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This is a special software update 2.3 edition of Frequently Asked Kindle Questions.
Q. What is the software update 2.3?
A. Amazon sends out software updates from time to time for the Kindle. This is an update that was made available November 24, 2009.
Q. What does it do?
A. That depends on which Kindle you have:
- Longer battery life when using Whispernet
- Native PDF (and option to convert)
- Manual screen rotation
- Words per line adjustment
- Native PDF (and option to convert)
- Manual screen rotation
- Words per line adjustment
- Better "cropping" (reducing the outer edge white space) for pdfs
- Converting a pdf is now possible
- Auto-time out to go to sleep mode extended to twenty minutes from five minutes
- Unaffected by this update
All affected Kindles
- New sleep mode pictures
- Minor other changes, like a splash screen that says "opening"
Q. How do I know if I have it?
A. You can always check your software version by going to Home-Menu-Settings, and look in your right corner of the device. If it starts with anything besides 2.3, you haven't gotten it yet.
Q. Are there disadvantages in getting it?
A. The only thing I've heard is the Kindle running more slowly, but that has not been widely reported
Q. Will I get it automatically?
A. If you have Whispernet connection, eventually.
Q. Can I get it manually?
A. Yes. Go here. You'll find the appropriate file for your Kindle, and instructions.
Q. What might I do wrong installing it?
A. Make sure you pick the right file for your device. It's not good to try and install the wrong version. Make sure you put the file in the "root" directory of your Kindle. That means you just put it on the Kindle, not into one of the folders.
Q. I've installed a hack…do I need to remove it first?
A. Yes. The "hacks" that are out there (unauthorized modifications of the Kindle software…one popular one changes the fonts and another allows for personal sleep mode pictures on Kindles other than the Kindle 1) will block updates. I do not recommend using them, because the violate your Amazon Kindle Terms of Service. For more information, see this earlier post.
Q. How does it extend my battery life?
A. Currently, this is apparently only true for the Kindle 2 international. What it does is manage the battery use better when using the Whispernet. It supposedly has no impact when the Whispernet is not used. This leads me to speculate that it limits its attempts to contact the network (which is part of what uses the battery). It would attempt to connect when told to do that by you, but may not do so as much as it was doing before.
Q. Will that make it harder to connect to the internet?
A. This is only speculation, but it may make take a bit more time. Once connected, it should be the same.
Q. How much will it extend the battery?
A. Battery use is affected by a number of factors, including temperature. With the Whispernet on, Amazon now says it is "up to seven days". The "up to two weeks" life without using the Whispernet remains the same.
Q. What does "native pdf" mean?
A. Portable Document Format (pdf) is a popular type of file from Adobe. Native reading means that the device (the Kindle 2 and Kindle 2 international) will be able to read the file without having it converted to another format.
Q. Does mean that reading a pdf on a Kindle 2 international will be the same as reading it on a computer?
A. Not exactly, but it will be pretty close.
Q. What will be different?
A. The most obvious thing is screen size. A six inch diagonal screen is pretty small for most pdfs. You also won't be able to select text, and a really complicated pdf may not look right (but most will look okay).
Q. How do I put the pdf on my Kindle?
A. You'll attach the Kindle to your computer using the incuded pdf cable. You'll put the pdf into your Kindle's documents folder. For details, see this earlier post.
Q. Can I e-mail it to my Kindle?
A. Yes. If you e-mail it directly to the Kindle, you'll be charged fifteen cents a megabyte rounded up in the US, and ninety-nine cents a megabyte rounded up for US customers outside the US. See that previous post for information.
Q. What is the conversion option?
A. Before this update, the Kindle 2 and Kindle 2 International could have the file converted by Amazon. The Kindle DX could not have a pdf converted by Amazon. Now, all three devices have the option to have the document read natively, or converted to AZW (the main Amazon Kindle format).
Q. Why would I convert it?
A. A native pdf is treated pretty much like an image file. This limits what you can do with it. You can't add notes or highlights, you can't search, you can't use the dictionary, you can't increase the text size, and you can't use text-to-speech.
Q. Why wouldn't I convert it?
A. Tables and columns will look better in an unconverted pdf. You'll also get page numbers.
Q. How do I convert it?
A. When you e-mail it (either directly to your Kindle or to your free Kinde address), put
in the subject line.
Q. I heard there was a probem with the conversions not happening.
A. There was initially. It's working now.
Q. After I convert it, how do I find it?
A. It will say "pdf" to your left on the homescreen. Some people are saying it does not appear at the top of the homescreen when first entered. If this happens to you, try Home-flick up-flick left. Change the filter to "Personal Documents". You'll probably be able to find it then…open it. Change the filter back to All Items. It should be at the top.
Q. What about the manual rotation?
A. The Kindle DX has been able to change the way the screen display from "portrait" (taller than it is wide) to "landscape" (wider than it is tall). This can help with reading smaller text. It was able to do it with an inclinometer: it could sense when the Kindle was turned on its side. With the update, the Kindle 2 and Kindle 2i can also do this. Hit the Aa key: you'll see options. You can display the image four different ways. Notice that the display will stay this way until you change it: if you go back to the homescreen when it is landscape, it will stay landscape. The 5-way controller will react properly, but the menus may be sideways to your current orientation.
Q. What does "words per line" do?
A. When you hit Aa in a text document (not an unconverted pdf), you'll get the option to change the margins. You can leave it at default, make it lower, or lowest. How many words you get will depend on your text size setting. This is similar to a feature in the Kindle for PC app. If you choose fewer words per line, the margins will get bigger, and therefore fewer words will fit.
Q. Was the User's Guide updated reflect these changes?
A. Yes. It should be in your archives, or you can read it online (and download it, if you like) here.
Q. Where can I get more information?
A. Amazon has created a help page here.
If you have additional questions or things you found, feel free to let me know.
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.


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MYE Integrated Wireless TV Audio Receivers for Cybex, Life Fitness, Matrix, Octane and Star Trac cardio machines.
MYE Club TV Audio Receiver technology is featured in the world's leading cardio equipment including Cybex, Life Fitness, Matrix, Octane and Star Trac. Cardio machines with integrated MYE wireless receiver technology provide audio from any ceiling or wall mounted TV connected to 900Mhz or 800Mhz transmitters. Users simply plug in their headphones, select the desired TV from the cardio console and enjoy the audio from their favorite programs. Cardio machines with integrated MYE wireless receivers are universally compatible with all TV transmitter brands including MYE, Cardio Theater, BroadcastVision and Audeon. MYE also offers the best-selling attachable Eclipse Series TV Audio Receiver for legacy cardio equipment.
MYE Club TV Systems is the leading provider of entertainment products for commercial cardio machines including Wireless TV Audio Receivers, Transmitters and 15.6-inch wide LCD TVs with iPod docking station.
Booth No. 1224
This company is an exhibitor at The Club Industry Show and an advertiser in the September 2012 issue of Club Industry.

subset: commoncrawl


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A cloud computing service provider has claimed an agreement with a central government working group to make it the first supplier in the field to deal with government as a single customer.
Huddle said it has developed common terms and conditions and a pricing model for all of its business with government in agreement with a group initiated by the Cabinet Office and led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It said the agreement applies to any organisation in central and local government and the NHS.
Alistair Mitchell, chief executive officer of Huddle, said the move had been originally prompted by the government's deputy chief information officer, Bill McCluggage, in an effort to promote the development of the G Cloud and the practice of government acting as a single customer to obtain savings. Defra subsequently took the lead in the negotiations with the firm, as it was its biggest customer in Whitehall.
"We jointly identified £287m in cost savings on the IT business by switching from on-premises to the cloud and driving a collaborative services platform," Mitchell said. "They want to use Huddle as a template."
He said details will be available on the Buying Solutions website, but added that the firm provides specific services for government around reporting and support. He also likened the agreement to the memoranda of understanding between the Cabinet Office and a number of major IT suppliers – although he described it "an agreed principle of working across government".
The Cabinet Office declined to comment on the agreement, but a spokeswoman said of its work in developing the use of cloud computing: "The government is progressing work on cloud computing. The foundation delivery partners are forging ahead and we fully expect to deliver the actions related to cloud computing in the ICT strategy."
Mitchell said the company's services are used by two-thirds of central government departments, and that most are already moving over to the new arrangements before the expiry of their existing contracts.
This article was originally published at Guardian Government Computing.
Guardian Government Computing is a business division of Guardian Professional, and covers the latest news and analysis of public sector technology. For updates on public sector IT, join the Government Computing Network here.
Sponsored: Webcast: Simplify data protection on AWS


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Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood Collector's Edition Game
Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood is the sequel to the smash hit Enigmatis: The Ghost of Maple Creek. It is a detective story rich with horror, plot twists, and shadowy intrigue. A year has passed since the events of Maple Creek. But for the past few months, our detective has been hot on the trail of the demonic preacher she fought one year ago. Yet he has managed to always stay one step ahead. She hoped to bring an end to the chase in the redwood forests of Northern California. But like so many times before, the trail went cold... Then she encountered an abandoned camper in the middle of the highway. Enormous claw marks scored the roof and the lost family's personal belongings were scattered everywhere. All signs pointed to the scene being fresh. And all clues led into nearby Ravenwood Park... This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector's Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card! The Collector's Edition includes: [1284]
Enigmatis: The Mists of Ravenwood Collector's Edition full game features:
- 36 achievements to unlock
- Music tracks, wallpapers and concept art
- 30 collectibles butterflies to find
- Witness the origins in the bonus game
Free Download (841 MB)
CPU: 2.0 GHz
- Quality tested and virus.
- No ads, adware, spyware.
Tell us what you're thinking...


