Month: November 2002

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I Had a Long Weekend

So long that I can’t possibly type it all. I started to write an outline and it got so long that the weight of turning it into a full blown post depressed me to tears.

So, here are the highlights.

Dan came up for the LAN Party (LAN pahr-tee) all the way from the School of Mines in Rapid City (that’s a long cuckfurking way).

Alan, Jeff’s friend, came up from … somewhere and ended up at the LAN Party, too. Turns out that Alan knew who I was the whole time. I used to give him a bad time in the comments because it seemed to me that he thought I was Jeff. I am not Jeff.

I am Miles.

So we all had the LAN party. It was a lot of Dan rebooting, Alan getting fragged unmercifully, and people telling me that my Counter-Strike looks like a slideshow (but it’s a hella nice fast slideshow, guys). Then disaster struck. Novelization time.

Bryce and I were involved in a game of Unreal Tournament 2003 (UT2003) and Dan was playing Dungeon Siege by himself ( :( ) again. Bryce was saying, “You’d better not let me catch you, Miles, or I’m gonna kill you. You’d better hope that you find me first,” as I eyed him through my scope. Dan saved a villiage or something.

Alan and Jeff were getting ready to leave, and, since they were our rides, we felt that we should waste as much time before getting up to leave like they were. Jeff was wrapping up his mouse and Alan was unplugging hit tower. All of a sudden…

… disaster …

… three screens go black at the same instant, fans stop turning, and above all was heard a click. We all four stood/sat there in a stunned silence. Slowly, what had happened registered on the faces of the victims. Then it registered on Alan’s. He started to stammer, and all he could say was “Oh, man… oh, oh man…”. Alan had turned off our computers.

Dan started to cry, his tears coming fast and hot on his keyboard. Bryce started to swear very violently and almost strangled Alan, who was close to tears himself. I simply shrugged and turned off my monitor.

We waited for Bryce to calm down, and for Dan to quit being such a girl. Then Alan started to say, “Dammit, I am so so sorry, guys. I had no idea… it just clicked and I couldn’t figure out what happened, I am so sorry…” over and over again. Finally, we decided it was time to go. The other kid in the three person UT2003 game we had going says, “Are you guys going?” I guess he didn’t realize that our characters hadn’t moved for five minutes.

“Yeah, we’re gonna head, I think…”

That was a supreme, super condensed version of what I was GOING to post. In the interest of my sanity, we’ll move on to Saturday.

As it turns out, waking up at 100pm was harder to realize than we thought. And as it turns out, we overshot by about 2 hours. We didn’t shower. Jeff and Alan were hungry, so we just zipped off to the The China Moon like we do every Saturday. It was quiet, then we remembered.

Poor Alan. We were relentless. I tried to let up on him, because I’d like him to visit again sometime. Then we got back to the dorm, and finally Dan, Bryce, and I took off for Sioux Falls.

We went to the Century Theatre to see the new Bond flick. We met Ryan Guse (Bryce and Dan’s friend), Todd (Guse’s roommate) and Alicia (who I didn’t know was going to be there.) We all sat down in the theatre. I was between Alicia and Guse. It was nice.

The movie was another matter.

I thought a lot of the action sequences seemed fake or cheesy. I thought the punch lines were mostly bad innuendos that got very tiring. Lots of cool cars, lots of hot babes, but little to make this a buy. I thought it was a decent action movie, but a horrible Bond movie. Maybe I missed the point, but I didn’t like the movie much.

After the movie we went to KFC and had some food. I had very very little money so I only bought a Mountain Dew (which I haven’t had for a while), but Alicia made me eat some of her potato wedges. We had extensive conversation at the restaurant. Guse even had a good comeback (his 12th, I believe) and it consisted of saying, “Firewall” and putting his hand between me and his face.

To his credit, I had nothing against that. I had a really really bad router thing that back fired, and so I just sat embarassed. Then they closed down KFC on us and we were forced out into the cold.

So, we went to Alicia’s apartment to watch Zoolander (again) and to get a quick tour. Then we said our tearful goodbyes and sped off to home. We got back late (again) and stayed up later (again) and finally went to bed in time for church on Sunday. I thought mass was at 1030, but it was at 1000.

Oops.

Sunday passed most uneventfully. Dan left, and took Bryce with him, shortly after mass, and I organized my room. I tried homework, and I only partly succeeded. So, I went to bed.

On Monday, sometime, I found out that Collin has a webcam (!) Can you believe it!? Here are some ads he made for me. Just click : [ this ] and [ this ]. Those are links by the way (Erin).

