Quote - > Quote - I saw regular gas at $4.09 today.

Was it green?   ;)

Well... It was next to a Taco Bell.

Post more Kitty Porn please.

Quote - As someone who is in government.  I know that it is made up of people who do absolutely nothing but forward their emails and pay for new office furniture every couple years.  Even the military pays contractors to design/fix their weapons/vehicles.  Who ever gets the most tax money gets the newest stuff.

I've worked government jobs before -- both federal and local.  I agree with you 100%.  90% of the real work seems to be done by 10% of the employees.  And the waste of office supplies, mounds of tree-killing paper for multiple copies, unnecessary furniture & equipment expenditures, etc. was beyond an outrage.

They spend it because they can.  It would also be funny -- if it wasn't so insane -- to see people in various departments desperately scrambling around to spend all of their remaining cash at the end of the fiscal year.......so that they don't get budgeted for less money the following year.  If they don't spend it, then it gets taken away from them.  And government departments will NEVER willingly do with less.  So individual departments will deliberately waste millions of dollars in order to avoid having to do with less.

Government is more parasitic towards business than it is symbiotic with it.....and it's definitely parasitic towards us.

If a private business were to be operated the same way that the typical government department is operated, then the businesses' managers would likely all end up in jail.......with lots of calls in the "objective media" for investigations in order to "get to the bottom of this!", etc., etc..

You do not want to know how much the federal government pays for each DELL PC at each desk, whether it is used or not.

Quote - You do not want to know how much the federal government pays for each DELL PC at each desk, whether it is used or not.

Like about half a milion dollars? and installs it with three hundred dollar screwdivers?

Speaking of scienceand kitty p0rn, I'm going to assume that was a serious request for more ics...  latest ahem goobermental sponsored technological breakthrough:

I have a question for all you wise heads on a completely different subject.

If you send someone a private communication, and they then proceed to post it in a public forum, without your permission, is that considered any sort of a violation of privacy? Or a violation of copyright law? Or unethical? Or anything?

Of course I know I probably shouldn't take your word for it. I'll call my lawyer tomorrow.

Quote - I think that where you began to stumble

Think what you like. I didn't stumble.

Quote - But where you really messed up & caused people to stop taking you seriously was when you began making assertions about having presented "irrefutable facts" that no one who wasn't "ignorant" could possibly resist or argue against.

Yeah, okay. So feel free to refute, or argue against, i.e., what I said about private investors not always having sufficient incentive to invest in experimental technologies and such, not how you distort it. Sonar came about partly due to the study of bats by the way. Also not private investment. Helped us fight one of the big wars. Night goggles, and lots of other things, came about partly due to the study of, and proposals for the practical uses of, the electromagnetic spectrum. In universities. Funded by the government at the time. Y'know, physics. Space exploration, y'know, or maybe you don't, which led to communication satellites, which led to modern tv programs being delivered via those big ol' magic dishes and being able to call folks with your magic cell phones ... well that all came about due to the study of physics and astronomy. Again, in universities. Again, not funded by private investors. Same can be said for ... oh never mind ...

And while I do not agree with you that I came across as being so superior, even if I did, it is completely beside the point. Some people do have more knowledge about some subjects than others. The refusal to listen to them, or to even acknowledge any validity to what they have said, for whatever reason, doesn't make you right, doesn't make them wrong, doesn't mean you have some gift of insight, some special something. All it means is that you don't want to acknowlege anything.

But I do think I have it all figured out now. At least you, Xeno -- as you have already eagerly declared some kind of a victory a couple of times now -- and maybe you other guys, too, think if you are the last to post, i.e., if you just post one more thing than I do, just follow up one more time, and if I decide it is all a waste of my time, if I decide to move on, if I decide to let the thread die, or at least my contribution to it, then you think you've won -- whatever "winning" means in this context.

And I see you've used that tactic in other, older threads as well.

How sad. How sad that you don't take the opportunity to learn or acknowledge anything.

Just for a change of pace, and maybe even as a parting shot, how about a little story? Or parable?

A guy who is overweight and out of shape and concerned about his health, decides to look into changing things. So he goes to a friend of his who has had some, but very moderate, success at losing weight, and who seems to have ever so slightly better health. And he says to his friend, "I see that you've lost a little weight and your health seems to be a little better than mine. What's your secret?"

