7/29    No on 72.

7/28    My monitor recently croaked.  I was thinking about getting a 19"+
        LCD monitor to replace it.  Does anyone have any suggestions or bad
        experiences that might be helpful?  TIA.
        \_ Thanks for all the information, people!  It's much appreciated! -OP
        \_ http://www.apple.com/displays
           If you're willing to shell out $$$ for a video card, you can
           get a 30" LCD.
           get a 30" LCD.n
           \_ I also recommend an Apple display. I bought a 20" Apple LCD
              last year. It is a great monitor; very bright and it shows the
              correct colors for photos/print work. The current (Al) 20"
              display is even better than mine since it has a faster refresh
              rate, a USB 2.0 hub and a FireWire hub. The only downside to
              the 20" display is that the 1680x1050 native resolution isn't
              well supported by games.
        \_ Very positive experiences with Dell. Bad experiences with HP.
           Good experiences with Apple, but expensive. Bad experience with
           Sun. I have no idea who makes monitors for these resellers.
           If it was my money I'd go with Dell or Sony. I just got
           a Sony widescreen that is very nice.
        \_ Go to http://hardforum.com, Displays.  There was a good discussion on 19"
           LCDs several days ago.  Basically there are some good 16ms
           models out, and there are 12ms 19" LCDs in the pipeline.
           For my money I would just get the Viewsonic 16ms 19" LCD at CompUSA
           with $100 mail-in rebate.
        \_ i'm very happy with my 19" dell lcd. supposedly it's the same as
           the samsung 191t on the inside.
        \_ I bought a Sony 19".  I really like it (although it's a tiny
           bit slow on refresh for some games.)  -John
        \_ The wife's 20" viewsonic lcd (1600x1200) is very nice.
        \_ We bought and installed more than a dozen 17 and 19 inch Dell LCD
           screens for work during the last two years. None of them had any
           problems so far. They look great. We'll never buy CRTs again.
        \_ Use DVI!
        \_ I've got the Samsung 191t and it's very nice using DVI.

7/27    Hey, laser-game (reflections?) playing person(s), did you get around
        that level loading problem? I get the same thing trying to go to level
        23.
        \_ try this url instead - http://www.nailmaster.ru/laser.html
           \_ thanks.
        \_ further proof that French programmars are all about aesthetics
                \_ watch out for the pop up that says your computer is
                   infected and leads you to a commercial site
        \_ further proof that French programmers are all about aesthetics
           and little function. To recap:
           http://csua.com/?entry=32455
           \_ and http://csua.com/?entry=11448
              although, i visited http://globulos.com yesterday for the first time
              in many months and it seems they're improving it.
                \_ that's because the number of users are cut in half, DUH.

7/27    Who started the "Why do you hate America" retort (on soda)?
        \_ Maybe PSB?
        \_ Someone who can't keep his repetitive comebacks on topic.  He's
           always slapping it at random on posts that don't say anything
           like that.  But if it makes him happy to add nothing, that's
           ok.  The best I ever got out of him was it was used a few times
           by some talking heads on TV and a claim of motd use but no
           backing for that claim.  It *could* have been brilliant but the
           way it's used is just stupid.
        \_ Someone who read http://tinyurl.com/3rr5z
        \_ It's retorts like this that will destabilize the motd for
           generations to come!
           \_ Nonono, it shall "destroy motd credibility around the world for
              generations!".  What would happen to the motd if we were to
              lose credibility around the world?!  MY GOD!  IT'S UNTHINKABLE!
        \_ It has become the STANDARD parody of the conservative capitalization
           of the post-9/11 upsurge of patriotism.
           \_ I am impressed.  I can't even make a joke about ed being the
              standard.  What gives?
                \_ You must hate America.  -John
                   \_ See?  Now *this* was a good use of an otherwise
                      useless line.

7/28    Regarding a previous topic, this year's Free Shakespeare in the Park
        (http://csua.com/?entry=32389 any
        suggestions about best venue?
        \_ All are nice.  We're done in Pleasanton, and are starting in
           Cupertino this weekend.  That one's supposed to be very nice,
           with an amphitheatre so there's less viewing obstruction.
           It'll also probably stay warmer than Oakland or SF.  I like
           Oakland because it's across the street from my apartment and
           walking distance from BART.  I'd suggest a venue with a later
           starting time.  The set is less effective in daylight. --scotsman
        \_ I'm planning to go to the Cupertino one. Memorial Park is
           very nice and it usually stays warm till about 9:30 or so.

