May 19, 2014

Ambigrams and Me

So I was talking with my brother the other night and he is always telling me about some fascinating new thing his family has learned about. (Really! From facts on astronomy, to what a fly looks like under a microscope, to all sorts of things!) The particular new knowledge of this week was ambigrams. Perhaps you've heard of them? I hadn't, or at least, I'd forgotten if I ever had.

Basically, an ambigram is a word or phrase that can be read the same from any direction; forwards, backwards, or upside down. Or all three! (Sort of like a palindrome, i.e. noon, except this can be read upside down.)

Evidently there are people so incredibly good at writing them, that they have contests where people sit down and within a certain length of time, they write an entire paragraph in this form. Can you imagine?! I cannot. I struggle with getting my sentences all out correctly, let alone being able to read them backwards or upside down as well! Obviously, this sort of thing is for really intelligent people.


Anyway, the above picture is an example. I realize you can't turn your computer upside down, but if you notice, you can certainly read the phrase both ways. (And you also realize that you can no longer swim on Monday's. ;) Click over here if you'd like to create one yourself. (It's pretty basic just so you know.)

I was quite fascinated by this idea though. I mean, who even thinks up things like this? "You know, I think I'll see if I can't figure out a way to write this sentence so you can read it no matter how you're looking at it." Uh.....yeah.

Regardless! They range from the simple to the complicated. Because if you think about it, you have to add extra lines (or curlicues) to each letter in order to make them appear like another letter when read from a different direction. Here's what I mean using my name:

kaarraak

Interesting huh?

So! Have you heard of these?


 

6 comments:

  1. This is the first I've heard of this. Kind of neat but too hard for me to come up with these things. I'll pass.

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    1. I'm positive that I couldn't create one either, Karen. But they surely are fascinating! Thanks for dropping by. :)

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  2. I have! The only one that I know of is swims...I can't think of any others! :) And I actually did turn my laptop upside down to read your name that way, haha! ;)

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    1. Ha! I love it! ;) When my brother was describing it all to me, I was just sitting there so fascinated. I'm amazed at what people can create. I think it'd be fun to go to one of those contests once just to watch the people as they're creating. :)

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  3. Hi Kara,
    Mom said she seen you at am. Wonder if you stayed for Donalds wedding? If you did and your in the area you could always stop over if you get time~
    It would have been fun to see you!
    Kim and Rob

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    1. Hey Kim! I did see your mom and dad. Was SO fun to catch up! I'm home now unfortunately, but it would have been awesome to come visit. I'm glad to know you're all doing well. Thanks for the note! :)

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