Five iconic moments in Comics

The reign of comic books began with detectives and stories of action. It moved on to fantastic stories of humans changed by cosmic radiation and mutations, even going to the point of celebrating humans simply inspired by the acts of fictional heroes. And these heroes have ranged from mutants and technologically empowered mortals to gods from Asgard. Villains have ranged from gangsters and disgruntled anti-heroes to forces as strong and fearsome as the lords of Hell. With a million mind-boggling multiverses emerging from each publishing house, stories have diverged and combined and given us leagues of power and avenging brotherhoods. Reading every single one of these creations would take a lifetime, if not more and we limit ourselves only to the ones we've heard of or had recommended.

My experiences, too, have been limited so, but today, I'm hoping to present a few scenes from comics that have truly blown my mind. Given the nature of the scenes, some of these constitute spoilers and I'd advise you against reading that bit if you intend to read the comic at any point. I've also tried to give a brief summary building up to each of these epic scenes. Keep in mind that without context, these won't be as impressive and I highly recommend reading the comics mentioned. And as I wrote it, I noticed that the list of 5 has only 3 authors. Oh, well. And without further ado, here are five AWESOME moments in comics:

Note: Click pictures to enlarge

•  5) 300 - The beginning of the battle at Thermopylae [No spoiler]

We've all seen Zack Snyder's slow motion action scenes and the merciless massacre of invading Persians by 300 Spartans standing as the last line of defence. One must read the comics to have a true grasp of the brilliance of Frank Miller, the creator of the graphic novel. As the Spartans arrive at the battlefield and witness the invading hordes, there is no long speech of inspiration given by King Leonidas. Simply, as one of the exemplary examples of laconic speech,  he says, "Come and get it". And before the end of the battle, Leonidas shows that even gods can bleed.

This is Spartaaaaaaaaa!

• 4) Watchmen - Dr. Manhattan's change of mind [Mild spoiler]

  Picking one scene from Alan Moore's epic is difficult. A novel that takes you through the lives of ex-superheroes begins with a death. Defining moments usually centre around the character of Rorschach. The story itself begins with his journal - "A comedian died in New York today". As time progresses and his incarceration revealing his true nature, one cannot help but marvel at what he says to his fellow inmates - "I'm not locked in here with you. You're locked in here with me." The amount of character development seen with Rorschach may be absent when it comes to Dr. Manhattan but it is ultimately his decisions that affect the progress of the story. And the turning point in his decisions comes on the surface of Mars as he stands upon the infamous "Smiley" crater with Laurine Jupiter. The dialogue on what he views as thermodynamic miracles help him regain some form of admiration, if not respect, for humanity and bring him back to Earth.

As told by naked blue men.

•  3) Sin City - The ending of "The babe wore red" [BIG spoiler]

It's hard to not like a series that has stunning artwork and coloring with a storyline that puts those long running multiverses to shame. And when this series has crime, guns and girls in plenty, it becomes impossible to not love it. Oh, and I forgot to mention that it's by Frank Miller. Sin City has so many intertwined stories that selecting one for show is an act that disgraces the rest. The only explanation I can provide is that this is one of those endings that I remember even after a long time. It is completely wrong to assume that the rest of Sin City is anything like this and this is only the story that I personally favour. "The babe wore red" is one of the stories in the One Shot series and traces the story of a girl, Mary, who is rescued by Dwight McCarthy after his friend is killed. As the story progresses, Mary tells him he's a hooker who had become entangled in the mess after she propositioned his friend. Dwight suspects all along that she was lying and the last page of the comic proves him right. Mary mentions that she was 'engaged' and Dwight hears her praying at some point in Latin. And the ending reveals everything with a package to Dwight from Mary.

Engaged. Ah, that's what she meant.

• 2) Batman: The Killing Joke - The joke [Mild Spoiler]

We're back to Alan Moore with this one. A single story written by Moore gives an insight into a possible origin for The Joker. As Commissioner Gordon is abducted and tortured and The Joker attempts to prove that he isn't that much crazier than the common man, we see how much Batman and The Joker have in similarity. This is one of those rare points where he even attempts to make peace with his nemesis - only to get in response a joke; A joke that explains their relationship, similarity and impending spiral to mutual destruction. Both of them begin laughing and the comic closes with their reflections in the rain merging into one.

Only Alan Moore can write a joke so excellent and serious.

• 1) Sandman - Retrieving the mask of the Dream god [Mild Spoiler]

Arguably, my entry into the world of graphic novels began at its peak. A series for the graphic novel industry as epic as The Lord of the Rings was for long fiction, it traces the story of Morpheus, also known as Dream of the Endless. Gaiman himself summarized the series in Endless Nights with "The Lord of Dreams learns that one must change or die, and makes his decision." Again, this is a series with so many highs that choosing one point was a matter purely of personal choice. In the beginning of the series, Dream is imprisoned and his journey to retrieve belongings to restore his power takes him to hell. As he wins his helm from a demon that had it, he is challenged by Lucifer and the hordes of Hell asking him why they should simply let him walk. Lucifer goes further and confronts him asking what power Dreams have in the depths of Hell. And that, Dream takes, as his cue for bringing in the awesome:

And so, Lucifer decides who his immortal enemy is. Apart from God.

Five iconic moments from five fabulous works of fiction. I only wish more people would drop the 'comics are for kids' idea and read these.

I have a few more moments lined up and if I gather enough, we might even have a second Five Iconic Moments. Until then, find a nearby bookstore and grab a copy of one of these.

