TTTN: Art of Art

Prologue
Another revolution brought about by the connection of many disparate computers -- and thus people -- has been the creation of new styles of art exclusive to computers. Secondly, I do not claim nor am I the author of the examples used within.

The Art By The "Spiders" In The 'Web
What new ways of communicating thought/emotion am I referring to? For starters: oekaki, CG, webcomic (discussed in previous post), and...[see comments!]

Oekaki: A Japanese term for the rough online drawings, typically in the style of anime -- or Japanese *shudder* cartoons. (The word cartoon does not even begin to capture the essence of anime, but there's no other word to use...) Not rough as to be off-putting, but definitely not the smoothness of CG. Oekaki can also be distinguished by their unique color tones and composition. Here are examples one, two and three from BlackCat.

CG: Stands for computer-generated graphics. Distinguishable by its abnormal/inhuman perfection and smoothness of colors, lines, tones and shading. The movies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy used CG, along with Episodes One and Two of the Star Wars saga. Here are two examples of CG: Escape Nidhogg Island (!! large file !!) and Christmas Wishes.

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I was feeling very good that I would have this done before the midnight deadline. I had three-quarters of the post written at 11:45 PM. Unfortunately, the computer was conspiring against me. It crashed three times while I was typing up the post. However, the problem is now (sorta) fixed. And I can't remember a third of what I was trying to type because I am tired. Very sorry for you the reader.

Tomorrow's topic will be Entertainment-->Music.

TTTN: Online Comics

Prologue
I would be willing to bet my favorite teddy bear that your first thought is something like this: "Oh, she's talking about comics in the newspaper being available to see on the Internet!" Nice first guess, but no. What I refer to is (and this is my own definition) comics published primarily on his or her own site. Excellent examples are: Penny Arcade, MegaTokyo, 9th Elsewhere, Eversummer Eve, Emerald Blades, Nekobox (.org or .com ; there are two different ones with the same name)... There were much fewer "webcomics" some years ago -- nowadays, it is everybody and their kid brother.

Internet Graphic Novels (no, graphic as in image-based; not, er... *blush* explicit)
This is one of the wonders of the World Wide Web and its Internet (contrary to popular opinion, the two are not the same thing). It has and continues to allow the flow of ideas to millions. Whether through written word like me, or through imagery, a single person can communicate surface or deep emotions and thoughts. And what an impact that person can make!

For example, creator and artist Fred Gallagher of MegaTokyo. [Small disclaimer: MegaTokyo was the original idea of Rodney Caston, who also wrote dialogue, but he amicably split from the webcomic team approx. two years ago because of differing ideas of the direction of the webcomic.] He has been creating comics on a M-W-F schedule (usually) for five years now. He has his own online store to sell MT-related goods, and has even published two books of the webcomic; the third will be released in January 2005.

It is my belief that each person is the sum of his/her life experiences. I know I and others who are fans of MT would not be who we are today. The people employed by the publishing agency, Dark Horse, would not be exactly who they are now. The same principle of the "ripple effect" applies to those of 9th Elsewhere, of Emerald Blades, of any webcomic.

Isn't that something?

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It always places me in awe to think of how the 'Net changes those who traverse its "superhighway". By the way, I know I missed Tuesday's post. Actually, it neatly solves the problem of what to write about on Friday... ^_^

Tomorrow's topic is Entertainment-->Art

Traipsing Through The 'Net

Prologue
The scope of information of available through the Internet never ceases to awe me. Imagine it: Trillions upon trillions of electrons traveling on metal pathways that create the zeros and ones that are the foundation of computer programming. These two numbers are the power behind everything that you see and do on a computer, and you are sending and receiving these tiny packets of information when the computer is connected to 'Net servers via cables of fiberoptic glass -- each one being the width of a human hair. And these servers are connected to each other through miles (or kilometers, if you prefer) of underground cables.

