gistfile1.py

 print "importing local customizations"
 print "_list_helpers() to list defined functions"

 # TODO: guard this somehow so if we fire up the
 # normal python interpreter we don't see an error
 from django.db import transaction

 @transaction.commit_manually
 def flush_transaction():
     """
     Flush the current transaction so we don't read stale data

     Use in long running processes to make sure fresh data is read from
     the database.  This is a problem with MySQL and the default
     transaction mode.  You can fix it by setting
     "transaction-isolation = READ-COMMITTED" in my.cnf or by calling
     this function at the appropriate moment
     """
     transaction.commit()

 def _list_helpers():
     return "flush_transaction()"