Flash memory oddity reveals image of Jesus and / or Gandalf

Now that we've got our own CNC hot-air gun to draw images of Jesus and Mary to our heart's content, we're not so very surprised to see those revered images popping up in odder places, like this here flash memory. Revealed by transmission electron microscopy, the folks at Chipworks found this familiar image of the Messiah on a 4GB Samsung flash memory chip. Dick James explains: "We often get dark fringe lines in the silicon, and in this case it looks like there was some holy influence." However, we're not so sure this is a dead-ringer for Jesus. As some staff at El Reg have pointed out, the dude also bears a striking resemblance to Gandalf, and we're seeing more of a long-haired, bearded Strongbad at play here.

[SuperDave @ May 2nd 2007 1:53PM]

Actually I think I've figured out who it is...

http://blog.jonnay.net/uploads/Art/katamari_cosmos.jpg

[blooy @ May 2nd 2007 12:31PM]

Really it's just a clown.

[Gordon Kane @ May 2nd 2007 12:32PM]

It looks like a South Park bin Laden to me (that's where he's been hiding!).

[Brian @ May 2nd 2007 2:41PM]

Definitely an angry bin laden (or gandalf), bad omen?

[iptydafu @ May 2nd 2007 12:37PM]

MCP with a beard?

[james @ May 2nd 2007 12:39PM]

Everyone knows jesus didnt exist. thus it must be zeus

[Brian @ May 2nd 2007 12:39PM]

I think it looks more like Venom.

[Joe V @ May 2nd 2007 12:41PM]

Jesus is either really mad or really constipated. His beard is shooting outward along the z-axis!

[Mark @ May 2nd 2007 12:46PM]

Trogdor!

[SuperDave @ May 2nd 2007 12:48PM]

God, people. It's Frylock. Don't you guys know anything?

[steve-o @ May 2nd 2007 12:49PM]

Strange, I can almost see text- I think I see:
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Anyone else see it?

[lol. @ May 2nd 2007 4:46PM]

I wish. It's machine code.

[TIMMAH! @ May 2nd 2007 12:52PM]

OMG, put it on eBay and call the Golden Palace Casino!

[Joel @ May 2nd 2007 1:03PM]

Either way, it's a fictional character. Can we move on now?

[oGMo @ May 2nd 2007 1:07PM]

Or a butterfly, or steps leading up to a hallway which disappears into the distance, or ...

Our recognition system is wired to automatically try and find a familiar match with things we see, and if I recall correctly from psychology studies, faces first.

But in this case that's kind of a stretch. ;)

You know, if you look at the top line and bottom bit, it also looks a lot like the Master Control Program from Tron...

[oGMo @ May 2nd 2007 1:08PM]

@Iptydafu: Whoops, didn't read prior comments for previous references. But obviously I'm not the only one who thinks that. :)

[JoshLowry @ May 2nd 2007 1:12PM]

Looks more like Bob Marley or a rastafarian to me...

- Josh
http://www.stateofbrain.com

[Dan @ May 2nd 2007 1:17PM]

Evil Jesus?

[RandomThoughts @ May 2nd 2007 1:25PM]

Come on, you guys serious? With the new Spider Man Movie out, didn't you know this was a product placement for evil Spiderman?

[Gollum @ May 2nd 2007 1:32PM]

Rob Zombie

[Matt W. @ May 2nd 2007 1:39PM]

Oh my, not only is it Jesus, but there seems to be a Star of David behind him! And to think, my derision toward Jews for Jesus all these years was misguided. The next time I see them in the NYC Subways, I better apologize...

[Mike @ May 2nd 2007 1:46PM]

Damn, am I the first to call the Homestarrunner reference out? It certainly looks as if it were caused by burnination.

[daviel @ May 2nd 2007 1:51PM]

woah!

i didn't see the strongbad resemblenece until you said it! it looks just like him!

lol ROCK ON HOMESTARRUNNER.COM

[Joe @ May 2nd 2007 2:09PM]

It's Gaius Balter!

[Dave @ May 2nd 2007 2:36PM]

Tis the holiest of spirits, the pirate-saint Blackbeard, who sitteth at the left appendage of our revered Fl*ing Spag*etti Mon*ter.

[Chris @ May 2nd 2007 2:37PM]

SIIIIMMMBAAAAAA

[Diddle @ May 2nd 2007 2:45PM]

Holy crap - turn your head sideways and you get the Windows hourglass! O_O

[Martez @ May 2nd 2007 2:51PM]

Best headline ever.

[Rob @ May 2nd 2007 3:07PM]

I saw it looks like that bad guy from Aladin

[Elevator @ May 2nd 2007 3:08PM]

It's definitely the Burger King.

[IrishGandalf @ May 2nd 2007 3:17PM]

It's Jeebus! oh great all powerful Jeebus!

[Eliot @ May 2nd 2007 3:27PM]

Looks like Wwwyzzerdd from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

[jbulava @ May 2nd 2007 6:19PM]

Google it. It's not a message. You'll find out what it means pretty quickly.

[Tom @ May 2nd 2007 4:50PM]

YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!... data through this circuit.

[Eleventeen @ May 2nd 2007 6:54PM]

One cannot simply walk into Mordor...

[GoPadge @ May 2nd 2007 7:22PM]

You do realize that Tolken's story is steeped in Catholic sybology?

"Gandalf and Saruman, while not analogous, have traits, goals, and experiences similar to those of Jesus and Satan. " from http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0160.html

[mitch @ May 2nd 2007 8:17PM]

OMG Strongbad referenced on Engadget. My life is now complete.

[whiskey @ May 2nd 2007 10:46PM]

To me it looks like a dude dressed as the "staying alive" video, with an afro and his black shirt collar up... kinda the disco stu on that wario game, but without the glasses or the cellphone.

[John @ May 2nd 2007 11:58PM]

Why hasn't anybody mentioned the obvious? That's a picture of Muhammad (Mean MF, he once beheaded 800 Jews from Median in one day) The folks at Chipworks are going to have to go into hiding.

[JP23 @ May 3rd 2007 12:19AM]

It's a Jackyl or maybe even a Street light.

[Peter @ May 3rd 2007 10:58AM]

Bah, you've all got it wrong. It's actually Frank Zappa.

[sacko @ May 3rd 2007 11:00AM]

it's a streetlight

[hjd3481 @ May 3rd 2007 11:08AM]

Bloody hell, people really grasp at seeing jesus in things, looks like a vauge, abstract, kind-of face-like set of light and dark patches. And if it is jesus, boy does he look angry, grr! im possessing a memory stick rrrRRRr!

[bobhodge @ May 3rd 2007 3:31PM]

Sorry, I only see Venom...

[krngmr @ May 5th 2007 4:15AM]

it's chuck norris.