And his friend says, "Well, it's all about diet. Cut your calories, cut your fat, stay away from refined sugars, eat more nutritious foods. That's all there is to it."

And so he says to his friend, "What about exercise?"

"Oh, no," his friend replies. "You don't want to do that."

"Why not?"

"Because exercise can make you tired, or it might cause an injury or make you sore, or make you muscle bound, or breathe hard, or sweat. And it can even sometimes kill you. And it takes time, and energy and effort, and it's a hassle, and you would have to learn something about it and do it right, and pay more attention to your physiology, and -- well, just take my word for it. It's not worthwhile. You should forget it. Listen to me carefully: never, ever exercise. Exercise is baaaaad! Just sit around, but watch your diet."

"Hmmm. A lot of other people I've talked to and heard about over the years," he says to his friend. "say that you should consider exercise too."

"No, no, no. Those people are just setting up a false dilemma."

"A false dilemma?"

"Yes. They are saying you should exercise rather than diet."

"Hmmm. I never got the impression they were saying I shouldn't watch my diet. I just got the impression they were saying exercise could be worthwhile, too."

"Well, that's probably just because you don't understand anything and they don't either, and let's talk about something else. Did you know there are twelve eggs in a dozen?"

"What? What has that got to with --"

"Did you know processed cereal usually has little insect parts in it?"

"Uh, but I thought we were talking about --"

"In case you don't get it, I'm ignoring you now. I just want to avoid any discussion that might require me to acknowledge anything you, or any of the other people you have talked to or heard about, may have to say about the benefits of exercise -- because exercise is bad, evil, wrong."

"But I --"

"Did you know reading glasses don't really mean you can read? I mean, you have to already know how."

"But --"

"I'm ignoring you and the subject of exercise. Haven't you figured that out yet? And I'm not going to stop doing it, so you might as well give up and get out of here."

Shaking his head, the guy wanders on.

Regular gas is $3.99 in Fallon, NV.

*Like about half a milion dollars? and installs it with three hundred dollar screwdivers?

And the gov takes 30% of my paycheck to pay for it. 

is this anything?

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

*is this anything?

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

I hope arctic weather will be one of their tests.

As for chevy...I wasn't too impressed that they used pvc pipe for the return from the heater coil to the engine.

Quote - :lol: :lol: :lol:
"Abandon logic, all ye who enter!"

What's hilarious is that you think you are the logical one, all the while making posts such as this one. And you have to be the king of the straw man. My god, I think you've created a straw shortage for the next several years. lol indeed.

Quote - *What's hilarious is that you think you are the logical one

I'm sure he knows Spock is the logical one.

Live long, and prosper.

*Live long, and prosper.

Peace and long life to you.

Quote - > Quote - :lol: :lol: :lol:

"Abandon logic, all ye who enter!"

What's hilarious is that you think you are the logical one, all the while making posts such as this one. And you have to be the king of the straw man. My god, I think you've created a straw shortage for the next several years. lol indeed.

Well, Truth be told I am the logical one!
Just ask me!

[Kitty waves at fivecat - hello kitty :)]

*Well, Truth be told I am the logical one!
Just ask me!

Are you the logical one?

Connie, you may need to bring out the big kitties for this thread.  Jan

Quote - I have a question for all you wise heads on a completely different subject.

If you send someone a private communication, and they then proceed to post it in a public forum, without your permission, is that considered any sort of a violation of privacy? Or a violation of copyright law? Or unethical? Or anything?

Of course I know I probably shouldn't take your word for it. I'll call my lawyer tomorrow.

So far as I remember (from seeing another thread about something similar) that's against the TOS but ICBW

Do Vulcans like cats?

Quote - Well, Truth be told I am the logical one!
Just ask me!

Connie, you got my vote.  You have the title of The Logical One in this thread. 

Quote - Do Vulcans like cats?

My question would be: if Mr. Spock performed a Vulcan mind meld with a cat, then would the experience leave him with an innate affinity for sand or loose dirt?

*My question would be: if Mr. Spock performed a Vulcan mind meld with a cat, then would the experience leave him with an innate affinity for sand or loose dirt?

*LMAO!!

Wait a minute...I think Connie is T'Pol...They're both engineers.  Their logic is both flawless.
...And you never see them together...

Quote - Do Vulcans like cats?

You love me, admit it!

All your hearts are belong to cats.
Resistance is futile.

Quote - > Quote - Well, Truth be told I am the logical one!