- Mod

Grey matter and greyer areas

     Four months have passed since the last post I made. Four full months of believing in horoscopes, quizzing and travelling around the country. As I look back at the four years I spent in college and think about what I've learnt (understandably, I am not referring to academics), I can see how much I've changed after getting there. The people I've been with have shaped me in more ways than I could even begin to describe. And this post is dedicated to every single one of those people that ran around the country/state/college/hostel with me.

     Whether they come from the lost streets of Puducheri or are Chennai-born, hyperactive, white-skinned (lovable) idiots, each of the varied characters I've met has taught me something. About people. About the world. And about myself. Some of the people I met have been the (glue-sniffing) patriotic kind. Some of them are the Indians who would rather not be called so and yearn for a cup of Earl Grey and a broadcast of the queen's latest yawn (the last one was at 3:30 PM IST). 

     Whatever it is that makes each of these people different, there are similarities that I cannot help noticing in my circle. We are not the ones who participate in sporting tournaments (leave hockey to Baichung Bhutia); We are not the ones who end up on stage to dance or sing; We are not the ones with daily visits to the gym (you're not fooling anyone, HK) to bulk up. We are, at the risk of sounding arrogant, drawn to matters deemed more intellectual. Even if some of us are Indians from abroad who have no idea how teams were decided in cricket as children, we are all similar in the sense that our thrills come from answering questions or solving crosswords (damn you if you add a 'puzzle' after that word). Some of us go a step further and append the written word to our thoughts. Whichever way we take, none of us ever enters the proverbial spotlight.

     And I have only one question: Why? We have participated in more activities. We have won far more. Comparing the monetary rewards would be a joke as we have individuals who have earned more than entire clubs. And yet, there isn't the least bit of praise or support, except from others like us. What is it that has caused these pursuits to be sidelined and declared a deviation from the mainstream? We have our own answers to these questions; answers which have held us up all this while. Answers which provide relief, but not closure. And yet, I'm sure that won't be stopping any of us.

     This, being the end and all, is probably the right time for me to get sentimental. College will end; What we've nurtured over these years (excluding hatreds) will not. As I look back at the four years I spent in college, I can only smile.

     We will spend a few more weeks together before we leave our separate ways. And wherever these ways take us, I'm guessing we'll meet again. As different people. And as the same friends.

- Mod

World Wide Web War 1.0 and the Stand Alone Complex

They are legion. They do not forgive. They do not forget. And most importantly, none of them is as cruel as all of them.

Reads like a rebel manifesto if I ever saw one. Admiral Ackbar would be proud. But enough with the memetics. Today, I wish to talk about what everyone else is talking about - the war raging across the intertubes. On one side, you have a whistleblower website that is eclipsed by the sheer magnitude of support for its publicist (and supposed founder). On the other, you have governments - ones gasping for breath in the deluge that was a leak of diplomatic cables - with one in particular devoting a minute to irony by celebrating 'World Press Freedom Day' as it struggles to heal the damage wrought by the disclosures. And what is truly fascinating is the proxy war (no pun intended) that began between spineless corporations and internet vigilantes.

(News report begin)
The push began with a 'hacker' (excuse me if I snigger) supposedly taking whistleblower site Wikileaks down by what is becoming the most popular method of protest - a DDoS attack. A Distributed Denial of Service attack disables a website by overloading it with requests. Simple, and effective. With the initial spurt of DDoS's piling, Wikileaks decided to move to a much stronger server cloud - one controlled by online retail giant Amazon. Due to alleged U.S. government pressure, Amazon decided to kick Wikileaks off the cloud, setting the precedent that would be followed by EveryDNS, the next site to host Wikileaks. While Wikileaks struggled to keep the primary website online with DDoS attacks rolling in from all directions, donations were thrust into a bottleneck with the withdrawal of services by Paypal, Visa and MasterCard. The U.S.A. is usually an international police of sorts but when it turned into the playground bully, the war began. Enter Anonymous.
(News report end. Tune in next week for more serious buttkicking)

Anonymous has been in the news numerous times in the past. From unleashing the rage of the hive-mind on abusive adolescent girls to tracking down boys indulging in animal cruelty, Anon, had made a name for itself as the uncontrolled, uncontrollable vigilante of the internet and decided that now would be a good time to start a fight. Honestly, I couldn't agree more. On a related note, I am completely in love with the internet today.

However, all this anarchy and call for rebellion, as much as I love it, isn't my focus. The attacks on PayPal, Visa, MasterCard and now, Amazon, may be justified. But that isn't what grabs my attention. What I find interesting here is the way everyone is reacting to our first World Wide Web War.

When the hacker 'The Jester' came up saying he pulled down Wikileaks, the first redneck reactions called him a patriotic 'MERICAN. What followed is what caught my attention. After his supposed attacks, many more followed. This could be attributed to TJ being a true blue patriot but the fact was that it wasn't him. Rather, it wasn't just him. Many more hackers, self proclaimed saviors, helped in bringing Wikileaks down. The part that I find interesting is that this Jester character need not exist. In short, we have a Stand Alone Complex in place. For those unfamiliar with the concept, I quote from the Wikipedia article on the idea of a Stand Alone Complex:

"A mere fire, no matter the number of deaths, is just a garden variety tragedy. However, if the right kind of people begin to believe it was arson, caused by deliberate action, the threat that more arsons will be committed increases drastically."

