I had a dream once that alien space whales and dolphins came to visit earth, and developed a taste for Japanese.

Absolutely. And when Politicians and their Excel enabled lackeys - the bean counters - get involved, you'll find thatThere will be studies and presentations to show now much money will be saved by making the wall X feet shorter.

A very good example of this is the fencing systems along American interstate highways. Supposed to keep deer and other big animals away. Some one with more power than brains made the decision to save money, and made the fences shorter. Too bad the deer can jump over it. Rather than blocking them, it's just like an exercise programs for the ones that don't get disintegrated.

Prudence demands that you use historical evidence of the highest Tsunami. There are gravel lines all over the coast that are physical evidence, Then you add in a safety factor. Then you build, without the bean counters telling you to lop off a few feet.

But people haven't changed since the days when Fukushima was built, with a seawall that was lower than expected Tsunami waves. I was shocked when my research showed that the facility being swamped was not only possible, but simply was going to happen. The evidence both in the historical and geological record said so.

BTW - I'd suggest that they might think about release gates to let the breachwater back out after the wall is topped because of cost saving measures.

I saw a video about that once. Looked sorta like fun. I think the main thing is everone has to cooperate and get in sync.

Seriously? You figure that asteroid is going to make a Dyson sphere around the moon or something?

If we are to find out what is in Asteroids, just imagine how much moore convenient it will be than having to go far out to analyze them.

Anything else you hate about existence?

I wonder if it has a vibrate function?

And while you are probably rferring to the liberal version, make no mistake - the conservative version of political correctness is just as pernicious.

We just thought you were happy to see us!

It sounds like a great nickname for a motorized Fleshlight.

Um, yes, yes they do. Do not believe the meme that you have to be in the NRA, and froth at the mouth if anyone tries to deny your right to own depleted uranium bullets to own, use and enjoy guns.

To be certain, there is a vested interest here on their part. People will learn how to use their software, and may be employment opportunities later on. So we really need to send the entire company to gitmo, maybe attach batteries to their nuts then dump them in Northern Iraq with "Allah sucks" written on their T-Shirts so that ISUL lops thei rnoggins off? Would that be a proper punisment for their perfidy?

So if is so very important that you have no restrictions, then by all means use Blender.

But lets remove the cancer of humanity Pixar from the equation.

Let's say I run a 3-D animation house using Lightwave - which isn't all that far off, because I used Lightwave pretty often at work.

Now I need some extra animators. Two people come in. One works in Lightwave, one works in Blender. Both appear about the same in all other aspects.

Who do I hire?

As I noted before, I've worked in 3-D animations since the early 90's. The paramount issue is the software. The learning curve is so steep that there has to be a really good reason to switch software, like they don't make it any more, or it's too hard to find models over a long period of time. Which is why after I left Imagine, I went with Lightwave and hung out there for a long, long time.

Which brings me to the answer. I'd hire the Lightwage person.

Even if the Blender person was somewhat better , I'd hire the Lightwave person. If the Blender person was a Savant, I might hire them as an intern, of even but them a copy of my particular program, but 3-D work does not tend to suffer any deadline slippage, so you have to have the work done on time. Learnig curve?

This perfidy of RenderMan gives me even more impetus to learn Maya, as it is one of the programs that is compatable with RenderMan.

And if I for some reason take on a commercial job, I have other rendering options.

I'm off to download it now, so whine away, this is about as Win- Win a situation as I can think of.....

Well maybe free beer is better, as long as it is an acceptable brew, served at the right temperature, in a proper glass, and delivered and served by a cute Dirndl Girl. (or Guy in Lederhosen for the folks who prefer that)

Otherwise screw that shit, goddamnd criminal beer makers....

If you are going to learn 3-D animation and try to make money from it, you should use the software your employer uses. If you are independent, you use whatever trips your trigger.

Where I was at, we used Lightwave. Using Blender would have prepared me to do what?

I'm trying out Maya now, I'll dl RenderMan when I get the chance. I'm independent how, and can try out what I like. Don't like free shit? Don't use it, You should be complaining about that goddamn Blender program while you are at it. Y'all are just proving that in the new Slashdot, you can't give something away without most of ya bitching about it.

You realize you lost this argument about 3 posts back, and now are just mired in asshattery?

First world problem. And one of those awesome special cases some slashdotters just love.

For crissake, just buy a full version of the software if you are so gadamned having to make profit off something like that, and laugh all the way to the bank.

Define useful. Is it useful to a young person who might like to experiment to see if 3-D work is for them?

hint (yes)

Is it useful to a student who is in a college class oriented to 3-D.

hint (yes)

Is it useful to someone who might be wanting to work for Pixar?

hint (yes)

Is it useful to someone who just wants to dabble?

hint (yes)

Is it useful for a commercial enterprise that wants to produce 3-D work?

hint (not so much)

Then again, a commercial enterprise that wants to produce 3-D work will almost certainly have a software suite already in mind, because that's what they were planning on using. 3-D work is not like hiring an accountant out of college and having them use excel, just like every other accountant everywhere else.

Your points, while at some level correct, are completely meaningless.

Drinking free beer, then you have to piss? That's not free, that's only renting.