http://gallery2.mastermaq.ca/albums/1.aspx

This collection contains miscellaneous pictures, and the sub galleries are organized by
subject. All pictures are 288 pixels by 288 pixels, which sizes down correctly to the 96x96 size of a display picture.

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is simply a great product, but is does have at least one shortcoming: IntelliSense. I know a massive percentage of my time spent working with SQL is spent working with SQL queries, and even with a table alias there is a lot of typing involved in any non-trival query.

What's a developer to do?

Use Red-Gate's SQL Prompt

Intellisense for SQL Server, plus other features

• Code completion for fast, accurate script building
• Discoverability in SQL Server query creation
• Keyword formatting, code snippet integration other extended features
• FREE until 1st September 2006
• No time-bombs, no restrictions

In the last year I have managed to get myself in much better shape. I have gone from 209 lbs. and 26% body fat, to as low as 154.6 lbs. and 9% body fat. For the most part, I hold steady between 155 lbs. and 160 lbs. Ultimately I would like to at least tap 149 lbs, maybe for just a day, seems kind of low - The wind might blow me away then.

Mostly I've been running and being more careful with my diet. But now I'm thinking a little strength training might do me some good. Yesterday I ran across this on Dan Ciruli's Blog:

Last year, my brother Dave had a great resolution: on January 1 he did a pushup and a situp. On the 2nd, he did two pushups and two situps. And so on. By April, he was doing 100 of each per day. By July, 200 per day. And, of course, on December 31st, he did 365 pushups and 365 situps. And during the course of the year, his physique changed drastically. In September, when he turned 40, his wife gave a toast at his birthday dinner and said that he looked better then than he had in their entire relationship.

So starting today I'm going to take on this new resolution. Today was pretty easy: one push-up and one sit-up. I actually did fifty sit-ups, since I am already doing sit-ups as part of my excercise regimen. I do three sets of fifty a day, so I have a while before this resolution catches up with me there.

I will post resolution updates here as time progresses. [hehe, apparently I thought it was 2008 for a little while there.]

2006.10.02 - Day 047
Today's Sit-Up Count:      047
Total Sit-Up Count:         1128
Today's Push-Up Count:   047
Total Push-Up Count:       1128

2006.10.01 - Day 046
Today's Sit-Up Count:      046
Total Sit-Up Count:         1081
Today's Push-Up Count:   046
Total Push-Up Count:       1081

2006.09.31 - Day 045
Today's Sit-Up Count:      045
Total Sit-Up Count:         1035
Today's Push-Up Count:   045
Total Push-Up Count:       1035

2006.09.30 - Day 044
Today's Sit-Up Count:      044
Total Sit-Up Count:         990
Today's Push-Up Count:   044
Total Push-Up Count:       990

2006.09.29 - Day 043
Today's Sit-Up Count:      043
Total Sit-Up Count:         946
Today's Push-Up Count:   043
Total Push-Up Count:       946

2006.09.28 - Day 042
Today's Sit-Up Count:      042
Total Sit-Up Count:         903
Today's Push-Up Count:   042
Total Push-Up Count:       903

2006.09.27 - Day 041
Today's Sit-Up Count:      041
Total Sit-Up Count:         861
Today's Push-Up Count:   041
Total Push-Up Count:       861

2006.09.26 - Day 040
Today's Sit-Up Count:      040
Total Sit-Up Count:         820
Today's Push-Up Count:   040
Total Push-Up Count:       820

2006.09.25 - Day 039
Today's Sit-Up Count:      039
Total Sit-Up Count:         780
Today's Push-Up Count:   039
Total Push-Up Count:       780

2006.09.24 - Day 038
Today's Sit-Up Count:      038
Total Sit-Up Count:         741
Today's Push-Up Count:   038
Total Push-Up Count:       741

2006.09.23 - Day 037
Today's Sit-Up Count:      037
Total Sit-Up Count:         703
Today's Push-Up Count:   037
Total Push-Up Count:       703

2006.09.22 - Day 036
Today's Sit-Up Count:      036
Total Sit-Up Count:         666
Today's Push-Up Count:   036
Total Push-Up Count:       666

2006.09.21 - Day 035
Today's Sit-Up Count:      035
Total Sit-Up Count:         630
Today's Push-Up Count:   035
Total Push-Up Count:       630

2006.09.20 - Day 034
Today's Sit-Up Count:      034
Total Sit-Up Count:         595
Today's Push-Up Count:   034
Total Push-Up Count:       595

2006.09.19 - Day 033
Today's Sit-Up Count:      033
Total Sit-Up Count:         561
Today's Push-Up Count:   033
Total Push-Up Count:       561

2006.09.18 - Day 032
Today's Sit-Up Count:      032
Total Sit-Up Count:         528
Today's Push-Up Count:   032
Total Push-Up Count:       528

