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Maybe they'd have to hold each other when it rose, all organe and full and close. Maybe that's where our romantic notions about the moon first came from. Two people holding each other to keep their hearts from breaking, because everybody they knew was dying in the cold rocks and dust piles a quarter million miles away...
The Brothers K
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mandag, august 04, 2003
Before I begin the SIGGRAPH summary, I must rant for a moment. I despise large organizations. With a passion. In the past month, I have had to deal with - over the telephone or in person, *not* over email - Geico, AllState, Verizon, SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, California DMV, Stanford Federal Credit Union, Stanford University Bursar's Office & Financial Aid Office & URO office, and American Airlines. Each one of the incidents has left me in a heated state of great frustration. The newspapers think I want a subscription continued, and charge me without authorization for it, despite the fact that I theoretically cancelled my original subscription, a conclusion which is supported by the fact that I no longer receive either newspaper. Stanford got confused over how much money they owed me, despite the fact that I filed all the paperwork correctly - TWICE. The CADMV is just a plain bitch to deal with anyways, so I'll save the "I hate the government" rant for another time. Verizon has offered me the nice option of "going paperless" which means I get to pay all my bills online. Of course, this requires the ability to actually view the bill online, a priveledge which they have yet to bestow upon my unworthy being. The only company whose service works flawlessly for me (so far) has been American Express. I have never, in the year in which I have had their Student credit card, had cause to call them and require in-person service. All their statements arrive exactly on time - no online delay whatsoever, unlike Verizon - and are able to be reliably viewed and paid. In addition, I get real-time updates to my new charge activity. Why can't everyone else be like AmEx?
Deep breath.
Ok, on to the good stuff about SIGGRAPH! I'd much rather share these stories in detail in person, so I'm just going to give the Top Ten Highlights of SIGGRAPH and you'll have to ask for more :)
SIGGRAPH TOP TEN (in no particular order)- Getting to know some very cool Graphics Lab people, including Rachel, Eilene, Frank, Eran, and Kris.
- Being in a San Diego hotel RIGHT DOWNTOWN
- Walking around taking random turns, and ending up at Horton Plaza (a mall)
- Seeing the Matrix special effects session, and the Finding Nemo Director's Circle session
- Becoming a consumer whore on the exhibit floor, taking home 4 posters, 3 screwdrivers, 2 t-shirts, 1 huge canvas bag, 10 DVD-ROMs, countless pamphlets and brochures, and a windup walking teapot
- Wishing I could intern at PiXAR or ILM, and finding out that I know someone who did each!
- Hearing about TreeJuxtaposer & being inspired for a new chart browser
- Hearing about Social Networks, wishing I could participate in the research, and realizing that I'm friends with a girl who knows the researcher
- Laughing at the stupid motion capture people, and suggesting that me & a lead (any volunteers? :) get a part-time job dancing in motion capture gear at exhibitions
- Realizing that there was definitely an academic niche for me in graphics, and that I could explore it further this fall in the Graphics Lab or in classes!
What good memories! I will post photographs once they are scanned and developed :)
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