3/25    Another coward who doesn't understand the righteousness of the cause
        and that we must destroy the Zionist Entity by any means necessary.
        This collaborator's family will suffer our wrath for raising this
        Jew loving traitor and not disavowing his actions against us all.
        http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040324/D81GUJ3O0.html
         \_ "He doesn't know anything, and he has the intelligence of a 12
            year old," said his brother, Hosni.
             Wow, how would you like your family to say that about you
             to the international media? Ha!
             \_ err  ... to absolve him from responsibility as much as possible.
                apparently your intelligence is not much higher than his.
                \_ Yes, I knew that, moron.  Apparently you have the sense
                   of humor of a pregnant whale with morning sickness.
                \_ LOOK! it's Captain Obvious!
                   \_ Hosni will be the first punished for his crimes
                      against the people.

3/25    Do you need to install a special DBI module for PostgreSQL or it's
        built in Perl5 already?
        \_ AFAIK, you need the correct DBD module (Pg.pm) for PostgreSQL.
           This isn't part of Perl. On RH you can install a perl-DBD-Pg-1.x
           rpm which should include everything you need. On FreeBSD make
           install in /usr/ports/databases/p5-DBD-Pg should give you
           everything you need.
           \_ and of course apt-get install libdbd-pg-perl

3/25    I'm trying to get mysql working on my machine. I don't have root so
        I have to install DBI and other packages. How do I find out if the
        package is included in the default Perl distribution? I'm asking
        because test suites are failing due to not having certain *.pm
        files (DBD.pm, DBI.pm, etc etc). Thanks.
        \_ Look in /usr/lib/perl5, most sites install the stock perl modules
           there. The DB* stuff (except for DBD-File) isn't part of the def.
           perl distribution.

3/25    What you need to know about Digital Rights Management
        http://www.publicknowledge.org/content/overviews/citizens-guide-to-drm/view
        or http://csua.org/u/6l9

3/25    The Linux Users Group of MT View/Freedom Technology Center
        is sending any computer book you donate to Iraq.
        Collection on Friday 3/26. -joshk

        http://freedomtechnologycenter.org/events
        \_ I think they need a copy of the federalist papers first.

3/25    No fox news isn't biased or anything...
   Aside, I'm outraged that Fox approached the White House with this
   background briefing tape. According to McClellan, "it was Fox News who
   yesterday came to us and said they had a tape of this conversation
   with Mr. Clarke." If that's true, then a news organization that was
   included in a briefing with the agreement that it was on background --
   that is, with no quotes and the briefer not be identified --
   approached a source's former employer and offered to give up
   apparently conflicting words that the employer could use against the
   source. (I read the transcript. It's not particularly contradictory,
   frankly, and can easily be read as how Clarke characterized it.) This
   is a major journalistic no-no. When I was at Columbia University's
   Graduate School of Journalism, we were taught to go to jail before you
   give up your sources. And you sure as hell don't approach someone
   you're supposed to be covering and offer to help them out against
   someone.  http://www.back-to-iraq.com/archives/000711.php
        \_ The briefing isn't a "source".  It isn't confidential and he is a
           former public servant.  At the time he was a public servant and
           he is now testiying about important public matters.  I want the
           truth, not alligator tears about Clarke and how his reputation is
           now tarnished and his book sales might drop.  I'm not too impressed
           with the quality of education provided by the CsoJ.
        \_ How dare you question Pravda?
        \_ Why do you hate America?  Why do you hate yourself?
        \_ Remember, it's ok to reveal a CIA operative, but don't you
           dare make the president look bad!
           \_ w00t!
        \_ Hey Columbia J-School Grad, when did you go?
        \_ Most journalists are stupid twits.

3/25    Ok please tell me the pros/cons of mysql vs. postgreSQL. For me
        speed is really really important. On the other hand, packaging
        (ease of install, consistent commands, etc) is also very important
        for development. I've just tried mysql for the first time and I'm
        NOT very impressed. The documentation that came with it was outdated
        (some of the tutorials didn't work) and it didn't even pass all of
        the regression tests!!!
        \_ omg, for the millionth time... google. there's tons on the web
           abt this. eg http://openacs.org
        \_ Welcome to open source.  In any case, my understanding is mysql
           is easier setup and deployment, postgreSQL is more robust and
           full featured.  If speed is an issue, postgreSQL is probably
           faster since it features a query optimizer.
        \_ We have used mysql for our db layer for about 3 years now and
           recently decided to switch to postgreSQL. The main problems with
           mysql were the licensing terms for commerical use, the lack of
           decent txn support in the 3.x version and its non-standard sql.
           The performance was adequate most of the time but we used to
           have problems with tomcat's db connection pools under high load.
           As far as installation and configuration go, both mysql and
           postgreSQL are pretty easy to install and configure on Linux,
           FreeBSD and Solaris. PostgreSQL might be a bit harder because
           it expects you to understand something about the care and feeding
           of a database. If you spend a few hrs reading the online docs
           you should be able to get it running smoothly.
           \_ You'll probably want to make InnoDB if you're using mysql.

