I got the strangest e-mail last week.
I'm not sure if it was failed spam or if it was someone trying to communicate to me in their conlang or what. Here, take a look:
<blockquote>Call out Gouranga be happy!!!
Gouranga Gouranga Gouranga ....
That which brings the highest happiness!!</blockquote>
Interesting, isn't it? Well, if anyone recognizes what the devil this means, let me know, okay?
Written by Magus on Ches 5th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
Written by Magus on Ches 2nd, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
Finally!
Well, after all the requests I've gotten for translating someone's name into Tengwar, Sindarin or Quenya, finally someone has come up with an automatic transliterator. I've lost count of how many times I've had to explain to someone in e-mail that I don't know how to speak any form of Elvish and, therefore, cannot translate their favorite [Insert Relative Here]'s name into said language. So, imagine my reliefe and delight when I saw the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.17webplace.com/lotr/">Elvish Transliterator at 17 Web Place</a>!
Now, I can just send everyone there. Of course, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of their application, but, frankly, I don't care. I'm just overjoyed to have somewhere to send everyone who wants an Elvish name for their tattoo or boat or whatever, but doesn't care quite enough to actually learn how to write in Tengwar themselves.
Besides, it's Friday and an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.17webplace.com/lotr/">Elvish Transliterator</a> has got to count as fun! So, go ahead, click the link and check it out.
Written by Magus on Alturiak 30th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
This is the coolest book since the first encyclopedia!
To me, it is, anyway. I've been borrowing a friend's copy of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&ta… About The World's Languages</a> and really enjoying it. I saw it on the shelf at his house back around Thanksgiving time and fell in love with it. It's a little rich for my blood, right now, but I know that I'll eventually get a copy. In a nutshell, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&ta… About The World's Languages</a> has basic phological and morphological thumbnails of virtually all the world's known languages. It is super, super cool to see the phonogical analysis of major languages all laid out in easy-to-read tables and summarized in neat, little paragraphs. For one thing, it pretty well shows people making up their own languages how to layout such a description. For another, it's providing me fodder for my own ideas about language creation. Best of all, it's helping me do the hard parts, choosing a phonology and displaying it for others to read! That, for some reason, is the hardest damn thing for me. I just have a really hard time getting my head around the different labels for the syllabic descriptors. Frankly, I just can't remember the difference between a labiodental consonant and a straight labial consonant and all that sort of thing. I guess it doesn't really matter that much, but it bothers me.
In any case, this is the coolest bit of language-related inspiration that I've seen in a very long time. It neatly lays out complicated morphological systems in a way that makes sense to me. And, the short histories of the various languages are fascinating, as well. But, these thumbnails go into fairly good detail. For instance, they include influences from other languages, the probable evolution of the language, as well as the geographical history of the language. Really, it's completely captivating.
In short, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&ta… About The World's Languages</a> is a great book that will be the object of lust and envy of every conlanger who sees it on your shelf. Go buy one!
Written by Magus on Alturiak 29th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
A new way to fund NASA?
Well, I'd sure buy some! Hey, why not? The side benefits of the space program have always been a reason to continue that kind of work, so why shouldn't they make some money off it?
Okay, so they don't have Martian Sea Monkeys, yet, but, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/24/0124215">this article on Slashdot</a>, they might. At least, they're convinced enough of the possibility of microbial life that could survive freezing for thousands of years that NASA is talking about sending probes to retrieve the little buggers from the Martian "ice ocean" that's been recently discovered. Personally, I think it would be cool to have Martian life in your very own home, like those "living dinosaurs", the Triops.
Well, I guess, we'll have to wait for a Mars mission to know if they exist, but the thought sure is fun!
Written by Magus on Alturiak 25th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
I haven't been a total slacker.
I have worked on other neato tools for the site, honest! In fact, I whipped together a fun, little PERL script that generates funny sounding full and proper names. Oddly enough, I call it the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fantasist.net/funnynames.shtml">"Funny" Proper Name Generator</a>. Originally, I made it for participants in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gamegrene.com/wiki">Ghyll Encyclopedia Game</a>, but it seemed worthy enough for public consumption.