I think that something like the Collin Show would be the greatest/worst thing to hit the net. There are some people you should never give cameras to. Like :ponder:, for instance.

Anyway, now I’m having a mock fight with Missa about what he said/I said/did/wanted to do when we were mock dating. It’s confusing and it’s making me very angry.

¿@CollinCam1 or CollinCam2@?
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Adam Shmadam

I hadn’t been in college more than a week and I already needed a new roommate. I had the choice of staying in my room (and quite possibly getting a football player for a roommate) or I could ask one of the other two single rooms if they would be my neighbor. Well, roommate. So, like a live in neighbor. And all his stuff is in your room, I guess.

Anyway, the choice was clear. I had to figure out which of these two guys to pick. One was Don Krell (who, to this day, I haven’t had a conversation with) and the other was Adam Hafner. Well, Carl made up my mind for me. “Room with Hafner. He’s cool; he’s from Mitchell.”
I didn’t know Carl that well back then. But I followed his advice.

This was how I met Adam Hafner. A huggable, lovable LOL type of guy, Adam is amicable almost to a fault. He pats you on the back, shakes your hand, meses your hair, and calls you “Little Buddy.”

The first night, we lay on our back staring up at the stars (about 150 of them, glow in the dark, taped to our ceiling) and we talked for hours. It was obvious that this was the start of a solid friendship.

Now, though, Adam has, in light of certain events, become an RA on our floor. So he is moving all the way down the hall. For this reason I am writing this touching, funny, heartfelt goodbye to Adam. I mean, he’s not dying , but he’s going to be way way down the hall.
Plus, after he reads this, he’ll have to walk way way down to my room to give me a hug.

I am so evil, but here goes.

M’Adam Memories

Hey, Adam, remember that time when you came back home and I had that Budweiser sign up?
Oh, wait, that would be you.

Remember that time I tripped walking up the stairs?
No, that was you, too.

Remember how everyone would come into the room and scare me and take my stuff?
… you again.

Remember that time I was driving us to Pamida, and I was trying to remember what the title of the song was on the radio and I almost killed us by driving into the back of another vehicle?
Scary as hell, but that was still you.

Man, looks like my memories are confused. How about these.

Remember how Collin would always come into the room and play your guitar and I’d get all pissed and I finally got you to ask him to play in his room?
Oh wait – that was you wasn’t it.

Well how about all those times I asked you to play the keyboard song, which you wrote on a whim, but seems to be your most popular song?
No no no. That was all you.

How about when, last year, you’d have class, then I’d have class, and we were always on opposite schedules? And I’d always come back when you were in the room, and I’d think it was locked, so I’d actually end up locking you in the room and me out of it. Then I’d try to door and it’d be locked and I’d kinda fall into it. Then I’d swear, “Goddamn sons of bitches” and I’d have to unlock the door, and I’d come in and you’d be laughing your head off, and I’d get that grin on my face, and turn red, and say, “Shuddup” without any ‘t’s in it.
Oh. That was DEFINATELY you.

Ok. I will try one more time. I just had two AWESOME strawberry Fantas (Erin) And I’ll see if I can’t get it right this time.

Remember that time we all went to Pizza Ranch but all the guys kept calling my little sister “Girl Rausch,” and I was getting really pissed, so after we got done eating, you and I ran to the car and left Carl, Jeff, and Collin at Pizza Ranch to walk?
Well, Girl Rausch doesn’t sound as good as Girl Hafner. I must have that wrong.

Remember that time I was in bed, and it was morning, so I got out of bed, and to steady myself I used the towel holder to steady myself, and it gave and I fell and I popped back up and said, “I’m allright” ?
… ok, that was me.

But at least I can say that you’ll be missing one of the best buds you’ve ever spent 3 semesters sharing the same room.
Oh, wait. I guess that would be me, too.

¿@Sappy or Stupid@?
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:) :D :( :'(

Blink Blink Blink

Guess what? New emoticons!! Jeff and I painstakingly associated, bit by bit, emoticon to text so that we can have moving ones (I was very animate about this) and so that you can have more.

I also have many many hidden emoticons. In fact, there are 22 out of 29, which means that there are 7 hidden ones for my own usages.

Ones like : :spidey: , :wow: , and :poke: .

Jeff and I also discovered something very very very very very nice about this new setup. Look at this :

:poke::puke:

Oooo man, that’s funny.

