diff --git a/etc/bashrc.sh b/etc/bashrc.sh
index 20b78b21c63..43175f198f0 100644
--- a/etc/bashrc.sh
+++ b/etc/bashrc.sh
@@ -15,9 +15,7 @@ export LANG=@defaultLocale@
 export EDITOR=nano
 export INFOPATH=/var/run/current-system/sw/info:/var/run/current-system/sw/share/info
 export LOCATE_PATH=/var/cache/locatedb
-export KDEDIRS=/var/run/current-system/sw
-export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/var/run/current-system/sw/etc/xdg
-export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/var/run/current-system/sw/share
+@shellInit@
 
 # Set up secure multi-user builds: non-root users build through the
 # Nix daemon.
@@ -43,11 +41,11 @@ for i in $NIX_PROFILES; do # !!! reverse
     export PKG_CONFIG_PATH="$i/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH"
 
     # Automake's `aclocal' bails out if it finds non-existent directories
-    # in its path.  !!! We should fix aclocal instead.
-    if [ -d "$i/share/aclocal" ]
-    then
-	export ACLOCAL_PATH="$i/share/aclocal:$ACLOCAL_PATH"
+    # in its path.  !!! This has been fixed in the stdenv branch.
+    if [ -d "$i/share/aclocal" ]; then
+        export ACLOCAL_PATH="$i/share/aclocal:$ACLOCAL_PATH"
     fi
+
     export PERL5LIB="$i/lib/site_perl:$PERL5LIB"
 
     # GStreamer.
diff --git a/etc/default.nix b/etc/default.nix
index 3b81559af66..fedc3c34856 100644
--- a/etc/default.nix
+++ b/etc/default.nix
@@ -19,12 +19,23 @@ let
           List of files that have to be linked in /etc.
         ";
       };
+
+      # !!! This should be moved outside of /etc/default.nix.
+      shellInit = mkOption {
+        default = "";
+        example = ''export PATH=/godi/bin/:$PATH'';
+        description = "
+          Script used to initialized user shell environments.
+        ";
+        merge = pkgs.lib.mergeStringOption;
+      };
     };
   };
 in
 
 ###### implementation
 let
+  shellInit = config.environment.shellInit;
   nixEnvVars = config.nix.envVars;
   modulesTree = config.system.modulesTree;
   nssModulesPath = config.system.nssModules.path;
@@ -114,7 +125,7 @@ let
         inherit (pkgs) glibc;
         timeZone = config.time.timeZone;
         defaultLocale = config.i18n.defaultLocale;
-        inherit nixEnvVars;
+        inherit nixEnvVars shellInit;
       };
       target = "bashrc";      
     }
diff --git a/system/nixos-environment.nix b/system/nixos-environment.nix
index a2e0ae46cdf..bc28532689e 100644
--- a/system/nixos-environment.nix
+++ b/system/nixos-environment.nix
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ in
 
 
       pathsToLink = mkOption {
-        default = ["/bin" "/sbin" "/lib" "/share" "/man" "/info" "/etc"];
+        default = ["/bin" "/sbin" "/lib" "/share/man" "/share/info" "/man" "/info"];
         example = ["/"];
         description = "
           Lists directories to be symlinked in `/var/run/current-system/sw'.
diff --git a/system/options.nix b/system/options.nix
index 8f3dcea23ae..1954e679b45 100644
--- a/system/options.nix
+++ b/system/options.nix
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ in
         ";
       };
 
