Hooked from Character Matters on Vimeo.

Hooked, the short animated aquatic film by Character Matters Animation Studio , is a lovable and lifelike adventure of one fish.What is he doing? He using his craftiness to steal, no swipe, no maneuver the worm of the hook, without the fisherman realizing it. Does he succeed? Watch the video and find out.

Hooked was created by Character Matters, a 3D Animation Studio based in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. Animated creatures come to life as the studio and creative talent tweaks the technology.

For 15 years, their animated films have shown their passion for creating likable and witty characters that appeal to adults and children alike."Character Matters combine cutting edge technology with creative talent to create world class 3D animation."

When I was about nine years old, I took a trip to Atlantic City with my parents, grandparents, and sisters. It was one of the fondest and funniest moments of my childhood. Being a kid in a city where people stay up all night playing poker can be a real drag for a youngster.

I figured, if I was going to be here, I might as well see what the excitement was all about. I was able to sneak away from my parents when we were seated at a booth eating lunch, and they were conveniently not looking. They did eventually spot me escaping, however they figured I’d stay pretty close since I didn’t want to lose track of them, which was true.

I was just too curious for my own good I suppose. My grandfather had found a prime spot at a poker table. He had always told me to sit in a certain spot at the table so you get the best cards. I grew up playing card games and I idolized my grandfather who loved the Kentucky Derby as much as I did. So, why shouldn’t I be right at his side at all time?

On this occasion, however, I was discretely hiding behind a plant in the casino. How I actually snuck in is beyond me. I had one of those disposable cameras, and yes, nine is a bit young to be snapping photos, but that was three years after I actually started. Beside the point *smile*. I spotted my grandpa at a poker table and looking to my right and left, snapped a picture. Ok, who knew these disposables had flashes?...lol

As soon the camera went off- the flash I mean since it was dark in there- the pit boss started scurrying around looking for the source of the camera. They thought someone was taking pictures of the table which was prohibited. I managed to run out without anyone saying a word. Probably because I was a kid and didn’t know better.

After the fact, I almost felt empowered. I was quite mischievous at that age, so getting away with such a caper was a triumph for me.

When I was a child, instead of just playing with my transformer or lego set all day long, with the occasional Barbie thrown in, I would make light sabers out of toilet paper rolls. Seems ridiculous and hilarious these days, but what's the point of an imagination if you can't create something spectacular?

One artist, Junior Fritz Jacquet, has taken toilet paper rolls and created fabulous abstract faces formed with shellac and other materials. Some of these creations remind of the lithic sculptures on Easter Island or perhaps an Aztec god.

Click on the picture for more of Jacquet's work.

Africa is one of the most culturally rich continents in the world, what with its extensive history, numerous tribes and dying languages, and the landscapes filled with wild elephants and giraffes jousting. 



One of the most fascinating aspects for me, of course, is the archaeological history of Africa left behind by our ancestors and their predecessors. I’ve never experienced it first hand, but one of my professors has while on a Kenya safari.

He and his wife stayed in a special camp on a private game reserve owned by the local tribal community. Not only was he able to to visit the smaller surrounding islands like Lamu, but the view of Mount Kilimanjaro from his open air luxury suite was more than mesmerizing.

Although you’ll be staying in luxury, you can’t help but contemplate how evolution has changed the plants, animals, and human life in the area. Close to 6 million year ago the Millennium man, or Orrorin tuganensis , was roaming around Tugen Hills, and you can have the chance to actually walk on or drive by the same ground he (may have walked on).

It wasn’t enough to experience all that Kenya had to offer, so my professor and his wife headed out for a Tanzania safari. This safari was a bit different, as they had a private guide and vehicle to take them anywhere they wanted to go at their own pace. First stop, the Ngorongoro Crater. In case you didn't know, the Ngorongoro Crater is a remnant of a volcano, which once stood higher than Kilimanjaro. The center was blown out and now extends over the Serengeti close to 10 miles. Across the crater can be seen thousands of animals including wildebeests, zebras, and on the forested Western corridor you'll find the huge Grumeti crocodiles.

After their safari, they retreated to the Sand River Selous, which is situated on a wide curve of the mighty Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve. Built on stilts with creative thatching to shelter you and one side open to view the grasslands, there's no better way to exerince this part of Africa.

The biggest attraction for my professor was the Laetoli footprints dated to about 3.6 million years ago and discovered by Mary Leakey. The footprints have captured a moment in time when Australopithecus afarensis walked though some volcanic ash, leaving preserved footprints that exist even now. You guessed it, my professor is an archaeologist who did research in Africa for his dissertation.



His last stop was a botswana safari. He was especially interested in visiting the  Linyanti Reserve, which spans 250,000 acres of land and is home to thousands of elephants and predators. He and his wife stayed at the Linyanti Bush Camp in the Chove Enclave area. The Chobe Enclave is home to more than its share of predators – lion, leopard and packs of elusive wild dog.

Fortunate for me, I was able to read about his experiences in some journal articles from school, so I was , in a way, in the heart of the African Bush in my head.

Even as a kid, while my friends were playing with Barbie, I was building things with erector sets and popsicle sticks. Don't get me wrong, I still have some vintage Barbies stored away in my steamer chest.

Yuya Ushida is taking simple building sets to a new level, constructing a sofa entirely out of 8000 chopsticks.

The soft isn't just your run of the mill glue and chopstick furniture, but a retractable and contractible piece.

Freshome did a wonderful article on Yuya's couch with photographs of this splendid piece of artistry.

In less than two weeks, my best friend is getting married. I've never met the groom, but I hear he's a wonderful person with so many interesting hobbies. Traditionally, the bride and groom will provide their parties with a guift to remember this special day. Over the years, I've received so many creative gifts, however, they all seem to come from those shops selling less than average silver products with personalized scripting that rust and look like an archaeological artifact after one year. A waste of money in my opinion. So what's a bride and groom to do? I've seen one groom in the past give a Seiko premier watch to his groomsmen, personalized with the date and a small message.

I thought the gift was ironic considering many of his friends in the bridal party were less than on time for the acitvities. So much hasn't changed since high school I suppose. *smile* ...The groom was less than pleased as this was the biggest and most important day of his life besides graduation. So when the groomsmen opened their gifts they started to laugh as they knew what the message was behind the special gift, personalized with a small message, each making them chuckle. A great way to start off a new year and maybe pick up some better habits along the way.