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About
Who is Dan Smith? Essentially, I’m a jack-of-all-trades: I’ve conducted research and written analyses on everything from cutting-edge information warfare scenarios, to historical conflicts to domestic counter-terrorism tactics, hired and ran a series of research teams; I oversaw an IT team and directed a massive restructuring and re-design of a multi-thousand page website (twice); I’ve been interviewed by a nationally syndicated radio program and foreign television journalists; I’ve edited and produced books and periodical publications and I’ve overseen everything from high-level Pentagon briefings, to visits from foreign heads of state and dignitaries, to fomenting dialogues between civic, industrial and elected leaders. I’ve piloted aircraft, fired heavy weapons and driven race cars. And besides that, I’m a halfway decent sports and editorial photographer. I’m a quick-learner, a published author and a strong communicator. I have a passion for history.
Resumé
Dan Smith Durham, NC Education B.A., 2001 – Political Science (Concentrations: Civil-Military Relations, Military Force and Foreign Policy) The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Experience Duke University Center for International Studies (2007-Present) Rob Sikorski, Executive Director | Durham, N.C. | DUCIS.jhfc.duke.edu July 2007 – Present: Assistant Director, Programs Managing DUCIS’ communications and identity, on-Campus, within the surrounding community and amongst peer institutions, nationwide, Coordination of DUCIS’ flagship University Seminar on Global Governance and Democracy, which annually brings 10-12 prominent professors and researchers from around the world, to Duke, for intimate discussions with students and faculty on a wide variety of subjects, Development of the University Seminar on Globalization, Science and Technology — a strategic outreach program, in partnership with HASTAC, aimed at enhancing STEM in high school and community college settings, Oversight of three to four undergraduate student assistants, Top-to-bottom redesign of DUCIS’ visual identity, Designed, programmed and re-organized a wholly-new DUCIS website, built from the ground-up in less than 30 calendar days (and subsequently featured by WordPress), Collected data for and prepared key portions of DUCIS’ semi-annual National Resource Center (Title VI) reports for the U.S. Department of Education, Coordinated the data collection and presentation of DUCIS’ proposal for…
Colophon
col•o•phon (noun) kŏl’ə-fŏn’ an inscription placed at the end of a book or manuscript usually with facts relative to its production Server This site is served on an Apple Power Macintosh G4/1.2GHz Cube, running MacOS X Server. The site is served over a Covad TeleSOHO connection with DNS by EasyDNS. Current services include: Apache WebDAV PHP mySQL SquirrelMail phpBB PHPiCalendar The blog is powered by WordPress, with various plug-ins including: . Desktop Software The site has been built using a variety of tools, including Aperture, BBedit, Photoshop and SoundStudio. Standards Web standards are important, and dvsmith.net adheres to them. Specifically, dvsmith.net’s HTML markup should validate as XHTML, its layout is constructed using valid CSS, and its syndicated feed will be valid RSS. If dvsmith.net looks awful in your browser, you’re using an awful browser that doesn’t support web standards. Netscape 4 and Internet Explorer 5, I’m looking in your direction. Do not complain about this, you’re the one using an obsolescent, bug-riddled browser. If, however, you are using a modern, standards-compliant browser and have trouble viewing or reading dvsmith.net, please do let me know.
Mac History
Retired Macs Macintosh SE Macintosh LC Macintosh Quadra 660av Powerbook 1400c/166 PowerMacintosh 7500 PowerMacintosh 9500/180MHz dual (upgraded to G3/400) PowerMacintosh G3 (Yosemite) (upgraded to G4) iBook 12″ (Dual USB) Powerbook G4/867MHz 15″ Titanium PowerMacintosh G4/450MHz Cube (upgraded to 1GHz) PowerMacintosh G3 All-In-One iMac G3/700MHz (Summer 2001) Powerbook G4/1.33GHz 15″ Aluminum Mac mini 1.42GHz – A/V entertainment server Mac mini 1.42GHz – backup server PowerMacintosh G5/2.0GHz dual MacBook Pro 2.16GHz 15″ Active Macs PowerMacintosh G4/450MHz Cube (G4/1.2GHz) – backup webserver Mac mini 2.0GHz (Core2Duo) – web/mail server Mac mini 2.0GHz (Core2Duo) – A/V entertainment server Mac Pro Dual 2.66GHz MacBook Pro 2.66GHz 15″ (Late 2008) …and on the drums: iPod [5GB] – retired iPod (Dock Connector) [10GB] – retired iPod shuffle [1GB] iPod photo [60GB] iPhone 2.5G [8GB] iPod Classic [120GB] The Macintosh Office Who says Macs aren’t for the business environment? Since 1997, I have been directly responsible for the authorizing purchases of the following Macs for my various places of work: PowerMacintosh 8600 PowerMacintosh 9600 PowerMacintosh G3 (Yosemite) PowerMacintosh G4 (Sawtooth) PowerMacintosh G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) PowerMacintosh G4 (Digital Audio) PowerMacintosh G4 (MDD) x2 PowerMacintosh G4 (FW800) x2 PowerMacintosh G5 x3 iMac (Flat Panel) iBook (Early 2003) x4 PowerBook G4…
