News from April, 2001

April 29th, 2001

Still studying -- 44 days until it's all over with, or at least until I have to spend time during the summer studying for the qualifying exams I fail and have to retake in autumn.  I won't have any classes or teaching obligations though, so the summer will be the first time since I've started this website that I actually have time to sit down and put some real effort in without major distractions.

April 15th, 2001

I did some work with optimization and graphics today.  Then it's back to corpse processing.  Things have clearly slowed down around here (mostly because of mathematics qualifying exams).  Those are in early June, so there will be two more months of modest work, followed by a summer which I anticipate to be quite productive.

April 7th, 2001

I started the corpse processing interface today.  When you sit down to program it, the number of ways to mutilate something can seem pretty daunting.  I'm beginning with basic dismembering.  I'll also add in skinning (so you can make clothes later) and stripping meat from body parts (for food).  Depending on how long I stick with it for now, I could also add it more complicated procedures, such as the removal of internal organs by making incisions (however crude) in the target body part.

The corpse processing interface is part of a larger object manipulation screen.  Eventually, most of the complicated actions you can perform between two items will occur here.  Certain creature to creature activities will also take place on this screen -- if you're in a wrestling match, you could go directly to the "corpse" processing screen if you're sufficiently deranged.  In general, the screen is for any action that might involve a tool of some kind.

April 4th, 2001

I'm back.  My qualifying exam preparation will keep me busy, but I think I'll have some time to program over the next few months.  I don't think I'll be able to resist the urge to finish adding in corpse processing for much longer:)