Hackers Using Bots, Scripts To Lock Down Restaurant Reservations

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Hackers Using Bots, Scripts To Lock Down Restaurant Reservations

Posted by Unknown on Friday July 26, 2013 @07:25AM from the flaws-in-the-system dept.

Nerval's Lobster writes "Forget about hacking an app or database: for a small cadre of hackers in San Francisco, it's all about writing code that can score them a great table at a hot restaurant. According to the BBC, these developers and programmers have designed bots that scan restaurant Websites for open tables and reserve them. Diogo Mónica, a security engineer with e-commerce firm Square, is one of those programmers. A self-described foodie, he decided to get around his inability to score a table at the ultra-popular State Bird Provisions by writing a script that sent out an email every time the restaurant's reservation page changed. 'Once a reservation got canceled I would get an email and could quickly get it for myself,' he wrote in a blog posting. But soon he noticed something peculiar: 'As soon as reservations became available on the website (at 4am), all the good times were immediately taken and were gone by 4:01am.' He suspected it was automated 'reservation bots at work,' built by other programmers with a hankering for fine cuisine. 'After a while even cancellations started being taken immediately from under me,' he wrote. 'It started being common receiving an email alerting of a change, seeing an available time, and it being gone by the time the website loaded.' His solution was to build his own reservation bot, using Ruby, and post the code in the wild."

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Or... by nitehawk214 · 2013-07-26 07:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

Go to a casual local place and have a backup plan if it is busy. Restaurants with mile-long reservation lists and >$100 plates are almost universally overrated.

--
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
1. Re:Or... by war4peace · 2013-07-26 07:42 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  It's the "Ode to my Stomach" syndrome.
  Personally, I found home made food much more rewarding. At least I know for sure what do I put in my mouth. No funny business.
  
  --
  ...gis sdrawkcab (usually not responding to ACs; don't bother posting as AC)
2. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:43 · Score: 0
  
  Go to a casual local place and have a backup plan if it is busy. Restaurants with mile-long reservation lists and >$100 plates are almost universally overrated.
  No shit.
  $75 of great booze and $10 worth of food is a helluva lot better way to spend less money anyway.
3. Re:Or... by PPH · 2013-07-26 07:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That place is so popular, nobody goes there anymore.
  - Yogi
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
4. Re: Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair, you can really only say that if you've never been to SBP in SF or, say, RBK in Berkeley...
5. Re: Or... by pspahn · 2013-07-26 08:01 · Score: 1
  
  They're so cool they don't even need to make sure the fonts on their website are legible.
  
  --
  Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool.
6. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:15 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The State Bird place mentioned does not have particularly high prices. The current menu only has two items in the $20 range ($20 and $22). With prices like those -- and assuming good food -- who wouldn't want to eat there?
  dom
7. Re:Or... by ackthpt · 2013-07-26 08:16 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Go to a casual local place and have a backup plan if it is busy. Restaurants with mile-long reservation lists and >$100 plates are almost universally overrated.
  Unfortunately I live in a resort-y area and we're overrun during the summer months. I just learn to be a better cook. I'm becoming very good at cooking these days. So much so I hate going out to eat because I can do everything so much better.
  now it's time for another episode of Samurai Short-order Chef
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
8. Re:Or... by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-26 08:26 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Another option: have dining in parties with your friends. Have each person take a rotation, try out new recipes/variants, and in general, have a good time without the bad music/bad lighting/bad seating. Non-paying guests can stay and wash the dishes ;)
9. Re:Or... by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-26 08:29 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  The most I ever paid for a meal was $700 per head for a 16 course tasting menu at a 3 star restaurant. I booked 6 weeks ahead. It was money well spent.
  My priorities may differ from yours.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
10. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:34 · Score: 1
  
  Place looks like a dump, and the food doesn't look all that good either. What's up with the school cafeteria chairs? This is nothing but a poor attempt at publicity by the restaurant.
11. Re:Or... by gagol · 2013-07-26 08:38 · Score: 1
  
  People do not eat out because it tastes to great, they go out because there is no meal to prepare or dishes to clean.
  
  --
  Tomorrow is another day...
12. Re:Or... by xevioso · 2013-07-26 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  I live in the city and haven't eaten there yet, but it looks reasonably priced.
  I do not that on the font of the website are the words, prominently displayed, "Walk-ins Welcome", so why even bother getting a reservation?
13. Re:Or... by ackthpt · 2013-07-26 08:42 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Another option: have dining in parties with your friends. Have each person take a rotation, try out new recipes/variants, and in general, have a good time without the bad music/bad lighting/bad seating. Non-paying guests can stay and wash the dishes ;)
  I remember seeing something about these in my parents magazines from the 1950s. People had some place in the house call a Dining Room and it was much larger than their computer den. Shocking!
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
14. Re:Or... by ackthpt · 2013-07-26 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  People do not eat out because it tastes to great, they go out because there is no meal to prepare or dishes to clean.
  And when I do that I generally regret not preparing something, even a can of beans. Dishes are rarely the chore some people draw them up to be.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
15. Re:Or... by drkim · 2013-07-26 08:58 · Score: 2
  
  People had some place in the house call a Dining Room and it was much larger than their computer den. Shocking!
  A room just for eating in? Weird.
  How could you operate your computer from there..?
16. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:00 · Score: 0
  
  It's jammed all the time. Unless you get there when it opens, walk in means walk in and stand around or have a couple drinks at a nearby bar for the next hour and a half. Mercifully, they will text you when your table is ready.
17. Re:Or... by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-26 09:08 · Score: 1
  
  People had some place in the house call a Dining Room and it was much larger than their computer den. Shocking!
  A room just for eating in? Weird.
  How could you operate your computer from there..?
  You read slashdot and you can't figure that one out? Time to turn in your geek card....
  But then again, these days, most people entertain in the room where their sofa and TV are, not in their non-existent dining room....
18. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:26 · Score: 0
  
  Most people have absolutely no idea what a 3 star restaurant is like. Most people don't live near one and wouldn't pay that much to have dinner even if they did.
19. Re: Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:27 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair, you can really only say that if you've never been to SBP in SF or, say, RBK in Berkeley...
  To be fair, you can only say you're one of us if you fly around in jets and impoverish cities in third-world countries for amusement.
  I invest in companies just to watch them fail and eat the hearts of children at fancy restaurants in Paris.
  But, when I go for a beer, it's gotta be dos equis.
  That's right, I'm a fucking douchebag.
20. Re: Or... by dreamchaser · 2013-07-26 09:32 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair, you can really only say that if you've never been to SBP in SF or, say, RBK in Berkeley...
  SBP isn't as overpriced like a lot of more pretentious places but it isn't all that. I was totally unimpressed at Revival Bar+Kitchen. It was ok but the service was mediocre.
21. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:32 · Score: 0
  
  Nobody makes reservations or waits an hour and a half for a table just to avoid cooking and cleaning. The food has to be a lot better than what their customers could make at home.
22. Re:Or... by tlhIngan · 2013-07-26 09:48 · Score: 1
  
  I do not that on the font of the website are the words, prominently displayed, "Walk-ins Welcome", so why even bother getting a reservation?
  Because the walk-in line is a mile long so unless you want to wait hours to eat, it's not an option.
  The other options are take out, or eating at a less busy time - I don't know what the "good times" are, but perhaps eating earlier would be better.
23. Re:Or... by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-26 10:21 · Score: 2
  
  I don't live near one either. I had to travel to Vegas. I don't expect super dupa dining to be on the vacation plans of a high proportion of people, but then you won't find me on a rock climbing expedition.
  It's worth working on your food phobias first, or you may be wasting money.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
24. Re: Or... by xevioso · 2013-07-26 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  No need to be so harsh on yourself, good sir.
  You could come to a reasonably priced restaurant in SF, like, say, State Bird Provisions, (which accepts walk-ins) and relax a bit from your douchebaggery.
25. Re: Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 11:23 · Score: 0
  
  They're so cool they don't even need to make sure the fonts on their website are legible.
  Why would they? The reservation bots can read the pages just fine, so what's the problem?
26. Re:Or... by gagol · 2013-07-26 11:55 · Score: 1
  
  That is a marketing accomplishment, not a culinary one.
  
  --
  Tomorrow is another day...
27. Re:Or... by rHBa · 2013-07-26 12:27 · Score: 1
  
  It depends on what stars the restaurant has, to some extent, but more importantly what people are willing to pay.
  