Automotive
BMW
Service
D.C. independent BMW service
The shops that I am personally familiar with are first, followed by some that I’ve heard about. Labor rates are indicated when known. Dan Martin’s Auto Service 8100 H Beechcraft Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (301) 926-8977 Small shop but the work is excellent; he knows BMW’s very well and his prices are very good. One year warranty. Frequented by the more ‘performance-driven’ club members. Well-acquianted with older BMW’s and M-cars. ($75/hr) J u0026#038; F Motors 4064 S. Four Mile Run Dr. Arlington, VA 22206 (703) 671-7757 Excellent service and workmanship. One year warranty. Prices are higher than some other independents and management attitude can be a bit ‘snooty.’ Well-suited to cutomers who want to be pampered or those who don’t ‘know’ their Bimmer. Unfortunately, their best wrench, Bill Brochu has moved on to Virginia Beach, but the rest of the staff is quite competent. ($90/hr, $110/hr if you supply parts) Alexandria Bavarian Service Grant Randall 416 East Raymond Avenue Alexandria, VA 22301 (703) 836-2002 Superb work. Two year warranty. These guys live and breathe Bimmers. Blunt with their opinions, but very passionate and relatively thorough. Well-acquianted with 6er’s, older/newer BMW’s. TireRack direct sales u0026#038; service, too. ($90/hr) London Auto Services,…
NC independent BMW service
Now that I have moved to North Carolina, I will be providing a sister list to my catalog of D.C. area independent service shops. Shops I have personal experience with are listed first. Labor rates are indicated when known. Krause and England, Inc. 8613 Barefoot Industrial Road Raleigh, NC 27617 (919) 781-1871 A very serious race-oriented shop. Their work is top-notch and attentive to detail. The staff is straightforward and honest in their diagnoses, suggested remedies and prices. The number of high-end and specialty cars in the service bay is always impressive. Ku0026#038;E works hard to support the local BMW Chapter and its HPDE programs. ($84/hr) First Class Automotive 5408 Oak Forest Road Raleigh, NC 27616 (919) 878-9100 Housed in a large, modern and very clean facility, this shop works just about every BMW made, although they are most familiar with recent and late-model cars. The worksmanship is top-notch, although the service write-up indicated that they failed to listen to my description of the actual problem and failed to not my preference as to parts manufacturers (I specifically asked not to use a certain brand of radiator). Labor rates were reasonable, but parts costs ranged from 120%-300% of BavAuto and/or…
3 Series
“She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts” I stumbled upon this Delphin-Metallic 1987 325iS while casually asking my mechanic if he knew of anyone selling an E30 325iS — I was looking for a dedicated track car. “Yes,” he said. “I’m selling that one, right over there,” pointing to a ragged-looking 3-series coupe shoehorned between his race trailer and a customer’s E21 320i. I took the coupe for a spin up and down the industrial park road. The shocks were tired, the interior smelled musty, the seatbacks no longer adjusted and the trunk lid required so much force to slam it closed that I was worried I’d bend the rear quarters. But none of that mattered. With that little, toquey inline-6 and a 3,000 curb weight, it was a rocket compared to my E24. I was sold. So, for $2,500, I took the plunge down the slipperly (and expensive) slope toward amateur road racing. Specifications: Original Price: $27,475 – Engine – 152 cubic-in (2494cc) inline 6 cylinder M20 Belt-driven SOHC Bosch Motronic 1.3 EFI 168 hp @ 5800 164 ft-lbs @ 4300 Redline: 6400rpm – Drivetrain and Wheels – 5 speed manual transmission 3.73…
SpecE30
