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Frequently Asked Questions
Account Questions
You can get a free library card if:
- You live or pay property taxes in Cumberland County or the Shippensburg Area School District; or,
- You have a card from a Pennsylvania public library that has a blue Access Pennsylvania symbol on it.
To sign up:
- Get a temporary access code right away by joining online. (You get your library card when you visit the library within 30 days of signing up online.)
- Or you can join the library by visiting your closest library in person and completing a library card application.
If you don't live or pay taxes in Cumberland County or the Shippensburg School District, you can:
- Buy a library card for $5 per month. You can pay monthly, quarterly or annually. To buy your card, you must visit a library and bring photo identification with you to sign up for a card. You can save time by bringing along a completed library card application.
For people under age 17, a parent or guardian's signature is required.
Join now or get more information.
Temporary access codes let you begin using our web site resources immediately. Until you get your library card, you won't be able to borrow books or use your library's Internet computers. Temporary access codes let you:
- Request up to 2 items through the online catalog. Library cards allow you to request up to 15 items.
- Begin using the library system's searchable resources right away, such as genealogy, business, investment and homework support databases. These databases have online books, encyclopedias, reference sources and magazines.
- Please note that downloadable content (eAudios and eBooks) are not available through temporary access codes.
Your temporary access code is good for only 30 days. By the end of the 30 days, you must visit your library to show identification, complete the registration process, and pick up your library card.
A PIN is password made of letters and/or numbers that you create when you sign up for a card. Thus, if you have a library card, you have a PIN.
If you forgot your PIN, and you have an email address on file with the library, you can have it emailed to you. Just visit the PIN Request page, enter your 14-digit library barcode, and click Submit. The PIN on your account will be emailed to you.
If you do not have an email address on your library card account, please visit your local library with photo identification and your library card. A staff member can edit the PIN on your account. All PINs are encrypted so, staff members cannot see or tell you your PIN.
Call the library system's automated Telephone Circulation System at:
- (717) 240-7889 or
- (888) 697-0371 Ext. 7889 (toll-free) - press 1; wait for the prompt before entering the extension and then hold to be transferred
- When the automated system is activated, press 2 to access your account information.
- Enter your 14-digit library barcode number. This is the number that is on the back of your library card underneath the barcode.
- Enter your 14-digit library barcode number in the first field. This is the number that is on the back of your library card underneath the barcode.
- Enter your PIN in the second field. If you don't remember your PIN, use the PIN Request form through our library catalog. Our automated system will send your PIN to the email address we have on your library account. You can also visit your library.
- The automated attendent will tell you how many items you have out and how many requests you have.
- To check the due dates, press 1 for renewals, then press 4 for the list of items.
- Continue to follow the spoken instructions.
To login to your account:
- Click the My Account link that is located on the top, right hand side of this web site page. If you don't see it above, you can go to My Account.
- Enter your 14-digit library barcode number in the first field. This is the number that is on the back of your library card underneath the barcode.
- Enter your PIN in the second field. This is a series of numbers and/or letters you chose when you registered for a library card. If you don't remember your PIN, use the PIN Request form through our library catalog. Our automated system will send your PIN to the email address we have on your library account. If you don't have an email address on your account, or don't have a PIN, you can also visit your library with your library card and photo identification to correct that!
- Click Login.
- Important Tip: When you are finished, always remember to Logout to protect your privacy.
If your card has been stolen or lost, contact your library immediately to tell us about the problem. You can't register for a temporary online card until the problem with your lost or stolen card has been discussed with us.
Yes. Lost cards are replaced for a fee of $3. This fee may not be charged if the card is worn due to normal use; or if it was lost due to circumstances beyond your control, such as theft, flood, fire, etc.
Most of the libraries accept donations of books. However, what types of books they will accept and when they will accept them may vary from library to library. (Cumberland County has a federated system of independently operated libraries.) It is advisable to contact the library where you wish to donate books for more information. Please note that the Library System offices at 400 Bent Creek in Mechanicsburg are not able to receive book donations.
You can find the contact information for each of the libraries on this page of our website:
Locations and Hours
Notices and Reminders
Two days before an item is due, you get an email from the library system. The email reminds you about the items you have borrowed and their due date. These due date reminders are also called courtesy notices.
Sign up for email notice due date reminders online or contact your library. Unfortunately, due date reminders (or courtesy notices) are only available by email.
- Library Items Waiting notices are emailed within 24 hours after the item is available.
- Library Due Date Reminders are emailed 2 days before an item is due.
- Library Items Overdue notices are emailed automatically early each morning, Sunday through Saturday.
You can cancel the service 2 ways:
- Submit the Cancel Email Notices form; or,
- Call or visit your library and ask them to cancel your email notices.
If our telephone notification system does not reach you on the first day, a notice will be printed by the library and sent via U.S. mail. Also, the library sends some billing notices for long overdue items by U.S. mail. Email customers will be emailed their billing notices.
The library's email server can't accept any emails. If you have questions about the email, contact your library directly.
No, not as a result of signing up for this service. The library system does not sell or lease users' personal information to companies, universities or individuals.
The Cumberland County Library System can not guarantee receipt of messages. Thus, failure to receive a notice does not waive the borrower's responsibility for the timely pick-up or return of materials.
First and second notices for items that are overdue are sent by either automated telephone call or by email. Customers who ask for mailed notices only get one overdue notice 2 weeks after the item was due. You choose which method you want to use. Bills for long overdue materials are sent by email or U.S. Mail.
Email and telephone overdue notices are sent one week after an item is overdue, and a second notice is sent two weeks after the item is overdue. Mailed overdue notices are sent two weeks after an item is due. A final notice that includes a bill for the item(s) is sent three weeks after the item is due.
After two months, if you still haven't made payment arrangements, your account may be referred to a collection agency if it has $25 or more in fines, fees or outstanding materials. A $10 long overdue account fee is also charged to the cardholder.
Depending on the type of notice we are sending, library notices are sometimes sent from the library that owns the item, and other times from your home library. Be sure to set your email account to allow emails from the following addresses. If you don't receive an email notice, check your spam or junk mail folder.
Borrowing from the library
If you forget your card, you must provide identification (such as a driver's license).
If you have special circumstances such as a hospital visit or an extended vacation, you may request a vacation loan. Vacation loans are only possible for items that are not in high demand. See list of vacation loan periods.
Borrowing period information is available here.
Reference books can't be borrowed. Sometimes, overnight loans are possible. Ask your librarian if this can be arranged.
Due dates are listed on the paper slip you get when you borrow items.
No. As long as you have a library card, items may be borrowed for free from the library. However, if you keep something past the item's due date, then you will be charged a late fee each day the item is overdue.
Fines can be paid at any of the libraries in the library system with cash, check, or credit. They can also be paid online.
The library system accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover for online fine payments. Please note:
- There is a convenience fee of $1.50 for online transactions.
- You can visit the library and pay without being charged this additional fee.
- Online or in person, all transactions are final – no refunds will be issued.
- Go to the Pay Fines page. You will need your library barcode and PIN.
- Look for and click on the "Click to Pay Now" image.
- Enter your library barcode and PIN.
- Select the Pay Fines/Fees tab.
- Select the Fine/Fee(s) you wish to pay.
- Enter your credit card information and select Finish.
- Logout.
At the library or online, you can choose which fines you wish to pay. However, until your balance is zero, you will be unable to use your card
One month after a billing notice has been issued, you may be referred to a collection agency if:
- Your account has $25 or more in fines, fees or outstanding materials and
- You have not made payment arrangements with the library.
If you are sent to a collection agency, you will be charged a $10 long overdue account fee.
Lost or Damaged
If you think you've returned something that's still checked out on your card, you can tell the library about the problem by using the Report Item Returned form.
After you have reported the item as returned, if the library doesn't find it on the shelf, or find out that it is checked out to someone else, you will be given a 2 month grace period to try and find it.
During that time, both you and library staff will look for the missing item. If it's not found after 2 months, you will be billed for the item's replacement cost, plus any late fees before it was reported missing. If the item is found, late fees will be charged up to the time the item was returned.
Contact your library as soon as possible to report the missing item. (If your item was overdue, this will stop any additional late fees from being charged to your card.) If the library is closed now, you can use the Report Lost Item form. You will be billed for the item's original list price, plus a $5 processing fee.
Contact your library as soon as possible to report the damaged item. (If your item was overdue, this will stop any additional late fees from being charged to your card.) If your library is closed now, you can use the Report Damaged Items form. Your library will probably need to look at the item to determine what charges, if any, you will need to pay. Charges for damaged library materials are determined on a case-by-case basis. Fees range from $1 to the item's full replacement cost.
A renewal is when you ask the library for more time to borrow your book, video, etc. There are three ways to renew items:
- For personal service, call your library during its operating hours for renewals.
- After hours, call (717) 240-7889 to reach the automated Telephone Circulation System.
- To renew online:
- Login to My Account. You will need your library barcode and PIN
- Select Items Out/Renewals
- Put a check mark in the box for titles you want to renew
- Click the Renew button If the item could not be renewed, you will get a red error message saying "One or more of your items did not renew. Please scroll down for details." In the line of the item that didn't renew, there will be a message telling you why the item couldn't be renewed.
- After you are finished, remember to Logout.
- Renewal help in the catalog is available.
When you renew a book, the computer system will give you 2 more weeks from the date you renew it. (Note: The system does not give you 2 more weeks from the book's due date.) When you renew a video or DVD, the computer system will give you 1 more week from the date you renew it. (Note: The system does not give you 1 more week from the videorecording's due date.) The longer you wait to renew an item, the more time you may have to use it. (However, you won't be able to renew something if another person has requested it.)
Effective June 11, 2012, you may renew most items 3 times if no one is waiting for it.
If an item isn't available, you can request that it be held for you through the online catalog. You can also request it by contacting your library. You will be notified by email or phone when the item is ready for pick-up.
If you need something that is at another Cumberland County library, you can request that it be held for you through the online catalog. You can also request it by contacting your library.
When it's available, it will be delivered to your library. (The library system has daily delivery services between libraries.) You will be notified by email or phone when the item is ready for pick-up.
Yes. You can have up to 15 items requested on your library card at any one time.
If you have a temporary library card, you may only request 2 items online until you pick up your permanent card.
Your account will be charged for each item that is not picked up by you. For more information, please see the policy on Placing Requests for Items.
Please contact your library and tell them you no longer need the item. This will allow the next person on the request list to get the title sooner.
You can suspend any pending hold requests until the date you return. This means that until that date, your name will advance on the waiting list, but if the item becomes available while your request is suspended, your name will be skipped. Hold statuses may be suspended by calling the library or by logging into My Account and changing the request status.
If the item is new (has been published in the last 6 months or year), you may suggest it for purchase.
If the book is not new, you may place an interlibrary loan request for it. This service, usually free of charge, borrows books and other materials from public and academic libraries from across the nation. It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to get an item through interlibrary loan.
Yes. While we can't guarantee that we will purchase it, your suggestion will be considered. Library staff evaluate suggestions by reading reviews, considering its subject content and price, as well as its context within the library's whole collection.
If it is purchased, a hold will be placed on it for you. You will be notified when it is available for loan.
You can return items to any Cumberland County public library.
Each Cumberland County library has an after hours return bin or depository slot for books and most audio visual items.
- Amelia Givin Library (Mt. Holly Springs) has a slot on its side entrance door. You can use this for books and audiovisual items.
- Bosler Library (Carlisle) has a return slot into its building for books. You'll find the slot off Bosler's rear driveway.
- Fredricksen Library (Camp Hill) has separate outdoor bins for books and audiovisual items.
- East Pennsboro Branch Library (Enola) has separate outdoor bins for books and audiovisual items.
- John Graham Library (Newville) has an outdoor bin for both books and audiovisual items.
- New Cumberland Library has outdoor separate bins for books and audiovisual items.
- Shippensburg Library has an outdoor bin for both books and audiovisual items.
- Simpson Library (Mechanicsburg) has separate bins for books and audiovisual items.
Items can also be returned to any participating Access Pennsylvania Library. These items will remain checked out on your library card account until they are received in a Cumberland County library.
Items returned in the book drop on their due date will not receive late fees.
Services from the Library
Yes. All Cumberland County libraries provide free wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet access for people with wireless-enabled computers.
Yes. All Cumberland County libraries have computers with Internet service and Microsoft Office software that you can use. Computers are available on a first-come, first-served basis for any library card holder in good standing.
Guest cards are usually available at each library for visitors.
To make Internet computers available to as many people as possible, there is a 1-hour use limit per day. At busy times, use is limited to ½ hour.
To comply with federal laws, the library system filters all computers, even if your child is accompanied by a parent or guardian. If a site is inappropriately blocked, please ask a librarian for help. Also, if you are age 17 or older, you may ask that filtering be turned off when you have bona fide research or have other lawful purposes.
Filters aren't foolproof. Filters can give you a false sense of security that you are protected from harmful material. Filters can also block sites that may be considered inoffensive or useful. As always, if you don't find what you need, please ask a library staff person for help.
Each library has computers with Internet access and Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft PowerPoint2007.
Yes, each library has printers that the public may use.
Printing costs $.25 per page. (Wireless network printer is also available from your own device using SmartALEC. Learn more...)
For those requiring computer training, the Bosler Library (Carlisle) offers free technology appointments. More information is available through their Information Services Department at 717-243-4642 Ext. 2237. There are tutorials for basic computer skills on the right side of this page, and our Learning Express Library database contains tutorials on popular software packages.
John Graham (Newville), Shippensburg, and Simpson (Mechanicsburg) libraries have microfilm readers. Only Shippensburg's and Simpson's equipment have the ability to make prints. There is a small fee per page for each print. There are no microfiche readers or printers in the Cumberland County Library System.
Several libraries have limited space available for special art or collection displays. Contact the library for more information:
Five libraries have some meeting room space available for public meetings:
- Amelia Givin (Mt. Holly Springs)
- Bosler (Carlisle)
- Fredricksen (Camp Hill)
- New Cumberland
- Simpson (Mechanicsburg)
Contact your library for more information.
Each library has limited space available for public display of flyer or posters for non-profit, non-partisan events. Occasionally limited space may also be available to distribute newsletters or brochures. All materials must be approved by the library before being displayed or distributed. Contact your library for more information or to have your materials reviewed.
If you're an adult in Cumberland County who can't visit the library regularly due to your age, an illness or a disability, you can ask for free STAR lending services. STAR service is not available for all requesting customers. Reasons for declining service may include:
- Availability of household members to visit the library;
- Short-term nature of the individual's reason for not being able to visit the library regularly;
- Unavailability of volunteers for the assignment; or
- Potential risks to the health and safety of staff or volunteers while visiting the homebound individual's residence
- You must have a library card from the Cumberland County Library System.
- You can't owe $5 or more in fines and fees.
- You must have a compatible web browser (Internet Explore 7.0 or later, FireFox 8.0 or later, Safari 5.1 or later, Google Chrome 16 or later).
- Select the title of the database you want to use.
- If you're using a library computer, you will be connected immediately to the database.
- If you're using a home, office or school computer, you will see a login screen.
- Type in your barcode number. (It is important that you type all 14 numbers carefully).
- Then, select the "Login" button or hit the "ENTER" key on your keyboard.
- Each time you select a database, you will need to enter your library card number and click on the login button before you can use the database.
The online system knows if the computer you are using is a library computer or not. Anyone visiting the library can use the databases without entering their library barcode number because they are using a library computer.
Sometimes, if too many people are using a database at the same time, there will be a login screen instead of automatic access to the database. Unfortunately, the only solution to this is to wait a while and try again.
The software we use requires cookies to work properly. If you have your cookies disabled, or if the cookie is corrupted, you will not be able to access the databases. You'll see a blank database list, an invalid authorization notice, and a message that says "welcome to [[null]]. Make sure your cookies are enabled. If they are, try clearing your cookies and your cache.
You can only use databases from: Databases page. Accessing databases from any other link or bookmark, will corrupt your cookies file and you won't be able to use databases from home. This will results in a lot of browser errors or blank pages.
Check to make sure you entered your library card number correctly with all 14 numbers. If you did enter it correctly, and it still says your card is not on file, visit your local library to update your account. The library system regularly deletes inactive accounts from its database.