7/29    Democrats... did you guys listen to Bill Clinton's speech at the
        convention?  it seems that he is still by far the best public speaker
        out of all the big boys in that hall.
        \_ Where can I get a transcript of what he said?
        \_ Barack Obama was awesome too, but I guess he's a "new kid," not
           a "big boy."
        \_ Doesn't it bother you that you refer to a former President as
           the 'big dog'.  Exactly what is this supposed to mean?  He
           is not spaid and has free roam of the neighborhood?
           As for Obama, oh yea let's make this the land opportunity
           by giving people things for free that other people paid for.
           \_ That damn Clinton mutt, always sneaking around while my bitches
              are in heat!
           \_ Damn right!  Kids didn't pay for the schools, so let's get
              rid of that commie public education.  Also, kids don't have
              any money to pay doctors, so let's stop this nonsense about
              public health care.  Once we get rid of all this free stuff
              that other people paid for, then America will be the true
              land of opportunity.
              \_ Would you be willing to lower your GPA by a full point to
                 give 5 others with 1.8 GPAs a 0.2 boost so they don't get
                 kicked out of school?
                 \_ Ahh.. the old "the points versus the playing field"
                    argument
                    \_ Answer it, don't duck.
              \_ So you wouldn't mind paying my taxes?
              \_ Ah yes, the red herring.  I'm sure you incapable of seeing
                 how something like free schooling for everyone is a benefit
                 for everyone because it's free schooling for *everyone* which
                 everyone uses to the same extent.  Whereas free health care
                 for everyone is a resource that is disproportionately used by
                 some at the expense of others.  But don't let logic or clear
                 thought get in the way of your rant.
                 \_ Ever heard of private schools? And free health care would
                    not mean the end of all private health care. So your
                    logical exceptions aren't any different than other social
                    programs. In fact all of these can be said to have a
                    benefit for everyone since it impacts the society. An
                    educated and healthy society has all sorts of benefits.
                    I'm not arguing one way or the other, just pointing it out.
                    \_ Actually, under the last seriously proposed universal
                       health care system, Hillary's, private medical care
                       would no longer be an option.  So, yes, it would mean
                       the end of private care.  I agree that an educated and
                       healthy society has benefits for all.  However, the
                       benefit to individuals in education is the same.  The
                       cost is also the same per student.  Health care costs
                       vary dramatically.  No, I'm not willing to pay for
                       some old guy's viagra, some fat person to go on a diet,
                       the umpteenth heart surgery for someone who won't take
                       care of themselves or anyone's plastic surgery.
                    \_ If all schools were private, many people would not
                       be able to send their kids to school, at least 25%,
                       since that is the percent of kids in poverty. Just
                       pointing that out.
                       \_ With private healthcare many don't get healthcare?
              \_ then, there is the non-sense of minimum wages.  We should
                 get rid of minimum wage let the iron law of wages dictates
                 the market value of hourly pay.
                 \_ minimum wages are entirely artificial and don't help
                    anyone.  all it means is that all prices go up that much
                    more to pay the legally mandated minimum.  If the iron
                    law of wages was allowed to dictate the market value of
                    hourly pay, prices and wages would be forced into
                    alignment instead of giving us government sponsored
                    inflation.  once again, don't let logic or reality get
                    in the way of your little rant, either.
                    \_ No economist believes these things. Show me some
                       evidence that "prices go up" in lockstep with
                       increases in the minimum wage. Don't let logic
                       or reality get in the way of your little rant, though.
                       \_ Let's take this to it's logical extreme.  Raise the
                          minimum wage to $25/hour.  Roughly $50k year.  That's
                          a living wage in the SFBA, right?  What is going to
                          happen to prices?  Homework on this topic is due on
                          Thursday, the quiz is next Monday in section.
          \_ Awww, if only he'd actually said that, my poor widdle twoll.
             \_ I watched his speech.  After reciting his personal
                history that is exactly the consequence of what he said.
                Just be honest about your intentions - is that too much
                to ask???

7/28    Bush lied again... Castro never said those things about prostitution
        http://www.boingboing.net/2004/07/28/bushs_lies_about_cas.html
        \_ Bush did not lie! The CIA told him to say that and he trusted them.

7/28    Why does Kerry choose a sport/activity and then play dressup?
        I have literally a dozen photos of him dressed up in different
        costumes.
        \_ Kerry's basically an android.  He's just trying to use camouflage
           to blend in with the humans.
        \_ Why do you collect so many Kerry photos? Do you have a Kerry fetish?
           \_ That's his business and knowing that doesn't answer his
              question.
        \_ He likes trying new things?
           \_ Maybe he should try showing at a Senate vote or an intelligence
              committee meeting sometime....
        \_ http://www.drudgereport.com/dnc8.htm
        \_ would you like some gwbush in a kimono pictures
           \_ would you settle for Putin in a kimono?
              http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=167
           \_ I'd like to see Bush in a cheerleader uniform.
              \_ http://www.funnycelebpics.com/items/39.gif
                 http://zhongwen.com/bush/w-cheer.gif
           \_ Real ones? Yeah, I would.
        \_ Are you trying to claim Bush does not do this?
           \_ At least Bush can throw a strike over home plate.
           \_ Not to the really weird extent Kerry does.  The guy
              has been criss-crossing the country playing dress up.
              \_ Let's see, I see Bush in a flight suit, Bush in a
                 Kimono, Bush in a tanker jacket, Bush as a cheerleader...
                 \_ Flight suit: he should be in a jet without one?
                    Kimono: do as the Romans (or Japanese) do.
                    Cheerleader: duh, photoshop.
        \_ At least Kerry doesn't need to "stuff"
   http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushflightsuitstuff.htm
           \_ He's just trying to appeal to gay voters.

