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The Fourteen-Billion Dollar Lamp

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By Luke Langlois, on the subject of “animation”

Who doesn’t love the feeling of picking up a rock by the side of water, chucking it into the water, and watching the water break out into magnificent ripples? It’s intriguing how the effects of that seemingly inconsequential action reverberate far beyond the initial drop point. METAPHOR!! In 1986, John Lasseter animated a two-minute short about lamps, Luxo Jr., and it became the rock that would go on to create ripples in the entire film industry.

Luxo and Luxo Jr. find themselves in a dimly lit room with nothing but a desk to rest on, two power outlets, and a yellow ball topped with a star. Luxo Jr., being the curious lamp he is, plays with it, hops over it, jumps around it, and rolls it under the watch of his somewhat disappointed parental lamp. Finally, Luxo Jr. hops on the ball with the now-iconic spring noise that marks the beginning of every Pixar movie. 

In 1984, The Graphics Group (a branch of Lucasfilm at the time), began to toy with computer-generated graphics and animations. The company released one of the first completely computer-generated shorts with The Adventures of Andre and Wally B. It was groundbreaking, but George Lucas and Lucasfilm did not have the funds to develop the technology from this short, so the technology was DOOMED! That is, of course, until a small company investor, Steve Jobs, bought the technology from Lucas and invested five million dollars into the newly renamed Pixar Animation Studios. As a bit of a side note, isn’t it a bit ironic that, with the assistance of Pixar, Disney purchased Lucasfilm? As Master Yoda said in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, “We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.” 

The studio had not released a film during its last year under Lucas and was determined to bring their flair back to SIGGRAPH, an annual conference on computer graphics where their first short was released. John Lasseter and his team were ready to work around the clock and give emotions to the Luxo lamps. Working around the clock, Pixar met the SIGGRAPH deadline and presented their film which was instantly recognized as a breakthrough. Pixar had succeeded in both creating a technical masterpiece and bestowing the Luxo lamps with life. Nine years later, building off of the well-received technology used in Luxo Jr., Pixar, led by executive producer Jobs, released the first COMPLETELY computer-animated feature-length film: Toy Story. Although the animation is a bit dated now (all of Andy’s friends use Andy’s base face and model), the rest is history. 

Now, Luxo Jr. serves as the mascot for every Pixar film and, under the direction of that little lamp, Pixar’s movies have grossed fourteen billion dollars (not to mention the animated studios that have sprouted using Pixar’s technology), and that number will certainly grow as Pixar continues to reimagine the animated film landscape. In fact, Luxo Jr. was so transformative to the animation industry that the United States Library of Congress deemed it culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. The next time you walk by your lamp at home, pay it respect for providing you and the world with an ocean of animated entertainment.

Luxo Jr. in action.

Sources

https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-14-210/
http://www.harrymccracken.com/luxo.htm
https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2019/06/24/with-toy-story-4-out-every-pixar-movie-box-office-opening-ranked-worst-to-best/#134b34c2242e

The Pixar Story (2007 Documentary)

Animation Editor: Chelsea

Part 6 of the story

by 36 Comments

By Doreen Yuan

A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:

1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.

2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.

3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.

4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.

5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.

6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.

7. Do not use inappropriate language.

8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.

9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.

10. Have fun, and enjoy it.

*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted December 16, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.

Editor: Luke Langlois

Part 5 of the story

by 50 Comments

By Doreen Yuan

A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:

1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.

2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.

3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.

4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.

5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.

6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.

7. Do not use inappropriate language.

8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.

9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.

10. Have fun, and enjoy it.

*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted December 5, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.

Editor: Quintus Ni

Luke’s Guide to Becoming The Nightmare. . . of Monopoly

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By Luke Langlois

Dreams are (usually) pleasant experiences. As long as you get enough sleep, you will eventually float away into a new reality where life has a tinge of ethereal magic. One of my dreams has always been to become a world-renowned Monopoly champion, and the key to being a champion, of course, is CRUSHING YOUR OPPONENTS. Some people may think Monopoly is just luck, but only non-Monopoly champions subscribe to this philosophy. Have you ever heard someone win a Monopoly game and then attribute it to luck? I bet you haven’t because winning Monopoly is a display of the purest form of skill. Here is a brief guide on becoming a self-proclaimed “Nightmare of Monopoly.”