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This Blog focuses on Ancestor Stories, both the stories themselves about my family's ancestors and discussions of where they come from and how to prepare and share them. These stories may be non-fiction or fiction – we will always tell which is which, of course. Also see my KINNICK blog and The HOMEPLACE Series Blog, left sidebar, scroll down.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Jan 1958 School Dedication
I'll speak to this program in a future My Hometown on Monday post, and link to here.
Families are Forever! ;-)
2 comments:
I love how the word "enrolment" is spelled! How interesting to see the total spent on the various categories!ReplyDelete
I started school the fall of 1957 so I was in the first kindergarten class in this building. I still remember it well. Kindergarten and first grade had a hall with their own playground. Then you got to go up the stairs to second grade and work your way around the class rooms that were around the perimeter of the multipurpose room. I had several of the teachers that are listed on the program.ReplyDelete


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Domina TeensFavorites [+]
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Running Time: 161 minutes
Released: 09/2018
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Description: Bossy teens love to humiliate guys!
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They are innocent schoolgirls ranging in age from 14 to 22. Under normal circumstances they should be learning, laughing, and playing. Unfortunately, the year is 1942 and the place is Nazi-occupied Poland. Nothing is normal. On the night of August 11, dressed only in cotton nightgowns, they await their fate at the hands of their Nazi captors. They are no match for the Nazi beast—or are they?
"It wasn't my choice to write this story…it was my responsibility." ~ Rhonda Fink-Whitman is a veteran TV and radio personality as well as an award-winning screenwriter, longtime Jewish educator, Holocaust education advocate, and the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. 94 Maidens is her first novel. Last summer, she published her second novel, a romantic comedy, Mrs. Graceland.
Rhonda is the director, producer, and host of The Mandate Video on YouTube which helped convince Pennsylvania legislators to enact a law requiring Holocaust and Genocide education in all public, charter, and cyber schools in the state. Rhonda was present as her governor signed the bill into law on June 26, 2014, historically changing the landscape of education in her home state of Pennsylvania.
Rhonda's work in PA paved the way for other states to mandate Holocaust and genocide education.
Tired hands shook vigorously as arthritically deformed fingers struggled to break a gelatin-coated capsule over a glass of water, releasing a white powder into the clear elixir.


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Breast Cancer Awareness – There's an App for That
Breast Cancer is a very serious issue. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is also the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of death among women.
A good way to keep track of your breast health is by doing self-breast exams regularly. This will help you to notice any unusual changes, such as lumps or thickening, that occur. Regular exams also help you to recognize what is normal for your breasts.
Not surprisingly, and as with almost everything else now, there is also an app for that. Yes, there is an app to remind you to do regular self-exams of your breasts. This app takes a much lighter spin on this serious issue. However it is a spin that I'm sure most women will enjoy. I have to admit that I will be downloading this app and will be greatly looking forward to my exams.
Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.


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Fluid handling seals
Sealing solutions for fluid handling application may need to operate in contact with various types of fluids or slurries, some of which require stringent regulatory compliance. SKF's offering includes metal spring loaded seals and metal encased PTFE seals. These seals meet industry demands, such as of the oil and gas industry or the food and beverage industry which requires FDA approved materials.


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It was impressive when Robert Bowling, creative strategist for Call of Duty studio Infinity Ward, paid $500 for a batch of indie games that only cost $85. Then Notch, maker of Minecraft stepped up, with $2000.
These guys and a few others are paying lots of money for the Humble Indie Bundle 2, which went on sale yesterday. The bundle is the second offering of indie games being offered to gamers for any price they want to pay. People can name their price and direct their payment in different proportions to the games' developers and various charities.
The games in the second bundle are: Braid, Machinarium, Osmos, Cortex Command and Revenge of the Titans (pictured up top).
Bowling and Notch paid a whole lot more than the ordinary gamer, who are spending a little over $7 on average for the bundle, as of the writing of this post.
Humble Indie Bundle sales stats [Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]


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CANTON, OH -- Citing membership loss and the down economy, the Canton Jewish Community Center (JCC) plans to close its physical education wing, which includes a fitness center and a gymnasium, on Dec. 31.
The JCC closed its swimming pool in August, a move which accelerated membership loss, officials told the Cleveland Jewish News. The JCC currently has about 650 members.
Since the physical education wing will close at the end of the membership year, the JCC does not plan to offer refunds. JCC officials are negotiating with the YMCA about providing access to former JCC members.
"The economy has pushed this forward," Ed Buxbaum, CEO of the Canton Jewish Community Federation and Canton JCC, told the newspaper.
Moving forward, the JCC will no longer be a membership-based organization, he said.


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|Charles Wang indicating the number of people
who are sad to leave Nassau Coliseum.
Islanders owner Charles Wang held a press conference to announce the move to Brooklyn to those who don't have Twitter accounts. I wasn't there, but thanks to some friends in the media business, I obtained a copy of Charles Wang's notes from the presser, and I'm here to share them with you.


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Measles is on the rise in Canada. There have already been many cases in 2014: in PEI, London, Ottawa, southern Alberta, Regina, Qu'Apelle, Calgary, Fraser Valley (320 cases), Hamilton, Halton, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Waterloo, Nanaimo and other locations. Eleven cases in Ontario this year alone. Nine in Alberta.
That ancient, deadly foe we recently believed we had conquered, is coming back. And it's going to kill children again, this time with the complicity of their parents.
Fifty years ago, science found the cure and made a vaccine for it. In 2000, the United States optimistically declared ongoing measles transmission had been eliminated. But it's come back.
So have mumps and whooping cough – both easily and safely prevent by vaccinations. Both are deadly threats to children again.
Who's to blame? And why is this happening? Why are people putting children at such risk?
It's because of the anti-vaccination movement, a cult of pseudoscience, anti-medicine sentiments, gullibility, fear, superstition and mostly quackery promoted by witless and devious celebrities and greedy marketers, then spread on the internet to people who jump on every passing bandwagon. Parents who get their medical advice from unreliable online sources – mostly lies, rumour, gossip and unfounded allegation, like all conspiracy theories – or from quacks, not doctors.*
Health Link Alberta tells us how easily measles can spread:
Close contact with an infected person is not necessary to catch measles.
It is an extremely contagious airborne disease that can spread by coughing and sneezing, and through air currents.
Although there is no specific treatment or cure for measles, it can be prevented through immunization.
The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunization program in Alberta.
Children should receive their first MMR dose at 12 months and the second between the ages of four and six years. Both doses are required to be fully protected.
The anti-vaxxers are creating a public health disaster. Rather ironically, North American parents have that in common with the Taliban:
In Pakistan, polio remains an epidemic because the Taliban has banned aid workers from vaccinating children. They say they fear that vaccination efforts are simply a ruse meant to disguise espionage. Health workers attempting to distribute vaccines there have been attacked and killed. A total of 101 polio cases have been reported in the country as of mid-November, and another 240,000 children have not been vaccinated.
Continue reading "The dangerous idiocy of the anti-vax movement"


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The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) wants to replace an "ageing" phone system with IP telephony, according to a request for tender posted Tuesday.
The Council said its existing PBX telephony system in Canberra and Melbourne is more than 20 years old. The Council has 220 staff in Canberra and 25 staff in Melbourne. The government body's data centre is in Canberra.
The new IP telephony system should include a fully managed service and teleconferencing, the Council said. It should be expandable to support video conferencing and unified communications in the future, it said.
"NHMRC's proposed PBX replacement solution will be a 'user centric' Managed Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony system that will provide a platform for potential future business efficiencies," the Council said.
"The solution must be compatible with NHMRC's existing IT Infrastructure and scalable to allow for other multimedia sessions on the data network, including video conferencing in the future."
Landline voice communications between the Council's Canberra and Melbourne offices, and to other places in either city, should use the existing data network, not the existing ISDN network, it said.
"All other voice calls, including calls to mobiles from a landline, would still use the existing ISDN network.
"In the event the data network fails, the solution must fail over to the ISDN network, adding a level of redundancy for the Canberra and Melbourne offices."
The Council has proposed a contract with an initial three-year term, with an option to extend for an additional two terms of one year each. The Council said other Australian Commonwealth agencies may want to opt in for some or all of the services during the life of the contract.
"The preferred tenderer will be required to provide the services to these other agencies on the same terms and conditions, including prices (where relevant), as those specified in the contract.
"NHMRC does not make any guarantees or assurances that any additional Australian Government agencies will require any services or any volume of services during the term of the contract."
Tenders are due by 3 January at 11 am AEST.
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia


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Ball - 1.5 inch Styrofoam 12pk- White{tag_attributesxx}SKU: FC-BA01.5-12$3.72$4.55
Shopping cart is empty.Description Return Policy
White or Green Styrofoam™ Brand Foam balls are an essential base for all craft and floral projects.These basic forms can be decorated with acrylic or latex paint, wrapped, carved, glued or decorated in ways only limited by the imagination.
Styrofoam balls from 1" to 12" at discount prices and bulk prices. Sizes measured in diameter.
Colors Available: White and Green.Standard Size Range: 1" to 12" - Larger Sizes up to 48" available by request.
Return Policy
Thecraftplace.com guarantees that all products sold are of the finest quality and free from defects. If there is a defect with a product you have ordered, it can be returned within 15 days and a new item will be sent to you. If after inspection of your order, you no longer want an item, you may return it to us (at your expense) for a refund or replacement as long as it is within 15 days of the shipment date. The product must arrive back to us unused and in the original wrapping or container.
Merchandise should not be returned without prior approval. To notify us of a return, send email to email@example.com.
Credit will be given for the original purchase price less a restocking fee for any shipping charges originally paid in excess of standard shipping (unless the order was defective or an incorrect item was shipped). Shipping and handling charges are non-refundable.
All returns must be accompanied by the original packing slip. After a returned item has been received, it will take between 2 and 3 weeks to process. Refunds will appear on your credit card billing statement.
Custom Tab{}


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Classes are currently being taught online. All physical facilities are closed to the public at this time and employees are working remotely.Please visit
dcccd.edu/coronavirus for additional information and to
find contact information for various departments.If you need additional assistance, please visit
My Community Services and our
Community Employment Resources.
Following are examples of the kinds of information you might receive if you subscribe to a particular eList category:Academic advisement - When is registration? What are registration hours? When is early advisement? What degree plans are available? What courses are available? What new programs are available? What is self-advisement? Who is eligible? Which courses transfer to another institution?
Athletics - What sports are available? Who can play? How do I sign up for sports? What are the game schedules?Band - What opportunities are available? What is the schedule of performances?Career planning and advisement - What kinds of career assessment and counseling are available? How do I get a job? How can I improve my resume writing and interviewing techniques? How do I keep a job? Where can I get help in selecting a career and developing a career path?Child care - Is child care available through Dallas County Community College District? How do I find the best child care? Are there any special services for single parents? Are there any discount programs for child care?Choir - What programs are available? Who can participate? How do I sign up? What are the concert schedules?College newspaper - How do I subscribe to the online version? How do I get a job with the newspaper?College special events - What's happening on campus? Where can I get a comprehensive schedule of this semester's special events and reminders throughout the semester?Dance, Drill team, Cheerleading - How do I participate? What is the schedule of events?Disability services - What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? How do I get special modifications or accommodations? When and where are disability awareness events?Distance learning courses - What kinds of distance learning programs are available? What courses are available? Who is the best candidate for distance learning? What does it take to be successful in a distance learning program?Drama/Theater - What opportunities are available? What is the schedule of performances?Employment assistance - Where can I get help in finding a job right now? What job openings are available?Financial aid - What scholarships, grants and loans are available? What work/study programs are available? Where can I get tips and advice on filling out the FAFSA?
Health services - Where is the Health Center? What services does it provide? What is the wellness program? Where can I get information on immunizations, substance abuse and health-related events and activities?Honors programs - What is the Honors program? Who can participate? What benefits do honors classes provide? What is the difference between scheduled honors courses and honors options? Where can I get updates on honors programs?International/Study abroad - What programs are available for international students? What study abroad courses are offered?Library research skills - I want to make an "A" on my next research paper. Where can I get instruction and tips on how to use DCCC's library resources?
Math skills - What workshops, tutoring, tools and developmental classes do you have to help me improve my math skills?Reading skills- What workshops, tutoring, tools and developmental classes do you have to help me improve my reading skills?Returning adults - I've been out of school for more than one year. Where can I learn about tips, tools and events that will help ease me back into the swing of things?Service Learning opportunities - Service Learning looks good on your resume, but more importantly, it helps humankind. Where can I learn about programs that give me credit for volunteer experience? Stress management - Where can I learn how to manage multiple responsibilities and roles without getting "stressed out?" What tips and tools are available to teach me how to relax in a stress-filled world? What stress management programs are offered?Student clubs/Programs/Campus life - When and where can I hear special speakers, see live performances or participate in a club or organization with like-minded people? Student health insurance - What information is available about student health insurance?Tutoring - When and where is tutoring offered? How much does it cost? (Most DCCC tutoring is free, but you can hire a private tutor for a small cost.) Where is the Learning Center, and what services does it offer?Volunteer opportunities - What volunteer opportunities at the college and in the community can I participate in that will give me valuable exposure to careers I am considering?Writing skills - What workshops, tutoring, tools and developmental classes do you have to help me improve my writing skills?


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What's in your bag, Tom Odell?
The British singer-songwriter's new album Jubilee Road sounds like the soundtrack to a winter's walk through London – mostly romantic, occasionally a little bit bleak. Currently touring Europe, the 28-year-old musician will be playing three gigs in Germany. Lufthansa Magazin took a peek inside his case at Tegel Airport in Berlin.
The sound of Tom Odell
"Another Love"


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4 Photoshop Actions for the Price of One! These 4 Photoshop actions are jam packed with style, giving you the creative freedom to change any photograph into something amazing, in just a single click!
These four actions give you some instant POW to your Photos. Whether you want a sleek and stylish "Prime Yellow", or a dark and artistic "Dark Red", this action pack is for you! Looking for a soft and angelic look? Golden White is just perfect! And last, if you want that cold and techy look, Shimmering Blue might just be your thing! All in the simple click of a mouse button! Check out the preview images for higher res versions.
Overview:Import the action, and get creative with one click!
- Works on any photo! Portrait, full body, and more!
- Adds basic skin smoothing and sharpening!
- Creates automatic focus in your image!
- Adds noise, colour correction, blur, levels correction, lighting correction, and more!!
- 4 distinct styles to choose from, all fully automated!
- Includes simple help file, with a few tips!
Photos in preview by Kristina Vassilieva – http://www.kvmedia.co.uk


