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| 2000/12/22-2001/1/22 [Uncategorized] UID:20154 Activity:nil |
12/21 Soda will briefly be down for maintnance at a yet unspecified time
after Christmas. This is your advance warning. -root |
| 2000/12/22-23 [Reference/BayArea, Politics/Domestic/SIG] UID:20155 Activity:high |
12/21 Why are people anti-union? Every human product is ambiguous, that
doesn't mean we forbid ourselves from creation. Liquor is good
(relaxation, thinning blood), liquor is bad (insert standard args).
What it means is simple to state, but difficult to enact: we must
be aware of both sides of the story, and relaize that both have
merit.
\_ Communism, socialism, naziism, totalitarianism and right wing
fanatics are bad. They are evil. They have no redeeming
qualities. There is no two sides to this story. Supressing
the rights of the one in favor of the rights of the many is
wrong. There is no two sides to that story. Get you head out
of your arse.
\_ Union != Communism.
Union != Socialism.
Union != Naziism.
Union != Totalitarianism.
Banning unions requires you ammend the constitution to
nullify the freedom of assembly. That is one of the
elements to communism, socialism, naziism, and
totalitarianism
\_ As a concept I'm not opposed to unions. I think people need to
have a place to go to make sure things like worker safety are
taken care of. The reality is that unions today really only focus
on themselves as a political entity and not worker safety, rights,
or anything else unless worker benefits just happen to coincide with
the betterment of the union.
\_ Unions are based on socialistic principles about "collective"
power and "workers" rights. These things are directly opposed
to individual freedoms and the free market system.
\_ "Big business is based on capitalistic principles about "profit"
and "corporate" rights. These things are directly opposed to
individual freedoms and the free market system (since it's not
in business' interests to have free markets--c.f. Microsoft)"
\_ Monopolies are opposed to individual rights, but
in a true free market a monopoly will not last for
long.
Microsoft got to where it is at because its competition
made mistakes. Microsoft is slow losing ground,
and its not because of the government. Its because
they have made missteps in strategy allowing competitors
to gain ground.
If you don't like MS vote with your $s. That's what
I do.
\_ Nah. Unions are not necessarily bad. Unions empower the
individual against the collective power of big businesses.
Critical to the health of democracies is the ability and
freedom for individuals to form various organizations
including religious organizations such as churches,
professional organizations such as IEEE, recreational/
hobby organizations such as your local Linsux chapter,
and finally organizations like the Sierra Club or
NRA and also labor unions. These organizations give
individuals support and a collective voice in the issues
they care for. The membership should be at will.
Observe that dictators and authoritarian regimes hate
these kind of organizations and will always try to
destroy or control them. The Walesa-led union was
hated by the Polish communist regime back in the Soviet
era, and the china commies hate the local churches and
even the falungong. Authoritarian and undemocratic
Singapore does not allow unions except for a government-
controlled one. Without such organizations, the
individual is isolated, and powerless, and subject to
abuse and oppression by the only organization left -
the government. Unions help to balance the power of
another type of organization that sometimes abuses
the individual - i.e. big businesses. Come to think
of it, it is arguable that Singapore and present-day
China are two countries when an authoritarian government
and big businesses collude to abuse and exploit the
individuals.
Big Business helps individuals generate _/
wealth. Unions don't help anyone generate
anything. Big Business is what powers the
countries prosperity, not Unions. Unions
leach the profits of Big Buiness. Business
free and unrestrained by bureaucrats and
union bosses is critical for the health
democracy, freedom, liberty, prosperity.
Unions seek to destroy what good Business
has created.
\_ Yes. Because we all know that unions
segments. Thanks.
have a vested interest in destroying
good business. Pull you fucking head
out of your ass and grow a brain you
moron. Unions are a vehicle for
bargaining. Everyone bargains for
employment compensation, not just
UAW workers and other blue collar
workers. No shit, unions aren't
designed to generate profits the same
way water isn't used to fuel cars.
Maybe if looked "union" up in a
dictionary you'd understand. Unions are
guaranteed by the first ammendment. If
you're suggesting banning unions then
you certainly have no respect for our
democracy and freedom.
