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Degendering romantic behavior in Queen songs

Degendering romantic behavior in Queen songs published on No Comments on Degendering romantic behavior in Queen songs

I’ve been listening to Classic Queen on heavy rotation for the past few days. After grossing out about my favorite songs with stalking in them, I am pleased to note that, at least on this album, Queen avoids that trope. In fact, their lyrics even bend the gendered norms in some cases, describing romantic experiences of one gender in terms usually reserved for another.

Example 1: One Year of Love. The singer says, “It’s always a rainy day without you / I’m a prisoner of love inside you / I’m falling apart all around you / And all I can do is surrender to your love.” Assuming that this is a man singing to a woman [hooray for heteronormativity -_- ], this is very unusual language for the masculine narrator. The typical masculine experience of love involves pursuit, penetration and conquering. The singer, however, describes imprisonment, dissolution and submission — traits much more commonly associated with the feminine experience of love.

Example 2: Tie Your Mother Down. At the end of the song, after urging the listener to get her family members out of the way so that she and the singer can screw, the singer says, “Give me all your love tonight / Give me every inch of your love.” In the vast majority of rock songs sung by dudes, if there’s “love” with any dimensions associated, it just means “penis.” [See Not Fade Away by Buddy Holly: “My love’s penis is bigger than a Cadillac / I try to show it, but you drive me back.” Just stop stalking her already!] Therefore the attribution of a quantified love to the singer’s addressee [presumed female] is unusual. The feminine action of loving is described in more masculine terms. I have no grand conclusion, especially not based on these two examples, but they sure make me like Queen even more!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1648248.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Stop singing about stalking!

Stop singing about stalking! published on 1 Comment on Stop singing about stalking!

I realize that a bunch of songs by my favorite artists are about stalking. For example, Love Is Strong by the Rolling Stones. "A glimpse of you / Is all it took / A stranger’s glance / It got me hooked…" Mick Jagger sings, then detailing how he follows the woman for vast distances. For another example, Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran. "Burn through the ground / Break from the crowd / I’m on the hunt; I’m after you…" Duran Duran sings. In the second example, the man is literally chasing the woman, trying to run her down. She’s trying to escape, probably in fear for her life, if not her safety, and it’s a poppy, upbeat New Wave hit!

Stalking songs disturb me differently than domestic violence songs [e.g., the Rolling Stones’ Under My Thumb or There She Goes by the Velvet Underground]. In the domestic violence songs I listen to, the abuse is framed as part of a dysfunctional relationship. Somehow this lets me critique it more effectively. In stalking songs, though, the abuse appears as an acceptable behavior in the context of a two-way, loving relationship. This is false on two counts because a) it’s an unacceptable behavior in any context and b) there’s no two-way, much less loving, relationship in the stalking songs. It’s an entirely imaginary relationship based on misogynist objectification. The singers of stalking songs seem so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they are more impervious to critique.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1647926.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Zombieville Prologue 2: “The Goth vs. the Public”

Zombieville Prologue 2: “The Goth vs. the Public” published on No Comments on Zombieville Prologue 2: “The Goth vs. the Public”

Isabel Forrest, warrior against bigotry and inaccuracy everywhere, takes on anti-zombie media and passersby.

Continue reading Zombieville Prologue 2: “The Goth vs. the Public”

The perfect silly cyborg set for Dawn!

The perfect silly cyborg set for Dawn! published on No Comments on The perfect silly cyborg set for Dawn!

I downloaded Hivewire3D’s Dawn because she was free and I wanted her odd bouffant/ponytail hair. I didn’t play much with the figure and quickly left her for G1 and eventually G2F, now my preferred base. For BlackRain and SixthSense’s new RuntimeDNA release, B.L.U. XR-512, however, I would either reinstall Dawn or just invest in EvilInnocence’s CrossDresser to convert it to V4 and then autofit to G2F. I think I should just spring for CrossDresser — free base program, $9.97 license to convert from any supported figure to V4 — because it might crunch some clothes better than Wardrobe Wizard.