¿@Cool or What@?
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A Girl On A Train

I get images, like anyone else does, about things they read. Sometimes these come painfully. They are vague and shadowy, and one must concentrate hard, harder, to bring them forth. Often these images aren’t true to themselves. They are not what they actually are. They change themselves, because they do not want to be seen. I usually see this type of image when I am trying to understand something that doesn’t come clear. Or if I am trying to write something that doesn’t want to be written, it hides from me. This paragraph itself is an example. I sat for a full minute before I was able to start it.

Other images snap into focus. They are fast and beautiful, and, more importantly, they are talkative. They wish to share everything with you, every detail of themselves, and you have but to listen and the write (if that’s the case) or merely enjoy. When one reads a good book (which seem to be far and few) such a thing happens. Believe it or not, Harry Potter was such a book for me. Harry just seemed to shine, his pages quickly coming to life before my eyes.

The final type are those images who are shy. They want to be seen, but they want to be safe. They want to hold back from you, because they are so special that they know if you work for it, they will be all the grander. These are most often the types of images I see when I write. It takes a delicate prodding, but they come forth in their splender, and I put my pen to paper or my fingers to plastic.

Such was this story, imspired by a sentence in which a girl talks about taking a train to Holland from Prague.

I saw you on that train, peering listlessly out a window into the wintry landscape
that passes on by, tears reflecting back the golden sunlight that danced on your face. These were tears of fear, uncertainty, and frustration. Tears that screamed “Why ?” and “Why me ?” in their silent path to your lips.

You sat with your coat and purse, which appears more like a shoulder bag, thing and with clasps, legs crossed under a what appears to be a stylish, red, ankle-length skirt. Around one ankle is a faded, dark green ankle bracelet and around one wrist is what looks like an unadorned charm bracelet, but is actually
a time piece. Time doesn’t matter anymore.

I stand there, in the dark, three doors down from yours. I can see the sunlight poor out the window in the door into the hall. And I can hear a snifle and a sigh. I walk forward and the light on the dark red carpet, though muted, reflects up onto my face, illuminating my eyes. They’ve welled up with a commiserated pain. I walk forward, to your door; and knock.

You turn with a start, and the beams highlight your straight brown hair in a flash.

“Mind if I share company with you?” I cautiously aire. Your hand goes to your mouth, covering those same lips that are moist with your sorrow. Then you get up and run over to me and throw your arms around my neck. You close your eyes, forcing out more tears, and I can feel them on my neck and cheek. I share a tear with you.

We embrace for what seems to be forever. So much is spoken, but unsaid, and so much more is understood, but unquestioned.

We go back into the car where you sit in the sunlight again, but smiling this time. I sit opposite, in more shadows, but smiling this time. And the train rolls on. On to Holland.

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Am I Dope Or What ?

When did the word “dope” mean cool? I must have missed that transition. I blame rap music.

Today I only have info to report.

We have two new authors.

The first is “missa” who has published one poem in the [ ]words[ ] section.

The other is my cousin, “brenna” who posted four poems in the [ ]words[ ] section.

Make sure to read their stuff. Always top notch.

Note : If these pages look messed up it’s because I broke them. Sorry.

~ :cry:

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This Isn’t Funny : I Have Issues

.:.

i have so much to say
but words of fog escape
it was a perfect day
but my emotional rape

.:.

i reach for snow flakes
who tell what to write
but for all it takes
i can ‘ t clear my sight

.:.

angst and questions
blasphemy of soul
masochist suggestions
words take their toll

.:.

mirrors : own to cut
fasces : cut to buy
people : asking what ?
and i : asking why .

.:.

order or entropy
i knew which it was
the universe’s canopy
between it and us

.:.

grammar a n d s p a c i n g
Personality and conversation
My emotions are still racing
But closer to elation

.:.

thank you

.:.
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En Terra Saunt Tay

I want to be interesting. Jill said that I’m interesting already, but I must not be interesting enough. The way I figured it, girls flock over interesting guys, and no one’s flocking over me.

I guess Jeff had the same ideal, because he said, “You know, the chicks really dig interesting guys. Brad Pitt is interesting, and so is Einstein, and they are both famous and both get the chicks.” I thought about correcting Jeff, and telling him that Einstein wasn’t that famous, but I didn’t. I decided to figure out what makes someone interesting.

