The MaxCo. piggybank is running low, especially after the unfavourable judgement in the Cat-U-Like case (domain name now for sale).
Fortunately, we have recently developed a web-scheme which, we believe, will restore MaxCo.'s finances to their original glory, and will pay for the refurbisment of the orangery and for Maxwell's medication.
Adoptacloud.org relies on video input from MaxCo.'s rooftop webcam, located on the northern belltower and equipped with a fisheye lens to give an unfettered view of the surrounding moorland.
Contrast-enhancing software, edge-finding routines and some basic image recognition technology allows individual clouds within the camera's view to be identified, outlined and numbered. Images are taken every five seconds during daylight hours, allowing each cloud to be tracked across the screen.
To adopt a cloud, users log onto the website, where they are presented with the current (and updated) image from the webcam. Clicking on "analysis" will superimpose, on the image, the outlines which the software has placed around each cloud.
Some of the clouds onscreen have a unique Cloud Reference Number, or CRN, which appears on the image overlay. Other clouds, however, carry superimposed names, short personal messages, or corporate logos. These clouds have already been adopted.
To adopt a cloud of your own, simply click on any unadopted cloud. A short and cheap PayPal transaction then allows you to adopt that cloud for its lifetime. Having adopted the cloud, you may upload a message, a URL, a logo or a jpeg; whatever you upload will appear superimposed on the cloud on the computer overlay.
Choose your cloud wisely!! The wisp which has just broken away from that Coca Cola cloud (and which is now up for grabs) may be about to develop into a far larger cloud - perhaps Pepsi would like to buy it? Or perhaps it is destined to dissipate, along with your sponsorship investment.
If your cloud merges with a larger one, the software will attempt to track the boundary between them for as long as possible, until no visible division remains. In this case, the new amalgamated cloud takes on the identity of whichever cloud was larger at the point of merger. Tough luck, loooooser! If your cloud splits into two, the larger part keeps your identity, and the smaller one is up for adoption.
If your cloud drifts off the edge of the screen (as it is bound to do, eventually), that is the end of your sponsorship period.
Want to start a cloud-race with your friends? Everyone pick a cloud, pay the adoption fee, and then wait to see whose is the last survivor after mergers. Want to send a message to your beloved? Buy them that pinkish cloud that looks a bit like a rose - then make sure they check the site fast, before it disappears.
High-resolution jpegs of your adopted cloud are available at any time, free of charge.
Naturally, the MaxCo. board were somewhat skeptical of this new- fangled scheme; some even considered it cynical and moneygrubbing. It was also pointed out that only a complete fool would pay 25 cents to sponsor something as ephemeral as a cloud.
However, when research revealed that there are over 17 million complete fools on Earth (and increasing every minute), our way forward was clear.
Indeed, MaxCo is now negotiating for the placement of fisheye webcams at several scenic locations around the globe. Watch out for AdoptacloudonEverest.org, and many many more....
Adoptacloud today! Buy now while stocks last!-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2010 Cloud-Vertisements http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24162063/Flogo takes the creation of corporate clouds into its own hands. [jurist, Feb 27 2010] The Cloudspotters Guide http://www.amazon.c...inney/dp/0340895896One of my favourite books. [wagster, Feb 28 2010] my piece of the earth! Name-A-Grain [xandram, Mar 01 2010] Genius - I have a similar website at www.AdoptANinja.com displaying the webcam feed from a secret ninja village. Anyone can sponsor any of the inhabitants, at which point they will personally hunt you down and remove your spleen.
Clouds are better in this respect, and have fewer labour dispute issues.-- zen_tom, Feb 27 2010 What we need now is a web designer.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2010 Better hire a few real estate lawyers from Missisippi or Egypt to write the contracts. Otherwise, lawsuits will have you in receivership pronto.-- mouseposture, Feb 27 2010 Like how? I Googled for "a law against superimposing names, messages or logos on live images of clouds for a fee", and only got three hits.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2010 Were any of those hits for an halfbakery idea [MB]?I've got royalties coming.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 27 2010 Scratch that.
'Cloudvertisements' has now joined the list of ideas of mine to inexplicably vanish.
grrrrrrrrrrrrr.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 27 2010 C'est life, as they say in Guernsey. Was your idea for putting real advertising on real clouds? Or virtual adverstising on cloud images?
And MaxCo is looking for a cunning webster for 48%....-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2010 [MB] \\The island which has just broken away from that parish (and which is now up for grabs) may be about to develop into a far larger parish - perhaps Louisiana would like to buy it? Or perhaps it is destined to disappear, along with your investment.\\ See what I mean?-- mouseposture, Feb 27 2010 Real projections on real clouds. I don't recall it being mfd'd.
It's like the good old days when you could take your idea to a notary publc and have it notarized and sent back to you by registered mail and that would stand up in court for proving date of origination.
Now it's just a bunch of unopened mail.
...and now I'm sad.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 27 2010 Well, repost it?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2010 s'just not the same.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 27 2010 Didn't Enron try this? (I'm a firm believer in small accumulations so a big +)-- xenzag, Feb 28 2010 //Well, repost it?//
//s'just not the same.//
You could make it funny. Then it'd be a witty repost.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 28 2010 I may be a bit tetched, but I'm not going repostal.-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Feb 28 2010 Pure genius. In a halfbaked way. [marked-for-steal]-- cowtamer, Mar 01 2010 + I'd like a pink cloud please!-- xandram, Mar 01 2010 [Wagster] has pointed out that the logistical problems inherent in the implementation of this idea could be overcome if a postal system were to be employed. If any of you happen to own "adoptacloudbypost.com" and would like to trade it for "adoptacloud.org", I'm amenable to discussions.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 05 2010 //lawsuits will have you in receivership pronto.// //Like how?// How about damage to property caused by precipitation from your cloud? You could even have water companies charging you for the costs of tidying up your rain. Quelle horreur!-- DrBob, Mar 05 2010 Cool idea clearly described. Please review and bun as necessary.-- doctorremulac3, Feb 13 2020 Wow, I remember knocking this one about at the time and trying to figure out how to do it in Flash using a webcam. Never even got it prototyped though.-- wagster, Mar 15 2020 random, halfbakery