I probably need a tag for "robots" at this point…

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1647129.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: education

3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: education published on No Comments on 3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: education

I just signed up to attend a free orientation at Blu-Bin tomorrow, which will give me the necessary information about their policies, parameters and products! After reading a mediocre Meetup.com review, I’m not expecting miracles, but at least I should come away knowing what file types Blu-Bin accepts, the different properties of their printed plastic, how they scale models correctly and the general cost of items.

I just got a few more ideas for things to make besides forearm crutches:

  • single-footed canes
  • four-footed canes
  • white canes [for visually impaired people]
  • below-the-knee prostheses
  • below-the-elbow prostheses

I would really like to create one of the old-fashioned below-the-elbow prostheses with a functional forked hook, but that would require finding a hook. A below-the-knee prosthesis would probably be easier, since it wouldn’t be articulated at the end.

The possibilities are exciting!



This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1646914.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

New faceups for fairies

New faceups for fairies published on No Comments on New faceups for fairies

Decided last night to take the colors from Flower’s skirt and use them as a palette for his new faceup. Pink! Magenta! Possibly some reddish purple! With accents in lime green [color of his eyes]! I find the pink/purple/lime combination a wonderful one. I may add some swirly viny lines too…

Also decided last night that Polly’s faceup will feature predominantly turquoise, with accents in white and navy blue. There will also be a lot of dots, for example, forming her eyebrows and maybe coming up and out like bubbles from the outer edges of her eyes.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1646711.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Leg-o’-mutton sleeves! Feathered cape! Dramatic swoopy skirts!

Leg-o’-mutton sleeves! Feathered cape! Dramatic swoopy skirts! published on No Comments on Leg-o’-mutton sleeves! Feathered cape! Dramatic swoopy skirts!

 The new Dragon Keeper for V4 outfit hits all my aesthetic buttons. Well, except for pinkness and sparklitude, but I can add those. The feathered cape looks like the larger sibling of AprilYSH’s Calais Ruff, seen below looking fabulous on my standard model:
Continue reading Leg-o’-mutton sleeves! Feathered cape! Dramatic swoopy skirts!

3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: measuring angles

3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: measuring angles published on No Comments on 3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: measuring angles

I decided to make forearm crutches for Brandeis because her cane ain’t the appropriate height. Also, as it’s very lightweight, it falls over and does not bear weight.

First, I acquired a protractor from Wikipedia. I then acquired a representative photo of a forearm crutch in profile. Then I overlaid the protractor on the picture of the crutch to determine the major angles involved in its construction.

Continue reading 3-D printed 1:6 scale crutches: measuring angles

Custom 3-D printed 1:6 scale forearm crutches?

Custom 3-D printed 1:6 scale forearm crutches? published on No Comments on Custom 3-D printed 1:6 scale forearm crutches?

Andrea linked me to an auction that included a pair of Power Team forearm crutches. I thought I might bid on it, but it turns out that the shipping alone would be $20.00. :p I really want more 1:6 scale mobility aids, but that price is a little steep.

This morning I realized that I have a knowledge of what actual crutches look like, a 3-D modeling program and a local 3-D printing shop, Blu-Bin. I can make my own crutches!

Here’s my plan: I’ll use the modeling app to create the crutches themselves, with their specific -15 degree bends at the top and their handrests at the appropriate position. The crutches will be longer at both ends than necessary so that I can cut them to fit the various heights of my dolls. The forearm cuffs I will make separately out of wire, ribbon or some flexible material and then glue on later.

This project requires no precise, symmetrical bending of wire or steel rods, as my early iterations of the walker did. I only need to do basic 3-D modeling with some cylinder primitives, then hack and glue. I’m an expert manipulator of primitives, rotary tools and glue guns, so I think that this project will probably be simpler than the walker.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1645971.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Little updates on little people: Isabel, Polly and Muggins

Little updates on little people: Isabel, Polly and Muggins published on No Comments on Little updates on little people: Isabel, Polly and Muggins

This weekend I added a death’s head to Isabel’s bag, which becomes a plot point later in the prologue. I just printed out this design [a vector of a design element, used with permission from Gravestone Artwear] on a color printer, glued it to another sheet of paper to give it more rigidity, then used Mod Podge to attach it to the flap of the bag. Not bad for an eminently lazy execution.