7/28    I don't get it.  What's wrong with having a society that comes
        together and decides that the poor and those in need should get
        some assistance?  I think people below are pushing individualism
        too far such that it became like pure survival of the fittest.
        Are humans like tigers.  Don't we function more effectively in
        cooperative groups?
        \_ if i give $100 to this, beauracracy filters it down to $1
           meaning people who want this want it cuz they can easily
           steal it . by the time the money reaches the needy it's
           dwindled to nothing
        \_ cuz they're already taking half my income
           \_ And yet you have an account on a machine at a *public*
              university.  Way to stand by your principles.
              \_ Is UC funded by the fed?
              \_ I'll immediately give up my csua account forever for a
                 0.001% drop in my taxes permanently.  Or hell, any drop
                 at all.
        \_ Some assistance == get back on their feet, not perpetual
           handouts.
           \_ and not cradle to grave government interference in
              economic decisions.
        \_ You're begging the question.
        \_ Sure.  You and your friends come together to decide to do whatever
           charity you like.  I might even join in, if the cause is right
           and the plan sound.  I only object when you pull out a gun
           and tell me I have to join, or else.
           \_ Ah, the old libertarian canard of "forced at gunpoint".  If you
              resist, nobody's going to point a gun at you.  They might take
              your stuff or put you in jail, but the only way they'll point a
              gun at you is if you point one at them.
              \_ They can't take your freedom (or your stuff) away without
                 violence or the threat of violence, duh.
              \_ right.... why does IRS and the EPA each have SWAT teams
                 (thanks to WJC)?  Tell that to Weaver, Koresh and Elian.
                 \_ Because the people most likely to defy a court order are
                    the same people who own guns and might be dumb enough to
                    shoot at government employees.  And Elian?  Come on!  That
                    was plain and simple kidnapping.  You don't bring a knife
                    to (what you think will be) a gunfight.
                    \_ They could have picked up Koresh anytime at all since
                       he was known to go shopping in town twice a week with
                       only 1 or 2 others at most.  In a pickup truck, not a
                       tank like the Feds showed up with.  Elian was not so
                       simple.  If it was so simple there wouldn't have been
                       an issue.  I think you're trolling because it the
                       whole point was that his family in Florida that his
                       mother was fleeing to wanted to keep him.  His father
                       was out of his life since the parents split years
                       earlier when he was a tot.
                    \_ And the government never shoots first?  Nor does it
                       ever threaten violence to harmless people?  And if
                       you disobey a government edict, it's ok so long as it's
                       done non-violently?  Can I have some of what you're
                       smoking?
              \_ and how are they going to get me to go to jail?  by asking
                 nicely?  at some point, there is going to be an implicit or
                 explicit threat of violence.
                 \_ Many people being indicted are given a chance to turn
                    themselves in.  If you don't have any respect for the
                    authority of the courts then what can they do but force
                    you to be arrested.  You won't get a gun pointed at you if
                    you are civil, but if they think you're a violent wacko
                    it's only common sense they protect themselves by carring a
                    gun.
                    \_ So I should obey just because someone like you made a
                       law?  Nuh uh, buddy!  At some point I *will* get a gun
                       pointed at me if I refuse to acknowledge your law no
                       matter how unjust.  You can't deny that.
                    \_ What if I lock the door to my house?  Will they knock
                       the door down?  What if I refuse to go by grabbing onto
                       a table, or a couch, or anything?  Will there be violence
                       done to my body then?  The government can enforce its
                       \_ Are you that radical that you can't see the need
                          to respect the authority of the courts?  If the
                          government can never use force, I can just come into
                          your house and shoot you myself.
                          \_ Ah.  The implicit or explicit threat of force.
                             Thank you.   BTW, some might even say that it
                             is the responsibility a free person to disobey
                             an unjust law.
                             \_ Funny, because the people who say that are
                                usually referring to altruistic motives, not
                                simply a desire to protect their stuff.
                                \_ There are few resopnsibilities as honorable
                                   as the struggle against tyranny.
                                   \_ OMFG the government is collecting taxes!
                                      Those tyrants!  Let's all live in an
                                      anarchical collective and grow our own
                                      food and die at 40 of cholera.
                                      \_ Taxation is the power to destroy.  If
                                         you put the tax rate high enough you
                                         will destroy someone's life.  Maybe
                                         you should find a history book and
                                         read about all the tyrants who were
                                         called that only because they levied
                                         outrageously high taxes.  Except a
                                         peasant in dark ages England paid
                                         lower taxes than I do now.
                                      \_ A friend once refused to pay the
                                         portion of his income tax that would
                                         have gone into the defense budget.  He
                                         was soundly slapped by the IRS for
                                         that, of course.  The government
                                         wants its money, even if you disagree
                                         with how the money is spent.
                                         \_ If you disagree, you vote them
                                            out.  Or you leave the country.
                                            That's your recourse.
                       will because it's stronger and more violent than I can
                       ever be.
                        \_ Hitler told the jews, you must respect his
                        authority
        \_ The trouble is that I often don't agree with how the "society"
           spends its money to uplift the poor.
        \_ Darwinsm was very popular until WW2, when Hitler used it as a tool
           for his agenda. Afterwards, equal right/opportunity/weak-deservers-
           more mentality was much more accepted. So, thanks Hitler.
        \_ When you're ready to lower your GPA by a full point to help 5 others
           bring theirs from 1.8 to 2.0 to save them from being kicked out of
           school then we can discuss how far I'll allow you to reach into my
           pockets.

7/28    MacOS X Internet Connect.app vulnerability:
        http://secunia.com/advisories/12157
        \_ Does anyone use OSX?
           \_ weak troll
              \_ not really.  whats its markeshare?  under 1%?
                 \_ Among sodans, I'd guess that maybe 5-10% own at least one
                    Mac.  80% want one.  And the rest are voting for Bush.
                    \_ What does voting for Bush have to do with owning a
                       Mac?
                       \_ Nothing.  It was a weak troll.
              \_ 3.7% in the US:
                 http://idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=pr2004_07_14_153325
                 \_ of course 90% of computer users are retarded. Everyone
                    knows that smarter users use macs.
                    \_ Smart users use command prompt to train their brains.:-)

7/28    Windows 64-bit version delayed:
        http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-5285913.html?tag=nefd.top
        \_ It's been delayed umpteen times already.  No one ever holds their
           breath for a MS software release.
        \_ They're behind schedule on inserting buffer overrun bugs.