3/25    When I using mutt and access IMAP folder at a remote server, how do
        I save an attachment to the local machine?  I used s(ave) but could
        find the file neither on the local machine nor in my remote IMAP
        folder.  Where did it go?
        \_ I figured it out.  Did it before but forgot.  Why can't mutt
           be more user friendly?
           \_ I find mutt to be an excellent balance between power and
              usability.  Internally consistent and well defined context
              help via '?'.  if you (s)aved it, it likely put it in your
              Mail folder.  If you want to know where it's gonna go, use
              an absolute path.
              \_ Why can't it have a console based menu, and a modal dialog
                 for saving file?  If I dedicate my life to memorizing all
                 the details of every unix app. then I won't complain, but
                 I use an app to achieve something else and there are so
                 many things more worthy of memorzing than all the key binding
                 and, relevant in this case, format for reference remote
                 and local paths.  Help from ? is very very poor.  I am not
                 saying that I am incapable of understanind it and the online
                 manual.  I managed to figure things out last time, after
                 spending a lot of time parsing them.  But it seems every once
                 in a while I have to use another feature I have to waste tons
                 of time again.
                 \_ hit ? for your menu.  Then hit "q" to get out of your menu
                    "mode" and hit the key you want.  Sounds like you want that
                    other "tree" program.
                    \_ just to be clear, I mean elm.
                       http://www.sao.nrc.ca/imsb/rcsg/documents/basic/img18.gif
                    \_ sigh.  why can't they organize the commands into
                       trees of pull-down menus?  I hate pine, but people who
                       like the ? thing are just like the shiites who whip
                       themselves bloody to celebrate.
                       \_ The ? thing lets you learn something, then gets
                          out of your way so you can get things done.  I
                          guess I just don't understand what's so difficult
                          about it. --scotsman
                          \_ I am not against learning, and I use console
                             based unix programs all the time.  I once sat
                             down with a emacs manual and "learned" a lot of
                             commands.  Some days later I forgot most of them.
                             I still use emacs, vi etc but I can only remember
                             a key-binding if I use more it than 3 times a day.
                             300 days a year.  For everything else I use the
                             on-screen ?, man, info, or the html/paper manual.
                             Given enough time I can always find the answer
                             but I rarely have that time.  I don't think I am
                             the only one who has neither Alzheimer nor foto-
                             graphic memory for key-bindings that neither has
                             rational basis nor adheres to a uniform guideline.
                             I would rather spend my time, effort or brain cell
                             to learn Sanskrit or argue with psb.  I hate eye
                             candy GUI bloatware but I don't like whistling
                             in morse code either and don't know what deep
                             wisdom lies in key-bindings hidden behind ?.
                             \_ Each person prefers a different set of keybinds
                                therefore, each programmer sets up defaults
                                as they prefer.  You *can* change your keybinds
                                in mutt so they act like pine, e.g.  Rebind the
                                keys so they make sense to you.  I don't know
                                what else to tell you.
                       \_ again, use elm. It's very mutt-like, since mutt was
                          based on it.  That little menu thing with the keys
                          you can set your 'expertise' level and it will go
                          away/reduce itself, etc.  It's on the (o)ptions
                          screen.
                          \_ elm is long dead. no?
                             \_ depends on your definition of "dead"...
                                it may not be y2k compliant, (only thing I've
                                noticed is the year wrong) but it still works
                                fine.  The gremlins haven't eaten the
                                computer, it hasn't started randomly filing
                                my email in /dev/null.
           \_ what's this "user friendly" concept?
              \_ It's a comic about sysadmins and dust bunnies.
        \_ another menu driven text gui mail client victim... use nmh.

3/25    Hey, what do some websites pop up extra windows on your screen?  Is
        there any way to turn that off?  I'm using Win 98, IE 5.0
        \_ http://mozilla.org/products/firefox
           \_ Seconded.  Firefox is pretty much the only game in town nowadays.
              \_ what? Mozilla can also block pop-ups, and FireFox is beta only
                 \_ I'm running the previous version of Firebird, and some
                    pop-ups have been getting though.  What's the dillyo?
        \_ you're kidding, right?  have you been living in a cave for the past
           five years?
           \_ No I was just trying to bait you guys.  Pretty pathetic response.  -op

3/25    Headhunter just called me about a contract in SF.
        J2EE/JMX/etc development. Wants 3-5 years exp.
        gail@rgatech.com if you are interested.