Continue reading Little updates on little people: Isabel, Polly and Muggins

Just when I’m on a human/tree hybrid kick…

Just when I’m on a human/tree hybrid kick… published on No Comments on Just when I’m on a human/tree hybrid kick…

…Soom comes out with Saule, a Faery Legend who’s part willow tree. His ear attachments look like twigs, while his lower legs look like roots. His wings have the appearance of weeping willow branches. Too bad those wings are so heavy and unwieldy that I find them impractical to use.

Contemplating the purchase of Saule, I realize that I need to give Flower another faceup, since he’s done being Mackenzie. I also need to finish Polly. And Yamarrah’s also in pieces.

EDIT: Saule would be a superb base for the dryad concept I had exactly a year ago.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1645413.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Mad Mazzy Mickle Goes Looking for Love

Mad Mazzy Mickle Goes Looking for Love published on No Comments on Mad Mazzy Mickle Goes Looking for Love

I think I have enough skillz now to render the three main characters from my fictional cult classic film, if not their highly specialized vehicles. Now if I could just find the poster I drew a few years ago….

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1645073.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Smashing!: Jareth’s latest outfit

Smashing!: Jareth’s latest outfit published on No Comments on Smashing!: Jareth’s latest outfit

Earlier today I mentioned Jareth in the same entry as various theatrically costumed rock stars from the mid-1970s. I think David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and probably Adam Ant [though not from the 1970s] would approve of the get-up below.
Continue reading Smashing!: Jareth’s latest outfit

This is not an Awkward Stock Photo!

This is not an Awkward Stock Photo! published on No Comments on This is not an Awkward Stock Photo!

Okay, so she’s in her underwear on a skateboard with no protective gear. That’s awkward. Other than that, though, this is a wonderful shot with an amazing-looking model who is clearly having fun. What’s not to love?

I don’t know why Shutterstock labels this as “Funny Overweight Woman Skateboarding.” Why is this photo amusing? Because she’s in her underwear? Because she’s having fun? Because she’s fat? And why do the keywords include “fatty,” “funny people,” “crazy” and “humor?”

Oh those hilarious fat people, thinking they can enjoy themselves! They should know that they’re supposed to be miserably ashamed of their disgusting flab and that they should go around completely covered in heavy, shapeless drapery all the time so that no one else has to see their grossness. Seriously…any fatty who thinks that anyone wants to see them in their underwear clearly has a mental illness.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1644656.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Labyrinth news: novelization reissued with bonus material

Labyrinth news: novelization reissued with bonus material published on No Comments on Labyrinth news: novelization reissued with bonus material

Janna surprised me a few days ago with a hardcover reissue of A.C.H. Smith’s novelization of Labyrinth, [re]published at the end of April. This version contains the same novelization text as the original 1986 paperback, but omits the insert of color stills. It does, however, contain previously unpublished goblin drawings by Brian Froud, as well as pages from Jim Henson’s journals, in which he jotted notes about his original conception for Labyrinth in 1983.

I care nothing for the novelization, as it’s indifferently written, but the supplemental material intrigues me. I’m most interested in Jim Henson’s notes, which I haven’t cracked yet, except for a brief glance, during which I caught the phrase "Goblin King = death?" That made me think back to the afterword of the 20th anniversary edition of Brian Froud’s book of conceptual drawings, Goblins of Labyrinth, in which he envisions Jareth "with the worms of death eating through his armor." I haven’t been able to forget that image, so I’m curious to see how Henson wanted to develop it. I also wonder exactly which fairy tale Froud’s referring to.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1644358.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

It takes a certain type of person to rock a white satin jumpsuit…

It takes a certain type of person to rock a white satin jumpsuit… published on No Comments on It takes a certain type of person to rock a white satin jumpsuit…

…with flame fringe on the kirtle sleeves and bellbottoms, not to mention the neckline that plunges somewhere into the region of the crotch. That certain type of person is Freddie Mercury.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for someone to wear a striped vinyl jumpsuit with integrated platform shoes and a similar neckline, you’re looking for David Bowie.