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Pet dragons for sale!
How's your memory? You gotta love memories about those happy moments when
you finally learned how to ride a bike or those bittersweet high school "firsts."
And don't forget the Great Depression and those wacky World Wars. Or was that
a history lesson? It's hard to remember…after all, I'm 120 years old, yessir.
So don't even get me started on how I feel about the Hoover administration,
Point being, how well can we trust our time-sweetened remembrances?
Ashley Riot has memories, too, depressing memories of the brutal slaying of his wife and child. Those memories burned. Ashley deadened himself to the pain, casting his life aside to become an elite soldier – a Riskkeeper.
But now, his memories are going to catch up with him. Political powers and evil forces of magic are preparing for battle in the dark halls of Lea Monde. Therein, Ashley Riot must face the truth.
Vagrant Story is a fusion of action, role-playing and storytelling
brimming with a maturity and depth yet unseen in a Playstation RPG. Taken together,
this is a one of a kind single player experience.
Of the many features employed to tell the story (including a rich musical score imbued with environmental noises), the one that strikes me most is the implementation of the age-old speech bubble. It's amazing what a simple pointer to a moving mouth does to a character's speech. The presence of the bubbles works so well that the lack of voice acting is hardly bothersome.
Speech bubbles would be nothing without the words to fill them, and the level
of writing is flat out impressive. A medieval tongue is used gracefully without
falling into the trap of becoming overplayed. The words simply embody and hold
together the different elements of the game. Props to the writers.
Graphically, the use of real time polygons is stunning, with intricately detailed
characters and a smoothly running game engine. Also striking is how well the
characters emote. Rather than overblowing its graphical horn (as many a Squaresoft
game does), the beauty of this game can be found in the little things – a subtle
smirk, a cast down gaze, a bloodied tirade. Though the game looks great on the
PSX, I want to see this game on the Bleemcast…
Despite not having the traditional auspices of an RPG, there's still a sense
that Vagrant Story is turn based, as if a timing mechanism was happening
underfoot. When Ashley makes an attack, a list of your opponent's body regions
comes up. For example, if you choose to attack the legs, you'll eventually be
able to limit your opponent's ability to move. Your initial attacks can then
lead into combinations.
At the very core of the combination is the 'alert' system. An exclamation
mark appears when your weapon strikes your opponent. At that precise moment,
you hit a button, and then another, and another, and so on. It's like Squall's
Gunblade attack from Final Fantasy 8.
attacks can become oddly detaching as you find yourself tapping to the beat.
Yet at the same time, you become really attuned to the game. In this sense,
Vagrant Story's combat bears similarity to music games like Bust-A-Groove.
Did I mention originality?
So, what if you decide to just endlessly chain your opponent? That's where
the 'Risk' meter comes into play. The longer you chain, the higher you aggravate
your risks. You become weaker and more vulnerable. It's a great "checks-and-balance"
feature, if you remember to stop trying for those 20+ chains.
In the workshop areas, Ashley can combine weapon parts to create stronger,
more powerful weapons. You can modify your weapons for statistical advantages
over the different classes of enemies. The right combinations yield some truly
bad-assed weaponry, like a Grim Reaper-esque scythe.
Offensive magic tends to be an underutilized resource. The MP cost-to-use (getting
into economics here, folks) is not good, making physical attacks the smarter
choice. And it does get annoying when a seemingly large number of enemies are
endowed with magic that can instantly kill Ashley.
There's a whole wad of dungeons to explore. The 3D mapping feature works well, though I would have liked an 'unopened treasure chest' indicator for the visited rooms. While the game will take most between 20-30 hours to beat, you can go back in with all your resources and the ability to check out previously locked areas after completing it once.
Vagrant Story is a full bodied single player experience built upon
the seemingly simple game of "Simon." After all, it's still just the gunblade
attack wearing a new dress. But what a pretty dress it is – curvy customizations,
tight chain attacks, and sparkly exploration. Despite its somewhat limited action
elements, Vagrant Story presents a unique RPG with terrific storytelling.
And how about them bubbles!


text: First powder test. Nandrolone Decanoate raw very chunky and kind of like slushy, oily, coconut chunks. It is supposed to be light orange at first and then green when you put the blacklight on it. This is in test vial B. I could do another test in Test vial A which would give a yellow green color. But I will do the melting point test before I waste another test vial. Here are the results. Looks good. The blue light made it look blue but I did see some green in the lighter areas. It looks good to me. Deca G2G.


text:
Very few people comment on the tremendous waste built into our lifestyle, governance and culture. Consider food. Having been raised in a simpler time by people whose childhood memories were of the Great Depression, wasting food remains tantamount to a sin.
Have you observed how many people (adults and their kids) treat food today? As something of so little value that it can shoveled into the garbage while still warm. This still makes my blood boil--not because of memories of hunger or want, but from the awareness of how hard it is to nurture and harvest the foods we eat. It is not effortless, or free.
The level of waste in every sector and every level of our society is staggering. Like everything else we've addressed in "Disconnect from Reality" Week, this truth has been obscured by habit and cultural blindness. Thus we accept as "normal" that vehicles get 20 miles per gallon of gasoline rather than 30, 45 or even 90 m.p.g.--as if petroleum, like food, water and employment, is limitless.
If you think that level of fuel efficiency is farfetched, then please read the Rocky Mountain Institute's The Hypercar® Concept about a standard-looking car which achieves 3 to 5-fold increase in fuel efficiency through lightweight materials and other technologies.
The RMI site is a revelation, from its slogan--"Abundance by Design"--to its many practical alternatives to wasting energy. In many American homes, the heat or air conditioning is on much of the time; if buildings were designed properly (and a McMansion is not), there would be much less need to burn energy to heat or cool interior spaces. This is a non-trivial issue, for a huge amount of our energy is devoted to just that.
The general view in our culture is "let the market handle it." In other words, when gas is $5 a gallon, people will start building and buying hyper-efficient vehicles. Nice, but it takes about 15 years to replace the nation's vehicle fleet. So if Peak Oil strikes with a vengence--as evidence suggests it will--then gasoline could rise quickly to $5/gallon and then move ever higher. So what do you tell the 95% of the citizenry who still own a gashog vehicle? "The market will handle it" sounds pretty hollow.
The question will be: why didn't someone anticipate $10/gallon gas and prepare the nation?
Consider granite countertops, jacuzzi tubs and oversized appliances. At least 15 million new homes /condos have been built in the current housing boom, and the vast majority feature essentially useless expenses such as huge refrigerators, granite countertops, marble entries, three bathrooms, water-wasting jacuzzi tubs (in the desert, mind you) etc. ad nauseum. These essentially needless "features" cost at least $20,000 per housing unit (a very conservative estimate).
What if the installation of $20,000 solar panels had been mandated or encouraged by tax credits, and the marble/granite/Subzero fridge had not been installed? Would the nation be better off with 20% of its electricity being generated by solar panels rather than 2%? Would we as a nation be better off if the funds misallocated into useless McMansion "features" had been invested in energy independence?
When the cost of energy doubles, and then doubles again, we will look back not just on the waste but on the misallocation of capital as terrible sins against our children and grandchildren.
If you still harbor doubts about Peak Oil, please read Peak Oil: Denial Won't Fill Your Tank (April 12, 2007) and check previous entries in the 2005-2006 archives listed under "Oil/Energy Crises."
Waste has another venue--jobs. The level of wasted motion and money in our economy is stupendous and little-noted. Is it really necessary to spend 30% of our healthcare dollars on shuffling paperwork around? No doubt you each have your own stories of insane inefficiency--due to incompetence, habit, union rules, Congressional mandates--the list is endless.
Though I can't find the clipping, I saved a "Nobody Asked Me, But..." column from the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings awhile ago. Here is the story it told. A Reserve officer recounted how hard he and his mates had to work to maintain the aircraft and sortie rate in his stateside unit. Then the 90s budget cuts lopped away about half the unit's staffing. Lo and behold, the same number of sorties were flown with half the people. What was left undone: tertiary reports and paperwork, meetings--all the usual non-productive "essentials."
Here's another story. I worked for a privately funded non-profit in the late 80s. The staff consisted of about 8 or 9 part-time people, all doing specific jobs: bookkeeper, PR, publications, ad sales, class schedule, registration, manager, etc. There were always meetings to attend, many in the evening because everyone was so busy.
The recession of 1990-92 took down much of the center's funding, and by the middle of the decade, virtually all the tasks which had once "required" 8 or 9 staffers were performed by one-full time employee and a single on-call very-part-time assistant. The publication got trimmed, but the number of events/classes offered remained the same, as did the clientele served.
My point: there is no way to know just how extremely efficient people can be until there is no choice but extreme efficiency.
We have a "full employment" economy now, but if a recession or depression kicks in, as many of us expect, how many of the jobs that will be lost won't ever come back? Once efficiency is required to survive, much of what was once considered "essential" drops away as unnecessary.
To consider just one example of hundreds of thousands, here is The Wall Street Journal reporting that companies have "celebration assistants" whose entire job is flitting about heaping recognition on fragile young employees desperate for lavish praise: The Most-Praised Generation Goes to Work (subscription required, but hopefully your library carries the WSJ).
Bosses, professors and mates are feeling the need to lavish praise on young adults, particularly twentysomethings, or else see them wither under an unfamiliar compliment deficit. Employers are dishing out kudos to workers for little more than showing up. Corporations including Lands' End and Bank of America are hiring consultants to teach managers how to compliment employees using email, prize packages and public displays of appreciation. The 1,000-employee Scooter Store Inc., a power-wheelchair and scooter firm in New Braunfels, Texas, has a staff "celebrations assistant" whose job it is to throw confetti -- 25 pounds a week -- at employees.
She also passes out 100 to 500 celebratory helium balloons a week. The Container Store Inc. estimates that one of its 4,000 employees receives praise every 20 seconds, through such efforts as its "Celebration Voice Mailboxes."
Excuse me while I gag (as are my 20-something readers). We all know the vast majority of American companies have zero loyalty to their employees, and so this "tossing confetti" nonsense is offered up as a painfully bogus simulacrum of actual caring. This kind of phony corporate programming reminds me of the old Soviet joke: "we pretend to work, and you pretend to pay us." The updated U.S. version might be: "You pretend to care about us, and we pretend to care about your product/service."
Still, one has to wonder about the current zeitgeist. In my day--not that long ago, really--our supe also had words for us, but I reckon they don't quite measure up to today's standards. If he thought we weren't working hard enough (this is construction), he'd snarl, "I want to see assholes and elbows" ( i.e. us bending over shoveling or lifting lumber, etc.). Would a delicate employee simply dissolve into mush and file a worker-compensation claim, or perhaps a lawsuit alleging abuse, were such words to reach his/her vulnerable quivering ears?
If your job is "celebration assistant": look, I'm sure you're doing great work, and you may well be boosting the productivity of the crew immensely. All I'm saying is, in a deep, lengthy recession, people start working to eat, not garner heaps of praise for showing up on time, and the company goal is to survive, not juice up happy-happy praise.
The larger question is: if 10 millions unproductive jobs disappear in the coming recession, what new enterprises will generate 10 million truly productive new jobs? In other words, if the 10 million (a low estimate, I wager) unproductive jobs in our economy are cut as no longer necessary, then what productive work will arise for those displaced?
Perhaps we should consider the possibility that there will be a structural imbalance in employment in which 10-20 million jobs will be eliminated and no new jobs created. How could this occur? It's not hard to come up with some potential causes: offshoring of expensive tasks, the deflation of debt bubble reduces overall spending by 20%, rising interest payments reduce consumer spending by 20%, as a result government tax revenues fall by 20%, and so on.
This is a sobering prospect, and one which should not be discounted as improbable.
Thank you K.L. ($5) for your thoughtful donation. I am greatly honored by your generous support. All contributors are listed below in acknowledgement of my gratitude.
For more, please visit my main site at www.oftwominds.com/blog.html
Saturday, April 28, 2007
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text:
Guided Circuit Tour
Follow in the footsteps of motor racing champions
Allowing you exclusive access to off-limits areas trackside including the Control Tower, Race Control where you get to see dramatic race vision on the Circuit's CCTV system, Media Centre, Pit Lane, Pit Roof and of course where every racer wants to finish – the winner's podium being sprayed with champagne.
- Tours run daily at 2pm
- The tour is a walking tour and takes approximately 1 hour.
Admission Prices:
|Pensioners/Seniors Card:
|Child: (5 -15 years)
|Family: (2 adults - 3 Children)
* Subject to Circuit Hire and seasonality