        I guess the economy is picking up. Third cold call this year.
        \_ have you guys seen a recovery in contract rate?
        \_ 3rd this year?  i get 3 a day about crappy jobs like that.
        \_ BTW, that's not a headhunter.  That's just some cheesey body shop
           who searched for "J2EE" at dice and sent an email or called the
           first 250 that showed on her search results.  She'll make about
           $10,000 for about 3 days of work to search, call, place body.

3/25    Check out the picture on the bottom of the article.  If your kid looks
        like this, DO NOT under any circumstance take them to McDonalds!
        http://csua.org/u/6lf
        \_ huh?  what article?  did you post the right link?
           \_ Fixed it.
        \_ Holy shit. Amen dude...
        \_ Yikes, could I have that mu-mu super-sized, please?

3/25    Does mehlhaff's motd archive need to get restarted?

3/25    Any recommendations on cordless earphones?

3/25    Greenhouse gas hits a record high:
        http://www.newscientist.com//ews//ews.jsp?id=ns99994802
        \_ Rush Limbaugh told me that global warming was a myth.
           \_ My Little Pony told me to kill mommy and daddy.
        \_ Let's all ride bicycles.  You can start by turning off your
           computer forever and giving up your vegetarian diet.

3/25    Did someone run some wierd script on the motd? All the \_ changed
        to \- and the formatting is all off now.
        \_ M-x query-replace is your friend.
           => query? i guess you like hitting the y key.
        \_ 1,$s/\\_/\/-/g

3/25    http:\\apnews.myway.com\article\20040325\D81HG1480.html
        "The ad reflected growing sentiment among many Palestinian leaders
         and intellectuals that military struggle is not helping the
         Palestinian cause."
        Gee, Ya' Think, Sherlok?
        \_ what's the deal with the backslashes?
           \_ That's a ms window thing.
              \_ not for URLs it's not.

3/25    To celebrate saltwater on Mars, Long John Silver will give away free
        giant shrimp:   http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13905
        \_ Eat our new alien masters?!? Never!

3/25    Why is the freep down?  Was it the liberals?
        \_ Its been installed on the new Mars probe.  Freep couldn't find
           any intelligent life on Earth, so its continuing its mission
           elsewhere...

3/25    Please confirm:
        int foo(void) {
          static char *str = (char*) malloc(10000 * sizeof(char));
          ...
        }
        malloc will only be called once, correct?
        \_ It will be called everytime the function is called.
           You may want to look at __attribute__((constructor)) if
           you are using gcc.
           \_ Uh, if it were evaluated every time the function is called, the
              "static" keyword would be totally useless.  To the OP, if you're
              using ANSI C, that's not a legal construct.  Static variables
              are equivalent to global variables with restricted scope, so you
              can't initialize them to non-constant values.  It's fine in C++;
              C++ initializes static variables at run-time.  If you're using
              C++, though, you probably ought to use new instead of malloc, or
              there are probably better ways to do whatever it is you want to
              do.
        \_ you easily can test this by replacing the malloc call with
           printf/cout/whatever.

3/25    Neat, check out the comments sections on Noam Chomsky's new blog.
        Makes the motd look civil.
        http://blog.zmag.org/ttt
        \_ Can't find 'em
           \_ DAMN.  Looks like they just removed the comments sections.
              Another victory for censorship!
              \_ We cannot have people reading opposing viewpoints on out
                 website comrade!
                 \_ To be fair, they weren't really "opposing viewpoints"
                    so much as "adolescent drivel."  When you use the f-word
                    three times in a sentence, you really don't have much
                    to contribute.  Doesn't mean I think they should have
                    disabled comments: let the blowhards blow!
        \_ It's Chomsky.  The guy is a lightning rod and loves it.