And if you’re looking for someone whose idea of smashing constitutes a purple Rococo pompadour, a feathered ruff, skin-tight pants and thigh-high ballet boots, just hang in there — I’m rendering him tonight. :p 

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1644274.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Still air-guitarin’ on the mike stand 10 years later.

Still air-guitarin’ on the mike stand 10 years later. published on No Comments on Still air-guitarin’ on the mike stand 10 years later.

Now watching Queen’s Legendary concert from 1975, I see Freddie Mercury playing air guitar with his mike stand, just like he was 10 years later, during Live Aid. Even rock stars can’t resist the power of the air guitar ’cause it’s so damn cool! 😀

Fabulous costumes!!!!!!!!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1643866.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

I’m just here for Freddie Mercury.

I’m just here for Freddie Mercury. published on No Comments on I’m just here for Freddie Mercury.

While watching the music video for We Will Rock You, I can’t help but notice the difference between Freddie Mercury’s moves and those of the rest of the band. Though the guitarist does get his groove on during the solo at the end, most of the band just stand there stiffly, moving no more than necessary. Meanwhile Freddie Mercury is performing in inimitable Freddie Mercury fashion.

I was going to compare him to my usual referents — you know, Ivan Doroschuk, Mick Jagger, Tim Curry — but I really can’t because he’s in a league of his own. Ivan Doroschuk moves, but he does more flailing and bouncing. Mick Jagger and Tim Curry make faces, but I don’t think of them as so completely self-possessed as Freddie Mercury. He demonstrates absolute control in every expression and motion of his limbs: a combination of fluid precision and sheer joy of motion.  Kind of like Shirley Bassey or Lesley Gore. And his voice is incredible. The more I think about it, the more apt a comparison is between Freddie Mercury and Shirley Bassey — both fabulous performers with stunningly powerful voices and charismatic stage presences whose love for what they do so clearly shines through in every word they sing.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1643608.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

“Sexy sexy sexy, stabby stabby stabby…Look at my fingers in a circle.”

“Sexy sexy sexy, stabby stabby stabby…Look at my fingers in a circle.” published on No Comments on “Sexy sexy sexy, stabby stabby stabby…Look at my fingers in a circle.”

Peter Dinklage sums up Game of Thrones in 45 seconds with an Eddie Izzard-like silliness. This just makes him even hotter!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1643444.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Atomic Age lingerie!

Atomic Age lingerie! published on No Comments on Atomic Age lingerie!

Do you know how hard it is to find a digital version of one of those pointy bras from the middle of the last century? I thought I wouldn’t have any trouble, as this style appears popular with people who do "pinup," "vintage" or "retro" renders. Using these terms, along with "bra" and "lingerie," brought me nothing but a lot of girdles and garter belts. Hooray for girdles and garter belts [great band name!], but they’re not what I was looking for.

Further poking around ["1940s lingerie Daz Studio," "1950s lingerie Daz Studio"] revealed that the magical search term was "bullet bra." Using the magic phrase, I came up with outoftouch’s X14 Revenge for V4, which will do nicely for my purposes.

I have to wonder about the term "bullet bra," though. Is that really what people called it back then? I mean, I always thought they looked more like rocket cones. Either way, I find it fascinating how the aerodynamic, long and curvy look gained popularity not only in vehicular style, architecture and furniture, but also in clothing. Perhaps World War II and the ensuing arms race gave people weapons on the brain, affecting their sense of style so that, slowly and subtly, everything started to look like bullets, bombs, missiles, rockets and satellites. From today’s perspective, we think look up the aesthetic as a set of cool design elements, but it arguably represents a generation’s deep-seated and thoroughly legitimate fear that they were going to do themselves in with their own technology.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1643171.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Everyone’s getting older and/or fatter! ^_^

Everyone’s getting older and/or fatter! ^_^ published on No Comments on Everyone’s getting older and/or fatter! ^_^

I just scored Zev0’s Aging Morphs 2 for G2F on 60% off sale, which allows me to realize a long-held dream: old and/or fat digital people! Some of the morphs provide effects of aging, while others change the distribution of weight on the face. I’m gonna make everyone fat and wrinkly now!

