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UBICC, the Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal [ISSN 1992-8424], is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of information technology. With a world-wide membership, UBICC is a leading resource for computing professionals and students working in the various fields of Information Technology, and for interpreting the impact of information technology on society.
Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing CASE STUDIES IN THIN CLIENT ACCEPTANCE Paul Doyle, Mark Deegan, David Markey, Rose Tinabo, Bossi Masamila, David Tracey School of Computing, Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland WiSAR Lab, Letterkenny Institute of Technology {paul.doyle, mark.deegan, email@example.com,{rose.tinabo, email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com ABSTRACT Thin Client technology boasts an impressive range of financial, technical and administrative benefits. Combined with virtualisation technology, higher bandwidth availability and cheaper high performance processors, many believe that Thin Clients have come of age. But despite a growing body of literature documenting successful Thin Client deployments there remains an undercurrent of concern regarding user acceptance of this technology and a belief that greater efforts are required to understand how to integrate Thin Clients into existing, predominantly PC-based, deployments. It would be more accurate to state that the challenge facing the acceptance of Thin Clients is a combination of architectural design and integration strategy rather than a purely technical issue. Careful selection of services to be offered over Thin Clients is essential to their acceptance. Through an evolution of three case studies the user acceptance issues were reviewed and resolved resulting in a 92% acceptance rate of the final Thin Client deployment. No significant bias was evident in our comparison of user attitudes towards desktop services delivered over PCs and Thin Clients. Keywords: Thin Clients, Acceptance, Virtualisation, RDP, Terminal Services. 1 INTRODUCTION technology. Over a four year period, three Thin Client case studies were run within the Dublin It is generally accepted that in 1993 Tim Negris Institute of Technology with the explicit aim of coined the phrase "Thin Client" in response to Larry determining the success factors in obtaining user Ellison's request to differentiate the server centric satisfaction. The following data criteria were used to model of Oracle from the desktop centric model evaluate each case study in addition to referencing prevalent at the time. Since then the technology has the Universal Theory of User Acceptance Testing evolved from a concept to a reality with the (UTUAT) [1]. introduction of a variety of hardware devices, network protocols and server centric virtualised 1) Login events on the Thin Clients. environments. The Thin Client model offers users 2) Reservation of the Thin Client facility. the ability to access centralised resources using full 3) The cost of maintaining the service. graphical desktops from remotely located, low cost, stateless devices. While there is sufficient literature 1.2 Paper Structure in support of Thin Clients and their deployment, the In section 2 we review the historical background strategies employed are not often well documented. and trends of Thin Client technology to provide an To demonstrate the critical importance of how Thin understanding of what the technology entails. Clients perform in relation to user acceptance we Section 3 discusses the case for Thin Clients within present a series of case studies highlighting key existing literature including a review of deployments points to be addressed in order to ensure a successful within industry and other educational institutes. deployment. Section 4 provides details of the three case studies discussing their design, evaluating the results, and 1.1 Research Aim providing critical analysis. Section 5 takes a critical The aim of this research has been to identify a look at all of the data and sections 6 and 7 provide successful strategy for Thin Client acceptance within conclusions and identify future work. This paper is an educational institute. There is sufficient literature aimed at professionals within educational institutes which discusses the benefits of Thin Client adoption, seeking ways to realize the benefits of Thin Client and while this was referenced it was not central to computing while maintaining the support and the aims of this research as the barrier to obtaining acceptance of users. It provides a balance between these benefits was seen to be acceptance of the UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 585 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing the hype of Thin Clients and the reality of their The challenge faced by Thin Client technology is deployment. to deliver on these lower costs and mobility, while continuing to provide a similarly rich GUI user 2 THIN CLIENT EVOLUTION experience to that provided by the desktop machine (a challenge helped by improved bandwidth, but The history of Thin Clients is marked by a latency is still often a limiting factor [4]) and the number of overly optimistic predictions that it was flexibility with regard to applications they have on about to become the dominant model of desktop their desktop. Typically, current Thin Client systems computing. In spite of this there have been a number have an application on a server (generally Windows of marked developments in this history along with or Linux) which encodes the data to be rendered into those of desktop computing in general which are a remote display protocol. This encoded data is sent worth reviewing to set the context for examining the over a network to a Thin Client application running user acceptance of this technology. Thin Clients have on a PC or a dedicated Thin Client device to be established a role in desktop computing although not decoded and displayed. The Thin Client will send quite the dominant one initially predicted. These user input such as keystrokes to the application on developments have usually been driven by increases the server. The key point is that the Thin Client does in processing power (and reductions in the processor not run the code for the user's application, but only costs) in line with Moore's law, but the the code required to support the remote display improvements in bandwidth and storage capacity are protocol. having an increasing effect on desktop computing While the term Thin Client was not used for and on Thin Client computing [2] driving the move dumb terminals attached to mainframes in the 1970's, towards more powerful lower cost desktops but also the mainframe model shared many of the attributes the possibilities of server virtualisation and Thin of Thin Client computing. It was centralised, the Client computing with the ability to run Thin Clients mainframe ran the software application and held the over WANs. data (or was attached to the data storage) and the The first wave of computing was one where terminal could be shared by users as it did not retain centralised mainframe computers provided the personal data or applications, but displayed content computing power as a shared resource which users on the screen as sent to it by the mainframe. From a accessed using dumb terminals which provided basic desktop point of view, the 1980's were dominated by text based input and output and then limited graphics the introduction and adoption of the Personal as they became graphics terminals. These Computer. mainframes were expensive to purchase and were Other users requiring higher performance and administered by specialists in managed environments graphics used Unix Workstations from companies and mostly used for specific tasks such as like Apollo and Sun Microsystems. The X Window performing scientific calculations and running highly System [5] was used on many Workstations and X specialised bespoke payroll systems. terminals were developed as a display and input The next wave was that of personal computing, terminal and provided a lower cost alternative to a whereby users administered their own systems which Unix Workstation, with the X terminal connecting to provided a platform for their personal applications, a central machine running an X display manager. As such as games, word-processor, mail and personal such, they shared some of the characteristics of a data. Since then the personal computer has Thin Client system, although the X terminal ran an X undergone a number of significant changes, but the Server making it more complicated than Thin Client one of most interest was the nature of the interface devices. provided to the user which has grown into a rich The 1990's saw the introduction of several remote Graphical User Interface where the Personal display protocols, such as Citrix's ICA [6] Computer became a gateway to the Internet with the Microsoft's RDP [7] and AT&T's VNC [8] for Unix Web browser evolving into a platform for delivery of that took advantage of the increasing bandwidth rich media content, such as audio and video. available on a LAN to provide a remote desktop to This move from a mainframe centralised users. computing model to a PC distributed one resulted in Terminal Services was introduced as part of a number of cost issues related to administration. Windows NT4.0 in 1996 and it offered support for This issue was of particular concern for corporate the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) allowing access organizations, in relation to licensing, data security, to Windows applications running on the Server, maintenance and system upgrades. For these cost giving users access to a desktop on the Server using reasons and the potential for greater mobility for an RDP client on their PC. RDP is now offered on a users, the use of Thin Clients is often put forward as range of Windows platforms [9]. Wyse and vendors a way to reduce costs using the centralised model of such as Ncomputing launched terminals, which the Thin Client architecture. This also offers lower didn't run the Windows operating system, but purchase costs and reduces the consumption of accessed Windows applications on a Windows energy [3]. Server using RDP, which is probably still the UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 586 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing dominant role of dedicated hardware Thin Clients. bidding. The relationship is the inverse of the Similarly VNC is available on many Linux and Unix mainframe era: the people get the air conditioning distributions and is commonly used to provide now, and the nice floors, and the computers live out remote access to a user's desktop. These remote in cyberspace and sit there waiting eagerly to do display protocols face increasing demands for more something for us". [16] desktop functionality and richer media content, with ongoing work required in how, where and when 3 THE CASE FOR THIN CLIENTS display updates are encoded, compressed or cached [10]. Newer remote display protocols such as THINC There are many stated benefits for Thin Clients have been designed with the aim of improving these all of which are well documented [17][18]. While capabilities [11]. there is no single definitive list, potential system In 1999, Sun Microsystems took the Thin Client designers may have different aims when considering model further with the SunRay, which was a simple Thin Clients, these benefits should be clearly network appliance, using its own remote display understood prior to embarking on any deployment protocol called ALP. Unlike some of the other Thin and are discussed below. Clients which ran their own operating system, SunRay emphasized its completely stateless nature 3.1 Reduced cost of software maintenance [12]. This stateless nature meant that no session The administrative cost benefit of the Thin information or data was held or even cached (not Client model, according to Jern [19] is based on the even fonts) on the appliance itself and enabled its simple observation that there are fewer desktop session mobility feature, whereby a smart card was images to manage. With the combination of used to identify a user with a session so that with the virtualisation environments and Windows Terminal smartcard the user could login from any SunRay Service (WTS) systems it would not be uncommon connected to the session's server and receive the for twenty five or more desktop environments to be desktop as it was previously. supported from a single installation