7/28    They must serve some strong Kool-Aid in Japan:
        http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64352,00.html?tw=wn_story_related
        \_ it's cool, it and movie stars use it.  You don't have one?  you
                must be some kind of freak!

7/28    bash v3.0 is out: http://tinyurl.com/436y2
        \_ Ah, a new version of a crappy shell.  Thanks Linux!
           \_ It comes standard on most linux distros so it must be the best!
                \_ It has pretty colors!
           \_ While I agree that bash might be overkill scripting, some of
              its features do greatly enhance usability (unicode filename
              handling, auto completion of filenames w/ spaces, &c.) Some of
              these features you can get in ksh or hack into pdksh (a la
              OpenBSD), but for most people its just easier to use bash.
              \_ tcsh completes filenames with spaces. i don't know nething
                 about unicode but it's mentioned in the man page. fuck bash.
                 \_ Yes but tcsh uses the crappy csh scripting style. Some
                    of us do use the while/do/done for/do/done, if/fi &c.
                    syntax on the cli.
                    \_ Use the right tool for the job!  You use tcsh for CLI
                       and perl for scripting.  Anything more than a few
                       lines of tcsh belongs in perl or some other real
                       scripting langauge.  Bash should die.  It's a
                       bastardized POS.

7/28    kchang, have you consider make your motd-archive, automatic catagory
        thingy being used somewhere else? such as automatic catagorization of
        bookmarks in a browser?
        \_ I no longer respond to questions like these on motd. If you have
           questions, email me. And yes I use the auto categorization
           algorithm on a lot of stuff I use. I haven't released them
           to the public yet. In fact when Kais Motd was still in beta version
           someone somehow got a hold of my URL and posted on the motd
           prematurely.                                             -kchang
           \_ You just responded to questions like these on motd.
                \_ it's the last one                            -kchang
        \_ kchang, would you move your motd-archiving to a berkeley domain?
         \_ yes, I'll consider it if you email me.              -kchang

7/28    Bush breathes air he tries to poison.  See all the pics:
        http://www.whitehouse.gov
        \_ what about illegal immigration pollutes delta/sacramento
           river and destroys levees w/ unlawful aliens?
           \_ RACIST!  Why do you hate America?  I'll bet you don't RIDE
              BIKE! or USE LINUX! either!

7/28    Kerry Toured Shuttle That Supplies Space Station He Voted
        Against.  See all the pics
        http://www.rnc.org/RNCResearch/Read.aspx?ID=4477

7/28    A friend of mine is looking for LGBT 21-25 yo's to fill out
        a survey. It helps his research project and you make $50.
        See /csua/pub/jobs/survey for more info -ausman
        \_ obPutItOnCraigslist
           \_ Good suggestion, thanks. What section? Jobs/non-profit???
              \_ Most of the focus groups and research studies seem to be in
                 Jobs/et-cetera

7/28    What are the good used bookstores near Stanfurd/south bay, with good
        collection on academic books (non-cs) like Black Oaks/Moe in Berkeley?
        \_ Castro street in mountain view has some
        \_ The Stanford bookstore on campus (and probably downtown PA) has
           a good selection of all sorts of stuff.
           \_ Thanks.  But stanford bookstore doesn't carry used books except
              in its textbook section, does it?  And the one or two bookstores
              on Castro near the train station does not seem to come close to
              black oaks/moe in terms of the level of the books when I last
              visited them.  Are there better ones?
        \_ Kepler's

7/28    For those looking to upgrade, an article on the recent AMD CPU price
        cuts:  http://csua.org/u/8d4
        The price difference showed up on newegg several days before the
        news release. :'(

7/28    Are you going to do anything about the Paypal Class Action Suit?
        \_ URL?
           \_ http://www.paypal.com/settlement

7/28    Why Does Dubya choose a ranch and then play vacation?
        I have literally a dozen photos of him relaxing at a golf course or
        his ranch.
        \_ Are you trying to claim Kerry does not do this?
           \_ At least Kerry can ride a mountain bike without falling.
              \_ But not a regular bike or a pair of skis.  Whatever.  If
                 this is the basis upon which you cast your vote for President
                 of the United States of American, please do yourself and the
                 rest of us a favor and stay home.  --apathetic to both sides
           \_ Not to the really weird extent Bush does.  The guy
              has not been criss-crossing the country playing vacation.
              \_ Uhm, yeah.  How many votes has Kerry missed because he was
                 either on vacation or was out campaigning?  How many of
                 senate intelligence committee meetings on terrorism for the
                 same reasons?  There are a zillion Kerry-on-vacation photos
                 out there.  Your buddy, Drudge, even didn't a full page of
                 them with some typical cutesy headline.  You're blinded by
                 your own partisanship.  --apathetic to both sides

7/28    100+ Iraqis all blowed up - Washington Post
        "Before the explosion we told the volunteers not to stand in the
        street until we called them because we had a car bomb six months ago.
        ... But there were 500 to 600 all standing in line," he said, and they
        did not want to lose their places by moving to a side street. Mohammed
        Saleh, another bystander, confirmed that account. ...  "They did not
        listen. They were standing around buying cigarettes and eating
        sandwiches when it happened."
        \_ since everyone has already seen this in the news...can anyone here
           comment on the quality of Iraqi sandwiches?
           \_ The camel toe sandwich tasted kinda fishy.