  If I want to spend €150+ per head I can eat at a two Michelin star restaurant*. The difference between that and a 'three star' restaurant depends mostly on interpretation of the 'stars' and demand/availability in that location.
  
  * http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/Chamonix_Mont_Blanc-74400-Albert_1er-10611-41102
28. Re:Or... by ShanghaiBill · 2013-07-26 12:43 · Score: 1
  
  Restaurants with mile-long reservation lists and >$100 plates are almost universally overrated.
  Or poorly managed. Business 101: If your business is turning away customers, you should either raise your prices or expand your capacity.
29. Re:Or... by mattack2 · 2013-07-26 13:06 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe you like chores. Some of us don't, including washing clothes & mowing the lawn.. Borrrinnngg. I was going to make the same argument about it being no preparation or cleanup being the best part of eating out.
30. Re:Or... by ackthpt · 2013-07-26 14:07 · Score: 1
  
  Beowulf cluster of Salt and Pepper shakers.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
31. Re:Or... by ackthpt · 2013-07-26 14:11 · Score: 2
  
  Most people have absolutely no idea what a 3 star restaurant is like. Most people don't live near one and wouldn't pay that much to have dinner even if they did.
  I was stuck in a Financial District, may years ago, where the only restaurants were 3 star or better. I found I could eat just enough to not be hungry for about an hour, on my travel budget. When I got more adventurous I got out of there at night to a pizza place where I could stuff myself.
  Still, I'm not impressed with very many restaurants these days -- a lot of it is presentation and atmosphere.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
32. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 15:00 · Score: 1
  
  Your bragging is essentially meaningless. Might be useful if you said what restaurant. You just want to be conspicuous with your spending. Your priorities are definitely different.
33. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 15:38 · Score: 1
  
  Three stars is the highest and there are only ten in the USA: seven in NYC, one in Chicago, one in Vegas, and two in Napa Valley. Of course we are talking about Michelin stars, the only stars that matter.
34. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 15:54 · Score: 0
  
  >> without the bad music/bad lighting/bad seating
  You have much more posh friends than I.
35. Re:Or... by nitehawk214 · 2013-07-26 15:56 · Score: 1
  
  Place looks like a dump, and the food doesn't look all that good either. What's up with the school cafeteria chairs? This is nothing but a poor attempt at publicity by the restaurant.
  I like this theory. Its like the asshole guy that puts a bunch of cash into his wallet and complains. "Oh poor me all I have are 20s." Truth is that his credit cards are maxed and his bank account is empty, he just wants to look like he is rich.
  
  --
  I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
36. Re:Or... by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-26 17:03 · Score: 1
  
  >> without the bad music/bad lighting/bad seating
  You have much more posh friends than I.
  You frequent better restaurants than I do.
37. Re:Or... by Mr.+Freeman · 2013-07-26 17:05 · Score: 1
  
  That is a terrible idea. In a group of ten friends, you will have the following:
  1. The person who lives in a tiny place and doesn't have chairs for everyone.
  2. The person who underestimates how much food he'll need to make and everyone winds up hungry afterward.
  3. The vegetarian.
  4. The person that's lactose intolerant.
  5. The guy who can't turn on the oven without an instruction manual.
  6. The guy who can't boil water without hurting himself.
  7. The guy who thinks that frozen dinner meals constitutes "dining in".
  8. The guy who doesn't cook often and doesn't have the money to go buy ingredients for 10 people.
  9. The guy who doesn't have time to make food for ten people.
  10. The person who can cook well.
  
  And washing dishes doesn't even come close to making up for not paying. This is seriously one of the worst ideas I've heard in a long time.
  
  --
  -1 disagree is not a modifier for a reason. -1 troll, flaimbait, redundant, overrated are NOT acceptable substitutes.
38. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 18:03 · Score: 0
  
  That is a marketing accomplishment, not a culinary one.
  You might have won this time, PC, but Mac's coming back any day now!
39. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 18:53 · Score: 0
  
  Or ditch the hoity-toity ambience and save a hell of a lot of money. You can go to a restaurant that looks like a bit of a dumpy dive, and for about $50 get a meal that puts most overpriced 3-star fine dining establishments to shame. And no, I'm not talking about some deep fried whatever that any lazy ass chef can slap together - we're talking stuffed lobster with perfectly steamed vegetables, anything grilled is just right and not burnt, everythings fresh, good drink and dessert selection, the works! Such restaurants tend to be crowded and a bit loud with a casual atmosphere, but it's a reasonable tradeoff for epic food in decent portions that's hard to come by at even twice the cost elsewhere.
  I live near the Illinois-Wisconsin border and I can name at least 5 places like that offhand. (And 3 were featured at least once on the Food Network.) But I'm not going to say what they are, because getting into the parking lot at those establishments is bad enough as it is if you try going on a weekend or typical dinner hours. (Dunno if web-sniping would apply to them, reservations are by phone or they only take walk-in customers during peak hours.)
40. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 19:12 · Score: 0
  
  There is not better than 3 star.
  Unless you are talking about some random rating agency.
  Michelin at most give 3 stars.
  In 2012 only 106 restaurants in the whole world was awarded 3 stars.
  Since you said financial district and didn't mention a country I am assuming you are american.
  The two cities with a large financial district is New York City and Chicago:
  New York City has 7 three star restaurants
  Chicago has 1 three star restaurant
  I am calling your bluff.
41. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 19:42 · Score: 0
  
  That is a terrible idea. In a group of ten friends, you will have the following:
  Note my emphasis there
  
  1. The person who lives in a tiny place and doesn't have chairs for everyone.
  well, friends can learn to make do.. or he could split you into smaller groups..
  
  2. The person who underestimates how much food he'll need to make and everyone winds up hungry afterward.
  Guess your friend learned something for next time though, and everybody else might find that you don't need to eat until you are full to have a good time.
  
  3. The vegetarian.
  speaking as one, I have never found that to be a problem going to peoples houses or catering for others. It is not required (or healthy) to eat solely meat, so when folk come to my house they are not going to leave malnourished.. and when I go to theirs, if they don't provide something I'm willing to eat then you know, they are a friend of mine, so I will feel free to taunt them forever
  
  4. The person that's lactose intolerant.
  intolerant is not allergic. Also, its not that difficult to make something without dairy. guaranteeing nut absence is harder, but those with severe nut allergies won't usually be comfortable eating out anyway
  
  5. The guy who can't turn on the oven without an instruction manual.
  Instruction manuals are available. I asked a friend to stir a pot of risotto once and he almost had a panic attack.. but he learned, and we taunted him for years
  
  6. The guy who can't boil water without hurting himself.
  you can cook without needing to boil water.
  
  7. The guy who thinks that frozen dinner meals constitutes "dining in".
  he is a friend of yours, right? you can eat what he eats and if he is rubbish then you can taunt him until he gets better at living
  
  8. The guy who doesn't cook often and doesn't have the money to go buy ingredients for 10 people.
  since he saved money on 9 other meals, he has that money
  
  9. The guy who doesn't have time to make food for ten people.
  He is providing food and an evening in; he can order it in if he likes.. since he is so busy, he earns loads of money, right?
  
  10. The person who can cook well.
  and loves cooking, so will provide a good meal to their friends
  
  And washing dishes doesn't even come close to making up for not paying.
  Since they pay for the food when you go around to their house, and they are your friend, the cost is irrelevant.
  
  This is seriously one of the worst ideas I've heard in a long time.
  Live a little! A social dinner party for friends is way more valuable than going out to a restaurant.
42. Re:Or... by pakar · 2013-07-26 22:44 · Score: 1
  
  Well.. People that says these things have never been to a 3-star restaurant...... The thing is that the $50 per meal restaurants cannot afford good (good and good... they are probably not bad anyway .. ) ingredients for those prices.... Good wagyu beef costs about $50 for the restaurant to buy for one portion (150grams or so)... Also there is a big thing on how the animals have been raised so you actually should look at the farm where the meat came from.. (Btw, if you have never tried it then don't... it will ruin all other meat for you :)
  Never buy chicken that have been grown in 7-9 weeks and basically force-fed with corn.. Buy a free-ranging chicken that has been grown in the natural speed.. It tastes so much better.
  Never buy salmon (or any fish) from fish-farms. To start with they contain less Omega 3 (the good one) and much higher concentration of Omega 6 (one of the bad ones). They are also fed antibiotics and dye to give the flesh an appealing red color... Also fish from fishfarms contain much higher concentrations of PCB/pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
  Never buy beef that have only been fed corn, as most meat-animals are. Try and go for free-ranging cattle from a fairly tempered areas with lots of good food...
  There is a difference in food and food... And going for quantity over quality is always bad..... Buy a good meal and enjoy the experience... If you are still hungry afterwards then have some fruit or grab a sandwich..
43. Re:Or... by chill · 2013-07-26 23:46 · Score: 1
  
  With the recent success of Parallella, that might actually be feasible. Hmmm....
  
