diff --git a/README b/README
index f49a356..4688533 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 
+Building ttyvaders
+==================
+
+   Run configure then make. Configure flags are:
+
+    --enable-slang: use the SLang library (default)
+    --enable-ncurses: use the ncurses library
+
 
 History of textmode games
 =========================
diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index 16db0fc..1145ddd 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ Things to do
 
  * let the ship pick up bonuses
 
- * handle life
+ DONE 23 Dec 2002: handle life
 
  * alien swarms, programmed behaviour
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e543981..3b57a5b 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -18,22 +18,26 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(slang,
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(ncurses,
   [  --enable-ncurses        ncurses graphics support (default disabled)])
 
+USE_SLANG=false
+USE_NCURSES=false
 if test "${enable_ncurses}" = "yes"
 then
   AC_CHECK_HEADER(ncurses.h,:,AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot find ncurses headers]))
   AC_CHECK_LIB(ncurses,initscr,:,AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot find ncurses library]))
+  USE_NCURSES=:
 else
   if test "${enable_slang}" != "no"
   then
     AC_CHECK_HEADER(slang.h,:,AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot find slang headers]))
     AC_CHECK_LIB(slang,SLkp_init,:,AC_MSG_ERROR([cannot find slang library]))
+    USE_SLANG=:
   else
     :
   fi
 fi
 
-AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_SLANG, test "${enable_slang}" != "no")
-AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_NCURSES, test "${enable_ncurses}" = "yes")
+AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_SLANG, ${USE_SLANG})
+AM_CONDITIONAL(USE_NCURSES, ${USE_NCURSES})
 
 AC_OUTPUT([
   Makefile
diff --git a/src/weapons.c b/src/weapons.c
index 7acd208..67eba8b 100644
--- a/src/weapons.c
+++ b/src/weapons.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  *   Copyright (c) 2002 Sam Hocevar <sam@zoy.org>
  *                 All Rights Reserved
  *
- *   $Id: weapons.c,v 1.12 2002/12/23 09:28:37 sam Exp $
+ *   $Id: weapons.c,v 1.13 2002/12/23 16:44:28 sam Exp $
  *
  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
  *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -493,9 +493,9 @@ static void draw_fragbomb( int x, int y, int frame )
         gfx_putchar( 'o' );
         gfx_color( GRAY );
         gfx_goto( x - 1, y + 3 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x + 2, y + 4 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x, y + 4 );
         gfx_putchar( '.' );
         gfx_goto( x + 1, y + 5 );
@@ -511,9 +511,9 @@ static void draw_fragbomb( int x, int y, int frame )
         gfx_putchar( 'o' );
         gfx_color( GRAY );
         gfx_goto( x + 2, y + 3 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x + 1, y + 4 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x - 1, y + 4 );
         gfx_putchar( '.' );
         gfx_goto( x + 2, y + 5 );
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ static void draw_fragbomb( int x, int y, int frame )
         gfx_putchar( 'o' );
         gfx_color( GRAY );
         gfx_goto( x, y + 4 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x + 2, y + 4 );
         gfx_putchar( '.' );
         gfx_goto( x + 1, y + 5 );
@@ -549,9 +549,9 @@ static void draw_fragbomb( int x, int y, int frame )
         gfx_putchar( 'o' );
         gfx_color( GRAY );
         gfx_goto( x, y + 3 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x + 1, y + 4 );
-        gfx_putchar( '°' );
+        gfx_putchar( ':' );
         gfx_goto( x, y + 5 );
         gfx_putchar( '.' );
         break;