Signature item

Zack drawn by me (2005)

There was only one character that had a signature item that went with them everywhere he did; Zack Casey and his blue hat. I gave up to start new and created Zenon Tigerpaw in 2009.

Zenon drawn by chewycuticle (2012)

He would later become a pantless gray mouse with varies black marks, green shirt, and tends to wear no pants. A freind of mine on Google Plus decided to add a light blue scarf to him. It was later included in another gif and has made it way onto a request.

Like Linux, others are free to modify my charactors in their images as they see fit, though the canon is only changed if I truly like it enough to include in the offical model sheets. This is the first time someone that wasn't me has added created an item of anything for my charactor would later become signature item.

For lack of a better title

Despite having moved on, one thing continues to rattle my mind and tends to effect my new projects: the Furry Blue DJ (aka FBDJ) project.

It was supposed to be this comic series about this going on wild adventures while becoming a DJ at the same time. It grew a small fanbase and the project later expanded, focusing more on the main character that I almost lost track of it was really about. When my life pretty much derailed, I pretty much wanted nothing to do with it.

And now when I do, I've met to many new people that I would have to re-introduce everything (and tried). Not a fun task.

I tried to weave in the last of FBDJ into Whiskers, a new project project of mine, but have had a hard time trying to make it all fit in. So, I may write a book that finally ties things up so I can truly start fresh.

Manging post-WIMP and WIMP with mobile operating systems

Mobile operating systems are transforming into the desktop. It's obvious with things like Android being able to compile it's own applications on it's self. I've tried it. It worked. My reaction:

Ever since Xerox and Macintosh, we've utilized the WIMP, "windows, icons, menus, pointer", concept of computing. The problem is, if we ever want to get these operating systems off the embedded chips and onto our laptops and desktops where it's not just a hobby, we need to make them properly adaptable, and I'm not talking about Windows 8 with Metro. I mean, the ability to go from post-WIMP (like Android) to WIMP (like Windows 7) and I think the Chromium project nailed it:

10 to 12" is post-WIMP (laptops or tables).

15-30" is all WIMP (tablets and desktops).

If we could somehow adapt this functionality to Android and Open WebOS, then make developer tools for the systems on the systems, we could very well see the "revolution" Steve Jobs so rightfully marketed. Because, honestly, I don't think Windows 8 with Metro is the right way to handle this situation.

P.S.
The reason I didn't mention iOS and Windows Phone beyond the first paragraph is because those two systems are being ran by control freaks and their are entirely closed source. So, even if you made a hack, that would only effect you or an minority.

Android wallpapers. What are the actual dimensions?

Since I tend to make my own wallpapers, finding the native resolation for any computer is at high proity for me. Hate pixelation. However, getting them to fit with Android has been sorta a pain, sadly. I was willing to let my Archos 43 simply due to it's size. My Asus Transformer, however, has become my second desktop and it's not small, requiring more real esatate.

I've tried to let it slide but it only nagged me further. So, I used my present wallpaper (and avatar) used on all systems as a way to find out what it is. I managed to carefully pinpoint both areas by using the cropper; top was at the ear and bottom ended at near a arm crease. It took three croppings to figure out that the supposed native resolaution is 1500x1000. It should fit the cropping tool perfectly.


To the left, is the screenshot. Below, is my personal wallpaper I used to figure the dimensions for 10.1 tablets. I have no idea how this will translate on the Nexus 7. Feel free to test it out!

Animation

Animation is something I've always wanted to get into. It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid. When I was younger, I use to get out flip notes and animate all sorts of things. Even did it on my school organizer when I was 15.

I feel like I may finally have another go with Synfig coupled with Inkscape. Synfig is the animation tool, Inkscape is the art tool, while both are based on the same vector art format (SVG) and open source.

The first time was with Flash Pro when it was still owned by Macromedia It served me well at the time and is what got me here today. Problem is, well, it wasn't open source, nor was available for Linux, and Adobe kept locking it down with each release.

The greatest and most rewarding thing about animation (or film making) is being able to make music videos and illustrate to the world how I imagination the music I'm listing to.