eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond) (01/04/91)
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X tactics.
X
X<meltdown, network> n. A state of complete network overload; the
X network equivalent of <thrash>ing. See also <broadcast storm>.
X
X<meme> /meem/ [coined on analogy with `gene' by Richard Dawkins] n. An
X idea considered as a <replicator>. Used esp. in the prase `meme
X complex' denoting a group of mutually supporting memes which form
X an organized belief system, such as a religion. This dictionary is
X a vector of the "hacker subculture" meme complex; each entry
X might be considered a meme. However, "meme" is often misused to
X mean "meme complex". Use of the term connotes acceptance of the
X idea that in humans (and presumably other tool-and language-using
X sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has
X superseded biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits.
X Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious reasons.
X
X<meme plague> n. The spread of a successful but pernicious <meme>,
X esp. one which `parasitizes' the victims into giving their all to
X propagate it. Astrology, BASIC, and the other guy's religion are
X often considered to be examples. This usage is given point by the
X historical fact that `joiner' ideologies like Naziism or various
X forms of millenarian Christianity have exhibited plague-like cycles
X of exponential growth followed by collapse to small `reservoir'
X populations.
X
X<memetics> /me-me-tiks/ [from <meme>] The study of memes. As of 1990,
X this is still an extremely informal and speculative endeavor,
X though the first steps towards at least statistical rigor have been
X made by H. Keith Henson and others. Memetics is a popular topic
X among hackers, who like to see themselves as the architects of the
X new information ecologies in which memes live and replicate.
X
X<memory leak> [C/UNIX programmers] n. An error in a program's
X dynamic-store allocation logic that causes it to fail to reclaim
X discarded memory, leading to attempted hogging of main store and
X eventual collapse due to memory exhaustion. Also (esp. at CMU)
X called <core leak>. See <aliasing bug>, <fandango on core>, <smash
X the stack>, <precedence lossage>, <overrun screw>, <leaky heap>.
X
X<menuitis> /men`yoo-i'tis/ n. Notional disease suffered by software
X with an obsessively simple-minded menu interface and no escape.
X Hackers find this intensely irritating and much prefer the
X flexibility of command-line or language-style interfaces,
X especially those customizable via macros or a special-purpose
X language in which one can encode useful hacks. See
X <user-obsequious>, <drool-proof paper>, <WIMP environment>.
X
X<mess-dos> /mes-dos/ [UNIX hackers] n. Derisory term for MS-DOS. Often
X followed by the ritual expurgation "Just Say No!". See MS-DOS.
X Most hackers (even many MS-DOS hackers) loathe MS-DOS for its
X single-tasking nature, its limits on application size, its nasty
X primitive interface, and its ties to IBMness (see <fear and
X loathing>). Also "mess-loss", "messy-dos", "mess-dog"
X "mess-loss" "mess-dross" and various combinations thereof.
X
X<meta> /meta@/ or /mayt'@/ [from analytic philosophy] adj. One level
X of description up. Thus, a meta-syntactic variable is a variable
X in notation used to describe syntax and meta-language is language
X used to describe language. This is difficult to explain out of
X context, but much hacker humor turns on deliberate confusion
X between meta-levels. See <HUMOR, HACKER>.
X
X<meta bit> /meta@ bit/ or /mayt'@ bit/ n. Bit 8 of an 8-bit
X character, on in values 128-255. Also called <high bit> or <alt
X bit>. Some terminals and consoles (especially those designed for
X LISP traditions) have a META-shift key. Others (including,
X mirabile dictu, keyboards on IBM PC-class machines) have an ALT
X key. See also <bucky bits>.
X
X<microfloppies> n. 3-1/2 inch floppies, as opposed to 5-1/4 <vanilla>
X or mini-floppies and the now-obsolescent 8-inch variety. This term
X may be headed for obsolescence as 5-1/4 inchers pass out of use,
X only to be revived if anybody floats a sub-3-inch floppy standard.
X See <stiffy>.
X
X<microtape> n. Occasionally used to mean a DECtape, as opposed to a
X <macrotape>. A DECtape is a small reel of magnetic tape about four
X inches in diameter and an inch deep. Unlike normal drivers for
X standard magnetic tapes, microtape drivers allow "random access"
X to the data. In their heyday they were used in pretty much the
X same ways one would now use a floppy disk: as a small, portable way
X to save and transport files and programs. Apparently the term
X "microtape" was actually the official term used within DEC for
X these tapes until someone consed up the word "DECtape", which of
X course sounded sexier to the <marketroid> types.
X
X<middle-endian> adj. Not <big-endian> or <little-endian>. Used of
X byte orders like 3-4-1-2 occasionally found in the packed-decimal
X formats of minicomputer manufacturers who shall remain nameless.
X
X<millilampson> /mil'i-lamp-sn/ n. How fast people can talk. Most
X people run about 200 millilampsons. Butler Lampson (a CS theorist
X and systems implementor highly regarded among hackers) goes at
X 1000. A few people speak faster.
X
X<MIPS> /mips/ [acronym] 1. A measure of computing speed; formally,
X "Millions of Instructions Per Second"; often rendered by hackers
X as "Meaningless Indication of Processor Speed". This joke
X expresses a nearly universal attitude about the value of
X <benchmark> claims, said attitude being one of the great cultural
X divides between hackers and <marketroid>s. 2. The corporate name
X of a RISC-chip maker; among other things, they supplied silicon for
X the DEC 3100 workstation series.
X
X<misbug> [mit] n. An unintended property of a program that turns out
X to be useful; something that should have been a <bug> but turns out
X to be a <feature>. Usage: rare.
X
X<misfeature> /mis-fee'chr/ n. A feature which eventually screws
X someone, possibly because it is not adequate for a new situation
X which has evolved. It is not the same as a bug because fixing it
X involves a gross philosophical change to the structure of the
X system involved. A misfeature is different from a simple
X unforeseen side effect; the term implies that the misfeature was
X actually carefully planned to be that way, but future consequences
X or circumstances just weren't predicted accurately. This is
X different from just not having thought ahead about it at all.
X Often a former feature becomes a misfeature because a tradeoff was
X made whose parameters subsequently changed (possibly only in the
X judgment of the implementors). "Well, yeah, it's kind of a
X misfeature that file names are limited to six characters, but the
X original implementors wanted to save directory space and we're
X stuck with it for now."