 
If you read the article (click here), you will understand the correlation much better. The striking similarities almost make the current DDoS attack scenario look like an example of the complex. What makes this an even more interesting read is the way the response to The Jester's message appeared. Anonymous vowed to take down the websites mentioned earlier (and a bank, PostFinance, that shut down Julian Assange's account fell as collateral damage). The thing is, most Anonymous attacks follow the same pattern. Starting with a message by one of their legion, the attacks set a date and time for attacking a target. Most of these attacks succeed in overwhelming their targets. The driving force for participating in the 'raids' is the same as in the Stand Alone Complex - information that others are doing it. As thousands voluntarily join a botnet and use software for carrying out the DDoS attack, we see the force come into play. Given the nature of Anonymous, as a body with no shape or motive for the most part, it is impossible to deny the effect of the complex in operation here. A simple message created by an Anon is all it takes to rally the forces. One might argue that this could be a genuine call to arms - and in all probability, it is - but given that no member of Anonymous is different from the other, and given that no member is more a leader than another, the anonymity ensures that the Stand Alone Complex is always at play.

And this is what I find fascinating. This copycat behavior that has come to define a form of protest. People who owed no allegiance to either side in the past take up arms now on seeing others go at it. Maybe being a part of a large group that is gaining worldwide attention is a driving factor. Maybe it is the thrill of throwing open your window and screaming that you're mad as hell and that you aren't going to take it any more. Whichever plays a dominant role, the protest has started a war on the intertubes.

I haven't posted in months. I wouldn't have if all this hadn't been so terribly exciting. The complex may be the work of overzealous manga writers but it describes the hivemind with exceeding accuracy. As I mentioned, I am in love with the internet today. People are up fighting, even if their knowledge of the affair is horribly limited. There is a pull that this flavor of rebellion exerts that cannot be ignored. I leave you with echoed thoughts of two dead men. A little anarchy has been introduced. And beneath this mask of anarchy is an idea - this idea cannot be touched, or held, or kissed for an idea is not flesh, but it will survive; ideas, unlike men, are bulletproof.


- Mod

Too deep.

As I mentioned earlier, I won't be posting frequently through this semester.

On another note, I watched Inception and decided to make this:

The next few months

I guess it's time for an earnest post to everyone reading my blog. Considering I'm entering a few strenuous months, my post frequency will drop; Possibly to the point of the blog appearing dead. It's been lingering in that area for a while but the months ahead won't be helping the case. My posts, if any, would be stories/poems out of sudden urges and articles that I write for something.

Apart from this earnest message (which is now over), I thought it would be nice to post a list of reasons contributing to my low posting frequency:
1) Lack of a muse. Ah, Calliope.
2) Lack of the physical equivalent of a muse. Ah, woe is me.
3) Twitter. I tend to type my thoughts out in sentences. Don't really wait for them to collect.
4) Blood. Sugar. Sex. Magik. And all their other albums, actually. Too much RHCP gets me all poetic. Not sure how appreciative you guys are of poetry :\
5) Gaming. RA3: Uprising has some good music, though. The 'Soviet March' is a song about bears and Vodka.
6) Academics. Well, maybe not a reason right now, but I hope it does become one :D
7) Me. Lethargy has always been a problem.
8) You. Hey, I can't take all the blame, can I?

So, here's to the glorious months ahead.


-Mod

The YouTube Top 10 – Part 1 (6-10)

I've been doing some writing recently for a website called Techwhiz. Of my posts to date, this is the closest to my usual style of writing (and still misses it by a mile). Anyway, seeing as the blag needs fattening, I'll leave this here :D

Part 1 (No. 10 to No. 6)
 Being among the top 10 videos on YouTube means a lot. The ways to get there are numerous as well - from flashy underwear to anthropomorphic puppets to 16-year-old-males with female voices (Yes, that means Justin Bieber). With the top 10 dominated by music videos, it's rather hard to give them all credit. Here's a roundup of the top 10 videos with thoughts on exactly how they got there.


10) Achmed the dead terrorist


American ventriloquist and comedian Jeff Dunham's most famous puppet has been running around in the top 10 for over a year with a final drop to No. 10 at the time of the article's writing. Featuring Achmed, a suicide bomber with a 'flesh wound', the video satirizes the modern views on terrorism. Although a bit controversial due to its inclusion of seemingly anti-Islam sentiments, it has overcome the allegations to find a place on the list of most viewed videos and push Jeff Dunham to fame on the internet.


9) Just Dance 


The first of many music videos we encounter on the list. Lady Gaga became a sensation in 2008-2009 and hasn't quite left that status. An increasing number of fans from the late-teens to post-teens age group give her enough support to push two of her videos into the Top 10.

This video, featuring Gaga at a party, is the most energetic video in the top 10. The video traces the events at a party which is brought back to life after Gaga repeatedly tells them all to -you guessed it- Just Dance. It's Dance-pop base is responsible for most of the song's popularity and fits perfectly into the party setting it gives itself. Some images are homage to some of Gaga's influences - including the electric blue lightning scar added on her face as a tribute to David Bowie. Some critics argue that the popularity is due to Gaga appearing attractive (compared to her current oh-my-god-what's-that-thing? image), 'riding' an inflated orca and not being completely dressed through the video. I don't completely disagree.


8) 7 Things


Miley Cyrus's post-breakup hate song won the hearts of teenage girls worldwide who sang along and stated the 7 things they hated about their boyfriends. The song quickly rose on the most viewed list and even managed to reach the top. This, too, was hardly a surprise as young girls girls with even the most remote love for music have loved her dual incarnations from the Hannah Montana universe; All this, before it became fashionable to fall in love with sparkly vampires.

