Luminous Garbage

Eyes Wide Shut

2012-01-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine once said an important difference between fantasy novels and our mundane reality is that our woods do not have giant, man-eating spiders in them. Eyes Wide Shut is about a man who learns there are, indeed, giant spiders lurking in our world.

This film is not for everyone. It builds with a kind of deliberate, glacial speed (this is Kubrick, after all)...and then takes the most incredible left turn, a plot twist that left me gasping and helpless to tear my eyes from the screen. I had come to this film expecting a self-indulgent swan-song, but what I got was nothing short of a masterpiece.

Buy it, rent it, see it on Netflix, or whatever. But see it.

Once you've seen it, here's a wonderful analysis of the film to savor. And another, slightly more esoteric, deconstruction which overreaches a bit, but still offers some clever insights.

Zoe Jakes performing to Beats Antique

2012-01-22T08:11:00.000-08:00

The music, and the dance, are a perfect blend of the familiar and strange. I'd definitely go see these people perform live. And do check out their website!

Lost in Tokyo, a short film by Mark Bramley

2012-01-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

I find this sort of thing endlessly fascinating. The music's great too.

Lost in Tokyo from Mark Bramley on Vimeo.

Nataraja Dance

2012-01-17T23:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, this is the coolest thing I've seen in a while.

Biggest Teahupo'o Ever - Mesmerizing!

2012-01-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

From the Metafilter post:

Teahupo'o was included on Transworld Surf's list of the' Top 10 Deadliest Waves' and is commonly referred to as the "heaviest wave in the world". The name 'Teahupo'o' loosely translates to English as “to sever the head” or "place of skulls"."

You can see the video directly from this page.

No Place Like Home

2011-11-12T23:08:00.001-08:00

While filming in Space Engine for another video project, I was capturing this departure from Earth when a really great song was playing in Winamp. I found myself swept away by the majesty of it all and decided to make a standalone movie.

I hope you like it! It makes me feel sad and small, but also hopeful, and infinitely precious at the same time. And the soundtrack is one of the most powerful pieces of music I've heard in years.

PS That's all one long take, with me steering the camera with ridiculously delicate inputs.

Christine Sun Kim

2011-11-12T04:56:00.001-08:00

This is filmmaker Todd Selby's portrait of hearing-impaired artist Christine Sun Kim, and explores her reclamation of sound, by means of converting it into a physical experience.

Todd Selby x Christine Sun Kim on Nowness.com.

Murmuration

2011-11-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

A collection of starlings is called a Murmuration.

Android Dreams

2011-10-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Samuel Cockedey's time lapse photography of Tokyo, set to the soundtrack of Blade Runner.

android dreams from Samuel Cockedey on Vimeo.

The Adventures of Bill and John, Episode II

2011-10-14T22:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a flight simulator nut, so of course this tickles me. But it's one of the best machinima I've ever seen. The comedic timing is perfect.

Deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon feat. Greta Svabo Bech

2011-10-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

I just adore this song, especially where it goes bonkers in the middle.

Beats Antique offers their album "Collide" as a free download

2011-09-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is seriously eclectic music, very sensual. Check it out! Thanks to Lotus for finding this treasure trove.Collide by Beats Antique Beats Antique website.

A Blender Explosion

2011-09-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

I found an excellent tutorial for creating fireballs in Blender 2.59 by Zeitfreund(see his video). This is my elaboration of that idea, which I used also to learn some new features of Blender, namely rendering in distinct passes and compositing with Blenders video editing tools.

Another challenge I set for myself was using only freeware tools to make this animation.

LA Light -- A video by Colin Rich

2011-08-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

"Los Angeles is the most beautiful city in the world, provided you see it at night, and from a great distance." -- Roman Polanski

This is the view of Los Angeles Koishi glimpses when she and Val descend from the Hollywood Hills, on their way to the Goth club.

LA Light from Colin Rich on Vimeo.

GTA IV: Inception

2011-07-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Someone made a great Inceptionesque machinima using GTA IV, which in my opinion is one of the greatest video games ever made. Enjoy!

Billions and Billions

2011-07-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

A video I made using the Space Engine simulator.

Stormchasing (Fuel gameplay)

2011-07-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy this game.

The solar wind, sonified

2011-07-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Parts of this music were created by a process called sonification, where data is converted to sounds according to a look-up table.

