Speedpaint

So, at work we get to take some fun classes at "EA University". We are starting a speedpainting group that wants to meet on a regular basis. The only down side is that speed painting is done on computers, and our training lab has a miserable 20 machines or so. The classes fill up fast. Like, if you went to the bathroom and the email was sent out telling people about the class, it will probably be full by the time you return to your desk.

Anyhow, inspired by what I have learned (not much, BTW), here are a few quick ones I hammered out last weekend. These were done in Photoshop CS2 with no more than an hour on each, usually quite a bit less.

I used a reference image of Lucy Liu and was generally displeased with the results. I really need to figure out how to blend skintones better in Photoshop, or just buckle down and use Painter.

Million-Dollar Boy

Today, Miles had some plastic tubes surgically implanted in his ears. Next, we plan on enhancing his eyes like Vin Diesel. We hope he will be overcome with gratitude in his later years and use his upgrades to help finance our retirement.

Seriously, though. I would love to have biomechanically enhanced eyeballs. What could be more useful than infrared vision or shooting lasers from your eye sockets? Unfortunately, we are told that the tubes will fall out themselves within a year or so. There goes that plan...

My Soul for an iPhone

A friend at work just got one. I continually tech-lust after it. I think it's definitely worth the money, but somehow I think that money could be better spent elsewhere. The biggest feature for me is actually the built-in GoogleMaps...

For example, last night. Kids ate mac and cheese, but i'm not really attracted to reheated Kraft. I know there's a Thai place around the corner, but I don't have their phone number sitting around. I had to go to my computer, Google Thai Longwood, then grab my phone and type in the number. I felt so low-tech after realizing that it would have taken about 2 seconds with an iPhone.

Vacation report: Pennsylvania was relaxing. I especially liked letting the kids just run around in the yard. They had a tire swing to fight over, dogs to set free, and chickens to feed. Miles also had plenty of sticks to pick up and swing at the nearest breathing thing. For some pix, check out Alissa's blog.

The Birthplace of America

Yes, that would be Pennsylvania for all of you educated folk. Although, I suppose you could also say the UK is.....

Anyways, it's time for another glorious vacation. My Loyal Readers will remember that my last adventures included Sarasota and Iowa. This time, we will be braving the 4th of July (hooray America!) traffic as we burn valuable petroleum rolling 2 worn rubber tires and 2 new rubber tires up the East coast to the relaxing hills of the Pennsylvania countryside. And I DO mean countryside. It takes 20 minutes to get anywhere. Those aren't highway miles, either. Luckily, the miracle of Scotch Tape combined with Alissa's MacGuyver-like skillz have saved our souls. It is through these fortunate series of events that we will be able to play mundane images and auditory pollution over a portable DVD player that has seen better years. How else can you take a road trip with 3 children 5yrs and under? I mean, besides drugging them. Hey....now THAT's an idea!

Red or Blue? How about Green?

Ok, I admit it, I am politically retarded. I don't follow politics much, and don't know a lot of information I should know to make educated decisions about where I stand on certain issues. This is one of the many areas of my life where I fall short of maximizing my potential. However, Stu's blog piqued (yes, that's the correct spelling) my curiousity and I took the test. Without further ado, here are the results!

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 55% Conservative, 45% Liberal Social Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Ethics: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Defense and Crime: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

I guess it's accurate. I don't think the test was very comprehensive, though.

YouTube pwnz!

So, this kid is pretty nerdy. Not like I was, I was never as nerdy as this kid. I can see a difficult life ahead of him...



I have nothing against home-schooling, but seriously this kid needs to work on social and conversation skills.



So, it's great he can spell and stuff. He obviously understands latin-based word construction. And I'm curious why he sees graphs and math in every day objects. Obsess much? I'm actually fairly certain he has an adoring mother as well. The world needs more of those, too. I wonder what his dad is like.



Aside: This clip will make you ashamed to be an American. It will also make you wonder, "Do I know the answer to that question?". I sure hope you can at least answer 80% of them!

Hot Vacation Spots

Sarasota, Florida. Coralville, Iowa. What do these two locations have in common? Tomorrow at 10:15am, they will have both been host to my Paid Time Off. Traces of my sunburned DNA will be found at both locations. Yes, I'm going on vacation to Coralville! Congrats on graduating Dental School, "little" brother! I'm calling this my vacation, but really it's a quick 2.5-day trip that will most likely leave me exhausted come Sunday.

Wish me luck! Oh, and remind me to post the portrait I finally finished in my oil painting class!

On second thought, wish Alissa luck with the kids.