jesus was watching out for me on the way home, and the car never completely lost control. Though at one point it couldn’t stop, and yes, I was going like 10mph. Needless to say, I’ll be staying home tomorrow and working from my couch! Or desk. Or heck, the bedroom if I really want too. Right now I’m working on some landscapes in clay, to be scanned by the CNC machine, and edited further in 3D on the computer. Great fun to be working with my fingers, and so much more tactile, I’m able to see what’s going on with the shapes much better. Hopefully I can get some pictures taken sometime soon.
bookmark
Twitter and the Social
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 13.02.07Regardless the damning evidence against the intellectual level of most social based websites, there are at times places that rise into heavy and widespread use. MySpace is the shining example of both; it contains within its sordid servers the pointless dreck of civilization, and has also obtained near-ubiquitous status. YouTube for video, Digg for news, Renkoo or Planyp.us for event planning. As things progressed, the social trend got tied up with the often shoddy Web 2.0 movement (though there are a few beneficial aspects, such as the emphasis on cleaner designs… something I cheer wholeheartedly).
Clearly, in welcoming people “to the social,” Microsoft has attempted to leverage these trends, as society has increasingly based interpersonal relationships in the digital space. It’s a great idea, but sadly may never reach that critical mass; where one Zune owner will bump into another. The free nature of online communities has made it far easier to build momentum into a global force.
Anyway, back on topic. I do on occasion make use of the current slew of social websites, and once in awhile a particularly stupid, but fun, variation is hit upon. Twitter is just that! Stupid, fun, and easy. It’s a more advanced form, one might say, of the instant messenger away message. Tell people exactly what you’re doing at the moment! The concept seemed heavy handed at first, but integrated with mobile text messaging and instant messenger, you don’t even have to visit the site to keep friends posted on your goings on. Not to mention you can have your friend’s short messages sent to wherever you are.I haven’t added a permanent Twitter box to my site, but for now you can enjoy (or even better, ignore) the new “social” links on the right.
bookmark
Ten below
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 30.01.07It’s funny, in an area where people consider themselves “southern” (and their accents confirm) the weather in Kentucky is rather cold. This past week we needed an image that displayed hatred and violence for a museum display. After sadly turning down the offer to photograph actual thugs in Cincinnati, Shari Streutker organized a photoshoot with some young karate and kick boxing experts.
Since the image needed to be rather season-less, we decided to do it in t-shirts and tank tops. Which, had we known exactly how cold it was, we might not have asked for! After a quick tattoo job of a dragon (yeah, I just used magic markers), we headed out to the location. I was wearing my usual wool coat and ridiculously long scarf, Shari was in two coats and a single set of gloves. Within 30 seconds we were shaking uncontrollably. Normally this would be cause for some concern, but it really made taking pictures a blurry proposition.
We cleared the snow off the concrete, bit our lips against the wind, and absolutely froze to death. The guys were great, though, and stuck it out through a grueling one hour photoshoot (though we did take a heated-car break two thirds through to review images). I fear there may be lasting resentment since Shari and I decided to keep shooting till we’d filled the two 1Gb CF cards. One of the better images came from the first 20 minutes, of course, but I think it was all worth it. If not for the images (which do border on the stagey at times), then for the knowledge that I survived a photoshoot with half dressed models in -10 degree wind.
Today I had another photoshoot, this time on a roof! Thankfully it went quite a bit faster, but the cold was just as dangerous. Thank God for desk jobs in weather like this.
Yep. The general consensus is that Jesus was being beaten up by happy thugs. Thank God for those few precious shots that turned out AMAZING, and made it all worthwhile!
bookmark
A danger to Democracy
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 23.01.07Currently flying around the internet is news of Senate Bill 1 and a section that would “silence free speech”. This is a serious charge, and the Carolina Journal seems to have a decent write up of the pages in question; section 220. The bill was supposedly intended to clean up some of the shadowy ethics between organizations and government officials. Unfortunately, section 220 does the opposite; completely exempting large corporations and senatorial buyoffs, it requires small grass roots groups to register with the government, notify of all activity, and report quarterly financial records for review. It’s serious enough that Focus on the Family and the ACLU actually agree on the severity of the threat. The impact can extend to any community organization, non-profit, religious group, and even blogger. It seems that without complete government registration (and 45 days notice ahead of all planned activity, among other requirements), anyone asking for petitions, requesting involvement in contacting officials, or even asking for neighbors to participate in their own government, would be faced with $200,00 fines.
You can read more from The Washington Post, and please contact your senator, let them know what you think.
