Hoke’s Ramblings

I’ve always enjoyed 3d modelling, but kind of lost my touch over the last several years. Then I heard Google had bought out (if you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em) this cool program called Sketchup. It’s hardly a full-blown modelling package, but once you figure out it’s numerous quirks, it’s remarkably easy to throw together a fairly involved 3d model of just about anything, but regular shaped things like houses are its specialty.

At the risk of furthering the onset of Big Brother, I’ve published the model of my house to the 3D Warehouse, with geolocation all set up. I’m hoping it will eventually make it to the ‘best of 3D warehouse’, at least for Jo’burg, anyway, and then it will show up automatically in Google Earth. Until then, however, click on the picture, or here to check it out, then select ‘View in Google Earth 4′ (if you have it). Then give me good ratings so I can get noticed!!

I’m astonished at GE’s terrain accuracy. My property only changes in height by about a metre or two from end to end, but Google Earth has the right gradient, and I only had to adjust the ‘altitude’ of my house by about half a metre to get the patio above ground. Amazing.

In the interests of fueling the Digital Revolution, I have become a Thawte Notary. This means I can verify that people actually are who they say they are, and get them points towards being able to be issued digital certificates with their full names on them.

It will probably be a real schlep, but once enough people can e-sign their documents, the less paperwork for everyone, and I can say I saved a tree or two.

The way it works is that anyone can sign up to get a Thawte Freemail certificate, but this is pretty much anonymous, besides being able to validate that something came from a particular email address. To get a full certificate you need to present yourself to at least three different notaries, who will stake their life (or at least a very substantial fine) on the fact that you are who you say you are.

Once you’ve got that, you can do all sorts of nifty geeky things like encrypt your email, digitally sign Word docs and even PDFs (if they’re set up right)

A couple of days back, Quinn showed me this page on IMDb, for a movie called ‘Half-Life‘. Unfortunately, it’s not the one we want to see, but this got me thinking: who would make a good Gordon Freeman?

My vote goes to Edward Norton. What do you think?

EDIT: There’s a pretty well made page of potential talent for a Half-Life movie here, but I suspect it may blow the budget!!

This Christmas was great, because it featured most of the ‘orginal’ gang from the ‘old days’ who had disappeared to far corners of the country and globe, subsequently returning with their offspring, swelling the numbers somewhat.

Such a large reunion obviously called for a group photo, but you know how it goes…you never quite get the perfect shot – someone’s looking away, wearing a cap…Lee-Roy!…etc etc

Enter Microsoft Reseach Lab’s Group Shot, a ridiculously easy to use program where you drag and drop all your ‘identical’ pictures, draw little boxes around the offending parties and then select their best side, so to speak.

When you’re done, click export and voila! The perfect group shot. I can’t believe how well this little gem works. If you want to play spot the difference, head on over to the Christmas Gallery.