-------------------------------------------------------------------------------  gaag gaag gaag gaag  gaaga$ .$ gaagagaag $ .$ gaagagaag $ .$aaaa $ .$aaaa gaagagaag gaagagaag  $ .$ $.:$ $aa$ $ .$ $.:$ $ .$ $ .$ $.:$ gaag $.:$ gaag $ .$ $ .$ $ .$ $ .$  $.:$ $:|$ gaaga$.:$ $:|$ $.:$ $.:$ $:|$ $ .$ $:|$ $ .$ $.:$ $.:$ $.:$ $.:$ : $:|$ $|l$ $ .$ $:|$ $|l$ $:|$ $:|$ $|l$ $.:$ $|l$ $.:$ $:|$ $:|$ $:|$ $:|$ :  $|l$ $l&$ $.:$ $|l$ $l&$ $|l$ $|l$ $l&$ $:|$ $l&$ $:|$ $|l$ $|l$ $|l$ $|l$  $l&$ $&$$ $:l$ $l&$ $&$$ $l&$ $l&$ $&$$ $|l$ $&$$ $|l$ $l&$ $l&$ $l&$ $l&$  $&$$ $$$$ $l&$ $&$$ $$$$ $&$$a$&$$ $$$$ $l&$ $$$$ $l&$ $&$$a$&$$ $&$$ $&$$  $$$$a$$$$ $&$$a$$$$ $$$$ $$$$aaaaa $$$$a$&$$ $$$$a$&$$ $$$$aaaaa $$$$ --------[aCk!%f!Re]----------------------- $$$$ ---- $$$$ ---------------------  #001 ::: aCk!'s Da'Letter ::: July Something... I dunno, It's a Monday... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Introduction...  ---------------  w3wp!? Welcome to the first edition of da'letter... [ NOTE: It's called "da'letter" instead of "the letter" because that shitty, 2-minute font didn't allow me the space. I assure you... I'm not turning into some kind of "el loco dope 'g'." ]  Anyway, all this simple piese of crap is, is just a collection of ramblings. You know, things like: "ACK!{TM)'S GUIDE TO SHITTY ASCII (Hosted by me...)", commentaries on different "scene" things, and also commentaries on "real life shit, you know."  Are you saying, "Why the hell do you have a 'newsletter'?" Because I want to. Hell... Cybernary has one, uhm... and so does... uhhh.... nevermind... But hell... I've been in the scene long enough. I deserve one. [ NOTE: 4 years... ]  ACK!(TM)'S GUIDE TO SHITTY ASCII  --------------------------------  This section is for me to give advice to those who are beginners to ascii art, or those who want to draw ascii. You intermediate and advanced ascii artists will probably get nothing out of this, but read it anyway -- if only to see my excellent Faulkneresque stream-of-conciousness type writing style.  1st tip for beginning ascii artists: KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don't overdo it. That is the biggest mistake I have ever seen. And it's very common. I often pick up a pack that has an overripe ascii in it, and say to myself "Shit! This could have been so much better without all that extra crap."  I try to keep my art very simple. I guess that it is my trademark. I guess I'm famous as "that ascii-slacker who says weird shit on irc." I hope not. If I am, somebody please tell me. But, to continue on... Many people like my art. There have been many times after I finish a very complicated ascii and DCC it to Spear, Holocaust, kHz, or somebody, and they say to me, "Patrick, man... No offence, but this looks like shit. Cut down on all the nonessentials." I respect their frankness. It hurts, but helps me grow inside... (teehee... I made a funny.)  2nd tip for beginning ascii artists: Get a backing in ansi art. Ascii may look simple, but it's not. A background in ansi will help you with forms. Many ansi artists can jump into ascii, and make phenominal works ( Lord Jazz, Chromatik, Maestro, #28, ect... ) right off the bat. It doesn't always work that way, but if you do have ansi experience, you ascii does flow better. I should know. I drew ansi for almost 2 years (Getting as far as iCE Trial) before I said fuck it, and started to draw ascii. Granted, this isn't always the case. There are many new school artists who have no experience in ansi art, who just rock hardcore.  3rd tip for beginning ascii artists: Just have fun. That's what this shit is all about. If I start to find that I'm taking the scene seriously, it's time for a break.  Who the hell are these geeks on IRC?  ------------------------------------  That's what I want to know. Does every jerkoff with a computer and a friend in ACiD I-NET have +o in #ANSI? What is this? Case in point... I dropped into #ANSI the other day (Which I have a tendency to do every two months just to let people know I'm alive). Well... I tried to at any rate. There had been a channel takeover. Some asshole with a sexual insecurity complex and too much spare time had taken over the channel. The channel was finally "reconquered" and I proceeded in. I pretty much typed something to the tune of the following: aCk_> What the fuck is the point of this channel takeover shit? Tres jouvenile  n'est-ce pas?  I thought that might dissuede some immature geek that if he made a comment, it would be self-detrimental. Seeing the fact that if he answered, he would be naming himself immature. Well... I got something to the tune of: killspree> because its fun  Oh joy... Somebody to fuck with. I'm not talking flood-war, ect. I'm talking about intelligent comments generated to offend. I typed something like this in return: aCk_> killspree: Instead of trying to give us hints, just tell us how small  your dick actually is.  