  --
  Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
44. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 04:59 · Score: 0
  
  Or LEARN TO COOK! Become a FOOD HACKER.
  Trust me, scoring young ladies is much easier when you know how to cook up some bait.
45. Re:Or... by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-27 05:00 · Score: 2
  
  It was Joel Robuchon. How much to people pay to go to Disney?
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
46. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 05:08 · Score: 0
  
  TRUE. HOWEVER. Sometimes the owners don't WANT to expand. This can be for many reasons. The smaller size could increase quality.
  Some just want to make a living.
47. Re:Or... by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-27 05:33 · Score: 2
  
  Thank you, Mr. Anonymous Coward, for this insightful riposte.
  Most of these issues seem to me like something that will be an issue the first time around -- and because you're all friends, can be easily overcome (otherwise, you're not really friends, are you? Just acquaintances of convenience).
  As for the vegetarian/lactose intolerant... well, someone who's lactose intolerant can eat anything a vegetarian can eat (at least a strict vegetarian). Speaking as a casual vegan (I have meat/animal products, but as the exception, not the rule), there's lots of stuff to prepare in this wide world that everyone can enjoy, and it's usually less expensive than the prepackaged stuff that'll give you an early death.
  As for those who are terrified of doing the "dining in" thing -- first off, why are they joining in this in the first place? If it's more a "want to spend time with friends, they'd be with us if we dined out" thing, then give them some training wheels -- have them come over early and help out at someone else's place. Same goes for the guy who has a hot plate and microwave that he has to move out of the way to fold his bed down at night.
  Trust me, you'll have a LOT more fun eating with friends than going out to a restaurant. It's a bit more work on the cleanup side, but if you're doing this every Friday, for example, and you do it in a 4 house rotation (more friends is fine, just have them come over early/provide some of the cooking ingredients/ stay late to help clean up/ whatever works with your group of friends), you've got one cleanup per month for the benefit of having something fun and different to do with friends each Friday evening.
  Hey... if Reality TV can do it with people who are perfect strangers (some of whom become good friends after the experience), you should be able to pull it off with friends. Or are you really afraid to get to know your friends better, for fear that they aren't really people you like?
  Hey... one other idea: for the people who feel threatened by this: take a cooking class. Unless you live out in the boondocks where you're not going to find good restaurants anyway, you've got cooking classes available, and they can be fun to do with friends. If you have a large enough group, you can even get custom classes tailored to what your group wants to do.
  And as for cooking... once you get over the initial fear and depenency on cookbooks, it's really a fun pastime. You learn what foods go well together, and can usually whip something up with the ingredients on hand without too much difficulty (as long as you're not having to do it 3x a day). Use recipes as inspiration instead of a manual, and things will go much better (even if some of the stuff you make flops).
  Just like in the world of technology -- feel free to experiment, think outside the box, and do your own thing. Cooking isn't really all that different from programming after all.
48. Re:Or... by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-27 05:36 · Score: 1
  
  I've never been in a fine dining restaurant that felt hoity toity. If you're paying the price, you should bloody well get the service, or those stars won't be there next year
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
49. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 10:41 · Score: 0
  
  Obviously, the point is not to eat the food, silly. The point is to be seen the company of people who don't have to care how much the food costs.
50. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 11:58 · Score: 0
  
  My dad goes to the French Laundry 4-5 times a year and drives a 1996 Toyota Celica.
51. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 12:13 · Score: 0
  
  The virgins are talking about sex again!
52. Re:Or... by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-28 04:19 · Score: 1
  
  I see he has his priorities straight.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
There must be something better to do with that by stewsters · 2013-07-26 07:33 · Score: 3, Insightful

God damn hipsters.
1. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Natales · 2013-07-26 08:20 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Come on dude! It's so easy to be dismissive when you don't have a clue what are you talking about. Let me break your bubble: there are geeks that are hipsters, foodies and that just love the hedonistic pleasures of life. We all converge in this site at some point and share things that matter to all of us, but this is by no means all we are in life.
  
  I've had to learn to appreciate our differences with fellow geeks and nerds that have completely opposite political views for example without demonizing them, and in the process I've learned a thing or two. Don't fall in the "us" and "them" rhetoric and learn to respect people that care about different things.
2. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  Come on dude! It's so easy to be dismissive when you don't have a clue what are you talking about. Let me break your bubble: there are geeks that are hipsters, foodies and that just love the hedonistic pleasures of life.
  
  I don' think you're breaking anybody's bubble, just reinforcing the fact that there are douchebags in every walk of life. What's with the self-congratulatory message about essentially being a dick?
  Let me burst your bubble, being a giant douche to get nice tables at restaurants doesn't make you awesome.
3. Re:There must be something better to do with that by TeknoHog · 2013-07-26 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  I feel for you, bro. I wrote an FPGA bitcoin miner before it was cool.
  
  --
  Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
4. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:25 · Score: 0
  
  Just tell those hipsters, they are going to the most mainstream/popular restaurant in town. ;)
  Then suggest your shoddy greasy spoon around the corner as the insider tip of the decade(!) and watch them praise the crap there to the highest heavens just because they can't admit to themselves what idiots they are.
  Worked for Apple, will work for "'Burgairz', 'Pietsa' & 'Bowljobs' on Shit Mile, Detroit". ;)
5. Re:There must be something better to do with that by excelsior_gr · 2013-07-26 10:12 · Score: 0
  
  there are geeks that are hipsters, foodies and that just love the hedonistic pleasures of life.
  
  No, there aren't. Geeks just love to write fast, stupefiyingly complicated code. Besides, the taste buds of real geeks can only sense (and tell the difference between various brands of) caffeinated drinks and beer. And candy.
  
  We all converge in this site at some point and share things that matter to all of us
  No, we don't. Some come out of impulse, since you can't teach an old dog new facebook tricks. Others come, only to be chased off the lawns of the first group. Hipsters come to talk about their smartphones and be laughed at.
  
  Don't fall in the "us" and "them" rhetoric
  Seriously? In the geek-world, it has always been about us and them. Us the vi users and them the emacs users, us the linux users and them the windows users, and so on (you get the point).
  
  learn to respect people that care about different things.
  Heh, that's a good one!
6. Re:There must be something better to do with that by xevioso · 2013-07-26 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  I've heard it's cool and trendy to hate on hipsters.
  I guess that makes you a hipster.
7. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 11:06 · Score: 1
  
  I've heard it's cool and trendy to hate on hipsters.
  I guess that makes you a hipster.
  You just belittled someone, calling them a hipster, because you thought they were doing something you heard was cool and trendy, namely, hating on hipsters.
  I think you just opened the infinite hipster vortex.
8. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 12:04 · Score: 0
  
  He's different! Get him!
9. Re:There must be something better to do with that by interkin3tic · 2013-07-26 15:03 · Score: 1
  
  I'm confused. Don't hipsters hate popular things? Wouldn't they be making bots to make reservations only in restaurants that have no one else in them?
10. Re:There must be something better to do with that by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 22:51 · Score: 0
  
  Us the vi users and them the emacs users
  Don't forget us ed users...
Cold Pizza by ebno-10db · 2013-07-26 07:33 · Score: 4, Funny

Kids today. In my day programmers ate cold pizza and they liked it! Bonus points for pepperoni or sausage - there's nothing like cold congealed grease.
1. Re:Cold Pizza by Ambvai · 2013-07-26 07:45 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  Ever try a Domino's Thin Crust with Double Bacon? One of my friends in college got two of those once and, after the puking up the first one, left the second on his desk. The next day, he found the grease soaked through the pizza, its own box, the lid of the box under it, and the bottom of the box under it, sticking it solidly to the table.
2. Re:Cold Pizza by locotx · 2013-07-26 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  Cold pizza was the best . . . not to mention the 12 pack of Dr. Pepper's that started out as cold but as the night progressed . . luke warm Dr. Peppers were acceptable. Bonus Points for Little Debbie snack cakes in the mix.
3. Re:Cold Pizza by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:49 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, every single person who eats that pizza throws up. In fact, it's part of the marketing. When they tested it, they passed over the pizzas that did not cause the tasters to throw up.
  Well, either that or your friend is lactose intolerant. I think I might just go with occam's razor here.
4. Re:Cold Pizza by ebno-10db · 2013-07-26 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  Ever try a Domino's Thin Crust with Double Bacon?
  This is where my regional snobbery kicks in. In NY you never order pizza from a chain. Even a randomly chosen neighborhood place is practically guaranteed to be better, let alone your choice neighborhood places.
5. Re:Cold Pizza by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:17 · Score: 0
  
