12/30   Is there an editor out there that will analyze my code (C++, Java)
        and tell me if I have a dead variable (dead code elimination),
        visually optimize code, etc? I know that this happens in the
        compiler, but I'd like to have some kind of editor that can
        give me advice.
        \_ ED, ED, ED is the STANDARD!!! Peephole/control-flow optimizer.

12/30   [from /.]
        http://www.libranet.com/petition.html
        Even if you're of the anti-linux persuasion -- do note that their
        primary request is open specs, which would benefit _all_
        platforms.
        \_ I'm opposed to open anything.  Closed source creates more jobs.

12/30   What is the service "iad3" running on port 1032 of a non-server
windows '98 box?  Anyone??
        \_ ports greater than 1024 are the ephemeral ports (not defined by
           IETF)
           \_ That is neither true, nor relevant.
              \_ I meant not regulated by IETF
                 \_ Still neither true nor relevant.  IANA, not IETF, registers
                    port numbers, and any port number can be registered
                   (1-65535).  Nevertheless, Microsoft can and will run
                    anything it wants on any port without registering it with
                    IANA.  Ephemeral ports are not defined by any RFC and
                    different OS'es pick different methods of assigining
                    ephemeral ports - but I'm not aware of any that says
                    they are all ports > 1024.  (BSD defaults to 1024-5000,
                    while SysVR4 uses 32768-65535.)

12/30   Survey: I'm spending the Millennium
        a) w/ family            0
        b) w/ friends           2
        c) w/ spouse            2
        d) alone                1

12/30   Survey: I'm spending the Millennium
        a) w/ family            0
        b) w/ friends           3
        c) w/ spouse            5
        d) alone                3
        e) w/ co-workers        1
        f) getting paid massive overtime to babysit computers 1
        g) getting paid nothing extra to babysit computers 0
        h) at an awesome party  1
        i) masturbating furiously 36
        j) at work              2
        k) I'll figure that out a year from now, when this millenium ends
           and the next one begins      1
           \_ Although this isn't the new millenium, it is the new Millenium.
              \_ So it happens a year earlier if you capitalize it?
              \_ Not content with being wrong, you insist on being boring
                 as well.
                 \_ I'm not wrong.  It is exactly as I stated it.  Boring was
                    the pedantic twit who said it wasn't the millenium in the
                    first place.
                    \_ Let me get this straight -- You believe that it isn't
                       the end of the "millenium", it is the end of the
                       "Millenium", and that the *other* guy is pedantic?
                        \_ One is about calendars.  The other is about the
                           mass media label.  Yes.  The *other* guy is a twit
                           and pedantic but I live in the real world.  I know
                           it isn't the new millenium by the calendar but I see
                           nothing wrong with people enjoying it as if it was.
                           How fun would it be celebrating 2001?  Only Arthur
                           C. Clarke geeks would see anything special about
                           that.  And oh yeah, the pedantic calendar geeks.
                           \_ Ah, so you place more value on mass media
                              labels than reality -- Got it.
                                \_ No.  I acknowledge that I live in a world
                                   with other people in it.  This is more
                                   important than the artificial nature of the
                                   calendar.  /usr/bin/cal isn't my best
                                   friend.  Keep your snide elitist crap to
                                   yourself.  You're not 1/1000th as clever as
                                   you seem to think.
                                   \_ Oh, agreed.  Far more clever to
                                      simultaneously think you're in two
                                      different milleniums.

12/30   http://www.sjmercury.com/premium/svlife/docs/016199.htm : credit card
        surcharges are against the law as stated on the motd a few days ago.
        In California, anyway.
                \- if a merchant offers a "cash discount" or has a credit card
                minimum parchase, you can in theory call VISA and report them.
                again, in theory, VISA is supposed to threaten the vendor
                with revokation if they get enough complaints. i assume MC is
                the same way. there is an interesting case on this. VISA v.
                NABANCO. I dont have the cite handy. --psb

12/31   Great soda crashes.  Anyone have a history of it?  I think the
        last major one was in 1995?
        \_ 1992. Soda Mark I died when some moron left the grounding cable
           for the internal tape drive hanging loose and it landed on the
           motherboard causing a nasty short circuit and frying the mb.
           On the bright side, the downtime resulted in the acquisition of
           Mark II, the first of the mighty Sequents.
           \_ A moment of silence, please.

12/31   So what did they call the 1900's and 1910's at the time?  Saying,
        "the zeroth's" and "the teens" sounds stupid.
        \_ That was long before pop culture dictated the need for decade names.
                \_ Long before the Gay 90's and Roaring 20's?  Really?
                   Learn your history better before spouting off boy.
                        \- those were the "19hundreds" --psb
        \_ <DEAD>www.namethedecade.com<DEAD> -- VOTE "NAUGHTIES"!!!
         \_ whata fucking DUMBASS name

12/31   Any recommendation on a photography book for someone who happens to
        have a solid background in physics?
        \_ What does physics have to do with the art of photography?  Or
           are you looking for something that explains lenses and film?
           \_ Not one that explains how films and lenses work but how to
                apply them to achieve the expected effects with scientific
                explanation.
                \_ I doubt your vaunted physics background will help you.
        \_ Are aeronautic Phds good test pilots? No. Get a fuckin life peterm

1/1/2000 A Happy New Year from Tokyo (my PC is still working)
         "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu"
        \_ This is a lie!  Everyone knows Tokyo was the first to go when
           Godzilla emerged at midnight off Japan!

12/30   moronic duscussion about the "precession of the equator" purged.
        if you want to be ignorant, fine.  if you want to delete people's
        correction of your ignorance and continue your stupid discussion
        in oposition to reason, do it in wheeler hall or something.
        fuck you, and have a happy fucking new year.
        \_ You're a sad, pathetic little boy.

12/31   How do I transfer money to a sick relative's account if I have
        his account number and routing number (use by employers to do
        direct deposit)?
        \_ Ask their bank, not the motd.  You fucking idiot.
           \_ Bitter, aren't you?
                \_ You're an idiot.  What does "bitter" have to do with this?
                   The original poster is an idiot and was told so.  I'm not
                   the first reply, but I agree with that person 100%.  Where
                   do morons like you come up with the hair brained idea that
                   the least bit of hostility must be a fault with the hostile
                   person and not the recipient?  S/he was an idiot and was
                   told so.
                   \_ But why bother even saying so? Telling him he's an idiot
                      doesn't solve his problem, nor does it do anything
                      except provoke responses such as the above. Anyway, just
                      about *every* single question posted on this motd could
                      more appropiately be asked elsewhere, so why even have
                      a motd.public?
                        \_ The correct answer was provided with editorial
                           commentary on the intelligence of the poster.  All
                           needs were satisfied.  I see a good solution.  I
                           see nothing wrong with a win-win solution.  That's
                           what the motd is here for.