X
X<Missed'em-five> n. Pejorative hackerism for AT&T System V UNIX,
X generally used by <BSD> partisans in a bigoted mood. See <software
X bloat>, <Berzerkely>.
X
X<moby> [seems to have been in use among model railroad fans years ago.
X Derived from Melville's "Moby Dick" (some say from "Moby
X Pickle").] 1. adj. Large, immense, complex, impressive. "A
X Saturn V rocket is a truly moby frob." "Some MIT undergrads
X pulled off a moby hack at the Harvard-Yale game." (see Appendix
X A). 2. n. obs. The maximum address space of a machine (see
X below). For a 68000 or VAX or most modern 32-bit architectures, it
X is 4294967296 8-bit bytes. 3. A title of address (never of
X third-person reference), usually used to show admiration, respect,
X and/or friendliness to a competent hacker. "Greetings, moby Dave.
X How's that address-book thing for the Mac going?" 4. adj. In
X backgammon, doubles on the dice, as in "moby sixes", "moby
X ones", etc. Compare this with <bignum> (sense #2): double sixes
X are both bignums and moby sixes, but moby ones are not bignums (the
X use of term "moby" to describe double ones is sarcastic). <moby
X foo>, <moby win>, <moby loss>: standard emphatic forms. <foby
X moo>: a spoonerism due to Greenblatt.
X
X This term entered hackerdom with the Fabritek 256K moby memory of
X the MIT-AI machine. Thus, a moby is classically, 256K 36-bit words,
X the size of a PDP-10 moby (it has two). Back when address
X registers were narrow, the term was more generally useful; because
X when a computer had virtual memory mapping it might actually
X have more physical memory attached to it than any one program could
X access directly. One could then say "This computer has six
X mobies" to mean that the ratio of physical memory to address space
X is six, without having to say specifically how much memory there
X actually is. That in turn implied that the computer could
X timeshare six "full-sized" programs without having to swap
X programs between memory and disk.
X
X Nowadays the low cost of processor logic means that registers are
X typically wider than the most memory you can cram onto a machine,
X so most systems have much *less* than 1 theoretical `native'
X moby of core. Also, more modern memory-management techniques make
X the `moby count' less significant. However, there is one series of
X popular chips for which the term could stand to be revived -- the
X Intel 8088 and 80286 with their incredibly brain-damaged
X segmented-memory design. On these, a `moby' would be the
X 1-megabyte address span of a paragraph-plus-offset pair.
X
X<mode> n. A general state, usually used with an adjective describing
X the state. Use of the word "mode" rather than "state" implies
X that the state is extended over time, and probably also that some
X activity characteristic of that state is being carried out. "No
X time to hack; I'm in thesis mode." Usage: in its jargon sense,
X "mode" is most often said of people, though it is sometimes
X applied to programs and inanimate objects. "The E editor normally
X uses a display terminal, but if you're on a TTY it will switch to
X non-display mode." This term is normally used in a technical sense
X to describe the state of a program. Extended usage --- for
X example, to describe people --- is definitely slang. In
X particular, see <hack mode>, <day mode>, <night mode>, <demo mode>,
X <fireworks mode> and <yoyo mode>; also <talk mode>.
X
X One also often hears the verbs "enable" and "disable" used in
X connection with slang modes. Thus, for example, a sillier way of
X saying "I'm going to crash" is "I'm going to enable crash mode
X now." One might also hear a request to "disable flame mode,
X please".
X
X<modulo> /mod'yuh-low/ prep. Except for. From mathematical
X terminology: one can consider saying that 4=22 "except for the
X 9's" (4=22 mod 9) (the precise meaning is a bit more complicated,
X but that's the idea). "Well, LISP seems to work okay now, modulo
X that <GC> bug." "I feel fine today modulo a slight headache."
X
X<monkey up> vt. To hack together hardware for a particular task,
X especially a one-shot job. Connotes an extremely <crufty> and
X consciously temporary solution.
X
X<monstrosity> 1. n. A ridiculously <elephantine> program or system,
X esp. one which is buggy or only marginally functional. 2. The
X quality of being monstrous (see `Peculiar nouns' in the discussion
X of jargonification). See also <baroque>.
X
X<Moore's Law> /morz law/ n. The observation that the logic density of
X silicon integrated circuits has closely followed the curve (bits
X per inch ^ 2) = 2 ^ (n - 1962); that is, the amount of
X information storable in one square inch of silicon has roughly
X doubled yearly every year since the technology was invented.
X
X<moria> /mor'i-ah/ n. Together with <nethack> and <rogue>, one of the
X large PD Dungeons-and-Dragons simulation games, available for a
X wide range of machines and operationg systems. Extremely addictive
X and a major consumer of time better used for hacking.
X
X<MOTAS> /moh-tahs/ [USENET, Member Of The Appropriate Sex] n. A
X potential or (less often) actual sex partner. See <MOTOS>,
X <MOTSS>, <S.O>.
X
X<MOTOS> /moh-tohs/ [from the 1970 census forms via USENET, Member Of
X The Opposite Sex] n. A potential or (less often) actual sex
X partner. See <MOTAS>, <MOTSS>, <S.O.> Less common than <MOTSS> or
X <MOTAS>, which has largely displaced it.
X
X<MOTSS> /motss/ [from the 1970 census forms via USENET, Member Of The
X Same Sex] n. Esp. one considered as a possible sexual partner, e.g.
X by a gay or lesbian. The gay-issues newsgroup on USENET is called
X soc.motss. See <MOTOS> and <MOTAS>, which derive from it. Also
X see <S.O.>.
X
X<mount> vt. 1. To attach a removable physical storage volume to a
X machine. In elder days and on mainframes this verb was used almost
X exclusively of tapes; nowadays it is more likely to refer to a disk
X or disk pack. 2. By extension, to attach any removable device such
X as a sensor, robot arm, or <meatware> subsystem (see Appendix A).
X 3. [UNIX] To make a <logical> volume of some sort available for
X use. The volume in question may or may not be removable and may be
X just one partition of a physical device.
X
X<mouse ahead> vi. To manipulate a computer's pointing device (almost
X always a mouse in this usage, but not necessarily) and its
X selection or command buttons before a computer program is ready to
X accept such input, in anticipation of the program accepting the
X input. Handling this properly is rare, but it can help make a
X <user friendly> program usable by real users, assuming they are
X familiar with the behavior of the user interface. Point-and-click
X analog of "type ahead".
X
X<mouse around> vi. To explore public portions of a large system, esp.