The video is not very elaborately shot. Based in a simple set with a plain background, the song draws its angry spirit from Cyrus and the girls in the video coming together to vent their frustrations with their boyfriends. Modeled as an anthem for girlfriends who were let down, it fulfills its role of channeling their anger. The song itself isn't bad but for a video on the Top 10, it is somewhat empty.


7) Hahaha


Yes, that's what the video is called. The entire video is about a baby going hahaha at the cues by an adult, possibly its father. The sounds that the adult makes, akin to Homer Simpson's D'oh, set the baby off on a giggle spree. I know babies are cute and adorable with their cherubic laughter but a video of nearly 2 minutes with little else is not all too interesting. Some people suggesting that the baby may be a victim of substance abuse does not help its credibility.

The support for this video comes from the hordes that squeal at the slightest hint of cuteness in anything. Be it little kids who get their fix from puppies doing backflips or aged men and women who post videos of children biting other kids' fingers (more on this later), a large population allows the proliferation of these videos through chain mails with subjects along the lines of 'FWD:FWD: CUTEST BABY LOLZ. PASS TO 15 PPL TO HAVE CUTE BABBY'.


6) I know you want me


Pitbull's most (only?) succesful single has all the ingredients to success in perspective - even if not in the right quantity. A white, blue-eyed, Cuban-American rapping is not what everyone wants to hear; Especially if a majority of the rapping is a display of the person's astronomical counting skills (all the way up to 4). However, this being the YouTube countdown, the quality of the video is what we should be looking at.

To put it plainly, the video is a vehicle for the gratuitous display of the sensuality of Latin American chicks in short skirts. And we're not complaining. The video is well done, with the beats of the song being accentuated by the moves of the leading ladies. Occasional images of the Cuban flag give a throwback to Pitbull's lineage and when coupled with a carefully placed display of Brazilian colors, add to the whole South American feel of the video. Though not suitable for younger audiences, the video vindicates its position, even if only as the choice of the average male.


Coming in the next post:
The top 5 in the list along with a few other videos (that deserve views even if not in the top 10).

-Mod

A view of the future

The gray concrete bit into my thoughts. The light from the lone, dim bulb in the middle of the room didn't brighten my mood any. I hated being alone in a block of gray. Three days without my lenses. Walking through streets with no lighting or color was depressing. Couldn't even find my damn way to the store. Again, the dullness of it all hit me like a blunt axe. Looking at four gray walls staring at you impassively wouldn't boost your morale either. I'd have to go in a while to collect the lenses. Those wretches probably put the defects in them. Like missing out a few colors. Or not seeing one of the girls in the movie. Putting the defects in them just so you go back and shell out more credits. Trust the government to suck you dry. I hope they fix the Eve linkup too. I can't get through the day without that tranquil face telling me things will be alright. That voice and face soothe me; They take me out of this lie we pass off as a world. My mood really goes to shit without her comforting me. Without those record instances, I wouldn't have got through these three days with my sanity. Last time Eve went down, there was almost a riot. They take our only voice of hope away and call it maintenance. Trust the government to mess with your head.

I hope the cab makes it in time. I'll end up breaking a door if it doesn't turn up. Wonder how that would turn up inside the world. Probably a poster for the Alliance. "Trust the government." Fat chance.

I can hear the cab pulling up outside. Late, as expected. But I should make it to the store in time. I step out of my room to have the grayness embrace me. I need to bear it. It won't be long now.

The store guy was surprisingly friendly. Then again, the hostility the gray shows must be what made me think that. Anything is better than the colorless desolation. None of it mattered anymore. I had my lenses again. It was time to go home.

I slipped in my lenses and opened my eyes again. My world was back. The pristine white covered the buildings again. The trees towering amidst the blocks were back too. A homecoming for a weary traveler. Enjoying the colors would have to wait. Mia would be waiting for me at home. And if she chose today to throw a tantrum (by random chance, the government assures us), I'd always have Eve. Time to go home.

Unrelated poem

I haven't posted in a long time. That's a fact. I have a valid reason. I could go on and tell you why. But, any sort of apology just wouldn't seem sincere. It probably isn't.

So, here's an unrelated poem.

For every path, and for its every fork,
Every trail with grass that is trod,
For seas crossed and oceans seen,
Clear crimson clouds cut through,
For bird-songs heard at the tranquil dawn,
And the day spent basking in the sun,
For every sweet scent on a gentle breeze,
Every touch of a caring hand,
And every damsel saved,

Remember that there is always a twin,

A road not taken and a choice not made,
An unseen trail that leads to a rainbow,
A clear crystal lake and a river unseen,
A storm-cloud raging and spewing its fury,
The cry of a vulture piercing the wind,
And a cold, dark winter with a blanket of snow,
There is the stench of blood from a battlefield,
A wrinkled palm soon to be dust
And a succubus drawing out your blood.*

 *Alternate ending available on FB.
That's it. Too profound for my usual writing?

Art, part 2

Its been nearly a month. I'll have you know its been a tough one at that. With a surf trip to Mangalore (which, to wide surprise, I returned alive from) and the pressure of two unfinished projects, I'm drained mentally as well as physically. I thought of making a compilation of interesting things I had seen recently but the horror that is the Festember Blog put me off all writing whatsoever. So, I decided to do what I said I would. Finish my two-part post on my artwork.

The work I'd shown in my previous post is all with and primarily by software - Photoshop/Gimp/Cinema4D. In this post, I'll cover stuff that I've drawn. With my hands. On the computer. With a tablet. Another short sentence.