\_ Please don't break what I wrote into
segments. Thanks. I agree with you
that big business is great, generally
speaking.
\_ "Big business is based on capitalistic principles about "profit"
and "corporate" rights. These things are directly opposed to
individual freedoms and the free market system (since it's not
in business' interests to have free markets--c.f. Microsoft)"
\_ Monopolies are opposed to individual rights, but
in a true free market a monopoly will not last for
long.
\_ Ah yes, the magical invisible hand of the market. Do you
*ever* use your brain? -tom
Microsoft got to where it is at because its competition
made mistakes. Microsoft is slow losing ground,
and its not because of the government. Its because
they have made missteps in strategy allowing competitors
to gain ground.
If you don't like MS vote with your $s. That's what
I do.
\_ they try to hurt scabs and that is anti-competitive.
\_ That's wrong and the people who practice such
should be shot. But that's not the premise of
unions or collective bargaining.
\_ Membership in a Union is different than membership
in the IEEE or the NRA or a given religious institution.
1. In no industry is IEEE or NRA membership required
for getting or keeping your job. Try to be non
union in the automotive or trucking or teaching
industries and see how long you last. (They will
force you out or get you to join).
\_ Please don't compare IEEE to the NRA. There's
a stark difference in the practices in civility
and political influence between the two groups.
\_ sidenly i am wondering how many IEEE members are
in the NRA...Based on what ive seen i'll bet its
alot more than the average number for a random
group of people.
\_ Probably not. IEEE members are not the
"I love god and my family and go to church
with ma girlfriend every Sunday. On weekdays
my ma and pa come to ma school and watch
me play football cause I'm the star
quaterback. Then me and ma buds hop in my
Chevrolet and guy hunting on the weekends.
When I go to Texas A&M Iam going to go
join the Army ROTC and serve ma country and God.
Ma idol is George W. Bush. Because he
believes in family values." type people.
How many IEEE members do you know have the
Hank Hill personality and aspire to taking
over the family farm?
\_ The NRA doesn't advocate threatening
or maiming non-NRA members in times
of dispute. The IEEE doesn't either.
Unions do. That's the point.
\_ Some unions do, others don't. That's
the point.
2. The IEEE and the NRA do not engage in activities
like strikes, picketing, mass violence. These are
anti-competitive terrorist measures designed to
exploit business owners.
\_ Union == organization that provide a means of
collective bargaining.
Union != terrorism
Union != strikes (sometimes they do but that's
not the premise)
Union != Mass violence
Everyone pickets. Republicans picket, democrats
picket, pro-lifers picket, pro-choicers picket,
hippies picket, anti-gays picket.
\_ The means of bargaining is terrorism,
strikers, mass violence. Union bosses
uses thier lazy bum union members to
incite violence against management and
customers so that management will pay
thier ransom quicker and all the Union
members can get back to sitting on thier
arses. Wonder why all the jobs are going
overseas? Its because most US workers
hate hard work, they all want to get paid
sitting around being idle. Business can't
afford this.
\_ I didn't see any violence in the United
Airlines union.
\_ which one. pilots,flight attendants,
\_ I dare you to say that to a UAL Flight Attendant.
mechanics, etc have separate unions.
additionally, UAL flight attendants are
represented by a different union than say
Delta, for instance.
3. Union derived benefits for workers are like ransom
derived from hapless kidnap victims. The market
provides sufficient working conditions, Union
employees would prefer to sit on thier arses and
get paid rather than work, which is why they are
always striking.
\_ I dare you to say that to a UAL Flight Attendant.
Unions are a unholy menace to liberty and freedom
populated by lazy bums and lead by communists and
socialist who want to do away with the free market
in favor of state control of everything. They want
a world where every man is equal because every man
is a poor pathetic slob without hope. I prefer the
American dream, where every man is equal because
every man is rich with the hope of achieving all
that he wants.
\_ Unions are bad because the mob tends to control them.
Enuff said.
\_ As opposed to presidential elections.
