asciiconvert.com

I've been having trouble getting the output from asciiconvert.com to play nice with blogger, but it's still a cool site. It converts images to letters as below. For example, given an ordinary digital image of some tired person, like this one:

it can convert it to a sequence of N's semicolons, etc., that look like the original. If this doesn't look good to you, part of the blame is my blog settings, but try reducing your font size and/or squinting.

NWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNXKK00KKKKXNNNWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WNNNNNNNNNNNNNNWWWNX0kxdooooooddxxk0KXNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNWWNXOdlcc::::::ccccclloodkOKXXNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNN0xl:;;;;;;;;;;;;:::::ccloodxO0XXNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNWNKklc:;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,;;;;:ccllodxOKXXNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNWWN0xlc:;;;,,,,','''''''',,;;::cllodxOXXXXNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNWNXOdoc:;;,,,,''''''''''''',,,;::cclddkXNNXXNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNWWWXkdoc::;;,,,,,'''''''''''',,,,;;:clodx0NNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNWWN0xlc::;;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;;:clod0NNWWNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNXOdcc::;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;;;;;::lod0XNWWWNNNNNNNN
NNNNNWNKkocc:::;;,,,,,''',''''',,;;;::c:::cclokKXNWWNNNNNNNN
NNNWWWN0kdllc::;;,,''...'''',;:clllllccllllclldkKNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNWWWXOkddddooolc:;,'',;'',,;::::,,,,,;clllllodOXNNNNNNNNNN
NNNWWNXOkxolc::::::::;,,,'';;,,;;;,,,;;;::clllldkKNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNWWXOkdl::;;;;;::cl:;,,:c;;cc:cdxdooolc:;cccoxKNNXXNNNNNN
NNNNWNXOxodddoxkdc:c:lc;,;cc;;cc;;clccloc::;;:clxKNXXKNNNNNN
NNNNWNXOdoxxoccc;;::cl:;;;:cc:;;,''',,;;;;;;;:cloOXOdoxKNNNN
NNWWWNKklcllc:;,,,,coc;;;;::::;,,'.''',,,,,,;;cloxOdlccc0NNN
WWWNNKxxc:::::;;;;:lc;,,,;cc::;,''',,,,,;;;;;;:lodkx::c;kNNN
NNNNNOodc::::::;;;:c;''.',:cc:,,'''',,,,,;;;;;:looOx;,c:0NNN
NNNNNOlxlc::::;;,,:o;''',;;;:c;'..'''''',,;;:::lodOxc,:cKNNN
NNNNNKlxlc::;;,,''cllc::cccc;::,''''''''',,;;;:ldk0kc:cdNNNN
NNNNNNdxoc:;;,,',;:lol:;;;:ccc:;,,,''''''',,;;:ox0Kx::l0NNNN
NNNNNNxddc:;;,,;:coxxdoodooddolcc:::;,'''',,,;:okKKxcckNNNNN
NNNNNXklxl::;:lodxkOkdddkdddxxdxdddooc,''',,,;:oOKKXXNNNNWNW
NNNNNX0dkdc:;lddxxxxdlooolllooodddddddc'',,,,;:lkKKKNWWNNNNW
NNNNNNNNXkoc:ododoxkxdoollooooooolloddl,,,,,,;cdOKKO0KKOKNNN
NNNNNNNNN0dolodolcloolc:::;;::c::;;:ool;:;;;;;cx0K0xdxdxKOx0
NNNNNNNNNXOdoodxooddoolllllloolc:;;:ldooooollodOKKkldx00d;.;
NNNNNNNNNNK0OOOkdooooododooll::c:cccldoddxxxddO0K0ooO0o,..,;
NNNNNNNNNNNXXK00kxddooolccccccclllollloxxxkkkk000xxOd,...,;;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNXKK0Okxxolc:ol;:ccloododddkkxk00OOOxkd'. .,,;:;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNXK0kkxddoccdc:ccccllooddxOOO0K0Odld;...',,;;;,
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNXK0OkdoollocllloooodxkkO000OOxlc:..',,;::;,,;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKK0OxdxxxdxxxkkOO0000K00Oo:;:,',;;:cc;,,,;,
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNXXKK0000000KKKKKKKKOxlc;;:;;;:ccc;;,,;;,,
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNXKXXKKKKK0Okxdl;;,;:::ccc:;;;,,;;;;;;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNXO0xddkOkxxdooc::;,,,;;;:::c:,,;;,,,;,,;;;;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNX0oOk:::;'ddl:;,,,,,;;;;;;::;,,,,,,',,,,,,,;;
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNKo'cKo:;:'.oOxdc:;;,;;;;::;;;,'',,,,,,,,,,,;;;
NNNNNNNNNNNNXOc..dOc;;,.,Oxlc:;,,;;;;;;:;,,,',,,,,,,,,;;;;,,
NNNNNNNNNNNNk;.'oOo;;;' 'Ok;,,,;;;;;;;:;,,,',,,,,,,;;;;;,,;;
NNNNNNNNNNNKdc.;Ox:;;;..cKKd;,;;;;;;;;,,,,,,,,,,,,;;,,,;;;;;
NNNNNNNNNNNXXXKKK0kxdl'.oXXKo:;;;;;;;;,,,,''',,,,,,;;;;;;;,,
NNNNNNNNNNNKXNNNNNNXXKk:lKXXk;,;;;;:;;,,'',,,,,;;;;;;;;;;,,,