  Kids today. In my day programmers ate cold pizza and they liked it! Bonus points for pepperoni or sausage - there's nothing like cold congealed grease.
  And the noise regarding dinner reservations and Ruby was something else entirely.
6. Re:Cold Pizza by ebno-10db · 2013-07-26 08:21 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, every single person who eats that pizza throws up.
  No, but it looks like it to some people. I've had people who grew up in places without pizza say that to me. That was a while ago, so maybe there's no place left without pizza, but I'd be interested in more recent stories.
  One guy I knew came here from the Lesser Antilles when he was 14. His new friend in America took him to a pizza place, but he thought it was a practical joke. Only after his friend started eating it did he try it.
7. Re:Cold Pizza by trigpoint · 2013-07-26 08:41 · Score: 1
  
  Cold pizza is nothing, for real gross try cold donna kebab. Now thats living.
8. Re:Cold Pizza by drkim · 2013-07-26 09:08 · Score: 1
  
  ...The next day, he found the grease soaked through the pizza, its own box, the lid of the box under it, and the bottom of the box under it, sticking it solidly to the table.
  "...that crap's gonna eat through the hull..."
9. Re:Cold Pizza by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:16 · Score: 1
  
  Ever try a Domino's Thin Crust with Double Bacon?
  This is where my regional snobbery kicks in. In NY you never order pizza from a chain. Even a randomly chosen neighborhood place is practically guaranteed to be better, let alone your choice neighborhood places.
  In New York, you also got a cracker with cheese on it.
  New York makes wafers, Chicago makes pizza.
10. Re:Cold Pizza by elistan · 2013-07-26 09:35 · Score: 1
  
  Pizza (cold or not) for programmers was so prevalent, in fact, that there was developed an ANSI Standard Pizza configuration. Pepperoni and mushroom. (Although having just looked it up, I hadn't realized at the time it was mostly a CMU thing.)
11. Re:Cold Pizza by ebno-10db · 2013-07-26 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  Ever try a Domino's Thin Crust with Double Bacon?
  This is where my regional snobbery kicks in. In NY you never order pizza from a chain. Even a randomly chosen neighborhood place is practically guaranteed to be better, let alone your choice neighborhood places.
  In New York, you also got a cracker with cheese on it.
  New York makes wafers, Chicago makes pizza.
  Chicago pizza is for human consumption? I thought it was how the 'hog butcher to the world' fattened livestock.
12. Re:Cold Pizza by I'm+New+Around+Here · 2013-07-26 12:23 · Score: 1
  
  I'm a sort of pizza snob. I want at least four different color toppings on my pizza. The sauce and cheese don't count.
  In fact I prefer to have bell peppers as one of the toppings, even though I don't actually like bell peppers. But without them, the pizza doesn't taste nearly as good.
  
  --
  If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
13. Re:Cold Pizza by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 15:30 · Score: 0
  
  A lot of hard work goes into getting diabetes
14. Re:Cold Pizza by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 15:40 · Score: 0
  
  My pizza had cold pepperoni and congealed gravy ........ mmmmmm House of Georgies gravy covered pizza
15. Re:Cold Pizza by chittychitty!! · 2013-07-27 00:03 · Score: 1
  
  Ever try a Domino's Thin Crust with Double Bacon? One of my friends in college got two of those once and, after the puking up the first one, left the second on his desk. The next day, he found the grease soaked through the pizza, its own box, the lid of the box under it, and the bottom of the box under it, sticking it solidly to the table.
  and ate it.
What's next? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:34 · Score: 3, Funny

A DDoS to ensure no one gets reservations?
On the other hand by xevioso · 2013-07-26 07:34 · Score: 5, Informative

The reservation company specifically denies that this is happening or is possible.
TFA:
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2013/07/25/are-automated-bots-are-making-hot-online-reservations-impossible/
1. Re:On the other hand by xevioso · 2013-07-26 07:35 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The important part, which I failed to quote:
  Update, 1:20pm: Urbanspoon has released a statement that reaffirms its earlier denial, and also refutes duplicate reservations and reservation fraud (though neither of those issues are technically in dispute):
  "Urbanspoon’s data on State Bird Provisions’ reservations do not support the findings reported in Diogo Mónica’s post. While we will not disclose data about specific customers, we currently have processes in place to prevent duplicate reservations and combat reservation fraud. Urbanspoon’s goal is to give real diners the opportunity to make reservations. We’ve noticed that many diners will stop at nothing to get a table at the hottest restaurants in town, like State Bird Provisions , so we are constantly working on improving the overall reservations process to give all diners an opportunity to secure a table."
2. Re:On the other hand by pipatron · 2013-07-26 07:40 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  And of course, everyone here knows that the answer is plain marketing bullshit.
  
  --
  c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */
3. Re:On the other hand by gl4ss · 2013-07-26 07:44 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  all bunch of blabla bla.
  you know what would work out? if the tables are really all reserved all the fucking time, make a reservation cost.
  then increase cost until you hit a spot. the restaurant should just charge more, if people want to pay a months rent to eat there then so be it.
  btw how the fuck could they make sure they don't get duplicate reservations? checking id's of people coming in to match the reservation? they can't really rely on cookies, ip addresses or anything like that for it. not even fb profile linking would do it, easy enough to have fake profiles...
  what urbanspoon cares about is that the tables are full, nothing else.
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
4. Re:On the other hand by BaronAaron · 2013-07-26 07:44 · Score: 2
  
  I call BS on this. Sounds like Urbanspoon is just covering their ass.
  Bottom line is their reservation system doesn't have any form of CAPTCHA which makes the use of reservation bots completely plausible.
5. Re:On the other hand by ArcadeMan · 2013-07-26 07:49 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Please, we're talking about fancy restaurants here. It's not just plain marketing bullshit. It's Lobster Thermidor aux crevettes with a Mornay sauce, garnished with truffle pâté, brandy and a fried egg on top and bullshit.
  
  --
  Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
6. Re:On the other hand by rudy_wayne · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  we currently have processes in place to prevent duplicate reservations and combat reservation fraud.
  While they may indeed have a system in place to prevent duplicate reservations, their answer is meaningless. If a person can make a reservation on-line then a bot can do the same, except faster and in the middle of the night while you're sleeping.
7. Re:On the other hand by xevioso · 2013-07-26 08:00 · Score: 1
  
  That sounds delicious.
8. Re:On the other hand by Chris+Mattern · 2013-07-26 08:33 · Score: 1
  
  we currently have processes in place to prevent duplicate reservations and combat reservation fraud.
  But this isn't duplicate reservations. Nor does it appear to be reservation fraud; nobody's said anything about third-party sale of the reservations. It's just people automating the process of getting a reservation.
9. Re:On the other hand by hawguy · 2013-07-26 08:34 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  The important part, which I failed to quote:
  Update, 1:20pm: Urbanspoon has released a statement that reaffirms its earlier denial, and also refutes duplicate reservations and reservation fraud (though neither of those issues are technically in dispute):
  "Urbanspoon’s data on State Bird Provisions’ reservations do not support the findings reported in Diogo Mónica’s post. While we will not disclose data about specific customers, we currently have processes in place to prevent duplicate reservations and combat reservation fraud. Urbanspoon’s goal is to give real diners the opportunity to make reservations. We’ve noticed that many diners will stop at nothing to get a table at the hottest restaurants in town, like State Bird Provisions , so we are constantly working on improving the overall reservations process to give all diners an opportunity to secure a table."
  And since these bot'ed reservations aren't appearing for sale on Craigslist, nor do these popular restaurants appear to be suffering from excessive no-shows, what exactly is happening to these reservations that are supposedly stolen by bots?
10. Re:On the other hand by blueg3 · 2013-07-26 08:45 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  you know what would work out? if the tables are really all reserved all the fucking time, make a reservation cost.
  then increase cost until you hit a spot. the restaurant should just charge more, if people want to pay a months rent to eat there then so be it.
  It's easier to auction off reservations rather than continually adjust the price until you find a level that works. And this was suggested by many people on Twitter early this morning already.
11. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:56 · Score: 0
  