text:
|Pinata apples. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Recently, Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, Washington, sent me a sample of a new apple variety called Pinata. The red and yellow fruit is a cross between two European favorites, Cox's Orange Pippin and Duchess of Oldenburg, and an American tried-and-true, the Golden Delicious. Pinata is a high-sugar, high-acid, versatile apple, suited for eating out of hand (although I would peel the slightly thick skin first) and like its ancestor the Golden Delicious, ideal for cooking.
Pinata apples will be available in stores from right about now through April. While looking for ways to highlight the versatility of the Pinata apple, I remembered how good apples are in a supporting role, lending sweet notes and crispiness to a salad or mellow flavors and textures to a braised dish. The first recipe I made was inspired by a new cookbook that happened to arrive the same day as the apples - "Welcome to Claire's" by Claire Criscuolo (Lyons Press, 2012). It's a vegetarian cookbook packed with great ideas for fresh produce. I adapted a recipe for "Connecticut Cole Slaw" to ingredients I had on hand - the cabbage, the apples, dried cranberries and pecans. The slaw is delicious and light, just right for light lunch or as a side dish to a sturdier meal.
|Cabbage, apple, pecan and cranberry slaw. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
Slaw with cabbage, apple, pecans and dried cranberries
adapted from "Welcome to Claire's" by Claire Criscuolo (Lyons Press, 2012)
1/2 head green cabbage, coarsely shredded
1 medium crisp and sweet apple, such as Pinata
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey (to make this a vegan dish, use agave nectar)
Salt and pepper
1. In a medium bowl, place cabbage. Peel apple and slice into 1/4-inch matchsticks. Add cranberries and pecans.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, olive oil and honey. Pour dressing over slaw ingredients and toss together. Serve immediately. Store leftovers in covered container in refrigerator.
The warm version of cabbage and apples is this braised dish, adapted from David Tanis' excellent cookbook "Heart of the Artichoke" (Artisan Books, 2010). The apple is peeled and cooked with cabbage and onions, melting into tender savoriness.
|Braised cabbage and apples with pecans. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books
adapted from "Heart of the Artichoke" by David Tanis (Artisan Books, 2010)
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
1/2 head green cabbage, sliced into 1/2" ribbons
1 crisp and sweet apple such as Pinata, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup low-salt chicken or vegetable broth, homemade preferred
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add the onions and salt and pepper and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes.Add the sugar and vinegar and stir. Add the apple chunks.
2. Add the cabbage gradually, gently salting with each addition. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover the pan and let cook for about 30 minutes, checking regularly. Dish is ready when cabbage and apples are tender and flavorful. When ready to serve, garnish with toasted pecans.
Text and images copyright 2012, Lucy Mercer.
Thanks to Stemilt Growers for the sample of apples. My kids got a kick out of the package - a double nest for the fruit:
|Pinata apples in their nest. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.
(Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I received no compensation other than a sample of two Pinata apples from Stemilt Growers.)
For more recipes that use apples, check out these stories:
French thin-crust apple tart
Classic apple dumplings
Short-cut apple dumplings
Apple Crisp
Apple Blondie, aka German Apple Cake
Three more recipes that use apples:
Morning Glory Muffins
Kid-friendly sushi
Text and images copyright 2012, Lucy Mercer.


text:
Hey. We've all been there, right? New builders, trying to figure out our style...then we discover photo hosting and a community for our favorite theme.
Some of us have been around for quite some time, and I know we've all got something hiding in our Brickshelf folders or Flickr galleries...that one MOC that was your first. The first one you built--and photographed--and posted. The lighting might be off, and our background choice may be questionable. But we were learning, and that's what's important.
So share em' here! We want to see. It's good for ALL builders to know where they came from. It shapes where you're going to go!


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Inspired by various versions of this poem on the internet, I saw possibilities for a near-total spelling derailment...and here's what I came up with.
It may look like absolute gobbledegook at first glance, but try it with someone who's a good reader and get them to read it out aloud to you - fairly quickly and smoothly (they may need to have a bit of a run-through first).
You'll probably find as I did when someone read it to me (including some other 'uninitiated' friends), that the reader won't have a clue whatsoever about what they're reading, but to the hearers, who aren't tricked by the alternative spellings, it will (might?) be quite clear!
All except the proper names and acronyms are valid words found in the SOWPODS word list, which contains British-English and American-English words allowed in Scrabble 'double-dictionary' play. If you run the poem (and the extra bits) through a SOWPODS-armed spellchecker, no errors will be reported.
The Spelling Chequer
aka "Anne Owed too the Spell Ling Cheque Err"
(buy Hen Ree Word's Worth Long Fell Lowe)
Rede Pea Esses (bee lo) fur st
Eye have ah spell ling chequer
It kaim withe my pea sea.
It plane lee marque's four miry view
Miss steak psych an knot cee.
Eye's try ka quay an tie pa whirred
And weight faw it too sei
Weather eye 'am rong oar write
It shew's mi stray ta whey!
As sue NASA missed ache is maid
(it nose bee four to long)
Then eye cann put thee error rite
Its' rare lea ever rong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
(witch yaw sure lee plea's two no!)
Its let ur purr feck tall the weigh
My Czech er tolled mi sew.
Of coarse, iff few doo the saim and run awl this threw you're spell ling cheque er to, the ree's alt faugh yule bee just as prefect (butt yore Czech err mussed bee worth it sault!)
Pea Ess.................Bet ur read doubt allow dan dun's pea dilly (hint: reed read as read, dont reede it as read).
Peep Ee Es............This poem was nom inn eight ted as ah canned id eight fore ah Pullets err pries.
P Pea Pe Ess..........En knee 'pea queue lea are' word's (knot name) tsar inn the Scrab Bull diction heir ee!
Pe Peep E Pea S.....Play sing the em fah siss on the write cill ah bull is ess sen shool!
Last edited by phrontister (2015-01-31 13:13:22)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
I put it through my spelling checker and it found errors.
I'll be here at least once every decade.
Hi quittyqat,
Most English spell checkers are regional (either American English or British English), and unless you have a SOWPODS one (not actually available, AFAIK) your checker will show errors.
I used the OSPD - "Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary" (American) and OSW - "Official Scrabble Words" (British) for this. "SOWPODS" is just a popularised rearrangment of the combined OSW and PODS letters to make that combination pronounceable.
The OSW contains many more words than the OSPD, so it's likely that for this poem more errors will appear when using an A.E. spell checker than a B.E. one.
It's only an over-the-top exercise in silliness - as is the original poem (although nowhere near the extent of my version) - but it does highlight one of the limitations of spell checkers.
But...all the words are definitely valid, and would be allowable in international Scrabble tournaments that allow 'double-dictionary' play (which tournaments between A.E and B.E. players generally do).
Of course, just to add to the confusion, I also went for obscure word-choices where possible, which spell checkers that mainly comprise standard/common words would miss.
I also threw an out-of-place apostrophe or two into the mix...just highlighting a further flaw in electronic spell checkers. And I included an intentional misspelling: "prefect" instead of "perfect".
Last edited by phrontister (2015-01-31 12:43:31)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
Hi phro
I find it amazing how there are some words with very few letters and very unusual letter combinations which are valid (e.g. today I found out that the word 'jo' is a valid Scrabble word ).
Do you maybe know which two-letter word can give the largest number of points?
Last edited by anonimnystefy (2013-05-31 09:17:22)
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
Hi stefy,
That depends on the dictionary you use, which can be any that the players agree upon. For instance, if all that you have with you at the time is the Pocket Oxford Dictionary (which Gurth used for most of those word games of his) and you feel you need an argument-settler to adjudicate, then the POD is what you'd use.
For Scrabble tournaments the dictionaries differ according to country and tournament.
Down here we use the Collins Official Scrabble Words ("CSW12"), which has 124 two-letter words. The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary ("OSPD4") used in North America only has 101 two-letter words.
The highest individual score (when placed on non-premium squares) for a two-letter word in both these official Scrabble dictionaries is 11 (consonant 10 + vowel 1) :
QI - in both dictionaries
ZA - in both dictionaries
ZO - in CSW12 only
Knowing all two-letter words is essential: eg, to facilitate placing a high-scoring word like a Bingo.
Last edited by phrontister (2013-05-31 17:28:49)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
Could we check the spelling Chequer with a spelling Checker?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most. ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.
Hi stefy,
The last two don't work for me, because my pronunciation of "dew" and "due" is different from theirs.
See this link. Also applies to "due".
Mine's the second way, the same as I reckon most other Aussies pronounce them. The first is more B.E., I think (not that I really know).
Last edited by phrontister (2015-01-30 17:30:52)
"The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do." - Ted Nelson
Pages: 1