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Title: Help Desk Technician
Location: Los Angeles, 90095
Duration: 6 month contract (possible extension)
Basic Qualifications:
Skills and Knowledge:
EEO Employer
Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at 844-463-6178
Help us improve CareerBuilder by providing feedback about this job: Report this job
Job ID: 979261
For your privacy and protection, when applying to a job online, never give your social security number to a prospective employer, provide credit card or bank account information, or perform any sort of monetary transaction. Learn more.
By applying to a job using CareerBuilder you are agreeing to comply with and be subject to the CareerBuilder Terms and Conditions for use of our website. To use our website, you must agree with the Terms and Conditions and both meet and comply with their provisions.
Apex Systems is a division of the 2nd largest IT staffing and services firm in North America. From consulting to staff augmentation, we connect top tech talent with great companies in all industries.
Apex earned Inavero's Best of Staffing™ Client Diamond and Talent Awards for providing superior service to clients and job seekers, putting the company in the top 2 percent of all U.S. staffing agencies.
We take the time to understand a candidate's talents and needs to ensure a good match with companies for contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire positions. Each recruiter within Apex is focused on a specific skill area within infrastructure, applications, and project management. This focused discipline enables our local recruiters to work directly with our candidate's and focus their talent on the right position at the right time.
We serve Fortune 500, mid-market, and emerging companies from a wide variety of industries, including communications, energy, financial services, government services, healthcare, technology, and utilities.
Apex has branches in over 70 locations across the U.S. and Canada and more than 1,000 employees dedicated to supporting the needs of our clients and contract team members. Visit www.apexsystems.com to find a local branch or connect with an Account Manager or Recruiter.View the full profile

