text:
Friday, February 24, 2012
Feb. 20-26 | Your News & Comments: Part 7
56 comments:
- Anonymous2/24/2012 8:35 AM
I can't help but think of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle as I read all the debate about how easy/hard it is to learn how to operate an iPhone.ReplyDelete
The principle basically boils down to this: The more you know, the less you understand.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:03 AM
I'd go more Schrödinger's cat - if you put a journalist and an iPhone in a sealed box, you can never know if he's shooting video or playing AngryBirds. Opening the box to check would 'ruin the shot' on either....ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:07 AM
@ 9:03 ... And just what would the cat be doing?ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:13 AM
There have been a couple layoffs in USAT Advertising. Jim, check it out.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:15 AM
I have to agree with previous posters that a paywall will not save Gannett. I get 15 articles a month free from sites like the New York Times and Milwaukee J-S without subscribing, and I don't think I find anywhere close to 15 a month worth clicking on at the Gannett sites I check. This will continue to get wrose as more newsroom cuts take effect.ReplyDelete
There is always state AP and other local news outlets like TV and radio only too happy to give it away and take the GCI clickers.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:30 AM
9:07 - I think I saw something about cat breading in yesterday's threads..... ;)ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:35 AM
Repost from previous thread:ReplyDelete
For the record, paywall is not the term of choice among the execs at GCI. You can says it's just semantics, but the correct term is "subscription model."
As in, our properties produce content and our consumers need to subscribe to that content with a paid subscription. It makes no difference how they get that content - print, iPad, smart phone, crystal ball. Wherever they get it, they are going to pay a fee for receiving it.
In retrospect, it's what newspapers should have been doing all along, but alas, hindsight is 20/20.
Regardless, a paywall implies they are just suddenly blocking something that previously was free. "We built a wall." (That's a negative to consumers.)
"Subscription model" implies we produce daily/weekly news and feature content and you need to subscribe to it. We will offer you a variety of ways and combinations to subscribe, but we don't give our product away for free. (That's a more palatable explanation for consumers, as they are used to paying for other products and subscriptions to media - magazines, NetFlix, etc.)
Again, you can argue it's all semantics, but it may help you understand how the suits at the CP are framing this change.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:48 AM
Regardless we have whiners here who are negative about both aspects. "You can't give our content away". "You can't charge for our content".ReplyDelete
But the idea that print is the answer to the future is a joke. Sure print has a place, but it is shrinking. With the rising price of fuel expect it to shrink even more.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:53 AM
now, now, now. You've all lost all of your senses, after all Gannett now has a new porpoise, get on board.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 10:40 AM
The first 15 columns for free? I didn't know that our papers even produced 15 columns.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 10:42 AM
9:13 - yes, there have been layoffs at USAT. David Johnson, a good guy and important part of sales process has been let go. I'm sure there are others, but David stands out. The lunacy continues.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 10:43 AM
I heard USAT is offering a "verticals only" paywall package.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 10:48 AM
Today on Lansing State Journal website - but not *in* the Lansing State Journal:ReplyDelete
"Due to a production error, the Business page and one Sports page were not included in today's Lansing State Journal print editions.
Stories on those page are available at LSJ.com.
We apologize for any inconvenience."
- Anonymous2/24/2012 10:54 AM
Dubow belongs in Jail.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:10 AM
Is Detroit joining the paywall? USA Today appears not to be.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:11 AM
WTF, 10:48. I'd be curious as to the back story on that snafu.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:29 AM
Thanks, 9:35 AM, that explanation of the "content subscription model" vs. "paywall" is very on-target.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:32 AM
With writing/editing like this, I wouldn't pay a plugged nickel for stories on this site.ReplyDelete
The men left less than five minutes after they entered the store, taking with them armfuls of shirts, hats and the even the hangars the clothing was on.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 12:17 PM
Yes, 9:35, thanks for the example of Gannett doublespeak.ReplyDelete
But no matter how much the Company wants to cast it as a new subscription model, it is what it is: a wall that readers will have to pay to get past.
Now, what is the best way to describe that?
- Anonymous2/24/2012 12:23 PM
Seems like Carolyn Washburn doesn't like criticism of any kind. Even debates with readers in an online chat:ReplyDelete
Check it out:http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=chats&odyssey=mod|dnmiss|umbrella|1
- Anonymous2/24/2012 12:25 PM
Content problems that bode ill for a paywall in NJ:ReplyDelete
Small errors such as "ecomonic" in a headline and larger flaws such as a chart today that had four columns of identical municipal aid figures for 57 towns. This chart accompanied an article on changes in school aid funding. The 18th graf down mentioned municipal aid and the fact that it is not changing. If four categories of state aid are staying exactly the same, do I really need to see a graphic with rows of identical numbers as proof? What about the changes that the article is all about?
- Anonymous2/24/2012 1:10 PM
Questions Washburn likely won't publicly answer, if at all:ReplyDelete
- How many people are employed in the Enquirer's newsroom (not counting the weeklies, verticals, etc.) now versus what it had five years ago?
- How many comments are posted on Enquirer stories on average now daily versus the number placed on them prior to switching to Facebook commenting?
- What newshole average does she use now in budgeting papers on average per week versus what she will budget for them once they switch to the smaller size papers that Columbus will provide?
- Please justify why you felt you were worthy of inclusion in the recent top 20 women to watch?
Enquiring minds want to know.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 1:34 PM
Those questions were moderated. Stay your tongue, impertinent whelp!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 2:29 PM
What the vast majority of posters here seem to not understand is that it doesn't make any difference if readership drops some after the new paywalls go into effect. Of course it's going to drop. Everyone, including the execs, know that. But the people who do come will be dedicated readers who will spend more time on the site, and also the company will have more demo information on them than before. This is valuable to advertisers. In other words, they can still make money even with fewer readers. Hopefully this will allow Gannett papers to get away from the bar babe shots and the fuzzy animals which are only posted to draw page views.ReplyDelete
And FYI, as someone else here posted, this has already been tried at three vastly different Gannett markets for more than a year now and it's been a clear success there. That's why the company is moving forward with the "subscription model."
- Anonymous2/24/2012 2:44 PM
2:29 - Thank you for the informative post. I noticed and appreciated not being talked down to.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 3:56 PM
1. How can you assume the readers who do pay will spend more time on the site? They'll spend as much time as it needs to get what they want from the site. There's no reason to assume they'll spend more time just because they're paying for the right.
2. How will The Company have more demographic information about these people? Will they demand more invasive login information as part of the paywall? That's a surefire way to drive more people away.
3. Who says it was a success at the 3 test sites? As far as I know, The Company never released specific information about the impact. (And don't assume it was positive just because Gannett is moving ahead nationally; that presumes our leadership is capable and intelligent, and their actions have long proved that to be false.)
- Anonymous2/24/2012 3:58 PM
USAT is trying to force out some of its older employees. They aren't being offered buyouts. Instead, they are being treated poorly, silently threatened. Really crappy thing to do to people who still have a lot to offer. What's worse is that certain employees, regardless of age or competency level, appear to remain untouchable year in and year out. USAT has been a mean-spirited, toxic pit. Behind all the fun and games and swanky building, this place keeps piling up skeletons in the closet. Amazingly, there are still some naive people who seem oblivious to the lies and poor treatment of their colleagues. It's almost like some people think if they shut their eyes tight enough, they'll never get the pink slip. But when they do, they will be at a disadvantage in the job market. They won't be prepared. So, word to the wise, if you work at USAT, don't get too comfortable, even if you think you are protected. Be prepared. Have an exit strategy or else face a very difficult job search.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 3:58 PM
From @jodiontheweb: List includes @GannettDigital - w00t!! "Five Publishers to Follow on Pinterest" bit.ly/xdTFC3ReplyDelete
Jodi Gersh, head of social media for Gannett, and her GannettDigital team have been busy.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 3:59 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 4:03 PM
Other questions sent into CW that were not addressed...ReplyDelete
Comment From Chuck
Since readers will be contributing content to the site (via our comments) will we share in the revenue you'll be getting? After all, many (most?) of the comments are better than your content.
Comment From Chris
the option for 'none' was forgotten in the poll.
Comment From Chuck
Wow - if the paid site is a awful as this chat session, I won't be paying!
Comment From Chuck
You sound somewhat defensive Carolyn...