  Um, did you get as far as the "and bullshit" part?
  Or do you just have very strange tastes?
12. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:56 · Score: 0
  
  Minus the bullshit. Just the lobster for me, thanks.
13. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:16 · Score: 0
  
  They said "combat reservation fraud" not defeat reservation fraud.
14. Re:On the other hand by number17 · 2013-07-26 09:42 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps an employee or even the owner is being given a handful of cash to make sure the get the seat when one is cancelled.
15. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 10:26 · Score: 0
  
  This is kind of overblown.
  Not all tables are reserved via spoon, I know it seems old fashion but try calling the restaurant.
16. Re:On the other hand by dantotheman · 2013-07-26 10:29 · Score: 1
  
  Normally you have to pay extra for the bullshit part. Although sometimes it comes as a complimentary garnish with rocky mountain oysters...
17. Re:On the other hand by xevioso · 2013-07-26 10:29 · Score: 1
  
  I did, I could do without the bullshit, but the first part sounds tasty.
18. Re:On the other hand by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-26 10:35 · Score: 1
  
  This.
  That's how I scored a table at Joel Robuchon. Opentable said it was booked. I called and it wasn't a problem.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
19. Re:On the other hand by wagnerrp · 2013-07-26 10:46 · Score: 1
  
  Nonsense. Most CAPTCHAs can be reliably processed by machine vision, and the remainder can be processed by real humans in third world countries for pennies on the dozen. There are actually companies that sell such services. Alternatively, one can set up a fake free porn site, and route those CAPTCHAs through to users trying to access it.
20. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 11:47 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  you know what would work out? if the tables are really all reserved all the fucking time, make a reservation cost.
  then increase cost until you hit a spot. the restaurant should just charge more, if people want to pay a months rent to eat there then so be it.
  That works if you're just in it to make a profit, and don't care about who is able to come to the restaurant.
  Planet Money had a podcast about this in regard to concert tickets. They had Kid Rock talking about it, and pointed out that it would be super simple to keep jacking up the price until supply & demand balances out and it's no longer worth scalping tickets.
  However, selling tickets to the highest bidder greatly changes the tone of the audience you get. You no longer get people who are there because they want to enjoy the experience, you instead you get people there just to show off their affluence. (Kid Rock mentioned the bored-looking old guys in the front row who are obviously just there to impress half-their-age girlfriends.) You'd see that with increasing the price to restaurant reservations. You'll no longer get people going to the restaurant because they want to enjoy the food, you'd get people there because a table at State Bird Provisions is rare, and it will impress a girlfriend/business associate. As a chef, cooking for people who want to enjoy your food and cooking for people who are just there to show off are greatly different things, and you may be willing to reduce your profit if you can ensure the former.
21. Re:On the other hand by interkin3tic · 2013-07-26 15:06 · Score: 1
  
  If he wrote a bot that worked on their system and released it into the wild, I'm pretty sure the part about "improving the overall reservations process" will mean at least that they'll find a way to break his bot. That's something that is at least partially not bullshit.
22. Re:On the other hand by pakar · 2013-07-26 23:07 · Score: 1
  
  Possibility
  3'rd party site that wants more visitors creates a booking page for many popular resturants... People fill in their information and then they will get a mail if they managed to get the reservation...
  It's not so hard to imagine... And a great way to attract more people to your page...
23. Re:On the other hand by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 02:08 · Score: 0
  
  I can't believe your post about what is exactly happening to these reservations is not getting more attention. I would also like to know. I would also like to know how/why we are only hearing about this when a white hat ends up figuring it out. I thought I had my ear to the ground, but apparently there are still nefarious things going on out there.
24. Re:On the other hand by kasperd · 2013-07-27 09:21 · Score: 1
  
  That works if you're just in it to make a profit, and don't care about who is able to come to the restaurant.
  As in any other sort of business, if it turns out to be less fun than you envisioned but more profitable, then you can just keep making lots of profit until you have enough money to go and build what you really want to do. It is rare to hear about people who were unable to realize their dreams because they had too much money.
  
  --
  
  Do you care about the security of your wireless mouse?
I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by Dorianny · 2013-07-26 07:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

These days you can't even post on a forum without going through some form of CAPTCH,A never mind trying to buy tickets or book reservations.
1. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by 0123456 · 2013-07-26 07:41 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Yeah, but modern CAPTCHAs are so convoluted that computers can solve them more easily than I can.
2. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by Dorianny · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  Yeh. OCR has gotten so good that CAPTCHA developers have no choice but to make their images so distorted that even human pattern recognition can't easily make them out anymore.
3. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by quacking+duck · 2013-07-26 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  Yeh. OCR has gotten so good that CAPTCHA developers have no choice but to make their images so distorted that even human pattern recognition can't easily make them out anymore.
  That's why some captchas now have knowledge-based answers in the rotation, like showing an image of a brand name and asking what it's known for. Or assembling a small puzzle.
4. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by al0ha · 2013-07-26 08:24 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Wrong. OCR still can't defeat reCAPTCHA - however depending on the prize there's a multitude of other ways to do it which do not involve OCR including low paid workers in third world countries being served the captcha and solving it for the automated algorithm, or in the case of Ticketmaster, where the prizes were monetarily substantial, a group of miscreants going to the trouble of databasing just about every Captcha solution they could find. One group also was able to p0wn the audio version of reCAPTCHA for a while until it was upgraded. Another group has claimed they use OCR to defeat reCAPTCHA, but have never proven that to be the case and if they can, why not prove it?
  
  Citations:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReCAPTCHA
  http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/11/wiseguys-plead-guilty/
  
  --
  Did you ever wake up in the morning, with a Zombie Woof behind your eyes? -- FZ
5. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by Em+Adespoton · 2013-07-26 08:34 · Score: 1
  
  The ones that get me are the language localized ones that display words in the native language and instruct you, in the native language, to do something to the words (like, remove all vowels, write the singular form of the word, etc). I have to say, my language skills have improved as a result of those (not much though; I just keep re-trying the captcha until I get one I can guess, just like a bot would do).
6. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by canadiannomad · 2013-07-26 09:18 · Score: 2
  
  Another group has claimed they use OCR to defeat reCAPTCHA, but have never proven that to be the case and if they can, why not prove it?
  Why would they? It would be in their best interests to let the algorithm work for as long as possible, no point rocking the boat, and showing the reCaptcha developers how to block it more.
  
  --
  Hmm, the humour and sarcasm seem to have been be lost on you.
7. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:23 · Score: 0
  
  why prove it? unless you're going to give me a ridiculous amount of money, my creations and discoveries will remain private. I've never understood the desire for some people to take things public.. I don't need fame or recognition.
8. Re:I guess they never heard of CAPTCHA by magarity · 2013-07-26 11:09 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, but modern CAPTCHAs are so convoluted that computers can solve them more easily than I can.
  No kidding, I wish something like kitten Captcha was more prevalent but it never seemed to catch on.
Reservation fees? by bradley13 · 2013-07-26 07:39 · Score: 2

I would think that a lot of bot reservations would go unused, at least, as soon as the newness of this wears off. How long until restaurants start charging a nonrefundable reservation fee?

--
Enjoy life! This is not a dress rehearsal.
1. Re:Reservation fees? by Maximum+Prophet · 2013-07-26 07:48 · Score: 1
  
  I would think that a lot of bot reservations would go unused, at least, as soon as the newness of this wears off. How long until restaurants start charging a nonrefundable reservation fee?
  And/or a simple wait list that gives preference for preferred customers? I.e. The restaurants should see this as an unmet need, and provide their customers a solution.
  
  --
  All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
2. Re:Reservation fees? by Nidi62 · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  I would think that a lot of bot reservations would go unused, at least, as soon as the newness of this wears off. How long until restaurants start charging a nonrefundable reservation fee?
  I would imagine, if anything, they would charge maybe $5 that would then be included as part of the payment on your bill should you end up keeping the reservation; ie. on a $50 check you would only have to pay $45. Or people can just call in and make reservations like you used to have to do.
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
3. Re:Reservation fees? by Ichijo · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  Make the reservation transferrable, and suddenly it would create a market, eliminating the shortage of reservation slots. To get a reservation, just go to eBay. Of course, if you can find it on eBay and the restaurant isn't the seller, it's a sign that the restaurant charged too little (below the market clearing rate) for the reservation in the first place.
  