subset: commoncrawl


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Eagle's Pride Golf Course has many acres of undeveloped ponds, meadow, and conifer and deciduous forest, just one-half mile from the Nisqually River. Over 96 species of birds have been documented so far.
This trip will be from 1-3 miles long on relatively level ground, and explore coniferous/deciduous forests, ponds, and open area species.
No security passes are required. Trip starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. at the golf course driving range parking lot. End time varies.
Location: Exit 116 (Mounts Road), turn north, turn right into Eagle's Pride Golf Course clubhouse parking area, go down ramp and make an immediate, hard left onto driving range access road (narrow road). Proceed to driving range parking area.
For questions, contact David Wienecke at email@example.com or 253-606-1398 (cell)


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UB provides its scholars and investigators with cutting-edge information and computing systems, laboratory facilities and equipment. We offer high-level, administrative support for faculty members seeking to conduct research and commercialize inventions.
The OVPRED oversees and supports UB's research enterprise, and seeks to foster an atmosphere that stimulates creativity, collaboration and community. Its staff provides administrative support for campus-wide research efforts, advocates on behalf of UB's research needs and maximizes the benefits of UB's research.
UB's shared instrumentation and laboratory facilities are used by UB faculty, investigators at our affiliated institutions and business partners interested in renting equipment for data analysis, training and product testing.
Libraries are central to UB research, providing faculty, students and visiting scholars with comprehensive holdings and subject-matter librarians serving our schools, departments and research centers.
An increasing number of grants now require the use of undergraduate students in laboratories and scholarly pursuits. UB's Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) leads SUNY in connecting investigators and scholars to UB undergraduates who are prepared for and, in many cases, already engaged in academic research on campus.


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Designer: Peggy Kotek
3 yards total assorted medium and dark print, plaid, and stripe flannels in rust, blue, green, purple, black, and brown (blocks, setting squares)
1-1/4 yards total assorted light print, plaid, and stripe flannels in white, cream, and gold (blocks, setting squares)
5/8 yard black-and-gold plaid flannel (binding)
1/4 yard green-and-cream plaid flannel (blocks)
3-1/2 yards backing fabric
61x79" batting
Perle cotton No. 5: brown
Finished quilt: 54-1/2x72-1/2"
Finished blocks: 6" square
Quantities are for 44/45 "-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.


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SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD (Model A011) awarded "Best Expert DSLR Lens"
Even without a macro lens, it is entirely possible to take great pictures of flowers. We realised this one day when we discovered several wood anemones by the golden light of the afternoon sun. The Anemone nemorosa doesn't normally bloom until April, but the mild winter has given us an early floral start this year.
Nature- and architecture photographers know how important light is for magnificent shots. If the sun is high in the sky, the contrasts are too hard and the light is too flat. Ideal times however are dusk and dawn. Depending on the point of time, the light then is soft or warm, emphasizing the structures and shaping the motive details.
Tamron is developing a cutting-edge high-power zoom lens, with expanded focal lengths at both wide-angle and telephoto ends of the zoom range, providing a zoom ratio of approximately 18.8X.


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Cruising Italian Styleby Kuki, CruiseMates Cruise Director | December 15, 2003
That's why I became curious about Costa Cruises' catchphrase, Cruising Italian Style. It seemed to promise something fairly specific. So, in the name of research, I sailed on a Costa Caribbean cruise to learn if they deliver a unique kind of product, or if Italians cruise in a style similar to the other cruise lines.
I'm not Italian, but I have been to Italy several times, and I talk with my hands, so I thought I had a pretty good grasp of what I might expect when sailing the 86,000-ton, 2,114-passenger CostaMediterranea, which was launched earlier this year.
Generally 40 percent of all Costa's passengers are Italian. On European itineraries this number can run even higher, and passenger loads there include another 45-50 percent from Spain, France, Germany and other European countries. Topping it off is perhaps 5 to 15 percent North Americans.
When you sail Costa in Europe, the monetary standard onboard is the euro, not the U.S. dollar -- even in the casino. They do switch to a U.S. dollar standard in the Caribbean, however.
With their new ships, Costa seems to be offering the beginnings of a cruise experience more familiar to the North American passenger, while still maintaining their roots in "Italian style".
The CostaMediterranea is the newest Costa ship to sail in the Caribbean. It also exhibits an interesting evolution in Costa style.
When I first walked onboard I was impressed with the rich quality of fabrics and materials used, and the obvious high quality of workmanship involved in putting this ship together.
They made extensive use of Italian marble, granite, stone, ceramics, and Murano glass. The amount of intricately detailed wood inlay used in a variety of places -- dance floors, ceilings, even on doors -- is staggering, and very attractive.
In some areas, the combination of materials seems contradictory, such as the chrome used on railings in the atrium, topped with fine granite; or faces sculpted of stainless steel. Yet they seem to mesh well into the complete design package.
The ship's interior design work was done by Joe Farcus, of Carnival fame. In my view, when comparing his work on the CostaMediterranea to others I've sailed on that he designed, this could be his finest work to date. True to Farcus form, there is no refined elegance in evidence here. But there surely is a visible theme throughout the ship, which is based on the 17th and 18th century Italian palazzos (palaces), and the mythology of the Mediterranean Sea.
As you move from one public room to the next, a noticeable design thread connects them, even though each is different from the other. One could easily spend an entire seven-day cruise exploring the ship's artwork. But on the CostaMediterranea the art is not restricted to paintings hanging on walls, or sculptures. On this ship art is everywhere -- from decorative moldings to wall paneling, ceilings, even the furniture.
The ship's lounges and public rooms are designed for active and participatory passengers. The dance floors in the majority of the lounges are significantly larger than those on most other ships I've experienced, and are very well used. Theme nights, or theme events in the lounges, are common, running the gamut of Elvis, Sinatra, or Beatles nights, to a full-blown Italian festival in the atrium.
On any given night, it isn't unusual to find 50s jive and twist contests in one lounge, while Latin dance night is featured in another. The real action in the ship's disco doesn't even begin until after midnight, and it's not unusual to see this spot jumping into the wee hours of the morning.
Bucking the trend of many mass-market lines to hold their gala shows for late seating diners prior to dinner, on the CostaMediterranea the shows for late diners start at 11 p.m. And even at that late hour, most nights the showroom is close to full. As the shows finish, plenty of passengers head to the lounges or disco rather than retiring to their cabins. This certainly has to be the European influence, as generally throughout Europe the cafes and clubs don't begin to fill with crowds until late in the evening.
To a North American, not accustomed to this high-energy, late-night action on a cruise, this can be either perplexing or energizing. If you can adjust your nocturnal habits, it's easy to get caught up in the energy and enjoy this Italian way of doing things.
There is one area where all the promise of the CostaMediterranea experience seems to struggle: food and food service.
As a pasta lover, I like the fact Costa offers a separate pasta course, and the dining room menu suggests you "eat your pasta as the Italians do," prior to the main course. So each evening the dining room menu offers an appetizer course, soup course, salad course, pasta course, and entree choice, followed by dessert.
The problem is the seeming disorganization in delivering the food. Service seemed rushed, almost chaotic, with people at the same table being served different courses whenever they happened to finish one, rather than in unison. This created a lack of cohesion in the dining experience.
Italian food is one of my favorites, and I looked forward to the delicious taste treats I've enjoyed during my visits to Italy. Unfortunately, I encountered only a few items during our cruise that came close to the Italian food I had led my taste buds to expect. The dishes that did so surely were a gastronomic delight, and my inner voice kept asking why they couldn't produce this type of quality all the time.
The CostaMediterranea is, without doubt, a beautiful ship, with huge potential. However, someone has to spend as much time and energy on the food and service operations as the design team did in creating the ship and atmosphere.
With little effort, one can find amazingly low discounted prices on various sailings of the CostaMediterranea during its Caribbean season. Many passengers we spoke to had booked balcony cabins in the range of $650 per person including port charges and taxes, and lower categories for significantly less. At those prices one could likely overlook the shortcomings and get significant value for their cruise dollar.