Comment From Sallfham
Please tell Gannett's CorpComm writers: No such thing as a "first annual" investor day - or anything else.
Comment From Chuck
So if I create another email address, I can read 5-15 more articles?
Comment From John
I dislike Facebook's entire model. The fact that you lose all sense of privacy, and agree to do so, means I won't use it. Thus, you lose my on-line opinion if you force me to use it. DISLIKE!
Comment From Chuck
it's the other way around Carolyn. Print stories don't show up online until much later.
Comment From Chuck
will you print the email address we can use when we have troubles with the site? It seems that you've hidden it...
Comment From George Corneliussen
My main beef with news coverage is that the reporting never investigates a story beyond it's initial headline or follows the story to it's conclusion. Even if people are willing to subscribe to headline-only news, does that justify stripping reporting down to a simply list of headlines?
Comment From Rodger
I think an amazing model is Entertainment Weekly
Comment From Carl
I certainly admire the courage Gannett has demonstrated with this decision. It will result in a lot of layoffs b/c your readership will drop.
Comment From Bill
Why are you talking about the prices, rather than how you are going to improve content?
Comment From
I apologize for going off-topic, but I have always wondered what the exact process is for proofreading of stories. I am frequently horrified by the number of typographical, spelling, and grammar errors that are exhibited in ENQUIRER stories, particularly online. Is there an actual proofreading process? Don't get me wrong; I appreciate the speed with which stories appear, but one would think that trained Journalists could do a better job than I often witness.
Comment From Kevin
I only read online at work. I understand that you feel like you offer exclusive stories but if the story is significant enough wouldn't other outlets (other sites, TV, Radio, Blogs) pick up on it also and I'd find the information there? Why would I pay for it here?
Comment From Dennis
Will you dump the FB forum restrictions for the online? I have just about stopped reading the online letters, so boring reading the same 50 or so people.
Comment From Chris
When I subscribe to ESPN the Magazine, i get online Insider content at no additional charge. Is there that much additional need to charge for online content if I am already buying the print version?
Comment From Carl
I would pay more for your product if you brought Peter Bronson back.
Comment From
For anyone who is interested - I, for one, will NOT be paying to access cincinnati.com. (and that's coming from someone who could certainly afford it!) I used to really enjoy reading the articles (and comments!) but I don't feel that it's worth paying for.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 4:04 PM
Boy, she really went into the trenches for that exchange with readers. My hat's off to her. Ballsy.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 4:23 PM
Time magazine published this article today on Gannett's paywall strategy,ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 4:52 PM
3:58PM It is not just at USAT. And at our site, its not silent threats, its right out verbally abusive treatment.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 5:10 PM
2/23/2012 7:13 PM: Anonymous said... I'm wondering how the people who were offered buyouts are being treated at their papers...ReplyDelete
At my site, managers are going out of their way to be "polite" almost every contact like a script from HR. The switch to "demeaning duties", at least for some that recevied the buyout offer, started about a year ago. Seems like they were trying to get folks to quit ahead of the buyout. A lot like 2/24/2012 3:58 PM describes what is happening at USAT. There seems to be an attitude that the sooner people sign and are gone, the better.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 5:12 PM
Looks like Time Magazine let the cat out of the bag. They forgot to use the term "Subscription Model." Oops!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 5:37 PM
Digiday did a pretty good analysis of Gannett's Paywall strategy.ReplyDelete
"NYT has seen success with its subscription system, but can such a strategy work for the hard-hit local-news business? bit.ly/yxjRU1aywall "
- Anonymous2/24/2012 5:39 PM
Digiday link was not working. Here it is again.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 6:45 PM
Jodi Gersh to the rescue!!!!!!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 7:12 PM
I know at my paper, the treatment was the same for buyouts as for layoffs.ReplyDelete
Still present, people treated one as if one were the living dead -- that is, if one were acknowledged at all.
Although maybe acknowledgement was even more Fellini-esque when those who were high-profile were rewarded with "going away" send-offs as if it was all some Disney flick -- the majority with a far less certain future, their worth, their humanity, not slighted in the least.
Admittedly a very awkward situation for one's coworkers when most of the newly implanted execs, the leaders, couldn't bother to give anyone the time of day -- bought out, laid off or still retained to be even more overworked, no difference to apparatchiks evidently.
For the majority, lots of whispers as if at a funeral, lots of thoroughly familiar projects instantly dropped into completely unfamiliar laps as if a monkey could do the job (a quote from one of the supervisors, who never did the job, stated to a public tour), averted eyes, then hugs. Aww.
Lots of the ageist sentiments expressed on Hopkins' blogs are disturbingly naive, though. They are pure stereotype, pure prejudice courtesy of the consumer culture.
In my too-long stint, this silly life I thought I had as an intrinsic element, I encountered incompetence on the one hand and skill on the other which freely traversed every generation.
When it come to knowing one's stuff, age was irrelevant; job performance and skill sets, that was the standard in a productive business model.
Yet Gannett is run not on standards in this or any other industry, but upon the balance sheets of accountants.
See those folks who poured their lives into this company for long? Passion is not economically a consideration.
Get rid of 'em. Nothin' personal.
Hey, small world! The atrocity committed by the SS at Malmedy used the same economic yardstick.Replies
- Anonymous2/24/2012 8:34 PM
I am so tired of this self righteous, Nazi fixated, individual. Folks he may have been the oddest individual anyone ever met. He was not well liked and his odd behavior scared many. He said he was never coming back here but guess what he can't help himself.Delete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 7:29 PM
7:12 - Well said. Your words are appreciated.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 8:00 PM
Thanks, 7:12! So sad but true.ReplyDeleteReplies
- Anonymous2/24/2012 8:35 PM
You two are kidding right?Delete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 8:38 PM
Well, up until the last line, 7:12. Nazi analogies are just a bit much. But we get your drift.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:03 PM
No sense of humor as usual. Nothin' wrong with allusion for debate. I post from time to time, and not as much as "accused," misidentified.ReplyDelete
I only mean to illustrate a juicy debate.
The word is in a dictionary. It's not your parents and whatever else issue might be involved. It's debate.
If one has a problem with the posit, disprove it. Yet here all too many can muster is a personal attack. Really. You actually have/had a job in media and one can only manage personal slurs to disprove facts.
My god. No wonder. And these folks see nothing wrong with a single thing. These aren't media types.
They are salesmen, fast jealous to justify some fairly crappy values, no idea how to discuss disagreement other than character assassination.
This happens where? Here.
- Anonymous2/24/2012 9:20 PM
In the real world, some of my witty abusers have more in common with me than their arrogance presumes, for the benefit of whom, who knows.ReplyDelete
But if one means to insult me, these posts I make, point made, point taken.
Pretty sad, that.
I am commenting on my personal experience, just as valid, open to others. This blog is a mult-faceted item. Unlike Gannett, it encompasses several approaches.
So if some fixate, great. I'm not the ass you think. And then realize who the hell are you.
A beer or so. A dinner. Some jokes.
But here? Gannett Blog?Replies
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:08 PM
You must either be high on something or in the midst of an olde English thesis. Wtf?Delete
- Anonymous2/24/2012 11:41 PM
Yoda on dopa..ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/25/2012 8:47 AM
- How many people are employed in the Enquirer's newsroom (not counting the weeklies, verticals, etc.) now versus what it had five years ago?ReplyDelete
Hard question to answer but I will be as transparent as possible. There are 289 today, including all in kinds of things. It doesn't translate to how many actually sit in the newsroom because there are content/journalists all over including the weeklies that produce content for the newspaper. There were close to 400 five years ago, but included many who did things we just don't do anymore that our readers don't want. or can more easily find online.
- How many comments are posted on Enquirer stories on average now daily versus the number placed on them prior to switching to Facebook commenting?
There has been a 22% decrease with the move. Some will say the comments are more sensical now and to the point.
- What newshole average does she use now in budgeting papers on average per week versus what she will budget for them once they switch to the smaller size papers that Columbus will provide?
7% reduction but that is merely planning conjecture at this point.
- Please justify why you felt you were worthy of inclusion in the recent top 20 women to watch?
Enquiring minds want to know.
