- It's K-Fed, y'all! - Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Ya know, I find many things in this life entertaining. Many things that others may not, since I widely admit to having an odd sense of humor. And then there's the things that I'm sure everyone finds amusing. But hear me now, I have discovered the one thing that would make your kid brother and your 80 year old grandma piss their pants with laughter... ...Kevin Federline has recorded a rap album. I know, take a minute. Laugh. Lemme know when you're through. Good? Eh, I know, you're still dying (I am too), so I'll just continue. The only thing sillier than Mr. Spears recording a rap album is that he's actually going to release it. Yes, to the public. I had the misfortune of running across a sample of this "new release", and it sent me into such hysterics that my neighbors called the cops. Lucky for me, the police busted through my door, heard "Y'all Ain't Ready" blarring on my computer, and joined in the laugh-fest. Now, put aside the fact that Federline is in serious need of some personal hygene...oh damn, who are we kidding - he needs to be hosed down with a powerwasher. And try to put aside the reality that he's banged up anything with boobs and a bank account or how much you feel for his poor offspring, and try you're best to hear the music for what it is. Crap. Grade A shee-it. I mean, is this guy effin' kidding me? I think he spent the entire music clip trying to find the beat, only to leave the listener exhausted from screaming at the radio saying, "There! Sing now!....wait, no....ok, go!...no!" Sadly, apart from turning oxygen into carbon minoxide, it still a mystery as to what Kevin's talent[s] are.... Check out his website, yo. It's truly bad ass. Alright, more like just bad. Oh, and he has a myspace, peeps! Read his comments, I found myself wanting to high-five more than a handful of brave, honest souls. Yes folks, this truly makes me giddy. Many, MANY laughs and commentaries to come.

posted by April @ 1:12 AM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Holy Shit and a Bottle Of Rum - Sunday, December 18, 2005 Where have I BEEN? So sorry for the absence - don't know if it went unnoticed, but here I am. With the Olympics coming soon, I've been so busy this fall working with some of the skaters and getting things prepared for the media onslaught of Torino. Also, have I mentioned - MySpace is evil. A necessary evil, however evil nonetheless. Besides building websites, in the last few months I've been sketching and doing concept art again, finishing up this semester of Computer science classes, meeting old high school friends I haven't seen in 6 years, and trying to shrink my ass - literally. I hope all is well with everyone - I'll be posting more often here with the latest.

posted by April @ 5:05 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- The Digital World and Everything After - Thursday, August 18, 2005 For the longest time I've considered myself what the industry calls a "traditional" artist. My passion has always been sketching people, mostly focusing on expressions, however I've pretty much stuck to the traditional tools. In 2000, I discovered the wonders of graphic design since our family got it's first PC in 1999. Most of what I was attempting to do on the computer I had no clue how to do, but was determined to take as long as needed to teach myself. I remember when I first started making websites having an online conversation with Chris - the original AAO.com owner - after he saw my work. His compliments on my work were encouraging but I always stressed to him that I don't know enough about making sites to take this seriously. "You have an eye for what looks good. The technical stuff will come." Thank you, oh wise one. Taking my hand drawn work to the digital world has been a work in progress and more than anything really it's opened my world to media I never thought I'd be interested in. It has also confirmed how obsessed with gadgets and electronics that I really am. Like a moth to a camp fire, dammit. Recently, I met a friend that moved to Santa Monica, CA by way of Michigan for work. He's a 3-D model and texture artist and has worked for Sony, Luma pictures, as well as has credit for his work on movies like Crash, A Lot like Love, and the soon to be released The Cave. After seeing the new wave of CG art in movie likes Shrek and Toy Story, I would have loved to know what goes into this 3-D art medium. Obviously, 3-D software isn't as cheap as a pen and pencil, and for one to obtain such programs would put you in the hole about 7 grand. Yikes. Well, after discovering that there is a free "learning edition" of this program, my friend encouraged me to download it and would teach me the basics (super basics). I've had the program for 2 days and let me tell you, I have a new appreciation for how much work these 3-d modelist really have. The standard way of model making is done with polygons. Hundreds, Thousands, sometimes millions of them fusing together to create a single model. Day 1 I started out with a cube and from there most everything is created. Well, getting used to the interface the way the tools work is odd and the first 3-d "thing" I managed to create strongly resembled the love child of an elephant and a vaccum cleaner. Exhibit A- Vacca-phant Now c'mon, you think I'm going to show this to a 3-d modeling artist to scrutinize? I did it anyway. I couldn't see him rolling his eyes, but he did give the promising comment, "Hey, it' s contemporary art!!!" Shut up, man. Alright, so I chucked the Vacca-phant and started actually thinking about what I was going to do. My results were somewhat laughable, but a good jogging distance from disgraceful: Exhibit B - Mayan Temple on LCD I think I went a bit nuts with these polygons, but hell, it's the first day. So, after getting big laugh #2 from my friend, he tells me to start out with something simple, like a chair, or a table - something that I have a reference for. Ok, I'll get right on that.... Day 2 Exhibit C - Absolutely not a chair or table. What does my smartass try to do....? Screw makin' a table, I'm going to construct a transformer! If you're gonna fall on your ass, do it in style. My friend did say that it has good form, but apparently it's a no-no for polygons to penetrate. Well damn, I had more penetration than a 5 cent hooker on J street - time to rethink this. So today I tried to come up with something with a little more flare, little less over the top, and here is the work in progress: What have I gotten myself into, seriously people.

