Boston Dynamics Big Dog

I found this video not too long ago and thought it was worth writing a post about. Why? Well... because it's the most amazing robot I've ever seen! Robots can do all sorts of things, but what this one does just totally shocked me. It's all in the way it moves. One problem robots have when moving is balance. If a surface is perfectly flat and the course is all pre-planned well cool, but nowhere near as amazing as this robot. The Boston Dynamics Big Dog must be virtually impossible to knock over. It can traverse hills and rocky surfaces, and it can even jump. The most amazing thing for though is how it handles ice, which though however ungraceful it does not fall over, and when a person actually tries to kick it over. The Big Dog regains it's balance and continues to push forward unphased. The only thing, and I'll warn you, is that it is noisy!

You really have to see it to be amazed though. Check it out here on youtube.

Also, some people put together a little parody of it which is pretty hillarious. I honestly believed it in the beginning. Just check it out here on youtube as well.

The Beard

The beard is something only the manliest of men can grow. I'm not going to claim that I'm the manliest of men, but I do love my beard. These pictures were taken over the course of 4 weeks - one for each day. Day to day there is not a huge difference, but the contrast between the end and beginning sure do show the growth. I also put the pictures into a video... I think it makes my beard look like a Chia Pet. "Cha Cha Cha Chia!"

After doing this it made me think of another idea. Why not take pictures like this... but for the rest of my life. It would be quite the experience - although I would never see the very end of it. Even if I put it together in parts throughout my life... the last bit would have to be finished by somebody else. I just think it would be cool to see the gradual aging and wear and tear of the body begin to show. You'd know how I was up until the very end.

Triangle Dude Halloween Extravaganza 2008

It's almost Halloween! Yeah! I've got a little mini series planned for Triangle Dude. An awesome Halloween special. This is one of the first times I've ever put Triangle Dude into more of a story based comic instead of the traditional One-Pagers I've been doing. One major difference is that there is no 'generic' Triangle Dude. This is the first time actual characters have been made - partly because a story needs characters, but also partly because people need to be able to tell the Triangle Dudes apart! Anyways, come Halloween the whole series will be up. Go check it out here!

The Olivia Tremor Control

Yesterday I got my much anticipated of Montreal album Skeletal Lamping. I've listened to it a ton already, but there's another band at the moment competing for my ear time. The Olivia Tremor Control. The music at points reminds me of The Beatles, but different - if that makes any sense at all! I've been listening to songs from their albums "Black Foliage: Animation Music," and "Music From the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle." Both are amazing.

I think I have a thing for most of the artists that spawned from the Elephant 6 Collective. The Olivia Tremor Control is another one of those artists. The Elephant 6 Collective is a Label which was home to a great many indie bands. It has since disbanded but many of the members remain friends and collaboration between members can be seen in various places. Spawning from E6 are some great bands which I would highly recommend.

1. The Olivia Tremor Control
2. Neutral Milk Hotel
3. of Montreal ...of course :D
   

Some more info on the E6C can be found at Wikipedia

It Hath Arrived

My first post of many to come. Blog Vorgus has arrived, but more importantly is what arrived in the mail today - my order from Polyvinyl Records. My excitement immediately reduced me to a girly, childish fanboy of sorts.

Carefully, I opened the package and was to behold the most amazing thing I've ever had the pleasure to receive in the mail. I tend not to spend a lot of money on myself that often, but this time I'll admit I kind of went a little crazy (in my opinion).

I carefully drooled over each item:

1. Skeletal Lamping CD by of Montreal
2. Skeletal Lamping Vinyl by of Montreal
3. Icons, Abstract Thee CD by of Montreal
4. Aldhils Arboretum CD by of Montreal
5. Lysergic Bliss T-Shirt from of Montreal
6. Places Like This CD by Architecture in Helsinki
7. As well as some other samplers which I quite enjoyed :D

Anyways... I'll just tell you that I was amazingly happy today. The artwork for of Montreal is gorgeous. Check out the whole collection at Pitchfork.