- Anonymous2/25/2012 10:05 AM
No doubt that Jodi Gersh is posting here.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/25/2012 10:16 AM
I think it's called --------- self promotion. I paricularly like the posts where "she rocks."ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/25/2012 10:28 AM
I think it was the thread about stupid pet photos, that brought them out of the woodwork. Also explains the reference to(Pinterest)social image-sharing.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/25/2012 11:20 AM
Regarding - http://www.digiday.com/publishing/five-publishers-to-follow-on-pinterest/ReplyDelete
Why does Gannett Digital have such a large number of "following" in comparison to "followers". The other publications are "following" less than 30 others. Gannett Digital is following 985 others.... What is the point of this? ... Was someone in GD tasked with "following" instead of attracting "followers"? Who is initiating all of these followings?
- Anonymous2/25/2012 11:32 AM
If someone was tasked with this, be extremely vocal when you are asked "why." Be sure to tell them WHO gave you the assignment. This number of followings is a red-flag.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous2/25/2012 11:34 AM
Thanks for the reply 8:47 AM. Here's some follow-up:ReplyDelete
- If weekly news staffs are part of Enquirer Media's all over content/journalist group, then why do such great pay disparities exist and what will result as they will increasingly soon find out?
BTW, weekly and daily headcounts/costs still reside on individual budgets do they not? Hence, the totality of cuts to the Enquirer's daily news staff can easily be found out.
- Comments may be down 22%, but basically zero posts on stories that once generated significant numbers (school issues being one) suggest today's "top commenters" are masking greater losses of a larger, more diverse group of former commenters. It also scotches public dissent as few dare question how schools, firefighters, etc. operate now.
- A 7% reduction? Aligning that with Buchanan's comments that "content will provide more in-depth coverage of topics" and larger photos suggest an even more noticeable decline in content overall, something that paying subscribers already voice concerns about.
- NC was expected.
I get the financial implications for why many decisions result, but unfortunately, many wrong ones continue to be made...many in a vacuum a few floors up.
Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.


text:
Whenever the evening news brings the story of a kidnapped child or teen, the terrifying prospect of abduction fills the minds of parents everywhere. But it's important to remember that most kids pass through childhood safely.
One of the challenges of being a parent is teaching your kids to be cautious without filling them with fear or anxiety. Although some dangers do exist, you lessen the chances that your child will be abducted.
The circumstances surrounding child abduction are often quite different from the way they're shown in TV shows and movies.
Here are some of the realities of child abduction:
About 2,100 missing-children reports are filed each day in the U.S. Many cases might be solved more easily if parents can provide a few key pieces of information about their kids, like: height, weight, eye color, and a clear recent photo. And make sure your kids have the safety information that could help prevent an abduction.
These strategies may help:
Talk to your kids often about safety. Give them the basics on how to avoid and escape potentially dangerous situations. Teach them to:
Keep these other tips in mind, too:
Because the first few hours are the most critical in missing-child cases, it's important to provide officials with information about your child immediately.
If your child has been abducted, contact local law enforcement right away. They'll ask you for a recent picture of your child and will probably ask you many questions about the time and location you last saw your child and what your child was wearing.
You may also request that your child be entered into National Crime and Information Center (NCIC). Other clearinghouses such as the Child Protection Education of America ([866] USA-CHILD) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ([800] 843-5678) can offer information and support during your search.
After notifying the authorities, try to stay calm. You'll be able to remember details about your child's disappearance more easily if you remain rational and logical./p>
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date Reviewed: 14-01-2013

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Animation is different from other parts. Its language is the language of caricature. Our most difficult job was to develop the cartoon's unnatural but seemingly natural anatomy for humans and animals."
What makes a rabbit unique from a skunk?
When you caricature, you have to abandon your preconceived notions of how things look. You have to be let your model show you what a nose looks like, or whether the space between the eyes is close or far.
A caricaturist should really be wary of developing a style.
Or worse, to steal a famous caricaturist's style. How many Al Hirschfeld and Mort Drucker clones have you seen? Are any of them as good as the originals?
When you try to emulate a famous caricaturist's "style" you are undermining the usefulness of doing a caricature. Now you have to filter what your subject looks like through "Gee, now how would Al interpret this person?" So you are not really getting the most of what you can from the subject. The subject is the style.
Of course there are tons of bad caricaturists-you see them at the theme parks usually. They draw everyone to look the same and just change the hair. These aren't really caricatures.
Caricature is really important in animation because animation tends so much to reuse designs from the past and the whole assembly line process of animation allows a succession of artists to retrace the first artist in line's initial pose or expression. And each time it gets traced it gets toned down a bit until the actual drawing that appears on the screen doesn't reflect the animator's idea. How many animators have complained about getting a bad assistant who tones down her or his work? I even hate tracing my own rough drawings because I myself tone down my first sketch.
It takes out specific features. An underture is a drawing that says nothing about the character it portrays. It is the absence of opinion or definition.
Undertures are less interesting than real life.
Here are some famous undertures from animation:
These are considered subtle and "realistic", when actually they are neither. Real people have distinguishing features and subtleties. Nobody looks like this. It's neither cartoon, nor real. It's just nothing. It's no ideas, an excuse for not having to create anything.
Now, I'm ready for the few of you who will rush to justify characters like this. There'll be some reason like, "Well, John those are the HEROIC characters! They have to be subtle and bland and have no distinguishing features."
Milt Kahl would disagree with you. He hated animating the Prince and any kind of "realistic" characters. He wanted to go back to fun stuff like Br'er Fox and I agree with him.
Now, here are some real life heroic characters from the movies.None of these characters (well maybe the last one) are bland-either in look, or in personality.
Do they have distinguishing features? Would you rather watch a movie with stars that you can't recognize because they have no faces?
Even heroic or "handsome" characters can have distinguishing features:
Here's an underture of the most beloved leading man in the movies. It's less specific than the actual man himself in real life.
The same thing applies to female characters. Here are some undertures.
Here's Mary Blair's version of Alice. It's still bland, but a lot more interesting graphically than what they settled for in the movie.
Sleeping Beauty is very well drawn, but has no distinguishing features. The angles give her some graphic interest, but as a character she is not remotely interesting. Every girl you know in real life is more interesting than this.
Maleficent has some mildly specific features, at least compared to the average animated humans. She has a pointy chin and a hooked nose and big heavy lidded eyes.
Here's a real life beautiful person.
Our real lives are filled with potential inspiration for our cartoons. We don't have to have bland characters if we choose not to. I mean, why are we cartoonists in the first place? To tone down real life?
Even general types can be caricatured.
Here's what babies look like:
Here's an "animation baby".
It's as if the artist had never seen a real baby. He just copied some other animator's baby who copied a previous one who copied a previous one.....
I used to caricature babies all the time because they are so funny looking. I wish I had some to post. Maybe Eddie can find a couple for me.
Here are some Undertures to collect and trade:


text:
Monday, December 8, 2008
The 12 Days of Christmas
Viewer discretion is advised. View at own risk.
Check HERE for my Poingo, Lands' End, SpongeBob, and I Wanted to Wonder reviews/giveaways.
Posted by Dawn at 9:05 PM
77 comments:
- Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] said...
You are the bravest woman on the internet.
And it's nice to hear your accent again. :)
- December 8, 2008 at 9:46 PM
I guess you will do ANYTHING for attention. Great job!
- December 8, 2008 at 9:47 PM
- Amanda said...
You are too much!! Well done. ;) And you have a lovely voice!
- December 8, 2008 at 9:52 PM
- The Acting Mom said...
I LOVED your video! Thanks for posting!
- December 8, 2008 at 9:53 PM
- noexcuses said...
You crack me up! How funny is this video! It looks like it was a blast to make it. The kids all pitched in with great acting skills, and your singing is 12 times better than anything I could sing!
Kudos to the Meehan Family! Thanks for the great Christmas greeting!
- December 8, 2008 at 9:56 PM
- Cathie said...
- December 8, 2008 at 10:03 PM
It was great & you look so pretty!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:04 PM
- Shari said...
You're funny! The days that are the most hectic and stressful I can almost always come to this blog and get a laugh. Now, I am not laughing at your voice. I am laughing at what your children gave you! Sounds a lot like my house minus the diapers.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:09 PM
- Emma said...
Bravo, Dawn!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:10 PM
- Rachel said...
LOVE IT! And so does my 2-year old. He's totallyl fazed by the video :) Genius!
Thanks for the laughs!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:11 PM
- Lucille said...