My inspiration for drawing was mostly from xkcd. I must confess, I did not display much awesomeness in my drawing, but people (that understood it...) did find it humourous.

Not as much a display of art as it was of what happened during our trip to Riviera. The comment was from Vaidyanathan a.k.a Void a.k.a NoName00. Thankfully, he did not get his hands on any aphrodisiacs.

Most of these drawings are depictions of incidents. Or things people say. Like this one:

Opal is our heavily guarded, fortified, barbed-wired girls hostel, by the way. I did go on to correct him that such an endeavour, although interesting would not bear fruit.

I also attempted humor based on some ideas I'd had earlier:

I also made some others that are potentially unsafe for my blog. Visit my FB album for those.

I've also started making wallpapers of random things that come to my mind (Cinema4D though):

Here's a link to it at a 1680 by 1050. Yes, that is the Android. Identify the reference for Self Satisfaction +10.

I'm also doing a few 3D wallpapers on request or with suggestions. If you've got a good (and simple) idea, send me a message.

I'll close this post with something I made for Festember X. I'm just posting a close up of the original:

That covers most of my artwork. I'm shifting closer to 3D these days since its more fun to make. If you're interested in commissioning something, don't be afraid to ask!

All that apart, I've been rather occupied of late. Will try to increase the frequency of posting :D

Mod

Art

Here, I present you with all my works of art. It includes bits that people have liked (like my old Photoshop experiments) and bits that people have really liked (like the tsfu-opal-ninja thing).

Going in chronological order, I'll run through (I guess it isn't as detailed as I had hoped it would be) each of my works in PS before I move on to my latest 3D ventures and the *cough* sketches *cough*. I'll be covering my sketches in another post.
If you just want a link to individual albums of all my works, pay a visit to my photobucket page.

I began with signatures, which are little banner like things you add at the bottom of your posts in forums. This is how most internet based digital artists enter the field. Given here is one of my last few siggies.

My affair with Photoshop lasted only 2-3 months but that gave me enough time to experiment with other styles of art as well as image generation and manipulation. My personal favorite when it comes to art style is pixel art:

This style of art involves creating your piece with pixels. One at a time. A typical image takes about an hour to create but the end result can prove stunning with experience and creativity. If you want an example of how far pixel art can go, visit Nitrome.

I also dipped my toes in fractals and meta-fractals (with the latter being generated using a PS plugin). These are what people (especially girls) have liked most.

I've also done some abstracts. Just head over to my abstracts folder to check them all out. If you browse around on the homepage of my photobucket account, you'll also find the stuff I made for school and college.

My latest creations did not use Photoshop. All my work in the 3d images folders are made with Cinema4D. Being new to the software, I haven't really made any breathtaking 3d masterpieces. Yet. Here's an example:

And yes, I did make that. The background is a stock image but the rest is created in C4D.

That wraps up the basic guide through my artwork. More about art, my inspirations and my sketches in the next post!

A month after the ides of march

And a month before the ides of may.

I noticed that I haven't posted in a while. It isn't my fault. Since its hard to maintain a blog while your semester exams smile from around the corner, I'll stick to filler articles.

First up, I'll post a series of drawings that I've been doing since I won custody of the graphic tablet from my digital art event.

Second, I'll finally be posting a detailed description of all my art (not including aforementioned sketches).

As for the period after the exams, I have a little job. Little, and non-paying. Oh well. I would also be hanging out in Chennai and am open to all suggestions of drunken bashes and geohashing.

42

Click this.

This makes it my 42nd post on this blag; and to commemorate the occasion, I've decided to share information about someone I respect a lot. He was a genius in his own right. He could turn entire radio plays into books. He envisioned a future where the quirkiness of human nature would eventually overcome the vestiges of sanity borne today. He wrote on topics far and wide and also penned five books in a trilogy of four. He also happens to be my favorite author.

Douglas Noël Adams, an English writer lived between March 1952 and May 2001. I heard of his most famous creation for the first time during an IIT-foundation class. It took me 4 years to get a copy of a book and subsequently worship him. Those of you that have read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy would notice his influences on my work (with the other major influence being Jonathan Stroud). His ability to bring humour (At least within the reaches of this article, I'll stick to British spelling :D ) to the most disconnected of circumstances is unparalleled. Sample this:

"You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billion times more intelligent than you. Let me give you an example. Think of a number, any number."

"Er, five," said the mattress.

"Wrong," said Marvin. "You see?"

The mattress was much impressed by this and realized that it was in the presence of a not unremarkable mind.

While it does not have much by way of plot, the Hitchhiker's series is one of the best pieces of science fiction that non-geeks would read. The heady mix of satire, wit and cynicism is rare (if not absent) in sci-fi, which is composed of more serious stories, with humour being the garnishing.

Adams' passing was sudden and was mourned by fans around the world. Hackers at MIT left messages on their great dome. Posts called for (and eventually established) Towel Day - a day to pay tribute to the author and his works. Fellow writers still speak fondly of the man he was.

There are some books you read. There are some you read and share. There are also the tiny few that you cherish and try to emulate.

As the MIT hackers put it; So long, and thanks for all the wit.

Quiz pro quo

People have heard of quizzes. Some have been to one. And then, there are some that have set one. This post is dedicated to those that attempted the third and ended a few shades short of flying colors. Or failed miserably. Even if you aren't a quizzer, you just might find this interesting.

