I know, I KNOW! This site is like half excuses, half actual content. If anyone is wondering what my lazy ass is doing instead of drawing comics.. I’m wrestling Giant Monsters all the live-long day– teaser trailer is out!
In grovelling recompense, I give you: Wallpapers!
Click on any of those to pick them up in 3 sizes over at 2dgoggles drop.io spot. Babbage is in colour because I lurves him best.
Also, you wore me down… new Brunel tshirt! Click on the pic to go to the zazzle store (aside: preparing my report to Babbage as to whether he could have funded the Analytical Engine via tshirt sales. Short answer: no.)
News, news… if you’re in London on February 19th you can come watch me flail helplessly effortlessly spellbind a fascinated audience with a presentation on graphic storytelling; or better still, go catch one of the actually cool people at The Story, a one-day conference about stories and story-telling!
As you can see from the following chart, the organizers may have the FULLEST CONFIDENCE in my masterful, nay, guru-esque command of the story process:
But a little thing like not having a plot will not stand in the way of progress here at 2dgoggles! Part 1 teaser:
And, because it’s been AGES without a Primary Document of Interest.. just to whet your appetite, spot Babbage in this Shocking Scene of Musical Violence! Note the check trousers why babbage why??! You think you know all about Babbage and street music? Oh, my friends, you have no idea…
Comments
17 responses to “Goodies! Giant Monsters!”
I just found this fabulous blog. Wonderful, wonderful!
I want the Ada wallpaper on a t-shirt – just like that. White on black shirt.
You are marvelous! Never die!
I just finished reading all of your comic in a row, and I must say I’m impressed. I’ve been fascinated by other mathematical figures in the past, more notably Bertrand Russell, but I understand the fervor that occurs when you get an idea and become stuck with it.
As such, I have to say your depiction of Babbage and Lovelace is simply wonderful. I read in an earlier post/comments/something that you regret not going into mathematics, and while there is a steep curve, there is always tons you can still do in your spare time (ha ha, I understand the feeling) to learn about mathematics. Though seeing your passion, I shouldn’t be lecturing considering my own laziness despite pursuing an undergraduate degree in mathematics.
If you’re interested in Russell or any of the mathematicians of the late 19th/early 20th century I strongly suggest picking up the graphic novel Logicomix, it’s a fun tale of logic, contradictions and what happened after Babbage and before Turing in mathematics.
Don’t know if you’ve heard of the Antikythera mechanism, but it was an ancient Greek (c. 150-100bc) mechanical calculator. Some try to call it a mechanical computer, but it appears to be designed for a specific astronomical tasks, not a general, programmable computing device. Anyway, given your interest in Babbage’s devices, I thought you’d be interested:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=decoding-an-ancient-computer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_Mechanism
Did I mention I love your comic and art style and bad puns etc. etc.?
Just in case you weren’t aware—the Royal Society has made its online archives freely available until the end of February 2010. They are quite searchable and searching Babbage turns up quite a few articles. From which, of course, a distractable inquiring mind can branch to searching Faraday, Herschel, and others of the same kidney…
I know.. not sure why they’re not available all the time! They have a very nice bar there you know, and a very hot sculpture of Michael Faraday. Of course every time I walk past the RS I’m irresistibly reminded of Babbage’s multiple quarrels with them..
A REAL DIFFERENCE ENGINE!! Really real!!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121206408&sc=emaf
Pffft.. we’ve had one in the Science Museum here in London since 1991!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8tmfcOg8l8
Madam, I have taken the liberty of resizing your Babbage wallpaper so that it fits the unwieldy 1366×768 resolution of newfangled popularly sold laptops. I have uploaded it for other fans:
http://ubiquitouspitt.hypermart.net/images/babbage.jpg
Thanks for all the wonderful stuff!
Went ahead and bought that great Brunel t-shirt, what with the sale on today.
And because I’d been reading up a little about IKB online ( who’s likely almost unknown, generally, eclipsed in Edison’s shadow, etc., here in the USA ) over the past few days. Interesting character. We could probably use someone like him today. Though… in dealing with some of our current corporate CEO’s and politicians, he’d probably have to fit himself with a steam-powered boot.
Whoo-hoo! Brunel! And desktops! And teasers! And it’s all waiting for the semester to be over with!
always a pleasure, and as soon as my new credit card comes in ill hopefully be getting my self that shirt.
ps. the trailer for titans looks amazing.
Brunel needs a battle cry.
And we need to see some t-square fighting, I used to use one for several jobs I had in the past and you’d be surprised at the damage one of them can do when properly wielded.
I don’t care how long I have to wait, this is the greatest comic ever!
(PS2 – Being a software programmer/analyst, you can imagine my satisfaction in seeing Ada and Babbage so wonderful depicted! I even actually USED the ADA language… :-) )
Simply great, as usual. It’s since the beginning that I follow the thrilling adventures, both yours and B&L ones… and now I really thought I had to thank you for all the wonderful times I spent in front of my monitor laughing MAO or being sort of worried about your steampunk event. Thank you, Sydney! PS… you DEFINITELY have a better grip on the plot than most!!!
WOo0T!!1! A NEW BRUNEL SHIRT! Congratulations on the giant monsters, too.
Actually, according to your particle generator chart for “The Organist,” you have a better grip on the story process than most. Composing a coherent plot in a basic email is a skill that eludes millions… Yet again, I (like so many of your readers) find myself on the wrong side of the Atlantic to attend, so please let everyone know how your presentation at The Story goes. Would you be willing to post your material?
Thanks also for the downloads. You’ve made my desktop the most interesting one in the studio, hands down. Love Babbage’s green vest!
(Hiding check trousers…)
I’m impressed with the giant monsters, but the rest of the movie seems…less fun.
But the progress report blows it all away. I may have to map out everything I do that way, from now on! Especially since I also end with an “Amusing Rimshot Epilogue.” The clerks at the supermarket are really getting sick of it.
(I love the initials on the Brunel shirt, by the way.)