and Many of these existing players have since configuration. This reduces the number of upgrades focused on improving their remote desktop protocols and customizations required for desktop images in and support for multimedia or creating new hardware computer laboratories where the aim is to provide a platforms. There have also been some newer arrivals consistent service from all systems. Kissler and Hoyt like Pano Logic and Teradici who have developed [20] remind us that the "creative use of Thin Client specific client hardware to create "zero" clients, with technology can decrease both management supporting server virtualisation to render the remote complexity and IT staff time." In particular they display protocols. Also, there are a number of chose Thin Client technology to reduce the managed virtual desktops hosted in a data centre now complexity of managing a large number of kiosks being offered. and quick-access stations in their new thirty three One of the drivers behind Thin Client million dollar library. They have also deployed Thin Technology, particularly when combined with a Client devices in a range of other roles throughout dedicated hardware device, is to reduce the cost of Valparaiso University in Indiana. Golick [21] on the the client by reducing the processing requirement to other hand suggests that the potential benefits of a that of simply rendering content, but a second driver Thin Client approach include the lower mean time to (and arguably more important one) is to gain a level repair (MTTR) and lower distribution costs. It is of universality by simplifying the variations in the interesting to note that he does suggest that the client side environment. This has been met in a potential cost savings for hardware are a myth, but number of new ways using Virtual Machine players that administration savings still make a compelling and USB memory in Microsoft's research project case for using Thin Client technology. "Desktop on a Keychain" (DOK) [13] and also the Moka5 product [14], allowing the mobility (and 3.2 Enhanced Security security) benefits attributed to Thin Clients. This can Speer and Angelucci [22] suggest that security be enhanced with the use of network storage to cache concerns should be a major factor in the decision to session information [15]. adopt Thin Client systems and this becomes more It can be seen that Thin Clients have evolved apparent when referencing the Gartner Thin Client along with other desktop computing approaches, classification model. The Thin Client approach often driven by the same factors of increasing ensures that data is stored and controlled at the data- processing power, storage capacity and bandwidth. centre hosting the Thin Client devices. It is easy to However, newer trends that are emerging with regard argue that the user can retain the mobility of laptops to virtualisation, internet and browser technologies, but with enhanced security and the data is not together with local storage, present new challenges mobile, just the access point. The argument is even and opportunities for Thin Client technology to win easier to make when we consider recent high-profile user acceptance. As Weiser said in 1999 in this new cases of the theft of unencrypted laptops containing era, "hundreds or thousands of computers do our sensitive medical or financial records. The freedom UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 587 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing conferred on users of corporate desktop and laptop 1) 5.4 million kWh reduction, PCs undermines the corporation's obligations in 2) 2,800 tonnes of CO2 saved annually relation to data privacy and security. Steps taken to 3) Servers reduced by a factor of 20 protect sensitive data on user devices are often too 4) IT budget cut by a fifth little and too late. Strassmann [23] states that the most frequent use of a personal computer is for Indeed there are many deployments focused on accessing web applications and states that the Thin obtaining energy savings through the use of Thin Client model demonstrates significantly lower Clients. In a case study where SunRay systems were security risks for the corporation. Five security introduced into Sparkasse a public German Bank, justifications for adopting the Thin Client model Bruno-Britz [25] reports that the savings in were proposed. electricity costs alone were enormous. The University of Oxford has deployed SunRay Thin 1) Zombie Prevention Client devices in their libraries citing the cooler and 2) Theft Dodging quieter operation as factors in their decision. These 3) File Management devices, having no local hard disk and no fan operate 4) Software Control at a lower temperature and more quietly than 5) Personal Use Limitations traditional PCs. This characteristic has environmental implications from noise, cooling and Strassmann concedes that Thin Clients are not power consumption perspectives. necessarily best for every enterprise and every class of user, but for enterprises with a large number of 3.5 Summary of Benefits stationary "non-power" users, "Thin Clients may In summary, we can extract the benefits present the best option in terms of security, cost observed within literature and case studies as effectiveness and ease of management." follows: 3.3 User Mobility 1) Increased security as data maintained centrally User mobility can refer to the ability of a user to 2) Reduced cost of hardware deployment and use any device, typically within the corporation's management and faster MTTR intranet, as a desktop where the user will see a 3) Reduced administration support costs consistent view of the system, for example, SunRay 4) Environmental costs savings hot-desking. While user profiles in Microsoft 5) Reduced cost of software maintenance Windows support this, it is often only partially 6) Reduced cost of software distribution implemented. Session mobility can be viewed as the 7) Zero cost of local software support facility for users to temporarily suspend or 8) The ability to leverage existing desktop hardware disconnect their desktop session and to have it re- and software appear, at their request, on a different device at a 9) Interface portability and session mobility later time. This facility removes the need for users to 10) Enhanced Capacity planning log-out or to boot-up a desktop system each time 11) Centralised Usage Tracking and Capacity they wish to log-in. Both of these potential features Planning of Thin Client technologies help to break the sense of personal ownership that users often feel for their 3.6 Thin Clients vs. Fat Clients desktop or laptop computers. It is this sense of Thin Client technology has evolved in personal ownership which makes the maintenance sophistication and capability since the middle of the and replacement of corporate PCs a difficult task, 1990s, however the "thickness" (the amount of and this feeling of ownership and control is often a software and administration required on the access reason why users resist the adoption of a centrally device) of the client is a source of distinction for controlled Thin Client to replace their desktop, many vendors [26][27]. Regardless of "thickness", whereas this is exactly why IT management may Thin Clients require less configuration and support want to adopt it. when compared to Fat Clients (your typical PC). In the early 1990s Gartner provided a client-server 3.4 Environmental Costs reference design shown in Figure 1. This design In the article "An Inefficient Truth" Plan [24] provides clarity for the terms "thin" and "fat" clients reveals a series of "truths" supported by a number of by viewing applications in terms of the degree of case studies directed at the growing costs of data access, application and presentation logic Information and Communication Technologies. One present on the server and client sides of the network. such case study is of Reed Managed Services where The demand for network based services such as 4,500 PCs were replaced with Thin Clients, and a email, social networking and the World Wide Web centralised blade server providing server based has driven bandwidth and connectivity requirements virtualised desktops. Savings are reported as follows: to higher and higher levels of reliability and performance [28]. As we progress to an "always on" UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 588 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing network infrastructure the arguments focused against incomplete and flawed technology. In the case of Thin Clients based on requiring an offline mode of Thin Clients, it should be accepted that there are usage are less relevant. The move from Fat Client to tradeoffs to be made. One of the appealing aspects of Thin Client is however often resisted as individuals the Fat client is its ability to be highly flexible which find themselves uncomfortable with the lack of facilitates extensive customization. However not choice provided when the transition is made, as every user will require that flexibility and observed by Wong et al.[29]. customization. Thin Clients are not going to be a silver bullet addressing all users needs all of the time. All three case studies were evaluated under the following headings in order to allow a direct comparison between each. These criteria were selected to ensure that there was a balance between the user acceptance of the technology and the technical success of each deployment. 1) Login events on the Thin Clients 2) Reservation of the Thin Client facility 3) The cost of maintaining the service Figure 1: Gartner Group Client/Server Reference Design 4 CASE STUDIES No matter how well documented the benefits of Thin Clients may be, there is still an issue of acceptance to be addressed. While it may be tempting to assume that the implementation of technology is a technical issue and that simply by Figure 2: Case Study 1 building solutions a problem is effectively solved, evidence would point to the contrary. As there can 4.1 DIT Case Study 1 often be a disparity between what is built and what is In 2005 the DIT introduced the SunRay Thin required or needed. Too often requirements Client technology into the School of Computing. In a gathering, specification definition and user similar approach to many other technology consultation are forgotten in the rush to provide new deployments the strengths of the technology were services which are believed to be essential. In reviewed and seen as the major selling points of the essence the notion of "if we build it they will come" deployment. In the case of SunRay there was a cheap is adopted, inevitably causing confusion and appliance available which would provide the service frustration for both service provider and the user. For of graphical based Unix desktops. Centralised example, during Sun Microsystems' internal administration ensured that the support costs would deployment of its own SunRay Thin Client solution be low and the replacement requirements for systems many groups and functions sought exemptions from for the next five years would be negligible. In the deployment as they believed that their essence the technological and administrative requirements were sufficiently different to the advantages were the focus of this deployment. Few "generic user" to warrant exclusion from the project. of the services offered within the existing PC The same arguments still exist today and it is often infrastructure were included in the deployment. This those with a more technical understanding of the deployment sought to offer new services to students technology who are the agents of that technology's and introduced Thin Clients for the first time to both demise. By providing interesting and often creative students and staff. edge cases which identify the limitations of a technology, they can, by implication, tarnish it as an UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 589 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing 4.1.1 Design Given that the nature of the service did not A single laboratory was identified for deploying significantly change over the course of the three the SunRay systems and all PC in that lab were years that the system was in place with the exception replaced with SunRay 150 devices. A private of semester activity in line with student presence in network interconnect was built which ensured that all the institute, it is clear that there was low utilization data sent from the clients traversed a private network of the service. The graph shows raw data plotted, to the SunRay server. The initial design of this case where login events