Figure 1 – The photographer (note camera in hand) dressed as Cthulhu at the office Halloween party, 2016.
Well, I make no bones about the fact that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I won’t go on again about why. But, tomorrow is the fun night; so I thought that I would post today a picture of me at my office’s Halloween Party. As long time watchers of “The Big Bang Theory” will recognize, scientists certainly know how to have fun, even if some of the humor and costumes require explanations that use the Calculus. I am here dressed as the god Cthulhu. To really know Cthulhu is to know how to spell it. Good luck with that!
As for the drawing on my chest – here comes the Calculus. It is a Minkowski diagram that depicts Einstein’s vision of a four dimensional universe. That is how Lovecraft tells us the ancient ones traveled to the Earth. They truly dwell, not in our three dimensional world, but in a four dimensional universe. And just as it would be hard to explain a three dimensional object to a flatlander – one who dwells in a two dimensional world, so too is it hard to explain to us dwellers in a three dimensional space the meaning of four dimensional objects and deities.
I did learn that when you wear a Cthulhu mask, you do not need to smile underneath. Of course, smiling for the camera is kind of instinctive, and you do feel a bit embarrassed underneath.
But Cthulhu himself is nothing to smile at, or to trifle with. He is described as a massive hybrid of human, octopus, and dragon. He is usually depicted as being hundreds of meters tall, with webbed, humanoid arms and legs, tentacled face, and a pair of rudimentary wings on his back. Gulp! So it is best to be cautious. And if you find yourself being a bit silly this Halloween, it is best to remember that whatever you say, you must never say:
“Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn“