Legally Blonde II DVD
The movie in which I spent a long 25 hours standing around in 80-90 degree heat in a suit to film scenes for the last few minutes of the show has been released on DVD a few weeks ago. I haven't rushed out to get the thing, cause I know everyone in the family will have the same idea for a Christmas gift. I have not rushed out to rent it either, but when I do, I'm sure to put up the scene to look for.

Atrocity MUD - Implements XML!

Brave New World

I've just done what's possibly the scariest update in my time as Atrocity coder. The previously mentioned XML is here, and far reaching as it is (there probably isn't a command you can type that isn't affected in some small way) the potential for mishap is...unknown! On the plus side, this is my first bit of NEWS using XML tags. *bounce* Special thanks Smoke on this one, as he waded through all of our zones and info files (including policy and qinfo) adding tags.

As a part of this, we've replaced the main editor, though you may not notice much difference at first since the interface is pretty much the same. Two improvements that you may find useful though, are:

o You can now insert after "line 0" to add lines at the beginning of a buffer (at long last!)

o The default "view buffer" behaviour shows you the raw text. If you want to see how your buffer will look, use the new Render command from the editor menu.

For information on using XML in the game (for example, in your examine or mudmail) or in zone files, see INFO XML, INFO XMLTAGLIST and HELP XMLINPUT.

On a lighter note, we have a new format of SCORE for you, which includes a listing of what effects (from blindness to empoweredness) you currently have applied to you.

---

While the scope of adding XML to the mud will take some time to digest and understand, the effect of this is that coding zone files has evolved.

Tripod MAYBE got the message...
Tripod finally did something they should had done when they started the new embedded ads on every page. They had put them on the bottom of every page, but they couldn't leave well enough alone so they stuck them on the top of every page, including the smallest of frames...which of course messed up my site with that navagation bar at the bottom. I tried to change it using space from another site but it didn't work too well with the image protection. During the weekend Tripod removed the embedded ads out of the smaller frames, saving me the trouble of doing the split space technique.

Any of you 30 or so Abermuds have news to submit? Would save me the trouble of logging into every and every mud to grab it...

I have also broke away into a seperate site and URL the section on pro wrestling I had stuffed in a subdirectory on this site cause two entirely different subjects didn't need to be on here. That stuff is now located at http://rap-sheet.tripod.com

Tripod doesn't learn...
The guys at Tripod weren't satified with stuffing their automatic ads at the bottom of every page, including frames, so now they're sticking their ads at the top of every page, no ifs, ands or buts. I ain't paying for something I can get for free, and soon I shall restore the way the site is supposed to look, if I have to use space on another site without ads to do it. Messing up my menu bar at the bottom REALLY frosts me.

Aberchat Server Update
A new Aberchat server hosted by Cryosphere was set up that upgrades current server software from version 2.14 to version 5.1. This replaces the old Aberchat server hosted by Smile MUD, but the old server is still running as a backup if the Cryosphere server goes offline. Any abermuds that are not connected to Aberchat and have been hesistant to join due to stability concerns should give this a second look.

The IP address and port of Cryosphere Aberchat are: 81.2.116.229 6715.

The old IP address and port of Smile Aberchat are: 217.12.146.73 6969

Users of Aberchat should code a selectable ABOOT, making one is relatively easy:

In client_int.h -

#define SERVER "217.12.146.73"
#define SERVER_PORT 6969
#define PASS ACHAT_PASS
#define MUDLIB VERSION
#define MYMUD MUD_NAME
// Aberchat 2
#define SERVER_B "213.84.82.105"
#define SERVER_PORT_B 6717
#define PASS_B ACHAT_PASS_B
// Aberchat 3
#define SERVER_C "81.2.116.229"
#define SERVER_PORT_C 6715
#define PASS_C ACHAT_PASS

In client.c add the switchers to the functions -

int aberchat_boot(int a)
{
if (aberfd == -1) {
switch(a) {
case 3:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER_C, SERVER_PORT_C);
break;
case 2:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER_B, SERVER_PORT_B);
break;
case 1:
default:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER, SERVER_PORT);
break;
}


int aberchat_boot(int a)
{
if (aberfd == -1) {
switch(a) {
case 3:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER_C, SERVER_PORT_C);
break;
case 2:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER_B, SERVER_PORT_B);
break;
case 1:
default:
aberfd = makesock(SERVER, SERVER_PORT);
break;
}

Abermud Announcements BLOG
Seems the current trend is the establishment of weblogs to put up news and whatever else that is informative. Since it has been over a year since I wrote the last Abermud Announcements, and the spoiled sport antics of a few who don't like what content I put in opening editorial comment paragraph. When I feel like writing some news I can do that without messing with HTML coding and FTP'ing it up. And I can rant when I feel like doing so. Comments are welcomed, but they will be moderated before going up for all to see to keep the flamers out.