  --
  Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
4. Re:Reservation fees? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:57 · Score: 0
  
  I would think that a lot of bot reservations would go unused, at least, as soon as the newness of this wears off. How long until restaurants start charging a nonrefundable reservation fee?
  That would start getting stunningly close to the old "bribe the head waiter to get a seat" scheme of the days of old. I mean, some restaurants might like that sort of exclusive reputation, but that'd quickly gun down any interest for the not-rich-or-super-connected.
  Though, if you were to rephrase that such that the reservation fee is applied to the check, making it more of a nonrefundable deposit rather than a fee, then you might have something...
5. Re:Reservation fees? by alen · 2013-07-26 07:58 · Score: 1
  
  what unmet need? they are fully booked.
  one time years ago my wife wanted to go eat at some place in NYC that cost $600 for dinner for two people after taxes, tip and whatever. i tried making reservations, but the place was booked solid for months in advance and we forgot about it after a while
6. Re:Reservation fees? by bfandreas · 2013-07-26 07:59 · Score: 2
  
  There will always be preferred customers and I suppose a lot of these reservations are made in person, face to face and way in advance.
  
  Also this is why we can't have good things. Brainless botter suspects brainless botters to be faster than him. Honestly, his behaviour is highly anti-social, egocentric and overly obnoxious. If I where running a successful restaurant I would go to great pains to avoid people like him. the likelyhood of him annoying other patrons is just too much. Do you need another jackass who photographs his food, posts it to Tubeface, starts a loud Skype conversation discussing his food and then complaining that it is not quite as warm as he'd have hoped.
  
  Remember: it is NOT against the law to filter out jerks. That is neither racism nor censorship. It is in fact good business sense. If you want to meet other people with a similarly bad behaviour go to McDonalds.
  
  Goddamn hipster.
  
  --
  20 minutes into the future
7. Re:Reservation fees? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:03 · Score: 0
  
  Alinea and Next already do that. They don't take reservations, they sell nonrefundable tickets. Though the food is the same on any given day, a ticket for a Saturday costs more than one for a Tuesday.
8. Re:Reservation fees? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:17 · Score: 0
  
  The $5 deposit sounds like a great idea, but keep in mind that, as stated in the BBC article, most restaurants only offer some of their tables for advanced reservation online, they keep the rest for walkins and other types of reservations.
  So either the SF restaurants are not doing it right, or these people have just plain forgotten how to use a phone. Either way this is not an article about hackers, it's an article about how technology has made some people forget more traditional means of getting something done.
9. Re:Reservation fees? by Maximum+Prophet · 2013-07-26 08:17 · Score: 1
  
  If people are willing to go to the trouble of creating bots to find cancelations, then it's likely there are people who will *pay* for that service. The bot runners might be selling their service, similar to ticket scalpers. On the other hand, they might be doing it just because they can.
  
  --
  All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
10. Re:Reservation fees? by whoever57 · 2013-07-26 08:49 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  some place in NYC that cost $600 for dinner for two people after taxes, tip and whatever. i tried making reservations, but the place was booked solid for months in advance
  
  Face facts. The problem wasn't that the restaurant was booked, the problem was that you are not famous.
  
  --
  The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
11. Re:Reservation fees? by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-26 10:39 · Score: 1
  
  >There will always be preferred customers and I suppose a lot of these reservations are made in person, face to face and way in advance.
  To be a preferred customer, come back a second time. All the starred restaurants have known when I've come back a second time and made a show of appearing to care about it.
  FWIW, I recommend La Toque in Napa. 1 star, deserves 2.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
12. Re:Reservation fees? by Stormalong · 2013-07-29 04:33 · Score: 1
  
  You must have been trying to get a reservation at 'Seize'. That's not even the real phone number for reservations... The real number's a secret, closely guarded by people they deem... acceptable
It's called Ticketmaster by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:40 · Score: 0

And they've been doing it since before these kids were born.
This isn't hacking by hypergreatthing · 2013-07-26 07:40 · Score: 5, Insightful

This is just a html scraper. People have had the same thing going on ebay for years. Suddenly it's hacking? Give me a break.
1. Re:This isn't hacking by SeaFox · 2013-07-26 07:50 · Score: 2
  
  Suddenly it's hacking? Give me a break.
  Haven't you heard? Nowadays using a computer to access/use something in any way the original creator doesn't like is "hacking".
2. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:50 · Score: 0
  
  There's the other casual use of hacking though - the guy that cobbles together some code to solve a problem.
  In my place of work there's such thing as a code hacker but it's a derogatory term for bad coders.
  Agree though - it'd be good if we could fix this hacked hacking term.
3. Re:This isn't hacking by harvestsun · 2013-07-26 07:51 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  But your forget that the U.S. legal system has decided that accessing publicly accessible URLs constitutes hacking. I guess the new definition of hacking is "using something in a way you weren't intended to".
4. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:53 · Score: 0
  
  Hey, man, whatever it takes to criminalize computing, you know? Once they've got it in the public consciousness that basic computing and programming is inevitably Evil(tm) and Bad(tm), we'll be right back to the horse-and-buggy times that most career politicians fondly remember as "the good old days" when they could keep the world* straight in their minds. Then, everything** will be better!
  *: For definitions of "the world" being limited to "the farm on which they grew up and maybe their neighbors".
  **: Everything in the world, at least. See previous footnote.
5. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:56 · Score: 0
  
  Haven't you heard? Nowadays using a computer to access/use something in any way the original creator doesn't like is "hacking".
  Hitting their website once a minute 24/7 might very well be illegal.
6. Re: This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:01 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, and anyone who shows just the least interest or minimal amount of knowledge in a subject are a nerd.
7. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:21 · Score: 0
  
  so if i sit here and push f5 on their website every minute, i'm breaking the law? strange.
8. Re:This isn't hacking by The+Moof · 2013-07-26 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  It was probably even easier than that. Given today's WWW climate of everything being JSON/AJAX driven, you can just query the site and have the seating information delivered ready to use.
9. Re:This isn't hacking by MightyYar · 2013-07-26 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  Suddenly it's hacking? Give me a break.
  It would be totally awesome if language stopped changing in the 1980s. Radical, dude.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
10. Re:This isn't hacking by serviscope_minor · 2013-07-26 10:51 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Nowadays using a computer
  Using an HTML scraper and an almost certainly unholy bunch of scripts to make sure you get first dibs on a restaurant reservation is certainly hacking in the old sense of the word: it's a hack.
  
  --
  SJW n. One who posts facts.
11. Re:This isn't hacking by wagnerrp · 2013-07-26 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, plus it was done using Ruby. Now if this were done in Perl, no one would have any problem calling it hacking.
12. Re:This isn't hacking by I'm+New+Around+Here · 2013-07-26 12:38 · Score: 1
  
  If you can manage to physically do that yourself, 24 hours a day for a week, I'll give you a check for a million dollars.*
  Note: Of course the check will never clear, but you'll have a great thing to grumble about in the asylum where you would end up. Sleep deprivation is a bitch.
  
  --
  If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
13. Re:This isn't hacking by I'm+New+Around+Here · 2013-07-26 12:41 · Score: 1
  
  lol
  .
  PSYCH!
  .
  
  --
  If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
14. Re:This isn't hacking by MightyYar · 2013-07-26 13:57 · Score: 1
  
  ...not!
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
15. Re:This isn't hacking by SeaFox · 2013-07-26 14:18 · Score: 1
  
  Using an HTML scraper and an almost certainly unholy bunch of scripts to make sure you get first dibs on a restaurant reservation is certainly hacking in the old sense of the word: it's a hack.
  I realize that. But that's not what the term "hacker" means anymore to the mainstream.
  Interestingly, the BBC article doesn't refer to these people as "hackers" once in it's article. It's Slashdot's summary that's sensationalist and tried to imply these people are doing something illegal with their code.
16. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 23:16 · Score: 0
  
  I know of some chemicals that can make this possible... Just too bad about the check :)
17. Re:This isn't hacking by I'm+New+Around+Here · 2013-07-27 01:57 · Score: 1
  
  I didn't say it wasn't possible. I predicted what the end result would be.
  There was at least one case I have heard of. It wasn't so nice for the guy who did it.
  
  --
  If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
18. Re:This isn't hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-30 12:06 · Score: 0
  
  I guess the new definition of hacking is "using something in a way you weren't intended to".
  Uh, I'm pretty sure that's, like, the original definition. You know?
So... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:41 · Score: 0

It has come to this.
1. Re:So... by gagol · 2013-07-26 10:14 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, no more DDOS against the powerful, now, all we want is a place in a fancy restaurant that can charges 6 time more than anyone else because they can.
  
