gistfile1.rb

require 'rubygems'
require 'RMagick'
include Magick

PIXEL = ["&", "8", "0", "$", "2", "1", "|", ";", ":", "'", " ", " "]
colors = PIXEL.size - 1.0

# load image
oimg = ImageList.new("mario.jpg")

# resize image
img = oimg
width  = (img.columns > 80) ? 80 : img.columns.to_f
height = img.rows * 0.5 * (width.to_f / img.columns.to_f)
img = img.resize(width, height)

# convert it into ascii art
view = img.view(0,0,img.columns,img.rows)
results = []
(0..img.rows-1).each do |row|
  results[row] = ""  
  (0..img.columns-1).each do |col|
    brightness = view[row][col].to_HSL[2]
    results[row] += PIXEL[(brightness * colors).floor]
  end  
end

puts results.join("\n")
oimg.display

k, i like it