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College 'charm schools' offer lessons for aspiring professionals
Massachusetts Institute of Technology students will return from their holiday break to experience something different from their usual studies – but almost as important. It's the university's annual "Charm School," offering instruction in everything from how to make a first impression to how to dress for work to which bread plate to use.
Other colleges have started teaching students how to make small talk, deal with conflict, show up on time, follow business etiquette and communicate with co-workers.
These programs may be fun, or even funny, but there's a deadly serious purpose to them: to give students the kinds of social skills they need to get and keep jobs.
"Everybody here is smart," said Alana Hamlett, who co-directs MIT's Charm School in Cambridge, Mass., which began about 20 years ago and is optional for students. But in a tough job market, she said, "this is one additional tool that will give you an edge. The key to being a step ahead is having those interpersonal skills and being able to work a room."
These are skills that employers complain graduates increasingly are arriving without, skills that many don't learn at home anymore and that take a back seat in an era of omnipresent electronic communications.
"This is a generation with an average of 241 social media 'friends,' but they have trouble communicating in person," said Arthur Levine, the president of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation in Princeton, N.J., who's studied the current crop of students.
Employers increasingly think so, too. More than a third of managers think their youngest hires act less professionally than their predecessors, according to a national survey by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College in Pennsylvania.
"A good resume and a degree only gets you to the table," said Matthew Randall, the center's executive director. "Professional behaviors are what get you a job. And what colleges are trying to do is help these students develop the behaviors that employers want."
York teaches a workshop for sophomores called "Mastering the Art of Small Talk"; two majors – education and sports management – require their students to take it. It also offers a seminar in taking criticism.
"This generation talks better with their thumbs than face to face," Randall said.
It's not just communicating that appears to challenge this latest group of college students. It's mingling, networking, handling conflict, eating – even dressing.
"Students don't really know what's meant by professional dress, whether it's a young lady wearing a skirt that's way too short or a young man whose pants aren't really tailored," MIT's Hamlett said. "Most students just roll out of bed in whatever it is they want to wear. There's this 'come as you are' about being a college student."
Female students in particular, she said, also follow fashion blogs: "So that lends itself to an idea of what they should be wearing, not understanding that what you see on a fashion blog may not exactly be the most appropriate thing to wear to an interview."
At Wake Forest University's business school, master's candidates are required to wear business attire to class and to be in the building from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If they don't know what "business attire" means, that will be covered soon, too, by a program in leadership that starts next year at the Winston-Salem, N.C., school. It will, among other things, teach them how to dress.
Technology also takes a toll on social skills, educators said.
"We're finding that our students just aren't used to face-to-face interaction," Hamlett said. "We're a society that's moving away from face-to-face contact."
That affects students' knowledge of professional etiquette, experts said.
MBA and law students at the University of Iowa learn table manners at an annual "etiquette dinner," where they're told where to rest their silverware between courses and on which side of their place settings to return their water glasses. Other schools are adding similar programs.
Many students don't learn this at home because "a lot of them today don't have parents who know how to navigate these things," said Aaron McDaniel, himself a young professional and the author of "The Young Professional's Guide to the Working World: Savvy Strategies to Get In, Get Ahead, and Rise to the Top," which was published in October.
Smothering baby-boomer parents have protected their children from the demands of the real world, as opposed to showing them how to survive it, McDaniel said.
"We feel so entitled to everything, because everyone has changed their lives for us," said McDaniel, a University of California-Berkeley graduate who was one of the youngest regional vice presidents at AT&T. "Our parents had our lives at the center of theirs, as opposed to teaching us how things really are. It was all about us, and we expect that to continue."
He said some universities got a share of the blame for letting their students think they didn't have to work hard, take responsibility or know how to work in teams.
As a result of this, McDaniel said, in the workplace many graduates "expect that, just for showing up, they'll get credit, just like they used to get at school."


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Last week we gave a talk and demo in Basel at Hyperwerk. Hyperwerk is an institute for post-industrial design (love that title) and feels like a large fablab/hackerspace but one where you can get a bachelor degree :)
They will start using a Frostruder and Makerbot for printing all kinds of material including ceramics. Besides a Makerbot they have a Mendel, ShaperCube and immediately ordered a RapMan after seeing ours. I am looking forward to their results!
Hyperwerk chief Mischa looking at a CNC styrofoam cutter


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Copyright ©2015, Frank Oliver Clark, Ph.D. These documents may be freely used for private purposes, and included in your own genealogy. However, this document is copyrighted and may not be sold, nor given to anyone who may attempt to derive profit from same. Please send any errors, corrections, conjectures, updates, etc. to Frank O. Clark, Ph.D.


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The Bedford County Board of Supervisors is faced with the task of filling a vacancy in its midst. The District 2 supervisor's seat became vacant when Chuck Neudorfer resigned in a fit of pique two weeks ago and walked out of a supervisors meeting when he didn't get his way on a planning commission appointment.
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Vote on Hubble Telescope
March 1st, 2009
March 1st, 2009
This is the International Year of Astronomy(IYA), which means it has been 400 years since Galileo first observed the sky. In celebration, people all over the world are invited to vote on what the next object the Hubble Space Telescope will observe. Wanna cast your vote? Just click here. The gallery of photos here are the six choices up for vote, at the time of this post, they are in order from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, but you can change that if you want!


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Surf Expo 2009: Bylery, Obscura and CWB
Day one is almost over, and here are the brands I've gotten to check out so far.
Byerly Skates
The big news from the Byerly Camp is WOOD BOARDS! At long last the line includes the all-wood Heritage, which comes in both 42" and 40". George and Ross were milling about booth and excited to spread the news. Byerly himself was busy sell-sell-selling and there was a literal line to talk to him, but we can assume he's excited too. Another change in the line up is the lack of the classic Legacy, but it's back in the form of the "Revival," which Ross described as a "mellowed-out version of the Legacy."As always, the Byerly graphics are awesome, but you can check the pictures and see for yourself!
Obscura's concaves have been completely redone for 2010. The nose and tails have been squared off and the flat section enlarged, which according to Aaron Reed is much nicer on the feet. They've also brought back the SST but with a new bottom deck and super uber reinforcement to avoid some of the breakage issues they've had in the past. But possibly the most exciting thing on the forefront for Obscura is a collaborative effort with DVS. The shoe is a light-weight mesh model with Danny and Aaron's pro model graphics on the insoles. For this year all the Obscura graphics are all done in wood block with pastel details.
Matt Manzari was kind enough to show me the CWB line. This year it includes two wakeskates, the Onset (with a better graphic and fiber glass reinforcement to prevent delamination) and Stu Shinn's new pro model concave. Stu was MIA, so Matt did his best to give me all the details by reading the graphic off the board. Pretty much all the info available was it is called the True Mesh and looks like a pretty solid and fun concave.
Check out more images in the gallery


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Red Roses
From coast to coast, red roses are a sign of love and devotion, yet they can also mean so much more. When it's time to send a fresh bouquet that expresses your feelings, 1-800-Flowers.com can help you send the very best. Elegant bouquets, modern designs, and fresh arrangements of red roses are all waiting to let them know you care. It's time to send the wonderful gift of red roses!