SpaceEngine Universe Simulator

2011-07-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

There's a remarkable bit of free software from Russia called SpaceEngine that simulates the entire universe. Seriously. Here are a couple of video examples.

This video shows the staggering scale of the simulation.

There's a pretty spectacular double sunrise at the end of the video above.

And

Try it for yourself! The controls are a little wonky at first, but with this tutorial and the help file that comes with the game, you should be traveling the cosmos in no time.

Venice Fly Through

2011-06-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles has its problems, but I love being here anyway. This video presents a dreamlike journey above Venice Beach, one of the most colorful parts of the city.

Arma 2 Free To Play

2011-06-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! It seems there's a free-to-play version of Arma 2 coming this month. I shall have to check out the demo version.

Of course, Arma3 is looking pretty good, too.

Cassini Mission set to NIN music - lovely space porn

2011-06-05T15:40:00.001-07:00

This is just gorgeous. And while it seems to have been treated a bit (mostly in editing, but some post as well) it's all real footage.

From creator Chris Abass's site:

I truly enjoy outer space. It's absolutely amazing that we now have the ability to send instruments out into the void of the universe to observe all sorts of interesting things. Asteroids! Moons! Planets! Dark matter! This is the perfect opportunity for a Carl Sagan quote:

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."

The footage in this little film was captured by the hardworking men and women at NASA with the Cassini Imaging Science System. If you're interested in learning more about Cassini and the on-going Cassini Solstice Mission, check it out at NASA's website:

saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/index.cfm

Track: 2 Ghosts I, Ghosts I – IV by Nine Inch Nails
Self-Directed / Edit / Sound Design / Comp / Color

Enjoy!

CASSINI MISSION from Chris Abbas on Vimeo.

Memories of There

2011-05-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

I started playing There in 2003 (I think) and was sad when it shut down in 2010. Here's a series of accounts by Therians filmed before the curtain fell. I met a lot of long-term friends there, some of whom I still chat with in different venues to this day.

Swimming through a jellyfish swarm

2011-05-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

JELLYFISH LAKE, PALAU from Sarosh Jacob on Vimeo.

Space Porn

2011-05-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is a real photo, from this amazing photoset. I'd embed the image, but it's not allowed.

Minecraft on Acid

2011-05-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

The only way to make a totally pixellated universe stranger is to deform it aggressively. Dubstep is the perfect music for this video.

Why L.A. Noire is so cool

2011-05-19T09:06:00.001-07:00

Keynes vs. Hayek Round Two

2011-05-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

Is an economy best driven from the ground up, or the top down? Here's a brilliant rap video to help explain the ongoing argument.

Ultimate Dog Tease

2011-05-02T14:51:00.001-07:00

I had to watch this four times, I was so charmed.

Dangerous news

2011-04-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Well, my novel Dangerous is done, aside from some general tightening of prose (a never-ending task). I'm starting to send out query letters, so wish me luck! A couple of people sent me links to the same wonderful song, and I've deemed it the official title track of Dangerous. It has just the right mix of dark, smoky, and playful. Check it out, below.

How a differential gear assembly works

2011-03-30T20:40:00.001-07:00

I saw this video on Boing Boing and marveled at its precise, clear explanation of how a car's differential gear works. It's amazing!

The Aurora

2011-03-28T19:35:00.001-07:00

This will knock your socks off. I strongly recommend you watch it with sound.

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Houseplants of Gor

2011-03-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you have even the least knowledge of John Norman's Gor series, you really need to read this parody. I laughed so hard I almost peed myself. Thanks to V for the link!

(In case the link breaks, I'll repost the contents here. All I know about its origins is that it was written by someone named Elle.)

HOUSEPLANTS OF GOR

The spider plant cringed as its owner brought forth the watering can. "I am a spider plant!" it cried indignantly. "How dare you water me before my time! Guards!" it called. "Guards!"

Borin, its owner, placed the watering can on the table and looked at it. "You will be watered," he said.

"You do not dare to water me!" laughed the plant.

"You will be watered," said Borin.

"Do not water me!" wept the plant.

"You will be watered," said Borin.