Also recently brought to my attention, by Eli Ihms, Attorney General Gonzales has stated that Habeas Corpus (right to a fair trial) is not expressly granted by the constitution. I understand that respect for the law has been degrading rather badly, especially as war time brings sundry unpleasantries to the board, but this is an inconcievably grevious statement. While general reactions to the Attorney General still fall within “utter incredulity”, I pray there’s a turn for the better sometime in our future… the current run of things can, and will, lead to anarchy.
Thanks for getting the word out! For a link to a petition that you can sign (in addition to contacting your representatives in Congress), see the American Center for Law and Justice’s website: http://www.aclj.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=2507
I’ll likely post a link to your post in my blog soon.
I’m not normally one to comment on political issues, but the USA is getting so disturbingly close to socialism. I used to think we were 5-10 years from a socialist state; now it seems that the surroundings of the recent war have brought it within just a few years. This is a painful blow to liberty.
what’s wrong with a little socialism?
bookmark
A personal record
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 23.01.07I didn’t leave work today till 8:15. Which probably isn’t good, nor was it a personal record (which stands at an almost-insurmountable 3:30am). What it does mean? I got a late start to grocery shopping, which absolutely had to be done. My cupboards were down to cereals and various olive oils, which really don’t mix well (thankfully there was plenty of milk in the refrigerator).
While Kroger may not have the best prices, they are nearby. So I always end up doing the bulk of my shopping there. Who wants to drive all the way out to Aldi or Walmart in Indiana? Well, I would in a heartbeat if it involved art projects that could end in my death or maiming (these things being high on my list of important things). But not so much for food.
Which brings me to the personal record; I hit the perfect time to stock up, and got more than a third off my total. It does seem to pay to use the Kroger Plus card, and $45 is definitely my best so far!
Yes, this is the most exciting thing to happen to me today.
bookmark
Babel
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 21.01.07It is the sad tale of language barriers and misunderstanding; a global loneliness. Babel was a limited release almost a month ago, but I was finally able to find it in a smaller theater in Cincinnati. Not quite art-house, but far from mainstream, there are a lot of films I’ll have to see in the coming months.
It’s hard to write a review of Babel without referencing Crash, as the films could almost be part of a series on the human condition. Using the same storytelling style, Babel introduces multiple storylines woven together with little overt connection, not even a strict timeline. While the interplay’s begin to make sense, and some of the relationships are clear at the start, we don’t get the strong culmination that Crash had. There is no sweeping redemption of a character, but rather the quiet relief of openness. Emotional, spiritual, physical nakedness, the storyline of the blind and mute highschool student serves as the physical manifestation of the films themes, and the need for understanding and closeness. She searches for it in sex, hoping that by loosing her virginity, she’ll find healing and acceptance. A husband searches for it in his marriage; falling apart, and badly tattered. Others search merely for a place; as a Nanny becomes lost with her children, and brothers argue in the Moroccan desert. The themes become graphic, offensive, tragic; a grittiness that can make you weep for those in similar tragedy.
And as the film closes, each one finds their way, in one sense or another, home.
bookmark
Trailers
iaian7 » blog John Einselen, 18.01.07I’ve been watching a trickle of media from this South Korean film for some time now, but we finally have a good detailed trailer for The Host! It gives a better overview of the movie, and touches on what I think sets it apart; it’s less of a horror movie, and more of a family action drama (though not for “families” per-say). Not to mention it’s a foreign film, and involves large amphibious creatures. And chemical waste. Meld that with what could be a far stronger storyline than most monster movies, and it could make for a rather fun flick.
I dislike motorcycles, and am frightened by stupid movies. But Wild Hogs mixes some very unlikely actors together. Perhaps I’m merely mistaken, but William H. Macy tends towards deeper indie films, John Travolta the more dangerous movies, Tim Allen sticks with a lot of children’s comedies, and Martin Lawrence does… something. I don’t know, I refused to watch Open Season. Anyway, here’s a film about the infamous midlife crisis. Complete with motorcycles and being forced to sleep out in the woods (John C. McGinley of Scrubs fame plays the park ranger). Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Seriously.
Just recently I was introduced to the rather addictive show Arrested Development, led by Jason Bateman. It’s hilarious. Sadly, it was canceled in the third season, but Jason is currently in a movie alongside Zach Braff and Amanda Peet; Fast Track. Along similar lines of possibly-raunchy comedies, we also have Music and Lyrics with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. At least someone seems to understand the horror of 1980s music.
mediaboxAdvanced
Have you thought about dusting it with a powder of some kind?