were less than 10 per day. study is shown in Figure 2 and it allowed students within this new Thin Client lab access to the latest version of Solaris using a full screen graphical environment as opposed to an SSH command-line 14 Unix shell which was the traditional method still 12 used from existing computing laboratories. A new 10 authentication system was introduced based on Login Events per day LDAP which required students to have a new 8 username and password combination which was 6 different to the credentials already in use within the Active Directory domain used for the existing PC 4 network. The reason for this alternative 2 authentication process was due to the difficulty of authenticating on a Unix system using Active 0 Directory. Once the server was running, the Thin Feb 05 Feb 06 Feb 07 Feb 08 Client laboratory was ready to provide graphical based Unix login sessions at a considerable reduced price when compared to an investment of Unix Figure 3: User Login Events workstations for each desk. In total 25 Thin Client devices were installed which were all connected to a Reservation of the Thin Client Facility: single Solaris server. In summary the key Each laboratory may be reserved by staff for the components within the design were as follows: delivery of tutorial sessions and exercises. The hourly reservations for this laboratory were reduced 1) The service was on a private network as a result of the introduction of Thin Clients with 2) New authentication process was introduced only 1 to 2 hours being reserved per day. One of the 3) New storage mechanism was introduced primary reasons for the reduction in the use of this 4) Devices were all in the same location facility was the fact that it had now become special 5) Service provided was a CDE desktop on Solaris purpose and the bookings for the room were limited 6) Graphical desktops running on Linux servers also to the courses which could be taught within it. accessible The Cost of Maintaining the Service: 4.1.2 Results A detailed analysis of cost savings associated with The login events are a measure of the general the introduction of Thin Clients within our institute activity of the devices themselves and were and specifically the costs associated with this case considered to be a reasonable benchmark for study was performed by Reynolds and Gleeson, [30]. comparison with existing laboratories within the In their study they presented evidence of savings in institute. One interesting point is that the comparison relation to the cost of support, the cost of deployment of facilities is not necessarily relevant when the and a basic analysis of the power consumption costs. facilities provide different services. Due to the fact They review both the system and the software that Unix instead of Windows was provided meant distribution steps associated with Thin Clients and that, with the exception of those taking courses PC systems and present a point of quantifiable involving Unix, the majority of students were comparison between the two. Key findings of this unfamiliar with the technology and did not seek to analysis were as follows: use the systems. 1) Time spent performing system upgrades and Login events on the Thin Clients: hardware maintenance was reduced to virtually The login events were extracted from the Solaris zero as no hardware or software upgrades were server by parsing the output of the last command required. which displays the login and logout information for 2) A single software image was maintained at the users which it extracts from the /var/adm/wtrmpx central server location and changes were made file. The number of login events per day was available instantly to all users. calculated and plotted in the graph shown in Fig. 3. 3) No upgrade costs were incurred on the Thin Immediately obvious was the low use of the system. Clients or server hardware. All systems have UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 590 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing remained in place throughout both case studies. This is defined as the degree to which there is a The devices in this lab are now 8 years old and perception of how others will view or judge them are fulfilling the same role today as they did based on their use of the system. Clearly by when first installed. isolating the devices and having it associated 4) The Thin Client lab is a low power consumption with specialized courses, there was no social environment due to the inherent energy efficiency imperative to use the labs. Unix as a desktop was of the Thin Client hardware over existing PCs. relatively uncommon in the School at the time of This can provide up to 95% energy savings when the case study and there would have been a compared to traditional PCs [24]. moderate to strong elitist view of those who were technical enough to use the systems. 4.1.3 Analysis d) Facilitating Conditions There has been extensive research in the area of This is defined as the degree to which an user acceptance of technology, but perhaps the most individual believes in the support for a system. At relevant work in this area is the Unified Theory of first glance this does not appear to be a Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) [1] significant factor considering that the services which identifies four primary constructs or factors; were created by the support team and there was considerable vested interest in seeing it succeed. a) Performance Expectancy However additional questions asked by the b) Effort Expectancy UTAUT include the issue of compatibility with c) Social Influence systems primarily used by the individual. d) Facilitating Conditions Each of the UTAUT factors can be considered While there are additional factors such as significant for Case Study 1. Many of the issues Gender, Age and Experience, within the student raised hang on the fundamental issue that the new populations these are for the most part reasonably services offered on the Thin Client were different to consistent and will be ignored. It should be stressed existing services and for all practical purposes seen that although the UTAUT was developed for an as incompatible with the majority of systems industry based environment it is easily adapted for available to students elsewhere. The fact that the our purposes. It was felt that this model serves as a technology itself may have worked flawlessly, and relevant reference point when discussing the may have delivered reduced costs was irrelevant as performance of the case studies. the service remained under utilized. Given that the Clearly Case Study 1 failed to gain acceptance reason for this lack of acceptance was potentially despite belief that it would in fact be highly inherent in the implementation of services and not successful at its inception. We review the case study due to failings in the technology itself it was clear under the four UTAUT headings to identify the that a second case study was required which would source of the user rejection of the Thin Clients. address the issue of service. a) Performance Expectancy This factor is concerned with the degree to which the technology will assist in enhancing a users own performance. Clearly however the services provided an advantage to those students who wished to use Unix systems. Since the majority of courses are based on the Windows operating system it would be reasonable to assume that there was no perceived advantage in using a system which was not 100% compatible with the productivity applications used as part of the majority of courses. b) Effort Expectancy This factor is concerned with the degree of ease associated with the use of the system. One of the clear outcomes of Case Study 1 was that students rejected the Unix systems as it was seen to be a highly complex system, requiring additional authentication beyond what was currently used in traditional laboratories. Figure 4: Case Study 2 c) Social Influence UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 591 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing 4.2 Case Study 2 b) Course specific Windows Terminal Servers for The second case study is a modification of the courses where there were specific software basic implementation of the first case study with requirements not common to all students. changes focused on increasing student acceptance of c) Individual Virtualised desktops for students in the Thin Client facility. Removing the Unix centric specific modules where administration rights nature of the existing service was central to the were required. system redesign. It was decided that additional d) All services were made available from both the services could be easily and cheaply offered to the Thin Client and PC labs as they were available Thin Client environment providing users with the over the Remote Desktop Protocol RDP. ability to access more compatible services from e) Provisioning of an easy access point to all within the Thin Client environment. Figure 4 services from within the Thin Client environment identifies the key components within the design. which was not available from PC systems. 4.2.1 Design 4.2.2 Results The most important addition to the second case The data gathered for Case Study 2 was evaluated study was the provision of additional services which under same three headings as per case study 1. were similar to those available in PC labs. This was to ensure that students could use this facility and 1) Login events on the Thin Clients have an experience on a par with the PC labs. A new 2) Reservation of the Thin Client facility. domain was created where Unix and Windows 3) The cost of maintaining the service. shared a common authentication process. Due to difficulties integrating Unix and the existing 25 Windows authentication process, the new Domain was built on the LDAP system with SAMBA 20 providing the link between the new Windows Login Events per Day Terminal Servers and the LDAP system. While 15 Case Study 2 students could now use the same username and password combination for Windows and Unix 10 systems this was not integrated into the existing Case Study 1 5 Windows authentication process. Students were still required to have two sets of credentials, the first for 0 the existing PC labs, and the second for access to a new domain containing a number of Windows 08 Feb 22 Feb 08 Mar 22 Mar 05 Apr Terminal Servers and the original graphical Unix Figure 5: User Login Event Comparison desktop. While the Thin Clients now provided Windows and Unix graphical desktops, the new Login events on the Thin Clients: Windows Domain was also accessible from existing Figure 5 shows a comparison of activity during PC labs via RDP connections to the Terminal the same time period for the two case studies. To Servers. This allowed classes to be scheduled either identify trends in the data a displacement forward inside or outside of the Thin Client laboratory. In moving average was performed on the data as shown addition to providing Windows Terminal Services in Eq. (1). (WTS), student owned virtual machines were now also available. Due to the fact that most services (1) were now available from all locations, the ease of access to the services from within the Thin Client lab was improved by providing users with a menu of destinations upon login. This new login script It is clear that for the same time period there was effectively provided a configurable redirection a significant increase in the use of the system as the service to the WTS and Virtualisation destinations number of login events increased by a factor of 4. using the rdesktop utility [31] which performed a full Once again the login events were extracted from the screen RDP connection to specified destinations. An Solaris server by parsing the output of the last interesting outcome of this destination chooser was command. that any RDP based destination could be included regardless of the authentication process used. This Reservation of the Thin Client Facility: would however require a second authentication The changes to the Thin Client facility were process with the connecting service. The new announced at the start of the second academic services provided were as follows: semester as a PC upgrade and the number of room bookings increased as shown in Figure 6 from 6 a) A general purpose Windows Terminal Server hours a week to 20 hours a week. This was due to with mounted storage for all students and staff. the use of the room as a Windows based laboratory UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 592 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing using the new