If we analyze Brad Pitt and Arnold Einstein, and if we consider them interesting, then we learn this about interesting people:

  1. They are thin (or muscular)
  2. They can act
  3. They develop mathematical theories
  4. They’ve never heard of Bryce Rausch (there, you’re in my post – quit annoying me)
  5. They know interesting people
  6. They may (or may not) have a personal webpage
  7. They do interesting things

That’s it. Really. Just seven things. I feel so enlightened, though. And you can replace the names “Brad Pitt” and “Albert Einstein” with any names of interesting people. You can also replace the name “Bryce Rausch” with any name of an annoying person, or even your own brother.

The point is that Jeff and I decided we had to do something. Interesting people who are less famous usually have interesting websites. These websites mirror their lives. My site is okay, but in order to be an interesting person, you have to have pictures of your interesting life. Otherwise, how will people know it was you doing those interesting things? And I can’t put pictures on this site; it’s getting old! Exactly!

For this reason, a new site will shortly come into existance. We will call this “Guyswithlives.com” (we’re even going to buy the domain) and we’re planning on having more than one author. Thus, more than one guy with an interesting life. Therefore, guys with lives. Get it? Not just “Lazydesert” and not just “Awayken.” It would be “LazyAwaykenDesert.netcom/” or “guyswithlives.com”. Do you see where I’m going with this?

To continue my research, I figured out that these same people (who I’m studying) are also partly interesting because of what they say. They have interesting words. These words perk your … interest. They make you sit up and say, “Waaaa?” (which isn’t an interesting word by the way). They use words like “Sex” and “Free” which usually make people listen.

Other words are:

  • Culture
  • Biohazard
  • Zoolander
  • Satan
  • Plethora
  • Awayken
  • Lazydesert
  • Collin
  • Not Collin

and

  • Culture

and, also,

  • Fingers (thanks Jeff)

So, I plan on using these words a lot more Satan. Hopefully some Awayken chicks will notice my Not Collin and decide to Culture with me.

Fingers Fingers, Zoolander!

By they way, good luck to everyone taking tests today. I hope you all Collin it. Plethora face :)

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There Is No Sex or Violence In This Post

My monday sucked. Tuesday ended horribly. Wednesday was sad. Thursday isn’t over.

Once again, walk with my as I recount my day (from this Thursday night’s perspective) in chronologically forted stylistics.

What?

Anyway…

Monday

I woke up at 1015, and I was pissed. I have nothing against 1015, except that it makes me fifeteen minutes late for Assembly Language. That class seems to be my biggest problem with this semester. And that’s only because I keep missing it.

Bad start. I didn’t feel good. I spent all of Sunday night, and an obscene amount of Monday morning doing homework. Assembly language, actually. Oh, right, and I was studying for a Math test. Just the thing I wanted to do.

I felt like crying. In fact, I did all day. My eyes burned, I couldn’t look up, and I felt like dying. So. I made a decision.

I walked to Assembly with my printed assignment, and I then wrote Tom a note. I spelled out how bad my day was (already) and how I had worked and worked on the program, and was sure that it worked, just not sure why it didn’t for me. I would later figure out that the problem was NOT my program, but other elements in the equation.

I walked around head down to get something quick to eat, then I came back up to the room, showered, ate, and studied for Math. I decided now would be a good time to start reading up for my essay rough draft, which was technically due on Monday (that day) but was not expected until Wednesday (for all intensive purposes.)

So, I trotted off the Math. I was on time this day (I’m usually late), but why, I asked myself? I took the test, which was not as bad as it could have been, and I got to leave early, which was not as good as it could have been. I had fifteen minutes before my next class. Where did I go? I went to that bathroom on the second floor of East Hall (the one I talked about in that “relativity” post) and I just stood there. Coat, bag, all, again. I just stood there and waited. I hated this day.

I went to my class, where I played Bejeweled the whole time, kept my head down, and urged the day along. The rest of it played well. No large speed bumps. Most people did note my unusually depressed self, but I told them that I would be better later, not sure if I would.

Then the play. You can’t act when you’re depressed. I had to cheer up, and so I did on the way up. I was still dampered, but I was in a good condition to perform. And so I did. I said the same lines I have so many times; I made all the guestures I’ve made time and time again; and I acted as I know how to do.

Guess who was there? Alicia. So, after those dumb pictures (“Miles, you can only take three pictures, Miles. Miles!”) I took Alicia back to my place and me … uh… talked to Adam. She wrote on my wipeoff board, signed the loft, and then (after some confusion) we walked out to her car, where we … uh… came back in the building. She hadn’t met Jeff!

So, we went up to Jeff’s room where we …uh… talked to Jeff. We talked music and stuff, and then Alicia swore (which shocked me) and then she swore some more. It was crazy. Finally I walked her to her car. We said goodbye, and she drove off.