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Project X Zone is an upcoming collaboration between Sega, Capcom, and Namco Bandai. The trailer is a collaboration between you, your computer, and 10 minutes of your life.
The game is slated for the 3DS, and it will be out in Japan this fall. Project X Zone does look kind of neato.


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Hello, everyone! It's Crystal Hendrix from over at Hendrixville! I am bringing you another fun, quick, and simple happy quilt! This quilt will bring a smile to your face with it's fun and bright colors! You can be as creative as you like and name this quilt with any line of fabric that uses an "H"….how creative can you get?
1 Jelly Roll Eat {Your Fruit & Veggies by Pat Sloan}
5/8 yard – 1st Border (43010 14)
¾ yard – 2nd Border (43040 62)
½ yard – Binding (43010 16)
4 yards – Backing (43010 107)
Special notes:
*Use a ¼" seam allowance throughout quilt.*
** WOF – Width of Fabric, RST means right sides together. WST means wrong sides together. **
***Images shown are using both the regular and batik style of the line. ***
This quilt is made up by a simple "H" style block. You will need to make a total of 56 blocks.
Cutting Instructions:
Background fabric of block – 112 : 2.5" x 2.5"
Letter fabric of block – 112 : 2.5" x 6.5" and 56 : 2.5" x 2.5"
Border #1 – Cut 5 strips of 2" x WOF
Border #2 – Cut 6 strips of 4" x WOF
Binding – Cut 6 strips of 2.5" x WOF
Backing – Cut 2 : WOF x 66"
For your background and letter fabric, I chose to keep my background a more neutral color and then chose to have my letter fabric to be all the same color. You can do this or you can make your letter be made up of different colors. I would suggest keeping your background a constant color so that your "H" blocks will stand out more.
Block Instructions:
I'm a visual person so I liked to lay my blocks out in the desired pattern before I begin my sewing as shown below. You will assemble your blocks like the following:
Start by sewing your middle squares together to make a single column. Press open seams.
Now sew together you 3 strips to make 1 block. Press open seams.
Trim your block down to 6" if needed.
Now you have your finished block! See how simple that is! But assembled all together it makes a neat effect! Finish making the other 55 "H" blocks.
Assemble Quilt:
We will be assembling this quilt in a 7 x 8 layout. When laying out the blocks, you will be setting down one in the normal "H" position and then add another one with a 90 degree clockwise turn or a "sideways H". See below:
Lay out your blocks until you have a total of 7 blocks. After you have a "sideways H" you will then add another "H" block. See below:
Create a total of 8 rows. Make sure that when you start you're your next row that you have the opposite of the block above. See below:
Once you have sewn your rows together and have pressed the seams, sew the rows together to make your quilt top. Make sure to press your seams after you attach each row.
Now take your fabric that you cut for your Border #1 and make the following:
2 – 2" x 42.5" and 2 – 2 "x 51.5"
Sew the two 2" x 42.5" to the top and bottom of your quilt top and press seams. Then take your two 2" x 51.5" and sew to the side of your quilt and press seams.
Now take your fabric from your Border #2 and create the following:
2 – 4" x 45.5" and 2 – 4" x 58.5"
Sew the two 4" x 45.5" to the top and bottom of your quilt top and press seams. Then take your two 4" x 58.5" and sew to the side of your quilt and press seams.
You have now created your quilt top.
To assemble your backing, Use the following diagram for your guide. You will need to cut your fabric into two 66"xWOF" strips. Then you will take your second strip of 66" x WOF and trim it down to 66" x 20". Sew the two pieces together and press open.
Sandwiching Your Quilt:
There are many different ways to sandwich your quilt, you can use any method you want or use the one that I used. In a large flat area lay the quilt backing down with the RST of the fabric facing the ground, so your WST will be facing up. Using masking tape, tape down the corners of your quilt and then approximately every 5". *TIP* the more tape you use, the more secure it will be and easier to baste the quilt top to. Once your quilt backing is securely taped to the floor take your batting and lay it out on top of the backing. Arrange it to where you want it to be and then take your quilt top and arrange it on top of the backing and batting. Now pin (using safety pins) or basting spray to secure the quilt top to the batting and the backing. Once finished and you are satisfied with how securely sandwiched your quilt is, cut approximately 2" from the quilt top around the entire quilt.
Machine or Hand quilt as desired.
Once again there are several different ways that you can attach the binding to your quilt You may use any method you desire or you can do what I did. Take your 6 strips of binding and sew the ends together. Press in half lengthwise. On any side of the quilt, in the middle pin the top of your binding down and then about 4" down pin it again. You will be stitching through all the quilt layers with the raw edges of binding matching the raw edges of the quilt. When you get to the corner, stop ¼" before the corner. Backstitch, remove the quilt from under your presser foot and fold binding upwards making sure the quilt top and binding are forming a straight line. (Image #1) Holding the fold in place, bring the binding down in the line with the quilt edge. (Image #2) Start stitching at the top of the fold and continue stitching the binding to the quilt, doing the same to the rest of the corners. When you get back to where you started, leave about a 4" strip of binding unsewn. Measure the binding to where you will sew the two end pieces of the binding together. Cut and sew ends together. Now finish sewing the rest of your binding down. Now trip the edge of your quilt so that all you have left is the ¼" seam allowance from your binding stitching. Turn quilt over and fold over the binding. Machine bind or hand bind making sure to miter your corners.
Now your quilt is finished!
This pattern produces a quilt approximately 54" x 60". You can use this as a nice throw on your couch or do what I do and add it to my "living room quilts". I keep it in the living to display the season as well as to give my kids a nice quilt to snuggle up with while watching a movie. Whatever you decide to do with your quilt I am sure you will enjoy it!
To see other quilts that I have made for the Moda Bake Shop and others please visit me at my blog: Hendrixville.blogspot.com. There you can see my wild autism family and many of my different projects. Please feel free to send me any questions or pictures (I would love this) of any quilts that you have made using one of my different tutorials.
Crystal Hendrix