What is it that people look for in a quiz? A good question? Some great info? A new question that wasn't ripped from wiki? Or, as quizzers like me put it, crowd rating?
To be truthful, none of these matter (Well, maybe the last one, a bit...). You could give the most convoluted funda this side of QFI but will only meet with disapproval if it makes little sense. You could also try cheap tricks like including for every two questions, one on savita bhabhi. This, although effective on the short run, will fizzle out. What is really important is that the audience is interested - and remains that way. What I'm putting down here is a list of Dos, Don'ts and Don't even think abouts for quizzes.

Do put in interesting questions. Sea urchins, no matter how many legs they have, are just not that interesting.
Do give clues. Make the questions workable. Drop hints. Be subtle. Hide your clues in a flurry of text if you have to. Just don't give half a line of obscure data and expect people to crack it (or give a damn).
Do include questions that the entire crowd is bound to crack. Maintain some class, though. Questions on Swami Nityananda are ok. Doctor Prakash is best left in the recycle bin.

Don't have too many questions on a topic. Even if its your specialty, it becomes a grind. Not everyone shares one's obsession with LOLcats.
Don't leave trails. Consecutive questions on Da Vinci, Santi and Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni aren't such a good idea.

Don't be a wikish*g. Go beyond removing the [citation needed] tags and research a bit. Don't just copy from wiki. You're only helping the chronic Googlers if you leave pieces of text untouched.

Don't even think of copying from another quiz. Even if you're from someplace remote, chances are, someone has seen the QFI quiz you're ripping.
Don't, for the love of god, set a question just because wiki has a list about it. The list of all the different breeds of sub-Saharan camels, although an interesting list, does not appeal to most audiences.

Most of these are based on my own experiences as a quiz-master and a participant. Some of these are corrections for mistakes I've made. Although this list gives the general frame, what's important is that the quiz set is interesting and fun.

Whatever you do, just make sure you don't end up with a lame quiz. If I'm there, I will boo you down.

The reality of an illusion

Here's the poem I submitted for Shaastra/Kurukshetra/Pragyan for short story. The original was at Shaastra and the other two are a modified version (which, by my own admission, is not as good as the first). I tried to keep it as close as the original but some of the changes caused excessive divergence. Leave your opinion in the comments section.

The reality of an illusion

The door swung ajar as the clock struck nine;

For, not a day passed without him on time.

He rolled in leaving a slight trail of slime

That basked in the twin suns’ early morn shine.

As he moved in, the side door slid, showing

Her trembling form behind the seat it hid.

One tentacle motioned for her to come

As another closed on a draught of rum.

She stood at her seat, pale as a young wraith

And walked in, clutching to her bosom, faith.

A slug in a bad mood was all but rare

And add to one, drink, it leaves but despair.

She stood before him with eyes gone red,

Her courage amassing within.

All the night’s crying in her lonely bed

Had worn her rather thin.

He drew out notes from the top of the pile

And looked at the ones marked ‘bad’;

Asked with a darkly lit smile

If it was all she ever had.

She stared back holding in tears,

And asked for another chance.

Watching them for millions of years

Left her wanting more than a last glance.

His face screwed up as the rum hit him

In unison with her renewed plea.

His eyes became cloudy near the rim

And dark as a storm at sea.

“Of course not!”, he yelled at her face,

“You’ve had enough. They do

Nothing but fight in a dizzy craze

And you know that too.”

Her face softened, her tears began to slide,

All she could do was pray.

Even if reason was on his side,

That little world could not go gray.

“They are my children”, she began.

“I’ve seen them grow for so long.

I’ve witnessed every plan,

Every right and every wrong.”

“And that is why”, he replied,

“exactly why you must see.

For our profits to stay high,

That one cannot be.

Nobody wants to buy a world

That is covered in carnage.”

“But they are harmless”, she protested,

“and will learn with age.”

“Mostly”, he corrected her.

“And I’ve given you your order.

If you want to work here, get rid of

That chunk of disorder.”

She could do no more for this little world

But she would be there for the rest.

After all, they needed her

Like younglings, their nest.

She hardened her heart and went to the back

Where the heart of the system lay.

All the worlds were on neatly stacked racks

As she had left them the previous day.

She told herself this had been coming,

It was no surprise.

With sentience came a choice of two -

Peaceful existence or eventual demise.

With quivering fingers

She turned on the terminal

And searched among the worlds

Dying and germinal.

She found the one he wanted erased

And bid it a teary goodbye.

And she commanded the system,

Barely hiding her sigh,

“Commence editing”. The terminal

Replied, “Data required: Complete”

With a tear rolling, she replied,

“World: Earth. Delete.”

Last Night

As seen in the books of her unholy haemomancer-ness. Any reference to any person real or fictional is probably intended. If you're a lawyer, this post was written by my neighbour.

This crepuscular tale begins with a girl. She can be described as beautiful, intelligent and a stunning example of nature's crafting. But then, that would be a lie. We'll settle for something a tad lower. She's average.

The tale proceeds with a boy (Girl on girl action, involving cups, is best left to shock-sites). He would be an average guy in a normal world. But then, with a normal world and a normal boy, you can't have rabid fangirls across the universe. So, in their world, he's strong, understanding, smart, good-looking (So fantastically beautiful, in fact, he wouldn't be altogether out of place as a tragic hero in a story about a boy wizard). Since we have a boy and a girl, there's bound to be some action. So, let's give him good breath. Most important of all, he's sparkly. Like a firecracker. Or a Christmas decoration.

