So real it's Creepy

One of the most difficult aspects of creating believable 3D CGI (computer-generated) characters and impactful digital acting is the portrayal of genuine emotion. Animation and digital FX studio Pendulum has been pursuing this challenge by dedicating substantial R&D efforts toward creating a unique solution for this growing need in the entertainment industry. Partnering with the motion-capture experts at House of Moves, the Pendulum team is diving deep into the complex realm of high-end digital actors with the development of its new proprietary facial motion-capture software, and a uniquely powerful 3D character creation pipeline unlike anything else in the industry.
Be sure to look at the video with the 3 Human faces at the bottom of the page.

Should I Smoke Dope?

This is the first part of an hour-long BBC documentary wherein the reporter personally investigates the effects and legalities of marijuana use. She comes across some very interesting facts including the qualitative differences between various species of the plant.

Each of the 6 parts of the video is available via links at the end of the Full Article or in the Related Videos section of YouTube.

World Music downloads

This site posts a new downloadable world music song each day. Click on the individual titles then look for the download link.

The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!

I hope this article doesn't create panic as did Orson Welles' War of the Worlds, but I bet there are lots of Americans who are keeping their rifles loaded just in case

"i herd on the news that rusia has invaded but i dont see them no where wats going on."

Big Brother has new techniques for watching you

Fingerprint test tells much more than identity

With a new analytical technique, a fingerprint can reveal much more than the identity of a person. It can also identify what the person has been touching ? drugs, explosives or poisons, for example.
Writing in the Friday issue of the journal Science, R. Graham Cooks, a professor of chemistry at Purdue University, and his colleagues describe how a laboratory technique known as mass spectrometry could find a wider application in crime investigations.
The equipment to perform such tests is already commercially available, although expensive. Smaller, cheaper, portable versions are probably only a couple of years away.

Test your knowledge of what's where

I was surprised at how little I really knew about Middle Eastern geography when I tried to identify the countries on this map. The only thing that would make it better would be if the page kept track of how many correct answers vs overall attempts - then I would know if I was learning anything.

Creep - The Chorale version

Here is an unusual take on this popular song by a Belgian female choir.

Why waste a coin when you can do this?

This child's mother is incredibly calm given the circumstances. I hope they have redesigned this machines to prevent this from happening again! LOL

http://view.break.com/536276 - Watch more free videos

Typical day in a Canadian lawn-sprinkler

Inspiring Inventions

I can think of a number of situations where these bike tires would have come in handy!