  • The House does not always win. In Monopoly, you should never choose to become the banker. When scheming masterminds are formulating their ultimate plan, do you think they are busy worrying about someone else’s business? Playing the role of the banker distracts a player from their craft and may result in a loss of focus. The temptation may be there to refute my tip by saying you can “steal” money from the bank, but world champions do not cheat (looking at you, Astros). 
  • Buy EVERY property you land on. In real life, most people would tell you that it is wise to save money and manage finances intelligently. In essence, you wouldn’t want to spend all of your money on the first thing that comes to mind. However, in Monopoly, owning more properties always has some sort of benefit. Even if you’re not trying to make a monopoly with a certain property color, owning even one property of a color can restrict your opponents from achieving a monopoly of their own, which could make it a useful trading piece down the line. Remember, you can always collect the mortgage on your owned properties if you are running low on dough. 
  • Don’t put too much weight into the utilities, but don’t overlook them either. The Electric Company and Water Works are not going to earn you much money, nor can you create a monopoly with them, but other people don’t know that. Again, buy these properties and use them to your advantage for a trade down the line if someone puts more value in a utility property than they should.
  • How was the west won? Railroads. While the utility properties aren’t great, the railroad properties can be game-changing. If one person owns all four railroads, landing on any of the four railroads will yield the owner $200. Any competent Monopoly player is not going to let you control all four properties, so the best that you can do is make sure that you own at least one to block someone from owning all four. If it comes down to it, you may even consider trading someone the “fourth” railroad for a hefty price. 
  • The orange properties are statistically the best properties that you can own. I’m not going to dive into the numbers, but the “chance” cards often put you one roll away from an orange property, so players often find themselves paying up to the king of the oranges. Also, the orange properties are a $1,500 investment for a max rent of $1,000, while the green properties are a $3,000 investment for a max rent of $1,200. 
  • Houses, houses, houses! Have you looked at the prices of San Francisco housing recently? When you establish a monopoly, you want to get the third house down as soon as possible (because the rent increases greatly from the second to the third house). Houses are going to inflict serious pain on your opponents, but don’t buy hotels! Hotels are a hefty investment for a relatively inconsequential increase in rent. Additionally, it is an official Monopoly rule that if the bag runs out of physical houses for players to place on the board, NO MORE houses can be built.
  • Later in the game, when most properties are owned and maybe even have houses on them, don’t rush to get out of jail. Jail is a cozy place where you can spend three turns NOT giving money to your opponents. While you’re in jail, your opponents will be jumping around the map and bleeding money.  
  • You have to be kind. Look, I love bullying my younger sibling as much as the next guy, but the odds are against you if nobody wants to work or trade with you. If you laugh in someone’s face when they land on your property, they will do everything they can to make sure you don’t win, even if they have no chance of winning the game themselves. Eventually, with your newly found Monopoly genius, people are not going to want to play with you anyways.  

I hope that this has been a supremely educational experience for you all. Now, I wish for you to all go off into the world and ruin family gatherings with your Monopoly skill. Remember, the United States of America is a nation of capitalists, and capitalists are born from Monopoly. So, whether you become a worldwide Monopoly champion, or the next CEO of Apple, learning the intricacies is the best place to begin. 

Dreamer Editor: Doreen Yuan

Quintus’s Queen of Song

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By Quintus Ni 

 Every time I listen to a song by Teresa Teng, my heart is filled with sweetness, warmth and brightness–as if I was surrounded by a delicate fragrance. The songs sung by Taiwanese artist Teresa Teng, beautiful but not gloomy, make one feel the happiness of life. Accompanied by her tender and enchanting songs, one would forget all trouble or loneliness. Her music is so classical that it reaches the incomparable height manifested by its unique style. It always gives one a sense of sweetness, just like her character. Despite her short life, she created countless classics. She has sung so many songs–over three thousand. With a colorful life and great influence, she is really a legend.

  In the early 1980s, when the Chinese mainland was fully opened to the outside world, Teresa Teng, known by every household in China, walked into people’s hearts with her beautiful singing. At that time, it was everyone’s dream to buy these popular tapes and listen to the melodious tone of Teresa Teng. The popularity of her music made me know for the first time that such songs well expresses one’s emotions.

  At that age of spiritual emptiness, when people in homespun clothes got accustomed to listening to revolutionary songs and model operas, Teresa Teng was absolutely a fallen fairy, fashionable and fresh, fascinating everyone with her songs and image. A piece of song by Teresa Teng could relieve people’s depressed souls and emotions, getting people refreshed and comforted. We found our lost selves and reshaped our personalities in her song. A lot more people have learned to sing her classic songs by following what is played everywhere on the street.