That was AWESOME! Thanks for doing that. Wow. You REALLY CAN DO IT ALL can't you? I'm impressed with your video editing skills - nice! I will say that your "dirty bathroom" is cleaner than mine ever is! You rock!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Maybe the new play is a musical and you can audition for the lead singing part. John Austin would probably pick you first.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:19 PM
- Dawn said...
NO WAY Sandy! I had to sing in Murder, Music & Mayhem and it was torture. I still can't believe I put this out there for the world to see. What was I thinking?!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
- Lisa said...
Your singing isn't THAT bad. And I love Brooklyn smiling after the snotty noses..... And the way you roll your eyes during "FIVE PURPLE THINGS"..... oh... and we have the same Corelle dishes too.....
- December 8, 2008 at 10:28 PM
- Dawn said...
You should see my blooper reel! Now, that's the really funny part! I should put that together as a video - "The Making of The 12 Days of Christmas"!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:29 PM
- Melissa said...
Very nicely done! You are a brave woman!!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:47 PM
I would LOVE to see "Making of 12 Days!"
- December 8, 2008 at 10:59 PM
- Michelle said...
Oh I so want to see the blooper reel now -- tomorrow's post? ;) Great video... I want to know how much fun the kids had being ASKED to whine. And why you didn't choose Austin and Savannah's noses to wipe ;)
Oh, and if Clay really wants a mouse... he can come get the one in our attic. *sigh* I just heard him scritching away.
- December 8, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Aww... you are adorable and so is your family! Merry Christmas to you all! Btw... are you feeling better? You sounded congested poor girl. *hug* I hope you're doing much better and thanks for the wonderful video! :D
- December 8, 2008 at 11:34 PM
You are a silly goose! My version of that would have been so lame compared to yours. Bravo to your creative genius!!
- December 8, 2008 at 11:47 PM
- mandyb said...
hahahahaha love it
you ahve made my day
- December 9, 2008 at 1:22 AM
Dawn you are so funny :) I loved the vid! How do you make anything funny??
- December 9, 2008 at 1:54 AM
- amy said...
Nicely done!
I have to ask, the kids actually left you alone for the whole 4 minutes and 22 seconds. I'm impressed. I would have thought they would have barged in claiming that some wild animal snuck in and clogged the toilet. Hehe :)
- December 9, 2008 at 2:25 AM
- Quality Chick said...
Loved it! Your voice is fine - sorry but you won't make the American Idol bad list. Ok - you probably wont win either, but its nicely in the listenable region.
Now - how much fun did the kids have making this with you??? I loved the 6 whiny voices.
Great job to all of you and what a welcome relief from the standard holiday music.
- December 9, 2008 at 3:53 AM
- Martha said...
Too funny! What a great family project! Where do you find the time?
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
- December 9, 2008 at 5:23 AM
- Heather said...
I love it!! Thank you for brightening my day!! (At 6AM it needs all the help it can get! lol) I can't wait to see the bloopers reel!!
- December 9, 2008 at 6:14 AM
- Chris B. said...
Hilarious! That's exactly the same "horribly dirty" bathroom my wife shows to all her friends!
- December 9, 2008 at 6:14 AM
Awesome Dawn! Kudos to you for being brave enough to do it!
SSO Question: Are you finished Christmas shopping? Not even started? What are the kids getting?
And I a tip....I have found amazing deals on the forums at gottadeal.com.
- December 9, 2008 at 6:58 AM
- Kelly said...
I think you did AWESOME! You can carry a tune.....and you look great! LOVE your hair!
- December 9, 2008 at 7:27 AM
- ~Sharri~ said...
You made a great start to my day! Loved it! BRAVO!!
- December 9, 2008 at 7:56 AM
- jill jill bo bill said...
I am new from Megryansmom site! I loved the video!!! I also have waaaay too many kids (7) and feel your pain! I am just so impressed that you could remember all that. I can barely remember all their names....
- December 9, 2008 at 8:13 AM
- Jenny said...
haha, i have a similar voice, but I am lucky to also possess a tin ear, so you and I both sound fine to me:) My darling husband was nice enough to tell me I can't hold a key to save my life--not that I would have tried for American Idol, but I didn't know I couldn't sing.
- December 9, 2008 at 8:50 AM
- Charlie Hills said...
Oh man! Your home page is a fridge! And I thought I was being so original on my blog -- right down to the hand prints.
It's like suddenly showing up at a party wearing the same dress as someone else. Except I'm a guy and I haven't actually done that yet. But I imagine this is what it feels like.
- December 9, 2008 at 8:52 AM
- Cassandra said...
It wasn't that bad. ;) I would actually say you're better than some of the people who audition on American Idol.
And a blooper video would be awesome. Since you obviously don't have enough to keep you busy. ;)
- December 9, 2008 at 8:53 AM
- Knitty said...
This is much more pertinent than the original version, and more welcome too. You have to know that those laying geese would leave more than eggs behind and you'd have more than bathrooms and laundry to clean. The lords, pipers and drummers would mean an additional 33 men in your house. Much MORE bathroom cleaning, not to mention fights over the remote control.
Simon Cowell might not appreciate you, but the rest of us do. ;)
- December 9, 2008 at 9:11 AM
- Preston said...
That is way too much. Are you sending that to American Idol? LOL I found you through Meg Ryan's Mom who is playing some sort of Reindeer Games. Happy Holidays!
- December 9, 2008 at 9:21 AM
- Jenni said...
How great! Love it!
By the way...has anyone ever told you that you sound like Kirstie Alley?? And just to be clear, that IS a compliment...I think she is great, just as I think you are! Thanks for this blog!
- December 9, 2008 at 9:28 AM
- misa101 said...
I am so ashamed. Your dirty bathroom in that video is spotless and my florescent teal (It IS a real color)sink is currently full of tooth paste mess
- December 9, 2008 at 9:38 AM
That was great, and completely freakin' hilarious! I'm sending this to all my mom friends!
- December 9, 2008 at 9:57 AM
- On Stage said...
That was awesome Dawn! Bravo!!!
I love the drawing of you - long and lean... kind of like an Oscar Mayer Weiner (just kidding).
My kids' drawings of me resembles a Spalding basketball- at least they're accurate!
- December 9, 2008 at 10:09 AM
- Harmony said...
I loved the video! Your singing isn't bad at all, you stayed on key through the whole song without music! You are so brave and thanks for sharing with us, it was great!!
- December 9, 2008 at 10:23 AM
- Jen said...
Good for you! You are quite brave to do this on the internet but I commend you. :) The song is adorable and you did a great job putting it together.
- December 9, 2008 at 10:38 AM
- Blessed Mama said...
This was great!
My kids watched it with me and had this to say of the drawings of you.."it's a PICKLE" "it's a BANANA!" "nope, it's a zuchini!"
And at the laundry part my 7 year old looked at me and said, "that looks just like you!" LOL All I kept thinking was that your "dirty" bathroom looked way too clean!
Good job!
- December 9, 2008 at 10:39 AM
- This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood said...
I loved this video!
You are awesome!
- December 9, 2008 at 10:55 AM
- Denise ~ Paper Ponderings said...
It's fantastic!!! Thanks for the giggles!!!
- December 9, 2008 at 11:04 AM
- Mirth said...
More guts than most. I especially liked the "brought to you by" lines at the end. Awesome!
- December 9, 2008 at 12:01 PM
- Keeley said...
WOW! There is no way I'd have the guts to sing on video - but you did a FABULOUS job. =)
I was totally depressed to see your dirty bathroom was cleaner than mine...despite the fact that my son has just "cleaned" it. =D
- December 9, 2008 at 12:28 PM
- Abby*Lane said...
Haha, that was awesome!
- December 9, 2008 at 12:43 PM
- mhgood said...
Okay, I'll admit, I twitched uncontrollably through the whole video. Twitched with laughter, that is! You are great! Stayed on key and you look fabulous! I wish I could be out of my pjs before noon, and have my hair fixed before bedtime! You're amazing.
I love how you wipe the kids' noses with the same tissue. LOL! I totally would have done that in real life!
- December 9, 2008 at 12:58 PM
I was going to twitter this to you but i figured it would be WAY more than those lovely 140 characters ... My youngest daughter was able to catch the fact that you have the same monkey hangy thing in your bathroom as she does. And my middle son sang the song adding "on the wall" everytime you said and a lovely picture of me ...LOL too cute!