3/25    Don't forget, bring your laptop to SF April 3rd and be part of
        a supercomputer experiment!  It should be cool.
        http://www.flashmobcomputing.org
        \_ Oh, you should register on the website if you're planning to go.
        \_ make sure it's "a 1.3 GHZ Pentium III Celeron/AMD equivalent or
           better with at least 256MB of RAM." --above url

3/25    Fetus now protected (yahoo news) -- http://tinyurl.com/34qgd
        When will it be a federal crime to harm our sperms?
        \_ Hmm, "from my cold dead fingers" seems just as appropriate.
        \_ it already is, if you kick someone in the nuts and
        make him infertile,you'll pay bigtime
        \_ Here is a point with same amplitude but opposite sign:
           http://www.philipkdickfans.com/pkdweb/The%20Pre%20Persons.htm
           (A short story where Congress decided human beings acquire a soul
            and thus human rights at age 12, when they can begin to do
            simple algebra).  Incidentally, I really resent those anti-abortion
            idiots who bring really large, really graphic posters to campus.
            You know, a place where lots of little kids come on a regular
            basis.  Really pisses me off.  -- ilyas
        \_ Obligatory but must be done:
           There are Jews in the world/There are Buddhists/There are Hindus
           and Mormons, and then/There are those that follow Mohammed, but/
           I've never been one of them/I'm a Roman Catholic/And have been
           since before I was born/And the one thing they say about Catholics
           is/They'll take you as soon as you're warm/You don't have to be a
           six-footer/You don't have to have a great brain/You don't have to
           have any clothes on. You're/A Catholic the moment Dad came,Because/
           Every sperm is sacred.
           Every sperm is great.
           If a sperm is wasted,
           God gets quite irate. (repeat x2)
        \_ Maybe when it becomes popular to punch yourself in the balls
           really hard?  It's kinda liek Darwinic suicide I guess...
            simple algebra).  -- ilyas
        \_ It has been a crime to kill an unborn child for a long time.  You
           may have noticed (or not) that Scott Peterson is being charged
           with killing his unborn son.  That's not the first time.  Sperm
           isn't life and you know it.  Don't get all tinfoil hat and red
           herring on the motd.
           \_ Isn't that the whole point of the motd?
           \_ I don't know about you, but *my* sperms got little tails that
              they wiggle as they swim upstream and overcome adversities.
              If they are not alive, I don't know what's alive.
              \_ enough trolling from you
           \_ The crime with the unborn child is against the mother, who
              wanted the child. Not against the fetus.

3/25    Hey, I never got to see the Mike Savage TV show.  Him being the most
        insane conservitive on talk radio, I'd be really curious to see his
        TV show.
        \_ Have you ever listened to his radio show for more than 5 minutes?
           \_ I hope you get AIDS and die.
              \_ Bend over for me then.

3/25    Any Sodians heard of or used to work with this company called Arcsoft?
        http://www.arcsoft.com
        I am interviewing a position there, wondering how you guys think of
        that company.  its headquarter is in Fremon, Ca.
        \_ looks like another http://intervideo.com
        \_ Who are these Sodians of which thou speak?  --sodan

3/25    Read this, you liberals, about the Chrisian way of business management
        http://www.harpers.org/StationsOfTheBoss.html
        \_ Doesn't seem very christian to me.  The corporate equivalent of an
           autodafe...
        \_ Doesn't seem very christian to me.

3/25    as of today i can't get my imaps mail off of csua port 993. anyone
        else have this problem?
        \_ I have this problem not, with openssl as the connector.
           * OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4REV1 LOGIN-REFERRALS AUTH=PLAIN AUTH=LOGIN]
             http://soda.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU IMAP4rev1 2002.332 at Thu, 25 Mar 2004
             19:23:26 -0800 (PST)
           1 LOGIN <snip>
           1 OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4REV1 IDLE NAMESPACE MAILBOX-REFERRALS BINARY
             SCAN SORT THREAD=REFERENCES THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT MULTIAPPEND]
             User <snip> authenticated
           ...
           6 LOGOUT
           * BYE http://soda.csua.berkeley.edu IMAP4rev1 server terminating connection
                \_ use the source, luke!
           \_ I'm also having troubles connecting from Mail in MacOS X after
              Thursday morning.  What changed?  --jeffwong
              \_ I am using Mail.app as well. Didn't state it originally
                 for fear of Mac vs. PC vs. Linux flames. -op

