David's space

Last week I was visiting my grandparents. It was supposed to be a routine trip up to Michigan while my parents went on a trip with friends. However, it started out worse than anyone was ready for.

Just as my grandparents and I were stopping at a fast-food restaurant just outside town for breakfast, my father called. He told us that their car had been wrecked by a deer who had jumped in front of the vehicle. Fortunately, they were able to get in another vehicle and continue their trip.

We were able to complete our own journey safely (thankfully!), and I spent a quiet evening settling in to my grandparents' home.

Monday

I spent Monday at my grandparents' cabin, which was farther north of their home near Grand Rapids. I busied myself picking weeds and connecting the TV that they had in the cabin's living room. I also spent time taking pictures at the nearby river and alpaca farm. Later, a truck came by, and I watched the men offload a new shed a short distance from the cabin.

Tuesday

Tuesday passed uneventfully for the most part. I spent some time in the afternoon helping my grandma pick weeds around the abortion memorial in a nearby cemetery.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, my grandparents took me to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. I walked through the garden areas and observed the flowers, tropical plants, and sculptures lining the walks. I again had my camera with me and photographed everything of interest. Near the end of the trip, we visited one of the largest exhibits at the Gardens -- a 24-foot-tall bronze sculpture of a horse, called "The American Horse."

Thursday

Thursday, I went to a nearby park.There were walking paths and a fish pond, in addition to a playground and pavilion. That afternoon, my grandmother took me to get new tennis shoes, but they were all a size too small. Otherwise, I spent much of my time entertaining myself by reading, listening to music, or fiddling with my laptop.

Friday

The trip finally ended. We left early and arrived in early afternoon. My parents came home later after work, and we enjoyed dinner at a nearby restaurant before my grandparents had to leave.

I recently found a trailer an upcoming movie based on the Halo video game series. I probably should have come across it earlier, but enjoy it anyway :P

This teaser is merely a first look into the world of Halo, but showcases a few stunning scenes showing what fans can expect from the (hopefully!) upcoming production. It is difficult to determine whether this video is specifically for the movie or simply Halo-related instead, but its detail of familiar Halo weapons and vehicles does a good job of portraying the future movie.

Animation of any kind can be a long and tedious process. Even when animating aircraft, there is much work involved to fine-tune the flight path for a 'natural' look. With the Craft Airplane plug-in for 3ds max and Maya, real-world simulations of aircraft can be recorded from a simple joystick input.

Craft Airplane records input fromt he pitch, roll, and bank axes, as well as speed (forward and backward), horizontal, and vertical movement.

Craft Airplane can be ordered for $599 or $829 for the extended version.

For a demonstration of the plug-in, click here.

To see the actual description page, go to https://secure.craftanimations.com/index.cfm?objectid=8AAA9F55-C5CE-1F62-5A449CE1DF566318&cat=AA1EAF

I recently watched the newest chapter of the National Treasure series. I began watching with the apprehension of being greeted with a simple sequel. Rather, I discovered a powerful story with mind-blowing twists and deep, intriguing adventure covering areas as exotic as Paris, France and Mount Rushmore.

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets parallels its prequel by revealing some of the events surrounding the Lincoln assassination. Two of John Booth's henchmen approach Thomas Gates (Benjamin Gates great-great granddaddy) and request his help to decipher a coded message. When Thomas discovers that the men belong to a secret Southern society, he brands them as "traitors" and almost destroys the message by throwing it into the fire. In return, he is shot by the conspirators who retrieve the blackened piece of paper.

The story then returns to the present where Thomas Gates is publicly accused of the assassination of Lincoln when the missing page from Booth's diary is revealed. This prompts Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) to find the lost treasure and restore his ancestor's good name.

Opposing him is Jeb Wilkinson (Ed Harris), the descendant of a Confederate general, who is also seeking the treasure. Wilkinson appears as an atypical villain who pursues Gates before realizing that they should work together. Eventually, Wilkinson shows that he is capable of doing good and even risks everything in the face of danger.

Apart from the villain, there are many ways that this movie not only reflects but also builds upon its predecessor.  The major characters from the previous movie return for equally stellar performances. Gates again makes his mark as a puzzle-solver and historical extraordinaire.

Gates' audacity continues to be a source of bold action and intrigue. In attempting to find the lost treasure, he again finds himself a wanted man with the FBI desperately attempting to capture him (and only waiting until the end of the film to do it).

Comic relief plays a large role in this film. The action scenes are often punctuated when Ben's sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) makes a funny remark or gets into an odd situation. There is one scene where security men barge into a bathroom looking for Riley and find another man instead. Also, look for a scene where Ben sticks his hand into a rock crevice and feigns injury.

National Treasure 2 contains many positive elements, which make the film even more exceptional. The theme of family values is strong in this movie as the family members must depend on each other and have faith in each other's abilities. This theme is especially brought to light as Ben's father and mother are forced to reconcile their differences. Self-sacrifice is also an important aspect of this film, appearing when one member of the expedition stays behind to allow the others to escape from an underground chamber.

In addition to these positive themes, the movie is not without negative elements. In the early parts of the film, there is the revelation Ben and Abigail (his girlfriend from the previous movie) have been living together. Also, the character of Ben's mother appears, and it is revealed that she and Ben's father are divorced. In addition, there are some intense scenes that may be inappropriate for not-intense people.

Overall, I would heartily recommend this film to anyone looking for relaxing entertainment. It is, in my opinion, a family film, although some caution should be exercised regarding young children.

Click here for the National Treasure 2 website.

Click here for the National Treasure 2 page on IMDb.

There's a new website dedicated to training in the Blender3D 3D software program. The site is run by Neal Hirsig, a senior lecturer on "3-dimensional computer assisted design and the art of multimedia" at Tufts University.

There's an extensive number of tutorial-based lessons in PDF format and also RealMedia and Quicktime video tutorials. According to Hirsig, it is "an introductory course, it [providing] a basic understanding of the skills and techniques employed by 3-D designers in a wide range of applications. [It explores] basic mesh modeling, applying textures and materials to 3-D objects, lighting, animation and rendering . . . [providing] a good basis for further independent study in architectural, engineering and theatrical modeling and game design" (1). The program appears in a self-paced format, neaning that the tutorials can be taken in any order. The program is available online as a free resource.

Blender 3D Design Course

See also:

1. BlenderNation: Tufts University Online Blender Course