- December 9, 2008 at 2:17 PM
- Magda said...
I agree with a previous post-- how awesome that the kids pitched in to make the video!!
And your profile pic looks AMAZING!!
- December 9, 2008 at 2:52 PM
- Sheila said...
Your singing really isn't that bad.
What I do wonder, though, is why your children think you look like a shapeless peanut :). But maybe it's a compliment?
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
- December 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM
- LaLa said...
- December 9, 2008 at 3:13 PM
- Laura said...
I am WAY impressed! I think you CAN sing...and I am TOTALLY impressed with how clean things look...in contrast to my house right now, which is just a pigsty. I can't keep up.
Coolest take on the 12 Days of Christmas EV-AR!!
- December 9, 2008 at 3:21 PM
- Melissa said...
LOL! I thought that was cute and funny!
I just started following your blog recently and have enjoyed it!
- December 9, 2008 at 3:33 PM
- A Mom in Jacksonville, FL said...
Seriously...you and your kiddos are too darn cute. That was great!
- December 9, 2008 at 3:43 PM
- Amanda said...
My 5 year old LOVED this song, and was singing along after a bit. Thanks....now he won't STOP!!! :)
- December 9, 2008 at 4:54 PM
- Lorelei said...
Great, I haven't been able to stop singing "… 4 dirty diapers, …" all day long - people on the subway were staring at me.
But seriously, what a great video! And you look just fantastic; very mediterranean too, but you've probably heard that before.
- December 9, 2008 at 5:54 PM
Very well done. My kids even enjoyed it.
- December 9, 2008 at 6:13 PM
You are absolutely adorable!!!
- December 9, 2008 at 9:36 PM
You. Are. Awesome!
My favorite "gift" is how they are so INTO the "6 whiny voices." Also, the way you filmed that, it reminds me of the moving photos in the Harry Potter movies.
Hilarious! My kids will love it.
- December 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM
- Cookie said...
What was that "Lovely" drawing of you drawn on? a table? cabinet? piece of furniture?
- December 9, 2008 at 11:54 PM
- KAT said...
That was awesome! Great job Dawn! Totally brightened my morning!
- December 10, 2008 at 8:46 AM
- Kristine said...
Great job Dawn! No, you're voice is not that bad! Actually, it's pretty good. You're just not the sing solos in public type (neither am I). LOL Perfect for your video!
Gotta love the potato people in permanent ink!
- December 10, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Hehe very nice! That was great. :)
- December 10, 2008 at 11:55 AM
- Kristy said...
that was great! my 3 year old enjoyed it as much as i did! good job!
- December 10, 2008 at 2:11 PM
- Rachel said...
my favorite part is you wiping the kids' noses with the same tissue! i've totally done that before. besides, they're all going to get the cold anyway, so why not just help along the inevitable - in your time.
- December 10, 2008 at 6:56 PM
- MaBunny said...
Loved it! Very good acting:)
- December 10, 2008 at 8:02 PM
You can totally carry a tune! Good for you. I was prepared for the worst, but I think you sounded great.
- December 10, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I loved the video!! so funny!!!! Your so pretty!!!!! :)
- December 11, 2008 at 7:33 AM
- Evanna said...
You did a great job! Love it!
- December 11, 2008 at 12:22 PM
You did an excellent job! I am glad the kids helped you out with this. You have a good voice. My three year old loved this video too.
- December 11, 2008 at 8:34 PM
- Mom said...
That was too cute!! I enjoyed it.
- December 12, 2008 at 7:18 AM
- Rick said...
I'm considering your definition of "lovely" and am realizing again that there are some things that truly only a mother can fully appreciate.
Very nice.
- December 13, 2008 at 6:42 AM
- One Tired Mommy! said...
Laugh out loud funny!! Great job! OMG that was great!! You are a brave, courageous woman for sure.
- December 13, 2008 at 9:17 PM
- jc said...
- December 14, 2008 at 4:56 PM
- nomi said...
You're completely crazy and totally adorable and I LOVE it!!!
- December 15, 2008 at 1:20 AM


text:
Welcome Back!
- or -
Protect your iPhone 5/5S with a customizable Barely There Case-Mate case. This form-fitting case covers the back and corners of your iPhone 5/5S with an impact resistant, flexible plastic shell, while still providing access to all ports and buttons. Designed for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, this sleek and lightweight case is the perfect way to show off your custom style.


text:
EBox on FreeLink-Debian
- 1 What is eBox?
- 2 What is it for?
- 3 Installation
- 4 Configuring and Customizing
- 4.1 Package configuration
- 4.2 Post-install Options
- 5 Speed and Performance Tweaks
- 6 Links and References
What is eBox?
Developed as a flexible server/NAS solution for small business and small offices, eBox Platform is a management tool that supplies the following services:
- Samba Filesharing and Printer Sharing
- Firewall
- Transparent proxy via Squid
- Content filter
- NTP Server
- Users and groups administration
- Mail server
- Backup of data and/or system
What is it for?
eBox is not a full-fledged replacement for Webmin, but it does handle some things very well. It may be a better alternative for Debian/FreeLink users who found Webmin either too slow or too complex for their liking. In short, it can do nearly everything the stock Buffalo webinterface can do, and as more modules are written by developers and contributors, it may broaden its scope and capability.
- 2.6 kernel and modules available here
- a fresh FreeLink/Debian installation available here - note that any configuration files in /home, /root, /var, /etc, and other locations may cause problems with an installation. Squid, in particular, is very picky about these things. It is recommended that you first install eBox, and then add other servers after you have it installed and customized for your network.
- hard drive space on hda1 - eBox needs
- lots of space for the software and packages, and
- to build samba shares in /home, so do something like this:
mv /home /mnt/ cd / ln -s /mnt/home home
- either use a custom partition with all the space you need, or create symlinks as shown here - Freeing Up Space On hda1
- a realization that eBox may move your box towards being a bit of a "dedicated box" with a strong firewall
- read over this excellent (yet slightly outdated - version 0.7.1) installation guide for eBox - it shows many of the key points - a few of the configuration options mentioned have changed
- read over the installation guide for desktop computers - see the Debian Packages section
- time = 40 minutes to an hour or more, depending on your internet connection (about 100MB has to be downloaded)
NOTE: At this time (2/2007) not all of the eBox packages installable on our PPC LinkStations. So far, these ones do install:
- ebox, libebox, ebox-network, ebox-objects, ebox-firewall, ebox-logs, ebox-samba, ebox-dhcp, ebox-squid, ebox-usersandgroups, ebox-ntp, ebox-printers
and these ones don't: ebox-mail (package missing - ?), ebox-jabber (package missing - ?), ebox-dns-cache (package discontinued) and ebox-software (package missing - esoftware)
Debian packages/libs for PPC FreeLink
Download these three required Debian packages that were built on an LS-HG.
cd / wget http://downloads.linkstationwiki.net/uploads/ebox/libnet-arp-perl_0.8-1_powerpc.deb wget http://downloads.linkstationwiki.net/uploads/ebox/libnet-cups-perl_0.37-1_powerpc.deb wget http://downloads.linkstationwiki.net/uploads/ebox/libreadonly-xs-perl_1.04-1_powerpc.deb
Debian packages/libs ARM9/LS-Pro FreeLink
not yet available
General Installation Steps for all LS's
Below is a very basic script for PPC LS's (LS1 and HG, Kuros). The script works and has been tested several times on an HG running UBoot, but is alpha or pre-alpha in nature. To use it, adjust IP addresses, namerservers, search domain, and whatever else you want. Run it either as a script, or cut and paste commands as you like. Use at your own risk: You can now wget/download the latest version - if you do, please post feedback at the thread listed bottom-of-page. Good luck.