\_ In a perfect world, Unions would form to empower the workers
and make the workplaces more tolerable, and then they would
dissolve until they were needed again. In our world, unions
form to solve problems, then their officers get used to the
power they wield, and they refuse to dissolve the union,
seeking instead to increase their power and influence. More
often than not, what we need are unions to depose the corrupt
and corpulent unions that now exist. --erikred
\_ but of course none of the businesses are corrupt or coruplent.
\_ Bingo! Give that man a prize!
\_ You've been watching too many movies. People don't like unions
because the "traditional" union supported promotion and benefits
by seniority as opposed to skill/performance. Think "tenure."
Plus unions try to get the most from their employers which
sometimes means they conflict. Most people would accept some
pain to avoid conflict. A repo man spends his life getting
into tense situations.
\_ MORE! MORE! MORE! |
| 2000/12/22-25 [Computer/SW/Languages/Java, Computer/Theory] UID:20156 Activity:moderate |
12/21 Turns out that I got a lower grade than I expected. If enough people
in the class ask for a recount (all the grades), will it help? Has it
ever happened before?
\_ This doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Florida Supreme
Court, but then again, that never stopped them before. Go for it!
Every grade must count! Count all the grades! Even the smudge you
made on the paper in the place where the correct answer might have
been implies you had "student-intent" to fill in the correct answer.
\_ i had a teacher in hs who used to drink wine while he was grading
and get really wasted. sometimes he would only grade half the
exam and you would get a 20 out of 100 or something, and demand
a recount and get a 90. suprisingly, he was a really good
teacher otherwise.
\_ Just don't let the professor stall till the grades are
certified as final.
\_ Grades may only be changed to correct errors, not because the
\_ You can also file an appeal to a grade with some dept. at Cal.
It doesn't only have to do with errors.
professors grading scale was too high. (However, if the prof
consistently gives too many bad grades, he will get in trouble
eventually - see the case of Prof. Wu & Math 1A/1B in the early
90's.)
\_ yah, that foolio got fucked up. He's now been demoted
really awful in math.
\_ are those errors as in "Ooops, I read that 3 as a 5 and
misgraded you" or as in "Oh, I guess you answer is correct
mine (prof's) is wrong"
\_ I remember a horde of people dropping math 1a from wu in 91
\_ I had Wu and I think I got a B. What was his deal?
\- this is pretty funny ... --psb
http://www.jiggscasey.com/slappy/book_of_wu.html
\_ excellent linkage, thanks psb. READ THIS people.
\_ it isn't *that* funny
\_ Yeah, did something happen to Prof. "Hurricane" Wu?
\_ As I recall, he was still allowed to teach but was no longer
allowed to have any part in the grading process including
setting the standards, creating the curve, grade appeals,
etc. That was all given to his head TA. Me? I was there
for 10 minutes of lecture 1 and walked out. I knew what I
was looking at. This was while he was still allowed to
destroy hapless freshies. Any survivors from Prof Shang's
math 1b class still around? Oscillating circles. |
| 2000/12/22-23 [Finance/Shopping] UID:20157 Activity:kinda low |
12/21 I need to buy a new bed & mattress, but I'm a poor grad student.
What's a place to buy a decent, cheap set in/near Berkeley?
\_ futon?
\_ Discount Depot on San Pablo near University. They were the cheapest
place for beds/mattresses/futons when I was an undergrad. --chris
\_ Purchased twice(futons) from them over 8 year period in late 80s
early 90s. Dunno about now, but they were good/fine then.Small
delivery guy with compact toyota delivered the queen/full frame
and futon himself up 3 floors for $10 fee. |
| 2000/12/22-23 [Computer/HW/Laptop] UID:20158 Activity:high |
10/21 I have a linux box in my baby's room upstairs and I want to be able to
monitor the audio in the room from my laptop downstairs via the net
connection we have, to make sure she's ok. What's the best tool for
doing this? Is shoutcast server + shoutcast streamer overkill?
\_ You DO mean a human infant, right?