text:
This vintage moissanite engagement ring will capture her heart from the moment she beholds it. Featuring a solid two tone gold band, it holds a forever brilliant moissanite center stone to finish off the design. This half eternity ring dazzles under the light and makes an extra special statement based on its style and originality. You found your princess, now guarantee that she'll say "Yes" to your proposal with this unique engagement ring. This is a limited edition Ayala Jewelry original. Order now to guarantee availability.
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(Available Also in 14K Rose, White or Yellow Gold – No Extra Charge)
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Appraised Value: $ 4500 USD
Type: Original Forever Brilliant Moissanite by Charles & Colvard (Comes with Certification)
Size: 6.5 mm / 1.00 Carat
Shape: Round Cut
Color: G-H
Clarity: VVS1
Hardness: 9.25 Mohs scale
Stone Type: 100% Natural Diamonds
Shape: Round Brilliant
Minimum Carat Weight: 0.13 Ct.
Color: G-H
Clarity: SI
Cut: Excellent
This engagement ring is delicate and with nice presence on the finger.
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Moissanite is the perfect diamond alternative, beautiful shiny stone, full of luster and brilliance. With brilliance and fire that outshines even diamonds. Today it is a the most popular alternative to diamonds. Moissanite is rated as a 9.25, which is a great score that is higher than any gemstone used in jewelry besides diamonds. Unlike diamonds, which are carbon, Moissanites are silicon carbide (SiC), a very rare, naturally occurring mineral found primarily in meteors. We use only Charles & Colvard moissanite.
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text:
Science encourages logical thinking, communication skills, making predictions, drawing conclusions, and interpreting information; all of these skills enhance literacy development for students of any age! Science also provides a springboard for reading and writing activities.
Young children are curious learners and therefore, natural scientists. They don't walk into our classrooms with closed-minds and preconceived set-in-stone ideas. As teachers of young children, we should take the opportunity of these "wonder years" and provide our students with the chance to make discoveries, develop theories, and test their hypotheses. We must give them a safe environment with adequate materials to help them extend their understanding of the world around us.
But let's not be confused about the nature of science: Science isn't just a set of experiments or a table in a corner that we fill with magnifying glasses and leaves. Science should be happening every day in most areas of the early childhood classroom.
- In the block area, children are learning about cause and effect, weight, balance, classification, and many other science concepts.
- The water and sand areas should be filled with items that support discovery: eye droppers, funnels, food coloring, ice cubes, spray bottles, soap bubbles, sink/float objects. In the art center, have students actually help you make play dough and clay and talk about the chemical reactions between wet/dry ingredients.
- Every cooking activity that you do can be a science activity! Get a class pet or at least a fish aqaruium to learn about animal life cycles.
And let's not forget those teachable moments; you know, those moments that are not planned, but present themselves as a chance to teach something:
- Outside on the playground, do you help the children notice the wind, a bug, rain droplets, or shadows?
- Have your students discovered that sometimes static electricity makes your hair stand up when going down the sliding board?
Look around your classroom and see what types of science discoveries can be found; I am sure that you'll find plenty!


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ENGINEERING VIRAL VECTORS FOR T-CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY AND HIV-1 VACCINE by Bingbing Dai A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (MATERIALS SCIENCE) May 2012 Copyright 201 Bingbing Dai
Object Description
|Engineering viral vectors for T-cell immunotherapy and HIV-1 vaccine
|Dai, Bingbing
|Author email
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|Materials Science
|Viterbi School of Engineering
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Wang, Pin
|Advisor (committee member)
Goo, Edward K.
Arnold, Donald B.
|T cell immunotherapy fell into two categories: passive (adoptive) transfer of in vitro expanded cells, and active expansion of antigen-specific T cells by in vivo immunization. I present three studies to promote T cell immunotherapy and T cell vaccine. In my first study, I described a method to generate autologous antigen-specific CD4⁺ helper T cells in vitro from easily accessible bone marrow cells. T lymphocytes are produced in thymus as the progeny of fetal liver (FL)- and bone marrow (BM)- derived precursors. A murine stromal cell line (OP9-DL1) expressing a notch ligand, Delta-like-1, has been shown to partially mimic the function of thymus and to drive the differentiation of both murine and human hematopoietic progenitors into T cells in vitro. Next, I attempt to develop a specific T-cell vaccine by in vivo gene delivery. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is one of the most catastrophic pandemics confronted by mankind with 33 million infections, and there is an urgent need for an effective vaccine. I choose lentiviral vector as the vaccine carrier as it is among the most efficient gene delivery machinery, and can infect both dividing and nondividing cells. In my second study, I evaluate in mice a dendritic cell (DC)-directed LV system encoding the Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus (LV-Gag) as a potential vaccine for inducing an anti-HIV immune response. The DC-directed specificity is achieved through pseudotyping the vector with an engineered Sindbis virus glycoprotein capable of selectively binding to the DC-SIGN protein. To further optimize this T-cell vaccine system to achieve an increased immune response, in my third study, I attempt to break down the suppressive signaling pathways involved in T cell function. It was found that exhaustion of CD8⁺ T cells and upregulation of programmed death 1 (PD-1), a negative regulator of T cell activation, is a characteristic feature of individuals chronically infected with HIV-1. In this project, I demonstrate that blocking of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory signal via an anti-PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1) generated an enhanced HIV-1 Gag-specific CD8⁺ immune response following a both a single round of DC-targeting LV immunization and a homologous prime/boost regimen.
|gene delivery; HIV/AIDS vaccine; lentiviral vector engineering; stem cell development; PD1/PD1L pathway
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
|Publisher (of the digital version)
|University of Southern California. Libraries
|Electronically uploaded by the author
|Legacy record ID
|Contributing entity
|University of Southern California
|Dai, Bingbing
|Physical access
|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
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|University of Southern California Digital Library
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|USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA
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|University of Southern California
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| ENGINEERING VIRAL VECTORS FOR T-CELL IMMUNOTHERAPY AND HIV-1 VACCINE by Bingbing Dai A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (MATERIALS SCIENCE) May 2012 Copyright 201 Bingbing Dai


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HAVE you been particularly nice or especially naughty this year and got a smartphone or tablet as Christmas gift? Lucky you; you're in for hours of fun setting up your device tonight.
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The first thing you should do after unboxing your device is to keep track of all components and accessories and figure out which goes where. Copy serial numbers and other important device information and set aside such things as the warranty card and the card that comes with your SIM (which contains the PIN unblocking code.)
You should also take time to read the manual. (A confession: I don't. I only consult the manual when I inevitably bump into problems.)