7/28    continued deletion of politics threads will lead to nuclear war.
        you have been warned.
        \_ aww, poor trollie, are we hurting your feelings?
        \_ I just think some of the people deleting the threads are just
           upset at being made to look like an idiot.
                \_ yeah that's it.

7/28    So why don't the libertarians move to someplace like the Congo,
        where there is no oppressive government, no taxes and they
        can carry any weapon they like?
        \_ Why don't republicans move to Saudi Arabia where they can finally
           have total religious control of the government, hereditary
           absolute power, and an economy totally dominated by the oil
           industry?
           \_ Wrong religion.
        \_ Why don't liberals move to Cuba or North Korea?
                \_ because they don't have access to Kais Motd      -kchang
                \_ because America is our country.  That is why you are here.
           \_ Bad analogy. You should ask why the liberals don't move
              to Canada or The Netherlands.
              \_ Oh yeah, as if the original 'Congo' thing is a good analogy.
                 It should have asked 'why don't libertarians move to
                 Switzerland.'  Sometimes I wonder myself.
                 \_ No, Switzerland has confiscatory taxes and takes money
                    from its citizens at gunpoint, forcing them to work as
                    virtual slaves for The State.
                    \_ And the Netherlands and Canada have cruel capitalism,
                       and class warfare.  You are a weak troll, buddy.
                       \_ Got you, though, didn't he?
                       \_ Liberals aren't socialists dunderhead. The sooner
                          you figure that out, the better off you will be.
              \_ In fact, we have it on record that regular citizens are
                 contemplating a move to Canada if Bush wins a second term.
                 Whether they would follow through?
        \_ Why should they have to, when they can make America just like it?
        \_ Because they like the US' government services, they just don't think
           they should have to pay for them.
           \_ What are you talking about?
              \_ law enforcement, national defense, public roads, etc

7/28    Only computer viruses can hurt the motd.
        \_ Biohazard attack averted by judicious use of duct tape and plastic
           sheeting.

7/28    The new version of DVDShrink defaults to "Sharp" but lets you choose
        from something like: really smooth, smooth, sharp, really sharp.

        I'm thinking my eyes probably cant tell the difference but I would
        like to learn more about these settings.  The software isnt documented
        so please discuss! --gabriel
        \_ The simple answer is it can devote more bits to accurately tracking
           the shape of the objects in the image, or to accurately tracking
           the movement of the objects.  At one extreme you have a fuzzy
           picture that doesn't go to crap when the scene changes fast or there
           is a lto of movement.  At the other, you have a very sharp picture
           that gets nasty artifacts whenever stuff moves.  For an action
           movie, choose smooth, for something with a lot of static shots,
           choose sharp.
        \_ Check the http://doom9.org forums.

7/28    Nuclear cleanup crew was here
        \_ Kerry was most likely a part of it

7/28    No nuclear simulations during peak hours, it lags the machine for
        everyone else.
        \_ But the Los Alamos machines are too slow!

7/28    TMBG, Aug 14
        \_ RSVP?
           \_ KIOI?
           \_ add .com

7/28    I think someone just used the liberal version of "Why do you hate
        America" on me. I was telling a guy I know that I thought Michael
        Moore's "would you sacrifice your children?" question is stupid
        because Moore can take the correct response of "no, because I don't
        speak for my children- they make their own decisions" and say,
        "see! see! you said no, you're a hypocrite!" To which this guy
        responded with, "So it's okay to lie to go to war?"
        \_ Yeah, sounds like it to me. Still not quite as snappy, but close.
           \_ Why do you support torture?
        \_ Moore is an idiot.  In any case, he could do his job a lot easier
           by stopping his calling Bush a liar, and saying he's incompetent
           instead.  As well, Moore should be asking, "If you were President,
           would you send America's children to Iraq based on what you knew?"
           instead of asking the ridiculous version of the question ("Would
           you send your own kid ...").
        \_ I think a better response is: so if the UN sanctioned the war
           you would then automatically 'sacrifice' your children?  As if
           it should make a difference.
           \_ You're all missing the fucking point.  The people Moore approaches
              are the ones making the decisions to authorize the use of the
              troops, cutting their benefits and danger pay, etc.  He has two
              \_ Bill O'Reilly makes decisions to authorize use of troops?
              audiences with that stunt, those watching through the camera,
              and the legislators themselves.  The point is not that their
              children should be compelled to serve.  It's that 1) they might
              weigh their decisions differently if they could imagine that
              it was their own child, and 2) the poor join up to the military
              for the opportunities they see in it while the well off don't.
              Moore wants the soldiers lives to be weighed to their worth.
              \_ Nice try. Moore just wants to make people look like
                 hypocrites when they clearly aren't.
                 \_ Did you even watch the damn film.  If you want to over-
                    simplify it without considering what I just said, I weep
                    for you.
                    \_ Someone mentioned a film?

7/28    Second nuclear test deleted.  Don't make us invoke UN sanctions.

7/28    Serious question: Politically speaking, what's the diff between
        Al Gore, Clinton, Edwards, Kerry, Ted Kennedy?
        \_ This would be a long post, sure you want to see it?
           \_ what about a short summary or URL?
        Clinton:  The Natural, The Horny Bastard
        Gore:  The Boy Scout
        Kerry:  The Troubled Vietnam Officer
        Edwards:  The Trial Lawyer For The People, The Young Guy
           \_ Edwards is 51. Bush was 54 in 2000. Clinton was born '46, so
              was 46 when he became president. But they'll probably keep
              calling Edwards young even when he's 60.
        Ted Kennedy:  The Old Bostonian Democrat

7/28    Nuklear test deleted: No above ground testing

7/28    Gerald Ford kinda sucks.
        http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/presidents/gerald-ford
        \_ But he invented the Ford Model T!  Hail to the Father of Affordable
           Automobile!