ARM ProLS users will have to build their own packages, and alter the script only slightly - but this script has not been tested on the Pro.
wget http://downloads.linkstationwiki.net/uploads/ebox/openeboxscript.sh chmod a+x openeboxscript.sh ./openeboxscript.sh
#! /bin/bash # READ READ READ READ READ READ READ # Before running, make sure that you # check for a 2.6 kernel and matching modules ***** # 2.6 kernel modules need to be there for the firewall to function ***** # This script is a work in progress. Please give feedback at "eBox on PPC" thread at the linkstationwiki.net forums # Read it through before using... adjust to your settings and network # IP and HOSTNAME info # hostname will be set to eBoxLinkStation # fixed ip will be initially set to 10.0.1.6 eBoxLinkStation.dnmwireless.com eBoxLinkStation # If your Linkstation currently has a dynamic IP, take note of it and set the static IP below identically # # # DOMAIN and NAMESERVER must be set to your own situation # # needs libreadonly-xs-perl_1.04-1_powerpc.deb libnet-arp-perl_0.8-1_powerpc.deb libnet-cups-perl_0.37-1_powerpc.deb # already sitting at / cd / ######### set hostname ##### hostname "eBoxLinkStation" export hosts echo "eBoxLinkStation" > /etc/hostname ######### EBOX REQUIRES A STATIC IP DURING INSTALLATION ##### ######### save original interfaces and make a static ip ##### ######### adjust to your needs and your network ##### mv /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/pre-ebox-interfaces-backup echo "# /etc/network/interfaces -- configuration file for ifup(8), ifdown(8)" > /etc/network/interfaces echo "# The loopback interface" >> /etc/network/interfaces echo auto lo >> /etc/network/interfaces echo iface lo inet loopback >> /etc/network/interfaces echo "# The first network card - eth0 - this entry was created during the Debian installation" >> /etc/network/interfaces echo "# (network, broadcast and gateway are optional)" >> /etc/network/interfaces echo auto eth0 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo iface eth0 inet static >> /etc/network/interfaces echo address 10.0.1.6 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo netmask 255.255.255.0 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo network 10.0.1.0 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo broadcast 10.0.1.255 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo gateway 10.0.1.1 >> /etc/network/interfaces echo "* * * * * restarting networking * * * * *" sleep 3 /etc/init.d/networking restart sleep 3 echo "* * * * restarted networking * * * *" ###### set up /etc/hosts ###### ###### customize for your own network ###### ###### make a note of your domain name ###### ###### SQUID IS VERY PICKY ABOUT THIS ###### ###### don't change the 127.0.0.1 line ###### ###### only change "dnmwireless.com" ###### ###### to your choice or a dummy ###### cp /etc/hosts /etc/pre-ebox-hosts-backup echo "127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost" > /etc/hosts echo "10.0.1.6 eBoxLinkStation.dnmwireless.com eBoxLinkStation" >> /etc/hosts ####### set up /etc/resolv.conf ##### ####### edit the addresses to your needs ##### ####### change your nameservers and domain ##### ####### keep a copy of your old pre-ebox resolv.conf ##### mv /etc/resolv.conf /etc/pre-ebox-resolv.conf-backup echo nameserver 184.108.40.206 > /etc/resolv.conf echo nameserver 10.0.1.1 >> /etc/resolv.conf echo domain tds.net >> /etc/resolv.conf ####### check to see if you are connected to the internet #### ####### and that DNS works for you #### ping -q -c 10 yahoo.com ####### remove old dhcpd and put in newer one ######################## #dpkg --purge dhcpcd #apt-get -y install dhcp3-client ######## set up an eBox-platform compatible apt source.list ##### ####### but keep a copy of your old list ##### mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/pre-ebox-sources.backup-list ####### make the new sources.list, with testing branch optional ##### echo deb http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ stable main >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian/ stable main >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "####################################################" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "##deb http://security.debian.org/ stable/updates main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "#######################################################" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo deb http://ebox-platform.com/debian/stable/ ebox/ >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo deb http://ebox-platform.com/debian/stable/ extra/ >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo deb http://ebox-platform.com/debian/sarge/stable/ security/ >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "########################################################" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "## testing branch ####" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "## de-comment these lines to --temporarily enable the testing branch" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "#deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list echo "#deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free" >> /etc/apt/sources.list ###### update your Debian installation & install necessary packages ##### apt-get update apt-get upgrade apt-get install module-init-tools libperl5.8 perl perl-base perl-modules libterm-readline-gnu-perl libterm-readline-perl-perl libcupsys2-gnutls10 perl-doc ssh xfsprogs ### change your unix password to ebox or something easy to remember #### passwd ###### update your timezone configuration ##### tzconfig ###### remove exim4 as it is not compatible with eBox ##### apt-get remove exim4 apt-get update ###### install essential libs for eBox, built for PPC ###### dpkg -i libreadonly-xs-perl_1.04-1_powerpc.deb dpkg -i libnet-arp-perl_0.8-1_powerpc.deb dpkg -i libnet-cups-perl_0.37-1_powerpc.deb echo "* * * * * * * libs for ebox installed * * * * * * * " sleep 3 ###### install ebox and modules ###### echo "* * * * * ** getting ebox & modules * * * * * * * * *" sleep 3 apt-get install ebox libebox ebox-network ebox-objects ebox-firewall ebox-samba ebox-squid ebox-usersandgroups ebox-ntp ebox-printers ebox-dhcp ### apt-get install missing software packages #### make a sym link from /home/samba to /mnt### #### optional ##### echo "* * * * * * * * * * All done installing eBox * * * * * * * * * * * * * " echo "Point your browser to https://<eBoxLinkStation's IP> * " echo "and configure your eBoxLinkStation to your liking... * " echo "Remember to open up SSH access so that you can connect to do any * " echo "changes or installation that can't be handled through the web * " echo "interface. * " echo "Please leave feedback and/or report any bugs or problems on the * " echo "eBox on PPC forum thread at... * " echo "http://forum.linkstationwiki.net/index.php?action=vthread&topic=2397 * " sleep 3 ###### end of script ########
Configuring and Customizing
Package configuration
As the install script runs, or as you go through the steps manually, provide the natural answers. For some of the configuration, you will want to make specific choices:
For all of the questions of the form "After unpacking 299kB of additional disk space will be used. Do you want to continue? [Y/n]" , answer y.
Allow SSH protocol 2 only? <-------------------- Yes
Do you want /usr/lib/ssh-keysign to be installed SUID root? <-------------------- Yes
Do you want to run the sshd server? <-------------------- Yes
Enter new UNIX password: <-------------------- (your choice)
Your current time zone is set to US/Eastern Do you want to change that? [n]: <-------------------- (your choice)
The following packages will be REMOVED: exim4 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded. Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 32.8kB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] <-------------------- Y Yes, since exim4 is not compatible w/ eBox's email client
Where should the PostgreSQL database be created? /var/lib/postgres/data_______________________________ <Ok> <-------------------- <Ok>
Should the data be purged as well as the package files? <-------------------- No
Choose European or US day/month order in dates. (your choice) and <Ok>
DNS domain name: dnmwireless.com (or whatever you set it to in the scripted commands) and <Ok>
Name of your organization: dnmwireless.com (or whatever you set it to in the previous line above) and <Ok>
LDAP Admin password: (your choice) Allow LDAPv2 protocol? <No>
Apache-Perl needs to be reconfigured. <Ok>
Enable suExec? <No>
Do you want the cdrecord binaries to be installed SUID root? <Yes, if you want users to be able to backup your data w/ a CD/DVD burner> <No, otherwise>
Which paper size should be the system default? (your choice: US uses letter, Europe, others use A4)
On what network interfaces should the DHCP server listen? eth0 (Linkstations have only one ethernet port)
Please configure the DHCP server as soon as the installation finishes. <Ok> The version 3 DHCP server is now non-authoritative by default. <Ok>
You can run dpkg-reconfigure later,... <Ok>
Do you want to entrust font management to defoma? Yes
Workgroup/Domain Name? (your choice, or WORKGROUP)
Use password encryption? yes
Modify smb.conf to use WINS settings from DHCP? No
How do you want to run Samba? daemons
Create samba password database, /var/lib/samba/passdb.tdb? No
LDAP server host address 127.0.0.1
distinguished name of the search base dc=dnmwireless,dc=com (or a choice that agrees with your chosen domain name)
LDAP version to use 3
database requires login no
make configuration readable/writeable by owner only no
nsswitch.conf is not managed automatically... <Ok>
Send daily reminders to users over quota No
Configuration file `/etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf' ==> File on system created by you or by a script. ==> File also in package provided by package maintainer. What would you like to do about it ? Your options are: Y or I : install the package maintainer's version N or O : keep your currently-installed version D : show the differences between the versions Z : background this process to examine the situation The default action is to keep your current version. *** dhclient.conf (Y/I/N/O/D/Z) [default=N] ? N
Post-install Options
SSH access after installation
During installation you may find that you lose your ssh connection toward the very end. This can be fixed by following these directions How to Enable SSH access. Once you have done this and saved changes, test it by opening a new terminal window and attempt to connect with SSH. Make sure you have connectivity before you reboot in the next step.
