$ echo $BASH_VERSION 4.3.0(1)-release $ uname -a Linux bomb20 3.5.0-51-generic #76-Ubuntu SMP Thu May 15 21:19:10 UTC 2014 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux $ alias sleep_alias=sleep $ sleep_function() { sleep "$@" ; } $ sleep_alias 100 ^Z [1]+ Stopped sleep 100 $ sleep_function 200 ^Z [2]+ Stopped sleep "$@" $ bg [2]+ sleep "$@" & $ sleep_alias 300 & [3] 20825 $ sleep_function 400 & [4] 20826 $ jobs [1]+ Stopped sleep 100 [2] Running sleep "$@" & [3] Running sleep 300 & [4]- Running sleep_function 400 & $ echo "Contact: Keith.S.Thompson@gmail.com" > /dev/null $