X a network such as Internet via <FTP> or <TELNET>, looking for
X interesting stuff to <snarf>.
X
X<mouse elbow> n. A tennis-elbow-like fatigue syndrome resulting from
X excessive use of a <WIMP environment>.
X
X<mouso> /mow'so/ n. [by analogy with `typo'] An error in mouse usage
X resulting in an inappropriate selection or graphic garbage on the
X screen. Compare <thinko>.
X
X<MS-DOS> /em-es-dos/ [MicroSoft Disk Operating System] n. A <clone> of
X <CP/M> for the 8088 crufted together in six weeks by hacker Tim
X Paterson, who is said to have regretted it ever since. Numerous
X features including vaguely UNIX-like but rather broken support for
X subdirectories, I/O redirection, and pipelines were hacked in in
X 2.0 and subsequent versions; as a result, there are two
X incompatible versions of many system calls, and MS-DOS programmers
X can never agree on basic things like what to use as an option
X switch or whether to be case-sensitive. Now the
X highest-unit-volume OS in history. Often known simply as DOS,
X which annoys people familiar with other similarly-abbreviated
X operating systems. See <mess-dos>, <ill-behaved>.
X
X<MUD> [acronym for "Multi-user Interactive Dungeons"] n. A class of
X <virtual reality> experiments accessible via <Internet>. These are
X real-time chat forums with structure; they have multiple
X `locations' like an adventure game and may include traps, puzzles,
X magic, a simple economic system, and the capability for characters
X to build more structure onto the database that represents the
X existing world. However, there is no notion that corresponds to
X `winning' an adventure game, and interaction is primarily social.
X The acronym MUD is often lower-cased and/or verbed; thus, one may
X speak of "going mudding", etc.
X
X<multician> /muhl-ti'sh@n/ [coined at Honeywell, c.1970] n.
X Competent user of <Multics>.
X
X<Multics> /muhl'tiks/ n. [from "MULTiplexed Information and Computing
X Service"] An early (late 1960s) timesharing operating system
X co-designed by a consortium including MIT, GE and Bell
X Laboratories, very innovative for its time (among other things, it
X introduced the idea of treating all devices uniformly as special
X files). All the members but GE eventually pulled out after
X determining that <second-system effect> had bloated MULTICS to the
X point of practical unusability (the `lean' predecessor in question
X is said to have been <CTSS>). Honeywell commercialized Multics
X after buying out GE's computer group, but it was never very
X successful (among other things, one was required to enter a
X password to log out). One of the developers left in the lurch by
X the project's breakup was Ken Thompson, a circumstance which led
X directly to the birth of <UNIX>. For this and other reasons
X aspects of the Multics design remain a topic of occasional debate
X among hackers. See also <brain-damage>.
X
X<mumblage> /mum'bl@j/ n. The topic of one's mumbling (see <mumble>).
X "All that mumblage" is used like "all that stuff" when it is
X not quite clear what it is or how it works, or like "all that
X crap" when "mumble" is being used as an implicit replacement for
X obscenities.
X
X<mumble> interj. 1. Said when the correct response is either too
X complicated to enunciate or the speaker has not thought it out.
X Often prefaces a longer answer, or indicates a general reluctance
X to get into a big long discussion. "Don't you think that we could
X improve LISP performance by using a hybrid reference-count
X transaction garbage collector, if the cache is big enough and there
X are some extra cache bits for the microcode to use?" "Well,
X mumble... I'll have to think about it." 2. Sometimes used as an
X expression of disagreement. "I think we should buy a <VAX>."
X "Mumble!" Common variant: <mumble frotz>. 3. Yet another
X metasyntactic variable, like <foo>.
X
X<munch> [often confused with `mung', q.v.] vt. To transform
X information in a serial fashion, often requiring large amounts of
X computation. To trace down a data structure. Related to <crunch>
X and nearly synonymous with <grovel>, but connotes less pain.
X
X<munching squares> n. A <display hack> dating back to the PDP-1, which
X employs a trivial computation (involving XOR'ing of x-y display
X coordinates --- see <HAKMEM> items 146-148) to produce an
X impressive display of moving, growing, and shrinking squares. The
X hack usually has a parameter (usually taken from toggle switches)
X which when well-chosen can produce amazing effects. Some of these,
X (re)discovered recently on the LISP machine, have been christened
X <munching triangles>, <munching w's>, and <munching mazes>. More
X generally, suppose a graphics program produces an impressive and
X ever-changing display of some basic form foo on a display terminal,
X and does it using a relatively simple program; then the program (or
X the resulting display) is likely to be referred to as "munching
X foos" (this is a good example of the use of the word <foo> as a
X metasyntactic variable).
X
X<munchkin> /muhnch'kin/ n. A teenage-or-younger micro enthusiast
X bashing BASIC or something else equally constricted. A term of
X mild derision --- munchkins are annoying but some grow up to be
X hackers after passing through a <larval stage>. The term <urchin>
X is also used. See also <bitty box>.
X
X<mundane> [from SF fandom] n. 1. A person who is not in science
X fiction fandom. 2. A person who is not in the computer industry.
X In this sense, most often an adjectival modifier as in "in my
X mundane life..."
X
X<mung> /muhng/ alt. `munge' /muhnj/ [in 1960 at MIT, "Mash Until No
X Good"; sometime after that the derivation from the recursive
X acronym "Mung Until No Good" became standard] vt. 1. To make
X changes to a file, often large-scale, usually irrevocable.
X Occasionally accidental. See <BLT>. 2. To destroy, usually
X accidentally, occasionally maliciously. The system only mungs
X things maliciously; this ia a consequence of Murphy's Law. See
X <scribble>, <mangle>, <trash>. Reports from <USENET> suggest that
X the pronunciation /muhnj/ is now usual in speech, but the spelling
X `mung' is still common in program comments. 3. The kind of beans of
X which the sprouts are used in Chinese food. (That's their real
X name! Mung beans! Really!)