Now that we have our two main characters decided, we must ensure the two meet. What do average girls of schooling age do? Go to high school. And what do sparkly, superhuman immortals that have spent decades hunting and battling bands of roving trolls do? Go to high school, of course.

All high schools are in areas with wooded clearings right around the corner. A perfect spot for one-to-one conversations about life, the universe and everything. But not for our couple. Being the deeply romantic and moving story it is, our couple will sit in said clearing and talk about how bad sandwiches taste when cut in particular ways. As you are on the verge of forgiving them for this minor transgression, they reveal they are falling in love. *Slow, painful music*

No romantic story can exist without a disturbing love triangle. Girl is bat-crazy about guy 1. Guy 1 is sparkly enough to possess homosexual intentions towards Guy 2. Guy 2 has a wolf-like hunger for love from Girl. Guy 2 is doing something that all rebellious girls love. He repairs motorcycles.

To add a bit of originality, let us add family affairs and century long blood-feuds to the broth. Any parallels you are drawing with Romeo and Juliet are your own imagination. Any similarities you find with the works of Bram Stoker will cause him to turn in his grave, obtain vampiric unlife, hunt you down, dismember you and set you on fire. Stoker wrote novels, not fairytales with christmas decorations.

Since we've provided here the key elements of the story, it is up to you to make up the details as you go. In all probability, whatever sappy tosh you come up with, it just might be what our unholiness wrote in her series.

I read a book last night.

This post submitted for Blogomania 2010. If you like it, head over there and vote for me.

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Critiqus Anonimus

*Points* The Critiqus Anonimus. She's a beauty isn't she?

This marvelous creature, known my its common name whysostoopid, never ceases to amaze binary etymologists around the web. Rearing its neck from its hovel only to let out a slow, winding moan, the creature makes its presence felt by sending shock waves rippling across the interwebs. These waves are often created by a group that closely follows the activities of the creature and are responsible for feeding it and keeping it alive (The group, incidentally, is known as The Group). Critiqus shows a level of intelligence not unlike the others of its kind, which, when considered as a whole, are called blogs (Of course, any researcher worth his salt knows that the right term would be blag). This particular member of the species shows sleeping patterns that are affected by how often it is fed by The Group. Being a youngling of its kind, it seems to depend a lot on them for its nourishment and well being.

An interesting example of its kind, Critiqus, has shown behaviour that suggests it wants to be the Alpha individual. Supporting this evidence are its shouts via the group and its erratic speech pattern (probably a result of the varied fodder from members of The Group) that are surely calls seeking attention. The fate of this specimen might prove to be interesting with its caretakers indulging in various forms of legal, semi-legal and not-really-legal-but-fun-anyway activites including (and not limited to) Geohashing, Alcoholism, Marijuana cultivation, Tweeting, Piracy and Studying. Initial date collected about members of The Group indicate addiction to Alcohol (as mentioned earlier), The Interwebs and videos showcasing the mating rituals a 10-foot-tall, blue-skinned, alien race.

Coming back to the creature, the Critiin is a must watch for a researcher seeking worldly knowledge. Even if the information from it comes in little bursts, the occasional light it sheds on some topics to such enlightening degrees that it just might be the next big flash of news. To find the Critin in its natural habitat, one must tread carefully to its top-secret mountain hiding place.

I hope more of my journeys will open our eyes to such insightful creatures. If you ever feel the need for adventure, trek to said hiding place and observe the Critin.

In other news, I finished Soul Reaver 2. My next post may or may not see me writing normally again. Also, I am searching for things from my past. I found a poem.

So long

And thanks for all the memories.

Time pulls closer the inevitability of fate and my condemnation to the darkest of realms, where I shall wander again, a listless soul, anguished by the sheer weight of a burden that no mortal must be bid to bear. It is time to be parted from the comfort of my home and embrace, with might, the bleak future that adorns my path. It is also time to leave my love. My only solace lies in this fate being shared by numerous others; brave souls that will do battle by my side; souls that will face, with me, ambushes of the most vile of papers, set upon us by demented mentors seeking to test us on the little we learnt (while awake) under their tutelage.

College. And no, I still haven't finished Soul Reaver 2 (guilty, yet again, of poisoning my tongue with language deemed archaic).

Right, that wraps up everything I have to say. Here is a list of things I did these holidays (some of which, even if I say so myself, proved rather fun):

• Discovered Very Demotivational, IMMD and Hawtness.
• Saw more funny pictures.
• Earned money.
• Spent said money.
• Learnt about suicide on uncyclopedia.
• Convinced people on Omegle that I was Basement Cat.
  
• Discovered that my parents follow my blog AND my twitter handle. (Not on fun list)
• Set up a collaborative blog.
• Found out my blog has 10 followers (w00t!).
• Downloaded Deus Ex, Final Fantasy VII and Soul Reaver 2.
• Downloaded The Playlist of Instant Attraction.
• Planned for my digital art event coming up in February.
• Entered 3D art. (Check out earlier posts)
• Downloaded and subsequently fell in love with Plants Vs. Zombies.
• Wrote a short story-poem in Sci-Fi for Kurukshetra. (Will put it up sometime)
• Read So long, And thanks for all the fish.

Yup, it's been interesting. With the next year breaking, I'm looking forward to a bit more fun.

Have fun.

Follow up: TMoHS review

Going through my previous post, I noticed I had not covered comprehensively the view-ability aspects of the series. Alright, maybe it wasn't much more than a fan rave. Seeking to undo my wrong, I set upon the forging of another post that delves deeper into the plotline and emerges as a review for the blessed series. (Archaic language, courtesy of Soul Reaver 2).

