NAME

       date - get and print a date

SYNOPSIS

       date [-s] [-local] [-k] [-blind] option=value...

DESCRIPTION

       If  no  arguments  are given, a date will be selected at random.  Providing an argument will restrict the
       search pool of dates.  Hopefully these arguments will not carry forward into the actual date.   Only  the
       superuser can select dates by name.

       The  -s  option registers you in the date database and (if not -local) posts your vitals to alt.personals
       (and, optionally, alt.sex.wanted).

       Using the -k option selects a date, but does not make any further arrangements.

       Ranges are specified with parentheses and brackets: (18,25) is 18 to 25 exclusive while [18,25] is 18  to
       25  inclusive.   An  array  of  selections  is given with braces such as ``{blonde, brunette, redhead}''.
       Multiple responses are separated with commas, as in ``sex=female,yes,please''.

       -blind To arrange a blind date.

       view[=must]
              View prospective date's picture.  To locate a picture, date searches  several  picture  databases,
              including  FaceSaver  (uunet.uu.net)  alt.sec.pictures, alt.binaries.pictures.erotica, and several
              FTP gif archives.  You must have access to the Internet for FTP to work.

              If view=must is set, and date is unable to find a picture, a request will be automatically  posted
              to alt.binaries.pictures.d asking for one.

              Options to xv(1) may follow "view" or be put in the environment parameter XV.

       The following options restrict the search pool to those who have supplied the necessary information.

       dim=range,range,range

       height=range
              Synonyms are also supported: midget, twerp, short, beanstalk, giant, basketball-player

       weight=range
              Synonyms: toothpic, feather, wide-load, blimp

       age=range
              Synonyms: juvenile, underage, thirty-nine, over-the-hill, {mom, dad}, {grandma, grandpa}

       sex={male, female}[,{yes, no, maybe}][,opt=sex(6) options]
              If  sex=yes  and  you  are  registering,  your  vitals are posted to alt.sex.wanted in addition to
              alt.personals.

       race={white, black, native-american, ...}
              Various slang terms are also supported.

       marriage={flirting, noway, maybe, once, twice, several}
              Seriousness and experience.

       kids={never, rightaway, oops, have, want}[,{one, two, three, four, bunch}]
              Domestic leanings.

       cooking={never, loveit, when_hungry}

       color  Synonym for race.

       religion={Atheist, Moslem, Lutheran, Catholic, ...}

       temper={mellow, quiet, hot-head}

       interests={lists of possible interests}

       name=lastname,firstname
              Specify name of your date.  Perfect for hitting on.  Names can only be specified by super-user.

FILES

       $HOME/.daterc
              Optional place to store options, for frequent daters.

       $HOME/.datehist
              History of dates, to avoid duplication.

       $HOME/.persona
              Options describing yourself, if you haven't registered in the database.  Note that the first  time
              you use date and supply this information, you are registered in the blind-date database.

SEE ALSO

       man(1), woman(1), sex(6)

       RFC1036: Standard for exchange of USENET messages, M. Horton and R. Adams.

       A Primer on how to work with the USENET community, Chuq Von Rospach and Gene ``net.god'' Spafford.

DIAGNOSTICS

       Exit status is 0 on success, 1 on complete failure to get a date.

       ``You are not superuser: date not set'' if you try to use the name parameter but are not the super-user.

       ``Vitals posted to alt.personals [,alt.sex.wanted]'' when you register globally.

AUTHOR

       Won't admit to it!