  “Seeing the Smoke Again” presents me with a picture of smoke curling up from kitchen chimneys in hometowns; “Love in the Village” brings me back to my hometown with its unforgettable small village; “Hometown Love” arouses my homesickness; “Story of Little Town” makes me dream of living in a beautiful little town and wandering in the alleys of the town. Her love songs are also not sentimental, but full of sweetness of love. “See You Tomorrow” reminds me of my first love with its lines of “Remember when we first met, you overshadowed the flowers flying in the wind…” Such a sweet love, brilliant and charming, lingers in one’s heart. “Goodbye My Love” depicts a peaceful breakup which is not as hysterical and painful as the common separation of lovers. Teresa Teng’s voice, totally natural, sweet and beautiful, echoes in the depth of my soul. I can’t stop missing her for even one second. Her fresh and clear voice lingers in my ears forever.

  Today, her melodious tone is still enjoyed by us again and again. We can listen to her songs online repeatedly, and don’t have to buy pirated CDs like in the 1970s when the government frowned upon Teng and genuine CDs were too expensive. The sweet voice of Teresa Teng keeps ringing in our ears. Although she passed away in 1995, her songs will never fade away. With these good memories deep in my heart, I listen to old songs, miss the past times and recall Teresa Teng.

  In the lifetime of Teresa Teng, she brought rich spiritual wealth–though she doesn’t meet her Mr. Right and get married in a white wedding gown. Her songs make people long for beautiful love. Maybe she is lonely in the depth of her heart, but still she provides comfort for people with her singing. No matter how distressed you are, she will make you feel happy. Although she is gone, she remains alive in people’s hearts. Her lovely image and beautiful voice echo in people’s mind. As time goes by, her songs become the unfailing classics. Today, Teresa Teng is still shining with boundless radiance.

  Teresa Teng is the idol of many people and the dream lover of men. Every twinkle and smile of her is so intoxicating that it remains fresh in one’s memory. Her fans cover women and men of all ages who are deeply attracted to her songs. Generation after generation, people grow older, listening to her songs. Along with our wonderful memories, her songs and her beauty last forever. Bathed in her songs, people’s hearts also become tender.

  “Such tunes should only belong to Heaven. On earth, how rarely can we hear them played?” (Du Fu, Tang Dynasty Poet) Her songs are unparalleled in history. She wins all people’s hearts with her sweet voice which heals countless brokenhearted people. Generation after generation, people grow up along with her beautiful songs. Despite the elapse of time, her songs still linger in people’s minds and remain vivid. Her voice, clear and sweet, nourishes and soothes the soul, which calms a person down. Her songs remind one of peace, innocence and true love in the human world, rendering solace and serenity.

  Although she hasn’t been to the mainland of China, she is like a warm, amiable and lovely family member. After she passed away, she is still remembered. She, charming, elegant and tender, develops the strong and brave character as a typical Chinese woman!

  Her songs will keep accompanying us in our life journeys. She is very popular among men and women, old and young alike. Short though her life is, she has lived a splendid, rich and colorful life. Her sincerity, modesty and kindness make her easy to approach. With a wide range of tones, she can delicately render and interpret the ancient poems like On the West Tower Alone and May They Live Long. Teresa Teng has a variety of singing styles, ranging from folk, classical, popular music to mixed music. Her songs, famous at home and abroad, cater to the general public with their rich content and refined language. She has traveled to many countries in the world. Where there are Chinese, there are songs sung by Teresa Teng. Therefore, Teresa Teng not only belongs to China but also belongs to the whole world.

   Teresa Teng has influenced many people in her lifetime. Her songs comfort many people growing up. Many imitators start their career of singing patterned after Teresa Teng.

  It’s very common that a singer be forgotten. Only in a few cases could a singer be remembered and respected by all the people–though she passed away a long time ago. Teresa Teng is such a singer. Behind her dazzling smile, how many hardships has she suffered? For tens of thousands of her fans, she worked hard and made every effort to improve herself; she left her hometown at a young age, led a wandering life and died on a foreign land; but now, she returns to her hometown and rests in peace.

