Mupdate

Mupdate = a portmanteau of “me” and “update.” Mupdates!

It’s still hot!

My power bill was $300+ for the last two months, and yet the house is struggling to stay cool. I even had an AC guy come out to check it, and he said there was nothing he could do. The systems are rated for “60 to 90 degrees” and it’s been 90+ degrees lately.

So… I’m imagining that it’s POSSIBLE to make a better working AC for 90+ degree weather. But who would be willing to do that when only a small portion of the world needs an AC that strong? Argh.

Probably a problem for the future though, considering how hot everything will be getting.

Aside from the heat though, I’ve just been trucking along, making slow progress on things. I took a “reading vacation” this last month, and that was really nice! I spent the whole time just reading stuff. Mostly fiction for other people, but I finished the Graphic Design Guild Guidelines, and also listened to a fascinating audiobook called Capital without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One Percent by Brooke Harrington.

Basically made me wonder if we still live in a feudalistic system where the powerful call the shots by sucking money out of the world, hoarding it, and then forcing governments to cater to them in the hopes that those governments can convince them to release a little bit of their money to make their countries work.

I don’t know for sure! But I do know that it inspired me to make a character in one of my novels a wealth manager in addition to being a lawyer. The book called wealth management the career of the “dominated members of the dominant class.” At least until it became systemized in the modern day.

 I think I can have a lot of fun with this kind of character!

Focus Time!

Apsu’s Children Novella

Nothing much going on here. I’ve been focusing on the vTubing this last month, so sadly this has slid into the background.

vTubing

Here’s what I wrote last month with updates:

• · Fix up a few small things with the mouth rig Done!

• · Create an animated background for videos In Progress

• · Rerecord Video 1 Done!

• · Rewrite the first set of videos based on peer feedback Kinda Done?

Ooo, it’s nice to look back on this and see that I really have been making progress. It feels like such a long time ago that I fixed the avatar’s mouth rig. But really, it’s only been a few weeks??

 I fixed the mouth rig by using blend shapes, which isn’t the current popular method. But I think it did a really good job. So I hope there’s an improvement when I go to record!

 I also made a little production schedule for myself: Woohoo Production!

Background Art

I’m almost done with my background art. I had originally wanted to use some premade background art that I purchased off of Etsy, but when I looked closer, I realized the description said that it was “AI generated with Photoshop adjustments” which could really mean anything at all. Maybe they just made the colors brighter. Who knows.

I was really bummed and conflicted about it. I didn’t know how much of the images I’d bought were actual hand-made art and how much was AI… So I decided not to use those backgrounds I bought and to just make my own.

I also decided to combine two things into one project, so I am using this as a final piece in my lighting class. Win-win!

Script Revisions

I’m also working on revising my scripts for the videos. I visited the Dali museum in St. Petersburg and took some video there, and I want to put it all together and talk about the things I saw.

I’m also working on a rough script for my painting progress videos. Trying to find an entertaining format for them.

So! Once this background image is done I need to:

• Add in animated particles to the BG painting

• Begin rough animation on the opening animation

• Continue revising the scripts:

  • Dali Museum Script

  • Sea Goat Gouache Painting Script

• Continue adding effects to the introduction video

Fundamentals of Lighting Schoolism Class

I have completed most of the class assignments! There are my 3 lessons from last month, [which you can see in my last newsletter here] and here are my current lessons!

NOTE: I should say that the artwork in some of these was provided by my instructor, so there’s a lot here that I didn’t do—such as the woods scene in Lesson 8, or any of the character designs. I just added water into Lesson 8 and painted the objects on the table in Lesson 4.

And the final lesson is still being completed… because I combined it with my YT animated background thing. So one more to come!

I also found that the teacher for the Fundamentals of Lighting class, Sam Nielson, taught another class called Lighting for Story and Concept Art. I’m already looking into the lessons for that class. Sam Nielson is a fantastic teacher—he breaks things down so clearly. So I was really pleased to see another class taught by him.

Continuing my journey in learning to light my artwork!

Preoccupations

Just a short one for today… But I’ve been wondering if the current social order of the world was developed by psychopaths. 

I asked ChatGPT this question, “Have psychopaths shaped the modern social order?” Here was ChatGPTs response:

1. Leadership and Power: Some studies suggest that psychopathic traits, such as charm, manipulation, and a lack of empathy, can be advantageous in certain leadership roles. This has led to the hypothesis that a disproportionate number of people with psychopathic traits might occupy positions of power in politics, business, and other fields.

2. Corporate Culture: In the corporate world, the cutthroat, competitive nature of certain industries may favor individuals with psychopathic traits. This can influence organizational cultures and practices, potentially promoting unethical behavior and decisions that prioritize profit over people.

3. Historical Figures: Throughout history, various leaders and influential figures have exhibited behaviors that could be characterized as psychopathic. Their actions and decisions have had profound impacts on societies and the course of history.

4. Cultural Narratives: The media and entertainment often glamorize or vilify psychopathic behavior, shaping public perceptions and cultural narratives about power, success, and morality.

5. Economic Systems: Some theorists argue that capitalist economies, which prioritize competition and self-interest, might naturally select for psychopathic traits in individuals who rise to the top. This could influence the broader social order, promoting values and behaviors aligned with these traits.

6. Scientific Perspectives: Psychopathy is a complex and multifaceted condition. Modern neuroscience and psychology provide insights into how psychopathic traits manifest and influence behavior, offering a deeper understanding of their potential impact on society.

Just something to stew on, I guess.

Faretheewell

Until next month, you can check out some of the old newsletters I've written, located here. I hope you find them useful!
 
See you end of August! The hottest month in the world :’)