Heh... so maybe that wasn't very intelligent, but I found it humorous. Killspree was not amused. He apparently went berserk, because he replied with something extremely amusing and grammatically dead. I dunno what he was trying to say. When I was in kindergarten I could write better than that. I made a smappy comment in return -- making fun of his illiterate red-neck approach to the english language of cource -- and he got maaaaaaaaaaaad. Ohhh... guess what the silly goober did then! In his infinite quest to a witty reparte, the supergenius pointed out a typo I had made earlier. OH SHIT! I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RACK MY BRAIN FOR A SUITABLE COMEBACK TO THAT! I was kinda' tired of this guy, so I said something to the effect of, "Just who are you anyway? Do you do art, or are you just somebody's friend?" He replied that he didn't do art, and he was only in the channel to "fuck with ANSI people." Whew! WOW! This guy must be a hit with the ladies back home! He has so many chickies that he has time to "fuck with ANSI people" between blow jobs. (Sarcasm folks...)  Then he called me a faggot. That was going too far. I was not offended by being called a "faggot." I have friends who are "faggots" and "dykes." I am straight. Always have been, and always will be, but I am open minded. I would rather be a "faggot" than an ignorant geek like Killspree. It was not being called a faggot that pissed me off. It was his use of the word. If Killspree was actually as intelligent as he thinks, then he wouldn't have made such a narrowminded comment. I let him know this. He wasn't too happy about that. I also told him that he actually has no idea who I am. He doesn't know what I look like. He's never heard my voice. He's never even chatted with me before. He doesn't know about my hobbies, or my interests, or my sexual history, or my career intrests, of the size of my genetalia. I have him at an advantage. Every comment I have made has dealt with his mental capabilities. Every comment he has made has dealt with bullshit. He platform is nonexistant. His opinions have no tangibility. He is nothing.  It was then he decided I had won. The way he let me know was this: He ban-kicked me. He ban-kicked me because of this: He had no comeback. His brain couldn't handle the stress, so he lashed out like any young crypto-Nazi with low mental capacity, and a large odipus complex. He backed out. He finally was the one who beat himself. He distrayed his reputation. He backed out of the battle. He turned his ass and FLED!  Me banned? Who cares? I just /MSG'd kaleidas (or was it epidemic... I forget) and was unbanned. I approached Killspree again and told him about the situation. He didn't like that. Boo hoo! Did I offend the guy? Whoops! He banned me again! Teehee... who cares. I got on again. Then he deopped every op on the channel except himself. But... he failed to ban, or kick me. Soon... a friend of mine on PHLOME's auto-op popped in. I told him about the situation, and Kilspree was shown the door. Thus, I conquer again. Intelligence is always preferable over ignorance.  Steps to making an ASCII - aCk! Style  -------------------------------------  I know I should probably have put this under the "ACK'S GUIDE..." but I didn't want to. This is a step by step guide to making an aCk! Style ASCII. My example for today is hmmm.... lemme see... OK! I got it! iCE... STEP ONE :::  Use $ with the ALT-B command to make a general shape for your  ASCII. Don't make your "actual" letters yet. Just get an idea for  the shape you want. Use the ALT-B - C command at will. Then, center  your blocks in the screen. As for me, I have the uncanny ability to  center perfectly unintintionally. I just draw the ASCII, and go to  center it, and find out that it already is. Whoa! Idiot savante!  $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ STEP TWO :::  Now, form the general letter shape.  $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ STEP THREE :::  Now, expand upon that. Use "g" and "a" to make your letters  actually look like letters.  $$$$$$$  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ ggggggg $$$$$$$ ggggggg  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$ STEP FOUR :::  This is the time to change the shape if you don't like the way  it looks. I'm going to do this... watch! Feel free to do this any  time you want. These are suggestions, not stipulatory laws.  $$$$$$$  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ ggggggg $$$$$$$ ggggggg  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$$$$$$$ STEP FIVE :::  Add details to the letters. Curve them if you want, or just  add those cross things that everybody rips off Lord Jazz and unSane.  