NICO | GALOPPO || journal

I get asked this question quite often: “What is it that you do?”. I always feel that my answer falls short somehow. When I bring up the term physically based simulation (or animation), most people go into a blank stare. Now I know that I can refer people to an article on “Up”, Pixar’s latest movie about an old man who flies away on a house lifted by balloons. Pixar used a programmed physical simulator to animate thousands of balloons – a scene that is too time-consuming to animate by hand! Read the entire article at CNN.

It’s no secret that we’re in a little bit of an economic bubble right now (have you heard?), but that doesn’t keep Belgians from drinking Champagne. In 2007, they were the only ones in the world to increase their consumption of Champagne. And not by just a little bit, a hefty 7%. Joie de vivre, anyone?

Don’t do it. Don’t vote.

Yep. That’s why we have them. That’s why we pay the exorbitant monthly data plan. To tell our friends that we’re using it.

Note: I fully plan to buy one myself, once my plan becomes eligible. To my own defense: I’m already paying for the plan, so why not have a shiny phone, right?

Flanders (the region in Belgium) celebrated its official holiday last Thursday Friday. I saw this today. Cross-cultural emancipation. Beautiful!

Last one, just to learn not to do it anymore

… is not in chicken salad or chicken tacos. Instead, use the bones to make a simple stock and whip up a traditional saffron-spiked meat paella. Add some sausage or chorizo, that’s what I did. Heaven!

For those who know me well: yes, I really did say chicken…