7/28    Who provides the cheapest wireless plan?  (for emergencies only)
        \_ How often doyou have emergencies?  I ask because a coworker's wife
           apparently has daily emergencies around lunch time.
           \_ That's when the milkman arrives at the door.
        \_ if it's truly emergency-only, any cell phone with signal, regardless
           of plan, can access 911.  So you dont' really need a plan at all
           and its FREE!
           \_ not sure about that... if I take the SIM card out of my GSM
              phone, I don't think it can register on the network to make
              a call (though I've never tried dialing 911)
              \_ federal law requires all carriers to allow free 911
                 call access, so maybe a non-GSM phone would be enough?
                 \_ Taking the sim card out of mine still allows emergency
                    calls.  Just for yuks, try '112' (European emergency
                    number) if 911 doesn't work.  -John
           \_ my motorola v66 manual says you can dial emergency numbers
              even if the phone is locked or no SIM is inserted.  I think
              it will try to register after you press send.  but if your
              emergencies are not police emergencies, pre-paid is good.
           \_ So if I have a non-GSM phone, and I cancel my plan which releases
              the phone number, I can still call 911?
        \_ prepaid. $50 would last you 3 months.
           \_ good suggestion.  Any favorite carrier?
           \_ Cingular.  $20/3 months = $7/month.  $50 for 1 time activation.
           \_ Another suggestion, AT&T Free2Go.  I think it has $10/90 days
              = ~$3.33 / month.