WTS and virtualisation services. modules being taught using these new services were still required go through a new login/access 8 process which was not well documented. For Case Study 1 Hours per day example within the Thin Client labs the new 6 Case Study 2 username/password combination was required to access the choice of destinations from the 4 devices. This acted as a barrier to use even 2 though emails were sent to students and information on how to access these accounts 0 were posted in the labs. Usernames were based Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri on existing student ID numbers. c) Social Influence Figure 6: Thin Client Room Reservations Little changed in this case study for those who did not have a teaching requirement based on the The Cost of Maintaining the Service: new services. All of the benefits observed from the first case d) Facilitating Conditions study were retained within this case study. The With the provision of WTS services and virtual addition of terminal services reduced the reliance of machines which provided Windows students on Fat Client installations. Students are now environments the issue of compatibility was using virtual machines and terminal servers on a reduced. However two issues remained which regular basis from all labs. were not addressed. Firstly while users could now share a common data store between systems on 4.2.3 Analysis this new domain there was no pre-packaged This second case study certainly saw an access to the data store on the existing PC improvement over its earlier counterpart and students domain. While it was technically possible to and staff could now access more familiar services combine both under a single view, this required from the Thin Client lab. Given the dramatic increase user intervention and additional training which relative to the earlier results it could be stated that was not provided. Secondly the sequence of steps the introduction of the more familiar services required to access choices from the Thin Clients increased the acceptance of the facility. Both case was a non-standard login process which now studies demonstrated equally well that it is possible required a second login, the first of which was at to obtain the total cost of ownership benefits using a a Unix graphical login screen. For many this Thin Client model, but the services offered has a initial login step remained as a barrier to using dramatic affect on user acceptance. It is useful to the system. review the outcome in relation to the UTUAT. The most striking result from this case study is a) Performance Expectancy that while the second case study demonstrated Given that new services such as personalised significant increase in acceptance and use, the PC virtual machines were now available, staff and environments remained the system of choice for students could identify a clear advantage to the students, as shown in Figure 7. In this graph we system where administration rights could be show the typical use PC laboratory within the same provided in a safe manner, allowing more faculty. Thin Client use remained less than one third complex and previously unsupported activities of the use of the busiest computer laboratory. Thin to take place. For example, the Advanced Clients are shown to be capable of providing services Internet module for the MSc. students could now equally well to both Windows and Unix users by build and administer full web servers which introducing the ability of students to access their own could remain private to the student ensuring that private desktop from many locations, however this no other student could access or modify a feature alone was not enough to entice users from the project which was a work in progress. existing PC infrastructure. Clearly the introduction of b) Effort Expectancy virtualisation to the infrastructure allowed new Considerable improvements were made in this services to be developed and used from Thin and Fat case study to allow users to access well known clients which could be seen as a potential for environments from both the Thin Clients and PC migrating users to a Thin Client/Virtualisation systems. Students who were taught modules model, which indeed is a future planned initiative. using the new WTS or virtual environments were The results show a definite increase in the use of the trained on how to access the systems, and once Thin Client facilities with data being gathered from they used them they continued to do so the same period over both case studies to eliminate throughout the year. Those who did not have any bias which might occur due to module schedule UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 593 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing differences at different time periods during the year. locations. It was essential that the Thin Clients were The timing and method used to announce the not to be identifiable by students if at all possible, changes was critical to the increase in acceptance. and to co-locate them with existing PC systems. To The announcement of the systems as a PC upgrade ensure that all devices behaved in a consistent removed some of the barriers which existed for users manner to PCs they must boot and present the same who did not feel comfortable with a Unix login screen as would be expected on a PC in the environment but failed to attract a majority of the same location. To achieve this all Thin Client students. devices with the exception of the SunRay systems used a Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) [32] 80 boot process to connect to a Linux Terminal Server 70 Project server (LTSP). The server redirected the user PC Lab 1 60 session to the correct WTS using rdesktop where the user was presented with a Windows login screen 50 identical to those on adjacent PC systems. Login Events per Day 40 The SunRay systems were run in Kiosk mode 30 which allowed the boot sequence to redirect the 20 Case Study 2 session to a WTS also via the rdesktop utility. The 10 WTS were installed on a VMWare ESX Server to Case Study 1 allow rollback and recovery of the servers. This 0 however was not central to the design of the case 08 Feb 22 Feb 08 Mar 22 Mar 05 Apr study and only served as a convenience in sharing hardware resources between multiple servers. The Figure 7: Comparison with PC Computer Labs only concern was the potential performance of the WTS under a virtualised model. Given that the 4.3 Case Study 3 applications were primarily productivity applications such as word processing and browsing, and that the The third case study was designed using the maximum number of users allowable on any WTS experiences of the first two case studies and was was 25 (based on the number of devices which were extended beyond the School of Computing. It was directly connected to the WTS) this was considered aimed at demonstrating the capability of the Thin to be within the acceptable performance range of the Client technology in two different demographic architecture. This assumption was tested prior to the environments, the first was one of the Institute case study being made accessible to students with no Libraries where PCs were used by students from specific issues raised as to warrant further many different faculties and the second was within restructuring of the architecture the Business faculty where computer system use was Seventy five Thin Clients were deployed in six provided in support of modules taught within that locations. The following Thin Client devices were faculty. This case study expressed the following used as shown in Figure 8 and Table 1. aims at the outset 1) To demonstrate the use of Thin Client technology within the student population and determine the level of student acceptance of that technology. 2) To implement a number of alternative technologies in order to provide a point of comparison with respect to their overall performance and acceptance. 3) To determine the capability of the existing network infrastructure to support Thin Clients. 4.3.1 Design Unlike the previous case studies the aim was to insert Thin Clients into the existing environment as invisibly as possible. This meant that existing authentication processes were to be maintained. There were two different authentication processes in place which needed to be support, Novell Client for the Business faculty and Active Directory for the Library. In both cases a WTS system was built which joined to the respective domains. Applications were installed on the Thin Client in order to mirror those Figure 8: Case Study 3 that were present on existing PCs in the chosen UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 594 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing remotely from the primary labs within the Business Table 1: Thin Clients deployed faculty and traditionally did not have high use. Lab 2 Device Boot Mode Quantity was a more central location and again as expected Dell GX260 PXE Boot PC 15 this exhibited greater user activity. The systems Dell FX 160 PXE Boot TC 25 remained in operation continually for the period of HP T5730 PXE Boot TC 8 the case study which was over one month during Fujitsu FUTRO S PXE Boot TC 2 which data was collected from the three WTS SunRay 270 SunRay 25 systems. 4.3.2 Linux Terminal Server Project 4.3.4 User Survey LTSP works by configuring PCs or suitable Thin Once the case study was running a desktop Clients to use PXE-Boot to obtain the necessary satisfaction survey which employed the Likert scale kernel and RDP client used as part of this project. [33] was conducted to obtain feedback from students These are obtained from a TFTP server whose IP using the Thin Client systems. The design of the address is provided as a DHCP parameter when the questionnaire was such that students were asked to client PXE-Boots. As part of the DHCP dialogue, identify their desktop using a colour coded system devices configured to PXE-Boot are given settings which was known only to the authors. Each of the by the DHCP server. These include; TFTP Boot Thin Clients and a selection of PC systems (which Server Host Name and Bootfile Name. were not PXE booted) where targeted for the survey The necessary settings were configured on each to allow a comparative analysis between all Thin of the DHCP servers serving the relevant locations Clients and existing PC systems to be performed. within the DIT so as to point any PXE-Boot devices The survey did not reference Thin Clients in any of to the relevant LTSP boot server and to specify the the questions but rather sought feedback on kernel to be loaded by the PXE-Boot client. Using application use and overall satisfaction with the these settings the PXE-Boot clients load a Linux performance of the system through a series of kernel and then an RDP client which connects to one questions. There were 234 responses recorded for the of the three WTS used as part of this case study. survey. The key questions in the survey were as follows. 1) Please rate the overall performance of the 140 machine you are currently using Login Events per Day 120 2) Please identify the primary reason you used this 100 computer 3) How would you rate your overall satisfaction 80 Library with this desktop? Lab 2 60 4) Would you use this desktop computer again? 40 Lab 1 80% 20 User Satisfaction Ratings 0 75% 17 Apr 24 Apr 1 May 8 May 15 May 70% 65% Figure 9: User Login Event Comparison 60% 4.3.3 Results PC-Fat SunRay PXE HP TC Dell TC Use of the Thin Clients was recorded using login Client Boot PC scripts on the Windows Terminal Servers which recorded login and logout events. As expected the All Applications Browsers use of the Library systems exceed the use of the laboratories but both were in line with typical use Figure 10: User satisfaction rating of desktop performance patterns expected for each location. What was immediately obvious was that each location had a The issue of overall performance was broken higher utilization than the previous two case studies down by the device used which was identified using but comparable with the PC labs shown in Figure 9. the colour coded scheme described earlier. Figure 10 One of the difficulties with the comparison however below represents the average rating of satisfaction is that the final case study was performed at a reported by users broken down by device and different point in the teaching semester and use of primary application in use. Since over 50% of the systems declined as students prepared for responses identified "Browsing" as the primary examinations. Lab 1 was a "quiet lab" located reason for using the machine there are two UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 595 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing satisfaction ratings provided as a point of comparison. Figure 11 shows the combined rating of Non-USB Storage USB Only User Satisfaction Ratings users responses to overall satisfaction with desktop, desktop performance and application performance. 