AndyO Blog

Update -- 2/2/09: According to Computerworld, President Obama has not divulged whether he's still using a BlackBerry. BlackBerry-gate continues.

-------

According to CNET, President-elect Obama is switching from his beloved Blackberry to a General Dynamics-built, super-secure Sectera Edge. Oh, and it's running Windows Mobile (uh-oh -- here comes Blackberry-gate, just like Zunegate). Check this thing out.

Like what you see? Pick one up for only $3,350.

Labels: Famous people, News, Politics, technology

I just saw this video on the web. It reminds me of a meteor I saw when I was in New Mexico about 10 years ago. The one I saw was probably the most incredible, frightening thing I've ever seen in the night sky, a green fireball hurtling toward earth. I wondered in those few seconds if this was the meteor that was going to wipe out humanity (or New Mexico). But it disappeared silently over the horizon. 

Later, when we watched the news, it was strange to hear all the different interpretations of what we'd seen. Many people claimed that it was an airplane, so they sent out search helicopters to try and find it.

Labels: News

Take one look at this short film, and you'll think someone had a real Close Encounter in Haiti. Scroll down for more information. 

Well, it turns out it's a hoax. According to Snopes.com, the creator of the film --a professional computer animator only known as Barzolff814 on YouTube, created the film as research for a feature film he's working on. The film is about two people who create a UFO hoax so real, it spirals out of control.

All of this was confirmed by the Los Angeles Times with the production company Partizan, who is working with Barzolff814 (whose real name, it turns out, is David Nicolas).

As a fan of computer animation, the UFO phenomenon, and Science Fiction, I have to say the quality of Barzolff's film is amazing. A friend of mine who is a computer animator told me that the secret of digital effects is in the lighting. Everything in this UFO film looks like it belongs there. I would argue that perspective is another thing that has to be perfect -- the way the UFOs float above the trees is unnerving. Of course, Barzolff's use of sound also helps to trick you. The person gasping in disbelief reminds you of what you would do in this same situation.

It's interesting to note from the LA Times interview that life is, once again, imitating art. Like the premise for the film he's working on, even though this film being proven as a hoax, people still believe it's real.

If this clip is any indication of Barzolff's talent, the feature film could be very interesting indeed.

Labels: Hoax, News