Abstruse Goose: Make a Wish
By Ann Finkbeiner | August 30, 2010 | 11 Comments
I’m not exactly sure what this is a picture of — I’ve seen it somewhere, maybe a graphic picture of noise? some computer thing? — but given his title, Abstruse Goose clearly means us to think of it as stars.
#1. It looks real. #2. Abstruse Goose, if you’re out there, can you tell us what that picture really is? please?
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11 Responses to “Abstruse Goose: Make a Wish”
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August 30th, 2010 @ 10:07 am
At first I thought it was a magic eye picture but I have been playing around with it in Photoshop and some of it looks like text…but I think we are supposed to think “shooting star” or “wishbone”. Fascinating.
August 30th, 2010 @ 12:00 pm
Hold that thought. I’m going to try and find out.
August 30th, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
It’s a single image random dot stereogram, and after staring cross-eyed at it for a while, I could see the floating (or underwater?) letters spelling “YOUR WISH IS GRANTED.” JPG’s are apparently not the best format for these things and maybe that’s why the contrast isn’t that great. But it works.
August 31st, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
Looks like a rich carnelian haze to me.
August 31st, 2010 @ 2:46 pm
…but seconds later, I saw the same message as Bruce! Brilliant!
August 31st, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
Abstruse Goose says that Bruce is right (personal communication, 8/31/10). I’m chagrined 1)that I can’t see no message no how; and 2)I mis-read a stereogram for the grand and glorious night sky. So boo for me.
August 31st, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
The trick is:
1) Get your eyes about a foot away from the screen.
2) Let them cross until you see a 3D image, i.e. you’re looking into some kind of depth.
3) Hold this image and focus on its centre. The words should emerge from the background.
What I want to know is: when is Abstruse gonna deliver his granting of my wishes? I’ve made three now.
August 31st, 2010 @ 3:44 pm
I tried it until I got swimmy-headed and I can NOT do it, Tim. I also can’t do those books that were all the rage a few years back and that my husband won’t throw out because he can do it and I can’t.
I wouldn’t hold out hopes for Abstruse Goose. He’s a little elusive. Also, judging by his most recent cartoons, he’s preoccupied these days about things other than science and answering email.
September 1st, 2010 @ 10:04 am
I will teach you how. You can do it, and you should, if for no other reason than you ought never to be bested by your hub.
September 1st, 2010 @ 10:15 am
Yer on, Ellie.
May 12th, 2011 @ 11:20 pm
i see “your wish is granted”