First, the plotline. Oh, the plotline. Giving out the slightest of details would constitute a spoiler. For a series that is an incoherent stampede of episodes, the plot holds up rather well. The first few episodes introduce the main characters of the series sequentially (with the exception of the first episode itelf, which, to cut a long story short, is disorienting and interesting). Compressed into 13 episodes is the story of a girl, Haruhi Suzumiya, combining the genres of Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery and plain, old, high school life. The direction of the series is exceptional, with subtle imagery that mimics the events in the story.

Next, the graphics. As good as any other well designed anime, TMoHS captures the emotions of its characters with a good degree of accuracy (ex. the insanity on Haruhi's face). Its not something that you could watch the series for, but it satisfies nonetheless.

On to the music. The fact that the seiyu (voice actor) Aya Hirano won multiple awards for the songs in the series (especially Bouken Desho Desho, which, is awesome) should speak for itself. The beginning and ending songs epitomize the ideas the series prescribes.

Finally, the characters.( *Must... fight... Fanboy rave urge...*) Well, they're good. Really, really good. Each character is developed with a specific purpose that is revealed over the course of the anime. The depth and detail devoted to each character is unimaginable in the age of hack-and-slash franchises like Bleach and Naruto.

Overall: A great series for anyone looking for a good story. If you watch with a mind open enough, you could even be influenced by the series (Yes, this is to blame for some of my weirdness as well). If the concept of having fun has always caught your fancy, you're sure to like it. As I said in the previous post, do watch it. You won't regret it. A little Haruhiism never hurt anyone.

The Phenomenon of Haruhi Suzumiya

Let's start with a friendly word. Anime is not cartoon. Ignorance is not an excuse.

Before we get started on the (pending) post on TMoHS, it would be a good idea to get a clear picture of what anime is. Ben10 is a cartoon. Cartoons are primarily for kids. Anime, on the other hand, caters to as wide a range of viewers as chocolate, i.e. everyone. You have the childish run-of-the-mill fantasy series (like Bleach), the types that beckon with childlike beauty (like Chobits), the complex types (like S. E. Lain) and the types best left without mention (ask me in person). These broad classifications are but examples of the most typical genre. Add to this a thousand series, each having a devoted fan following and you have a whole new order in your hands. Sadly, however, for the inexperienced viewer, anime falls into the worst of classifications (hentai and cartoon). I can only ask you to watch some good ones before you take your side on the 'anime is for kids' debate. There are amazing examples that are shorter than 26 episodes. Eat that, sitcom addicts.

On to what this post is really about. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TMoHS, as mentioned earlier). TMoHS is one of the best pieces of art I have seen - and that's putting it lightly. It isn't a series that I would suggest for someone getting started on anime. It certainly isn't a defining work. And most important of all, it is a heady mix of a number of genres. Watching it twice will probably be necessary before you fall into Haruhi's fandom (and eventually start worshiping her). The sheer brilliance of it all does not come out until the end (Hell, the first episode, provided you watch it in the right order, leaves you wondering what you saw). Choosing a non-linear narrative is a nice touch that brings the right amount of suspense to the mystery that is TMoHS. Oh, and do watch it in Japanese (with subs).

To see the aftereffects of TMoHS, a google search will reveal how far things from the series have entered our world. Apart from huge fan bases (and related rabid fangirl/fanboy attacks), the show has even inspired flash mobs in full cosplay that start dancing at busy intersections. The prison inmates at a filipino prison (yeah, the same guys that brought us the Thriller dance) added the outro of the series to this their dance numbers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xx4tszZ-DE).

Just like any other series, TMoHS has its critics, who, despite being hammered by fans, pick at the anime. I guess there is a price to pay when you adapt a long manga and shorten it to 13 episodes (that's less than half the running time of the average english season). The depth and the ideals brought out in the series make up for most of its shortfalls. The songs from the series, which are among my favorites, If you've got the time to download and watch it, do it right away.

On another note, I'm trying to figure out something fun to do for New Year's. Any suggestions?

Liminality at Pragyan 2010

The tech fest of NITT is around the corner. This time, with a dull website and interesting events, the interest thus far has fallen a mile short of overwhelming. The prizes are as good as always (I still cherish that coffee cup I won in my first year). Offsetting that is a surge in the number of events (some of them, surprisingly, are good). In this freshly sorted heap, is Liminality; The first event Pragyan has seen that takes your mind away from the technical and technological indulgences that have become something of a bore.



I'm sorry the picture isn't that good. I didn't have enough time to work on it.
Now, back to Liminality:

The basics - Limi is a digital art event. We'll be giving the participants PS (CS 3 or 4) and let them paint the town pixelly. Artists that use graphic tablets are also allowed to participate and they're allowed to bring their own brushes and fonts. We'll also be putting up a PS101 for people that haven't tried it before but are eager to.
The cash - 3,000 if you win. Slightly smaller amounts for coming in second and third. And if your initial submissions are good enough, we might even be printing T shirts with them :D

There is no restriction on the genre; In fact, we'd like to see some variety in the submissions. Any thing from pixel art to photomanips is allowed.

If you're into art, or know friends that are, please pass this on. The topics are not your standard love, war and peace (We nearly made them Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik but decided to avoid copyright entanglement) and the people reviewing it might actually understand pop culture references you make. There are also bonus points for using lolspeak in your image.

Link: Liminality

Pass it on, won't you?