---
date: "2004-04-17T16:51:35Z"
title: BlueCloth / Markdown
---

<p>
I just found out about <a href='http://bluecloth.rubyforge.org/'>BlueCloth</a>, which is a <a href='http://www.ruby-lang.org/'>Ruby</a> implementation of <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/'>Markdown</a>.  <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/'>Markdown</a> allows you to transform specially formatted plain-text documents into <acronym title='HyperText Markup Language'>HTML</acronym>.  What's cool is it's a nice, human-readable format.  Here's some sample text from <a href='http://bluecloth.rubyforge.org/'>BlueCloth page</a>:
</p>

<blockquote cite='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/'>
<pre>
The Ant-Sugar Tales
===================

By Candice Yellowflower  

The _Ant-Sugar Tales_ is a collection of short stories told from the
perspective of a fine young lady from [Venice][1], who has some run-ins
with a few [inquisitive insects][2]. Each tale presents a moral quandry,
which the ants are quick to solve with their antly wisdom and
know-how. Some of the moral lessons presented are:

* Laundry: How not to get caught in soiled knickers.
* Used Ticket Stubs and Their Impact on the Universe
* I'm Keeping a Birdhouse in my Attic


Use of Metaphor
---------------
The author's splended use of metaphor can be attributed to her growing
up in a art-supply store. Her characters are richly outlined, but her
unusual descriptions can sometimes be a bit jarring in places, such as
her description of the old caretaker that lives inside a hollow tree in
her yard:

> His skin was smooth like Magnani Pescia 100% acid-free cold pressed
> 22x30" Soft White Paper, with fine hair like the bristles of a Habico
> Lasur Superb Oil Glazing Brush Size 10.


  [1]: http://www.azureva.com/gb/italie/mags/grand-canal.php3
       (Venice: The Grand Canal)
  [2]: http://www.fortunecity.com/emachines/e11/86/tourist4d.html
</pre>
</blockquote>

<p>
And that gets transformed into the following:
</p>

<style type='text/css'>
<!--
blockquote.samplePage {
  background-color: #eeeeee;
  padding: 5px;
  spacing-left: 40px;
}
// -->
</style>

<blockquote class='samplePage' cite='http://bluecloth.rubyforge.org/'>
<h1>The Ant-Sugar Tales</h1>

<p>By Candice Yellowflower  </p>

<p>The <em>Ant-Sugar Tales</em> is a collection of short stories told from the
perspective of a fine young lady from <a href="http://www.azureva.com/gb/italie/mags/grand-canal.php3" title="Venice: The Grand Canal">Venice</a>, who has some run-ins
with a few <a href="http://www.fortunecity.com/emachines/e11/86/tourist4d.html">inquisitive insects</a>. Each tale presents a moral quandry,
which the ants are quick to solve with their antly wisdom and
know-how. Some of the moral lessons presented are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Laundry: How not to get caught in soiled knickers.</li>
<li>Used Ticket Stubs and Their Impact on the Universe</li>
<li>I'm Keeping a Birdhouse in my Attic</li>
</ul>

<h2>Use of Metaphor</h2>

<p>The author's splended use of metaphor can be attributed to her growing
up in a art-supply store. Her characters are richly outlined, but her
unusual descriptions can sometimes be a bit jarring in places, such as
her description of the old caretaker that lives inside a hollow tree in
her yard:</p>

<blockquote>
    <p>His skin was smooth like Magnani Pescia 100% acid-free cold pressed
    22x30" Soft White Paper, with fine hair like the bristles of a Habico
    Lasur Superb Oil Glazing Brush Size 10.</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>

<p>
Cool stuff.
</p>