+      # !!! The mount option should not stay in /system/option.nix
       mount = mkOption {
         internal = true;
         default = pkgs.utillinuxng.override {
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ in
             paths = [
               pkgs.ntfs3g
               pkgs.mount_cifs
+              pkgs.nfsUtils
             ];
             pathsToLink = "/sbin";
           } + "/sbin";
@@ -442,6 +444,7 @@ in
     (import ../upstart-jobs/zabbix-agent.nix)
     (import ../upstart-jobs/zabbix-server.nix)
     (import ../upstart-jobs/disnix.nix)
+    (import ../upstart-jobs/consolekit.nix)
     (import ../upstart-jobs/cron.nix)
     (import ../upstart-jobs/fcron.nix)
     (import ../upstart-jobs/cron/locate.nix)
diff --git a/system/system-options.nix b/system/system-options.nix
index fdbd57a79f0..b1688cdda80 100644
--- a/system/system-options.nix
+++ b/system/system-options.nix
@@ -64,16 +64,6 @@ let
           inherit (config.environment) pathsToLink;
 
           ignoreCollisions = true;
-
-          # TODO: move this to upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde4.nix
-          postBuild =
-            if config.services.xserver.desktopManager.kde4.enable then
-              # Rebuild the MIME database.  Otherwise KDE won't be able to
-              # find many MIME types.
-              ''
-                ${pkgs.shared_mime_info}/bin/update-mime-database $out/share/mime
-              ''
-            else "";
         };
       };
 
diff --git a/system/system.nix b/system/system.nix
index bed8516b57f..9dd45a938d4 100644
--- a/system/system.nix
+++ b/system/system.nix
@@ -224,7 +224,11 @@ rec {
       pkgs.diffutils
       pkgs.upstart # for initctl
     ];
-    # !!! wtf does this do???
+    # This attribute is responsible for creating boot entries for 
+    # child configuration. They are only (directly) accessible
+    # when the parent configuration is boot default. For example,
+    # you can provide an easy way to boot the same configuration 
+    # as you use, but with another kernel
     children = map (x: ((import ./system.nix) 
       { inherit platform; 
         configuration = x//{boot=((x.boot)//{grubDevice = "";});};}).system) 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/consolekit.nix b/upstart-jobs/consolekit.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ab847b45005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/upstart-jobs/consolekit.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+{pkgs, config, ...}:
+
+###### interface
+let
+  inherit (pkgs.lib) mkOption;
+
+  options = {
+    services = {
+
+      consolekit = {
+        enable = mkOption {
+          default = false;
+          description = "
+            Whether to start the ConsoleKit daemon.
+          ";
+        };
+      };
+
+    };
+  };
+in
+
+###### implementation
+let
+  cfg = config.services.consolekit;
+  inherit (pkgs.lib) mkIf;
+  inherit (pkgs) ConsoleKit;
+
+  job = {
+    name = "consolekit";
+
+    job = ''
+      description "Console Kit Service"
+
+      start on dbus
+      stop on shutdown
+
+      respawn ${ConsoleKit}/sbin/console-kit-daemon
+    '';
+  };
+
+in
+
+mkIf cfg.enable {
+  require = [
+    (import ../upstart-jobs/default.nix) # config.services.extraJobs
+    (import ../upstart-jobs/dbus.nix) # services.dbus.*
+    options
+  ];
+
+  services = {
+    extraJobs = [job];
+
+    dbus = {
+      enable = true;
+      services = [ConsoleKit];
+    };
+  };
+}
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/cron.nix b/upstart-jobs/cron.nix
index 404fdd45b55..4eea169adb3 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/cron.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/cron.nix
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ let
             crontab.  See the manual page for crontab for the expected
             format. If you want to get the results mailed you must setuid
             sendmail. See <option>security.setuidOwners</option>
+
+            If neither /var/cron/cron.deny nor /var/cron/cron.allow exist only root
+            will is allowed to have its own crontab file. The /var/cron/cron.deny file
+            is created automatically for you. So every user can use a crontab.
           '';
         };
 
@@ -86,6 +90,16 @@ in
         # Needed to interpret times in the local timezone.
         env TZ=${config.time.timeZone}
 