X
X<MUSIC> n. A common extracurricular interest of hackers (compare
X <SCIENCE-FICTION FANDOM>, <ORIENTAL FOOD>; see also <filk>). It is
X widely believed among hackers that there is a substantial
X correlation between whatever mysterious traits underlie hacking
X ability (on the one hand) and musical talent and sensitivity (on
X the other). It is certainly the case that hackers, as a rule, like
X music and often develop musical appreciation in unusual and
X interesting directions. Folk music is very big in hacker circles;
X so is the sort of elaborate instrumental jazz/rock that used to be
X called `progressive' and isn't recorded much any more. Also, the
X hacker's musical range tends to be wide; many can listen with equal
X appreciation to (say) Talking Heads, Yes, Spirogyra, Scott Joplin,
X King Sunny Ade, The Pretenders, or one of Bach's Brandenburg
X Concerti. It is also apparently true that hackerdom includes a
X much higher concentration of talented amateur musicians than one
X would expect from a similar-sized control group of <mundane> types.
X
X<mutter> vt. To quietly enter a command not meant for the ears of
X ordinary mortals. Frequently in "mutter an <incantation>".
X
X {= N =}
X
X<N> /en/ adj. 1. Some large and indeterminate number of objects;
X "There were N bugs in that crock!"; also used in its original
X sense of a variable name. 2. An arbitrarily large (and perhaps
X infinite) number; "This crock has N bugs, as N goes to infinity".
X 3. A variable whose value is specified by the current context. For
X example, when ordering a meal at a restaurant N may be understood
X to mean however many people there are at the table. From the
X remark "We'd like to order N wonton soups and a family dinner for
X N-1." you can deduce that one person at the table wants to eat
X only soup, even though you don't know how many people there are. A
X silly riddle: "How many computers does it take to shift the bits
X in a register? N+1: N to hold all the bits still, and one to shove
X the register over." 4. NTH: adj. The ordinal counterpart of N.
X "Now for the Nth and last time..." In the specific context
X "Nth-year grad student", N is generally assumed to be at least 4,
X and is usually 5 or more. See also <random numbers>,
X <two-to-the-n>.
X
X<nailed to the wall> [like a trophy] adj. Said of a bug finally
X eliminated after protracted and even heroic effort.
X
X<NAK> [from the ASCII mnemonic for 0010101] interj. 1. On-line joke
X answer to ACK? (see <ACK>) -- "I'm not here". 2. On line answer
X to a request for chat -- "I'm not available". 3. Used to
X politely interrupt someone to tell them you don't understand their
X point or that they have suddenly stopped making sense. See <ACK>,
X sense #3. "And then, after we recode the project in COBOL..."
X "Nak Nak Nak! I thought I heard you say COBOL!"
X
X<nanoacre> /nan'o-ay-kr/ n. An areal unit (about 2mm.sq.) of
X "real-estate" on a VLSI chip. The term derives its amusement
X value from the fact that VLSI nanoacres have costs in the same
X range as real acres once one figures in design and
X fabrication-setup costs.
X
X<nanobot> /nan'oh-bot/ n. A robot of microscopic proportions,
X presumably built by means of <nanotechnology>. As yet, only used
X informally (and speculatively!). Also sometimes called a
X `nanoagent'.
X
X<nanocomputer> /nan'oh-k@m-pyoo-tr/ n. A computer whose switching
X elements are molecular in size. Designs for mechanical
X nanocomputers which use single-molecule sliding rods for their
X logic have been proposed. The controller for a <nanobot> would be
X a nanocomputer.
X
X<nanotechnology> /nan'-oh-tek-naw`l@-ji/ n. A hypothetical
X fabrication technology in which objects are designed and built with
X the individual specification and placement of each separate atom.
X The first unequivocal nano-fabrication experiments are taking place
X now (1990), for example with the deposition of individual xenon
X atoms on a nickel substrate to spell the logo of a certain very
X large computer company by two of its physicists. Nanotechnology
X has been a hot topic in the hacker subculture ever since the term
X was coined by K. Eric Drexler in his book `Engines of Creation',
X where he predicted that nanotechnology could give rise to
X replicating assemblers, permitting an exponential growth of
X productivity and personal wealth. See also <blue goo>, <gray goo>,
X <nanobot>.
X
X<nastygram> n. 1. A protocol packet or item of email (the latter is
X also called a `letterbomb') that takes advantage of misfeatures or
X security holes on the target system to do untoward things. 2.
X Disapproving mail, esp. from a net.god, pursuant to a violation of
X <netiquette>. Compare <shitogram>. 3. (deprecated) An error reply
X by mail from a <daemon>; in particular, a <bounce message>.
X
X<neophilia> /nee-oh-fil'-ee-uh/ n. The trait of being excited and
X pleased by novelty. Common trait of most hackers, SF fans, and
X members of several other connected "leading-edge" subcultures
X including the pro-technology "Whole-Earth" wing of the ecology
X movement, space activists, theater people, the membership of MENSA,
X and the <Discordian>/neo-pagan underground. All these groups
X overlap heavily and (where evidence is available) seem to share
X characteristic hacker tropisms for SF, <MUSIC> and <ORIENTAL FOOD>.
X
X<nethack> /net'hak/ n. See <hack>, sense #12.
X
X<netiquette> /net'ee-ket, net'i-ket/ [portmanteau "network
X ettiquette"] n. Conventions of politeness recognized on <USENET>,
X such as: avoidance of cross-posting to inappropriate groups, or
X refraining from commercial pluggery on the net.
X
X<neep-neep> /neep neep/ [onomatopoeic, from New York SF fandom] n. One
X who is fascinated by computers. More general than <hacker>, as it
X need not imply more skill than is required to boot games on a PC.
X The gerund <neep-neeping> applies specifically to the long
X conversations about computers that tend to develop in the corners
X at most SF-convention parties. Fandom has a related proverb to the
X effect that "Hacking is a conversational black hole!"
X
X<net.*> /net dot/ pref. [USENET] Prefix used to describe people and
X events related to USENET. From the time before the <Great
X Renaming>, when all non-local newsgroups had names beginning
X "net.". Includes net.god(s) (q.v.), net.goddesses (various
X charismatic women with circles of on-line admirers), net.lurkers,
X (see <lurker>), net.parties (a synonym for <boink> sense #2 (q.v.))
X and many similar constructs. See also <net.police>.
X
X<net.god> (net god) n. Used to refer to anyone who satisfies some
X combination of the following conditions: has been visible on USENET
X for more than five years, ran one of the original backbone sites,
X moderated an important newsgroup, wrote news software, or knows
X Gene, Mark, Rick, Mel, Henry, Chuq, and Greg personally. See
X <demigod>.
X
X<net.police> n. Those USENET readers who feel it is their
X responsibility to pounce on and <flame> any posting which they
X regard as offensive, or in violation of their understanding of
X <netiquette>. Generally used sarcastically or pejoratively. Also
X spelled `net police'. See also <net.>, <code police>.
