/**
 *  call-seq:
 *  new(host, port, socket, user, password, retrytime, tries)
 *
 *  Initiates a connection to "host" on "port" or to the unix "socket" on
 *  the local machine and authenticates with "user" and "password".  Failed
 *  connections will be retried for "tries" times on interval "retrytime".
 *  If "tries" is 0 then retries will continue forever.  If "retrytime" is 0
 *  then retries will be attempted on a default interval.
 *  If the "socket" parameter is nether nil nor "" then an attempt will be
 *  made to connect through it before attempting to connect to "host" on
 *  "port".  If it is nil or "" then no attempt will be made to connect
 *  through the socket.*/
static VALUE sqlrcon_new(VALUE self, VALUE host, VALUE port, VALUE socket,
                                VALUE user, VALUE password, 
                                VALUE retrytime, VALUE tries) {