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When was the last time you took a hard look at your casualty insurance? You may be paying too much for policies covering your house, vehicles, property and liability or, at least, paying for the wrong things.
This is a big-ticket item. In 2008 the average household grossing more than $100,000 spent $2,400 for vehicle and home insurance--more than the $2,300 it laid out for medical insurance, where employers help foot the bill, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ace Private Risk Services recently surveyed 600 independent insurance agents, independent meaning that an agent is not the captive of one insurer. These pros said affluent folks typically carry too little insurance for personal liability, the total destruction of their home and damage to collectibles, while wasting dollars on too-low deductibles and too much coverage for ordinary personal property like furniture. Customers also have a habit of failing to ferret out special discounts, such as for having burglar alarms. Here are some pointers.
Don't feel locked in.
A 2008 Consumer Reports subscriber survey found that more than half of those who had switched homeowner carriers in recent years had saved money by doing so. To be sure, this is not proof that a majority of insurance purchasers could save by switching, but it's a strong hint that shopping around is worthwhile.
After Michael Fitzhugh, a financial planner with Aspiriant in San Francisco, got a notice from Fireman's Fund last March raising the combined premium for his home, auto and personal liability insurance by 14%, his independent agent found him a comparable Ace policy at the old price, saving him thousands a year. "If my agent was captive to the company that had jacked up the rates he would have spun me a web," says Fitzhugh, who advises his money-management clients to use an independent agent.
But there's no harm in getting quotes from both an independent agent and from the other kind. State Farm (mutually owned) and
Choose the right type of carrier.
Most independent insurance agents represent both companies such as
Marc Slafsky, a Stoneham, Mass. agent representing 12 carriers, recently put a young lawyer/money manager couple with Chartis because they needed riders covering a $50,000 wedding ring and a live-in nanny and have a custom-built house that would cost $1.3 million to replace. But he insures his own $400,000 home with a standard policy from a unit of Safety Insurance, a stockholder-owned carrier operating primarily in Massachusetts. "If you don't need the extra coverage, why pay for it?" he asks.
Don't skimp on replacement value.
Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, a building-cost data provider, estimates that 58% of U.S. homes are underinsured by an average of 21%. The value of your house might have dropped by 30% or more, but that doesn't mean it will cost less to rebuild. Remember, reconstruction is more expensive per square foot than new construction.
Look into what "replacement" means in your policy. With a typical standard policy you fill in a questionnaire and the carrier uses software to estimate the replacement cost of your home, which is what you pay to insure. If your house burns down, the insurer will shell out at most 125% of the insured value; if that's too little to rebuild, tough. High-end carriers usually have appraisers determine replacement cost before you buy the insurance and then set higher caps--or no caps--on the percentage of insured replacement value they'll lay out.
Another difference: Standard policies specify replacement with "similar" materials. If you have fancy fixtures in your house, get a high-end policy or pay extra for replacement with "like kind and quality" materials. Pamela Cantieri, an agent with Fort Point Insurance Services in San Francisco, signed up a new client with Fireman's after he learned the hard way the meaning of "similar." A kitchen fire destroyed a marble countertop he had bought in Italy. His insurer told him to go to
Another feature of high-end (but not standard) coverage is a cash-out option; you can take the cash instead of being required to rebuild on the site of your destroyed home. This is useful if you're planning to move soon anyway or if the replacement value of your home is above its market value. Such expansive coverage is not easy to come by because underwriters are instinctively worried about moral hazards (if a fire would leave you better off, you might not unplug the Christmas tree lights before you go out).
Cut household contents coverage.
Contents coverage is often automatically pegged at 50% to 70% of the replacement value of your house. "Unless the furniture is made out of gold, oftentimes you're overinsured on contents," says Fitzhugh. Come up with a good estimate of the value of your things--even clothing adds up. Some carriers will let you name an amount of coverage instead of a fixed percentage. This can save you $100 per $100,000 of coverage, says Cantieri. She's put coverage down to zero for vacation homes that are sparsely furnished.
Check how your carrier covers replacement. The standard practice is for the insurer to reimburse the full cost of replacement goods you go out and buy but pay only a minimal depreciated value of lost items you don't replace. The better policies will give you replacement cost, whether or not you buy all new stuff or pocket the cash.
Pay attention to other structures.
On standard policies, this coverage is typically set at 20% of the replacement value of the house--more than enough to cover a gazebo and garden shed but not a detached three-car garage with a guest apartment. "We think the percentage approach doesn't do justice given how different clients' homes are," says Robert Courtemanche, chief executive of Ace. If you've got something out of the ordinary, look into the high-end policies that let you customize other structures' coverage.
Increase your deductibles.
Courtemanche recommends that affluent folks consider $5,000 to $10,000 deductibles on homeowner policies and $1,000 to $2,500 deductibles on auto-collision policies. High deductibles shave hundreds of dollars a year off the premium.
Buy an umbrella.
If people often overinsure against small losses, they underinsure against big ones. "Most clients have outgrown their insurance," says Cantieri. "If someone steps off the curb and you hit them, $100,000 isn't going to go far," she adds. Get an umbrella policy, which kicks in where your auto and home policies end. The right umbrella amount depends on where you live, your profession and your aversion to risk. Get at least $1 million.
Your net worth is just a starting point for thinking about big losses. If you're worth $1 million, a $1 million umbrella is not going to protect you from a $2 million legal judgment, since it would still be worth a lawyer's time to go after your personal assets. Millionaires who drive should have $3 million of umbrella coverage. Most customers get their umbrella policy from the same company that has the home or auto policy. Sometimes you must go to a different insurer--say if you have a high-risk hobby like speedboat racing.
Seek out credits.
Some credits and discounts, such as for being accident- or claim-free for a certain number of years, are automatically applied. But you may have to ask for other credits, such as for a burglar alarm, a backup generator, a water-leak detector or a valve that shuts off the gas if there's an earthquake. Courtemanche says he's seen customers with enough credits to save 30%. Turn in your kid's B-or-better report card for an auto insurance break. (If he's flunking out, take away the keys.) Keep your diamond tiara in a safe deposit box and you'll get a price break on the rider for it.
Get those riders.
Starting a home-based business? If you meet with clients at your home, or even get business deliveries, buy a home-based business endorsement, an add-on that could cost as little as $20 and will protect you if the
Get a good agent or shop online.
If your needs are mundane you can gather several price quotes through sites like Netquote.com or Insweb.com. The main problem with these sites: You can search only for auto and home separately and can't come up with a combined price including an umbrella. But you should still be able to get a read on which carriers are most competitive. After you register you'll get e-mails and/or phone calls from several carriers' representatives or agents, at which point you should be sure to ask about discounts and tailoring the policy to your needs.
If you like the personal touch or you need high-end coverage, use an independent agent; you can search for one at Iiaba.net. The same coverage, through the same insurer, should cost the same whether you deal with an agent by Web and phone or in person. So the hand-holding is free.