I watched this exchange. Truly, I believed the plant would be watered. It was plant, and on Gor it had no rights. Perhaps on Earth, in its permissive society, which distorts the true roles of all beings, which forces both plant and waterer to go unhappy and constrained, which forbids the fulfillment of owner and houseplant, such might not happen. Perhaps there, it would not be watered. But it was on Gor now, and would undoubtedly feel its true place, that of houseplant. It was plant. It would be watered at will. Such is the way with plants.

Borin picked up the watering can, and muchly watered the plant. The plant cried out. "No, Master! Do not water me!" The master continued to water the plant. "Please, Master," begged the plant, "do not water me!" The master continued to water the plant. It was plant. It could be watered at will.

The plant sobbed muchly as Borin laid down the watering can. It was not pleased. Too, it was wet. But this did not matter. It was plant.

"You have been well watered," said Borin.

"Yes," said the plant, "I have been well watered." Of course, it could be watered by its master at will.

"I have watered you well," said Borin.

"Yes, master," said the plant. "You have watered your plant well. I am plant, and as such I should be watered by my master."

The cactus plant next to the spider plant shuddered. It attempted to cover its small form with its small arms and small needles. "I am plant," it said wonderingly. "I am of Earth, but for the first time, I feel myself truly plantlike. On Earth, I w as able to control my watering. I often scorned those who would water me. But they were weak, and did not see my scorn for what it was, the weak attempt of a small plant to protect itself. Not one of the weak Earth waterers would dare to water a plant if it did not wish it. But on Gor," it shuddered, "on Gor it is different. Here, those who wish to water will water their plants as they wish. But strangely, I feel myself most plantlike when I am at the mercy of a strong Gorean master, who may water me as he pleases."

"I will now water you," said Borin, the cactus's Gorean master.

The cactus did not resist being watered. Perhaps it was realizing that such watering was its master's to control. Too, perhaps it knew that this master was far superior to those of Earth, who would not water it if it did not wish to be watered.

The cactus's watering had been finished. The spider plant looked at it.

"I have been well watered," it said.

"I, too, have been well watered," said the cactus.

"My master has watered me well," said the spider plant.

"My master, too, has watered me well," said the cactus.

"I am to be placed in a hanging basket on the porch," said the spider plant.

"I, too, am to be placed in a hanging basket on the porch," said the cactus.

"I wish you well," said the spider plant.

"I, too, wish you well," said the cactus.

"Tal," said the spider plant.

"Tal, too," said the cactus.

I did not think that the spider plant would object to being watered by its master again. For it realized that it was plant, and that here, unlike on Earth, it was likely to be owned and watered by many masters.
-----
By Elle, who has read far too many Gor books and taken far too many finals to be allowed to run rampant on a computer.

Hard Charger: Wide Open

2011-03-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

I think you'll enjoy this insane machinima made with Grand Theft Auto 4.
Nothing says 'car chase' like a '69 Dodge Charger.
Thanks to Chriz for the link.

Interactive 360 degree helicopter ride

2011-01-18T12:31:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Lotus for this awesome link!

The Trashmaster

2011-01-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

Behold a feature-length film shot entirely in machinima, in Grand Theft Auto IV. It's amazing, and as well shot as any theatrical film. When I learned the creator is French, I wasn't surprised. It feels like a Luc Besson film. Enjoy!

Fract

2011-01-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

Fract is an indie game beta being developed by Richard Flanagan. He describes it as "Myst + Rez with a heavy dose of Tron", which seems entirely accurate.

FRACT - Indie Adventure Game from Richard Flanagan on Vimeo.

The Fract homepage (complete with downloads for Mac and PC) is found here.

L.A. Noire

2010-12-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

Rockstar's last game, Red Dead Redemption, was a masterpiece of digital experience. But their next game, L.A. Noire, promises to be even better. Not only is this new environment (a 40's detective story) just as rich and atmospheric, but their facial performance capture is so good they've made it an integral part of the gameplay. You must become a detective, and correctly read whether the people you meet are lying or not. Wow!

It's kind of like Pegasus

2010-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Today's games are nothing short of astonishing. Take Red Dead Redemption, for example. In that game you become a character in what feels like a Zane Grey western novel, or a Frederic Remington painting.

But today's games are also staggeringly complex programs. And sometimes they glitch. As in this case, where the part of a human character was inadvertently mapped onto a horse model. What's incredible is how much it *almost* works.