  “Your face and the peach blossoms were rosy. But where has your face gone? The peach blossoms still smile in the spring wind” (Cui Hu, Teng Dynasty Poet). Recall Teresa Teng, and sing the eternal classics! Passing down Teresa Teng’s works is the best return and love for her. Just like a wind and a cloud, she falls from the sky quietly and leaves the mortal world gently without taking away a breath of air. The only thing she leaves us is her music. Nowadays, as clouds go with the wind, Teresa Teng also goes away gently like the passing youth of that generation. But, her songs will last forever along with our beautiful youth in our memories. It’s enough to recall such good old days in the fast flowing of time…

Favorite Musician Editor: James Zheng

Chelsea’s King of Pop

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By Chelsea

Hello, everybody!! Editor James named “Favorite Musicians” as his theme and assigned us to write on it. So, I’m going to share my top 10 songs from my favorite musician: Michael Jackson. Personally, I can’t thank him enough for being a part of my childhood; after all, I basically grew up hearing his songs. He will forever go down in history as one of the best musicians, and I shall forever remember him as the King of Pop.

*Note: I’m only recommending his songs, not his personal life. So, please, leave his personal life out of this. I’m talking songs.

Please enjoy the songs and have a good day!!

  • Thriller
  • Man in the Mirror
  • They Don’t Care About Us
  • Smooth Criminal 
  • Black or White
  • Beat it
  • Remember The Time
  • You Are Not Alone
  • Billie Jean
  • Dangerous

“Favorite Musicians” Editor: James Zheng

Light

by 1 Comment

The solstice is coming up; there is less light in the day; it’s cold; we’re lighting up our houses for the holidays–so, Editor Renée chooses “Light” as her theme. She says, “This is a good time to bring ‘light’ to our shortened days. Quintus responds with his poem, “Light.”

By Quintus Ni

How good if there had never been the sun in this world,

So I will not fall in love with it for its warmth

That inflated my sense of security.

How good if there had never been the moon in this world,

So I will not be touched by his beauty

That soft light in the night.

Why hadn’t I been dissolved in the sun,

Why didn’t you melt me earlier,

How can I make your light,

Quietly inlaid in the heart of the moon.

The moon, you are always so delicate,

Let me hurt you silently,

Can’t bear to say anything.

The moon, the gift you stole and give us

It’s a little light on my way.

It danced its wings, light and unrestrained.

Follow the rhythm of my heart,

I am intoxicated…

Holding that little firefly,

I recall the past and present, obsession and perseverance…

The light inside me is like that peony, proudly blooming.

Think of the world as it looks like this,

People one by one through sleepless nights…

Light Editor: Renée Vazquez

Part 4 of the story

by 63 Comments

By Doreen Yuan

A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:

1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.

2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.

3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.

4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.

5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.

6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.

7. Do not use inappropriate language.

8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.

9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.

10. Have fun, and enjoy it.


*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted November 15, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.

Editor: Katelin Mei

Dream Analysis

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By Dreamer Chelsea Xu

Hello, everybody!! Editor Doreen has assigned us the theme of dreams. Dreams can have many meanings and can also express how you feel as a person deep inside. These are some interpretations of dreams that you might have dreamed last night!

Just a reminder, these analyses are not definitive. You can totally feel completely different things while experiencing the same phenomenon as the next dreamer. So, with that in mind, let’s get started!!

Falling Dreams

If you dream of falling dreams, it may indicate that you have insecurities, instabilities, or anxieties. You are feeling overwhelmed and out of control in some situation in your waking life. Falling dreams also often reflect a sense of failure or inferiority in some circumstances or situations.

Flying Dreams

Dreams of flying usually mean you feel unhappy in the waking life and that you are totally out of control. Dreaming of flying in the air normally happens when one feels somewhat “out of control” in life.

Dreams of Natural Disasters

If you dream of a natural disaster, you’ll find that different disasters have different meanings. Fires in these dreams can relate to social problems. Water, floods, tsunamis, can also represent spiritual issues. Volcanoes and earthquakes can symbolize the physical body and ailments. And, if you dream with a comet or asteroid falling, it is a sign of a new era in your life.

Dreams of Death

Dreams about death often indicate “the symbolic ending of something, whether that’s a phase, a job or a relationship” (Dreams About Death: Dream Meanings Explained | HuffPost Life”). A dream about death can also indicate attempts to resolve anxiety or anger directed toward the self.