..Well, except for Jareth. He’s not fat [not in his usual form anyway]. Aging, yes. Fat, no. But digital me and Jennifer and Allyson and and Felicia and Fay and Win, plus any other mini universe denizens I develop, plus all characters for Intellectum, are gaining fats and signs of aging. Now my digital populations can start to look like my doll populations!

This is gonna be so much fun!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1642862.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Zombieville Prologue 1: “The Goth”

Zombieville Prologue 1: “The Goth” published on No Comments on Zombieville Prologue 1: “The Goth”

A year and seven months in the making, Zombieville finally debuts today! Thrill to the epic tale of Isabel Forrest, your average sarcastic feminist, as she turns into a flesh-eating weirdo and adjusts to life on the edge of death.

Isabel Forrest walks through downtown Burlington, Vermont, while providing audience participation on an egregiously inaccurate magazine article.

Continue reading Zombieville Prologue 1: “The Goth”

Baroque architecture, BDSM lust novels and very expensive puns: starring Jareth and Jennifer

Baroque architecture, BDSM lust novels and very expensive puns: starring Jareth and Jennifer published on No Comments on Baroque architecture, BDSM lust novels and very expensive puns: starring Jareth and Jennifer

I made this mini universe story this weekend just so I could have a chance to make this pun. Well, I also did want to use my new Montespan Interior Scene and Jareth’s fabulous Baroque outfit. Anyway, enjoy.

Note: Jareth is reading the third in the 50 Shades Trilogy. All the faces he makes come directly from my own reactions, although, in my case, there was a lot more yelling at the book. :p
Continue reading Baroque architecture, BDSM lust novels and very expensive puns: starring Jareth and Jennifer

3D freebies: Outrageous: Bold, Bright Materal Presets for Innocent Hair

3D freebies: Outrageous: Bold, Bright Materal Presets for Innocent Hair published on No Comments on 3D freebies: Outrageous: Bold, Bright Materal Presets for Innocent Hair

Outrageous: Bold, Bright Materal Presets for Innocent Hair

Daz Studio only

Tested only in Daz Studio Pro 4.6 64 bit.

This is a set of material presets for Daz/goldtassel’s Innocent Hair for Genesis 2 Female [available at the Daz store]: Emerald Explosion, Glowing Grape, Pink Pizzazz, Radioactive Red and Sunflower Spectacular. Three presets for each color allow you to recolor the entire hairstyle, just the bangs or just the buns.

After installation, you will find Outrageous material settings in My Library > People > Genesis 2 Female > Hair > InnocentHair > Materials > OutrageousbyModernWizard.

Now you too can create hairstyles that make people’s eyes bleed!

"I’m sorry — I can’t hear you over the sound of how loud your hair is."

This freebie uses the trans maps from the original Innocent Hair. The texture, however, is a freebie created by MSTene, available at Renderosity.

Use for whatever purposes you like, commercial or non-commercial. Just don’t repackage and call your own. Have fun!

You can see my digital artwork, as well as my other creative pursuits, at my blog:

http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org

If you do use any of my freebies in your work, drop me a line [ModernWizard at the Daz boards and ShareCG, ModernWiz on Renderosity], as I’d love to see what you make. Thank you.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1659572.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

ModernWizard elsewhere online

ModernWizard elsewhere online published on No Comments on ModernWizard elsewhere online

the tacky trove: ModernWizard’s repository of free shaders, textures, morphs, poses, hairstyles for Daz Studio!

Vermont Doll Lovers: Do you like dolls? Do you live in or near Vermont? Do you want to make friends with other fun-loving doll enthusiasts? Then come to our meetups. We welcome everyone!