2006.09.17 - Day 031
Today's Sit-Up Count:      031
Total Sit-Up Count:         496
Today's Push-Up Count:   031
Total Push-Up Count:       496

2006.09.16 - Day 030
Today's Sit-Up Count:      030
Total Sit-Up Count:         465
Today's Push-Up Count:   030
Total Push-Up Count:       465

2006.09.15 - Day 029
Today's Sit-Up Count:      029
Total Sit-Up Count:         435
Today's Push-Up Count:   029
Total Push-Up Count:       435

2006.09.014 - Day 028
Today's Sit-Up Count:      028
Total Sit-Up Count:         406
Today's Push-Up Count:   028
Total Push-Up Count:       406

2006.09.13 - Day 027
Today's Sit-Up Count:      027
Total Sit-Up Count:         378
Today's Push-Up Count:   027
Total Push-Up Count:       378

2006.09.12 - Day 026
Today's Sit-Up Count:      026
Total Sit-Up Count:         351
Today's Push-Up Count:   026
Total Push-Up Count:       351

2006.09.11 - Day 025
Today's Sit-Up Count:      025
Total Sit-Up Count:         325
Today's Push-Up Count:   025
Total Push-Up Count:       325

2006.09.10 - Day 024
Today's Sit-Up Count:      024
Total Sit-Up Count:         300
Today's Push-Up Count:   024
Total Push-Up Count:       300

2006.09.09 - Day 023
Today's Sit-Up Count:      023
Total Sit-Up Count:         276
Today's Push-Up Count:   023
Total Push-Up Count:       276

2006.09.08 - Day 022
Today's Sit-Up Count:      022
Total Sit-Up Count:         253
Today's Push-Up Count:   022
Total Push-Up Count:       253

*2006.09.07 - Day 021
Today's Sit-Up Count:      021
Total Sit-Up Count:         231
Today's Push-Up Count:   021
Total Push-Up Count:       231

2006.09.06 - Day 020
Today's Sit-Up Count:      020
Total Sit-Up Count:         210
Today's Push-Up Count:   020
Total Push-Up Count:       210

2006.09.05 - Day 019
Today's Sit-Up Count:      019
Total Sit-Up Count:         190
Today's Push-Up Count:   019
Total Push-Up Count:       190

2006.09.04 - Day 018
Today's Sit-Up Count:      018
Total Sit-Up Count:         171
Today's Push-Up Count:   018
Total Push-Up Count:       171

2006.09.03 - Day 017
Today's Sit-Up Count:      017
Total Sit-Up Count:         153
Today's Push-Up Count:   017
Total Push-Up Count:       153

2006.09.02 - Day 016
Today's Sit-Up Count:      016
Total Sit-Up Count:         136
Today's Push-Up Count:   016
Total Push-Up Count:       136

2006.09.01 - Day 015
Today's Sit-Up Count:      015
Total Sit-Up Count:         120 
Today's Push-Up Count:   015
Total Push-Up Count:       120

2006.08.30 - Day 014
Today's Sit-Up Count:      014
Total Sit-Up Count:         105 
Today's Push-Up Count:   014
Total Push-Up Count:       105

2006.08.30 - Day 013
Today's Sit-Up Count:      013
Total Sit-Up Count:         091 
Today's Push-Up Count:   013
Total Push-Up Count:       091

2006.08.29 - Day 012
Today's Sit-Up Count:      012
Total Sit-Up Count:         078 
Today's Push-Up Count:   012
Total Push-Up Count:       078

2006.08.28 - Day 011
Today's Sit-Up Count:      011
Total Sit-Up Count:         066
Today's Push-Up Count:   011
Total Push-Up Count:       066

2006.08.27 - Day 010
Today's Sit-Up Count:      010
Total Sit-Up Count:         055 
Today's Push-Up Count:   010
Total Push-Up Count:       055

2006.08.26 - Day 009
Today's Sit-Up Count:      009
Total Sit-Up Count:         045 
Today's Push-Up Count:   009
Total Push-Up Count:       045

2006.08.25 - Day 008
Today's Sit-Up Count:      008
Total Sit-Up Count:         036 
Today's Push-Up Count:   008
Total Push-Up Count:       036

2006.08.24 - Day 007
Today's Sit-Up Count:      007
Total Sit-Up Count:         028 
Today's Push-Up Count:   007
Total Push-Up Count:       028

2006.08.23 - Day 006
Today's Sit-Up Count:      006
Total Sit-Up Count:         021 
Today's Push-Up Count:   006
Total Push-Up Count:       021

2006.08.22 - Day 005
Today's Sit-Up Count:      005
Total Sit-Up Count:         015 
Today's Push-Up Count:   005
Total Push-Up Count:       015