X
X<network address> n. As used by hackers, means an address on <the
X network> (almost always a <bang path> or <Internet address>). An
X essential to be taken seriously by hackers; in particular, persons
X or organizations claiming to understand, work with, sell to, or
X recruit from among hackers that *don't* display net addresses
X are quietly presumed to be clueless poseurs and mentally flushed
X (see <flush>, sense #3). Hackers often put their net addresses on
X their business cards and wear them prominently in contexts where
X they expect to meet other hackers face-to-face (see also
X <SCIENCE-FICTION FANDOM>). This is mostly functional, but is also
X a connotative signal that one identifies with hackerdom (like lodge
X pins among Masons or tie-died T-shirts among Grateful Dead fans).
X Net addresses are often used in email text as a more concise
X substitute for personal names; indeed, hackers may come to know
X each other quite well by network names without ever learning each
X others' `legal' monikers. See also <sitename>.
X
X<network, the> n. 1. The union of all the major academic and
X noncommercial/hacker-oriented networks such as Internet, the old
X ARPANET, NSFNet, BITNET and the virtual UUCP and <USENET>
X "networks", plus the corporate in-house networks that gate to
X them. A site is generally considered `on the network' if it can be
X reached through some combination of Internet-style (@-sign) and
X UUCP (bang-path) addresses. See <bang path>, <Internet address>,
X <network address>. 2. A fictional conspiracy of libertarian
X hacker-subversives and anti-authoritarian monkeywrenchers described
X in Robert Anton Wilson's novel `Schrodinger's Cat', to which many
X hackers have subsequently decided they belong (this is an example
X of <ha ha only serious>).
X
X<New Testament> n. [C programmers] The second edition of K&R's "The C
X Programming Language" (Prentice-Hall 1988, ISBN 0-13-110362-8),
X describing ANSI Standard C. See <K&R>.
X
X<newbie> /n[y]oo'bee/ n. [orig. fr. British military & public-school
X slang contraction of "new boy"] A USENET neophyte. This term
X originated in the <newsgroup> "talk.bizarre" but is now in wide
X use. Criteria for being considered a newbie vary wildly; a person
X can be called a newbie in one newsgroup while remaining a respected
X participant in another. The label "newbie" is sometimes applied
X as a serious insult, to a person who has been around USENET for a
X long time, but who carefully hides all evidence of having a clue.
X See <biff>.
X
X<newgrp wars> /n[y]oo'grp wohrz/ [USENET] n. Salvos of dueling
X `newgrp' and `rmgroup' messages sometimes exchanged by persons on
X opposite sides of a dispute over whether a <newsgroup> should be
X created netwide. These usually settle out within a week or two as
X it becomes clear whether the group has a natural constituency
X (usually, it doesn't). At times, especially in the completely
X anarchic `alt' hierarchy, the names of newsgroups themselves become
X a form of comment or humor; cf. the spinoff of
X alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork from alt.tv.muppets in early 1990,
X or any number of specialized abuse groups named after particularly
X notorious <flamer>s.
X
X<newline> /n[y]oo'lien/ n. 1. [UNIX] The ASCII LF character (0001010),
X used under <UNIX> as a text line terminator. A Bell-Labs-ism
X rather than a Berkeleyism; interestingly (and unusually for UNIX
X slang) it is said originally to have been an IBM usage (though it
X appears in the ASCII standard). 2. More generally, any magic
X character sequence or operation (like Pascal's writeln() function)
X required to terminate a text record. See <crlf>, <terpri>.
X
X<newsfroup> /n[y]oos'froop/ [USENET] n. Silly written-only synonym for
X <newsgroup>, originated as a typo but now in regular use on
X USENET'S talk.bizarre and other not-real-tightly-wrapped groups.
X
X<newsgroup> [USENET] n. One of USENET's large collection of topic
X groups. Among the best-known are comp.lang.c (the C-language
X forum), comp.1.wizards (for UNIX wizards), rec.arts.sf-lovers
X (for science-fiction fans) and talk.politics.misc (miscellaneous
X political discussions and <flamage>).
X
X<nickle> n. A <nybble> + 1; 5 bits. Reported among developers for
X Mattel's GI 1600 (the Intellivision games processor), a chip with
X 16-bit-wide RAM but 10-bit-wide ROM. See also <deckle>.
X
X<night mode> n. See <phase> (of people).
X
X<nil> [from LISP terminology for "false"] No. Usage: used in reply
X to a question, particularly one asked using the "-P" convention.
X See T.
X
X<NMI> n. Non-Maskable Interrupt. See <priority interrupt>.
X
X<noddy> [Great Britain; from the children's books] adj. Small and
X unuseful, but demonstrating a point. Noddy programs are often
X written when learning a new language or system. The archetypal
X noddy program is <hello world>. Noddy code may be used to
X demonstrate a feature or bug of a compiler, but would not be used
X in a real program. May be used of real hardware or software to
X imply that it isn't worth using. "This editor's a bit noddy."
X
X<non-optimal (or sub-optimal) solution> n. An astoundingly stupid way
X to do something. This term is generally used in deadpan sarcasm,
X as its impact is greatest when the person speaking looks completely
X serious. Compare <stunning>. See also <Bad Thing>.
X
X<nonlinear> adj. [scientific computation] Behaving in an erratic and
X unpredictable fashion. When used to describe the behavior of a
X machine or program, it suggests that said machine or program is
X being forced to run far outside of design specifications. This
X behavior may be induced by unreasonable inputs, or may be triggered
X when a more mundane bug sends the computation far away from its
X expected course. When describing the behavior of a person,
X suggests a tantrum or a <flame>. "When you talk to Bob, don't
X mention the drug problem or he'll go nonlinear for hours."
X
X<nontrivial> adj. Requiring real thought or significant computing
X power. Often used as an understated way of saying that a problem
X is quite difficult. See <trivial>, <uninteresting>, <interesting>.
X
X<no-op> /noh-op/ alt. NOP (nop) [no operation] n. 1. A machine
X instruction that does nothing (sometimes used in assembler-level
X programming as filler for data areas). 2. A person who contributes
X nothing to a project, or has nothing going on upstairs, or both.
X As in "he's a no-op.". 3. Any operation or sequence of operations
X with no effect, such as circling the block without finding a
X parking space, or putting money into a vending machine and having
X it fall immediately into the coin-return box, or asking someone for
X help and being told to go away. "Oh well, that was a no-op."