“Slow in; Slow out.” In less than three years, the search for a reliable, affordable and safe mode of transportation has mutated into what you see here. The 6-series led to safety schools. Safety schools led to HPDE’s. HPDE’s led to a 3-series. The 3-series led to SpecE30. SpecE30 led to poverty. The Scuderia Smith SpecE30 #59 is now a resplendent in Mazda Mariner Blue with twin LeMans Stripes and GT-350-inspired rocker stripes. Modifications: – Suspension and Brakes- Ireland Engineering Front Strut Brace Ireland Engineering Rear Brace Suspension Techniques 22mm front and 19mm adjustable rear swaybars Ireland Engineering rear swaybar reinforcement Hu0026#038;R race springs #50404-88 Bilstein Sport struts (B36-2027) and inserts (P36-0335) Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 15″x7″ wheels with E30 offset (via Bimmerworld) Toyo RA-1 205/50-ZR15 tires Bimmerworld bulletnose wheel studs Hawk HT-10 race pads – Drivetrain and Engine – Ireland Engineering urethane motor and transmission mounts UUC Evo 3 short-shift kit 2qt Accusump with electric valve Canton remote oil filter adapter OEM airbox (I removed the previous owner’s Ku0026#038;N cone) – Safety and Interior – VDO Vision Oil Pressure and Oil Temperature Gauges VDO XTreme Tachometer and shift light Spa Design Firefighter AFFF 4L fire extinguishing system RRT-installed…
5 Series
Coming Soon
6 Series
In mid-2003, I had reached the end of my rope: after six years of living in and around the District, relying on Metro and cabs, I came to a realization — I needed a car. Searching long and hard for a safe, reliable, affordable car, I came across the BMW E24 6 series, which, as it turns out, met all three of my criteria… and just happens to be drop-dead gorgeous. The 6 series was a difficult car for BMW to sell — retailing for upwards of $46,000 in the 1980′s, it was inaccesible to many outside the upper-middle class and weighing upwards of 3,800lbs it was hardly a true sports car. As a result, BMW manufactured only 86,216 E24 chassis between 1976 and 1989, of which around 46,000 628CS, 633CSi, 635CSi and M6 models made their way to U.S. shores. Due to the typical buyers’ preference for luxury over performance, relatively few of these Bavarian ‘bahn-stormers were equipped with the Getrag-built five-speed transmission. I was lucky to find my sharknose coupe through the National Capital Chapter of the BMWCCA after only a couple of weeks of looking. An ’87 model, it had only 138,000 miles under two owners and…
Track
SpecE30
“Slow in; Slow out.” In less than three years, the search for a reliable, affordable and safe mode of transportation has mutated into what you see here. The 6-series led to safety schools. Safety schools led to HPDE’s. HPDE’s led to a 3-series. The 3-series led to SpecE30. SpecE30 led to poverty. The Scuderia Smith SpecE30 #59 is now a resplendent in Mazda Mariner Blue with twin LeMans Stripes and GT-350-inspired rocker stripes. Modifications: – Suspension and Brakes- Ireland Engineering Front Strut Brace Ireland Engineering Rear Brace Suspension Techniques 22mm front and 19mm adjustable rear swaybars Ireland Engineering rear swaybar reinforcement Hu0026#038;R race springs #50404-88 Bilstein Sport struts (B36-2027) and inserts (P36-0335) Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2 15″x7″ wheels with E30 offset (via Bimmerworld) Toyo RA-1 205/50-ZR15 tires Bimmerworld bulletnose wheel studs Hawk HT-10 race pads – Drivetrain and Engine – Ireland Engineering urethane motor and transmission mounts UUC Evo 3 short-shift kit 2qt Accusump with electric valve Canton remote oil filter adapter OEM airbox (I removed the previous owner’s Ku0026#038;N cone) – Safety and Interior – VDO Vision Oil Pressure and Oil Temperature Gauges VDO XTreme Tachometer and shift light Spa Design Firefighter AFFF 4L fire extinguishing system RRT-installed…
Track Days
Date Course Affiliation Instructor Group # of Days Spring 2004 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA Richard Johns C 2 Summer 2004 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA Tom Baruch C 2 Summer 2004 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA David Missert B 2 Summer 2004 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA Dwight Derr B 2 April 2005 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA David Missert B 1 June 2005 VIR Full NCC BMWCCA Tom Baruch B 2 May 2005 SP Shenandoah NCC BMWCCA Jim Miner B 2 September 2005 SP Main NASA-MA Carter Hunt HPDE-2 2 October 2005 SP Jefferson NCC BMWCCA Rob Hopkins A 2 November 2005 SP Jefferson Skip Barber n/a Racing School 3 February 2006 VIR Full NASA-MA Chris Cobetto Comp School 1 April 2006 SP Shenandoah NASA-MA Chris Cobetto SpecE30/Comp Eval 2 July 2006 VIR North Tarheel BMWCCA Frank Conway,Sean Smith B 2 Date Course Qualifying Finish Best Lap Transponder 07/29/06 VIR-North 11th 12th 1596807 07/30/06 VIR-North 11th 6th 1596807 10/14/06 Summit Point Raceway 8th 7th 1596807 10/15/06 Summit Point Raceway 8th 8th 1596807
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Mornin’
June 29, 2016
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Photo taken at: Harker’s Island
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