4/8     Use motdedit, goddammit
        \_ a-hoy
        \_ why?
        \_ So my editor (vi) can double-lock the motd.public?  That's...ok.
        \_ Since it doesn't have a man page, please explain what it
           does for me.
           \_ use the source, Luke
                \_ find /usr/local/csua/src -name "motdedit*" -print
                   returns nada
                   \_ cat /csua/bin/motdedit

4/8     In C++, is there a better way of doing this?
        double **dbl;           // this line should not change.
        dbl = new (double *)[SomeVar];
        for (int i = 0; i < SomeVar; i++) {
                dbl[i] = new double[SomeOtherVar];
        }
        \_ Yes:
           double **dbl,*dbl_temp;
           dbl = new (double *)[SomeVar];
           dbl_temp = new double[SomeVar*SomeOtherVar];
           for (int i = 0; i < SomeVar; i++)
                   dbl[i] = &dbl_temp[i*SomeOtherVar];
           This should decrease OS overhead for repeated new/malloc
           calls. -alexf [fu initially obtained from mconst]
           \_ This is particularly useful on certain vector architectures
              that support strided loads and stores.  The arrangement of
              data allows you to efficiently perform matrix multiplications
              on either column major or row major matrices without having
              to do successive merges and unpacks like AltiVec does.
              But who do we care. None of us have vector processors at our
              disposals.
              \_ this is useful regardless. it lets you write matrix
                 multiplication using only one loop which increments the
                 matrix pointer by 1, and increments the vector pointer
                 by 1 modulo its length. your matrix multiplies will fly! -ali
                 \_ I just rented it.  It was better on DVD.
                 \_ how do you mean? doesn't this just give you the diagonals
                    of the result?
                    \_ but the math will fly!  all the way to the stars...
                       \_ Per Aspera ad Astra, motherfucker.

4/8     Al Gore in 20 years living the "Earth in the Balance: Ecology and
        the Human Spirit" life style.  He came quietly when they allowed him
        to gather some stuff from his cabin before being hauled off to jail.
        http://www.adn.com/nation/story/0,2360,255628,00.html

4/8     Is a study that surveyed only 20 people statiscally significant:
        http://www.nngroup.com/reports/pr
        I don't remember much statistics but I do remember something
        about needing 33 subjects at a minimum for this kind of thing.
        \_ You have not enough clue. Mine more clue.
        \_ Usability testing is a far different realm than statistical
           sampling.  Many usability tests have only 5 or 6 participants.
           Don't worry, the people in the Nielsen Norman group know far far
           more about usability testing & statistics than you could ever hope
           to - they've created many of the techniques and wrote the papers &
           books and designed the products to back them up.  (Much of the
           modern GUI is based on work Tog did at Apple to refine the original
           Xerox designs and millions of websites are based on Jakob Nielson's
           design strategies.)
                \_ Not the point of the question. I was trying to get at
                   why isn't statistical sampling typically used in usabliity
                   studies?  Just because usablility tests typically ask a small
                   number of people, it doesn't make it right or
                   statistically valid.  Sure cost is an issue but
                   that doesn't mean that you can just make conclusions
                   up after sampling a (usually) small number of people.
                   BTW, I know who Nielsen is. I used to sit across
                   the hall from him at one point. I asked the question because
                   it has always bugged me that he almost always
                   uses sample sizes smaller than seems right. After being
                   the subject once and seeing how my comments ended
                   up in the final report, I feel the whole process that
                   these experts have set up is questionable.