Well, everyone who met her (and some people, like Adam, who had already met her) were asking who that hottt chick was that I was showing around. And then Adam says, “Hey Miles. Why don’t you tap that?” And to tell you the truth, I don’t have a good reason.

It makes me wonder…

Then I did homework until 330 am.

Tuesday

I woke up way before my first class. I felt a lot better. Sleep does much to your outlook on things. It tends to brighten mine. I attacked the day with vigor.

I don’t remember what happened during the day.

Then the play happened, and we got the worst audience ever. Ugh they make me so mad! (for you, Jamie) But seriously, the only good thing to come out of it was that I became part of a three person … person named “Rethleb” which involves Me, Heather, and Rob. We are three equal persons (not unlike the trinity) though we don’t have any special powers (like the trinity) and Rob gets TWO letters of the name, which isn’t at all fair.

I then went home and worked on homework until 330 am again.

Wednesday

I made it to ASM today! Hoooo man was I stoked! Then I made it to all my other classes! Not much happened today. At least, not much comes to mind. The final night of the play.

We had the play, and we had the best audience ever. I couldn’t believe it. They laughed at everything. I had to bounce for practially 20 minutes to make space for the laugh lines. It was great. This energy was surging through me. I LOVE THAT FEELING. That’s why I act. When the script, actor, and audience all come together. Both skits garnered piles of laughs, which I hope to trade in for a cool pen flashlight. No, not really.

They don’t have those anymore. I’ll get a green Alien eraser.

I got a number of compliments from people saying that they thought my skit was the funniest and that I was the “best actor up there.” I’m serious! I don’t know what to say to that. What do you say? I say, “Well, thank you” and try to bear the awkward silence. I would normally have a witty saying to it, but I can’t think of anything. These people just rob me. I would love to say back to them something corney like, “Well, you know, it was the synergy of the whole group. I got to work with some really talented and funny people and it’s an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life” but they’re usually gone by then.

Alas. The day ended on a sad note. As Jamie gave me a ride home, I reflected. This play marks the end of a lot of things. Some of these people I am never going to see again. Jamie, Heather, Amanda. It makes me sad. I like these people! Others, I might see but never get a chance to hang out with. How is THAT fair? You spend so much time with these people, that they become a family.

I didn’t cry, but I felt meloncholy. I hoped, deep down, that I was just being dramatic.

Thursday

Almost up to speed. Today went well. I went to SAD, and everyone else in the group showed up, too. Wonderful.

Mike had this program on his VIAO (is that right??) where you basically run this skier into things because it’s funny and he’s violently thrown about. Kinda like another program I discovered today: Porrasturvat. It was written in ASM, which is cool and at the same time depressing, and you basically throw a guy down a flight of steps.

There is this badly conceived and convoluted story about WHY you do this, but it doesn’t hold up. It’s funny (in a sick way) to watch his body fly down the steps. OH, and you get points for this.

I had a Flash final, which I didn’t get all the way finished with. Oh well. I’m hoping the cool things I tried to get done shine over the simple things he asked for and that I couldn’t complete. I tried.

Before that, however, Jeff and I went to see Bob (Jackson) who had a copy of my snow speech (finally!) and also has his “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” poster hidden behind his door for fear of ridicule. At least that’s what he told us. We had a nice chat before going to Flash.

After flash, I had a SAD meeting in Val’s room. We got a lot done, but I got nothing done. I was shelled out. Useless and space absorbing.

When I got back, I went down to return Mandy’s nail polish that I borrowed. No one was in their room, so I gave it to Erin to give to Mandy. Then Erin and I talked for a very long time. It was a nice chat. I enjoyed it.

Then I went to the Drama Club meeting. Actually, I was late. Actually, they cancelled the meeting but we hung out until 815 (officially the meeting cancellation time), but Bob (Davison) and I talked until 930. Then I came here.

And I worked on some stuff before settling down to write this. So this is all I’m going to type so that Jill can go to bed.

¿@Sex or Violence@?
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Gracious Me

I’m sorry that there hasn’t been anything up here in a while. With the play showing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of this week, I’ve had only time for homework and acting.

So, this is a type of pacifier … sorta. I promise that I will write tons on Thursday. I have three days of rants, yelling, and philosophy to give out.

Hopefully, you won’t be disappointed.

In the mean time, look at this [ picture ]. Given my obsessions, people should think it funny.

