Part of the scenery for the final in my Intro to 3D Animation class. Final render coming when I fix the lighting and can let the computer sit and render for a day.

...and then things went wrong. I got halfway done with the wallpaper, and then Flash crashed. I didn't have time to redo it, so I worked on my final projects for school. The illustration is mostly done, just missing a few background characters that I didn't do to save time and get it printed before it was due. The 3D Maya class final is... well, the last day we couldn't do anything because the school decided to turn off the license server, so the lab computers couldn't even load Maya. My tablet PC had Maya, and could render, but a single frame took 45 minutes to render.

Then, somehow, my tablet PC ended up with a huge gash in the bottom, and cracks around the battery compartment. The screen is okay, except for the known dirt-inside-the-screen problem that had been gradually coming back, but the main hardware section bends along the middle. I'm not sure how this could have happened as the largest crack looks like somebody tried to impale it with a lead pipe, or something. The computer seems to function properly for now, but I can't back up anything or turn it on due to another problem entirely: the power adapter broke again. It seems the wire used in it just isn't fit for transportation, as it keeps breaking apart. I'll be able to fix it quickly, and I'll have things backed up before Wednesday.

Now if the laptop ends up dead? I have experience with getting files of dead hard drives that have had their casing opened up leaving the platters exposed to the unsterilized, dust-filled air. I still have my old Wacom tablet, which will be slower to work with, but will suffice until I can afford a replacement.

I also forgot to mention, the "Ninja Skills" T-Shirt Survey is still going on. Filling it out will allow you to see a preview of the "next episode," so if you want to see that any time soon, you can fill out the survey. Otherwise, I plan on publicly showing the preview when the episode gets closer to completion.

It's been a while since the last update, with seeming inactivity. I've got a few things that I've been working on, such as the last illustration for a class, a quick run cycle I started last week, a portfolio redesign, and a desktop wallpaper for December 5th, the Day of the Ninja.

That's right, this Wednesday is the 5th annual celebration of Day of the Ninja! Its the day to be sneaky, quiet, and dress in black! To celebrate, I will be uploading a Sandwich Shop Ninja-themed desktop wallpaper.

Last month's search queries were more of the same from October, but the one new one makes up for the lack of variation. Last months weirdest search engine query goes to "hold your wee for a wii." I have no clue as to how this phrase in a search engine returned to any of my websites. Also, don't drink too much water, people. You'll die a painful death.

As for when I think things will get finished, wallpaper on Wednesday, illustration by the end of this week, portfolio probably by the end of next week, along with the run-cycle test animation. I'll probably be busy on things before Christmas, and after I'll be packing to go to Utah in January. I haven't had a chance to work on the "next episode" since mid-October, and I can't say when it will be done, but I hope to get working on it again soon.

Jet-propelled biplanes would be awesome.

Another Illustration class project.

Coyote, the trickster, is plotting to steal some fire from the fire spirits and give it to the humans. To do so, coyote needs to convince a few other animals to help him out.

The power adapter's been repaired, and I'm currently working on a piece for a Halloween-themed animation competition. Hopefully I can get it done. There's still a lot to do this next week.

I've gotten some interesting keywords that refer to my website. Sometimes I'm not sure what these people are actually looking for, but I'll comment on a few:

• mp3 player with am radio - Good luck, it's hard finding one of these with FM radio, let alone AM. If you're high-tech enough for an mp3 player, what do you want with AM radio, anyways? Do you want to connect rabbit-ear antennae to your high-definition television, too?

• ninja no yes shirt - What? Make up your mind! Do you want a shirt, or not? Are you looking for a ninja's opinion on shirts? Whether or not ninjas wear shirts? Do you not want ninjas, but you do want shirts? Person no yes find what they were looking for?

• tablet functionality stops working - I can relate.

• t-shirt sub shop - Those mist be some fibrous sub sandwiches.

• sandwich shop - If the first result for sandwich shop on Google ever refers to The Sandwich Shop Ninja, that would be awesome. Oddly enough, it's already floating around the second page.

• pirates and sociology - Hahahahaha. Wow. This makes me want to finish that sociology animation just to see what wacky things Google chooses to refer people here for. Then we can all learn about the social nature of pirates and ninjas, and the mor(t)al conflicts that arise between the two.

That's all for now, hopefully some more strange and bizarre search keywords will pop up for next month!

This week's post title comes from a spam email I got.

I still haven't gotten any work done on the next TSSN episode. What's worse, my tablet PC's power adapter finally gave out, and now I can't access my homework. I still have my old Wacom tablet attached to my PC, so I can still work on things not on the laptop. I just won't be able to draw straight lines as easily.

If anyone has any freelancing projects available, please drop me a line.

Last year I had a sociology class, and I made an animation to go with the oral presentation. The animation itself is in various states of incompletion, but I still got an "A" on the project. I don't know if ever get around to finishing it, but here's the most complete portion.

The first finished project for my Illustration class. We were given some articles to create an illustration for. I picked one titled "Dalit," which delved into India's class structure and how it has been effected by the modernization and technological boom that India has been experiencing.