Jennifer and I visited the L.A. Zoo yesterday including its new Dinosaur exhibit. There were animatronic dinosaurs and a puppet show with some really nice dinosaur puppets. The zoo is also remodeling and it looks like the new exhibits are going to be really nice. They are building a hippo exhibit much like the one at the San Diego Zoo which is one of the more interesting exhibits I have ever seen in the zoo (You can read about it here).

I didn’t realize what this guy was doing until I got home and downloaded the picture.

This is the train poor unsuspecting parents load their fragile children into.

When I got home Thursday night, there was a message on my answering machine from my friend, Steve. He and another friend, Jeff were on their way to Los Angeles. Keep in mind, they live in Louisiana (where I’m originally from) 2000 miles away. Apparently they had been driving around the West in a van going where they pleased from day-to-day. They stopped in Vegas, won a wad of cash, and decided to head for L.A. and visit. I gave them directions, they got lost, and eventually pulled up to the apartment. Jennifer and I took them into Hollywood to party the night away and do a little bit of sightseeing. We had a damn good time and it was nice to see some of my buddies (especially a surprise visit) since I haven’t been back to Louisiana in over 18 months.

They have some damn good stories from their trip too.

I have released an alpha on NG for Dexterity.
It’s a short interview with screenshots.
Go Read It

I’m not one to post sappy stuff so you should take this seriously:

I worked at an ABC affiliate for two years. After we wrapped our morning show, Good Morning America would follow. Thus, I would often see a lot of episodes of that program. During those two years, they spoke with a boy named Mattie Stepanek multiple times. He was a little kid who despite having muscular dystrophy and having lost all three of his siblings to the disease had a very positive outlook on life. He wrote poetry books and worked with organizations to try to bring peace to the world. He died yesterday.

I think everyone could learn a lot from this child’s short life.

here is a news story for those interested.

I have rediscovered Final Fantasy Tactics.
I hope it doesn’t interfere with my life too much…

…again.

The new Beastie Boys album has loads of the snazzy new anti-pirating crap encoded in it. Seeing as I’d rather boycott any shit that infringes on the right’s of the consumer, I probably won’t be buying it. This makes the first full-length Beastie Boys album I have not bought. The music industry is shooting itself in the ass. You can embrace new technology and adapt with it or you can fight it and convert yourself into a stubborn antiquated curmudgeon. The saddest part is that these anti-piracy measures barely affect the so-called pirates, but instead inconvenience and abuse the honest consumer. If they aren’t careful the music industry and its cohorts may actually create more pirates than they defeat.

Mike and I did a puppet show for a birthday today and we have a performance/interview tomorrow also. With my other time, I’ve been doing some Flash animating as well.

Here is a background from the Dexterity short I am working on:

Here is a still from the actual movie:

Here is a screencap from my piece for the 100 Artists collab on NG.

The Dante’s Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell – The City of Dis!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test

If you have ever wanted 46 issues of Animerica Extra for just over a dollar an issue, Now is your chance!