100% 90% 80% 80% 70% User Satisfaction Ratings 60% 78% 50% 76% 40% 74% PC SunRay PXE HP Dell 72% Boot 70% 68% Figure 13: Storage Satisfaction Rating 66% By making the Thin Clients as invisible as PC SunRay PXE HP DELL possible and comparing satisfaction and user access Boot to the existing PC systems it was clear that for the majority of users there was no apparent change to the Figure 11: Combined rating of desktop performance services provided. Integrating into the existing authentication process was an essential feature of this 4.3.5 Analysis case study as was the presenting of a single This final case study while shorter in length than authentication process at the WTS login screen. the other case studies demonstrated significant Efforts were also made to ensure that the progress in user acceptance. As part of the survey applications installed on the WTS were configured to users were asked if they would consider reusing the look and feel the same as those on the standard PC. system and as can be seen in Figure 12 there was As with the previous case studies it is useful to significant support for the systems. review the case study in relation to the UTUAT. The small number of responses representing those who did not wish to reuse the system cited a) Performance Expectancy USB performance as the primary cause of their With the exception of increasing the number of dissatisfaction. This was identified early in the desktops in the Library, the primary deployment testing of the Thin Clients that all systems performed mainly replaced existing systems, so users were noticeably slower than the PC systems in this not provided with any reminders that they were respect. Questions regarding the primary storage using a different system. In effect there was no method used by students were added to the survey as new decision or evaluation by the user to address was a satisfaction rating. From the results in Figure the questions which were relevant in the previous 13 it is clear that while the PC systems did perform case studies. better when users primarily used USB storage, the b) Effort Expectancy satisfaction in storage performance for all other The reuse of the existing login/access procedure options were comparable. The HP satisfaction rate which was well known and part of the normal had a low survey response rate and hence was not process for students using existing PC systems considered significant in our analysis given the small again allowed for this factor to become mainly number of data points. irrelevant. Usernames, passwords, applications NO, 8% and system behaviour were identical to those on the PCs. c) Social Influence Without perceiving a difference in service, social influence as a factor was also eliminated. Only the SunRay systems had different keyboards and YES, screens, and as these screens were of higher 92% resolution than existing PCs they were if anything seen as a more popular system. d) Facilitating Conditions Unlike the previous case studies support for the Figure 12: User Response "Would you use this system facility was more complex. Different levels of again" expertise and engagement were required. Thin UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 596 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing Clients were now part of a larger support case study. These three case studies provide data structure where many individuals were not core centric analysis of user acceptance and identify the members of the technical team who built the evolving designs of our deployments. To gain systems. However given that only three support acceptance of Thin Clients within an educational calls were raised during the case study there was institute our case studies identified these key factors. little pressure on this factor either. The calls raised were not in fact directly related to the Thin 1) Locate the Thin Clients among the existing PC Client devices, but rather the network and the systems, do not separate them or isolate them. virtual environments used to host the centralised 2) Ensure that the login process and credentials servers. users are identical to the existing PC systems. 3) Ensure that the storage options are identical to the 5 CRITICAL ANALYSIS existing PC systems 4) Focus on providing exactly the same services that The UTUAT provides a useful reference point in already exist as opposed to focusing on out new understanding some of the factors affecting services. acceptance of the Thin Clients. In the first case study the primary barrier to acceptance was the By ensuring we ran a blind test on the user incompatibility of the new system with the existing population where Thin Clients co-existed with PC system. Students were not motivated to use the new systems, and where the services offered were system as there were few advantages to doing so and indistinguishable by the user, we were able to show a considerable effort in learning how to use it. The user satisfaction rating of 92%. No significant bias second case study while more successful still failed was evident in our comparison of user attitudes of to gain acceptance despite the expansion of services desktop services delivered over PCs and Thin offered being comparable with existing Windows Clients. services. The session mobility and access from anywhere feature, while useful did not overcome the 7 FUTURE WORK resistance of users to migrate to the Thin Clients. Thin Clients still required separate credentials and Additional case studies are planned which will the login process was still different to the PC focus on acceptance of Thin Clients within the systems. The third and final case study was designed academic staff population and will evaluate the to provide the same existing services as the PC only relevance of some of the proposed core technological using a centralised server and Thin Client model. No advantages within that environment such as session new services for the user were provided. The primary mobility, Desktop as a Service, and dynamic lab aim was to have the systems indistinguishable from reconfiguration and remote access using WAN and the existing installation of PCs, effectively running a not just LAN environments. blind test for user acceptance. Once the users accepted the new systems, further machines could be 8 REFERENCES deployed quickly and cheaply. The total cost of [1] V. Venkatesh, M.G. Morris, G.B. Davis, and F.D. ownership and centralised support savings Davis, "User acceptance of information demonstrated in the first two case studies were just technology: Toward a unified view," Mis as relevant in the third case study. Quarterly, 2003, pp. 425-478. [2] J.D. Northcutt, "CYB Newslog - Toward Virtual 6 CONCLUSION Computing Environments." [3] D. Tynan, "Think thin," InfoWorld, Jul. 2005. There is considerable literature in support of Thin [4] S.J. Yang, J. Nieh, M. Selsky, and N. Tiwari, Client technology, and while there may be debate "The Performance of Remote Display regarding the finer points of its advantages the issue Mechanisms for Thin-Client Computing," IN has been and continues to be one of acceptance. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2002 USENIX Acceptance for Thin Clients as a technology is often ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE, confused with the non technical issues arising from 2002. the deployment. The UTUAT helps distinguish [5] T. Richardson, F. Bennett, G. Mapp, and A. between technical and non-technical issues and as Hopper, "Teleporting in an X window system shown within our case studies, the way in which the environment," IEEE Personal technology was presented to the user had a higher Communications Magazine, vol. 1, 1994, pp. impact on acceptance than had the technology itself. 6-13. This point is highlighted by the fact that the Thin [6] Citrix Systems, "Citrix MetaFrame 1.8 Client devices which were not widely used in first Backgrounder," Jun. 1998. case study were integrated seamlessly into the third UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 597 Special Issue on ICIT 2009 Conference - Applied Computing [7] Microsoft Corporation, "Remote Desktop [21] J. Golick, "Network computing in the new thin- Protocol: Basic Connectivity and Graphics client age," netWorker, vol. 3, 1999, pp. 30- Remoting Specification," Technical White 40. Paper, Redmond, 2000. [22] S.C. Speer and D. Angelucci, "Extending the [8] T. Richardson, Q. Stafford-Fraser, K. Wood, and Reach of the Thin Client.," Computers in A. Hopper, "Virtual network computing," Libraries, vol. 21, 2001, pp. 46 - . Internet Computing, IEEE, vol. 2, 1998, pp. [23] P.A. Strassmann, "5 SECURE REASONS FOR 33-38. THIN CLIENTS.," Baseline, 2008, p. 27. [9] Microsoft Corporation, "Microsoft Windows NT [24] G.A. Plan, "An inefficient truth," PC World, Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition: An 2007. Architectural Overview," Jun. 1998. [25] M. Bruno-Britz, "Bank Sheds Pounds.," Bank [10] J. Nieh, S.J. Yang, and N. Novik, "A Systems & Technology, vol. 42, 2005, p. 39. comparison of thin-client computing [26] "Sun Ray White Papers," architectures," Network Computing http://www.sun.com/sunray/whitepapers.xml. Laboratory, Columbia University, Technical [27] B.K. Schmidt, M.S. Lam, and J.D. Northcutt, Report CUCS-022-00, 2000. "The interactive performance of SLIM: a [11] R.A. Baratto, L.N. Kim, and J. Nieh, "Thinc: A stateless, thin-client architecture," Charleston, virtual display architecture for thin-client South Carolina, United States: ACM, 1999, computing," Proceedings of the twentieth pp. 32-47. ACM symposium on Operating systems [28] S. Potter and J. Nieh, "Reducing downtime due principles, ACM New York, NY, USA, 2005, to system maintenance and upgrades," San pp. 277-290. Diego, CA: USENIX Association, 2005, pp. 6- [12] B.K. Schmidt, M.S. Lam, and J.D. Northcutt, 6. "The interactive performance of SLIM: a [29] I. Wong-Bushby, R. Egan, and C. Isaacson, "A stateless, thin-client architecture," Proceedings Case Study in SOA and Re-architecture at of the seventeenth ACM symposium on Company ABC," 2006, p. 179b. Operating systems principles, Charleston, [30] G. Reynolds and M. Gleeson, "Towards the South Carolina, United States: ACM, 1999, Deployment of Flexible and Efficient Learning pp. 32-47. Tools: The Thin Client," The Proceedings of [13] M. Annamalai, A. Birrell, D. Fetterly, and T. the 4th China-Europe International Wobber, Implementing Portable Desktops: A Symposium on Software. China (Guanzhou). New Option and Comparisons, Microsoft Sun Yat-Sen University. (2008). Corporation, 2006. [31] "rdesktop: A Remote Desktop Protocol client." [14] "MokaFive, Virtual Desktops," [32] B. Childers, "PXE: not just for server networks http://www.mokafive.com/. anymore!," Linux J., vol. 2009, 2009, p. 1. [15] R. Chandra, N. Zeldovich, C. Sapuntzakis, and [33] R. Likert, "A Technique for the Measurement of M.S. Lam, "The Collective: A cache-based Attitudes," Archives of Psychology, vol. 140, system management architecture," 1932, pp. 1–55. Proceedings of the 2nd USENIX Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation (NSDI'05). [16] M. Weiser, "How computers will be used differently in the next twenty years," Security and Privacy, 1999. Proceedings of the 1999 IEEE Symposium on, 1999, pp. 234-235. [17] M. Jern, ""Thin" vs. "fat" visualization clients," Proceedings of the working conference on Advanced visual interfaces, L'Aquila, Italy: ACM, 1998, pp. 270-273. [18] S. Kissler and O. Hoyt, "Using thin client technology to reduce complexity and cost," Proceedings of the 33rd annual ACM SIGUCCS conference on User services, ACM New York, NY, USA, 2005, pp. 138-140. [19] M. Jern, ""Thin" vs. "fat" visualization clients," L'Aquila, Italy: ACM, 1998, pp. 270-273. [20] S. Kissler and O. Hoyt, "Using thin client technology to reduce complexity and cost," New York, NY, USA: ACM, 2005, pp. 138– 140. UbiCC Journal – Volume 4 No. 3 598
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In architecture, a building's footprint is defined as the total perimeter area of a structure's exterior foundation walls. This does not include any secondary structures outside the building itself, nor does it include any supporting construction, such as parking lots or utility areas.