X
X<NP-> /en pee/ pref. Extremely. Used to modify adjectives describing
X a level or quality of difficulty. "Getting this algorithm to
X perform correctly in every case is NP-annoying." This is
X generalized from the computer science terms "NP-hard" and
X "NP-complete". NP is the set of Nondeterministic-Polynomial
X algorithms, those which can be completed by a nondeterministic
X finite state machine in an amount of time that is a polynomial
X function of the size of the input.
X
X<nuke> vt. 1. To intentionally delete the entire contents of a given
X directory or storage volume. "On UNIX, rm -r /usr will nuke
X everything in the usr filesystem." Never used for accidental
X deletion. Oppose <blow away>. 2. Syn. for <dike>, applied to
X smaller things such as files, features or code sections. 3. Used of
X processes as well as files; frequently an alias for "kill -9" on
X UNIX.
X
X<null device> n. A <logical> input/output device connected to the <bit
X bucket>; when you write to it nothing happens, when you reaad from
X it you get a zero-length record full of nothing. Useful for
X discarding unwanted output or using interactive programs in a
X non-interactive way. See </dev/null>.
X
X<numbers> [scientific computation] n. Results of a computation that may
X not be physically significant, but at least indicate that the
X program is running. May be used to placate management, grant
X sponsors, etc. <Making numbers> means running a program because
X output---any output, not necessarily meaningful output---is needed
X as a demonstration of progress. See <pretty pictures>.
X
X<NUXI problem> /nuk'see pro'blm, dh@/ n. This refers to the problem
X of transferring data between machines with differing byte-order.
X The string "UNIX" might look like "NUXI" on a machine with a
X different "byte sex" (i.e. when transferring data from a
X little-endian to a big endian or vice-versa). See also,
X <big-endian>, <little-endian>, <swab>, and <bytesexual>.
X
X<nybble> /nib'l/ [from v. `nibble' by analogy with `bite' -> `byte']
X n. Four bits; one hexadecimal digit; a half-byte. Though `byte'
X is now accepted technical jargon found in dictionaries, this useful
X relative is still slang. Compare <crumb>, <taste>, <dynner>, see
X also <bit>. Note: a correspondent in England alleges that this
X spelling is never used on his side of the pond, as British
X orthography would suggest the pronunciation /niebl/.
X
X {= O =}
X
X<Ob> /ob/ pref. Obligatory. A piece of <netiquette> that acknowledges
X the author has been straying from the newsgroup's charter. For
X example, if a posting in alt.sex has nothing particularly to do
X with sex, the author may append "ObSex" (or "Obsex") and toss
X off a question or vignette about some unusual erotic act.
X
X<obscure> adj. Used in an exaggeration of its normal meaning, to imply
X a total lack of comprehensibility. "The reason for that last
X crash is obscure." "The `find(1)' command's syntax is obscure."
X The phrase <moderately obscure> implies that it could be figured
X out but probably isn't worth the trouble. <Obscure in the extreme>
X is a preferred emphatic form.
X
X<OBFUSCATED C CONTEST> n. Annual contest run since 1984 over <the
X network> by Landon Curt Noll & friends. The overall winner is he
X who produces the most unreadable, creative and bizarre working C
X program; various other prizes are awarded at the judges' whim.
X Given C's terse syntax and macro-preprocessor facilities, this
X gives contestants a lot of maneuvering room. The winning programs
X often manage to be simultaneously a) funny, b) breathtaking works
X of art, and c) Horrible Examples of how *not* to code in C.
X
X This relatively short and sweet entry might help convey the flavor
X of obfuscated C:
X
X
X
X
X main(v,c)char**c;{for(v[c++]="Hello, world!\n)";(!!c)[*c]&&
X (v--||--c&&execlp(*c,*c,c[!!c]+!!c,!c));**c=!c)write(!!*c,*c,
X !!**c);}
X
X See also <hello, world!>.
X
X<octal forty> /ok'tl for'tee/ n. Hackish way of saying "I'm drawing a
X blank" (octal 40 is the ASCII space character). See <wall>.
X
X<off-by-one error> n. Exceedingly common error induced in many ways,
X such as by starting at 0 when you should have started at 1 or vice
X versa, or by writing < N instead of <= N or vice-versa. Also
X applied to giving an object to the person next to the one who
X should have gotten it. Often confused with <fencepost error>,
X which is properly a particular subtype of it.
X
X<off the trolley> adj. Describes the behavior of a program which
X malfunctions but doesn't actually <crash> or get halted by the
X operating system. See <glitch>, <bug>, <deep space>.
X
X<offline> adv. Not now or not here. Example: "Let's take this
X discussion offline." Specifically used on <USENET> to suggest
X that a discussion be taken off a public newsgroup to email.
X
X<old fart> n. Tribal elder. A title self-assumed with remarkable
X frequency by (esp.) USENETters who have been programming for more
X than about twenty five years; frequently appears in SIGs attached
X to jargon file contributions of great archeological significance.
X This is a term of insult in second or third person but pride in
X first person.
X
X<Old Testament> n. [C programmers] The first edition of the book
X describing <Classic C>; see <K&R>.
X
X<ONE BELL SYSTEM (IT WORKS)> This was the output from the old Unix V6
X "1" command. The "1" command also contained a random number
X generator which gave it a one in ten chance of recursively
X executing itself.
X
X<one-liner wars> n. Popular game among hackers who code in the
X language APL (see <write-only language>). The objective is to see
X who can code the most interesting and/or useful routine in one line
X of operators chosen from APL's exceedingly <hairy> primitive set.
X [This is not *quite* as silly as it sounds; I myself have
X coded one-line <life> programs and once uttered a one-liner that
X performed lexical analysis of its input string followed by a
X dictionary lookup for good measure --- ESR] It has been reported
X that a similar amusement was practised among <TECO> hackers.
X
X<ooblick> /oo'blik/ [from Dr. Seuss' "Bartholomew and the Ooblick"]
X n. A bizarre semi-liquid sludge made from cornstarch and water.
X Enjoyed among hackers who make batches for playtime at parties for
X its amusing and extremely non-Newtonian behavior; it pours and
X splatters, but resists rapid motion like a solid and will even
X crack when hit by a hammer. Often found near lasers.
