Catscan.com: MEEEOOOW!

If you can think of it, it's been done. Cliff Bleszinski (better known as Cliff B), a computer-game designer, came up for the idea of his site when one of his 5 cats passed by his scanner just as he was searching for something to test it out. Doesn't take much, huh?

The original Cat-Scan, created in 1998, sponsored a contest for the best scan. Not surprising, the site received hundreds of entries. What made this site interesting, however, was not simply the artistic, abstract patterns the somewhat smushed cats made on the scanner bed, but the comments that Cliff B would post alongside each entry.

As far as iStuff goes, Cat-scan. com is notable for its community-building aspect. Here were hundreds of people willing spend time, energy and possibly even a scanner (several reportedly were broken in the process) to participate in this bizarre contest. And the prize? Was it fame, fortune? Nope, the grand prize was simply a free copy of a computer game designed by Cliff B.

What appeals most to the entrants of this contest, however, is probably not the prize, but simply the idea of getting on the web, of being "published." We all want our "15-mintues of Fame," even if it's garnered vicariously through our pets.

Related Links and such

Cat Scan Contest, By George Crowe
http://www.techtv.com/internettonight / strangesightings/story/ 0,4602,2126011,00.html

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