When determining a building's footprint, architects and municipal planning boards use the total horizontal area to be utilized in the building's construction. Vertical space does not come at quite the same premium, so it is not usually a part of initial considerations. Actual linear feet on the ground are considerably more scarce, which means that a great deal more attention must be paid during the planning phase to how much space a structure requires in order to be safe and secure for the foreseeable future. There are many databases that contain precise records of building footprints for virtually any structure currently standing. Most of these records are maintained by city and county planning boards, but some are also maintained at the state level. The same is true in other countries, where certain considerations in the building process must be included when planning both the footprint and the total height of the building. This often has more to do with the climate and environment of the region than anything of cultural note, however.
The shape and orientation of the ground floor of a structure on the lot . Example: After taking account of site characteristics, including building size and function and prevailing
Driving a car or heating a house causes carbon dioxide to be emitted into the atmosphere. Your carbon footprint measures how much carbon dioxide you emit, according to Timeforchange.org
The largest building in the world, according to the Guinness Book of
It all depends on the monk in question. The Dalai Lama? Due to his intense travel schedule, I imagine his carbon footprint is incredibly high (no vegetarian diet can ever overcome

subset: commoncrawl


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College News
Students and Faculty Participate in 2014 London Program
Six students – a mix of Communication/Journalism and Business majors – returned from a two-week journey at the end of January as part of the International Travel-Study Program to London, a joint study-abroad program organized by Cayuga Community College (CCC) with students from various local colleges. Dr. Jack Rosenberry, Chair of the Media and Communication Department, accompanied the students on the trip and taught a media course in the program.
While there, the students take one three-credit course, and take many non-credit hours of sightseeing! Robert Barlow, a senior Communication/Journalism major, said he was interested in the trip because it sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially for the price.
"I did a little research and figured out that we would get a chance to see and do so many different things in just two weeks, as well as receive 3 credits, it was a no-brainer," he said.
This trip was the first time Barlow had ever studied abroad, and was in fact the first time he had traveled to any other countries besides Canada. But he said that between the professors and other students on the trip, they made their own "home away from home" for the two weeks.
The group stayed at the Raddison Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt in Central London, a unique hotel that was converted from ten 19th century townhouses into one large hotel. They were stationed just minutes from the Tube (subway), restaurants, shopping, cultural attractions, and nightlife.
Barlow participated in the "Media: The British Experience" class group, where they learned about the similarities and differences between American and British media. They had an opportunity to take a tour of the BBC, stopped at the British Film Institute Film Library, took a backstage tour and saw a play at the National Theatre, and attended a taping of a local television show. In addition, they saw the Oscar-nominated film, "Gravity," on Europe's largest IMAX screen.
Outside of the educational sightseeing visits, the group also took in landmarks including Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace (where they watched the changing of the guard), Westminster Abbey, Stonehenge, Greenwich, and Abbey Road. It's impossible to pick a favorite.
"The history found at Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace is unlike anything I have ever seen. Two of my favorites were going to Stonehenge and seeing the Prime Meridian line - where you can stand on the Eastern and Western hemispheres of the earth at the same time. I could spend days at the markets found all over London. The food and shopping is never ending," Barlow noted.
Robert Barlow (far left) crossing Abbey Road.
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With the rising temperatures, it's about that time of year to start offering iced coffee and iced specialty drinks! Iced drinks can be an integral part of coffee sales during the warm summer seasons, allowing customers to have an opportunity [read more]
Tag Archives: Toddy
Why Toddy? Using Toddy in your coffee shop or Café.
With summer in full swing, it is critical that you have the appropriate beverages available on your menu, so your customers are able to cool down with luscious, frozen and iced drinks. Smoothies, frappes and iced coffees are excellent menu [read more]


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2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Contact for Price
- Contact for Price
- Mileage 81,331 Miles
- Mileage 81,331 Miles
- Color Orange
- Engine 4 Cyl
- Mpg Avg: 27
- Location Eynon, PA
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Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day!?
March 10, 2015 in Slideshow by TheLeprechaun
March 10, 2015 in Slideshow by TheLeprechaun
February 13, 2015 in Slideshow by TheLeprechaun
This Sunday the preliminaries for the Irish Rose .500 tricycle races begin! If you want to get a team together, get five people together (two riders, three pit crew) and shoot Patrick McGrail an email at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you just want to watch the hilarity, come on down Sunday at noon!
February 13, 2015 in Irish, Music, Slideshow by TheLeprechaun
Coming in the back half of February – The California Celts! This colorful Celtic/Ska group is coming out from California and hitting the stage at Kelley O'Neil's on Friday, February 21st, The Irish Rose Saloon Saturday, February 22nd, and playing a double show with Pimpbot at Anna O'Brien's on Friday, February 27th!
February 1, 2015 in Slideshow by TheLeprechaun


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Toy Reviews / Re: General Grievous #36« on: November 7, 2005, 11:13 PM »
Did you review the right Grievous? The reason I ask is that you didn't at all mention the Exploding Body Feature or include the "Grievous Guts" as part of the Accessories.
Here are some of my shots
Here are some of my shots


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Germany beat Georgia 2-0 away from home
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) Germany got its European Championship qualifying campaign back on track with a hard-fought 2-0 win in Georgia on Sunday.
First-half goals from Marco Reus and Thomas Mueller gave Germany its first away win in Group D, as the World Cup winners moved within a point of group leader Poland, which was held to a 1-1 draw by Ireland in the late game.
Ireland substitute Shane Long scored in injury time in Dublin, cancelling out Slawomir Peszko's 26th-minute strike to leave the group finely poised after five rounds.
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This winter it was very cold and the spring is slow to come.
We have been taken this picture on 24 March at 10F.
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Special Correspondent
COIMBATORE: Drinking water supply under the Pilloor scheme has been restored after nearly a day's disruption caused by a breach on the main line at Vayyampalayam, north of the city.
Round-the-clock repair works were taken up immediately to plug the breach and restore supply to the eastern parts of the city and more than 500 panchayats.
Supply of 125 million litres a day (mld) to these areas, including nearly 65 mld to the city, resumed on Tuesday afternoon. It was a minor breach that could be fixed within 24 hours, Corporation sources said.
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End Of Watch (Jake Gyllenhaal/Michael Pena) Photo Gallery 2
Two young LAPD officers (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) are marked for death after confiscating a small cache of money and firearms from the members of a notorious cartel during a routine traffic stop. View photos from End of Watch, the latest film from David (Training Day/Harsh Times) Ayer…
Roll your mouse over the left and right-hand sides of the image and then click to view more pictures.
2 of 9
Read our review of End of Watch or check out earlier photos
Alternatively, watch the trailer
Recent Galleries:
- The Gunman (Sean Penn) Photo Gallery
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- Spectre: Rome Photo Call (Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci)
- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Royal Film Performance Photo Gallery


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This place has gone up a notch... All the staff was very nicely attired, and the decorations and tables nicely done. Everyone enjoyed their meals. It has been awhile since we have been there and we will be back soon.
If you own or manage Little Italy, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.


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Millwall v Aston Villa, FA Cup fourth round, The Den as it happened
Championship side Millwall heap more pressure on Aston Villa with victory in the first FA Cup fourth round tie of the weekend.
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As it happened
And that, I think, brings our evening to an end. Another awful night for Villa, who were chewed up in the Lions' Den. Thanks very much for your company, you can continue the debate on #bbcfootball. Join us again tomorrow for more FA Cup fourth-round action but, before then, keep warm.
From Matt in Greenwich, via text on 81111: "Lambert isn't at fault for team selection. He has nothing else available. What he is at fault for is spending 20 million on unproven, young lower division players in the summer. People overlook the fact that Lambert crafted this team. No other manager could get them to play better but ultimately, Lambert made a huge and expensive gamble and it's gone wrong. As a lifelong villa fan I am resigned to relegation. Haven't seen a worse Villa team in 20 plus years."