It has several different options. For example, colored text:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
WNNNNNNNNNNNNNNX00000KXNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNXOdolccclloodk0KXNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNN0dc;;;;;;;;:::ccodxOKXNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNWXxl:;;,,,,,''',,;;:lldx0XXNNNNNNN
NNNNWN0dl:;,,,''''''''',,;:cldkNNNNNNNNN
NNNWWKxl:;;;,,,'',,,,,,,,,;:coxXNWNNNNNN
NNNNNOoc:;;;,,,,,,'',,,;;;;:clxKNWNNNNNN
NNWWXkoc:;;,,'.'''',;:ccccccclokXNNNNNNN
NNWWXkdoollc;,',,',;;:;,,,;cllldOXNNNNNN
NNWWKkdc;;,;:cc;,;:,::colll::cclkXNXNNNN
NNNNKxododdc::l;;:c;::;::cc:;;:lxXKOKNNN
NNWN0oloc:,,;lc;;:::;,'',,,,,;:coOdcl0NN
WNNKdl::::;;cc;,;:c:;,',,,,;;;;coxd:cxNN
NNNOol:::;;,c:'.,;:c;''''',,;;:cokx;:ONN
NNNXooc:;,',clc;:c:;;,'''''',;;lxOx:lXNN
NNNNxdc;,,;coxoclldoc:::;''',,;lOKdcONNN
NNNXxdl:;odxkxddxoddddddo:'',,;cOKXNNNNW
NNNNX0xccdddxdoolllooolodo,,,,;lOK0XKXNN
NNNNNN0dldoloolc::ccc:;:oocc::cd00ddx0dd
NNNNNNXOkkxooooooolcccccldddxddOKkoOd,.;
NNNNNNNNX0Okddolcc:ccoooooxxkOO0Oxo..';;
NNNNNNNNNXKOxdolol:ccclodxOO00kdo,..,;;,
NNNNNNNNNNXKOxooooooodxkOO00koc;.';::;,;
NNNNNNNNNNNNXK000O0O0KKKK0xo:;;;::c;,,;,
NNNNNNNNNNNNXK0000Okkxdlc:;;::::;;,,;;;;
NNNNNNNNNNKdOc:;cdl;,,,;;;;;:,,,,,,,,,,;
NNNNNNNNXk,cx:;'cOdl;;;;;;:;,',,,,,,,;;;
NNNNNNNNd';kl;,.lk;,,;;;;;;,,',,,,,;;,;;
NNNNNNNKkokOlc,.kXd;;;;;;,,,,',,,,;;;;;,
NNNNNNNXXXNNXKx,xX0:;;;;;,,',,,,;;;;;;,,

But, if you ask me, using a coloured character background is cheating!

                                        
               ........                 
           .':clooollcc:,...            
         .:oxxxxxxxxdddooc:;'..         
       .;ldxxkkkkkOOOkkxxdll:;...       
      .:ldxkkkOOOOOOOOOkkxdol:,         
     .;ldxxxkkkOOkkkkkkkkkxdoc;.        
     'codxxxkkkkkkOOkkkxxxxdol;.        
    .,codxxkkO0OOOOkxdooooooolc,.       
    .,:cclloxkOkkOkxxdxkkkxolll:'.      
    .,:oxxkxdooxkxdkddoclllddool,. .    
    .;c:c::oddlxxdoxddxddoodxxdl;..'.   
    .clcodkkxloxxdddxkOOkkkkkxdoc':ol.  
   .:lddddxxooxkxdodxkOkkkkxxxxoc;:do;  
   'cldddxxkodO0kxdoxOOOOOkkxxdoc,;xd'  
   .ccodxkOkoloxdodxxkOOOOOOkxxl;';dl.  
    ;:oxkkxoc;coll:codddxOOOkkxl'.:o'   
   .;:ldxc:;,;::;c::::::cdOOkkxo'..     
    ..;oo:::;:cclllccclc:ckkkkxl'.....  
      .:l:clccloddooodxdccooddo:..::;.::
      .',,;cccccccloooool:::;::'.,c':k0x
        ..',::cloodooccccc;;,''.';c0XOxx
         ..';:clcldooolc:;''..,:ckX0kxxk
          ..';ccccccc:;,''..,cox0Oxddxkx
            .....'.'......;cdxxxddoxkkxk
            ......',,;:lodxxddddxxkkxxxx
          .:'odxo:lxkkkxxxxxdkkkkkkkkkkx
        .,ko;dxOo':lxxxxxxdxkOkkkkkkkxxx
        :Ox,lxkXl,xkkxxxxxxkkOkkkkkxxkxx
       .,c,'lokK,.:xxxxxxkkkkOkkkkxxxxxk
       ...  ..;k;..dxxxxxkkOkkkkxxxxxxkk

Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris

Theodore Rex is an immense, detailed, and very specific book. It is 784 pages, or 20 full-length CDs, focusing on the US Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, from September 1901 until March 1909. The book is a sequel to Morris' The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt so, if you're looking for insight into Teddy's youth, background, and pre-Presidency days, you'd be better off looking there, and not in this one.

