reading without process blocking.

This may have come up before.  This blocks all my processes when running as
a thread under windows.  Am I stuck just using Linux (which the program
actually runs under) or is there another way?  I can live with just using
linux, but it is a pain, and I wanted to keep this program multi-platform?

I've tried using gets as well, but it behaves the same way. 

Thanks,

Mark




def run
  puts "-Starting Konsole Thread"
  while true
   sleep(4)
   puts "-Konsole Crappy Mode Working"
   happy = IO.select ([$stdin],nil,nil,.1) 
   if happy != nil then
    happy = STDIN.getc
    puts happy
    case happy
       when 105
        qwkimport
        puts "here I am, after qwk"
      end
    end
  end 
 end

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