Finally finished this computer graphics class and submitted our final project. We made a small 3D first person shooter using OpenGL. Because we aren’t artistic at all, we loaded Quake 3 maps and Quake 2 MD2 animated models. We named it DeathBlow, which works because why the aliens want to kill you is for “some different reasons all together” since we didn’t create much of a backstory. (There was no John Romero-types on this project.)

An evil and rather rude alien.

It has been one of the best and hardest CS classes I’ve taken, which I think often go hand in hand. Learned a lot, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to become the next Carmack.

You’ve reached your ship and will live another day.

My last name is Champion. That’s right, my name is also a noun - it’s pretty crazy. Today I got a random IM from someone at work who had me confused with another Champion:

<donaldw> Hey there champion of justice
<Michael Champion> hey, that’s me.
<Michael Champion> who are you?
<donaldw> don w - faithful sidekick

Over the years I’ve heard all the possible comments about my name, but almost everyone makes the same joke, “What are you the Champion of?” said with silly grin on face. I’m too bored by it to be try to be witty anymore and have abandoned my old standard of “your mother”. Now I’d just like to research if this is a global phenomenon - to see if the Champions in Europe are asked the same question, in their respective languages - and then hold an international Flanders-like reunion Champion conference. And that damn Queen song will not be played.

Everyone making the same joke is kinda depressing because they all think they are being uniquely clever. It’s like reading the profiles on Friedster where everyone sounds so similar - “she’s so thoughtful and fun, always up for a crazy time out or just relaxing at home”

Brian: You are all individuals!
The Crowd: Yes! We are all individuals!
Brian: You’re all different!
The Crowd: Yes, we ARE all different!

It’s sad when the temperature is 30 degrees outside and being happy that it is 30 degrees warmer than yesterday. Going from the car to the office yesterday I think the liquid in my eyes froze. And I like winter but not this kind of cold.

Looks like Enron’s Andrew Fastow has cut a plea agreement for 10 years of jail time and his wife plead guilty to lesser charges. As a fellow Tufts alum (Fastow majored in Chinese and Economics in 1984), I take pride in his infamy since Tufts complains about being overlooked (the Times called him a “Financial Wizard”!). He was even a good alumni with his contact info online. Although I don’t think you can reach him at his work phone anymore…

This punchline works for many jokes.

To inaugurate my team’s opening the defect database for submissions, it’s important to remember filing those bugs.