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(Massive Printer, film by Newspaper Club)
Yes, we snack, we graze, we nibble, we heartily partake of the morsels, the canapés of content offered our way on the trays of twitter, google reader (sob) and flipboard. But sometimes it's nice to loosen our belts, turn off the stream and get stuck into a something a little more filling. So, here are some of the longer reads that have sated our appetites recently, instapapered for your mobile reading pleasure.
On Disney's pursuit and capture of Lucasfilms and its plans for the Star Wars franchise
""I felt a disturbance in the Force, as if millions of geeks were shocked in an instant," tweeted one ecstatic fan boy the day the news broke. It was a common refrain. The fans, too, had watched what happened when Disney bought Pixar and Marvel and many felt that the company could be trusted with R2-D2 and Princess Leia. "Their handling of the Marvel properties has given them a lot of geek cred," says Swank, the RebelForce Radio co-host."
On trying to create the dynamic of a realistic city in SimCity and enjoying the process of failing at it
"Cities, he [Geoffrey West] points out, are physical manifestations of human interactions. The data reveal those social dynamics, but do not necessarily shape them. From Lagos to Los Angeles to Mumbai, the physical world is experiencing a great rushing tide of urbanization, which creates huge environmental problems and at the same time concentrates the creativity needed to solve them. In the Sims' world, though, the masses migrate and settle, then file passively through their lives. SimCity's engineers have repeated the same mistake made by countless potentates, forgetting that cities are forged both by master builders and the people who hack their grand plans."
On learning about the fragility of passwords by learning how to crack them
"At the beginning of a sunny Monday morning earlier this month, I had never cracked a password. By the end of the day, I had cracked 8,000. Even though I knew password cracking was easy, I didn't know it was ridiculously easy—well, ridiculously easy once I overcame the urge to bash my laptop with a sledgehammer and finally figured out what I was doing."
On the marketing of diamonds and the commoditisation of romance
"The diamond invention is far more than a monopoly for fixing diamond prices; it is a mechanism for converting tiny crystals of carbon into universally recognized tokens of wealth, power, and romance. To achieve this goal, De Beers had to control demand as well as supply. Both women and men had to be made to perceive diamonds not as marketable precious stones but as an inseparable part of courtship and married life. To stabilize the market, De Beers had to endow these stones with a sentiment that would inhibit the public from ever reselling them. The illusion had to be created that diamonds were forever — "forever" in the sense that they should never be resold."
On the erosion of privacy and thirty-four other arguments against Google Glass
"Google Glass is a snazzy set of specs that will part the Red Sea if you tap it from the right angle. It aims to fuse smartphones and computers into a hands-free user experience more pleasurable than sex, religion, and world domination combined."
And finally, a transcript of a story conference between Lawrence Kadsan, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, on Raiders of the Lost Ark!
"At some point in the movie he must use it [a bullwhip] to get a girl back who's walking out of the room. Wrap her up and she twirls as he pulls her back. She spins into his arms. You have to use it for more things than just saving himself."
Let us know in the comments if there are any other choice meals to add to the menu. Bon Appetit.


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The GOP's emergency-room argument never dies
CBS's "60 Minutes" ran fairly long interviews last night with both President Obama and Mitt Romney, and the latter made some news with answers on tax policy. While they're likely to have a political impact, substantively, the Republican's answers on health care were even more striking.
Following up on Friday's release of 2011 tax returns, Scott Pelley asked whether it's fair that Romney pays a lower federal income tax rate than "the guy who makes $50,000." The Republican conceded it's a "low rate," but nevertheless said it's fair – the reduced rate is the "right way to encourage economic growth – to get people to invest, to start businesses, to put people to work."
This is no small admission. The multi-millionaire candidate pays a lower tax rate than most of the middle class – and the rate would have been even lower had Romney not artificially inflated it purely for political reasons – and if elected, he'll fight to keep it that way.
But this exchange on health care struck me as every bit as interesting.
Pelley: Does the government have a responsibility to provide health care to the 50 million Americans who don't have it today?
Romney: Well, we do provide care for people who don't have insurance, people – we – if someone has a heart attack, they don't sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care. And different states have different ways of providing for that care.
Pelley: That's the most expensive way to do it.
Romney: Well the–
Pelley: In an emergency room.
When it comes to health care policy, this might be one of the more important moments of the presidential race. Romney doesn't believe the United States has a responsibility to provide health care coverage to its own citizens – the Republican Party is the only major political party in any democracy on the planet to hold this position – but he does see emergency rooms as an avenue for caring for the uninsured.
And as a policy matter, that's deeply absurd.
Long time readers may recall this is a long-time focus of mine, but so long as it keeps coming up, it's worth setting the record straight from time to time.
It's true that under the preferred Republican system – American health care before the Affordable Care Act passed – if you're uninsured and get sick, there are public hospitals that will treat you. As Romney noted on camera, if you have a heart attack, you can call 911 and medical professionals will come get you and give you care.
But it's extremely expensive to treat patients this way, and it would be far cheaper, and more medically effective, to pay for preventative care so that people don't have to wait for a medical emergency to seek treatment.
For that matter, when sick people with no insurance go to the E.R. for care, they often can't pay their bills. Since hospitals can't treat sick patients for free, the bills can still bankrupt those who get sick, and the costs are still passed on to everyone else.
In other words, it's the most inefficient system of socialized medicine ever devised.
And in the bigger picture, it's worse than that. For those with chronic ailments, this position is a pathetic joke – is anyone going to stop by the emergency room for chemotherapy or diabetes treatments?
Romney's argument isn't a responsible approach to American health care in the 21st century; Romney's argument is ridiculous.


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Defending champion Mexico will play in the opening doubleheader of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Rose Bowl in July.
The matches will be played July 7 in the same stadium where Mexico won the 2011 Gold Cup title.
The Rose Bowl also hosted the 2002 Gold Cup final, as well as the 1999 Women's World Cup final, the 1994 World Cup final and the 1984 Olympic final.
The other venues hosting Gold Cup matches are Arlington Texas; Atlanta; Baltimore; Chicago; Denver; East Hartford, Conn.; Houston; Miami Gardens, Fla.; Harrison, N.J.; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Seattle.
Besides Mexico and the United States, the other national teams that have qualified are Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago.
The groups and schedules will be announced next month.


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Is the future of the Venice Police Department in question?
Three members of the City Council indicated Tuesday that they are open to at least hearing about the potential of eventually folding the police force into the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.
Sarasota Mayor Shannon Snyder has already raised the same issue with the Sarasota City Commission for the same reason: escalating costs largely due to unfunded pension fund liabilities.
On Tuesday, for the first time, the Venice Council collectively addressed the same delicate subject. None signaled support for the move, but the statements of Mayor John Holic and council members Bob Daniels and Jeanette Gates suggest the possibility may have legs.
The council had not expected to discuss the matter, which was not on the agenda.
Former City Council member Janice Collins came forward to pointedly ask the current council to respond to speculation in the community that it intends to dissolve the Police Department.
"Either this is an issue or it isn't," said Collins, who favors keeping the city police.
She got a mixed response.
"I'm completely opposed to any consolidation with the county," said council member David Sherman, who praised city officers for fast response times. "...I want to keep Venice the way it is."
"We are a full-service city," council member Emilio Carlesimo said. Carlesimo said Venice residents want their own police force. "Until they tell me otherwise, I'm OK with it."
Yet other council members expressed caution.
"I'm going to keep an open mind," council member Bob Daniels said.
Daniels noted that the council has already transferred its police dispatchers to the Sheriff's Office in part to take advantage of a new 911 center the county will build that will have the latest technology.
Financial considerations are going to compel the city to find other ways to reduce rising public safety costs, which are largely due to unfunded liabilities in police and firefighter pension funds, Daniels said.
According to an annual actuary's report, as of Oct. 1, 2012, the police pension fund faced an unfunded liability over the next 20 or so years of $10.7 million -- down from a previous estimate of $11.2 million because of improving investment returns, but still daunting.
For the next fiscal year, the city will have to make retirement contributions for its police of $2.10 million. That is up from $1.97 million for the current year and $1.72 million for the previous year.
That figure is expected to continue to escalate unless the city and the Fraternal Order of Police, which are now in contract negotiations, can agree some corrective actions.
Bill Hastings, staff representative for the Fraternal Order of Police, regards even talk of dissolving the Police Department as a tactic to affect those negotiations and compel the union to make concessions.
Hastings said the topic has come up in other cities during contract negotiations with police unions.
"It happens all of the time," Hastings said. "As soon as they get into negotiations, this comes up and they talk about dissolving the department... It serves no good purpose."
Precisely how much the city would save by dissolving the police department would depend on how much it would cost for it to contract with the Sheriff's Office.
Public safety costs now comprise $14 million of the city's next $21.8 million general fund budget, with the Police Department's budget being $7.96 million of that.
The city expects to have spent $7.81 million on the department during the fiscal year that ends this month. It spent $7.4 million the previous year.
The Police Department, which used to have 80 employees, is budgeted for 64 full-time and four part-time positions for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Those positions include 46 sworn officers, 18 support personnel, two part-time crossing guards and two part-time parking specialists.
Council member Jeanette Gates said the long-term issue will be "sustainability" and what the taxpayers can afford.
MayorHolic said he cannot unequivocally say the council will never consider the possibility of folding the Police Department into the Sheriff's Office.
"There may be valid points brought out later in the discussion," Holic said.
In a later presentation to the council, Police Chief Tom McNulty refrained from touching on the consolidation question and emphasized the extent of his department's duties.
From January through August of this year, officers handled 16,070 incidents including 911 calls, arrests, field interviews, traffic accidents, noise complaints, security checks, sex offender checks, traffic stops and other matters that required their hands-on attention.
So far, only one municipality in the Sarasota-Manatee region has dissolved its police force. The city of Anna Maria contracts with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office to patrol its jurisdiction.
For Venice police, changes on the table CITY: Folding department into Sheriff's Office? It's a notion that could have some legs
Is the future of the Venice Police Department in question?


