Discovering Terragen

Terragen is a really really cool (and free (: ) software which is used to make realistic looking terrains and Landscapes. It's so damn easy, that the first landscape I've made came out really good and it took the software just 20 minutes to render it (The likes of Lightwave [another 3D modeling software] would have taken at least an hour and a half). A nice looking sunset scene :)


Here is the second one I made. This time I have painted and sculpted the terrain and generated the clouds. Nice mountainous river banks and a gentle rippling river...


Over all, I'm very very happy with this thing. It really satisfies me. I found it very easy (maybe because I have some experience with 3D Modeling). The biggest plus point is that it generates great looking terrains with very little hard work. If you use a couple of plugins, you can make really cool sky boxes (A 3D landscape where you can turn around and see the whole landscape as if you were standing there!!!).

Even if you don't know anything, it always yeilds good result. This is the last one I made (titled "Unreal") I really didn't do anything, just randomly tweak the controls and options for 3 minutes and then render the whole landscape, which took another 8 minutes :)



Links ::>

The official webpage
www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/

Wikipedia Information
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terragen

The Slow Connection

I'm pretty happy with my Dial up connection. It's better than any broadband connection out there. Ask me why and I have an answer ready for you.

Firstly, with a slow internet connections, people like me can type the internet address in the address bar, press enter, go up to the fridge and get a can of Amul Cool Cafe; relax and drink half of it and quit worrying about what is about to come... be it any page (except Google, which is fast on even a 24 Kbps dial up connection :O )

Secondly, you don't have half the neighborhood coming up to your feet and pleading you to use your internet. If by chance someone does come in, tell them the net is too slow and costs you like a rupee a minute and they will get their work done faster elsewhere. If they still don't pay any heed to your worlds, then simply let them use your net. They will suffer and in future act as anti-advertisers for your private slow connection.

Thirdly, and finally while reply windows take time to open up, you can always get up, go out and have a breath of fresh air. This breath of fresh air helps the mind to think effectively as what you should reply considering all the previous chats/posts. This small amount of time matters a lot in the internet world. The better you write, the more popular you are... (:


So that concludes my answer and commences the argument with other people reading this. I dare say, I'm more happy than the guy having a broadband connection. Just like a poor man is more satisfied and happy with his life than a rich man :P (But I'm not giving off my shirt (: )

Amazing Instrumentals :O

Here are two musical Performances (Both found on You Tube :D ), that have left my jaw on the floor. And I can't seem to get it back up, whenever I see them again.

First is this one performance by some guy (I don't really know who he is... but if he's reading this, I request him to send me a mail or something... ^_^ ). I've also posted the original song so that guys can know how well this guy has played the piano, playing even the slightest of the cello bass and other change and breaks in tunes

The Original Song
>Shiro - Long Tails
>>Yoko Kanno


The Piano Video
>Unknown


Second is this Amazing Guitar Duet by some two guys who play the Contra Jungle Theme. It's a must watch for everyone.

Contra Theme - Doubled
>Unknown

Cloud 9

Above the planet on a wing and a prayer,
A grubby halo, A vapour trail in the empty air.
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly,
Out of the corner of my watering eye.
A Dream unthreatened by the morning light,
Could Blow this soul right through the roof of the night!

There's no sensation to compare with this!
Suspended Animation, A state of Bliss.
Can't keep my eyes from the circling sky,
Tongue tied and twisted, Just an earth bound misfit.

Those who have flown in a plane, know what it feels like to look out of the window and see the beautiful and incomparable cloudscape. As if you are completely on a different land, a different world or maybe a different planet all together, where the land is made of soft and fluffy cream and milk. The sun is brighter than anything that can be seen on the earth, giving an unparalleled brightness to the cloud scape. I assure you, that amount of brightness can only bring out the happiest feelings from you. You will forget that you live in a world that has sadness as a part of it too.

Somehow, all this came into my mind when my brother mailed me a photograph via email. It reminded me of Cloudophobia - A arcade game for the PC, that had the most beautiful cloudscape formations in any game that I've seen in my life.



Now you know why I wrote the lyrics of "Learning to Fly" by Pink Floyd (If you noticed it by chance :) ) These images remind me of why man wanted to Fly since times immortal. Man knew that if he flew, he could see a new world altogether from a new point of view; a point of view so beautiful that shall leave your mind Comfortably Numb, and ironically Fresh too. :)

And these train of thoughts also help me to deduce the possible origin of the Phrase -> "on Cloud 9" :D