\_ Why don't you just buy a cheap baby monitor. I'm sure that's
a lot easier than setting up a Linux box. Besides, do you
really think your baby really wants to sleep with a computer
fan blowing?
\_ The fan is probably soothing, actually. Even now I prefer to
sleep with a heater, fan, or aquarium (gurgling) in the room.
\_ Do you want your baby to grow up to be a geek?
\_ Ditto on the baby monitor and computer noise. Amazing. I need to
get a license to have a dog but any clown can have a kid.
\_ I can't have a kid. I'm having a hard enough time getting
out of this single life. -guy who thought of monitor & noise.
\_ Usually requires two clowns, at least somewhere along the way.
\_ I though babies came from storks
\_ I thought babies came from storks.
\_ Clown sex! Yeeeesss!
\_ The Linux solution seems like overkill to me, too, but it might
be good if you want a nanny monitor while you're at work.
\_ Have you ever heard of this thing - it's called a
telephone? |
| 2000/12/22-25 [Computer/SW/OS/Windows] UID:20159 Activity:low |
12/22 Does the VC++ debugger have a feature like the conditional
breakpoint in gdb? Basically I want to say something like
"ignore this breakpoint unless X". Also, how do I look at
the value of foo[i]? When foo is a pointer the debugger just
lets me dereference foo, but that only gets me foo[0]. Obviously,
I'd like to use a real OS, but the company I consult for is
addicted to Windows. Thanks. -emin
\_ Anyway, something more helpful:
VC++ does let you set conditional breakpoints. First set where
you want the breakpoint, then press ALT-F9 to edit breakpoints.
Select the breakpoint and click the Advanced button. Various
other options are also available. Accessing foo[n] is possible,
(via watches) but foo[i] is more difficult... it depends on the
version of VC++ you have. --chucky
\_ Windows is good for you if you're an idiot. See axiom 1. |
| 2000/12/22-27 [Consumer/GPS, Politics/Foreign/Asia/Others] UID:20160 Activity:low |
12/22 I am going on a trip to India soon. Any recommendation for
an inexpensive but decent GPS? I will also use it for future
trekking and hiking trip, both foreign and domestic.
\- see http://joe.mehaffey.com and the sat-nav news group. you can
probably get a faily basic one for $100-150. you canb also search the
walllogs. these days i think you are basically paying for storage
capacity and some users features ... not so much accuracy or
sensitivity. --psb
\_ Garmin G12 was $150 2 years ago, will do anything you need. Newer
Etrex model is half the size, same sort of pricing.
\_ Magellan 310 on sale at Fry's for $89.95. Also, if you have
one of the higher level Palms, you can get a GPS attachment
for $130 or so.
\- one additional comment: i think GPSes are still pretty primitive
in terms of user interface and are still geek toys. are you sure
disposable income not to worry about a $100 here or there].--psb
you want one? most geeks into geek toys tend to want the ones
with all the features and not the low end ones [and have the
disposable income not to worry about a $100 here or there].
they also suck a lot of batteries, often dont work that well under
tree cover without an ext antenna, so if you dont make a serious
commitment to them, might not be worth taking at all. as with
almost all consumer electronics, tomorrow it will be better and
cheaper. --psb, former Garmin III+ owner recently return from india |
| 2000/12/22-23 [Recreation/Dating] UID:20161 Activity:kinda low Edit_by:auto |
12/22 I just want a hot sexy asian bf who looks like Dustin Ngyuen for
\_ who?
X-Mas. Where can I find him? -lila
\_ mail kchang
\_ Sorry, all taken. We're not hot because we're easy to land. -babe
\_ I'm more hot and sexy than Dustin Nguyen. Do I not qualify?
\_ Please sign your name so lila can get to know you.
\_ Isthat the guy from 21 jump st. and the pam anderson show? |
| 2000/12/22-25 [Computer/SW/Database] UID:20162 Activity:nil |
12/22 I have a database program that I would like to view the code for. Any
suggestions on how I go about doing this?
\_ Download the source or objdump --disassemble
\_ alt.sex.software.reverse-engineering
\_ MS SQL? Are you mad? Do you *really* want to know how it works?