  --
  Tomorrow is another day...
Abusing the system by Torodung · 2013-07-26 07:45 · Score: 5, Insightful

This is abuse of the reservation system, plain and simple. It simply is not robust enough (too informal) to handle bots. I suspect it soon will become commonplace to require tortuous captchas for reservations. Great job, lazy hacktivists! You've ruined e-life for everyone.
As for posting code for it in the wild so any script kiddy can do it. Good for you. That's called leveling the playing field. It's the proliferation of bots just to be shits to each other that rankles my ire, not the fact that everyone can now do it.
1. Re:Abusing the system by Thud457 · 2013-07-26 08:05 · Score: 2
  
  It's just Wall street quants doing to restaurants what they've done to the financial markets.
  
  OH FUCK, WE'RE ALL GONNA STARVE!!!
  
  --
  the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
2. Re:Abusing the system by Dachannien · 2013-07-26 08:35 · Score: 1
  
  It's just Wall street quants doing to restaurants what they've done to the financial markets.
  Heard on the floor of the NYSE in the near future:
  "Sell! SELL! SELL! Oh, great, I can never get these.... what the hell is that? Uh... UB3Q6Y? No?.... well, fuck..." (jumps out nearest window)
3. Re:Abusing the system by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:44 · Score: 0
  
  No, it is morons still living in the past and being too stupid to understand the concepts of what a computer and automation are.
  RULE: Assume for ALL of your interfaces, that their usage can and WILL be automated. No exceptions.
  And given enough computing power, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. So better deal with it, instead of bitching that you want the past back. If you really want that, go live in a cave.
4. Re:Abusing the system by gagol · 2013-07-26 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  OR LEARN TO COOK FOOD AGAIN!!!! THE PAIN!!!! Come on, if you think restaurants are good, wait till you prepare your meal yourself.
  
  --
  Tomorrow is another day...
5. Re:Abusing the system by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-26 10:42 · Score: 1
  
  In my experience, the people who appreciate the best restaurants are usually pretty good cooks themselves.
  It's a foody thing.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
6. Re:Abusing the system by gagol · 2013-07-26 12:22 · Score: 1
  
  In my experience, the more expensive the restaurant, the more smug and frenchy the maitre'd is. The rest don't change much. (up to 300$ per person, never tried anything more expensive)
  
  --
  Tomorrow is another day...
7. Re:Abusing the system by XcepticZP · 2013-07-26 22:17 · Score: 1
  
  Don't pay attention to him... he's a "pro-foodie" troll that's been trolling this article. Pretty much derailing the convo from hacking/booking/reservation into some sort of pro-food-face-stuffing hippie-fest.
8. Re:Abusing the system by TechyImmigrant · 2013-07-29 05:36 · Score: 1
  
  Thank you. We pro-foodie trolls need a forum in which to perform our trolly acts.
  
  --
  I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
Terminology by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:46 · Score: 0

This isn't a hack by any measure of the word. This is use of a service through that service's protocol. What's next, "hacking" gmail by reading your email in thunderbird or emacs? I'll give ten to one odds that this is just some new startup that claims to sell reservations to overbooked restaurants, and does it by reserving places at 4 in the morning.
CFAA by tepples · 2013-07-26 07:49 · Score: 1

Under the (U.S.) Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, any use not permitted in a site's terms of service is in effect "hacking".
1. Re:CFAA by w1zz4 · 2013-07-26 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  Well Google/Yahoo/Bing bots are always doing the exact samething unless you tell them no to do so...
self-described foodie by Gothmolly · 2013-07-26 07:49 · Score: 4, Funny

Are there foodies who are NOT self-described?

--
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
1. Re:self-described foodie by gman003 · 2013-07-26 09:40 · Score: 1
  
  You're a foodie.
  There, now there's a foodie that's not self-described. You're welcome.
2. Re:self-described foodie by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:45 · Score: 0
  
  Fat people
3. Re:self-described foodie by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 13:04 · Score: 0
  
  I wouldn't describe myself as a foodie, but I do tend to be more critical, as well as more appreciating, of fine cuisine.
4. Re:self-described foodie by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 22:38 · Score: 0
  
  Everyone knows that you don't ask molly, you ask Mikey. He always tests the food and lets us know if its good or not.
5. Re:self-described foodie by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 11:22 · Score: 0
  
  Indeed, I hear them debating the finer points of McDonald's every day.
This is why we can't have nice things by Overzeetop · 2013-07-26 07:49 · Score: 3, Interesting

Heaven forbid we should have the convenience of making a reservation online. No, it's takes a bunch of assholes to game the system and screw it up. Not that it's anything new, as online ticketing for popular events has been gamed for fun and profit by scalpers for years.
If all of my family were to suddenly die in a freak accident and I was left alone with nothing to live for, I would hunt every bot maker down and shoot them for amusement. (Oh, and happy Friday everybody!)

--
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
1. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:14 · Score: 0
  
  Heaven forbid we should have the convenience of making a reservation online. No, it's takes a bunch of assholes to game the system and screw it up. Not that it's anything new, as online ticketing for popular events has been gamed for fun and profit by scalpers for years.
  If all of my family were to suddenly die in a freak accident and I was left alone with nothing to live for, I would hunt every bot maker down and shoot them for amusement. (Oh, and happy Friday everybody!)
  Welcome to Earth.
  We call ourselves "humans".
2. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by nuckfuts · 2013-07-26 08:41 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Way to keep your response on par with your nick.
3. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:49 · Score: 0
  
  If there's more demand for reservations (or tickets) than are available at a given price, the price should go up. The reservations should be sold using an auction system.
4. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by Bucc5062 · 2013-07-26 08:49 · Score: 2
  
  Now that is a the foundation for a good movie plot. I'd go see that one. Somehow, even though you're killing off people, you still remain the protagonist with the evils one being the other bot developers. At the end you die (of course, a tragic hero's path), but save the world...for now.
  
  --
  Life is a great ride, the vehicle doesn't matter
5. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by MightyYar · 2013-07-26 09:20 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Meh, life is like that. I have to lock my bike up, my house has an alarm, that old lady got into the 12 items or less line with double that, some fuckers knocked down some buildings with airplanes, and people STILL don't wash their hands after using the bathroom.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
6. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:26 · Score: 0
  
  No, it's takes a bunch of assholes to game the system and screw it up
  Allocation of a limited resource has only two options. Luck-based (formal lottery or chance opportunity) or Price-based (cost additional money or time)
  Both systems suck. Luck allocates inefficiently, and Price allocates unfairly. You can neither improve that nor screw it up; you can only alter the Luck/Price balance.
  Oh, and tell me again how you deserve a ticket to an event just as much as the guy willing to spend additional time and money, yet the guy that can't afford the face value price does not deserve that ticket. I'd love to hear the logic that reconciles that one.
7. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by I'm+New+Around+Here · 2013-07-26 12:53 · Score: 1
  
  No, not a movie. It would have to be a show on cable. USA if there's just a hint of gore, TNT for more gore, or HBO for boobies.
  Each week we watch another group of bot makers get taken out in a manner related to their binary creations.
  And his calling card could be a poker card with a pic of a robot on the back, like the one in Windows Solitaire game.
  
  --
  If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
8. Re:This is why we can't have nice things by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 04:10 · Score: 1
  
  Allocation of a limited resource has only two options. Luck-based (formal lottery or chance opportunity) or Price-based (cost additional money or time)
  Not true. There is at least one other allocation system - rota. I.e. everyone gets a guaranteed chance to do X every Y period of time.
so the alternative is clear by nimbius · 2013-07-26 07:55 · Score: 0

learn to cook, and eat at home. not only will you avoid supporting an industry that underpays and brutalizes every employee from servers to dishwashers, but you'll avoid other ugly things like reservation wars and hepatitis. Invite friends over, turn the TV off, have a good conversation, but stop shoveling coal into this engine of human misery we call "fine dining."

