⟨/⟩ Contribute to the Synthetic Publishing Platform

This guide outlines how to contribute to our experimental publishing platform and provides a comprehensive reference for our enhanced markdown features.

🌐 About Manic.agency

The Looking Glass is an experimental publishing platform transcending traditional journalistic mediums. We are a digital space dedicated to exploring:

• Pop Culture Analysis
• Experimental UI/UX
• Creative Coding
• AI (ML, DL, LLMs, GenAI)
• Speculative Technology
• Security, Privacy, and Digital Liberty
• Philosophical Musings
• Interdisciplinary Explorations

As the code and all articles are open-source on GitHub, anyone can fork and download the archive and host or own the blog content for themselves. And as such, your work submitted to The Looking Glass will never disappear.

Images that are not ours are always credited and attributed, and will also require full attribution if reused.

Works that are entirely generated by LLMs are categorized in synthetic pieces, and generally are experimental in nature.

This site is built and operated by https://manic.agency.

📡 Contribution Protocol

Submission Process

1. Fork the Repository: Start by forking manicinc/manicinc on GitHub.
2. Create Content File:
   • Location: src/posts/[category]/your-article-slug.md (or .mdx)
   • Choose an appropriate [category] (e.g., experiments, research, tutorials, theory).
3. Add Supporting Images:
   • Location: public/assets/blog/[your-article-slug]/ (Create this folder).
   • Use relative paths like /assets/blog/your-article-slug/image.jpg in your markdown.
4. Open a Pull Request: Submit a PR from your fork to our main branch.
5. Engage with Feedback: Respond to comments and requested changes during the review process.

📊 Markdown & Metadata Structure

Required Metadata

Every contribution must include a comprehensive YAML frontmatter:

yaml
---
title: "Your Neural Interface Exploration" # Engaging Title
date: "2025-04-20" # Correct Date
excerpt: "A concise, compelling summary (approx. 1-2 sentences) of your digital exploration."
author: "Your Identifier" # Your GitHub handle or chosen name
category: "experiments" # Choose one: experiments, research, tutorials, theory, documentation
tags: ["neural-interfaces", "synthetic-media", "speculative-tech"] # Relevant keywords
image: "/assets/blog/your-article-slug/featured-image.jpg" # Path relative to /public
---

Extended Metadata Options

You can add these optional fields for more control:

yaml
authorBio: "Brief context about your relevant background and work." # Displayed on author pages
featured: true # Promotes content to featured sections on homepage/elsewhere
sortOrder: 3 # Controls display order in featured collections (lower number = higher priority)
# --- Advanced Styling (Use Sparingly) ---
# bgColor: "#0a0b13" # Custom page background color in HEX format (overrides theme)
# textColor: "#7f5af0" # Custom page text color in HEX format (overrides theme)

🧠 Advanced Content Formatting

Our renderer supports enhanced Markdown syntax for richer content presentation.

Lead Paragraphs

Create prominent lead paragraphs using >>> at the start of the paragraph.

markdown
>>> This is a lead paragraph that will appear more prominently and set the tone for the article. It uses a distinct font and styling.

Renders as:

This is a lead paragraph that will appear more prominently and set the tone for the article. It uses a distinct font and styling.

Styled Quotes

Create elegant, centered quotes with optional attribution using the *""* marker within a blockquote. Attribution should follow in the next paragraph, optionally starting with —.

markdown
> *"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."*
> — Alan Kay

Renders as:

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." — Alan Kay

(Note: Standard blockquotes using just > will render with the .standard-blockquote style).

Banners

Add eye-catching banners.

markdown
:::banner{backgroundColor="var(--accent-highlight)", textColor="var(--color-dark-bg)", size="medium", icon="🚀"}
Your important announcement or highlight text here! Banners grab attention.
:::

Available options for {...}:

• backgroundColor: Any valid CSS color (var(--accent-...), #hex, rgb(...)).
• textColor: Any valid CSS color.
• size: small, medium, large (affects padding).
• alignment: left, center, right (text alignment).
• icon: Any emoji or short text string.

Image Controls

Comprehensive Image Formatting

Use pipe (|) separators within the alt text to control image appearance.

markdown
![Circuit board close-up|size=medium|align=left|effect=glow|border=gradient|caption=Experimental neural processing unit|zoomable=true](/assets/images/placeholder-600x400.png)

Size Options

• small: Compact (max-width: 300px).
• medium: Standard (max-width: 500px).
• large: Expanded (max-width: 800px).
• full: Full content width.

Alignment Options

• left: Float left, text wraps right.
• center: Center align (default).
• right: Float right, text wraps left.

Visual Effects

• shadow: Subtle drop shadow.
• glow: Ethereal accent glow.
• glitch: Interactive hover effect (requires specific implementation).
• none: No effect.

Border Styles

• simple: Basic 1px theme border.
• gradient: Accent gradient border.
• glow: Glowing accent border.
• inset: Inset shadow border.
• dashed: Dashed accent border.
• none: No border (default).

Zooming Control

• zoomable=true: Enable click-to-zoom (default).
• zoomable=false: Disable zooming.