Speaking of which, we never did get #wardrobeXI trending, did we?
Well said, Sam. In all this talk of a crisis at Villa, it's easy to ignore the great achievement of Millwall. They are the first side into the last 16 of the FA Cup, which I think is fitting for the manager that kicked off our Wardrobe XI at the start of the evening.
From Sam in London, via text on 81111: "How about Well done Millwall'? We sold our striker today. Cmon u Lions!"
Mathew Vins on Twitter: "When a rot starts at Newcastle they sign half the French squad. At Villa we buy a few average kids wave white flags and give up."
Simon Barker on Twitter: "Lack of experience from top to bottom in the club but how do you gain experience? Don't sack Lambert."
Steve in Birmingham, via text on 81111: "Lambert out. He is useless. Poor team selection and tactics. Unable to motivate. Doesn't understand basics. Kevin MacDonald and Martin Laursen please. Villa DNA. Back to basics."
Lots of very strong views. We've got a couple of minutes left, so keep them coming.
James in Birmingham, via text on 81111: "Of course the problems go higher than Lambert. Who allowed Martin O'Neill to overspend? Who placed hope on an unfit candidate to manage in the top flight? Who appointed the disgrace of McLeish? Who refuses to spend in this window when it is so clearly needed so he can rectify his previous management failings? It's now or never Randy."
Dom Shepard on Twitter: "The problems are more deep rooted than the manager who is used as a scapegoat. Look no further than the chief exec."
J on Twitter: "Sacking Lambert won't help Villa at all. The balance of experience and youth is all wrong at the club."
From Andy in Cheltenham, via text on 81111: "Villa. Victims of getting rid of good managers when fans were unhappy that they were not in top four - O'Neill, Houllier, O'Leary! Villa never been a big club, never will."
Steve Fletcher on Twitter: "Surely Villa getting knocked out of the cup by a Championship side, as opposed to a League Two side is progress?"
We haven't got long left, so it might be a bit naughty of me to pose these questions, but I will anyway. Has anything gone right for Villa since Martin O'Neill put out that weakened team in the Europa League? Secondly, since O'Neill, Villa have tried Houllier, McLeish and now Lambert. Is constantly changing manager the way to go? Are the problems elsewhere?
Glenn Wheeler on Twitter: "This week has summed up Villa's season! Not good enough. I reckon a certain Mr Adkins will be travelling to Birmingham soon."
Let's not forget the League Two action, although, those at Cheltenham v Rochdale might hope to forget it. Goalless on a chilly Friday night. Doesn't sound like the best game, but happy to be told otherwise.
It doesn't get any easier for Villa, either. Tuesday night sees Newcastle travel to Villa Park. How big does that game look?
Steve Claridge, BBC Sport
"You had to be here to believe how bad Villa were tonight. You can't quite grasp it until you see them live. This isn't a classic Millwall side and this was a game that Villa were capable of winning."
Tom Jackson on Twitter: "I'm probably not the only Villa fan to be happy to be out of the FA cup. Quite simply just need to concentrate on the league."
Steve from Bicester, via text on 81111: "The embarrassment cannot go on. Taxi for Mr Lambert."
Matthew Harris on Twitter: "Whoever takes over from Lambert won't do any better. Villa's problems are deeper than that. Unless it's Alex Ferguson maybe."
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"That performance didn't do anything to rectify the situation they (Villa) have got themselves into. That was a thoroughly depressing performance. They were beaten by a side who came to play football."
Aston Villa's bad season goes from bad to worse, an embarrassing and miserable week coming to an end with a second cup exit. That's to take nothing away from Millwall, though, with the Den celebrating with a chorus of Rocking All Over The World. Gotta love the Quo.
2141:FULL-TIME- Millwall 2-1 Aston Villa
Hit and hope stuff for Villa, with Dan Shittu a man mountain for Millwall. Time almost up...
Charles N'Zogbia tries to single-handedly keep Villa in this, but, frankly, he's not good enough. A run ends at the byeline, with an attempted cross going out on the other side.
Simon Brotherton, BBC Radio 5 live
"Vlaar and Clark are going up front, Villa are just going to lump the ball through the centre."
Six minutes of added time flashed up on the board. Still hope for Villa. Just.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"That sums up Villa's week, it hit the bar, could have gone to a defender, could have gone out of play but it went to John Marquis, who will never have a simpler chance to head into an empty net."
2133:GOAL- Millwall 2-1 Aston Villa - John Marquis (89 mins)
Had to happen, given the week Villa have had, it just had to happen. They are surely on their way to a second cup exit in four days thanks to John Marquis. A scramble in the Villa box eventually sees the ball hit the cross bar, with Marquis able to nod into an empty net. Delirium at the Den.
I think the sting has gone from this game a little, surely we're not settling for a draw? About five minutes to find a winner.
Simon Brotherton, BBC Radio 5 live
"This game looks like what it is: a poor Premier League team against a very solid Championship side."
Well, Jordan Bowery was on thee field for all of 30 seconds before he found his way into the ref's notebook. He's shown the yellow card for raising an arm to Dan Shittu. Swift work.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"You would not say on this performance that it will be a gimmee for Villa to take Millwall back and beat them."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
About 10 minutes left for one of these two sides to pinch a place in the fifth round. Still goalless between Cheltenham and Rochdale. Andreas Weimann makes way for Villa, with Jordan Bowery taking his place.
Shot from Barry Bannan beaten away by David Forde. That was at catchable height for the Millwall keeper, so the fact he decided not to catch suggests the ball was really moving around. Volleyed clear by Dan Shittu. First time Villa have threatened for some while.
More noise from the Millwall fans, they smell a cupset. I think I'm with them, too. Millwall have been the more likely side for some time now.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Trotter's been a little off it tonight, he's had no influence tonight. I'm disappointed in him because I have seen him play really well at times this year."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
If it sounds like there's not much happening, it's because it isn't. Barry Bannan plays a horrible pass, giving it away with a long ball to the Millwall right-back area.
James Henry causing a nuisance of himself again. This time he tries to chip Shay Given, but there's not quite enough on it.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Millwall have Villa on the run a little bit and they want to get the ball in the box to test them. I cannot remember too many times where Villa have got into the Millwall half."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Since they scored, Villa haven't really threatened. They passed it around well in the early stages, but Millwall were really lifted by the equaliser.
From Tolo in Manchester, via text on 81111: "Ryan Shortscross"
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"The Millwall fans on this side are really giving it to the Millwall fans that have thrown the bottles. It's stupid. No one minds them getting behind their team, but there are always one or two idiots who take it further. They are doing it for the sake of doing it."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
There's a couple of bottles that have been thrown on to the pitch. Four. maybe five. Play has stopped. They have come from the Millwall fans, but the debris has now been cleared and we're back under way.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"It's one of those games where Millwall decide to get after Villa, then sit back and let Villa come at them. You do need a breather, and that's when Villa will get into the game, but certainly when Millwall have the ball Villa do not look comfortable."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Here come Villa, Ashley Westwood tries to get a cross in, with Dan Shittu conceding a corner. Barry Bannan takes it, but it's too low and Millwall clear.
Ross in Catford via text on 81111: "Ruel Socks."
Early free-kick to Millwall and, wonder of wonders, Villa manage to survive a set-piece. Corner coming up for Millwall, though, but it's punched away by Shay Given.
We're back under way at the Den...
From Justin in Manchester, via text on 81111: "Hatem Ben Scarfa"
Half-time at Cheltenham, too. Still 0-0 there, where Rochdale are the visitors in League Two.
Arsenal have now confirmed that Emmanuel Frimpong is on his way across London to Fulham. I wonder why he deleted that tweet?
Perry Groves getting some stick from Colin Murray on BBC Radio 5 live for his earlier comments [see 1931]. Groves had a point about the 17-year-old ball boy, though, a bit like when Peter Kay played Leonard, Britain's oldest paper boy.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Both teams are having a go without the greatest quality, but it's very watchable."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
A James Henry effort that ended up over the bar took us to the half-time whistle. I'll be honest, the thought of this tie didn't really get my juices going, but I've enjoyed that first half. Proper cup football.
2033:HALF-TIME- Millwall 1-1 Aston Villa
Eric Lichaj does a good job of taking out Liam Feeney, but the ref doesn't see anything wrong. Fair challenge or not, Villa were busting a gut to get back and defend. Can't fault their effort.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Down the right hand side, Millwall have been quite effective. It's an area that can be exploited against Villa because they don't always track their runners."
Arsenal's Emmanuel Frimpong might be having a bit of fun on Twitter. Earlier today he told us that he's on the move, now, in a tweet that has been deleted, he said he was on the way to Fulham. Of course, he might not have been talking about the football club, may just have been having a Friday night out.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Ciaran Clark has been a little bit loose all game, some of his control has been shocking."
Fabian Delph is crocked and is being replaced by Barry Bannan. League Two fans, I can tell you that it's still goalless between Cheltenham and Rochdale.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"It's almost role reversal at the moment, Millwall gave it away a lot at the start of the game but now it's Villa."
Villa edgy, it's now the Premier League side that are giving the ball away cheaply. Millwall improving, we have a proper cup tie. Shot from Adam Smith from some way out is straight at Shay Given.
