I decided to create new Buddy Icons for Trillian. After a bit of dabbling, I finally decided to make GIF animations from my Alien Astronaut animation.

I used Maya to render a few frames as JPEGs. Then I opened those JPEGs in Fireworks, put them together in frames, cropped the animation into a square shape, and exported it as a GIF animation. I’m pretty happy with the results!

I’ve decided to change what I post on my blog. Instead of shorter posts about various topics, I’m going to write ones that are a little longer and more personal. I think doing this will help me come up with things to talk about, since it will be easier for ideas to flow.

My old blog topics just don’t feel comfortable anymore. They seemed too restrictive and almost disconnected, and there was nothing that really tied the topics together. I just never felt like they were really me… that I didn’t add my touch to it. Most of the time it was too hard to think of something to say.

Down the road—hopefully not too far—I’m planning on redesigning the format of the posts to make them look more fluid instead of boxed in and separated. But in case there is some short topic that I’d like to blurt about, I’m thinking about implementing a way to make those posts appear different than the others. While I’m at it, I’ll work on redesigning the site as a whole. (Haven’t I said that before!?!?!)

Anyways, I’ll take any suggestions or ideas. And let me know what blog layouts you like.

With all the recent news about the Scott Peterson trial, I’ve been wondering what the media is thinking. Is really necessary to have a meaningless trial as the BIG news story. Don’t get me wrong, it was a horrible thing for him to do, but is it really necessary to follow every little detail in the case? It doesn’t affect any of our lives. There are more important things that the media could cover, but instead they cover a meaningless trial to attract more viewers/readers. The media’s priority seems to be money instead of providing important news or information.

I never heard of Equilibruim until I watched it on Showtime… and I was impressed! In order to eliminate all wars, a futuristic government forces people to take a medicine that supresses all emotions. Anyone who “feels” must be put to death. A good movie to make you think. The action scenes in the movie reminded me of The Matrix. The only problem I have with this movie is that sometimes the so-called “emotionless” people actually seem to show some emotions.

Grade: A-

Hardee’s decided to display this billboard for its Indianapolis billboard campaign. Supposedly, this ad was not in response to the Pistons-Pacers brawl, but was based on the Eastern Conference Finals earlier this year. Whatever.

Lately I’ve been thinking about focusing a little more on my creative, artistic side. It’s probably been a few years since I’ve done any serious artwork that’s not school related. I’ve made myself “too busy” to spend time on it. But for me, working on a drawing can be one of the most relaxing things to do. It’s a perfect time for me to reflect on what’s going on in my life. There’s something nice about changing gears and using my right-brain a little, instead of the same old analytical left-brain stuff.

I’m actually considering eventually going to an art school either for my Master’s degree or another Bachelor’s degree—probably in animation. Why not get my creative juices flowing now? (And beef up the portfolio while I’m at it…)