Zombieville: Thrill to the epic tale of Isabel Forrest, your average sarcastic 37-year-old feminist, as she turns into a flesh-eating weirdo and adjusts to life on the edge of death. Told through photostories starring my customized 12-inch dolls, the serial melodrama posts new episodes on Mondays [or Tuesdays, if Monday is a U.S. holiday]. You can read it here on my DW or on its dedicated site.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1674158.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Statues, dolls, robots, therianthropes and other humanoids

Statues, dolls, robots, therianthropes and other humanoids published on No Comments on Statues, dolls, robots, therianthropes and other humanoids

I got my first chance of trying to make a humanoid digital model into statuary when I make my digital replica of Story’s Angel of Grief. This was before I discovered the utility of shaders, so I created a seamless marble texture tile and laborious applied it to the angel’s body, hair, wings and dress, as well as her plinth.

Then Muusa The Myth, a character package and set for V4 by Forbidden Whispers, FWDesign and Daz, appeared on deep discount. It contains a fully human texture, a full stone texture and various textures to represent the character in the process of enstonement. The set, of course, contains a platform to stick her on after transforming her. I used the stone texture and my go-to texture for digital people, RBSD Merchant Base by rebelmommy and shellyw, to create a more stepwise progression on enstonement, thanks to the help of my limited Photoshop Elements skills. I really enjoyed myself, and I’m now trying to apply these skills to another set of stepwise transformation textures — this time, a tree. What type of tree depends on what type of tree I can find locally to scan bark and leaves from.

Anyway, back to statues. Now I have my own Ingenious Rock Shaders by JGreenlees/Daz, so I can make statues of people [and gravestones] without manual application of my own texture tiles. Whoo hoo!

I also just found this hilarious product in the Daz store: Canary3D’s Sculptural Genesis Ultra Fun Kit. It’s a kit of Daz shaders, full-body poses, hand poses, objects to hold and objects to stand on — all to aid in the creation of humanoid statues based on Genesis figures. The great number of material shaders alone make this worth the price, even if I weren’t going to use it for statues. The wonderful details — like the conforming fig leaf to stick in the statue’s crotch and the shades so that one can make figures into lamps — move the package from merely cool to must-have.

Yeah…like I need more humanoids in my runtime…

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1642003.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

ASL music videos

ASL music videos published on No Comments on ASL music videos

Queer interpretation of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know. The facial expressions and acting make it all clear here — person 1 is a whiny, self-entitled creep, and person 2 is liberated upon ridding their life of them.

Solo interpretation of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody…with bonus translation in notes. Performer’s facial expressions and body language during guitar solos show how much fun he’s having!

Both of these translations illustrate how putting a song into a different language change, transfigure and enhance it.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1641748.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Intellectum: The Fink [a neighborhood]

Intellectum: The Fink [a neighborhood] published on No Comments on Intellectum: The Fink [a neighborhood]

Welcome to the Fink, the part of Intellectum where no one wants to live, not even the residents. The Fink’s official name is the Southern Valley District, but only people from outside Intellectum call it that. All Intellectans know the Southern Valley District as the Dragon’s Sphincter. Those who live in the neighborhood refer to their home turf as the Fink.
Continue reading Intellectum: The Fink [a neighborhood]

Intellectum’s back!

Intellectum’s back! published on No Comments on Intellectum’s back!

Intellectum, a fictional city that I first created in summer, 2010, lives! The city started off as a setting for the mythical, magical, sci-fi Library of Intellectum, which I explored in a series of digital renders. I entertained thoughts of doing a doll-based melodrama with the characters and places, but it never happened. Anyway, now that I’m using Daz for the characters in my head, Intellectum has resurged as a convenient place in which to deposit all those nifty ideas that will not appear in the mini universe with Jareth et al.

Here’s the Library of Intellectum again. Most of it is Block 17 from the Dystopia City Blocks series by Ajax, billyhome and Moebius 87. I changed the diffuse on almost all the elements to achieve Intellectum’s peculiar grungy, yet perky and pastel, look. I also added a Poser primitive for the dome and shade it with George Haze’s freebie metal shaders for Daz.

