If you're willing to out yourself as a geek, add the official Geek Code to your .signature. It's a list of descriptors for all the pertinent variables in your life. Start with a GCS (Geek of Computer Science), for instance, and add d-- if you like to dress down to bug your boss. (d++ is for suits, d---- for punk, and !d if you don't wear clothing.) Other descriptors cover shape (height and bulk), age, computers, Unix, Perl, Linux, Emacs, WWW, NetNews, Usenet Oracle, Kibo, Windows, OS/2, Mac, VMS, social politics, economic politics, Cypherpunks, PGP, Star Trek, Babylon 5, X-Files, role-playing games, TV addiction, books, Dilbert, Doom, Geek Code fluency, education, housing, relationships, and sex. Special syntax allows for variable traits, aspirations, and professional expertise. For the full v3.1 code, finger Robert Hayden and pipe the 58KB result into a file. [11/8/95.]

I'm a rather boring GCS/B/TW d s: a+>+++ C++ UB P L E---(-) W N++(+++)$ o-- K !W !O M+>++ V- PS PE(++) Y PGP- t+ 5 !X R- tv b++>+++ DI+ D G e++++* h----* r+++ y++++. Obsolete v2.1 descriptors included H g+ p0 au+/-- w+(-) v-(+) !3 po- j G' B-->? u f*/?/- n+, for hair, glasses, pen count, automobile, weirdness, verbal skills, 386bsd, politics, Jeopardy, "Magic: The Gathering," Barney, music, friends, and nutrition. There's also a Bear Code for guys who identify with Teddy bears, but I haven't checked into it.

"Yes, Dad, you're very special. We also hope you're unique." -- Brandon Laws, 10/25/95.

echo '[q]sa[ln0=aln256%Pln256/snlbx]sb31350717901017685422 87578439snlbxq'|dc. [Steve Eckert , 10/95.]