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Unified Fabric for a Backup Server
Outside of that large, black, monolithic machine in the middle of the datacenter referred to as the mainframe, there aren't that many servers that require as many network and storage connections as the backup server. It's not really sexy, it's not computing Pi, generally doesn't run a hypervisor and is bought with one goal in mind, move data. Not just some data, but a lot. These machines often move all of the data in your datacenter off of disk and onto tape, either real or virtual. In many datacenters, these backup servers are sometimes the only non-x86 platforms left due to their ability to contain high numbers of HBAs for SAN connectivity and NICs for network connectivity. They're like the tractors of the datacenter.
I was talking to a client of mine the other day and they were talking about moving their backup servers from their existing RISC platform to x86 and Cisco UCS was on the table. The current server had a combination of 14 HBAs and NICs in it for getting to various LAN and SAN networks, to move the terabytes worth of data from various sources into their Virtual tape library infrastructure. They were using 8Gb Fibrechannel HBAs and 10GbE NICs. She was looking for a UCS server that had similar capacity in terms of slots and expansion.
I looked over at the various models of C-Series rack mount servers and didn't see one with that number of slots, but then I realized that I can do better.
Get rid of the HBAs and NICs.
If you look at a backup server, it can be backing up from many different sources and use different protocols to move that data. For example, it could be reading data off the LAN, and then writing it to the SAN. It could read it off the SAN and write it back to the SAN. It's even possible to read from the LAN and write to the LAN. All during the same backup window. So if you had some backup server with 6 HBAs and 8 NICs, if you have a backup job that requires reading and writing to/from the SAN, all those NICs are wasted. Likewise if you're performing a backup job that only requires LAN access, all those 8Gb FC HBAs are wasted as well. Seems like the current model has a ton of wasted bandwidth in it.
So what if we just replaced all those HBAs and NICs with Converged Network Adapters (CNAs) that would allow the server to communicate via FCoE? Now we just need to provide enough overall bandwidth to the server and can leverage all the adapters. So let's use the above example with 6, 8Gb HBAs and 8, 10Gb NICs.
If we look back at J Metz's blog regarding 8Gb FC vs 10GbE FCoE, we see that an 10GbE connection can carry 50% more traffic than an 8Gb FC HBA due to a more efficient encoding method. The above server is currently spec'd out to use 4800MB/s (6 x 800MB/s). However, to get this amount of bandwith with a 10GbE CNA you'd need 4 CNAs, since each CNA can move 1200MB/s. So we've already cut out 2 HBAs, and down to a total of 12 adapters instead of 14.
While a 10Gb CNA doesn't provide you with any more LAN bandwidth than the 10GbE NICs, there is one advantage. Flexibility. Any and all of the CNAs can carry both LAN and SAN traffic. Let's say we propose using the UCS C460 which has 10 PCIe slots in it.
If the server is doing a job where it is reading from the SAN and writing to the SAN. Instead of being limited to 4800MB/s of bandwidth, the server could leverage all of the CNAs to read and write from the SAN. You could now leverage 10 x 1200MB/s or 12,000MB/s for that SAN only job. Likewise for a network only LAN to LAN only job you could leverage 10 NICs instead of 8 as before.
<added on Sept 11, 2012 to the chagrin of my editors>
I was explaining this post to a client today, and it pretty much boiled down to a simpler example with easier to understand numbers. If a 10GbE NIC can push 10Gb of data and a FC HBA can push 6.8Gb of data, then if you replaced the 8Gb FC HBA with a CNA and then rate limited the CNA to only allow 6.8Gb of FCoE traffic, you'd get the leftover 3.2Gb of LAN bandwidth for free. Who doesn't like free? Also, leftovers aren't that bad either.
<Editors: I'm so sorry, I'll have the interns get you bagels>
Do you even need that much bandwidth going into and out of the server? Probably not and therefore my client could reduce the overall number of CNAs in the server from 10 down to maybe 8? How would they know how many to reduce it to? Measure the bandwidth usage on the existing server.
But what if you needed to connect to all these existing FC networks?
That my friends is where you leverage the Nexus 5000 as your access layer. Standardize the server with CNAs and unified connectivity to the access layer and then let the access layer connect to all the various LANs and SANs. With 48 or 96 onboard ports of FC/FCoE/Ethernet and not including expansion via Nexus 2000 Fabric Extenders, you'll have all the ports you need to connect to your existing FC SANs and the ability to provide the flexibility to take advantage of the dynamic backup loads that your infrastructure requires. As an another option, for those of you that leverage the Nexus 7000 for "end of row" topologies, you could connect the server to the Nexus 7000, and then for storage connectivity, connect to your existing MDS switches via FCoE using the 8 Port, 10GbE FCoE module, installed in the MDS, providing solid multi-hop connectivity.
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7 Comments
Scott Curtis
I can also see this on the blade servers. Using a B200 M3, you can get 40G of badwidth to EACH fabric to a server using the mLOM (VIC 1240 with expander card AND/OR VIC 1280). Both of these are CNA's.
this way I can carve up traffic anyway I want without extra cables, ports and power usage compared to a rack mount. Until now, you almost had to use a rack mount for these types of bandwidths as blades couldn't push the traffic. Not true anymore! Do you agree?
Scott Curtis
I think yes. Perhaps I can collaberate with you on a design. Stay tuned.
Why wouldn't you directly connect the backup server to the MDS?
So, like ever since the marketing machines spun up for iscsi and fcoe we come to that one single question: does it cope?


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Pietro wrote a nice post about him finding Android malware while visiting the theatre. Thanks to Thug (thank you Angelo) and HoneyProxy, he was able to get some interesting details about their infrastructure. I was curious what kind of malware you find in a theatre, so I quickly looked at one of the samples that he mentioned: f6ad9ced69913916038f5bb94433848d. Read more »
Some nights ago I was heading to a local theater with some (non-nerd) friends. We did not recall very well the address, so I brought out my phone (LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.4.2 and Google Chrome) and googled for it. I found the theater's official site and started looking for the contact info, when Chrome suddenly opened a popup window pointing me to a Russian web site (novostivkontakte.ru) urging me to update my Flash Player. I laughed loudly and showed them to my (again, totally non-nerd) friends saying that the site had been owned. One of them went on and opened the site with her own phone (Samsung Galaxy S Advance with Android 4.4.1 and the default Android WebKit browser). To make a long story short, after a few instants her phone was downloading a file without even asking her for confirmation. So: Chrome on my Nexus 4 was using social engineering to have me click on a link and manually download the file; Android's WebKit on her Galaxy S Advance was instead downloading the file straight away: interesting! However, we were a bit late and we had to run for the comedy, so I did not even bother to see what the heck she had downloaded, I only made sure she hadn't opened it. I thought it was just the usual exploit kit trying to infect PCs by serving fake Flash Player updates, seen tons of those. While waiting for the comedy to begin, I quickly submitted the compromised site to three different services, the first three ones that came to my mind: HoneyProxy Client, Wepawet and Unmask Parasites, then turned off my phone and enjoyed the show. Read more »
As the deadline of GSOC has passed, I would like to announce the APKinspector Beta1.0. APKinspector is a tool to help Android application analysts and reverse engineers to analyze the compiled Android packages and their corresponding codes. You can review the Alpha version report and the page of this project to know more about it.
Click the picture below to watch a full demonstration video of APKInspector:
Chinese viewers may view the demo at: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjk3ODAwMzU2.html
Based on the Alpha release, APKinspector has added some features as follows: Read more »