Simon Brotherton, BBC Radio 5 live
"I assumed this match was moved to Friday for TV coverage, but, in fact, it's because there is a protest march tomorrow against the closure of Lewisham Hospital and the police will be needed there."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Flappy, flappy Shay Given, wafting at another Millwall cross. Villa petrified any time the ball comes into the box. Like when you were a kid and heading the ball used to hurt, especially when you got it on the nose and your eyes watered. Or was that just me?
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"There aren't very many things in football that are predictable, but that's Aston Villa's Achilles heel. They teed it up two minutes ago, and then they scored. It's incredible. This game is not the greatest quality, but it's very watchable."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
2013:GOAL- Millwall 1-1 Aston Villa - Dan Shittu (27 mins)
Right then, is there any chance, ever, at all, of Aston Villa learning how to defend set-pieces? Fair enough, Dan Shittu takes a bit of marking, but he's left big tyre tracks all over the Villa defence here. He's up to power in from a corner, making amends for the mistake he made in the build-up to Villa's goal. Game back on, the Den rocking.
Aslan Usoyan on Twitter: "John Pantsil"
Tweet us using the hashtag #bbcfootball. I've also noticed that #wardrobeXI is being used. If that was to trend, I'd probably have to retire on a high that would never be beaten.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"In the end it was a good break, but Shittu has got to stop Weimann going round him. Darren Bent will never score a scrappier goal than that, he mis-hits it into the corner he was not aiming for, but that's the sign of a goal scorer. There was a little bit of tempo and pace in that break, which they certainly lacked."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
2008:GOAL- Millwall 0-1 Aston Villa - Darren Bent (22 mins)
A sucker punch gives Villa the lead. The visitors counter after a Millwall attack, with Andreas Weimann going past Dan Shittu like he wasn't there. The ball eventually falls to Darren Bent, who's scuffed, bobbling shot nestles into the back of the net to give Villa the lead. Was that gust of wind a Paul Lambert sigh of relief?
Huge synchronised roar going around the Den, making a very impressive din. Villa only passing it in front of the home defence for the moment, very little threat to either goal right now. Not really the start to the weekend we were hoping for.
From Josh in Blairgowrie, via text on 81111: "Sebastien Sarong."
Don't forget to put your name on any text messages, otherwise your fine work will go unused.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"There's been lots of possession for Villa, with three against two in midfield, but their passing has not had a massive amount of purpose, while Millwall are giving it away far too much. It's a poor game, neither side have got any sort of rhythm."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Villa are perhaps using the ball a little better, but haven't created anything in the final third. As the home crowd gets louder, again Villa make progress into enemy territory, but there's no end product. The attack ends with a Ron Vlaar hoof into the hands of David Forde.
James Henry volleys towards the Villa goal. He's in an awkward position, though, not troubling Shay Given.
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"Villa have started fine, they have worked the ball and kept the ball well, but without really creating anything yet."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
From Jack in London, via text on 81111: "Nigel de thong."
Shouts for hand ball against Villa's Ciaran Clark as he heads clear. Did he head the ball against his arm?
Not loads happened in these opening five minutes, but Villa have a free-kick about 15 yards outside the Millwall box. Westwood, from the right, takes it, with Charles N'Zogbia eventually crossing from the right, but Millwall clear.
John in London, via text on 81111: "Hat le Tissier."
Steve Claridge, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Sport
"When you get a night like this with a good away following as well as a good home crowd, you tend to get good games. There's a good atmosphere already and it's a bit spicy."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Alex Meek on Twitter: "With regards to tonight, it will have no bearing on Lambert's job. People should learn to read."
Andreas Weimann gets down the right for Villa, resulting in a corner for the visitors. It comes in from Ashley Westwood, with Ron Vlaar attacking the ball, but Millwall get in cleared.
The FA Cup fourth round is under way...
Millwall manager Kenny Jackett on BBC Radio 5 live: "We want to generate a cup run, it's important to us, and even with home advantage we will have to be at our best to dislodge a Premier League side."
Chris Murphy on Twitter: "Papa Bouba Diop was known as the wardrobe. Mascot/ball boy?"
A ball boy you wouldn't mess with.
In case you need more football, we've also got live coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations, where Burkina Faso are 3-0 up on Ethiopia. Also, a streaker has just got caught in one of the nets. Brilliant.
From Chris in Stockport, via text on 81111: "Younes Kagoul"
Ron Atkinson, BBC Radio 5 live
"They are shipping goals for fun, they're not defending well so they have got to get their priorities right. You get your defence right first, and they have enough in the attacking positions to score a goal or two, but they are letting goals in and letting teams get at them."
From Benj in Bristol, via text on 81111: "Martin Skirtel has to make the Wardrobe XI."
Perry Groves, Former Arsenal forward
On BBC Radio 5 live: "What's a 17-year-old doing as a ball boy anyway? When my lads were 17, they were more interested in getting a fake ID, going to clubs and meeting ratty old women."
Millwall: Forde, Adam Smith, Shittu, Osborne, Beevers, Henry, Trotter, Abdou, Feeney, Marquis, Keogh. Subs: Maik Taylor, Dunne, Wright, Batt, Jack Smith, N'Guessan, Wilkinson.
Aston Villa: Given, Vlaar, Clark, Lichaj, Lowton, Westwood, Delph, N'Zogbia, Bennett, Bent, Weimann. Subs: Guzan, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Holman, Bowery, Bannan, Williams.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)
And, it's Friday, we've all had a coffee. We're here for football, so let's talk football. Lions to roar or Villains victorious? In fact, we can talk about any football that's tickling your fancy. Ball boys, Frenchmen at Newcastle, goal-scoring goalkeepers. Tweet using the hashtag #bbcfootball or text 81111.
Millwall, the 2004 finalists, also have one of my favourite managers in charge. Kenny Jackett would be a certainty for a Wardrobe XI alongside Paul Parker, Demba Bra and Lionel Dressi. Having that?
Ron Atkinson, BBC Radio 5 live
"Paul Lambert has made a statement by leaving Benteke and Agbonlahor out. They're not facing the strongest Millwall side they could have been and it ain't quite as hostile as going to the old Millwall Den. I think Villa will get something out of the game. Maybe not a win, but I don't think they will lose."
BBC Sport's Tim Oscroft: "Paul Lambert has handed Darren Bent a rare start among four changes to the side that beat Bradford but still went out of the Capital One Cup, with Andreas Weimann, Ashley Westwood and Eric Lichaj also recalled. Christian Benteke is not in the squad.
"Millwall make three changes to the side that lost at home to Bunley last Saturday with Liam Feeney, Karleigh Osbourne and John Marquis all coming in."
Villa's troubles are well-documented, but what of Millwall? The Lions are in the Championship play-off chasing pack, sitting ninth. They have, however, won only one of their last six league games. During that time they booked this tie with a 1-0 third-round win over Preston.
Simon Brotherton, BBC Radio 5 live
"It's parky in south London. What a test for Villa after the embarrassment they suffered on Tuesday. It's a night when all eyes are on them to see if they can restore a little pride, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if Millwall win this."
You can listen to live commentary of this match on BBC Radio 5 live.
Villa's trip to the Den (out of interest, when did it stop being the New Den?) is the first of 16 FA Cup ties across the weekend. We've had the romance of the third round - Macclesfield, Luton, Brighton et al - but now a place in the fifth round is up for grabs. Not quite the business end, but maybe the casual-glance-at-the-Financial-Times end.
In all seriousness, that's probably nothing like what Paul Lambert has said to his beleaguered Aston Villa troops, but, in even more all seriousness, after the week they have had, Villa need an FA Cup trip to Millwall about as much as beef burgers need horse meat.
"Right lads, chins up. I know we're not going too well in the league and we slipped up against Bradford in the League Cup, but now is the time to turn the corner. Just a simple FA Cup tie to ease us back to winning ways. What's that? We're playing where? Oh...."
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Celebrity photos are worth quite a bundle of cash these days. Magazines are always willing to offer top dollar if it means nabbing never-before-seen photos of Hollywood's finest. So it's definitely worth mentioning that Hilary Duff recently opted to forgo possible financial benefits and graced the world with a photo of her family (complete with newborn Baby Luca) absolutely free of charge.
Instead of selling the pic to the highest bidder, the actress/singer played it low key and shared the black and white family portrait with her many fans via Twitter on April 12. As you can see, it's all sorts of adorable.
Of course, Duff has never been that shy about using social media. The 24-year-old star and her husband of one year, Mike Comrie, welcomed their little bundle of joy on March 20. Since then, the proud mama has been tweeting intimate photos of her son's new life at home.
Let's hope the pics keep on coming, especially when they're this precious.
Hilary Duff Shares First Shot of Baby Luca — PIC
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garnishment, in law, means of requiring a third party who holds a debt (including wages) due a defendant to retain the property temporarily. The garnishment consists of a warning, in the form of a judgment, to the third party, called the garnishee, not to deliver the goods or money due to the defendant, but to hold them in trust pending the outcome of the plaintiff's suit. This provisional remedy guarantees the plaintiff at least some recovery if he wins the case.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
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