sub suck {
   # read any message from the LCDd,
   # discard listen / ignore messages and return
   # value indicating a successful or failed operation


   my $sock=shift;
   my $answer="";
   my $sucking = 1;

   my $retval;
   while($sucking) {
      my $message = $sock->getline();
      chomp ($message);
      if ( index($message,"listen") >=0 ) { debug ("Discarded listen message ($message)");}
      elsif ( index($message,"ignore") >=0 ) { debug ("Discarded ignore message ($message)");}
      elsif ( index($message,"connect") >=0 ) { debug ("successfully registered as a client ($message)"); $retval = 1; $sucking = 0;}
      elsif ( index($message,"huh?") >=0 ) { debug("error ($message)"); $retval = $message; $sucking = 0;}
      elsif ( index($message,"success") >=0 ) { debug("success"); $retval = 1; $sucking = 0;}
   }

   return $retval
}