Just ask me!

Connie, you got my vote.  You have the title of The Logical One in this thread. 

Hey now guys, don't go scaring me now - I was only kidding!!!

Did I tell you guys, I registered a new user name/domain name/ brand for my poser content...
Watch out for the  Bad Kitteh Co !!!

This is me and the two teenagers at my house...
well, teenagers... one turned 20 couple of months ag, the other is 18
Might be appropriate for this thread, then again, ahem IIRC, I started this thread... oj!

All your hearts are belong to cats.
Resistance is futile.

Berry berry much!

I have two cats.  They immediately claim full ownership of any new object that's brought into the house -- a bag of groceries, a box, a book, or a pillow.  Once it's in the house, then it belongs to them.

Cats own everything -- and everything exists for them. 

OT thread, OnTopic Cats.......

1. does anyone know of a character for a snow leopard?
2. how would you approach a walk/stalk cycle or bvh for a big cat like that, for animation?

::::: Opera :::::

Quote - OT thread, OnTopic Cats.......

1. does anyone know of a character for a snow leopard?
2. how would you approach a walk/stalk cycle or bvh for a big cat like that, for animation?

::::: Opera :::::

Boy I wish I knew. I didn't find anything on the usual sites.
I'll keep an eye out for it.

Fully rigged and animated male lion:
http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3ds-max-lion-fur/394455

Leopard, includes walk cycle.
Not quite a snow leopard, however. The tail would have to be morphed/sculpted some.
http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3ds-max-leopard-fur-animation/401174

Oh, LOL, I assumed you meant Poser, sop I never looked at turbosquid.
Those look like nice models, but the prices... whew

Quote - Well, Truth be told I am the logical one!
Just ask me!
[Kitty waves at fivecat - hello kitty :)]

Hi you bad kitteh!

*2) how would you approach a walk/stalk cycle or bvh for a big cat like that, for animation?

Nulls set to a pre-existing video.  Then parent the rigging to the nulls and parent the camera to the root bone.

*Oh, LOL, I assumed you meant Poser, sop I never looked at turbosquid.
Those look like nice models, but the prices... whew

Amazing...Their prices are going up and Poser market prices are falling?

Hey Fivecat!

Have you ever had Tapioca?

Quote - Hey Fivecat!

Have you ever had Tapioca?

Hiya! Mmmm, Tapioca. As far as animating walk cycles: I once found a site that had a series of images of a horse at walk/trot/canter -- I used these images as sources for creating key frames. Worked pretty well.

*Hiya! Mmmm, Tapioca.

As far as animating walk cycles: I once found a site that had a series of images of a horse at walk/trot/canter -- I used these images as sources for creating key frames. Worked pretty well.

Yes,  Tapioca may hold the key to the meaning of life.  Won't know until I finsh this pint.  Gotta hurry the kids are lookin' for it.

Excellent!  Got a link to the site?

Quote - Excellent! Got a link to the site?

Do a search for photographer Eadweard Muybridge and you'll find some sites with example sequential images.

Quote - BTW We're doing a line of animals to sell here at Rendo.  Would you care to join us?  This is the start of the horse.  Peshkwe did the design,  I did the mesh,  and Connie did the form.  Still have to detail it though.

If you want some input from a horsey person, I'll be glad to give you my opinion. I would love to see another horse on the market, but I would want improvements in rigging and conformation. I can PM you with some comments if you like.

Sounds like a plan!

I wanna texture it... well, tim permitting.  I wanna try.

*I wanna texture it... well, tim permitting.  I wanna try.

I don't see why not...it's your horse too!  We gotta uv map it. 

Quote - is this anything?

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

110V power still has to come from somewhere.  Oil still powers electric plants for most cities.

yes, i made that point eariler in this thread.

*Quote - "is this anything?

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/"*

110V power still has to come from somewhere.  Oil still powers electric plants for most cities.

GE's building windmill farms,  suppose to be 250,000 windmills by 2012...Oops did I just let the cat out of the bag! 

There's lots of cats out of the bag, and they're running around loose.  Probably scratching up the furniture, too.

*There's lots of cats out of the bag, and they're running around loose.  Probably scratching up the furniture, too.

Hey...Did I ever tell you about the time my dad took me swimming?
...I did pretty good once I got out of the burlap bag...

Which begs a question, why did schrodinger put the cat in a box instead of a bag???? :blink: