11/21   What does it mean to "unlink a file":  I have the following problem:
        A file "-eg q" in a directory.  I try...

                SODA_69% rm -i ?eg?q

        it returns:

                rm: illegal option -- e
                usage: rm [-f | -i] [-dPRrvW] file ...
                unlink file

        I've also tried quotes (sgl and dbl) abount the name, nothing wks.
        \_ You should just back up the files you do need, and delete the
           whole subdirectory.  Then restore the files you saved.
        \_ the proper syntax to remove files starting with '-' is the followi\

           rm -i -- '-eg q'

           the "--", for many standard unix commands, indicates that anything\
           the -- is not meant to be interpreted as an option to the program,\
           if it begins with a -
           \_ Uh, no. "--" is a stupid gnu thing. The right way to do this is
              to make sure that the file name is specified correctly:

              rm -i `pwd`/?eg?q

        \_ "Unlink" means the same as "delete".  To delete that file, use:

              rm ./?eg?q

11/21   What are the health concerns associated with medium-rare hamburger
        beef? I've noticed that Peppermint Grill don't really cook their
        burgers well.
        \_ Cholesterol, high blood pressure, death from extreme stupidity
        \_ Undercooked burger meat is more dangerous than a similarly cooked
           steak.  Grinding causes the bacteria which are concentrated on the
           exterior part of the cut to be mixed into the center of a burger,
           where they aren't killed during partial cooking.  Ask for well done

11/21   I've got 64Kb ISDN connection to work.  Anyway I can get a heavy motif
        program to load any faster?  If I setenv DISPLAY, it takes roughly 10
        minutes to load the friggin' main screen.  I'm usually using vnc to
        control a local PC and run the GUI on that local PC.  Neither option
        is 'fun'. Any ideas? - mtbb
        \_ Try lbxproxy, it might or might not help.
        \_ It's been my experience that motif programs take many more ages
           to load than normal Xaw type stuff.  This was true even with local
           network.  Possibility: it could be that you're just SOL.  --sowings
        \_ You do realize 64Kb ISDN is a barely faster than a 56K modem right?
        \_ Turn on ppp compression. Maybe possible to turn on low level stuff
           ppp stuff like no acks or ack ahead or something. Best bet is to
           "convince" the other end that you have 2B+D, though you are only
           paying for 1B. Ciscos can be "convinced" unless your isp is draconic
           and used acls on the dialer map + speed + line.

11/20   What are some things to do with a visitor to the Bay Area in early
        December [so outdoorsy things are out]? This is someone who used to
        live here, so I dont mean things like GG Bridge and alcatraz. --psb
           \_ make a fry's run!
        \_ Napa, Sonoma, Coastline, Point Reyes, Concerts, Musicals, Plays,
           good restaurants, Muir Woods, Bay Cruises, Fishing
           \- these are mostly outdoorsy suggestions ... anything specific
           in the plays/bands area going on around dec 9,10? restaurants
           i can handle. i was thinking maybe the chinese exhibit at the
           oakland museum and the SFMOMA. anyone been to that new observatory
           in the oakland hills? --psb
           \_ The Anderson Collection is on exhibit through the first week
              of January at the SFMOMA.  If you can get tickets to "Late Henry
              Moss" go for it.  They are sold out, but might have more
              seats in the upcoming days.  I haven't been to Mamma Mia (is it
              any good?) but that's another possibility -- it's playing at
              the Orpheum.  The Vagina Monlogues looks good, too, although
              I haven't read up on reviews yet (I am thinking of going
              myself).  --chris
              \_ isn't Monologues some stupid feminist play where the
                 ugly chicks refuse to get naked in order to assert thier
                 womanhood or some bs like that?
                 womanhood or some bs like that? As if ugly chicks could
                 get laid by anyone other than other ugly chicks (and its
                 not really laid either if its two chicks without a guy).
           \_ coffee places, check out concerts at Davies Symphony, check
              out concerts at the <DEAD>sfbestofbroadway.com<DEAD> site (don't remember
              exact), Museums, Metreon, Yerba Buena, Bowling, Ice Skating,
              and others.
        \_ netrek with Uncle tom and the GBs?  It's always a joy.
        \_ Skiing at Tahoe, musicals in SF, wine tasting in napa.
           Tech Museum & IMAX in SJ.
        \_ O'Farrell Brothers, El Cid in San Francisco.
           \_ Kit Kat Club in Mountain View
                \_ It's in Sunnyvale!

11/20   How do you checkout the version number of your Java class file?
        For example, whether it's version 45.121 or version 46.0? Thanks.

11/21   All java class inherites from class *Object*, if I have three classes
        A, B, and C all have one same method showErr().  If I want to have a
        function that can call showErr() depending on the object that I passed
        in, eg.
                public void handleErr(Object o) {
                        o.showErr();
                }
        This code won't compile because Object doesn't have method showErr();
        Question is is this possible?  Type casting won't work because we don\
        don't the object type at compile time.  I don't think c/c++ can do th\
                          It works fine in C++: _/

                          template<typename T> void handleErr(T *object) {
                              object->showErr();
                          }

                          You don't need to create an interface, and you don't
                          need to use run-time type checking; it just works.
        In Java, there's Object.getClass(), however I don't think it'll help
        here...Does anyone know if the above code can be tweaked to work?
        \_ use an interface
           \_ I guess you could have A, B & C implement the interface but
              you can be more hacker style with instanceof and casting.

              if (o instanceof A) {
                ((A)o).showErr();
              } else if (o instanceof B) {
                ((B)o).showErr();
              ...
              \_ That's not hacker style, that's tjb l4m3r-style.
                 Use reflection.  -pld
                     \_ is reflection available in 1.0 or 1.1?
                 \_ how dare you call me a l4m3r you lu53r. - tjb
                 \_ how dare you call me a l4m3r U 1u53r. - tjb
                 \_ dumbass, if it works, I should get 100% for it.
                    It's about getting it to work, not showing off your
                    "elite" style.  -tjb #1 fan
                    \_ whatever happened to the effort to get tjb
                       a soda account?

11/21   Dammit, my inbox just got erased.  I did nothing.  Ain't
        that a bitch.
        \_ using pine?  look for a file called "mbox" in your directory
           \_ add this to your .pinerc at the appropriate place.
                        disable-these-drivers=mbox
              Yes, Mark Crispin is lame.  --nevman

11/21   Okay. We haven't had a good troll on the motd for days. What's
        up? Where have all the trollers gone?

        Here's my (pitable) attempt at starting one:

        Why is it that all the hot asian chick who vote democratic
        go after rich white republican business major guys who use
        windows, drive non riced cars and have less than a 384K uplink
        to the internet?

        - asian cs major who voted NADER and RIDES BIKE and uses LINUX
          and has a 1.5/1.5 DSL link to the internet and would like a
          rice rocket and hot asian chick.

11/21   Ikiru's sister is a rock star!  http://www.mp3.com/tafkad -eric

11/21   Does anyone here have an Aibo?
        \_ I do. -- canny

11/21   pitiful troll attempt deleted.

11/21  I'm trying to write a function that edits a file in place, ie
       use fseek to position the file handle at a particular place
       and then use fwrite to write a number of bytes. When I perform
       the fwrite, any content in the file beyond the end of the number
       of bytes I write is lost. How do I prevent this?

11/21   Any online reference as to how to sue the federal government (or
        (some dept. thereof)?  If not, an off-line ref. would be o.k.

11/21   Best bang/buck ADSL?  Cable?
        \_ try http://www.dslreports.com telocity is pretty good, $39.95/mo,
           no contract
        \_ The best bang for your bucks will be Ecentrica Gallumbits.