So, if you're writting a funny fantasy piece set in vaguely Edwardian or Victorian times, this is a great tool for you. Or, you could just use it to make names to fill in on web forms.... Use your imagination.
Aw, go ahead, it's Friday! Have fun!
Written by Magus on Alturiak 24th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
I re-read the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=fantasistnet&path=tg… of Breath</a> last week.
For a skinny, little book it sure is packed full of information. Those yogis really pay a lot of attention to the details of everyday physical life. We all breath, but how often do we actually contemplate our breathing? The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=fantasistnet&path=tg… of Breath</a> asks us to do just that. What's more, it offers the most correct way of breathing for maximum health and benefit. It also gives the yoga student breathing exercises that help revitalize, reinvigorate and recharge themselves on many different levels. I re-read the book to refamiliarize myself with those breathing exercises which, over the years, I have found extremely helpfull in times of stress. As one might imagine, they are very meditative in nature and I found them quite relaxing.
This little, 90-page book is now a bit of a challenge to get, but well worth the effort. (Oh, and don't be fooled by the other books of the same title. The one to get is the one by Yogi Ramacharaka.)
Written by Magus on Alturiak 22nd, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
The title says it all!
Okay, so what I finally decided on was simply reducing the datasets for the troublesome WordGenerator apps. It doesn't seem to have reduced their functionality at all and, so far, has not resulted in the same server-crashing error. Of course, some of the problem may stem from the immense popularity of the applications. You conlang nuts really hammer those apps!
I suppose I should really figure out how to do it all in a more "modern" language, like PHP, but PERL is still my first web programmging love. And, I can use the same scripts locally on my machine without the restrictions. But, no, I won't make them available to the general public because I don't really want to support PERL on your local machine.
One final word on this. Remember, these are free resources, so sometimes they go off-line without much warning. If my ISP has issues, I kill the app first and and questions later. My webhost, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amzia.net">Amzia.net</a>, is really patient with me, because he's a cousin of a friend of mine, but I'd rather not push it. And, if your really, really like the apps, buy something from the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cafeshops.com/fantasist">Ye Olde Shoppe</a> or at least click on an ad. Anything to show your support. Thanks!
Written by Magus on Alturiak 18th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
Do not go to this site drunk!
This very plain-looking site, called <a target="_blank" href="http://zoomquilt.nikkki.net/">the Zoom Quilt</a>, hides freaky, phantasmagoric art like you've never seen. There are three "versions", including the Windows screensaver, but I reccomend the Flash version, which is automated. Basically, you've got a series of paintings done by different artists that have a combined theme and elements that tie all the paintings together into a looping sequence. It's way trippier than it sounds, though, so go check it out.
Aw, c'mon, it's Friday, so go click the link!
Written by Magus on Alturiak 16th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
Remember when <a href="http://www.fantasist.net/scroll/index.php?p=338">I posted about an unusual star system</a> some time back?
Well, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/miniature_solarsys_050207.html">t… article on Space.com</a>, there's even more evidence that such a system can not only be possible, but may actually exist! Hey, I'm a visionary! (Well, okay, I had help from an astrophysist, but, still, I did imagine it.) So, it's possible that somewhere out there a planetary system very much like Hoffman's Quartet exists. How cool is that?
Oh, by the way, I have that document that I mentioned in the other post. I finally got it scanned in and proofed. So, I've also finally uploaded it. You can find it here, on the <a href="http://www.fantasist.net/worldbuilding.shtml">World Building</a> page.
Written by Magus on Alturiak 11th, 1481 by the Dale Reckoning
Oooo, freaky!
I've always loved the surrealist Hieronymus Bosch. His visions of Hell are so strange and disturbing, I can really believe that he might be right? Of course, I've been told that I'm not quite right in the head anyway and I've always loved all the surrealists, so I may be biased. On the other hand, someone thought it was cool enough to make these: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.3d-mouseion.com/engels/bosch_eng.htm">Hieronymus Bosch Action Figures</a>. It doesn't look like you can actually buy them, but oh, the idea....
And, anyway, it's a freaky Fun Friday Link, right? (Go ahead, no one's looking. Just click on it!)