Hmmm. Downloaded the free 30 day trial of Silo. So far, I like it! I'll take time to get used to, for sure, since I got so used to manipulating the zooming on the camera with the scroll wheel, but ah well.

So am I. I occasionally go back to Hex because it's taking me a while to learn UV-mapping in Silo, so the interfaces are not that incompatible. What's more confusing is that I try to manipulate the image in Photoshop the way I do in Silo. Keyboard+mouse commands don't work in PS!!!

I do like Silo.

I'm just figuring out what Nano said.

Trouble is, I'm a "linguist" and I don't have the problem of forgetting bits of human languages, so forgetting bits of computer languages is... disturbing. Or not. Again, I haven't figured it out yet.

Basically, since it's not your livelihood, just relax and go with the flow. If you need to use bits of a program you thought you'd abandoned -- hey, just do it.

If you abandon a program altogether -- hey, that's your learning curve.

That's the joy of being a hobbyist.

Nanobot said:

I wonder how close the parallel between computer languages and actual human languages is...

And, no, not a hobbyist, exactly. I just don't develop down in the deep weeds any more--and I'm not exactly weeping that this is so. Programming and algorithm development was never a true love of mine, just a skill I wielded.

ETA  - Programming languages don't only convey information, they literally organize it, express algorithms and cause thing to happen directly in the world when they run. More like magic spells than stories. ;)

Ah, no, I didn't think of you as a hobbyist, Nan. Me, yes, both in computers and in art, in that I'm not constrained by any requirements to use or not use, learn or not learn, specific things. Although what with the occasional commission now...

And you could say about human languages that they cause things to happen too. They definitely don't just convey information -- they shape the world around us. They define how we see and understand it, and how we mold it to our satisfaction.

Ah... yep. That would probably require a long dissertation to make sense.

surochek said:

Nanobot said:

I wonder how close the parallel between computer languages and actual human languages is...

And, no, not a hobbyist, exactly. I just don't develop down in the deep weeds any more--and I'm not exactly weeping that this is so. Programming and algorithm development was never a true love of mine, just a skill I wielded.

ETA  - Programming languages don't only convey information, they literally organize it, express algorithms and cause thing to happen directly in the world when they run. More like magic spells than stories. ;)

Ah, no, I didn't think of you as a hobbyist, Nan. Me, yes, both in computers and in art, in that I'm not constrained by any requirements to use or not use, learn or not learn, specific things. Although what with the occasional commission now...

And you could say about human languages that they cause things to happen too. They definitely don't just convey information -- they shape the world around us. They define how we see and understand it, and how we mold it to our satisfaction.

Ah... yep. That would probably require a long dissertation to make sense.

The more I thought about it, the more I could see that the difference was very small and the parallel large--with human language, we are the processors that change things. Wetware!

Nanobot said:

Eye candy! http://mrdoob.github.com/three.js/examples/webgl_particles_random.html

Here's more... http://mrdoob.github.com/three.js/

I'm so tired, these are fascinating...

Amazing.

Well, a happy Independence Day tomorrow to the Americans amongst us! Looking quiet here tonight...

I remember my first 4th of July. It was a day of confusion -- what the heck is this day when people assemble on a meadow in their Sunday best to watch fireworks? Somehow, that first summer, the meaning of it did not get conveyed. But the conviviality, the fun, and my new American friends' desire to share and have me experience a completely American holiday -- that did come across, and I still have fond memories.

I was a foreigner through and through, not expecting to stay after the summer.

And now, 25 years later, I feel as American as can be and tomorrow is as much my holiday as anyone else's in the family. Some days, it all feels odd and wonderful, especially to me who grew up country-less.

Happy 4th everyone!!

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Cool!

He came to visit us, it's the least I can do. :)

Nanobot said:

He came to visit us, it's the least I can do. :)

He's definitely a nice guy, or so I've been able to gather from all the board posts (not just here, but elsewhere).

Ugh, I hope you get over that soon.
Not feeling well. May have a sinus infection. Otherwise, OK.
Weather here caused the fire dept to cancel the city's fireworks show just as people were starting to leave home to go over to the arena. A co-worker's 2 year old daughter was very disappointed.

That would've been very annoying indeed.

yup.  the thundershirt http://www.thundershirt.com/?gclid=CMXyzK20g7ECFQff4AodSxZVhA

My lab Molly decided after 8 years that she's now afraid of fireworks.  She wouldn't go outside all afternoon and evening.  Had a little accident in the house, but at least she did it in the bathroom.  I figure she knows that's we go so it was okay for her too.
Sadie the dalmatian is usually terrified but she was having several of her bad twitching spells, so we had already given her a tranq.  She was a poor little druggie dog all day.

It was almost 102 yesterday here in the mid-west (landed safely-yay!) and 105 the day before. The entire state's crops are suffering, and may end up bust, the grass cracks underfoot and there has been a substantial rain to alleviate the drought for months...this can end very bad for the economy if all the corn crops are harvested as they are. Still....it's nice to be here.

ouch. I tend to forget that drought and water restrictions are not a normal state of things everywhere. :( The Midwest is supposed to be green!

Apparently there's a one day sale here: http://www.cgaxis.com/product-info.php?volume_4-pid194.html
$99 item reduced to $19.

They're also offering an external HDD with their models on it: http://www.cgaxis.com/product-info.php?pid823.html Although at $800 it's too pricey for most folks.

Incentive to make your own door.

Hmm, quiet today. And me taking a break from Station Program and Planning Guidelines.

You're kidding about the fascinating, right? LOL

*ahem* I work for Amtrak (our one official passenger railroad) in the Government Affairs and Corporate Communications department, and I generally produce and maintain two websites, the Great American Stations site and the Amtrak History and archives site.  This is why you hear me yattering on about things railroad from time to time. ;)

Of course, in this company, "duties as assigned" gets called into play pretty often. So, since the (train) Station design guidelines needed to be formatted, edits made, and whatnot in InDesign, and I am a graphic designer, well, here I be, making edits like a crazy thing. It's a biggish document for me, well over 100 pages. Of 8 pt type. *blither*

Nanobot said:

And one cannot do computer work non-stop for 8 hours straight without losing an arm or going blind after a short while, so I was dodging in... my usual, you know.

I see. Know how that feels. That's when I start tidying or baking cake. Updated the comic thread, have a 'splory.

'splory= exploration

LoL! I like StumbleUpon- go there quite often just to peek around and see what comes up. Nice catch on those, dollface. I need coffee...and ...coffee...:) Time for me to go digging for both. Good morning!