4/8     Anybody seen Cirque du Soleil's "O" in Las Vegas?  How was the
        show?  I got front row tickets, should I expect to get sprayed on?
        \_ Yes. No.
           \_ There are three questions.  Your answers are ambiguous.
              \_ Since only 2 out of the 3 questions are yes/no, I would
                 parse this as: "Yes. ___. No."         - not orig poster
                 \_ Okay, my fault. Ans: Yes. Okay, but very pricey. No.
                    Perhaps the other CdS shows are better, that was my
                    first, and I was not very drunk. You should call up
                    Steve Wynn or whoever owns the casino now and ASK THEM
                    if you'll get all wet and stuff. I've found that
                    generally, i enjoy seats a little farther back, not
                    front row because it's "too close". They can also
                    tell you which seats are the "best" or "better".
        \_ I think the better seats are supposed to be towards the back.
           \_ Is it because you can see more or because you get sprayed less?
        \_ I've seen it. Interesting show, dunno if it's worth the price
           though. The beginning part, the performers go through the audience,
           so everyone in the front half of the auditorium has a chance to
           get a little wet.

4/9     How many of you have transitioned smoothly from using elm/pine or other
        text based unix mail readers to outlook 2000?
        \_ You mean how many people have given up the power and flexibility of
           mail tools like nmh/procmail and gone backwards 15 years to get a
           lame GUI?  Was that the question?
           \_ "Hi, I don't have anything useful to add, but I like to shoot
               off my mouth because it makes me feel superior."
        \_ You mean how many people have left behind a perfectly functional
           unix mail utility for a GUI beast backed by a 10+ year old feature
           set + security nightmares?  Only the dumb people.  Quick motd poll:
           Vote only once please.  The answers are mutally exclusive.
           I think Outlook2000 is the best way to handle mail:
           I think imap is the best way to handle mail:
           I think pop is the best way to handle mail:
           I think delete is the best way to handle mail: .
           I am smart: .
           I have: .
        \_ Allow me to paraphrase your question:  How many of you are not
           retarded?
           \_ why would everyone need the esoteric features of unix
              mail processors? and, why would using outlook preclude
              their use?
              \_ Esoteric features like textual searches of message bodies?
                 \_ are you implying that outlook doesn't offer this? because
                    it does. and if you just use it as an imap gui you can
                    still go in and do your geek magic on the command line.
                        \_ imap?  Oh please.  nmh/procmail.
        \_ That depends on whether you have MS Exchange server or not.
           With MS Exchange server, Outlook turns on many other features
           not found in Unix mail.  Without it, it's like any other
           mail clients (with the exception of virus vulnerability).
           \_ Such as what?  -Exchange2000 admin & Unix Guru
        \_ Yes. I use IMAP to read mail with mutt, elm,  Outlook and Outlook
           Express. BTW, if you're not going to be using exchange
           and I'd recommend Outlook Express over Outlook if you go the
           IMAP route.

4/9     Sr. UNIX SA job at Openwave (http://www.openwave.com  Check out
        /usr/local/csua/pub/jobs/Openwave/UNIXSA for more info. --chris
        \_ that your new <DEAD>dot.com<DEAD>?
           \_ opwv used to be http://phone.com - paolo
              \_ their open != opensrc.
           \_ Openwave is the combination of http://Software.com and http://Phone.com (both
              despite their company names, were not "dot.com" companies, but
              built software -- http://software.com built email software, http://phone.com
              built software for wireless phones).

4/9     What happened to the URL redirectional service on http://csua.org?
        \_ why dont you ask the whois contact?
           \_ Which would be me.  The DSL line on which the server was sitting
              was run by NorthPoint.  It went boom.  If I'm lucky, Rhythms
              will have a new one up in ~ a month.  --dbushong

4/9     What do people think of http://thehungersite.com?
        \_ Clicking through is even less philanthopic than sparing change.

4/9     this is a troll.
        \_ your momma!
        \_ no it isn't.  C'mon trolls.  Just *try*.  At least take the 30
           seconds to find a good link that would bug someone enough to delete
           it all day.  those are the best.

04/07   hola, has anyone been to Ka'aha, Halape or the Waimanu Valley on
        Hawaii? Any sense if those areas will be non-crowded through the end
        of May? ok tnx --psb
        \_ It's hard to find good Indian food in Hawaii, though
           I did see canned dhal in a Longs Drugs store there once.
           \_ Thanks, this answers my question!
                \_ my impression that the big island never really
                gets crowded since it's nothing like oahu or maui
                \_ The big island is always crowded.
                \_ My gf came from Hawai'i. She said anywhere in summer is
                   crowded.
        \_ four languages in one post, you cant be beat!
                \_ spanish, english, geek, and indian?
                   \_ Hawaiian.
                        \_ Then it's 5.