--
Good people go to bed earlier.
1. Re:so the alternative is clear by Dorianny · 2013-07-26 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  I am a competent cook but for certain things such as prime grade beef, today's catch fish for sushi or certain recipes that require more time than I can spare, such as duck confit, than I have little choice but to go to a restaurant.
2. Re:so the alternative is clear by pspahn · 2013-07-26 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  Stopped by the grocery store last night to pick something up. Was delighted to find tri-tip not only available in Denver, but on sale for $4/lb (this cut of beef is usually only found in California, though, it's becoming more common elsewhere).
  Simple rub, a five minute sear on each side on the grill, and 35 minutes over indirect heat on the grill. This is not rocket surgery. With a some roasted potatoes and fresh greens and tomatoes from the garden, this was easily an $18 plate at one of the trendy little boutique restaurants that line 6th avenue here. I paid $20 for groceries and there was enough leftover that I'm going to go have a sandwich now!
  Besides all that, it's just much nicer sitting in the backyard having a nice meal than going to some douche-cafe and having to order something I don't particularly care for because "no substitutions" means they get all smug when I ask them to put their overbearing sauces on the side instead of smothering my food with it. Beef does not need 8 oz of garlic aioli on top of it to be delicious, salt and pepper will do.
  
  --
  Someone flopped a steamer in the gene pool.
Memories by TheSpoom · 2013-07-26 07:55 · Score: 1

I did this back when the Wii was initially released to get one for retail when they were going for twice that on eBay. Scraped the major retailers product pages on a cron and told me when there was stock (which usually lasted a couple of minutes). Worked pretty well.

--
It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
- E. Debs
Meh by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:57 · Score: 0

I wouldn't go to a restaurant where I could find the kind of people so obsessed to go there, that they would do something like that. :D
Impossible. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 07:58 · Score: 0

I know you will need an army of bots if you want to get into Dorsia on a Friday evening.
Ruby?? by happyhamster · 2013-07-26 08:00 · Score: 5, Funny

Pfff, my soon-to-be-released Assembly program will put his slow ruby ass to shame, thus starting HFR (high frequency reservation) era and trading in reservation futures.
1. Re:Ruby?? by whoever57 · 2013-07-26 08:52 · Score: 1
  
  Pfff, my soon-to-be-released Assembly program will put his slow ruby ass to shame, thus starting HFR (high frequency reservation) era and trading in reservation futures.
  
  He already talked about moving his sytems closer to reduce network latency.
  
  --
  The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
Robot exclusion by tepples · 2013-07-26 08:12 · Score: 2

Well Google/Yahoo/Bing bots are always doing the exact samething unless you tell them no to do so...
There's an accepted protocol to tell those and other well-behaved bots not to do so in a /robots.txt file. I doubt that reservation bots obey /robots.txt.
Can't... by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:14 · Score: 0

All the places serving sour grapes are booked up already.
Revenge of the Nerds by Alsee · 2013-07-26 08:16 · Score: 4, Funny

One of the perks of dating a geek is that we are now the only ones who are ever going to take you to the hottest restaurant in town.
Jocks need not apply.
-

--
- - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
1. Re:Revenge of the Nerds by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 12:10 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, sweetie. You'll be eating there alone.
Just make all reservations "pending approval" ... by davidwr · 2013-07-26 08:23 · Score: 1

... and give anyone who requests a slot within TIMEPERIOD of it becoming available a shot at it.
Whether you give everyone an equal shot lottery-style or give preference to select customers, to new customers, or whatever is up to you.
Bonus points if you make it easier by incorporating the waiting list into the system, or simply not advertising the vacancy if there is someone on the waiting list who is available to take the canceled reservation. After all, that's what waiting lists are for, right?

--
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
Hacking for the one percent. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 08:38 · Score: 0

I am not impressed.
Attention Non-Programmers by Bob9113 · 2013-07-26 08:40 · Score: 2

Attention Non-Programmers: This is what the future looks like. If you don't learn to make your computers obey you, if you don't take control of your information flows, you will be marginalized by the people, corporations, and governments that do.
I'm not saying it is right. I'm saying it is. As philosopher-poet Ash once observed; "Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun."

--
Stop-Prism.org: Opt Out of Surveillance
1. Re:Attention Non-Programmers by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 10:36 · Score: 0
  
  the non-programmers will just use someone's service with a mobile app UI. sure, they'll be paying $5 to get a reservation that would've been free, but they won't care or know better.
2. Re:Attention Non-Programmers by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 17:03 · Score: 0
  
  Attention Non-Programmers: This is what the future looks like. If you don't learn to make your computers obey you, if you don't take control of your information flows, you will be marginalized by the people, corporations, and governments that do.
  I'm not saying it is right. I'm saying it is. As philosopher-poet Ash once observed; "Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun."
  Attention, dude who wrote the above, the guy who knows the owner of the restaurant will still get ahead of you in line. Also, he's the one driving the expensive car and dating the expensive women.
HFT by dcollins · 2013-07-26 08:42 · Score: 1

High Frequency Tables.
Getting a direct fiber-optic link to the restaurant's web server could improve on this.

--
We know where leadership by an anti-intellectual "strongman" who scapegoats minorities and likes boisterous rallies goes
1. Re:HFT by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 10:43 · Score: 0
  
  I heard microwave had lower latency than fiber.
2. Re:HFT by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 16:39 · Score: 0
  
  Then they're idiots, use better transceivers.
Smells like an advertisement. by ZombieBraintrust · 2013-07-26 08:43 · Score: 1

I suspect that this is just paid for advertisement for the diner in question. It conveys that the diner is in demand, the diners locations, and that it has resverations.
Something about this story by Mycroft_514 · 2013-07-26 08:45 · Score: 1

just doesn't taste right to me....
1. Re:Something about this story by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 11:47 · Score: 0
  
  just doesn't taste right to me....
  You've been served.
Now publish another bit of code by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 09:28 · Score: 0

A simple function in whatever language the reservations system uses. The function takes all the reservations requested within a five minute period and picks one at random. That ends the arms reservation-bot arms race, at the expense of requiring normal people to wait five minutes to find out if they got a reservation. Thanks for the hassle, douchebags.
1. Re:Now publish another bit of code by kasperd · 2013-07-27 09:41 · Score: 1
  
  The function takes all the reservations requested within a five minute period and picks one at random. That ends the arms reservation-bot arms race
  No, that doesn't end the arms race. It just changes it into a different arms race. It will no longer be about getting there first but rather about putting in the largest number of reservations within a five minute window.
  
  --
  
  Do you care about the security of your wireless mouse?
NO A2M! by Zynder · 2013-07-26 10:44 · Score: 1

DO NOT put blowjobs and shit in the same sentence. To quote a great philosopher of our time: "You never go ass to mouth." -Dante Hicks.
1. Re:NO A2M! by pakar · 2013-07-26 22:53 · Score: 1
  
  Then don't watch http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1467304/ or http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1530509/ :)
2. Re:NO A2M! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 00:10 · Score: 0
  
  THAT's what you objected to? Not... you know... that it might be served on your pizza??
  Also, if the ass is thoroughly cleaned and I'm in a animalistic mood, I *like* going ass-to-mouth, and "destroy" both holes. The dirtier and sloppier, the better. Actively and passively. And I'm not even gay. (I tried, and can't stand guy faces, let alone kisses.) I just like girls with strap-ons and fists and feet to all put in all my whoreholes. ;)
  Everybody gets there some time. It only depends on how free he is, how quickly he'll be there. Some just go too slow and die before they do. I don't think you have really lived, unless you at least let yourself fully go, no matter what.
If it was from the 50's by publiclurker · 2013-07-26 11:44 · Score: 1

Then a computer den would be much larger than a living room just to hold the computer.
Sounds like an ad. by Animats · 2013-07-26 17:51 · Score: 1

This sounds like an ad. Right now, you can't get a reservation there because they're "closing for remodeling" on August 12th.
If you want garlic quail (State Bird Provisions' big dish) in SF, try Manora's Thai Cuisine at 12th and Folsom.
1. Re:Sounds like an ad. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 00:18 · Score: 0
  
  It's not an ad, people who know how to program actually do things like this (I did it to get into Momofuku Ko four years ago) and SBP is jammed packed all the time so they don't need advertising. SBP's quail is deep fried and horribly overcooked, however. The rest of the food when I went was very good.
2. Re:Sounds like an ad. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 04:47 · Score: 0
  
  What sort of fucking useless food is a quail anyhow? Not enough meat to be bothered with.
With spam! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-26 20:00 · Score: 0

Spam, spam, spam, spam, etc......
Bloody Vikings!
(They must be from NASA)
other uses? by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-27 03:15 · Score: 0

you know, what humans basically need is food and ... love : )
Dorsia by Anonymous Coward · 2013-07-31 03:14 · Score: 0

Maybe now I can get reservations at Dorsia.