\_ Am bettink is at least one line that looks like:
return((char *)(rand()*0xFFFFFFFF)); |
| 2000/12/22-25 [Computer/Networking, Computer/SW/OS/FreeBSD] UID:20163 Activity:very high |
12/22 Why does last output show most connecting from IP instead of hostname?
\_ because FreeBSD is stupid. -tom
\_ because tom is stupid. -FreeBSD
\_ wait a minute. FreeBSD can't write.
\_ How is it stupid, tom? There's only so much room to store
or display hostnames, I'd imagine. If the hostname is longer
than that when reversed, would you rather get
"cx425.sanjose.a" or a real IP address that you could resolve
yourself?
\- tom lacks fu to "last | ip2hostname" --psb
\_ It's stupid because every other system in the world uses
hostname there and truncates it to the length of the field.
Intelligent systems which want the full length use an
extended utmp/wtmp. And if you're going to use IP's, it's
the height of stupidity to only use them some of the time.
-tom
\_ Reason #1 "it's stupid because other people truncate
so you have incomplete and invalid hostnames" Uh..huh
Reason #2: it's stupid because... it's the height of
stupidity. Good, tom.
\_ How about Reason #1, if you want to get the normal
output of last now you have to do hundreds of name
lookups. Typical BSD arrogance, "who cares what
behavior people need or expect." -tom
\_ OK, tom: would you rather have chopped off,
indecipherable hostnames (which is what _every
one_ of those ip addrs would be) or ip addresses
that you _could_ look up?
\- if you need to do lookups, you do them,
if you dont need to do them, you dont.
you are right this does make life harder
for low-fu people and might not be a
good decision if your goal is to
maximize the number of people using your
OS. but there are other goals --psb
\_ I would rather have "last" be what it
always has been, and provide an additional
option for new functionality, instead of
changing the default behavior which has
existed for n years (n > 20). In terms of
functionality, I find soda's "last" to be
far less useful than a typical "last",
klee ttyAm 128.32.191.92 Fri Dec 22 19:45 - 19:46 (00:00)
because the information I'm looking for
is usually not a specific hostname. -tom
\_ So back to my question, why are some with IP and some hostname?
What causes it to be diff? thank you.
\_ Picking a few lines at random, we have:
mchowla ttyAz 209.131.52.33 Fri Dec 22 19:47 - 19:50 (00:02)
samli ttyAm <DEAD>charon.sun.com<DEAD> Fri Dec 22 19:47 - 20:02 (00:15)
as you can see, if the hostname were much longer than
"charon.sun.com", it wouldn't fit and you'd have to chop it
off.. let's say it was "sjsu3.sj.ca.ibx4.colo37.cnw4.cnw.net"
you'd see something like "sjsu3.sj.ca.ibx4" as the hostname,
which completely useless. Better to give the IP, where you could
at least run something like "last | ip2hostname" and have all
of the hostnames (if poorly formatted)
\_ so basically, it's inconsistent behavior. Why not all IPs?
And why a 16 char limit? IP is 15 char max(for now).
\- do you feel stuff reporting in 512b
blocks and have done so for n>20yrs
should comtinue to do so? --psb
\_ I dunno, my feeling is that it is
better to fix things than to have
fundamentally broken stuff lay around
forever along with alternate "fixed"
ways of doing things. (Ever tried to
program the Windows API? It fucking
sucks, and this is exactly why.) -blojo
\_ Hear hear. It's not like this
is even some programming interface.
How many critical cross platform
apps do you know of that depend on
the formatting of last?
\- tom, there are times where change is merited.
the chown user.group was changed to user:group ...
i bitched about that till i realized it made sense.
"the rest of the world" doesnt do everthing right the
first time ... so its a good thing they dont have their
head up their ass and can look around and learn. --psb
\_ Tom said it's stupid so it's stupid. Why do you all waste his
precious netrek time asking why? He said so and that should be good
enough for the likes of you!
\_ this thread is priceless. it brings a tear to my eye.
\- "i am tom, hear me roar" |