2006.08.21 - Day 004
Today's Sit-Up Count:      004
Total Sit-Up Count:         010 
Today's Push-Up Count:   004
Total Push-Up Count:       010

2006.08.20 - Day 003
Today's Sit-Up Count:      003
Total Sit-Up Count:         006 
Today's Push-Up Count:   003
Total Push-Up Count:       006

2006.08.19 - Day 002
Today's Sit-Up Count:      002
Total Sit-Up Count:         003  
Today's Push-Up Count:   002
Total Push-Up Count:       003

2006.08.18 - Day 001
Today's Sit-Up Count:      001
Total Sit-Up Count:         001  
Today's Push-Up Count:   001
Total Push-Up Count:       001

Just found out from Page Brooks, that there is a patch available for Visual Studio .NET 2003.

Download SP1 Here

Read the Release Notes

Read the List of Fixes [This might be working by the time you read it.]

I wonder if this will be available on Microsoft Update soon?

Mark Prentice says the .NET Compact Framework v2 to SP1 will be posted on Microsoft Update soon.

If the Send-To-X Power Toy is not one of my favorite power toys, it is definitely one of the most useful I have found.

Here's the 50,000 foot overview:

*** SEND TO X

Adds the following new commands to your "Send To" menu:

  - Send To Any Folder
  - Send To Clipboard as Contents
  - Send To Clipboard as Name
  - Send To Command Line

Even though it is a Windows 95 Power Toy, I've used it on Windows XP, etc. with no problems. [Read: You should set a system restore point because you know better. You were warned.]

Page Brooks has made a shell extension that does the key parts. The Send-To-X can work on multiple files, not sure if his can.

Here's the full read me text for the Send-To-X power toy.

    Send To Extensions
 
    Microsoft Windows 95 PowerToys
 
    Copyright 1995-1996 Microsoft Corporation
 
    * Send To... Any Folder
 
  Send a file or files to Any Folder, and you will be shown
  a dialog box that lets you choose where the files should
  be copied or moved.
 
    * Send To... Clipboard as Name
 
  Send a file or files to the Clipboard as Name, and the names
  of the files are placed on the clipboard.
 
    * Send To... Clipboard as Contents
 
  Send a file to the Clipboard as Contents, and the contents
  of the file are placed on the clipboard.
 
    * Send To... Command Line
 
  Send a file to the Command Line, and the "Run" dialog appears,
  with name of the file already typed in for you.
 
    * Send To... Mail Recipient
 
  Send a file or files to a Mail Recipient, and a mail message
  will be created with the file(s) already attached.
 
  There are three types of mail recipients.  You probably will
  need only one of them. In the "Add/Remove Programs" section
  of the Control Panel, double-click "Send To Extensions" to
  remove the ones you don't need.
 
  "Mail Recipient MAPI" sends the message via the Microsoft MAPI
  protocol.  MAPI is supported by Microsoft Mail 3.x and Microsoft
  Exchange.
 
  "Mail Recipient CMC" sends the message via the Common
  Messaging Calls protocol, a protocol defined by the X.400 API
  association.  CMC is supported by Microsoft Exchange, and
  possibly other mail programs.
 
  "Internet Mail Recipient" sends the message via Microsoft Internet
  Mail and News.  It doesn't really work yet, but at least you know
  that I'm thinking about it.
 
    Tips and tricks:
 
    * To add/remove selected extensions, double-click "Send To
  Extensions PowerToy" in Control Panel: Add/Remove Programs.
 
    * To change the name of an item in your Send To menu, click
  the Start button, select "Run", then type "sendto".  This
  will open a folder view on your Send To menu, at which point
  you can create, rename or remove items.
 
    * When the Send To menu is open, if you hold down the Control
  key while you click on the extension you want to send the
  file to, the behavior will change slightly.
 
  *   Send To... Any Folder will copy the files with their
      short names.  (Normally, it copies the long names.)
 
  *   Send To... Clipboard as Name will copy the short file
      names to the clipboard.  (Normally, it copies the long
      file name.)
 
  *   Send To... Clipboard as Contents will display a dialog
      box allowing you to override its choice of file content
      type.  Note that if you pick a type that does not match
      the actual type of the file, the data won't quite appear
      the way you intended, if it appears at all.
 
  *   Send To... Command Line will put the short file name
      on the command line.  (Normally, it puts the long file
      name on the command line.)
 
  *   Send To... Mail Recipient will attach the files with
      their short names.  (Normally, the long file name is used.)
 
    Limitations:
 
    * Send To... Clipboard as Contents
 
  If the file does not contain a recognized format, the
  clipboard won't contain anything terribly interesting.
 
  You cannot send folders or multiple files to the clipboard
  as contents.
 
    * Send To... Command Line
 
  You cannot send multiple items to the command line.
 