X
X<open> n. Abbreviation for "open (or left) parenthesis", used when
X necessary to eliminate oral ambiguity. To read aloud the LISP form
X (DEFUN FOO (X) (PLUS X 1)) one might say: "Open def-fun foo, open
X eks close, open, plus ekx one, close close." See <close>.
X
X<open switch> [IBM, prob. fr. railroading] n. An unresolved issue.
X
X<operating system> n. (Often abbreviated "OS") The foundation
X software of a machine, of course; that which schedules tasks,
X allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user
X between applications. The facilities the operating system provides
X and its general design philosophy exert an extremely strong
X influence on programming style and the technical culture that grows
X up around a machine. Hacker folklore has been shaped primarily by
X the UNIX, ITS, TOPS-10, TOPS-20/TWENEX, VMS, CP/M, MS-DOS, and
X MULTICS operating systems (most importantly by ITS and UNIX). Each
X of these has its own entry, which see.
X
X<Orange Book> n. The U.S. Government's standards document (Trusted
X Computer System Evaluation Criteria, DOD standard 5200.28-STD,
X December, 1985) characterizing secure computing architectures,
X defining levels A1 (most secure) through D (least). Stock UNIXes
X are roughly C2. See also <Red Book>, <Blue Book>, <Green Book>,
X <Silver Book>, <Purple Book>, <White Book>, <Pink-Shirt Book>,
X <Dragon Book>, <Aluminum Book>.
X
X<ORIENTAL FOOD> n. Hackers display an intense tropism towards Oriental
X cuisine, especially Chinese, and especially of the spicier
X varieties such as Szechuan and Hunan. This phenomenon (which has
X also been observed in subcultures which overlap heavily with
X hackerdom, most notably science-fiction fandom) has never been
X satisfactorily explained, but is sufficiently intense that one can
X assume the target of a hackish dinner expedition to be the best
X local Chinese place and be right at least 3 times out of 4. See
X also <ravs>, <great-wall>, <stir-fried random>. Thai, Indian,
X Korean and Vietnamese cuisines are also quite popular.
X
X<orphan> [UNIX] n. A process whose parent has died; one inherited by
X `init(1)'. Compare <zombie>.
X
X<orthogonal> [from mathematics] adj. Mutually independent;
X well-separated; sometimes, irrelevant to. Used in a generalization
X of its mathematical meaning to describe sets of primitives or
X capabilities which, like a vector basis in geometry, span the
X entire `capability space' of the system and are in some sense
X non-overlapping or mutually independent. For example, in
X architectures such as the MC68000 where all or nearly all registers
X can be used interchangeably in any role with respect to any
X instruction, the register set is said to be orthogonal. Or, in
X logic, the set of operators `not' and `or' is orthogonal, but the
X set `nand', `or' and `not' is not (because any one of these can be
X expressed in terms of the other two via De Morgan's Laws). Also
X used in comment on human discourse; "This may be orthogonal to the
X discussion, but...".
X
X<OS> /oh ess/ 1. [Operating System] n. Acronym heavily used in email,
X occasionally in speech. 2. obs. n. On ITS, an output spy. See
X Appendix A.
X
X<OS/2> (oh ess too) n. The anointed successor to MS-DOS for Intel-286
X and (allegedly) 386-based micros; proof that IBM/Microsoft couldn't
X get it right the second time, either. Cited here because
X mentioning it is usually good for a cheap laugh among hackers ---
X the design was so <baroque> and the implementation of 1.x so bad
X that three years after introduction you could still count the major
X APPs shipping for it on the fingers of two hands. Often called
X "Half-an-OS". A minority of DOS hackers retains hopes that the
X 32-bit 2.x version will turn out a winner. See <vaporware>,
X <monstrosity>, <cretinous>, <second-system effect>.
X
X<overrun screw> [C programming] n. A variety of <fandango on core>
X produced by scribbling past the end of an array (C has no checks
X for this). This is relatively benign and easy to spot if the array
X is static; if it is auto, the result may be to <smash the stack>.
X The term <overrun screw> is used esp. of scribbles beyond the end
X of arrays allocated with `malloc(3)'; this typically trashes the
X allocation header for the next block in the <arena>, producing
X massive lossage within malloc and (frequently) a core dump on the
X next operation to use `stdio(3)' or `malloc(3)' itself. See <spam>; see
X also <memory leak>, <aliasing bug>, <precedence lossage>, <fandango
X on core>.
X
X {= P =}
X
X<page in> [MIT] v. To become aware of one's surroundings again after
X having paged out (see PAGE OUT). Usually confined to the sarcastic
X comment, "So-and-so pages in. Film at 11." See <film at 11>.
X
X<page out> [MIT] v. To become unaware of one's surroundings
X temporarily, due to daydreaming or preoccupation. "Can you repeat
X that? I paged out for a minute." See <page in>. Compare
X <glitch>, <thinko>.
X
X<panic> [UNIX] v. An action taken by a process or the entire operating
X system when an unrecoverable error is discovered. The action
X usually consists of: (1) displaying localized information on the
X controlling terminal, (2) saving, or preparing for saving, a memory
X image of the process or operating system, and (3) terminating the
X process or rebooting the system.
X
X<param> /p@-ram'/ n. Speech-only shorthand for "parameter". Compare
X <arg>, <var>. The plural `params' is often further compressed to
X `parms'.
X
X<parity errors> pl.n. Those little lapses of attention or (in more
X severe cases) consciousness, usually brought on by having spent all
X night and most of the next day hacking. "I need to go home and
X crash; I'm starting to get a lot of parity errors." Derives from a
X relatively common but nearly always correctable transient error in
X RAM hardware.
X
X<parse> [from linguistic terminology via AI research] v. 1. To
X determine the syntactic structure of a sentence or other utterance
X (close to the standard English meaning). Example: "That was the
X one I saw you." "I can't parse that." 2. More generally, to
X understand or comprehend. "It's very simple; you just kretch the
X glims and then aos the zotz." "I can't parse that." 3. Of
X fish, to have to remove the bones yourself (usually at a Chinese
X restaurant). "I object to parsing fish" means "I don't want to
X get a whole fish, but a sliced one is okay." A "parsed fish"
X has been deboned. There is some controversy over whether
X "unparsed" should mean "bony", or also mean "deboned".