04/07   hola, LaTeX fans may be interested in: http://www.podc.org/podc2001
             In honor of his sixtieth birthday, PODC will feature a series of
             lectures illustrating and celebrating the vast impact of the work
             of Leslie Lamport.
        in re: recent discussion of latex. ok tnx --psb

4/9     how do i get people to stop calling my pager?
        \_ throw it in the bay.
           \_ yeah, but people will still call it whether it be in his pocket
              or at the bottom of golden gate bridge -!original poster
        \_ change the number

4/9     Hello fellow assholes! -Corntrollio
        \_ So this is what trolls have become?  I like a good troll as much as
           the next guy but you have to at least *try*.  Go back to troll 1A.

4/9     Drinking 8 cups of water a day makes me piss a whole damn lot.
        \_ Young Troll, you walk upon the path, yet make no progress toward
           your destination.
           \_ Getting your girlfriend to drink 8 cups of water a day will
              make her vagina more wet during sex.
              \_ She'll pee on you

4/9     Do greek letters in HKN, UPE, and Lambda Lambda Lambda mean anything?
                                          \_ Isn't this the geek fraternity
                                          in "Revenge of the Nerds"?
        \_ Based on my trip to Greece last month... No. They're just Greek
           alphabets.
           \_ How many alphabets do the Greeks have?
              \_ 24
                 \_ Really?  Do each of the 24 have 24 letters too?
                    \_ yes.  now sit down and eat your troll-cookie.
        \_ In fraternities/sororities in general: Yes, i.e. Kappa Kappa
           Gamma == Keys to the Kingdom of God. I'd bet HKN/TBP are the
           same way, but I sure can't remember.
             -- former frat guy / TBP guy / HKN guy
        \_ Same with TBP. The Best Pussy
           Anyone know it for HKN?
           \_ Hello Kitty Nookie
        \_ Real answer: the original greek form of electron is spelled
           eta-lambda-epsilon-kappa-tau-rho-omicron-nu
           "Eta Kappa Nu" are the first, middle(sorta), and last letters.
           (HKN was originally an EE society only).
        \_ the answer is: http://www.sportbikes.dhs.org/Pictures/AngTub.jpg
        \_ each letter was supposed to stand for some sort of good quality
           that's why the frats used them to name themselves.

4/9     Your boy screamed like a girl and your wife moaned like a whore when
        I ravaged her repeatedly.
        \_ Any boy of mine that screams like a girl, you can keep him.
        \_ you just watched Gladiator?

4/9     Does anyone here use the Python language on a regular basis?  What do
        you use it for?  What is your opinion of it as a language?
        \_ ML >> Perl >> Python.
           \_ Tcl >> ML >> ... >> PHP
                \_ I've seen Python, PHP, Perl, and TCL.  3 of 4 are crap.
                   Got a link for ML?  I can decide for myself.
                   \_ http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/what/smlnj
           \_ Who is it that keeps putting ML into these Python comparisons?
              I seriously doubt anyone would consider ML where they were
              thinking of using either Perl or Python. Might as well put
              Prolog into these comparisons.
              \_ Ok!  ML >> Prolog >> Perl >> Python.
                 \_ Scheme >> ML >> Prolog >> Perl >> Python >> JavaScript
                    \_ ML >> Scheme.  Scheme doesn't have a type system.
                       \_ so what? you making fun of it? it gets by just fine
                          without one asshole.
                          \_ Silly troll.  I programmed lisp in the industry.
                             I _know_ how bad runtime type errors are in
                             lisp-like languages.  Train harder.
              To answer the original poster's question, Python is a nice
              language. It's a poor-man's Smalltalk. There are some weird
              quirks to the language, but i would prefer it to Perl for
              all but the simplest tasks.