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!