CG and more CG (Computer Graphics and Chasing Gators)

Hi All,

Last week I got to attend the siggraph conference in New Orleans and listen a lot of cool papers about how they made different cool movies like Up, Coraline, Transformers and GI-Joe (even the presenters joked about this flick). There were some wacky and totally useless research applications that people were working on like a Virtual Reality tactile feedback frying pan simulation and a taste interface game controller. Who cares how Halo or Super Mario Cart tastes!

During the week of the conference, after one days sessions, I wandered the french quarter and got to see some of the raunchier and less family friendly parts. Here's one interesting spot where they kept the front of the building but got rid of the rest. I don't know if this was post Katrina clean up or just I need some place to park my Mercedes.



This statue is in front of the conference center and was made out of random Katrina debris and dedicated to those who did or didn't survive it.



The Mighty Mississippi ran right behind the conference center. Here is a tourist paddle wheeler and a lovely sludge fountain they were spraying into the river. After about 5 minutes of black water it would cycle to white and then back to brown and lovely black.



After the conference was over my cousin Emily picked me up with her kids Huntie, Michael, and Elle and showed me the more family friendly spots in New Orleans.



We went to a market where i got stuff for Miki and the kids and a nappy hat for me. Do you think that it was sending the wrong message to get my boys voodoo dolls and mardi gras beads? The first thing that Caden said was: "Hmmm, who should I voodoo? I think I'll stab Robert in the arm and see if he likes it." Maybe so.


Emily took me to Drago's to get oysters on the half shell. The first thought of it seemed horrible but once I figured out that it was a local thing I thought that I'd give it a try.



Michael here shucked open a big one and handed it to me. It ended up tasting a little salty and well of course chewy. I can honestly say that it was the best less than 10 second's dead thing that I've ever eaten. We had roasted ones after that. I should have tipped Michael more I'm such a retard when it comes to that stuff.




Saturday morning Emily's husband Kevin took me on a swamp tour. This is Lawrence our illustrious tour guide with one of his little buddies.



Here's a typical swamp shot and one of me and Kevin. Kevin got me the best seat in the house (pontoon boat) for gator snapping excitement.




Here's a little one to get things warmed up. He's about 6 feet long just a baby. They said that all the ones we saw were males because the females were on their nests this time of year.



Here comes "crazy Jack" he's about 12 feet long. He was kinda jumpy because he knows he's close to the top of the food chain but not quite at the top yet.





A little video of Jack in action. I still have all my fingers and toes thankfully.

Swamp Tour Excitement from Rob Allen on Vimeo.

Now he's my little buddy too.




Thanks for viewing. Leave a comment so I can know you were here. Rob-