Continue reading Intellectum’s back!

Constantine TV show Y/N?

Constantine TV show Y/N? published on No Comments on Constantine TV show Y/N?

Apparently one appears this fall on NBC. Look — a trailer. Could be good, could be horrible. There’s a whole elaborate mythology built into the source material, which gives the show a chance at some solid worldbuilding and long-term plot arcs, a lack of which contributed to the exhaustion of Supernatural, another show with demons from Hell. I wonder how much of a sense of humor this one will have, as a well-developed sense of camp keeps my current demons-from-Hell viewing, Sleepy Hollow, entertaining. I’ll check out an episode and see what happens.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1640981.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

New digital stuff I can’t wait to use

New digital stuff I can’t wait to use published on No Comments on New digital stuff I can’t wait to use

…But have to wait to use anyway, as my compooper is off in the shop, having its screen replaced.

  • Montespan Interior Scene by GreyCloudPublishing. Jareth’s fainting couch!
  • Flying Cadet Lola Pepper by Val3DArt. Besides dolls and robots, I apparently also have a weakness for gloriously impractical jetpack gear, of which this set is not my first. My favorite details here include the helmet with wings and ear trumpet, the uselessly cog-decorated vambraces and especially the hotpants with dynamite belt [a truly inspired touch!]. The helmet, vambraces and leggings go to robots, the top and dynamite shorts to — who else? — Jareth.
  • L’Arahna for V4 by Val3DArt. No human/spider hybrid dolls allowed in the house? No problem! I’ll acquire digital ones instead. Though I strongly object to the fact that the arachnid portion has eyes and fangs right below where the human portion meets it, I can deal with it. I’m thinking that I’ll use the arachnid portion as a robotic mobility aid for a character with a disability anyway, so maybe the eyes can be headlights or buttons or something. ["Wait — let me just hit the LEG RETRACT button…"] As a bonus, the package includes a heavily laced underbust corset and matching bracers.
  • Mildred Busybody by Tempesta3D and lunchlady. I don’t buy lots of characters, i.e., morph and texture packages, as I prefer to digitally sculpt my characters on my own using various morphs and then use one of my all-purpose textures on them. But sometimes it’s love at first sight, and I absolutely have to acquire someone. Mildred Busybody, with her caricatured features full of personality and her realistically aged texture, caught my eye in this way. This is exactly my sort of aesthetic, and it’s fabulous!
  • FWRD Aikaterine by FWDesign and renapd. I love this character’s face, especially the chin and the nose, plus the way they work together with the lips. As soon as I saw her, I said to myself, "Wow, she needs to gain about 200 pounds, and then she’d look awesome!" She would also look very cool in combination with Mildred Busybody.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1640869.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Robert Pattinson and the Twilight Saga

Robert Pattinson and the Twilight Saga published on No Comments on Robert Pattinson and the Twilight Saga

In these interviews, he tries really hard not to slag the franchise that earned him bundles, but he can’t refrain from some rather insightful criticism of the series’ failures. His observation that Stephenie Meyer sees herself as Bella makes lots of sense, especially since she got the original idea for a key Twilight scene from a dream. 

I actually really like the guy. From what I’ve seen, he’s rather down-to-earth, playful, a little silly and accessible. Being sexy doesn’t hurt either.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1640537.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Hmmm, something seems to be out of scale here.

Hmmm, something seems to be out of scale here. published on No Comments on Hmmm, something seems to be out of scale here.

Obviously the window is too small. :p

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1640430.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Digital pigs: free to a good home

Digital pigs: free to a good home published on No Comments on Digital pigs: free to a good home

Oh my God, these freebie Poser figures of pigs by Lyne are adorable. Look at the one rolling on its back! I need some free pigs stat! I notice that this person also has bunches of other free animals, always good to know.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1640186.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

All G2F, all the time!

All G2F, all the time! published on No Comments on All G2F, all the time!

