c9: (explosion)
c9 ([personal profile] c9) wrote2004-02-03 09:14 pm

Quiz

Orkut is run by Google, which runs on Linux. 20,000 or so Linux systems, I think. So why does Orkut run ASP.NET (.aspx) pages?

Best answer wins a prize.

[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Because Google demands extreme reliability. No better way to get that than with 20,000 Linux systems (or possibly some sweet, sweet massive UltraSPARC Sun systems hooked up to EMC hard drive farms... *drools*).

Orkut, on the other hand, is meant to provide a forum for relationships. Relationships are buggy, untested, and experimental - a new "next-generation" standard like ASP.NET, especially with the gaping holes in .NET implementation present in any operating system produced after the year 2000. But ASP.NET, as Microsoft's bitch, is also very pretty in its insidious refusal to work - much like relationships.

Furthermore, without a flawed system, how would romantic chance work? How could some happy couple recount the time that the system served them the wrong page because some moron programmer forgot XML's case-sensitivity rules in handling an ASPSESSIONID random hash? How else would an Ontario lesbian and a Ukrainian dwarf find true love?

Fie on you, Mr. MacLeod, for your implied criticism of such a process.

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[identity profile] c9.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
It impresses me that you know both SESSIONID and Latin. Not common. Now I have to come up with a prize. Hmmmm.

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[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
In light of tradition:

A.) Such an oddity is considered an undesireable tertiary characteristic in sexual selection and thus decreases the reproductive and lascivious capacities of the specimen.

B.) Equally difficult will be the matter of mailing it.

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[identity profile] c9.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
a) perhaps with those specific characteristics. Knowledge of both "how to kill a sabre-toothed tiger" and "how to build a fire", fairly unrelated, would be highly valuable under certain circumstances (i.e. thousands of years ago), but are far less valuable today. Times change. Reproductive capabilities of this specimen (me) are not terribly important.

b) I see no reason for it to be difficult. I have much experience with the selecting, packaging, addressing, and mailing of not-yet-selected things.

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[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
A.) The aforementioned "specimen" is an elaborate means of referring to the post's author in the third person. Both Latin and knowledge of SESSIONID fall under the "nerd" umbrella, subsets "arcanely pretentious" and "unspeakably geeky," respectively. As the goal of all members of the species is the pleasure associated with the act, viable or non-viable, of genomic propagation, such traits will eventually become removed from the gene pool.

B.) The Canadian postal service has still neglected to bring you your "toy" you ordered on eBay. What "toy" would this be, exactly?

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[identity profile] c9.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
a) yes, I realized that it was you. I suppose it might be removed from the genetic pool, though love often leads to non-Darwin-appropriate results. That, and teen pregnancy.

b) Ahh, but I was not responsible for the packaging or mailing of that item. It is in fact a Tungsten T3, not some other, more obscene and unsuitable for Superbowl Half-time Show toy.

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[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
A.) It's a pity that teen pregnancy has not been removed from the gene pool. Nature seems to have forgotten that quality, not quantity, should define reproductive characteristics. Assortative mating my ass.

B.) Everything is now suitable for half-time shows (including sun-shaped nipple caps and massive silicone sacs) with the exception of Justin Timberlake's shiny chest. Much to your chagrin.

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[identity profile] c9.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
a) "hear, hear" - some honourable members
b) ach, 'tis true. I am chagrined.

[identity profile] kdborg.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Management went out to party on the company dime. Got back the next day, drunk and needed something quickly and cheaply.

One manager managed to hack into their kid's computer and found the basic system, hired them and went into production. As more developers were hired, the system grew into a gigantic monolithic piece of bloat-ware and somehow got tied into the operating system. They're stuck with it.

So a 1000 high school kids on a 1000 computers came up with Windows Orkut.

[identity profile] nihilicious.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Because Dave the red kumquat said it was "necessary for the Revolution".

(I'm a-fightin for that prize!)

[identity profile] finfinaud.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
I am saying that Sam Berjkowitz's dog made them do it. I only say that to take away some vote from [livejournal.com profile] nihilicious

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[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Your icon is in violation of the Geneva Convention. But it's still genius.

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[identity profile] finfinaud.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Its my lashing out at the "American" FCC. I am broadcasting close ups of janets nipple! HA! C9, hope yer sittin down. and no one is watching yer screen.

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[identity profile] alliensis.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
You are not "broadcasting," you are just in violation of copyright law. Janet owns those hideous silicone amoebae, you know, and CBS owns the right to display them. You monster, you.

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[identity profile] finfinaud.livejournal.com 2004-02-04 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
her boobs are not silicon. they are to sagging, i suggested downloading a close up video of the incident, and u will see thay are saggy, although I do say this as a gay man. I do not proess to be an "expert" on breasts. such as [livejournal.com profile] bartok claims to be.