Blender Tutorial: Rigging

This tutorial shows how to rig the fingers in a very clever way. I’d seen this technique described in a text tutorial somewhere, but after seeing it here, I understand it. I also appreciated seeing how to adjust b-bones so that they only rotate, without bending (which results in noodly-looking joints). I really love Blender,…

Some E-Books Are More Equal Than Others

This morning, hundreds of Amazon Kindle owners awoke to discover that books by a certain famous author had mysteriously disappeared from their e-book readers. These were books that they had bought and paid for–thought they owned.–David Pogue, NYT The citizens whose Kindles needed rectification had purchased unauthorized George Orwell books.  So 1984 disappeared down the…

Rainbow in Suburbia

The HD version actually came out better than I thought it would. More photos after the jump… Similar:Having a rough day. But in a span of about 24 hours, three former students reached out to …One former student said I’m the only adu…AcademiaAnother section of #steampunk control panel. #neovictorian #design #aesthetics #blender3d …AestheticsI’ve finally started…

NASA's restored video showing Neil Armstrong's first moonwalk

Amazing! Similar:Using a Typewriter Simulator to Teach Media HistoryWorking on the syllabus for my “Media an…CultureThe hidden billion-dollar cost of repeated police misconductThe story notes that when police departm…CultureHorrifying deepfake tricks employee into giving away $25 millionNo names in this single-source anecdote …BusinessIn July, 2000, I was creating handouts on the sounds of poetry, prototypes,…

Interactive fiction, from birth through precocious adolescence: a conversation with Jimmy Maher

A great interview, on Adventure Classic Gaming. Was something like Adventure inevitable? That’s a tough question, but I think probably so. I’d say that the real wild-card here is not Adventure but rather Adventure‘s inspiration, Dungeons and Dragons. You just can’t exaggerate the importance of D&D to all of the many storygames that have followed it.…

Quirk Classics #2: Book Trailer

A bit predictable, but still enjoyable. Similar:Transfigurations (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season Three, Episode 25) Injured Humanoid Charm…Rewatching ST:TNG after a 20-year break….MediaLego TimelineThe Lego brick system was patented 50 ye…AestheticsAquiel (#StarTrek #TNG Rewatch, Season 6, Episode 13) LaForge adopts a murder victim's dog…Rewatching ST:TNG LaForge gets a litt…EmpathyOverheard: "This is the best show I've ever…

Pronouns Must Agree in Number with Referents

Clearly by “Them” the sign means “dogs,” but the since the sign refers instead to “Your Dog,” so it was already in need of some attention even before this alteration took place. Via Bryan Alexander. Similar:Why typewriters beat computersThe BBC offers a pleasant bit of retroph…AestheticsBlewsMicrosoft researchers discuss Blews, whi…CybercultureThe Drudge Report is pulling no…

We Choose the Moon

A website will re-create the 1969 moon mission in real time (allowing for the 40-year time lag).  http://wechoosethemoon.org/ Similar:Google Docs MLA Style Works Cited Class ActivityI have rarely been satisfied with spendi…AcademiaFBI admits flaws in hair analysis over decadesSo what if a WaPo story about huge flaws…Current_EventsWikipedia:VisualEditor – Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWikipedia is testing a…