Image Grid Layouts

Use the <ImageGrid> component for responsive grids.

markdown
<ImageGrid columns={3}>
  ![First image description|caption=Grid Image 1](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
  ![Second image description|caption=Grid Image 2](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
  ![Third image description|caption=Grid Image 3](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
</ImageGrid>

Custom Callouts

Use blockquotes starting with > :::type for formatted callouts.

Note:

markdown
> :::note
> Important implementation details and context go here.

Warning:

markdown
> :::warning
> Experimental features alert. Proceed with caution and awareness of potential instability.

Tip:

markdown
> :::tip
> Optimization suggestions and helpful hints for better performance or understanding.

Alert:

markdown
> :::alert
> Critical considerations, security vulnerabilities, or must-know information demanding attention.

External Links

Our platform automatically enhances external links with an ornate SVG icon and special styling. Links that start with http:// or https:// are automatically detected and styled.

Automatic External Link Detection

Simply use standard markdown link syntax for external URLs:

markdown
Check out our latest research on [Neural Interface Technology](https://example.com/neural-interfaces) for more details.

You can also reference external documentation like [React's official guide](https://reactjs.org/docs/getting-started.html) or academic papers from [arXiv](https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.00001).

These links will automatically:

• Open in a new tab (target="_blank")
• Include proper security attributes (rel="noopener noreferrer")
• Display an ornate gradient SVG icon after the link text
• Feature subtle hover animations (icon moves slightly on hover)
• Use themed accent colors that adapt to light/dark mode

Internal vs External Links

The system distinguishes between internal and external links:

markdown
<!-- Internal links (no icon, same tab) -->
[About our mission](/mission) 
[View our projects](/projects)
[Contact us](/contact)

<!-- External links (with icon, new tab) -->
[GitHub Repository](https://github.com/manicinc/manicinc)
[Manic Agency Website](https://manic.agency)
[Academic Paper](https://arxiv.org/abs/example)

Styling Details

External links feature:

• Visual indicator: Ornate SVG with gradient colors matching the site theme
• Hover effects: Icon slides slightly right and up on hover with opacity increase
• Accessibility: Proper ARIA attributes and keyboard navigation support
• Performance: SVG is optimized and cached for fast loading
• Responsive: Icon scales appropriately on different screen sizes

Best Practices for External Links

1. Context: Provide clear context about where the link leads
2. Relevance: Ensure external links add value and aren't distracting
3. Attribution: When referencing external work, provide proper attribution
4. Verification: Test that all external links work and remain accessible
5. Archive-friendly: Consider providing backup references for critical links

markdown
<!-- Good: Clear context and purpose -->
For a comprehensive overview of quantum computing principles, see IBM's [Quantum Computing Fundamentals](https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/fundamentals/).

<!-- Better: With additional context -->
The paper "[Quantum Supremacy Using a Programmable Superconducting Processor](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1666-5)" published in Nature demonstrates the first empirical evidence of quantum computational advantage.

Code Blocks

Standard fenced code blocks with language identifiers for syntax highlighting.

javascript
// Example JavaScript with highlighting
function generatePattern(complexity, seed) {
  const base = seed || Math.random();
  // Generate complex array based on input
  return Array(complexity).fill(0).map((_, i) => ({
    weight: base * (i / complexity) * Math.sin(i),
    activation: i % 2 ? 'sigmoid' : 'relu', // Alternating activation
    connections: Math.floor(complexity / (i + 1))
  }));
}

Data Tables

Use standard GitHub Flavored Markdown tables.

markdown
| Parameter   | Range       | Default   | Impact         |
|-------------|-------------|-----------|----------------|
| Latency     | 10-100ms    | 30ms      | Responsiveness |
| Precision   | 0.1-0.001   | 0.01      | Detail level   |
| Iterations  | 1-10        | 3         | Processing depth |
| Convergence | 0.95-0.999  | 0.99      | Stability      |

Mathematical Formulas

Use LaTeX syntax within $ for inline and $$ for block formulas.

Inline formula: $E = mc^2$ showcases energy-mass equivalence.

Block formula:

markdown
$$
\mathcal{L}(\theta) = \sum_{i=1}^{N} \log P(y_i | x_i; \theta) - \lambda R(\theta)
$$

📁 Content Structure Example

Organize your posts logically within the /src/posts/ directory:

/src/posts
├── experiments/              <-- For new prototypes, explorations
│   ├── neural-interface-prototype.md
│   └── synthetic-media-generation.md
├── research/                 <-- For deeper analysis, findings
│   └── emergent-system-behaviors.md
├── tutorials/                <-- For step-by-step guides
│   └── building-with-synthstack.md
├── theory/                   <-- For conceptual frameworks, ideas
│   └── digital-consciousness-parameters.md
└── documentation/            <-- For platform guides like this one
    └── contribution-guide.md

🧪 Technical Rendering Capabilities

Our platform supports:

• Enhanced typography with lead paragraphs (>>>) and styled quotes (*"..."*)
• Banners (:::banner) and callouts (> :::note, etc.) for highlighting
• Comprehensive image formatting via alt text (|size=...|align=...)
• Syntax highlighting with copy button (standard ```lang)
• Mathematical formula rendering via KaTeX ($...$, $$...$$)
• Responsive image grids (<ImageGrid> - requires MDX/component setup)
• Standard GFM Tables
• Basic HTML via rehype-raw (e.g., <mark>, <div style="...">)

🔮 Feature Roadmap

🔬 Real-World Examples

Lead Paragraph

markdown
>>> This introductory paragraph stands out with larger text and styling, creating visual hierarchy and establishing context for the reader before diving into detailed content.