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Just like bottled water companies, clean water advocates in nonprofit efforts have caught on to the best advertising tool in the market: Celebrities. Many celebrities have given their fame and money to good causes. (Sadly, many celebrities endorse bottled water, also, but that's a post for another day.) The latest trend among stars like Mark Ruffalo, Adam Lambert, Alyssa Milano and Matt Damon is clean water. We thought we'd take some time to highlight what these celebrities are doing to ensure access to clean water in the U.S. and beyond.
Mark Ruffalo – The Fight Against Natural Gas Fracking
The grassroots organization, Frack Action, was struggling to garner media attention for their opposition to natural gas drilling in New York State, until they brought Mark Ruffalo on board. Fracking is a process that involves injecting water and chemicals under high pressure into rock formations, in order to extract natural gas. Filmmaker, Josh Fox, recently portrayed the consequences of fracking in his documentary, Gasland, in which farmers across the U.S. can be seen to light their tap water on fire from natural gas contamination. Ruffalo dedicates himself to the cause with full force, as an unpaid volunteer. He has attended meetings and hearings, lobbied with activists and visited colleges to raise awareness among students. His fame is helping to bring attention to an issue that, otherwise, may have received very little. In fact, it was rumored several months ago that his private screening of Fox's film may have landed him on the government's Terror Watch List. Whether or not the rumor is true doesn't matter; Ruffalo is one celebrity who won't sell out. He is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in.
Adam Lambert and Alyssa Milano – Happy Birthday to the Less Fortunate
2009 American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert is donating his 29th birthday to charity: water – one of many water charities dedicated to bringing clean water to those in developing countries. The concept is simple: instead of asking for gifts for your birthday, ask your friends and family to make donations through your mycharity: water website (which is very easy to set up). All of the proceeds will go toward funding clean water projects in countries like Africa, Asia, Honduras and Haiti. With the mycharity: water website, everyone can follow in Adam Lambert's footsteps. In fact, Lambert is not the first celebrity to donate his birthday to water charity. Alyssa Milano's mycharity: water campaigns raised over $92,000 for her 37th birthday in 2009, and another $39,551 for her 38th birthday at the end of last year. Lambert's goal, is $290,000 by the 29th, as he said in a recent tweet.
Matt Damon – Water.org
If you follow us on twitter, by now you probably know that we are big fans of Water.org. Like charity: water, this organization is dedicated to funding clean water, hygiene and sanitation projects in developing nations. Matt Damon co-founded Water.org with Gary White, and has since been heavily invested in its work. Recently, he accepted the Joel Siegel Award for his work with Water.org, at the Critic's Choice Awards. We think you should follow them on twitter: @Water.


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English media tout India as World Cup favourites
Press Trust of India
London, September 26
India's nail-biting 10-run victory over South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy has drawn flattering praise from the English media which said the Asian giants have emerged as one of the strong favourites for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
"Over the past year, in innumerable one-day clashes, England and India have extolled each other as ever-improving sides. English defeats have been routinely explained away. India? Got to be World Cup favourites. We're doing well to compete," The Guardian wrote on Thursday.
After scoring 261 for nine, India managed to restrict South Africa, who are rated second only to World Champions Ausralia, to 251 for five to sneak into the final on Sunday.
"That comforting perception was tested to the utmost in the Champions Trophy semi-final last night as India collided with South Africa under the same Premadasa lights where they had terrorised England on Monday.
In the ultimate analysis, "somehow, the South Africans fell 10 runs short. The World Cup is on their own patch; this defeat may leave deep scars. India's reputation may yet prove deserved," it said.
The daily was all praise for Yuvraj Singh for his two exceptional catches - reaching high at backward point, to dismiss Graeme Smith and his plunging catch to account for Jonty Rhodes which was better still. Stymied by the part-time slows of Virender Sehwag on a dying pitch, South Africa found acceleration beyond them.
The Independent, another daily, noted that South Africa was sent packing by wiles of Sehwag.


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Difference between revisions of "OpenVPN/Supporting "route-gateway dhcp" on non-Windows platforms"
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= Feature description =
= Feature description =
Revision as of 19:15, 23 November 2010
Feature description
OpenVPN 2.1 has a relatively recent feature that allows a TAP-based OpenVPN session to be established where the client gets its IP address assignment and other attributes from the server-side DHCP server.
The feature is enabled by the "route-gateway dhcp" directive on the client.
It's a pretty cool feature because it allows you to set up a TAP-based VPN server without configuring IP addresses, routes, etc. because you can simply leverage on the existing server-side DHCP server configuration. When a client connects to the VPN, it gets an IP address assignment just as if it were physically "plugged into" the server-side LAN.
The problem is that "route-gateway dhcp" only works on platforms where the TAP driver negotiates a DHCP client handshake. Currently, only Windows support this out-of-the-box (Windows supports it not because of any special code in the Windows TAP driver, but because the Windows DHCP client automatically binds to TAP adapter instances when they transition to the "up" state).
I'm hoping that we can make "route-gateway dhcp" work on Unix platforms as well. I'm thinking there are two possible ways we could do this:
(1) Simple method: Trigger a DHCP client bind on TAP interfaces when they are instantiated. (This is what Windows does automatically)
(2) Complex method: Write code in OpenVPN to simulate a DHCP client, then translate the settings received in the DHCP reply to OpenVPN push-style directives (such as ifconfig, route, etc.) as if they had been pushed by the OpenVPN server.
At this point it makes sense to involve the users as much as possible.
- Why should this feature be implemented?
- What benefit would this feature provide to users?
- What benefit would this feature provide to developers?
- How many would benefit from this feature?
- What can be done to circumvent lack of this feature?
Implementation options
Option 1: add a DHCP client to OpenVPN itself
High-level overview of this solution.
Benefits compared to other solutions.
- Does not depend on package maintainers as much as option 2
- Will only "act" as a DHCP client for the current TAP device which the current OpenVPN instance is using
- Can maybe, theoretically, open up for DHCP support for TUN devices as well, if the OpenVPN server instance can act as an DHCP relay
Potential problems with taking this approach (and how to address them)
- Adds complexity to OpenVPN. There's no way to address this issue.
- May not completely remove all the complexity from the package maintainers
- /etc/resolv.conf updates might be another headache
List of things that need to done to make this work.
- Sort out how to manage /etc/resolv.conf (or equavalent)
Option 2: let distribution maintainers handle DHCP integration
High-level overview of this solution.
Benefits compared to other solutions.
- Allows us to leverage the non-OpenVPN OSS community (OpenVPN packages) for integration, saving OpenVPN developers a lot of trouble.
- Following the Unix philosophy: Several small modules which does dedicated work, but does it well
- Might re-use the --up/--down options for starting and stopping system wide configuration - which might give even less changes to OpenVPN.
Potential problems with taking this approach (and how to address them)
- Some distribution maintainers might not do a good job in integrating their DHCP clients with OpenVPN. This problem can be mitigated by proving good sample scripts, documentation etc. so that the integration is as straightforward as possible.
- It will be a wide range of OSes and distributions to support. This might lead to difficulties to support, due to the broad variety of solutions.
- If using --up/--down script this can cause some challenges when used together with --user/--group/--chroot
List of things that need to done to make this work.
- Get response from all major platform's package maintainers, get their help implementing the needed scripts
- openvpn-devel mailing list thread: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.network.openvpn.devel/3260/focus=3347


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Welcome to the hitched.ie wedding dress section. Choosing your wedding dress is an exciting part of your wedding planning and by delving into this section, you will have hundreds of fabulous designs to choose from. Each wedding dress designer is different and each has its own unique and stunning style.
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