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CFA Vs. MBA, which is best for you?
It's a question asked by nearly every aspiring finance professional at one time or another – is my time (and money) best spent pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst designation or a Masters in Business Administration? There's no question that both are valuable credentials, each are capable of delivering higher salaries and better advancement prospects. However, the answer to this question depends on many factors, including your professional goals, background and resources, both in terms of time and money.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
One obvious difference between the CFA program and an MBA program is the breadth of the curriculum. A good analogy is that the curriculum of the CFA program is a foot wide and a mile deep while the curriculum of MBA programs are a mile wide and a foot deep.
If you plan on working in finance, the CFA program will provide a wealth of knowledge. However, if your career path veers out of finance, the chances that you'll be able to utilize the curriculum are limited. In contrast, an MBA program is likely to provide exposure across numerous fields of study that can be applied in almost any position, whether in finance or not. As such, potential CFA candidates are advised to step back and assess their commitment to a career in finance.
For those who are working in another field and view the CFA program as a way to break into a finance career, it may be more appropriate to first obtain a position in the field, even if it's at an entry level, to assess your commitment to a finance career before beginning the CFA program.
What's the Price of Admission?
One of the most popular motivations for enrolling in the CFA program or an MBA program is to create new career opportunities. Today, many finance jobs require either a CFA designation or an MBA. What's the cost to become qualified for these positions? While there are no exact numbers for either the CFA program or an MBA program, we can make a few assumptions that will apply to many aspiring professionals.
First, let's look at the cost of the CFA program. Our first assumption is that it takes, on average, four exams to complete all three levels of the CFA program. Enrollment and registration fees for four exams will cost $1,815 with early registration. The cost of preparation materials can vary widely between CFA candidates. At the low end of the price range is the purchase of study notes and textbooks. Realistically, many candidates require additional preparation such as study seminars, software, online programs, audio programs, video programs or flashcards. The cost of such a comprehensive study plan could be an additional $2,000 per year. Given our relatively aggressive assumption that all three exams will be successfully completed in four attempts, we will assume a fairly aggressive study plan with $1,000 of study material per year, for a total of $4,000 over four years. Therefore, the total cost of obtaining the CFA designation, including registration fees and test preparation materials, would be $5,815.
The cost of an MBA can range dramatically, from a part-time program at a state university to a full-time program at an Ivy League school, the costs may range from $20,000 on the low end to over $100,000 on the high end.
In summary, the cost of obtaining an MBA will range from four to twenty times the cost of the CFA program.
What's Your Time Horizon?
In the previous section we listed an assumption that it will take the average CFA candidate four exams to complete all three levels of the CFA program. Up until December 2003, all three levels of the CFA exam were administered just once per year. In December 2003, the Level I CFA exam was available to be taken twice per year. If a CFA candidate takes the Level I exam in December, the Level II exam the following June, and the Level III exam one year later, it would take approximately two years if you assume that studying for the Level I exam begins in June. While this is certainly an achievable task and there are people who accomplish this, it's becoming very difficult to do with lower pass rates and more demanding careers that allow less study time to prepare for each exam. Since we assume it will take four attempts to pass all three levels of the CFA program, we will assume these four exams will be completed in three years.
In contrast, most full-time MBA programs can be completed in two years. This is perhaps the biggest advantage of pursuing an MBA compared to the CFA designation, because it's likely to qualify you for a better paying job about a year earlier than the CFA program will. If you're able to increase your compensation by $30,000 with an MBA, you will be making $30,000 more than you will be making in the CFA program for an entire year.
I've developed a spreadsheet that computes the net present value of both the CFA program and an MBA program. For illustration, here's a hypothetical scenario with the following assumptions:
Current Salary:
Cost of Capital:
Time to Complete CFA Program:
3 Years
Annual Cost of CFA Program:
Projected Salary Post-CFA Program:
Time to Complete MBA Program:
2 Years
Annual Cost of MBA Program:
Projected Salary Post-MBA Program:
Based on these assumptions, the Net Present Value ("NPV") of the CFA program is $204,394 while the NPV of the MBA program is $177,884. This means that, based on these assumptions, the CFA program is a better investment than an MBA program. However, a change in assumptions can change the answer. If you expect an MBA to deliver a higher salary than you expect after attaining your CFA charter, the answer may be very different. We've made this spreadsheet available so that you can use your own assumptions and see what alternative has the most value for you. To download the spreadsheet file containing this analysis, click on the attachment below.
Self- Study vs. The Classroom?
Perhaps the biggest difference between the CFA program and an MBA is the learning format. The CFA exam is essentially a self-study program that allows candidates to move at their own pace and study as their schedule permits. There are no classes to attend unless you choose to sign up for a review course (for a list of review courses, visit our test prep directory). There are no pop quizzes or progress exams, rather there is the equivalent of one big "final exam" for each level where you must be ready to apply everything you've studied.
The CFA Institute does provide a recommended study timeline that can be used to gauge your progress as you approach the exam date. However, it's up to you to keep up and there will be nobody holding you to the schedule, so self-discipline is important particularly given the quantity of material covered at each level. A great number of very smart people have failed the CFA exam simply because they procrastinated and were unable to catch up.
In contrast, a traditional MBA program has a great deal of structure since it's classroom based. Each class typically consists of several quizzes and exams so it's easy to tell when you fall behind. The learning format in an MBA program is also more likely to be lecture-based, whereas the learning format for the CFA program is text-based.
So, What's Best for Me?
For those individuals who are committed to a career in finance, the CFA program offers a unique opportunity to learn while you work. Very few professions have access to comparable opportunities to earn a renowned designation through self-study at a relatively low cost. However, if you're relatively uncertain about a career in finance, an MBA may be a better choice since it applies to other fields.
In summary, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to continuing your education. Each individual brings a unique background with a unique set of goals. As such, it's important to assess your own situation to determine which opportunity is right for you before you make a significant investment of time and money.
Wouldnt it be worth while to incoporate the lost income due to a full time MBA or time taken off to study for CFA
Akhan, I've added a foregone salary line to the MBA since it could be full time. There is also a new switch to toggle between a full-time and part-time MBA program.
This is very interesting analysis. However, I have some comments. I guess the projected Income post-MBA/CFA may not be realistic. First, an MBA from a mediocre school may not command as high as a 100k, whereas an MBA from an Ivy league school will most likely command much more than a 100k, so I guess like you mentioned, the assumptions will determine the NPV. Secondly, it may not be practicable to advise someone to first get a job in finance before deciding on whether a finance career will be ideal. Frankly, in recent years, good finance jobs in the leading financial centers are too competitive for anything short of a stellar degree/degrees from top schools/CFA Charter holders. Even CFA L3 candidates (myself included) are not finding it easy to secure jobs in these cities, much less somebody who wants to test the waters. Some undergrad courses in finance/career counseling can provide a necessary gauge on whether a finance career is ideal or not. Anyway, this is a very interesting analysis.
I want to go to the MBA school that only charges $35,000 per year! In the economist article on MBA programs this week it seems a more likely figure would be 45-55k for most. http://www.economist.com/node/21532270
At this point in time, If you wanna progress in IM faster you might as well do both
This model was initially developed about 7 years ago so I guess that validates the inflation of tuition rates. Feel free to update the costs of both programs using your specific schools.
I was hoping CFA would make it easy to get in a leading business school, because honestly their admission criteria are mysterious and difficult (even if you can afford it).
Study together. Pass together.
Join the world's largest online community of CFA, CAIA and FRM candidates.


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pmwg needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 65 designs submitted by 30 freelance designers.
Looking for a simple but unique logo for our co. Will be used for contracts, business cards, header on pamphlets. Colors we would like to use are Red, silver, black and white.
Promax Warranty Group Inc.
Desired Color Scheme:
Red, Silver, Black, White
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png)
There will be alot of information on these pamphlets. We would like the logo to be in the top left corner, with an icon, please!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Walk-Away Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables
Why This Recipe Works
For a roast chicken recipe that required very little attention during cooking, we first brined the chicken in a sugar and salt solution, which guaranteed that the meat would be well-seasoned and the skin caramelized. Once the chicken was brined and patted dry, we brushed the bird with olive oil and let it cook undisturbed in the oven without any further basting, resulting in great color and crisp skin, with minimal fuss. To further ensure crisp skin and flavorful meat for our roast chicken recipe, we separated the skin from the meat, pumping up the flavor even more by slipping a little butter between the skin and the meat.


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Thursday, December 20, 2012
Starry River of the Sky
The month of December is quickly passing and somehow Christmas is just around the corner. If you are like me you are frantically finishing up the last loose ends of shopping and so I thought I would post about one of our latest reads in case the last thing on your list is a great book. Starry River of the Sky is Grace Lin's latest book and is considered a companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
Starry River of the Sky features Rendi a young boy who has run away from home and is working as a helping hand at the inn in the Village of Clear Sky. It is a village where nothing is quite right. Master Chao, the innkeeper, and Widow Yang are always fighting, Peiyi and Rendi don't get along and her brother is gone to who knows where. Mr. Shan is a permanent guest at the inn who appears clueless and forgetful but every so often makes a comment that makes Rendi question how crazy he really is. And the moon. It is missing. But only Rendi seems to notice its absence and the loud crying that comes every night.
But one day Madame Chang comes to stay as a guest at the inn and with her arrival begins the telling of enchanting tales. The stories are craftily woven throughout the book, each bearing significance in the greater story and the unraveling of the conclusion. And for the readers of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, some of the tales will ring familiar.
Grace Lin's lyrical writing creates a magical story that left my kids begging for "just one more" chapter each night. And the complexity of plot combined with the beautiful writing made me more than happy to oblige.
Posted by Camille at 10:38 AM 1 comment:
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'American Horror Story' Season 4: Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett to Return?
FX's horror-drama breakout 'American Horror Story' secured its fourth season the other day, though curiously without confirming that series anchor Jessica Lange would return, following reports the star intended only to do one more season beyond 'Coven.' Now, it seems 'Coven' stars Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett have officially been approached to return, but what does it mean for the franchise?
Entertainment Weekly reports that Bates and Bassett have been asked to return for season 4 by Ryan Murphy himself, the pair otherwise new to the series in its third incarnation. Each has received notable acclaim for their eccentric roles, Bates for the real-life torturous figure of Madame LaLaurie, and Bassett for the similarly historical Marie LaVeau.
Said Murphy of the pair's possible season 4 return:
I have approached them and they wanna do it. That's very exciting when you can work with A.) actresses you've always idolized and B.) those two are loving this season. They love what they get to do. Kathy Bates sent the writers a basket of plush toys all in the shapes of disemboweled organs. It doesn't get better than when an Oscar winner sends you a grab bag of stuffed pancreas to say 'Thank you and job well done.'
Thus far, Murphy has revealed of season 4 that we'll likely see the concept set up within the final frame of 'Coven,' additionally teasing of Lange that "Jessica Lange has always wanted to play a Marlene Dietrich figure, and now she gets to." Lange is expected to return for season 4, though no formal confirmation has been offered.
What say you? Would you be glad to see Bassett and Bates return for season 4? What types of roles would you like to see the esteemed actresses take on on 'American Horror Story''s next setting? Check out the latest preview for "The Axeman Cometh" below, and give us your thoughts in the comments!