¿@Too Much or Too Little@?
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Network Connectivity FAQ

1. What caused the network outage that began around 2:00pm on Tuesday, October 29, and continued through Wednesday, October 30, until about 1:00pm? Was the failure caused by re occurrence of problems with the Internet-2 router – similar to those experienced in mid-September?

The most recent network outage was caused by the total failure of the Cabletron SmartSwitch/Router that serves as the central point of connection for the building wiring closets. The problems associated with the Internet-2 router appear to be resolved.

2. Why did this failure cause a campus-wide network outage?

All the building wiring closets connect back to the server room through a port on the SmartSwitch/Router. As such, it is a single point of failure on our network.

3. Why don’t we have a second or redundant device to prevent such a failure from impacting the entire network?

Primarily due to cost of about $138,000 for the device as configured

4. Do we have a maintenance contract on the device?

Yes and no. We have budgeted $43,000 for Cabletron maintenance. Knowing that the Cabletron device lacked some of the features we needed to implement a secure wireless network, we used those funds (and a bit more) as the initial payment on a three-year lease of a Cisco 6500 switch/router. In this case, continuing maintenance on the Cabletron device would not have reduced the network downtime, so severe was the failure.

5. So where is the Cisco device? Has it been installed?

The Cisco Switch had been delivered to InterTel in Sioux Falls. Last week a Cisco technician was on campus collecting information necessary to configure the switch – especially the intrusion detection components. The original plan was to schedule implementation early on some Thursday, which is our regular maintenance time. The total failure of the Cabletron switch has provided the “opportunity” for an immediate installation. The Cisco switch/router was installed on Wednesday morning.

6. What is being done with the Cabletron SmartSwitch/Router?

Now that we have the network operating again, we can determine what failed and attempt to repair the device. If it can be repaired it will become our backup central switch/router.

7. Has the Cabletron device been failing for a while? Is that why the Cisco device was ordered? Has that been the cause of the slow network access in the dorms?

While the Cabletron device has had its operational peculiarities, we ordered the Cisco device primarily for the extra features that would protect the wireless network, support local multicasting traffic, and provide internal intrusion detection services. The speed of network response in the dorms is a function of the peer-to-peer applications students are running on their personal machines.

8. Isn’t DSU an ISP? Dorm students are paying $60 per semester for their connection. Shouldn’t they expect better service?

DSU is not an ISP. The network is established and managed to support academic activities in accordance with the Computing Privileges Policy (see it here (ps – you can click this)). The fees collected are utilized to fund the switches and support services for the network in the dorms. The $60 per semester equates to $15/month. This is the approximate cost of a limited access dial-up connection. In keeping with the academic focus of the network, connectivity in the dorm provides a way for students to quickly and easily access local resources. Better access will naturally result when dorm residents cease running peer-to-peer applications.

9. What are the “peer-to-peer” applications students are running on personal machines in the dorm?

Examples of peer-to-peer applications include: KaZaA, Grokster, Morpheus and others. These applications provide opportunities to retrieve or share music, movies, software, video games and other copyrighted materials without authorization. In addition to consuming bandwidth for non-academic purposes, these applications raise issues of copyright infringement and open personal machines to virus attacks. While there are legitimate uses for peer-to-peer applications, the bulk of the peer-to-peer traffic appears to support entertainment, not academic, activities.

10. Aren’t these the same applications DSU was attempting to block last year? This year it appears only the dorms are impacted. Why is that?

Last year DSU attempted to block each application through its standard “port”. But students would configure the application to use another port and by-pass the network management rules in place on the PacketShaper®. This year, rather than attempting to block or limit each application, we’re limiting the bandwidth to the dorm subnets to 6M – about 75% of our 8M Internet connection – at priority level 0. The rules as implemented provide first priority to network traffic for labs and offices. For example, if the labs and offices require 6M of network connectivity, the dorms will be limited to 2M; if the labs and office require 4M of network connectivity, the dorms will be limited to 4M; if the labs and offices require no network connectivity, the dorms will be limited to 6M. This network management approach has certainly reduced the complaints from faculty and staff concerning network access.

11. Can’t DSU determine which students in the dorms are running these applications and stop them so students with legitimate academic needs would not be impacted?

With the PacketShaper® we can identify those machines that are consuming excessive bandwidth. Rather than establish a “bandwidth police” unit, we would prefer that students accept the responsibility to utilize the network in appropriate ways. This does not preclude future steps to ensure ethical and reasonable usage of network resources.

12. Who is more stupid? Beavis or Butthead?

Son – that is for YOU to decide.

¿@Beavis or Butthead@?