"Chromebook's OpenVPN support is very limited ... cannot connect to our services ... OpenVPN Technologies, Inc."

You can't make up stuff like this. Below is an exchange of messages with privatetunnel.com.

to: support@privatetunnel.com
date: Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 7:34 PM
subject: Set up virtual private networks (VPNs) - Chromebook Help
mailed-by: gmail.com

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1282338?hl=en

​Your Chromebook has built-in support for these VPNs:
L2TP over IPsec with PSK
L2TP over IPsec with certificate-based authentication
OpenVPN

What am I missing? ​"OpenVPN": ain't that you?

I had your service for a year and used it on my Android tablet but I really need it for my Chromebooks.
______________________________

from: PrivateTunnel Support
reply-to: support@privatetunnel.com
to: ken
date: Tue, Mar 27, 2018 at 1:24 AM
subject: Re: PrivateTunnel support ticket Set up virtual private networks (VPNs) - Chromebook Help #PT00009281
signed-by: privatetunnel.com

New reply for the PrivateTunnel support ticket #PT00009281

Hello there.

Chromebook's OpenVPN support is very limited, and unfortunately cannot be used to connect to our services.
You will need a full Linux system in order to connect to our service successfully.

Sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you.
If you'd like to unsubscribe and stop receiving these emails click here.

David Lam
Best Regards,

David Lam
OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.

#PT00009281
______________________

Chromebook "Set up virtual private networks (VPNs)": yeah, right! SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2018

Are you kidding? Build the damn VPN into your OS. Who the heck knows what you're talking about? Chromebooks are supposed to be simple. Google should protect us without expecting us to follow esoteric instructions like monkeys.
______________________

ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 (Z500M) returned.

Received this ASUS ZenPad yesterday, March 24, 2018. Wasted a lot of time realizing that ASUS loaded Android with ASUS software. It was a rude awakening since I am accustomed to almost pure Android on my several Motorola smartphones and two Nexus tablets. The only reason that I considered replacing my Nexus 9 tablet was that its battery has been acting like it's been invaded by Martians. It has Android 7. The new ASUS ZenPad (that name should have alerted me) came with Android 6. It eventually upgraded to Android 7 but why ship 6 when 8 is coming this summer?

It doesn't even show the percent of battery power remaining. It's got its own Contacts app. Who knew the Google Android Contacts app could even be removed? And why? And where was the default camera app? If I want to upgrade that app, let me decide.

During what passes for orientation I had a chance to load data and apps from my previous tablet. I thought this came from a Google server, not from the old tablet. Suppose the old tablet is incapacitated as was the case here? I got my ailing Nexus 9 out of its sick bed and booted up. But then when I initiated the ASUS porting it failed, as did my Nexus finally. What the heck? I had to manually install apps from the Google Play Store.

The screen is often unresponsive. The back "button" on the bottom is impossible to see. You have to grope for it, at which time it lights up. Also, where did the back arrow at the top left of the browser go? I was often left with no visible back arrow/button.

Holding this large slippery tablet often caused unintended stuff to happen. I'm guessing that the fringe triggers functions and that I was doing that inadvertently.

I'm returning this ASUS ZenPad. I'd advise you to investigate extra junk installed by a manufacturer. I did not consider a Samsung Galaxy because I know that Samsung loads lots of its stuff on top of Android and I did not want that. Unfortunately, I did not check whether ASUS also did that.

Altice One remote turns itself off every day.

What the heck? Pretty much each morning the remote paired to my primary Altice One box  has lost full functionality. It turns the TV on. That's, of course, after I push the button on the box to turn off the red light and put the box back into active status. But once the TV is on the remote cannot do anything else. I've learned to pop out one of the three batteries and re-insert. Then the remote works OK.

Sometimes the TV screen shows a cryptic message about an error with the remote or trying to update the remote or something. It's not on screen long enough to absorb at the same time that I'm removing and replacing a battery.

The remote to the secondary mini box has not had this problem.

Chromebook "Set up virtual private networks (VPNs)": yeah, right!

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1282338?hl=en

You can use some types of VPNs on your Chromebook without installing any software. For other types, you can install VPN apps ...

Built-in VPN support

Your Chromebook has built-in support for these VPNs:

• L2TP over IPsec with PSK
• L2TP over IPsec with certificate-based authentication
• OpenVPN

Note: I recently dumped OpenVPN at privatetunnel.com because it couldn't support my Chromebook.

There's way more junk in the article. Read it for yourself.

Was this article helpful? No!

My comment:

Are you kidding? Build the damn VPN into your OS. Who the heck knows what you're talking about? Chromebooks are supposed to be simple. Google should protect us without expecting us to follow esoteric instructions like monkeys.

Lionel FasTrack O-31 do NOT fit into each other.

from: Ken
to: LionelSupport@lionel.com
date: Sat, Mar 3, 2018 at 8:52 AM
subject: Re: Your order no. 987-123456789 has been received

... I had ordered O-31 curve FasTrack from Legacy Station in Georgia. At least half of the connections do not properly snap together. I've been using your O-36 FasTrack for about ten years so I know how to connect them. These O-31 FasTrack are so deficient as to be unusable. When I push hard to force a connection, a nearby connection loosens, even separates completely. It's ridiculous. I might cancel this loco order because of it.

I also learned the hard way that O-31 curve does not fit inside O-36. I then checked the Lionel catalog and noticed that O-31 is NOT shown fitting as the other sizes do. However, Lionel should make that VERY CLEAR in WRITING.

Online messages confirm this and also state that MTH O-31 does fit inside Lionel O-36. I may switch to MTH Realtrax ... and maybe more.

Oh, please confirm that those two GP7 locos are "w/Bluetooth" same as the GP38. Thanks. The details for GP7 mention Bluetooth but the product headline does not as it does for GP38. Confusing and possibly disconcerting.

Call me.