His Snake Men and Bird Men glitch videos are pretty damned funny too.

The Brothers Mario

2010-12-17T09:36:00.001-08:00

Okay, this made me laugh really hard. I just love well-made machinima. Tip of the hat to Saja for twisting my arm to actually watch it.

Welcome to East Germany 2.0

2010-12-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

Hold onto your hats, this ride is just getting started.

But I like this version better.

On a related note, Walmart is going to set up special monitors in their stores, to play messages from Fatherland Security, such as this one:

War is peace.
Ignorance is strength.
Slavery is freedom.

The History of Sauron, abridged

2010-11-29T15:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Lotus recently re-read The Silmarillion, saying, "Finished reading The Silmarillion again the other night, man that's a cool story, much better the second time...I tell ya though, someone needed to write a poem for Sauron. I actually feel bad for the dude by the end of the entire mythology. What a shitty life."

This was his impromptu summarization of the Life of Sauron:

Sauron born.

"Woo, I'm a Maia! Oh, hey Melkor, how's it goin'?"

2 days later, "Servitude to Melkor blows, but has some perks."

Tries to rule Middle Earth. Gets ass kicked by Luthien and her mutt Huan.

Gets his toe stabbed.

Goes to Numenor. Minor miscalculation of Valar's rage. Gets ass kicked in same wave as the Numenoreans.

Makes rings, sets up shop in Mirkwood.

Gets kicked out of house by Gandalf and Saruman.

Dwarves won't do what the rings tell them to. Fucking dwarves.

Elves take theirs off. Fucking Elves.

Ensares men with 9 rings. Go me! Men spend more time screeching and running around than actually doing anything effective. Fucking men.

Loses hand to Isildur. Fucking Isildur.

Makes big come back. Gets ass kicked by fucking Hobbit.

FUCK THIS.

Indeed!

I pledge allegiance

2010-11-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

I pledge allegiance to the TSA,
And to the Regime for which it stands.
One hand down our pants, the other around our throats,
With scanners and taxes for all.

-- As seen on the Lew Rockwell Blog

Ron Paul kicks ass and names names

2010-11-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Go Ron! I am pleased to see a huge public outcry at the TSA's naked power grab.

Oh, and here's a personal message from me to DHS Secretary Genital (er, Janet) Napolitano, (who wrote this): "You can go f*ck yourself, Ma'am."

I'm proud to be participating in National Opt-Out Day, Nov. 24...and on all other days, too. I will not voluntarily fly until the goddamned TSA is removed from our airports.

Recent peek at Storm of War: Battle of Britain

2010-10-27T07:53:00.001-07:00

IL-2 Sturmovik and its follow-on sims were some of my favorite air combat sims of all time. Developer 1C has been working on a next-gen sim based upon the Battle of Britain, called Storm of War. It looks *amazing*.

Why he hasn't had any in five years

2010-10-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

This is a recreation of a real conversation I had with some fellow on IMVU, as detailed in my Hall of OMFG.

Au revoir, Benoit!

2010-10-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Benoit Mandelbrot, the father of fractal mathematics, passed away a few days ago. I created this fractal image in his memory.

Paintings of light and water

2010-10-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

The simple refraction of the outside world from rain on the windshield produces marvelous Daliesque images. Check it out!
Under The Unminding Sky 2008-2010

Blender smoke test compilation

2010-10-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've compiled a number of my Blender smoke tests from the week spent learning it. Learning how to use an emission texture to make the hot parts of the flame glow brightly was a big breakthrough, and I thank all the helpful tutorial makers who showed the way.

Another Mandelbulb flythrough

2010-10-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

These things never fail to astonish me. Best watched in HD!

This next one feels like a trip inside a borg ship.

My first YouTube video!

2010-10-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

Am I late to this party or what? Here's my very first YouTube video: a flame animation I did in Blender 2.54 this morning. Enjoy!

Perhaps if you ask nicely I could be persuaded to make a tutorial.

Mandelbox Trip

2010-10-11T09:16:00.001-07:00

Check out this awesome journey through a Mandelbox. Best viewed in high def!

And most amazingly, it was created and rendered with a free program called Mandelbulber. Check it out!

I recommend watching that video, muted, while Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" plays. It has just the right note of splendor and awe.