Makes me shiver every time. ^^;

News Up To The Second
"Would the lady desire the up-to-the-minute, or perhaps the lady is interested in email-me-exactly-as-it-happens?" Well, what would you like? I, being the news fanatic of the family, can sign up (for free) to receive daily news of the world outside my house; and even tailor it to my tastes, such as showing a certain number of headlines of Tech, or Politics, or... you get the idea. Now, maybe I want more. I sign up (for free, of course) with IGN.Com for news and interviews from the world of gaming. And, goodness help me, have a free newsletter from Seibertron.Com sent to my e-mail address about all the stuff that is the Transformers universe.

I don't know if they offer to send it to you as it occurs, but the NewsFlash section of OregonLive.Com (the website for the newspaper The Oregonian) has up-to-the-minute news in several topics. I do know you can click a link to e-mail the article to yourself or another person.

Bogus News?
Unfortunately, there are many websites who are not so obliging as TheOnion.Com to state that they are pulling this "material" out of... a certain orifice. In the early days of the Internet, only bona fide organizations and businesses had easy access to it, so a person could accept things at face value. (Gosh, has it really been about a decade since the opening of the 'Net to the public?) Now, even a six-year-old could create his/her own website -- or at least a webpage -- let alone hormonal, mischievious 14-year-olds. Sigh.

The Effects
Has the Internet's ability to deliver faster news made us more alert to the world? Has it made us into children again, demanding faster and faster information flow -- even though the cost may be the accuracy of the information? Has it had and continue to have a deletrious effect upon attention spans?

Well, maybe not quite that last questions applies. Anyways, I think that we are becoming more alive to the issues around the world. It's simply easier to get info out to the masses now, which I believe is very positive. Do we demand faster delivery of news? Maybe we don't, but network news (and thus their sites) believe we do. They appear to complain about the pressure from the masses very much; not loudly, but... *shrug* I trust that you understand what I mean. Unfortunately, the answer to the next question is "Yes." Such memorable gaffs as: Mr. Dan Rather, TV news anchor for CBS, presenting as true documents which 'proved' President Bush did not fulfill his National Guard obligations; network news calling the 2000 presidential election; et cetera. Ah, why not answer the last question. It is argued both ways. Advocates on one side claim children and teens "hooked" into the Internet suffer shorter attention spans. Advocates on the other side say it is not so. Personally, I'd go with the latter group. It is not that attention spans are shortened, it is that caring about other things (i.e.: school) goes down. There is a reason why the term "'Net-addict" exists.

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This concludes Monday's theme, News. Tuesday's topic will be Entertainment-->Music.

P.S. Wow, two hours. I should start writing earlier so I actually post on the day, and not a half-hour into the next day. *nervous giggle*

Ahhhhhhhh, much better.

Just like the title indicates, I am feeling much better -- towards Blogger. (But I swear, if this post receives "The Boink", I will create a voodoo doll representing Blo... No, I actually won't do that, but I will be strongly tempted to do so.)

To start things off with a bit of humor, I transcribed an MP3 audio clip titled, for a reason unknown to me, "rock10".

Guy #1: *conversational* Have you ever been in a combat situation?
Guy #2: *a bit warily* Define combat, Sir.
Guy #1: Chet?
Chet : *professionally and quickly* An incursion underwater to retake an impregnable fortress held by an elite team of U.S. Marines in possession of eighty-one hostages and fifteen guided rockets armed with VX poison gas.

Yeah... I guess it's not as funny without the actual voices. But I will be happy to e-mail a copy of the clip to those who ask. PLEASE put something like "rock10 clip" so I won't discard the e-mail message as junk! I will only use the e-mail address to send the MP3 file. I will not distribute it, nor will I send you spam, etc. After the thing is sent, I will forget the address (not that hard for me to do ^^;; Curse my memory ^_^).

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Here is some real news. I have decided that the subject of the week will be "Traipsing Through The 'Net". Monday will be devoted to News, Tuesday through Thursday to Entertainment (Music, Comics, Art(?)), Friday will be whatever I can think of, and Saturday will be an attempt to write a deep and meaningful summary (wish me luck; I feel like I will be needing it).
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Shameless Plug: Morncreek's new account at DeviantArt. Not much there yet, but please visit it!