After making my way though the audio book, I feel I know more about Roosevelt and the politics of 100 years ago, including such figures as John Hay and Elihu Root, than I do about early-21st century Washington politics. Not being an expert in the area, the book was perhaps too detailed for me. I mean, in addition to learning about T.R.'s pre-1901 life, I would have preferred a conclusion discussing his historical significance. Sure, there are some obvious things like the Panama Canal, the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the frenzied creation of national parks and monuments, and the continuing rise of of the US as a naval and world power. (Gee, that's quite a list!) But, one thing that I noticed was that rise of Progressivism. Roosevelt never seemed content with the laissez-faire policies of his day's "Conservatives", but seemed to use the government in a proactive way to bring about what he saw as positive change. And it can be said that after 1904 (where he soundly trounced Democrat Alton Parker) every U.S. Presidential election pitted a candidate who favoured a stronger central government against a candidate who favoured a stronger central government.

And this goes triple for 1912. I suppose I'll have to wait until the sequel comes around to read about the 1912 election, where Roosevelt ran as the candidate of the Progressive Party and came in second to Woodrow Wilson, finishing ahead of his chosen successor to the office, Republican William Howard Taft. (I would have liked this part of history to have been included.)

Is it good? Well, it's hard to rate it against the 20^th-21^st century fiction that I normally rate. But I think this book's audience is self-selecting. If think you'd like a long book on the first Roosevelt's Presidency, I'm sure you'll like this book. If you don't think you'd like it, then I don't suggest you read it.

Skating on Thick Ice

Has it been more than two years since I posted on this subject (which may have resulted in more comments than any other post here)?

Why is it that Bob The Builder tells kids to "always stay off frozen ponds"? Have frozen ponds always held extreme dangers that our parents and grandparents weren't aware of, or is it just that people are less responsible these days? In any case, as I've mentioned before, I try to go skating outside at least once a year. As I'm the only one in the family that has skates, the others just come along for the fun. Actually, I grabbed a kid yesterday, took some snow shovels, inspected and scoped out the snow-covered pond, and shoveled off an area and a path for skating. Today, we just went out and had fun. Enjoying a frozen pond is a memory I'd like my kids to have, even if I'm too cheap to buy skates that would be sure to be rarely used on growing feet.

Here are some photos, taken with "Snow" mode on the ol' camera:



If you want to talk about risky winter behaviours, check out the guy and the kids on the ATV. I certainly wouldn't want to restrict his choice of recreation, but, statistically speaking, my guess is that's a more dangerous activity than a hopefully responsible parent going out with his kids on a frozen pond.

Sport That Can Make a Difference

When I first heard of the African Amputee Cup, being played in Sierra Leone, I wasn't sure what to think. I mean, one can react in multiple ways when first encountering the thought of international soccer being played by people missing limbs. But as I think about it more, it seems to me that something like this can represent all that is good about (spectator) sport. I can think of the following:

• I'm not an amputee, but I assume that it could be emcouraging to amputees to see others competing at a high level.
• It can be educational to the non-amputees to see what they can do.
• It can bring attention to the idiotic* wars recently in the region, and the idiotic** practice of hacking limbs off your enemies.

I think the media should focus more on high-level amputee soccer, and less on Anna Nicole Smith.

Here's a photo of Sierra Leone's team:


* I'm sure all sides felt strongly about their positions. I'd use the same adjective to describe just about any war.
** I suppose those doing it could claim it's nicer than killing their opponents.

New Tax Deduction Limits on Gifts of (Cetacean?) Taxidermal Properties

Last year about this time, my tax discovery was the new deductions for the expenses incurred by whaling captains. Apparently, this resulted in some problems. My tax software for this season includes the following note:

What if I contribute taxidermy property?

Legislation enacted in 2006 provides new rules for deducting certain gifts to charity.

In particular, there are new rules limiting deductions for contributions after July 25, 2006 of taxidermy property.

For more information, see IRS Publication 526.

If this situation applies to you, adjust amounts in your return as appropriate.

I see two points of interest here:

1. Someone was concerned enough about people abusing the donation of taxidermal properties that the government took action.
2. You can deduct your expenses as a whaling captain, but if you stuff and mount your dead whale's head and then donate said whale head, you're limited in the deduction you can receive from the value of the whale's head.

(I guess tail donations would have the same rules as head donations.)