Hello, again!

Becuase of the overwhelming respons to the first set of animated cigar
cursors I created for Windows95, I have undertaken the task of generating
a more robust (pun intended) selection of cursors for your enjoyment.  But
first, a bit of history.

I originally whipped up the first version of the smoking cigar cursors on
a Sunday afternoon, on a whim, really.  My wife constantly uses my computer
and while she never leaves it a mess, it makes it difficult for me to
accomplish certain necessary tasks, such as reading the lastest posts on
alt.smokers.cigars or logging onto my favorite IRC server (us.undernet.org)
so I can chat with the wonderful people of #cigarsmokers.  My wife, being
a woman, seems to think that balancing the checkbook or tracking household
expenses with Quicken (which I highly recommend, BTW) is more pressing than
the esoteric pursuit of the pleasures of the leaf.  So, being a person
motivated by ideals which are beyond reproach, I felt it my obligation to
remind her at all times of the happiness I find in smoking fine cigars.
Hence, the animated cigar cursors.  To make a long story longer, she didn't
find them the least bit humorous, let alone artistic, and the e-mail I
received didn't impress her either.  So, my second effort here, version 2.0
as it were, of the cigar cursors have been a labor of love for those of you
who did find them inspiring and useful (modesty is so unbecoming, don't you
think?).  You will notice a certain similarity between the "label" on the
cursors and that of a real-life product.  This similarity is definitely
intended and is my way of paying homage to that great god (note the little
"g") of cigars, Bob Curtis.  If you don't know who Bob is, I suggest you
read the a.s.c. faq, as it was written by the man himself, AFAIK, anyway.

On to the good stuff...

You've obviously figured out how to unzip the file, if you are reading this,
so you have some grasp of how computers operate (or ought to operate).  The
next steps couldn't be easier.  Follow along as I take you on a guided tour
of the inner workings of Bill Gates latest money-printing machine, Windows95.

1)  Copy all of the *.ani files to x:\windows\cursors (where x:\ is the drive
you have Windows95 installed on, i.e., c:\windows\cursors).

2)  In Windows95, click on the Start button at the lower left (opposite of
right for those of you in Rio Linda.  Incidentally, I find Rush Limbaugh
insipid at best, a boor at worst.  Some of his ideas are ok, but he's
sold out to the establishment, IMHO.)

3) Click on Settings, then on Control Panel

4) In the Control Panel window, double-click (that's clicking twice, really
fast) on the Mouse icon.  This will bring up your mouse settings window.

5) Click on the Pointers tab at the top of the Mouse window.  Watch in rapt
amasement as the window changes (boy, MS is something else, eh?)

6) Click on the cursor you want to change to highlight it.  Then click on the
Browse button in the lower right (above apply).

7) If you copied the *.ani files to the right directory, they'll show up in
the file selection box.  You can assign any of the cursors to any of the
options, but here's what I recommend:

        Cursor Option           File Name
        -------------           ---------
        Normal Select           chbanrml.ani
        Help Select             chbahs.ani
        Working in Background   chbawib.ani
        Busy                    chbabusy.ani
        Precision Select        ohbpersl.ani (ohb = ohio blue tip, BTW)
        Unavailable             chbaunav.cur

8) Once you have selected all the cursors you want, click on Apply to set
the changes as the default, then click on OK to close the Mouse window.

9) Click on the "X" button at the top right of the Control Panel window to
close it (incidentally, don't you think MS should have included an option
to automagically close a window when you open a sub-window?  Then it could
open the mother up when you close the daughter.  Wonder how much they'd pay
me for that idea?!).

10) Enjoy

If you have any questions, problems, comments or special requests, please
feel free to drop me an e-mail at:
        jrh@concentric.net  or
        lgm@concentric.net

These cursors may not be included in any commercial software product or on
any disk, CD-ROM, tape, WORM, CDR or any other recordable media which is
distributed for the intent of generating a profit.  If you feel you absolutely
must include them, just ask and I'll probably let you.  If you work for
Microsoft and you want to include them in the next Windows release or Plus!
package, I would be glad to discuss a licensing arrangement with you.  These
cursors are copyright 1996 and are the sole property of John R. Hillman (being
me).  Feel free to distribute them (without charge) to any friends, family,
acquaintances or enemies you may have.  Bob Curtis and Bobby Holstein are
hereby granted express permission to put them on their web pages and ftp
sites.  DISCLAIMER:  The label does not contain any writing, therefore it
can not be construed as a violation of any existing copyright, trademark or
tradename.  Any resemblence between these cursors and anything in reality
is strictly based upon your interpretation.

Regards,

John R. Hillman
jrh@concentric.net
lgm@concentric.net
"Cruster" on Undernet IRC #cigarsmokers

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A special thanks to my parents, who had me so many years ago.  If it weren't
for them, I wouldn't be here today.
-----
Citizen Kane really is the best picture ever made and Orson Welles *is* a
genius.  Remember that.