X
X<patch> 1. n. A temporary addition to a piece of code, usually as a
X quick-and-dirty remedy to an existing bug or misfeature. A patch
X may or may not work, and may or may not eventually be incorporated
X permanently into the program. 2. v. To insert a patch into a piece
X of code. 3. [in the UNIX world] n. a set of differences between two
X versions of source code, generated with `diff(1)' and intended to be
X mechanically applied using patch(1); often used as a way of
X distributing source code upgrades and fixes over <USENET>.
X
X<pathological> [scientific computation] adj. Purposefully engineered
X as a worst case. An algorithm which can be broken by pathological
X inputs may still be useful if such inputs are very unlikely to
X occur in practice. The implication is that someone had to
X explicitly set out to break an algorithm in order to come up with
X such a crazy example.
X
X<PBD> [abbrev of `Programmer Brain Damage'] n. Applied to bug reports
X revealing places where the program was obviously broken due to an
X incompetent or short-cited programmer. Compare UBD; see also
X <brain-damaged>.
X
X<PC-ism> n. A piece of code or coding technique that takes advantage
X of the unprotected single-tasking environment in IBM PCs and the
X like. e.g. by busy-waiting on a hardware register, direct diddling
X of screen memory, or using hard timing loops. Compare
X <ill-behaved>, <vaxism>, <unixism>. Also, <pc-ware> n., a program
X full of PC-ISMs on a machine with a more capable operating system.
X Pejorative.
X
X<PD> /pee-dee/ adj. Common abbreviation for "public domain", applied
X to software distributed over <USENET> and from Internet archive
X sites. Much of this software is not in fact "public domain" in
X the legal sense but travels under various copyrights granting
X reproduction and use rights to anyone who can <snarf> a copy. See
X <copyleft>.
X
X<pdl> /pid'l/ or /pud'l/ [acronym for Push Down List] In ITS days, the
X preferred MITism for <stack>. 2. Dave Lebling, one of the
X coauthors of <Zork>; (his <network address> on the ITS machines was
X at one time pdl@dms). 3. Program Design Language. Any of a large
X class of formal and profoundly useless pseudo-languages in which
X <management> forces one to design programs. <Management> often
X expects it to be maintained in parallel with the code. Used
X jokingly as in, "Have you finished the PDL?"
X
X<PDP-10> [Programmable Data Processor model 10] n. The machine that
X made timesharing real. Looms large in hacker folklore due to early
X adoption in the mid-70s by many university computing facilities and
X research labs including the MIT AI lab, Stanford and CMU. Some
X aspects of the instruction set (most notably the bit-field
X instructions) are still considered unsurpassed. Later editions
X were labelled `DECsystem-10' as a way of differentiating them from
X the PDP-11. The '10 was eventually eclipsed by the PDP-11 and VAX
X machines and dropped from DEC's line in the early '80s, and in 1990
X to have cut one's teeth on one is considered something of a badge
X of honorable old-timerhood among hackers. See <TOPS-10>, <ITS>,
X Appendix A.
X
X<peek/poke> n.,v. The commands in most microcomputer BASICs for
X directly accessing memory contents at an absolute address; often
X extended to mean the corresponding constructs in any <HLL>. Much
X hacking on small, non-MMU micros consists of <peek>ing around
X memory, more or less at random, to find the location where the
X system keeps "interesting" stuff. Long and variably accurate, lists
X of such addresses for various computers circulate. The results of
X <poke>s at these addresses may be highly useful, mildly amusing,
X useless but neat or (most likely) total <lossage> (see <killer
X poke>).
X
X<percent-s> /per-sent' ess/ [From "%s", the formatting sequence in
X C's `printf(3)' library function used to indicate that an arbitrary
X string may be inserted] n. An unspecified person or object. "I
X was just talking to some percent-s in administration." Compare
X <random>.
X
X<perf> /perf/ n. See <chad> (sense #1). The term "perfory" is also
X heard.
X
X<PERL> [Practical Extraction and Report Language, aka Pathologically
X Eclectic Rubbish Lister] n. An interpreted language developed by
X Larry Wall (lwall@jpl.nasa.gov, author of `patch(1)') and
X distributed over USENET. Superficially resembles `awk(1)', but is
X much more arcane (see AWK). Increasingly considered a <language of
X choice> by UNIX sysadmins, who are almost always incorrigible
X hackers. Perl has been described, in a parody of a famous remark
X about `lex(1)', as the "Swiss-army chainsaw" of UNIX programming.
X
X<pessimal> /pes'i-ml/ [Latin-based antonym for "optimal"] adj.
X Maximally bad. "This is a pessimal situation." Also <pessimize>
X v. to make as bad as possible. These words are the obvious
X Latin-based antonyms for "optimal" and "optimize", but for some
X reason they do not appear in most English dictionaries, although
X "pessimize" is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary.
X
X<pessimizing compiler> /pes'i-miez-ing kuhm-pie'lr/ [antonym of
X `optimizing compiler'] n. A compiler that produces object code that
X is worse than the straightforward or obvious translation. The
X implication is that the compiler is actually trying to optimize the
X program, but through stupidity is doing the opposite. A few
X pessimizing compilers have been written on purpose, however, as
X pranks.
X
X<phase> 1. n. The phase of one's waking-sleeping schedule with respect
X to the standard 24-hour cycle. This is a useful concept among
X people who often work at night according to no fixed schedule. It
X is not uncommon to change one's phase by as much as six hours/day
X on a regular basis. "What's your phase?" "I've been getting in
X about 8 PM lately, but I'm going to <wrap around> to the day
X schedule by Friday." A person who is roughly 12 hours out of
X phase is sometimes said to be in "night mode". (The term "day
X mode" is also , but less frequently, used, meaning you're working
X 9 to 5 (or more likely 10 to 6)). The act of altering one's cycle
X is called "changing phase"; "phase shifting" has also been
X recently reported from Caltech. 2. <change phase the hard way>: to
X stay awake for a very long time in order to get into a different
X phase. 3. <change phase the easy way>: To stay asleep etc.
X However, some claim that either staying awake longer or sleeping
X longer is easy, an that it's *shortening* your day or night
X that's hard. The phenomenon of "jet lag" that afflicts travelers
X who cross many time-zone boundaries may be attributed to two
X distinct causes: the strain of travel per se, and the strain of
X changing phase. Hackers who suddenly find that they must change
X phase drastically in a short period of time, particularly the hard
SHAR_EOF
chmod 0644 jsplit.ag || echo "restore of jsplit.ag fails"
if [ $TOUCH = can ]
then
touch -am 0103154591 jsplit.ag
fi
exit 0