+        start script
+            mkdir -m 710 -p /var/cron
+
+            # By default, allow all users to create a crontab.  This
+            # is denoted by the existence of an empty cron.deny file.
+            if ! test -e /var/cron/cron.allow -o -e /var/cron/cron.deny; then
+                touch /var/cron/cron.deny
+            fi
+        end script
+
         respawn ${pkgs.cron}/sbin/cron -n
       '';
     }];
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/dbus.nix b/upstart-jobs/dbus.nix
index f98922a5b6e..db8603547ff 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/dbus.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/dbus.nix
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ let
     name = "dbus-conf";
     buildCommand = "
       ensureDir $out
-      substitute ${dbus}/etc/dbus-1/system.conf $out/system.conf \\
-        --replace '<fork/>' ''
+      ln -s ${dbus}/etc/dbus-1/system.conf $out/system.conf
 
       ensureDir $out/system.d
       for i in ${toString services}; do
@@ -77,14 +76,18 @@ let
 
           mkdir -m 0755 -p /var/lib/dbus
           ${dbus.tools}/bin/dbus-uuidgen --ensure
-
+ 
+          rm -f ${homeDir}/pid
+          ${dbus}/bin/dbus-daemon --config-file=${configFile}/system.conf
       end script
 
-      respawn
+      respawn sleep 1000000
 
-      script
-          rm -f ${homeDir}/pid
-          exec ${dbus}/bin/dbus-daemon --config-file=${configFile}/system.conf
+      stop script
+          pid=$(cat ${homeDir}/pid)
+          if test -n "$pid"; then
+              kill -9 $pid
+          fi
       end script
     '';
   };
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/disnix.nix b/upstart-jobs/disnix.nix
index 52699c31daf..624ad8a0fc7 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/disnix.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/disnix.nix
@@ -41,11 +41,6 @@ let
       start on dbus
       stop on shutdown  
           
-      start script
-        # !!! quick hack: wait until dbus has started
-        sleep 3
-      end script
-      
       respawn ${pkgs.bash}/bin/sh -c 'export PATH=/var/run/current-system/sw/bin:$PATH; export HOME=/root; export DISNIX_ACTIVATE_HOOK=${cfg.activateHook}; export DISNIX_DEACTIVATE_HOOK=${cfg.deactivateHook}; ${pkgs.disnix}/bin/disnix-service'
     '';
   };
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/hal.nix b/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
index e510120a04d..ebd1cb3a197 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ let
 
       start script
 
-          # !!! quick hack: wait until dbus has started
-          sleep 3
-
           mkdir -m 0755 -p /var/cache/hald
 
       end script
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/nix.nix b/upstart-jobs/nix.nix
index ff25c5691ec..f24be8e16fa 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/nix.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/nix.nix
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ let
       };
 
       # Environment variables for running Nix.
+      # !!! Fix description.
       envVars = mkOption {
         internal = true;
         default = "";
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/xserver/default.nix b/upstart-jobs/xserver/default.nix
index dfd0e4795aa..98fe14d19f0 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/xserver/default.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/xserver/default.nix
@@ -290,14 +290,14 @@ let
 
   knownVideoDrivers = {
     nvidia = { modulesFirst = [ kernelPackages.nvidia_x11 ]; };  #make sure it first loads the nvidia libs
-    vesa =  { modules = [xorg.xf86videovesa]; };
-    vga =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videovga]; };
-    sis =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videosis]; };
-    i810 =  { modules = [xorg.xf86videoi810]; };
-    intel = { modules = [xorg.xf86videointel]; };
-    nv =    { modules = [xorg.xf86videonv]; };
-    ati =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videoati]; };
-    via =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videovia]; };
+    vesa =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videovesa]; };
+    vga =    { modules = [xorg.xf86videovga]; };
+    sis =    { modules = [xorg.xf86videosis]; };
+    i810 =   { modules = [xorg.xf86videoi810]; };
+    intel =  { modules = [xorg.xf86videointel]; };
+    nv =     { modules = [xorg.xf86videonv]; };
+    ati =    { modules = [xorg.xf86videoati]; };
+    via =    { modules = [xorg.xf86videovia]; };
     cirrus = { modules = [xorg.xf86videocirrus]; };
   };
 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde.nix b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde.nix
index 9a241d77985..725e51862fa 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde.nix
@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ let
 in
 
