Saturday, May 28, 2011

A soporific property of cubic NURBS surfaces

 
Cubic NURBS surface are ideal for a good nap
In my last post where I casually mentioned NURBS surfaces (causing a great deal of boredom), I completely forgot to say a word on one of the most useful and probably least advertised properties of these surfaces (specifically the cubic ones): they are absolutely ideal for a good nap !
I won't bother to show you the proof, just look at the equations, which speak for themselves.
I'll go take a nap now.
See you later

Friday, May 27, 2011

Modeling for Mr. NuRBS

People with modeling experience can apply
Without entering into nauseating details, in computed graphics, NURBS designate a mathematical model to generate and represent curves and surf... ok I can feel that you're already bored aren't you ?
Ok, in case you want to learn more about Non Uniform Rational B-Spline (which is what NURBS stands for, in case you're vaguely interested, which I doubt, given the expression of boredom illuminating your face), you can read more here.
Lame jokes apart, it must be said that the cg industry (which is how is confidentially called the industry making all these funny 3d animated movies) needs good artists for their modeling departments (no, not the catwalk stuff, I mean modeling/sculpting). So if you feel like joining an animation studio, send them your cv along with some sculptures of yours for evaluation. Good luck !

Monday, May 23, 2011

A typical day in Kabini

Kabini dwellers go through a lot of stress
I was in Kabini.
I just saw some peacocks.
That's all.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Inside the Large Hadron Collider

This undated photograph shows distressed hadrons just before the collision 
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a gigantic particle accelerator of 27km in circumference, located under ze franco-swiss border near Geneva. It was built by the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN) or European Organization for Nuclear Research.
The principle of the collider is to accelerate two beams of particles (hadrons) with powerful magnetic fields to close to the speed of light (without attracting the cops attention, that's why it's done clandestinely 175 m underground), before colliding them.
These experiment will help to elucidate questions that the Standard Model is failing to explain. These questions are for example: what is the origin of mass ? Does the elusive Higgs Boson - supposed to 'provide' mass to other particles - exist ? or what is the nature of dark matter and dark energy which make 96% of the universe ?
Some obscurantists claim that there's a risk that the LHC might generate a black hole when it will run at full power. If it indeed happens, no one will be there to say: "these damn obscurantists were right this time".
For more info, please check the Large Hadron Collider website

All these years searching and it was hiding behind !

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Black Holes: theory and practical advice

A picosecond after finalising a black hole theory
Black holes are these singular cosmic oddities which are so dense that they collapse on themselves and attract everything in their vicinity. Even photons, no matter what their confession or wavelength are, cannot escape (that's why some smart ass has appropriately named them black holes). Because of their sheer gravitational force, their inner core is a bizarre place where time and space are not quite the same notions as the ones you are used to, and expect to find, when you go to your local grocery shop or even to the local pub.

Now after the theory, some practical advice.
What to do when threatened by a black hole ?
  • stay calm
  • don't engage in any conversation and keep your distances. They are pervert cosmic thugs
  • don't accept candies
  • throw some photons to buy some time
  • don't look at the black hole directly, first because they are susceptible and second because you won't see anything
  • a proven technique to confuse black holes is to ask them the question "What time is it ?". This will throw them in a state of deep Heisenbergian uncertainty and will leave you a certain time to escape.
Hope these advices will be useful.
Happy intergalactic journey !

Early Art

Early Art
Example of a paleolithic painting found in the Lascaux caves. For some reasons, these paintings were never shown to the public.