Initial Reboot
Before any changes are made to network or further settings, it seems to help to halt and cold boot again. Do this through the web interface. It may take some time (1-2 minutes) for everything to terminate, and another 2-3 minutes for it to boot.
HTTP Proxy settings
If you want to add software via apt-get or wget, your eBox will need http access. To do this, you may have to enable the Transparent Proxy.
- Click on HTTP proxy -> General ;
- choose
- Service Configuration Enabled (Change) ,
- Transparent Proxy - Enabled ,
- Content threshold - Very Permissive,
- Global policy - Allow (Change) and then
- Save Changes (upper right hand corner).
Network Settings, DHCP and DNS Problems
In Network, fill in your settings for DNS and Gateways, and Apply & Save Changes on each.
You can check your connection through the Diagnosis page. If you can't ping yahoo.com for instance, go back and check your settings for the previous two pages.
If you are having trouble reaching sites like mirrors.kernel.org or your favorite CPAN mirror, you may want to go to Network->Interfaces and set eth0 to DHCP, change and Save Changes. Do not set eth0 to External. This will kill your connection. If this change doesn't remedy it, check to see that you have enabled the Transparent Proxy.
eBox's firewall is very strong and integrated. It uses iptables and can be controlled to a great degree from the web interface. Security comes at a cost, so here is how to get around it to some extent.
How to add an Allowed Service to your eBox's Firewall
Do you want to add an FTP or HTTP server to your eBox? Do it the normal apt-get way, but you will have to make eBox aware of it so that traffic can get through the firewall. See this HOW-TO How to make your eBox aware of Additional Services
Opening up ports for Firefly/mt-daapd
This can be very tricky to do. Firefly requires access to ports 3689 (tcp) and 5353 (udp). Port 5353 is used by mDNS and handles multicasting traffic. First, check to see that you have Firefly installed properly. If you do, you should be able to do both of these:
- open a browser to http://<ebox IP>:3689 and see the standard web page for Firefly
- see port 3689 open using a port scanner pointed at your eBox.
You may have use the perl add-service-to-firewall script and then add a Service Allow via the eBox Firewall page.
In addition to that, you can allow multicasting and mDNS services with these commands:
iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5353 -d 18.104.22.168 -j ACCEPT iptables -A OUTPUT -p udp --dport 5353 -d 184.108.40.206 -j ACCEPT
Check your iptables now by issuing
iptables -L --line-numbers
and look for the lines marked with @@@@@@@@@ below
Chain INPUT (policy DROP) num target prot opt source destination 1 ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere 2 ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED 3 ACCEPT icmp !f anywhere anywhere 4 inospoof all -- anywhere anywhere 5 iexternalmodules all -- anywhere anywhere 6 inoexternal all -- anywhere anywhere 7 imodules all -- anywhere anywhere 8 iintservs all -- anywhere anywhere 9 iobjects all -- anywhere anywhere 10 iglobal all -- anywhere anywhere 11 idrop all -- anywhere anywhere 12 ACCEPT udp -- anywhere 18.104.22.168 udp dpt:5353<---------@@@@@@@@@ Chain FORWARD (policy DROP) num target prot opt source destination 1 ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED 2 ACCEPT icmp !f anywhere anywhere 3 fnospoof all -- anywhere anywhere 4 fredirects all -- anywhere anywhere 5 fmodules all -- anywhere anywhere 6 ffwdrules all -- anywhere anywhere 7 fnoexternal all -- anywhere anywhere 8 fdns all -- anywhere anywhere 9 fobjects all -- anywhere anywhere 10 fglobal all -- anywhere anywhere 11 fdrop all -- anywhere anywhere Chain OUTPUT (policy DROP) num target prot opt source destination 1 ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere 2 ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED 3 ACCEPT icmp !f anywhere anywhere 4 omodules all -- anywhere anywhere 5 ACCEPT udp -- anywhere 10.0.1.1 state NEW udp dpt:domain 6 ACCEPT udp -- anywhere 18.104.22.168 state NEW udp dpt:domain 7 ACCEPT udp -- anywhere anywhere state NEW udp dpt:ntp 8 ACCEPT udp -- anywhere 22.214.171.124 udp dpt:5353 <---------@@@@@@@@
Restart iTunes or check your Roku again and you should have streaming audio now. If it works, you can save it by issuing the command
This change may not show up in the web interface of eBox.
Dropping the Firewall completely
This should only be done only if you have some other protection between you and the internet, or only for a very brief time. To do this you will need to alter (ahem...dirty hack) some code:
nano -c /usr/share/perl5/EBox/Iptables.pm
Scan down to around line 550, until you find this:
# Method: start # # Start firewall service # sub start { my $self = shift; $self->setStructure(); my @dns = @{$self->{net}->nameservers()}; foreach (@dns) { $self->setDNS($_); }
and add this line of code (marked <-------------- here ##):
# Method: start # # Start firewall service # sub start { return; ## New code added <-------------- here ## my $self = shift; $self->setStructure(); my @dns = @{$self->{net}->nameservers()}; foreach (@dns) { $self->setDNS($_); }
Save it and restart with
/etc/init.d/ebox restart
Your Firewall should be completely disabled now. You may also have change the rules related to general policies with the following commands to free all firewall stuff from eBox:
iptables -I INPUT -j ACCEPT iptables -I OUTPUT -j ACCEPT
Remember to reenable it when you are done with whatever you need to do. It can be reenabled by commenting out the line you just added in, and then restarting with /etc/init.d/ebox restart again.
Speed and Performance Tweaks
- Add the IP address of any computer that you connect to your eBox with to /etc/hosts on the eBox, eg.
10.0.1.12 blueandwhiteG3 10.0.1.20 bobspowerbookG4
Add these lines (or lines like them with your hosts ip and name) by editting /etc/hosts w/ nano or your favorite editor, or simple issue a command like this:
echo "10.0.1.12 blueandwhiteG3" >> /etc/hosts
- Drop the firewall completely. (see above)
- Turn off any services that you don't use or need. (use web interface)
Links and References
eBox-Platform site pages
- eBox-Platform Home Page
- eBox-Platform Wiki/Trac
- eBox User Archives/Mail List
- Post a question at eBox User Mail Lists - Note: For English Interface click the language chooser on upper right corner of page.
Linkstationwiki.net forum thread - eBox on PPC Linkstations


text:
Mitakuye Oyasin / Republic of Lakotah
Thousands of Israeli troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, have entered the Gaza Strip as Israel escalated its offensive into the territory on the eighth day of operations.
Tanks entered the besieged territory through several points mainly in northern Gaza, crossing shortly after nightfall on Saturday, officials said, while the Israeli cabinet said it had also called up about 9,000 reservists. U.S. Backed Weapons vs. Homemade Rockets VIDEO
Lie #1
Israel is only targeting legitimate military sites and is seeking to protect innocent lives. Israel never targets civilians.
The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated pieces of property in the world. The presence of militants within a civilian population does not, under international law, deprive that population of their protected status, and hence any assault upon that population under the guise of targeting militants is, in fact, a war crime.
Moreover, the people Israel claims are legitimate targets are members of Hamas, which Israel says is a terrorist organization. Hamas has been responsible for firing rockets into Israel. These rockets are extremely inaccurate and thus, even if Hamas intended to hit military targets within Israel, are indiscriminate by nature. When rockets from Gaza kill Israeli civilians, it is a war crime.
Hamas has a military wing. However, it is not entirely a military organization, but a political one. Members of Hamas are the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people. Dozens of these elected leaders have been kidnapped and held in Israeli prisons without charge. Others have been targeted for assassination, such as Nizar Rayan, a top Hamas official. To kill Rayan, Israel targeted a residential apartment building. The strike not only killed Rayan but two of his wives and four of his children, along with six others. There is no justification for such an attack under international law. This was a war crime.