 mkIf cfg.enable {
-  require = options;
+  require = [
+    options
+
+    # environment.kdePackages
+    (import ./kdeEnvironment.nix)
+  ];
 
   services = {
     xserver = {
@@ -29,9 +34,6 @@ mkIf cfg.enable {
           name = "kde";
           start = ''
             # Start KDE.
-            export KDEDIRS=$HOME/.nix-profile:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default:${pkgs.kdebase}:${pkgs.kdelibs}
-            export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=${pkgs.kdebase}/etc/xdg:${pkgs.kdelibs}/etc/xdg
-            export XDG_DATA_DIRS=${pkgs.kdebase}/share
             exec ${pkgs.kdebase}/bin/startkde
           '';
         }];
@@ -47,9 +49,12 @@ mkIf cfg.enable {
   };
 
   environment = {
-    extraPackages = [
+    kdePackages = [
       pkgs.kdelibs
       pkgs.kdebase
+    ];
+
+    extraPackages = [
       xorg.xset # used by startkde, non-essential
     ];
 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde4.nix b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde4.nix
index d39356f05de..7deb4e056ac 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde4.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kde4.nix
@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ let
 in
 
 mkIf cfg.enable {
-  require = options;
+  require = [
+    options
+
+    # environment.kdePackages
+    (import ./kdeEnvironment.nix)
+  ];
 
   services = {
     xserver = {
@@ -44,15 +49,17 @@ mkIf cfg.enable {
   };
 
   environment = {
-    extraPackages = [
-      xorg.xmessage # so that startkde can show error messages
-      pkgs.qt4 # needed for qdbus
+    kdePackages = [
       pkgs.kde42.kdelibs
       pkgs.kde42.kdebase
       pkgs.kde42.kdebase_runtime
       pkgs.kde42.kdebase_workspace
-      pkgs.kde42.kdegames
       pkgs.shared_mime_info
+    ];
+
+    extraPackages = [
+      xorg.xmessage # so that startkde can show error messages
+      pkgs.qt4 # needed for qdbus
       xorg.xset # used by startkde, non-essential
     ];
 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kdeEnvironment.nix b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kdeEnvironment.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..52628168161
--- /dev/null
+++ b/upstart-jobs/xserver/desktopManager/kdeEnvironment.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{pkgs, config, ...}:
+
+let
+  inherit (pkgs.lib) mkOption mkIf;
+  kdePackages = config.environment.kdePackages;
+
+  options = {
+
+    kde = {
+
+      extraPackages = mkOption {
+        default = [];
+        merge = builtins.trace "!!! kde.extraPackages is obsolete, you should use environment.kdePackages." pkgs.lib.mergeDefaultOption;
+        description = ''
+          ** Obsolete **
+          Additional KDE packages to be used when you use KDE as a desktop
+          manager.  By default, you only get the KDE base packages.
+        '';
+      };
+
+    };
+
+    environment = {
+
+      kdePackages = mkOption {
+        default = [];
+        example = [ pkgs.kde42.kdegames ];
+        description = ''
+          Additional KDE packages to be used when you use KDE as a desktop
+          manager.  By default, you only get the KDE base packages.
+        '';
+        apply = pkgs: pkgs ++ config.kde.extraPackages
+      };
+
+    };
+  };
+in
+
+mkIf (kdePackages != []) {
+  require = options;
+
+  environment = {
+    extraPackages = kdePackages;
+
+    shellInit = ''
+      export KDEDIRS="${pkgs.lib.concatStringsSep ":" kdePackages}"
+      export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS="${pkgs.lib.makeSearchPath "etc/xdg" kdePackages}"
+      export XDG_DATA_DIRS="${pkgs.lib.makeSearchPath "share" kdePackages}"
+    '';
+  };
+}