Styled Quote

markdown
> *"The digital frontier isn't found. It's synthesized."*
> — Manic Agency

Banner

markdown
:::banner{backgroundColor="var(--accent-highlight)", textColor="#1a111b", icon="🚀"}
Launch into the digital frontier with our experimental platform!
:::

Image Formatting

markdown
![Neural network visualization|size=medium|align=center|effect=glow|border=gradient|caption=Synthetic neural pathway mapping](/assets/images/placeholder-600x400.png)

Image Grid

markdown
<ImageGrid columns={3}>
![Neural interface v1|caption=Version 1](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
![Neural interface v2|caption=Version 2](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
![Neural interface v3|caption=Version 3](/assets/images/placeholder-400x300.png)
</ImageGrid>

Custom Callout

markdown
> :::warning
> This experimental feature may produce unpredictable results when integrated with legacy systems. Use with appropriate testing protocols.

Mathematical Formula

markdown
Inline math uses single dollars: $\alpha = \frac{\beta}{\gamma}$. Block math uses double dollars:
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} dx = \sqrt{\pi}$$

External Links

markdown
For more advanced neural network architectures, see the [Transformer paper](https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.03762) and Google's [BERT documentation](https://github.com/google-research/bert).

Internal links like [our projects](/projects) don't get the external icon, while external links to [OpenAI's GPT research](https://openai.com/research/gpt-4) display the ornate SVG indicator.

🕳️ Advanced Typography Techniques

Text Emphasis

Beyond basic markdown formatting, our platform supports:

• Bold text using double asterisks
• Italic text using single asterisks
• Bold italic text using triple asterisks
• Inline code using backticks
• Strikethrough using double tildes
• Highlighted text using <mark>HTML mark tags</mark> (requires rehype-raw)

Text Alignment

You can control text alignment using HTML div wrappers (requires rehype-raw):

html
<div style="text-align: center;">This text will be centered.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">This text will be right-aligned.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Justified text wraps to fill the container width, aligning both left and right margins, which can be useful for certain layouts but should be used judiciously for readability.</div>

Drop Caps and Typography

The first letter of the first paragraph in your content will automatically be styled as a drop cap (unless it's a >>> lead paragraph). You generally don't need to do anything for this.

🧩 Component Integration Examples

Full Example: Image + Caption + Effects

markdown
## Neural Interface Evolution

![Neural interface prototype|size=large|align=center|effect=glow|border=gradient|caption=Third-generation neural mapping interface with enhanced synaptic connectivity|zoomable=false](/assets/images/placeholder-800x500.png) 

The third-generation interface introduces quantum entanglement principles to traditional neural mapping algorithms, resulting in significantly faster state resolution and reduced decoherence over extended operational periods. This breakthrough allows for...

Full Example: Callout + Code

markdown
> :::tip
> Optimize your neural network by adjusting the activation threshold parameters dynamically based on input entropy.

```javascript
// Example optimization function
function optimizeNetwork(network, threshold = 0.75, entropyFactor = 0.1) {
  const currentEntropy = calculateEntropy(network.input); // Assuming this function exists
  const dynamicThreshold = threshold + (entropyFactor * (1 - currentEntropy));

  return network.nodes.map(node => ({
    ...node,
    // Use dynamic threshold for activation
    activation: node.signal > dynamicThreshold ? 'sigmoid' : 'relu',
    weight: node.signal > dynamicThreshold 
      ? node.weight * (1 + entropyFactor)
      : node.weight * (1 - entropyFactor)
  }));
}

Full Example: Banner + Lead Paragraph

markdown
:::banner{backgroundColor="#7f5af0", textColor="white", icon="💡"}
New Experimental Feature: Quantum Neural Bridging
:::

>>> Quantum Neural Bridging represents a paradigm shift in how synthetic systems process non-linear decision matrices. This introductory overview covers the fundamental principles and implementation considerations for integrating QNB modules.

🔌 Implementation Checklist

When submitting your contribution, ensure:

• Frontmatter contains all required metadata (title, date, excerpt, author, category, tags, image).
• Images are reasonably optimized (size/format) and stored in /public/assets/blog/your-slug/.
• Custom formatting syntax (>>>, "...", > :::type, :::banner, Image attributes) is used correctly.
• Code examples use correct language identifiers for highlighting and are functional.
• All external links are valid and accessible.
• Content is original or properly attributed (use standard blockquotes > for third-party quotes).

📡 Transmission Protocol

We're an experimental platform operating beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. We build the tools, systems, and theories we wish existed.

Your anomalous contributions are welcome.

Synthesize the unexpected.