7/28    Since the convention began, so far I haven't seen Kerry tough or
        decisive, as much as Bill, Al, Barack, or Teresa like to say so.
        Every time they bring up his wartime duty, I think of his coming
        back a brooding Vietnam vet, today past his prime, somewhat
        flabbergasted he managed the Democratic nomination.  With Dubya as
        his (arguably) pathetic adversary, he has yet to demonstrate
        toughness or decisiveness to me. -a liberal
        \_ Conservative point of view: I was soooo glad Dean lost the race.
           Kerry is one of the only people on the planet Bush could have
           beat.  You guys went with the boring old guard nothing guy and
           now you're stuck trying to fluff his ancient Vietnam record into
           a Presidency.  With 19 years in the Senate, how come his short
           time in Vietnam is the only thing we ever hear about?  Because
           he didn't do jack for 19 years in the Senate.  Can someone name
           a major piece of legislation with his name on it or the really
           bad piece of legislation he lead the fight to burying?  Kerry
           is a nobody.  All the talk from the left is anti-Bush, not
           pro-Kerry because Kerry has nothing going for him.  Dean worried
           me because he had brains, passion, and balls.  If you had kept
           Dean and he learned to tone it down slightly you'd probably get
           8 years.  Now you only get another shot at it in '08 with that
           silly woman of all people.
           \_ It's too bad the MOTD is anonymous, since this is almost
              certainly the same guy who was saying Dean is unelectable back
              in January.  -tom
           \_ *sigh* I agree with your analysis completely.  -another liberal
           \_ Well, I supported Dean but I'm not convinced about the win/lose
              situation. Dean was a wildcard, with his grassroots funding and
              anti-Washington talk he could energize lots of people. But seeing
              Dean get destroyed by the concerted attacks in the primaries it's
              reasonable to think that Kerry would be safer. After all, they
              take for granted that the "energized" voters will transfer to
              Kerry anyway (a somewhat dangerous assumption... by November the
              generic Bush-bashing angle may get old and then you're left with
              a guy who like Gore doesn't seem different enough).  Dean would
              have been a wildcard since his talk about repealing tax cuts and
              the antiwar stuff was easy to attack in soundbites, and required
              multiple-sentence explanations that only satisfy intellectuals.
              The dem party is not comfortable with a clear antiwar message.
              They're mostly avoiding the topic now. Things are pretty much
              as people predicted before the primaries.  -moderate
              \_ The 'safe' choice is usually a bad choice in politics.  It
                 really means useless boring autocrat like Kerry who can
                 only get elected if his weak opposition royally fucks up
                 their own campaign.  The left had a few other decent choices
                 as well but for some reason beyond me chose this useless
                 knucklehead.  He's going to get his head handed to him.  This
                 is going to be sad.   Dean didn't just energize the party
                 base.  Those people mostly always vote anyway.  He was able
                 to touch the common man.  The only common man Kerry has ever
                 interacted with was serving his lunch.  --conservative
                 \_ what other choices? i mean, I think Kucinich was a good
                    candidate for what he is, but he's too left for even Dems.
                    Clark and Edwards, who knows. Edwards feels generic to me.
                    Clark was... mysterious and didn't deliver a message.
                    Anyway Kerry is better than Gore. It won't be a landslide.
        \_ He hasn't been at the convention all week, jackass.
           \_ You know, you're right.  Regardless, I still feel the same
              way ... moron. -op
        \_ Not that it will really matter in the popularity contest that
           will decide the outcome, but he's actually got a sage and
           decent voting record in the Senate.  I respect him for that,
           and hope that the goofily handsome veteran/antiwar activisit
           photos will get him into office so he can do the right thing
           there.
           \_ To put it another way, Kerry may have brains, but does he
              \_ yeah, landed on the aircraft carrier in Jumpsuite helps.
                 That scene on TV is a much credible yardstick to judge a
                 person than decades of voting record.
              have guts?  Bush may not surpass Kerry on brains, but he appears
              to have guts (roll eyes). -op
              \_ yeah, landed on the aircraft carrier in Jumpsuite helps.
                 That scene on TV is a much credible yardstick to judge a
                 person than decades of voting record.
              \_ I'd only modify your comments to change "guts" to "balls".
                 Going into a poorly justified war that has "ulterior motive"
                 written all over it isn't so much brave as brazen.
                 \_ Nah, I think Bush really thought Saddam had WMDs, and
                    \_ that is what you think.  it is more like he think
                       Saddam is a bad person and wanted to settle the old
                       score.  We all know he had WMD.  He *USED* against
                       Iranian with our blessing.
                    even if he didn't, it was a good idea to take him out now,
                    since he had used WMDs in the past and could give them
                    to al Qaeda at some point -- the consequences of that
                    too dire (hence, why Bush keeps saying "it was the
                    right decision", after all). -op
                    \_ that is what you think.  it is more like he think
                       Saddam is a bad person and wanted to settle the old
                       score.  We all know he had WMD.  He *USED* against
                       Iranian with our blessing.
                    \_ Bush thinks all his decisions are the right decisions.
                       That's one of the benefits of having no connection with
                       reality.
                       \_ duh, everyone always thinks their decisions are the
                          right ones.  you got into berkeley?
                       \_ And of course, when it's the wrong decision it's
                          *always* somebody else's fault.  I mean, geez,
                          accountability is a hard word to spell.
        \_ so how many Vietcongs has Kerry killed?
           \_ 1 unarmed surrendering vietcong, 60+ unarmed women & children
              \_ Lying sack of shit. One armed with an RPG who had just
                 pointed it at his boat. Why do you GOP trolls lie
                 constantly about things easily disproven?
                 \_ Dude, I'm pretty sure that was what we refer to as a
                    "joke."  Look it up in the dictionary.  Learn the
                    meaning any maybe you won't come off as such a jerk.
                 \_ Yeah!  That bastard!  It was way more than 1 surrendering
                    and 60 women and children.  After all, he told congress
                    he committed atrocities on a grand scale, the same as any
                    American in Vietnam.  It *had* to be more than 61 innocent
                    murders.  Give the man his full credit for being the
                    butcher he is.  I mean strong leader with nuance and the
                    correct amount of French left liberal east cost elitism.
            \_ yeah but the 60 unarmed women were most likely supplying
               the VC military, so... GO KERRY!
             \_ this is true , sadly, he was runner-scumming in a speed
                boat shooting blindly into villages
        \_ This is a contentless thread. You are basing a discussion on the
           pop culture soundbite images of these people. Idiotic.
           \_ What is the purpose of the the Democratic National Convention
              this year, other than to make people believe/vote for Kerry?
              The thread is to show one person's reaction. -op
              \_ I just hope it makes people stop saying "i don't think
                 he's got any plan".  If you wanted to see his plan, you
                 could read his website or go to hear him speak, but that's
                 too much trouble for the huge majority of people.  We're
                 media driven so these conventions are still necessary.
                 --scotsman
                 \_ To put it another way, it wouldn't hurt if Kerry were
                    more charismatic, and I use that term in its purest sense.
                    -op
                    \_ no one gives a shit what you think.
                       \_ or you either.  carry on.
                    \_ Until he announced Edwards as running mate, you would
                       have no way of knowing whether he's charismatic or not
                       because you'd never get more than a 10 second sound
                       byte.  I urge you not to get stuck with single source
                       media.  If you really want to get a sense for a
                       candidate, watch them on the floor on cspan.  Watch
                       their speeches in their entirety.  If you haven't done
                       anything like that, don't make up your mind on things
                       like that -scotsman
                       \_ Until he announced Edwards?  WTF does that have to
                          do with anything?  Everyone has been calling him
                          Lurch for a year and not because of the physical
                          resemblance.
                       \_ To put it another way, it wouldn't hurt if Kerry
                          could make a speech to Americans as well as he
                          gives a Senate speech. -op
                          \_ Like I said, go to a rally if you really want
                             to know.  Or at the very least wait until you've
                             seen his speech tomorrow.  The words you're
                             choosing here parrot what I've heard all over
                             the media.  If you haven't made the effort to
                             look, don't make up your mind. --scotsman
                             \_ I didn't but a friend who is very anti-GWB
                                went to Kerry's appearance locally and walked
                                out early.  You decide.
                             \_ I've read all the newspapers, seen all the
                                news, still hold out hope that the media
                                opinion doesn't end up as fact, and hope he
                                doesn't flub it Thursday night.  Anyway,
                                even though I got off topic, my main point
                                was that, between all the Democrats spouting
                                the party line of Kerry as "decisive and
                                tough", and the mass media labeling him as
                                an intellectual, and from all I've read and
                                seen, I tend to stay with the latter. -op
                 \_ There isn't enough red, white, and blue crap at this dem
                    convention. I don't see enough American flags. They must
                    indeed hate America. Seriously, Teresa Heinz-Kerry, did
                    you watch her? I have the feeling she might personally
                    kill the election for Kerry. Does she think Americans can
                    identify with that weirdo feminist-environmentalist
                    hippie talk?
                    \_ Worked for the people cheering her on.  Ask a woman.
                       Ask 20. As for the environment, a large majority of
                       the population of this country count the environment
                       as a major concern.
                        \_ I went to the Central Valley one time and saw this
                           beat up truck with a bumper sticker that says
                           "fuck the environment, give me a job." I believe
                           an even larger number of population cares about
                           economy than the stupid environment.
                           \_ You might believe that, but polls show that
                              you are wrong.
                              \_ What polls?
                           \_ And economy versus environment is a glaring
                              false dichotomy.
                       \_ Well so do I but watching her speak was painful.
                          Talk about lacking charisma. She was dour, rather
                          boring, and took too long to get to the point.
                          She also had an almost accusative tone, like she
                          was criticizing all of America and not just Bush.
                          And focussed a lot on America's duty to the world.
                          I can imagine some Berkeley hippies liking her
                          but the mainstream isn't going to be enthusiastic.
                          She reinforces negative popular perceptions.
                          \_ English as a 3rd or 4th language..  Besides, she's
                             not on the ballot.
                             \_ It isn't an ESL problem.  She's a weirdo and
                                it shows.
                             \_ As his wife she is part of Kerry's image.
                                \_ Yes and as such I see her as very brave.
                                   She's gonna take more shit than Hillary
                                   ever had to.
                                   \_ It isn't bravery when you're completely
                                      apathetic.  What does she have to be
                                      afraid of anyway?  She's worth $600m
                                      of inherited money.  She doesn't and
                                      doesn't have to give a shit what
                                      anyone thinks about her. It isn't
                                      bravery in the face of adversity.  There
                                      is no adversity in her life.
                          \_ My dour, accusative, critical mom loved her;
                             she now thinks Hillary is too political.
        \_ I have actually seen him speak in person and he is much more
           charismatic in person than on TV. Having said that, I agree
           with you in part, he is not a forceful personaliy, more of
           a thoughtful and careful one. That is who I personally prefer
           with his hand on the nuclear trigger anyway. He does not come
           across as weak or soft in any way, more patrician or senatorial.
           \_ is that why I can picture Kerry wearing a wreath and toga
              and motioning for another beer?  I'm not kidding!  Can't you
              picture this too?
              \_ Wasn't he in Skull & Bones too?  Makes me wonder, what their
                 parties looked like.  "Bring me ano-thah bee-ah, pledge
                 Dub-yah."  -John
              \_ Yes, actually I can. And it made me laugh to think about it.
                 Thanks!
        \_ Kerry is oh so boring. I want Howard Dean back. YEEEEEHAAAA!!!!!!!