Other of Israel's bombardment with protected status under international law have included a mosque, a prison, police stations, and a university, in addition to residential buildings.
Moreover, Israel has long held Gaza under siege, allowing only the most minimal amounts of humanitarian supplies to enter. Israel is bombing and killing Palestinian civilians. Countless more have been wounded, and cannot receive medical attention. Hospitals running on generators have little or no fuel. Doctors have no proper equipment or medical supplies to treat the injured. These people, too, are the victims of Israeli policies targeted not at Hamas or legitimate military targets, but directly designed to punish the civilian population.
Lie #2
Hamas violated the cease-fire. The Israeli bombardment is a response to Palestinian rocket fire and is designed to end such rocket attacks.
Israel never observed the cease-fire to begin with. From the beginning, it announced a "special security zone" within the Gaza Strip and announced that Palestinians who enter this zone will be fired upon. In other words, Israel announced its intention that Israeli soldiers would shoot at farmers and other individuals attempting to reach their own land in direct violation of not only the cease-fire but international law.
Despite shooting incidents, including ones resulting in Palestinians getting injured, Hamas still held to the cease-fire from the time it went into effect on June 19 until Israel effectively ended the truce on November 4 by launching an airstrike into Gaza that killed five and injured several others.
Israel's violation of the cease-fire predictably resulted in retaliation from militants in Gaza who fired rockets into Israel in response. The increased barrage of rocket fire at the end of December is being used as justification for the continued Israeli bombardment, but is a direct response by militants to the Israeli attacks.
Israel's actions, including its violation of the cease-fire, predictably resulted in an escalation of rocket attacks against its own population.
Lie #3
Hamas is using human shields, a war crime.
There has been no evidence that Hamas has used human shields. The fact is, as previously noted, Gaza is a small piece of property that is densely populated. Israel engages in indiscriminate warfare such as the assassination of Nizar Rayan, in which members of his family were also murdered. It is victims like his dead children that Israel defines as "human shields" in its propaganda. There is no legitimacy for this interpretation under international law. In circumstances such as these, Hamas is not using human shields, Israel is committing war crimes in violation of the Geneva Conventions and other applicable international law.
Lie #4
Arab nations have not condemned Israel's actions because they understand Israel's justification for its assault.
The populations of those Arab countries are outraged at Israel's actions and at their own governments for not condemning Israel's assault and acting to end the violence. Simply stated, the Arab governments do not represent their respective Arab populations. The populations of the Arab nations have staged mass protests in opposition to not only Israel's actions but also the inaction of their own governments and what they view as either complacency or complicity in Israel's crimes.
Moreover, the refusal of Arab nations to take action to come to the aid of the Palestinians is not because they agree with Israel's actions, but because they are submissive to the will of the US, which fully supports Israel. Egypt, for instance, which refused to open the border to allow Palestinians wounded in the attacks to get medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals, is heavily dependent upon US aid, and is being widely criticized within the population of the Arab countries for what is viewed as an absolute betrayal of the Gaza Palestinians.
Even Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been regarded as a traitor to his own people for blaming Hamas for the suffering of the people of Gaza. Palestinians are also well aware of Abbas' past perceived betrayals in conniving with Israel and the US to sideline the democratically elected Hamas government, culminating in a counter-coup by Hamas in which it expelled Fatah (the military wing of Abbas' Palestine Authority) from the Gaza Strip. While his apparent goal was to weaken Hamas and strengthen his own position, the Palestinians and other Arabs in the Middle East are so outraged at Abbas that it is unlikely he will be able to govern effectively.
Lie #5
Israel is not responsible for civilian deaths because it warned the Palestinians of Gaza to flee areas that might be targeted.
Israel claims it sent radio and telephone text messages to residents of Gaza warning them to flee from the coming bombardment. But the people of Gaza have nowhere to flee to. They are trapped within the Gaza Strip. It is by Israeli design that they cannot escape across the border. It is by Israeli design that they have no food, water, or fuel by which to survive. It is by Israeli design that hospitals in Gaza have no electricity and few medical supplies with which to treat the injured and save lives. And Israel has bombed vast areas of Gaza, targeting civilian infrastructure and other sites with protected status under international law. No place is safe within the Gaza Strip.
Prior to the British signing the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which called for a Jewish state, Palestinians made up over 90% of the population of Palestine. In fact, in 1914, Jews only made up 7.5% of the population. After the signing of the Balfour Declaration, Jews began migrating in mass numbers from surrounding areas into Palestine. This migration was haulted for three years from 1936-1939, but then resumed in even greater numbers until 1948, when Israel claimed itself a sovereign state and thus sparking an even larger mass migration of Jews into Palestine. By 1950, only 30 years after the signing of the Balfour Declaration, Jews made up the majority of the population. Basically, if you were to ask all but about 5% of the original Jewish inhabitants where they originated from, they would answer with a country other than Palestine, most likely a country from Eastern Europe and some from neighboring Arab countries. Jews are still migrating into Palestine today in mass numbers and settling in Palestinian territory. Much of these migrating Jews understand the Palestinian situation, but many times choose to ignore it due to overwhelming benefits.
In 1947, the United Nations agrees to split Palestine into two states, a Jewish state and a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as an international city. One issue bothered the Palestinians…the agreement included a Jewish state that made up 54% of the land and 46% to the Palestinians, even though prior to that point the Jews owned only 6% of the land. Then there is the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians out of their rightfully owned lands by Israeli militias, which sparked the bloodshed still seen today. One such horrific act was witnessed in April of 1948, when Zionist militia went into the town of Deir Yassin and murdered 254 innocent civilians, mostly elders, women, children. Many of these incidents along with the inexcusable demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes in the years to come instilled fear into the minds of many Palestinians, forcing them to flee to neighboring countries, most likely Jordan. Those who remained in Palestine to defend their land and refused to submit to the will of Israel were in for a great struggle. Till this day, this struggle includes many war crimes committed by Israel not only in Palestine, but in Lebanon as well, which include: ethnic cleansing, genocide, illegal imprisonment, and illegal occupation. Some of these war crimes were executed by former Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, who was not tried for any of his war crimes. Tyrants similar to Sharon include Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Iraqi Dictator Saddam Hussein. Milosevic went onto trial for his crimes and was sentenced to prison, dying 5 years later in his prison cell. Saddam Hussein also went on trial for his tyrannical crimes and was hung to death. The world demands justice, not only from Sharon (who suffered a stroke late 2005 and is currently in a coma), but for any injustices. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere."
What you don't know is that the United States has been aiding Israel every year since 1945 with hundreds of millions of dollars. This money comes out of your pockets as tax payers. The U.S. also provides Israel with Caterpillar bulldozers, which are used to demolish homes and Palestinian infrastructure. As a democratic nation, we proudly say that we are combating terrorism, yet we turn the other cheek and fuel a war machine like Israel, but of course…they're not terrorists. Palestinians have to endure such inhumane actions everyday. Hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, tens of thousands have lost their lives, and all have been deprived of their integrity and hope for freedom.
Much of the news coverage you hear especially in America is biased news about the terrorist actions of suicide bombers in Palestine. What they don't mention is what equates to such actions. Israel has gone as far as to literally torture Palestinians by poisoning their water, poisoning livestock, destroying electrical power plants, and destroying roads. People cannot go to prayer, let alone work, to provide their families with an income that can keep them alive. Many in Gaza, one of the most densely populated regions in the world, are living in total darkness due to the recent destruction of their only electrical power plant. In essence, Israel gives birth to these Suicide Bombers. No civilian deserves to die, whether Israeli or Palestinian. There is no legitimate excuse for the execution of innocent lives. Both sides though, have extremists trying to support their cause. Suicide bombers never existed before the Zionist regime took over in Israel, but that still doesn't justify the loss of civilian life.
Since Palestinian suicide bombers are terrorists; what word would you use to describe Israeli actions?
I urge you to maintain open mindedness and not believe all that you may hear in the news. I also urge you to do your own research and not take my word for it either. You will be surprised at what you find. I have not even hit the surface when it comes to facts, so dig further. I have witnessed many of these injustices with my own eyes, so its time for you to open yours.
*Please remember, there are plenty of Jews, even Rabbi's, that are entirely against the Zionist movement. Also, do not confuse a person who practices Judaism with a Zionist. Zionists are not all necessarily Jews, and not all Jews are necessarily Zionists.