I moved all my main Daz dolls [me, Jareth and Jennifer] from the Genesis base to the Genesis 2 Female base. I have loads of gen 4 [Victoria 4] content that, for some reason, skips a generation [i.e., Genesis 1] and autofits on G2F much better than on G1. I assume this is because the lack of breasts on G1 messes up the V4 > G1 refit, while the presence of breasts on both V4 and G2F makes conversions much less painful.

Anyway, despite the presence of breasts on the default G2F shape, I can turn the figure into Jareth, who does not have breasts, without a problem. I assume the process will work for any minor characters — for example, Win and Frederick  — that I decide to port over from G1.

I’ve finally attained my long-awaited goal of 3-D digital people: a single base mesh that can encompass a vast diversity of body shapes AND fit pretty much anything on the market while doing so. Daz’ autofit feature allows the G2s [G2F and Genesis 2 Male {G2M}] to stretch the mesh of any outfit designed for them so that it will fit pretty much any combination of shaping morphs. Autofit also lets G2F wear G2M’s clothes and vice versa without expensive conversion processes. YAY EVERYONE CAN SHARE CLOTHES!

…In practice, of course, this means, “YAY I CAN ACCURATELY RENDER JARETH’S WARDROBE!” :p Just like the BJD version of him, the digital version of him demands vast and expensive quantities of clothing. Everyone else hangs around in jeans and T-shirts, which I think would cause Jareth Toxic Shock Syndrome if he put them on, and he wants masquerade-worthy get-ups. I’m certainly not complaining, though, because clearly I like playing dress-up.

Tangentially on the topic of masquerades, I just picked up GreyCloudDesign’s Montespan Interior Scene, mostly ’cause of the exquisite fainting couch. Makes me want to do some scene involving this set, the Totally And Completely Unrelated to Interview With a Vampire — Hah Hah Who Are You Kidding?!!! There’s No Copyright Infringement Here! Lestat de Lioncourt Suit for G2M and Chris Cox’ freebie Rococo gear [dress, textures and appropriately decorated wig] for V3/V4. Come to think of it, the two outfits complement each other well. I just need an excuse to get me into the first and Jareth into the second, as there’s no way I’m wearing something I can’t sit down in.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1639903.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Muggins come home!

Muggins come home! published on No Comments on Muggins come home!

After an excruciatingly long wait, I finally received word at the end of last week that Muggins is all ready to ship. I just need to pay the $171.00 balance on her. I just put down a $50.00 installment on the remainder, and I hope to have her soon so that she can take her rightful place in Zombieville — i.e., getting into all of Isabel’s projects while talking in brackets and being ridiculously friendly and cute.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1639522.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

3D freebies: Loud Fabrics 01 Shaders for Daz Studio

3D freebies: Loud Fabrics 01 Shaders for Daz Studio published on No Comments on 3D freebies: Loud Fabrics 01 Shaders for Daz Studio

Loud Fabrics 01 Shaders for Daz Studio

Daz Studio only

Tested only in Daz Studio Pro 4.6 64 bit.

This is a set of 16 shader presets featuring seamless, tiled, boldly printed fabrics with eye-catching patterns: Bluish Blooms, Broadway Dots Large, Broadway Dots Small, Bubble Yum Large, Bubble Yum Small, Electric Blue Honeycomb, Flaming Hearts Large, Flaming Hearts Small, Green Circles on Yellow, Little Red Bows, Magenta and Lime Dots, Pink and Purple Medium, Pink and Purple Narrow, Pink and Purple Wide, Pink Pinwheels Large and Pink Pinwheels Small.

These patterns were all generated and tweaked in PatternCooler, Harvey Rayner’s awesome free Web-based pattern-generating Web site:
http://www.patterncooler.com/index.php

Use for whatever purposes you like, commercial or non-commercial. Just don’t repackage and call your own. Have fun!

You can see my digital artwork, as well as my other creative pursuits, at my blog:

http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org

If you do use any of my freebies in your work, drop me a line [ModernWizard at the Daz boards and ShareCG, ModernWiz on Renderosity], as I’d love to see what you make. Thank you.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1659388.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

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