7/28    Okay, why are all my nukular explosions and biohazard attacks
        censored?!!!!!
        \_ Son, motd has been here a long time.  That sort of crap has been
           done far more artistically by other more imaginative trolls.
           Put simply so you understand: it's boring.
           \_ oh yeah?  tell me what's not boring on the motd?
              censorship is censorship.
              \_ Oh go ahead, ye arbiter of cool.
                 \_ not me, the arsehole who censored my asciiart
                    expressions.
        \_ The SNR is low enough already.

7/28    My .spamassassin/bayes_toks file grow to 10mb, what is this file?
        can I delete it? I am exceeding my quota.
        \_ Have you tried "sa-learn --rebuild" or "sa-learn --force-expire"?

7/28    Dear CS PhDs, can someone please enlighten me on the different
        conferences out there, what they're good for, how prestigious
        they are, etc?      -cs dumb
        \_
        I'll start:
        // prestigious:
        ISCA: Computer Architecture
        \_ HPCA and Micro are also first-rate; ASPLOS is superb as well.
        Hot Chips: Chip stuff, who cares about prestigious?
        \_ hot chips are hot
           \_ this is more of an industry work-in-progress, i-built-this-chip
              conference rather than an academic one. There aren't even
              really papers published at this conference.
        SOSP: OS stuff. Pretty prestigious.
        DAC: CAD stuff, very prestigious.
        UAI: bayes net AI stuff, prestigious.
        AAAI: general AI stuff, prestigious.
        ISSCC: circuit design, way way prestigious
        SIAM: Industrial and applied math, new algorithms
        // somewhat prestigious:
        USENIX: general shit. Not very elite.
        Siggraph: graphics stuff
        \_ Um, as a graphics guy, Siggraph is The Bomb. ~10-15% acceptance
           rate, extremely prestigious. Trumps all other graphics conferences.
           \_ Seriously.  Is there anything more prestigious than SIGGRAPH in
              the graphics field?
              \_ Siggraph is Top Dog. Next tier is stuff like Visualization,
                 Eurographics and Eurographics Rendering, Graphics Hardware,
                 etc.
                 \_ It was a rhetorical question, but thanks for the info.
        ICSE: software engineering
        OOPSLA:
        // not at all prestigious:
        UIST: at least 5-7 years ago.  User Interfaces
        \_ prestigious UI is an oxymoronx
           \_ While good UI is very important, UI design is the ghetto of CS.
        GDC: game designers conference
        ???
        \_ It would help if you narrowed down the field a little more.
        \_ I think that any of the conferances on this list are gonna be
           fairly prestigious.  The not very prestigious ones are the
           millions of rinky-dink shows all over the world most of us have
           hundreds of rinky-dink shows all over the world most of us have
           never heard of.

7/28    Hi, I'm John Edwards and I want to give you money from the
        US treasury so you will vote for me.  I want to encourage
        racial unity by discriminating against whites and asians!
        Hope is on the way!
        \- I am also a fully evolved human, not a semi-simian
        meatpuppet nor an evil cyborg operating out of a hidden
        secret base.
        \_ versus you would only get money from the US treasury if
           I make more than $200,000 a year?
        \_ w00t!  w00t!  hurray!