I'm doing the trademark aCk! Dividing Line(TM), as well as the  In-letter fade.  $$$$$$$  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$  a aagaaaaagaagaaaaagaa agaaaaagaagaaaaaga aagaaaaagaa a  $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $  $..::.$ $..::.$ $..::.$ $..::.$ $..::.$  $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$  $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$  $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$  $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$aaaa$&&$$&$  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ ggggggg $$$$$$$ ggggggg  $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$a$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$a$$$$$ STEP FIVE :::  Some people stop at step four, but I just go to hell with  more decoration... Feel free to change anything...  .  "ý&g&ý"  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$  a aagaaaaagagaaaaagaa agaaaaagagaaaaaga aagaaaaagaa a  $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $  : :: ::: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ ::: :: :  $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$  $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$  $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$  $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$aaaa$&&$$&$  : :: ::: $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ :: ggggggga$$$$$$$ :: ggggggg ::: :: :  $$$$$$$a$$$$$$$aaaa$g$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$a$$$$$  $$$$$$$ STEP SIX :::  Personalize it, and tell what the ASCII is for. Quite often,  I add so much filigree, you can't tell what the letters are.  .  "ý&g&ý"  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$  a aagaaaaagagaaaaagaa agaaaaagagaaaaaga aagaaaaagaa a  $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $ $ .. $  : :: ::: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ ::: :: :  $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$  $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$  $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$  $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$aaaa$&&$$&$  : :: ::: $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ :: ggggggga$$$$$$$ :: ggggggg ::: :: :  $$$$$$$a$$$$$$$aaaa$g$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$a$$$$$  ----------------------- $$$$$$$ -----------------------  i n s a n e . c r e a t o r s . e n t e r p r i s e s  -------------------------------------------------------  a r r o g a n c e ! f i r e : a s c i i  There... a step-by-step look at ASCII aCk! Style... Feel free to use my guidelines, but if you rip my ASCII, (Even though I believe that imitation is the greatest form of flattery) I will not hesitate to give you a "rep-wuppin'".  SO LONG!  --------  Bye. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  July Edition of The Letter ::: ART: aCk! ::: ARTICLES: aCk! ::: SUCKS?: Yes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  gaag gaag gaag gaag  gaaga$ .$ gaagagaag $ .$ gaagagaag $ .$aaaa $ .$aaaa gaagagaag gaagagaag  $ .$ $.:$ $aa$ $ .$ $.:$ $ .$ $ .$ $.:$ gaag $.:$ gaag $ .$ $ .$ $ .$ $ .$  $.:$ $:|$ gaaga$.:$ $:|$ $.:$ $.:$ $:|$ $ .$ $:|$ $ .$ $.:$ $.:$ $.:$ $.:$ : $:|$ $|l$ $ .$ $:|$ $|l$ $:|$ $:|$ $|l$ $.:$ $|l$ $.:$ $:|$ $:|$ $:|$ $:|$ :  $|l$ $l&$ $.:$ $|l$ $l&$ $|l$ $|l$ $l&$ $:|$ $l&$ $:|$ $|l$ $|l$ $|l$ $|l$  $l&$ $&$$ $:l$ $l&$ $&$$ $l&$ $l&$ $&$$ $|l$ $&$$ $|l$ $l&$ $l&$ $l&$ $l&$  $&$$ $$$$ $l&$ $&$$ $$$$ $&$$a$&$$ $$$$ $l&$ $$$$ $l&$ $&$$a$&$$ $&$$ $&$$  $$$$a$$$$ $&$$a$$$$ $$$$ $$$$aaaaa $$$$a$&$$ $$$$a$&$$ $$$$aaaaa $$$$ --------[aCk!%f!Re]----------------------- $$$$ ---- $$$$ --------------------- completed ice ascii...  .  "ý&g&ý"  ggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg gggggggaaaaggggggg  $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$ $a$$$$$  a aagaaaaagagaaaaagaa agaaaaagagaaaaaga aagaaaaagaa a  .$ .. $.$ .. $. $ .. $.$ .. $. $ .. $.  : :: ::: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ $..::.$ :: $..::.$ ::: :: :  $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$ $::||:$  $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$ $||ll|$  $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$ $ll&&l$  $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$ $&&$$&$aaaa$&&$$&$  : :: ::: $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ :: ggggggga$$$$$$$ :: ggggggg ::: :: :  $$$$$$$a$$$$$$$aaaa$g$$$$$ $$$$$$$aaaa$a$$$$$  ----------------------- $$$$$$$ -----------------------  i n s a n e . c r e a t o r s . e n t e r p r i s e s  -------------------------------------------------------  a r r o g a n c e ! f i r e : a s c i i SAUCE00The Letter aCk fire 19960909bQPU