3/25    I got a ticket for running a stop sign [around midnight in SF ...
        (no traffic)].  The cop claimed I didnt even slow down but went
        throught it at 30mph.  I may have not done a full stop, but what
        he is claiming is totally wrong.  This is hopeless to argue and I
        should just do traffic school, right?
        \_ Do a trial by written declaration. I got out of a red light ticket
           in SF. The cop claimed that I "totally" ran a red light and he
           even saw the camera light flash. I checked with the city and there
           was no camera in the direction I was driving so I wrote and said
           that the cop must have been either distracted or something, because
           no such flash could have gone off... he was a jerk anyway for giving
           me a ticket even though he thought that I'd get a second one in the
           mail.
           \_ concur with this respondent, do this.
              \_ Unfortunately there were two cops in the car for one thing
                 and I'm sure they would back each other up.  And the best
                 I could say is "I live around here, so of course I would
                 have known there was a STOP there."  I can't "prove" something
                 like you could about the camera.
        \_ i tried to get out of a california stop in berkeley several years
           ago, no luck.
        \_ Your best bet is to ask for a hearing in traffic court and hope
                \_ this isnt a "best bet" but "rolling the dice". and
                   considering you dont know what your 'saving throw' roll
                   is, this doesnt seem a great thing to bet on. is the cop
                   not showing up probability 50% or 5% or ... ? anyone have
                   some guess about the base rate on a no show? --psb
                   \_ Whoah. "saving throw", Partha? You must be as old as I am
                      or older. -- ulysses
                      \_ Because kids today don't play d&d, they play magic?
                      \_ why is that old?  a bunch of 13 year old proto dorks
                         play D&D at the cafe by my house.
                         \_ I see. Please forgive my ignorance. I really was
                            under the impression that rolling dice, indexing
                            damage tables and all that had been replaced by
                            more automated modes of play like card decks and
                            software. Then again, my last attempt an an RPG
                            session was coming on a decade ago. -- ulysses
                            \_ nope, new charts, new tables, same dice.
                      \_ Hell, Ulysses, being older than you isn't that hard.
                         Or rare.
                            \_ True. I think my issue is that I didn't know how
                               old Partha is, though. Then again, Sandy
                               or somebody else probably did tell me at some
                               point.  -- ulysses
                               \_ Old... old like the hills... old.
                   \_ If you are just going to ask the judge for traffic
                      school if they show, the risk is low. There is a tiny
                      chance the judge will say no and fine you I guess,
                      but most likely they will just accept your plea.
                      school if they show, the risk is low. There is a
                      tiny chance the judge will say no, I guess, but most
                      likely they will just accept your plea.
                      \_ I'm not trying to offend you, but do you know
                         this because you worked for a city gov or your
                         brother-in-law is a cop or...
                         \_ I could claim any reason, since this is an
                            anonymous forum. Let's just say that I know
                            plenty of lawyers, including a couple in my
                      \_ I'm not trying to offend you, but do you know
                            family. This is the "standard way" to fight
                            a traffic ticket. Pay a lawyer $100 to tell
                            you the same thing if it makes you feel better.
                   \_ CA cops almost always show so don't depend on that.
                         \_ I see.  It's always CHP busting me, not locals. tx.
                         this because you worked for a city gov or your
                         brother-in-law is a cop or...
                   \_ CA cops almost always show so don't depend on that.
                      \_ Not true. CHP almost always show, but for city cops,
                         it depends on the locality. I dunno for SF.
                         \_ This is true; my brother has beaten tix in CA by
                            counting on local PD not to show.
                         \_ I see.  It's always CHP busting me, not locals. tx.
           that he doesn't show up. If he shows, then just ask for traffic
           school. If you really want to be clever, if he shows, you can
           ask for a continuation, saying your lawyer didn't show, and then
           try and reschedule for when the officer is on vacation or something
           but you are on pretty thin ice here. I would just plead guilty
           at that point and ask for traffic school.
        \_ If your dad is the president or head of the CIA, you can have all
           charged dropped.
           \_ Wow! That worked! Thanks! -op
           \_ What if I belong to a powerful political MA dynasty and I left
              a woman to drown to death in my car in a lake?  Can I still be
              a Senator?
              \_ Or if you abandon your children (ie not pay child support)
                 after you abandoned your wife and she divorced you, and
                 you lead a charge to champion "family values" while
                 Speaker of the House
        \_ Kill the cop, then he can't show.  With no witnesses, you win!
        \_ Time == money. The fine is $315 or so. If it's worth your time
           to fight it (and possibly lose), go ahead. Read the citation.
           If it's just failure to stop, it's just about impossible to fight
           it (without witnesses). If it says you missed the sign completely
           or went through at specific high speed, you might have a case,
           especially if you very are familiar with the area (ie. you know
           the stop is there and could NEVER have run it at the speed noted.)
        \_ If your dad is the president or head of the CIA, you can have all
           charged dropped.
           \_ Wow! That worked! Thanks! -op
           \_ What if I belong to a powerful political MA dynasty and I left
              a woman to drown to death in my car in a lake?  Can I still be
              a Senator?
              \_ Or if you abandon your children (ie not pay child support)
                 after you abandoned your wife and she divorced you, and
                 you lead a charge to champion "family values" while
                 Speaker of the House