posted by April @ 3:38 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- Back to Life - Sunday, August 14, 2005 ...*sings* Back to reality... So yeah, the daily grid is hitting me hard now. I'm back from Colorado in one (and a half) pieces. Thanks so much Molls for letting us stay with you for a while. I had a 5 1/2 hr drive back home once my plane landed in LAX, so it was nice to hang out, meet the peoples. Now at home I'm now realizing how much stuff is happening in August! I've started school again, full schedule this time - hopefully awaiting a new job interview this coming week - oh, and did I mention those skaters keep ya pretty busy, too? The team is doing fabulous, and everyone is looking rather lean and mean lately. I was able to get some super footage of ice training, some dry land, as well as some awesome clips of Bridie cycling. Man, you don't know how hard it is to keep your camera still while in the back of a TrailBlazer with the back flipped open filming someone biking up those steep hills! There's bloopers, that's for damn sure. We have some great pictures, but I'll have to wait til *internet nudges Tiasha and Lupes* everybody gets those up, since I was the camera anchor. Alright, gotta get back to work.

posted by April @ 6:18 PM [[ 0 comments ]]

- I'm leaving my heart in CO Springs - Monday, August 08, 2005 Flying back home to Cali tonight. This week has just flown by, just as I thought it would. I still can't believe the opportunity that's been presented and how much I really want to see these athletes succeed. I'm so blessed to be able to call these skaters both colleagues and friends. Going into the "inside" of the Olympic Training Center is always a rush for me - I can't even imagine living in those conditions 24/7. I'm really falling in love with CO Springs every time I visit, and this crisp mountain air gives me a high. On the weekend, us girls scaled the hills in Garden of the Gods (I have footage of that craziness) and survived all the way to the top to receive our reward - a breath-taking view of the Rockies. What a place to clear your head, take time to think, and just renew yourself. This was such a productive trip, despite the initial nasty weather. There's so much to be done, so much I'd like to get done, I wish this wasn't just an 'every summer' trip. I just know that I want to enjoy this moment to the fullest and these times I'll remember for a long time. Thank You's: Lupes and Tiasha for being such a super Media Crew. Couldn't have accomplished much on this trip without you guys. Although we can never manage to keep a low profile, you guys are professional and on the ball....as long as it's before 10am. Bridie, Allison, & Apolo for being beyond gracious and always willing to give of their time and efforts. You all went out of your way and we appreciate it more than you know. Thank you for an incredible week. Ok, I'm heading back to the World Arena for the last round of ice practice. Should be in Los Angeles by 8pm. Molls, I hope your hard wood floor has some padding, cuz I'm hittin' it when I get through the door. Ciao.

posted by April @ 8:25 AM [[ 0 comments ]]