Precognitive Dreams

Precognition is a psychic ability to see events in the future. But, unfortunately, there is no accepted scientific evidence that precognition is a real effect, and it is widely considered to be pseudoscience–whether it’s in dreams or not. Precognitive dreams are usually dreams that appear to predict the future through a sixth sense.

Sources:

dreammoods.com › cgibin › fallingdreams › search=fallingintro.

https://www.huffpost.com › entry › dreams-about-flying_n_891625.

https://www.powerofpositivity.com › dreams-natural-disasters-means.

https://www.huffpost.com › entry › dreams-about-death_n_891555.

https://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com › precognitive-dreams.

Dreamer Editor: Doreen Yuan

One Night Katelin Dreamed of Woods . . .

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For Dream Theme

By Katelin Mei

We start in the woods–my sister, my friend, and I. We wanted to get away from society and technology, so we booked a cabin in the mountains. We wanted to get out of the city, go on a few hikes, live life simply, and take inspiration from the outside. My sister is a writer. She was looking for inspiration. The cabin is nice. There is a stone path that connects the cabin to the gravel road. There are flowers and a tree with a swing in the front yard, and we have a back porch with a few chairs that look out to the forest, which surrounds us on all sides.

There are two cabins in our surrounding area: ours, and an old woman’s. The old woman is always terrified of everything, and never leaves her cabin. We visit her sometimes, but she has strict rules about her house. The house is bright, as the lights are never turned off, and there is no silence. The music discs are always playing, filling the house with noise of some kind. The house smells like herbs.

We can’t deal with this anymore. The music is too loud. The cabin next to us leaks of strong herbal scent, which my friend is quite allergic to. The whole place seems unnatural. When we go on hikes, we never see much wildlife. There is no wind ever, not even a breeze going through the leaves of the trees, and yet the swing can sometimes be seen moving at night. We pack our bags and leave. As we leave, we see the old woman looking out through the window of her cabin. She closes her blinds as we turn the corner, and that is the last we see of her.

Back in the city, we feel safe. Even though the vacation was relaxing, we can’t help but feel haunted by it. My sister had entered a writing contest, and the winners got to talk to the author. When it was announced that my sister was one of the winners, we got the address to the author’s place. It was the same cabin that the old woman was staying in. I prepare myself for visiting the perpetually sunlit cabins, yet, on that day, there were shadows dancing around the trees.

When we arrive, there are many people. We all crowd around the house, but the door is locked. The police emerge from the house, and inform us that the author is missing. The crowd seems disappointed. I take my sister’s hand, and we walk around to the back of the house. We see that the old woman is there, but she is too terrified to leave the safe pen of her backyard. She stands there, shivering, with one trembling hand on the doorknob. My sister and I return to the front.

“What was that?” she asked

“I don’t know,” I responded, “but I have a bad feeling about all of this. Maybe we should go.”

We walk up the path and climb the steps, when I spot a cat. It has beige fur, and dark brown face, ears, and paws. As we pass it, it meows. We stop and look at it, and it meows again. My sister and I slowly back away from it, as it opens its mouth again. It still has the sound of a cat, but we clearly hear it say “Meow.”

I am terrified, and don’t know what to do. I throw something at it. It collides with the so-called “cat,” and the creature shifts to a human shape. It is a short boy, with dark hair and pale skin, wearing light clothes and dark shoes.

He looks at us, with a small smile.

“You have half of your remaining lifetime before I call the beast. Since both of you were destined to die in 8 minutes, you have 4 minutes remaining before I call it.”

Suddenly we hear a meowing from the forest. The boy tells us to follow, and we walk, not very far, into a nearby clearing in the forest. The same cat is sitting there, looking at the beast. I turn to look back at the boy, but he slips into the shadows of the woods, leaving us all alone with the cat and the beast.

The beast takes the form of a 7-foot woman. She has fair skin lined with grey veins, and wears a tattered outfit made of animal skins of all kinds. Her face is angular and sharp, and she has dark red hair–so dark that it is nearly purple. She has antlers protruding from her head, hooves instead of feet, and her eyes are black and soulless. When she looks at us, her eyes form red irises, and she opens her mouth, exposing sharp teeth. Black liquid drips from the corner of her mouth as a form of drool. We slowly back away.

The cat looks at us. “All you have to do is lick your hands and swallow your pride. Go and bow.”

We do so. I hear the grass crunching as the beast steps closer to us. . . .

Dreamer Editor: Doreen Yuan