  To add more than one item to the command line, you can
  drag them onto the "Run" dialog box, and they will be
  added.
 
    * Send To... Mail Recipient
 
  You cannot send folders to mail recipients.

Not too long ago, Casey Chesnut, and I both were dreaming of the day when we could create our own Xbox 360 games.

It looks like that day may be fast approaching:

Microsoft Takes Hobbyist Programming Tools to Gamers
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,2003102,00.asp

A chance to create your own Xbox game
Microsoft's new kit will allow users to make games for console as well as Windows.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/14/news/companies/microsoft.reut/index.htm

Xbox Live on Windows Vista Has a Name: Panorama
http://www.longhornblogs.com/robert/archive/2006/08/11/16579.aspx

Looks like someone already told Casey. I like to think we did our part. ;)

Everybody has one, an old computer, maybe even an old server, that they have no idea what kind of memory it takes, how much it can hold, or how much it would cost to upgrade the beast. Sure you could lookup motherboard, and memory module part numbers and find out yourself. But now there's an easier way:

The Crucial System Scanner automatically detects your computer's information and gives you the details you need to purchase a compatible upgrade. To run the Crucial System Scanner, you need Microsoft Windows 95 or higher.

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

Try it, you'll like it!

Click Here for Driving Directions

Directions to the Classroom
Enter the McLeod Medical Plaza using the 800 Cheves St. entrance (Bottom Right-Hand Corner of Map)
Take a left and look for room (PC - Plaza Classroom) it’s on the first floor.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/crane.asp

Apparently there has been a rash of cranes falling out of the sky in past years, which we're even seeing down here in Florence, South Carolina now:

Well, its only a hundred degrees outside with the humidity at 200%. At least it was the old AC unit. It looks like there were some shrubs keeping them from extending that 4th leg on the crane, if you look at the third picture above - you can't see it ;). I hate when that happens.

I've really been a big fan of the Object-Relational mapping (or O/RM) tool LLBLGen Pro. I am very cautious around the average code generator because most box you up inside their black box code. As soon as you need to do something just a little outside the box, you've made your situation worse not better.

The new version has support for nullable types, and even more support for Visual Studio 2005 databinding. Also LLBLGen Pro can generate Compact Framework SQL CE data access layers. If you use it for nothing else, you'll be better off.

I'll try to do a review in the next few weeks.

LLBLGen Pro helps you build solid n-tier .NET applications fast and easy.

LLBLGen Pro is a real time saver for software developers: development time can be decreased by over 50%! LLBLGen Pro generates a complete data-access tier and business façade/support tier for you (in C# or VB.NET), using an existing database schema set. In seconds.

LLBLGen Pro lets software developers focus on the real deal: business logic code, instead of them having to hammer out endless lists of almost the same routines. You design your database schema's with the abstract modelling tools you always use (for example a NIAM/ORM designer like Visio, or an E/R modeller), and LLBLGen Pro takes care of the rest. All you have to do next is modify some of the names LLBLGen Pro has given entities and fields if necessary, and generate code.

LLBLGen Pro comes with a rich, state-of-the-art user interface, which doesn't require an expensive IDE to run. You design your Business Façade tier's functionality inside this designer until you think you're done.

Redmond Channel Partner Online  Driving Success in the Microsoft Partner Community

If you are a Microsoft Certified Partner, or a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, or have ambitions of being one some day, then consider getting a FREE print or PDF subscription.

It looks like all of the back issues are online in the archive.

It a valuable resource, from the one issue I've found time to read so far.

I almost missed this myself. I knew MapPoint 2006 was due to come out in May, but it appears as if it has been available since "4/27/2006 8:54:04 PM". It has really been needing an update. I'll have to try and find time to install it. I've been using Streets & Trips 2006 for travel and its a great product.

I just purchased a year's subscription for all of my machines, being able to install it on up to three PCs really helps. Not much time left on this deal.

"From now up until May 1^st, beta customers in the U.S. can get their first year of OneCare for only $19.95.  We think this is a great deal, especially considering OneCare is licensed for up to three PCs (and certified)."

Windows Live OneCare - has antivirus, antispyware, backup, tune-up and firewall protection.

Here's the official Windows Live OneCare blog if want the inside story.

A useful tool for keeping on on what and when Webcasts are happening.

Interactive Microsoft Webcast Calendar

This interactive calendar will quickly help you find live webcasts that fit your schedule as well as on-demand webcasts to view at your convenience. You can choose your time zone and filter this list by intended audience, webcast series, product or topic, and presenter. Select "Filter Webcast Listings" below to access the filters.

Download or Order Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition for Free Published:
April 3, 2006

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx

The following full versions of Virtual Server 2005 R2 are available for download or to pre-order on CD:

• Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition (32-bit)
• Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition (64-bit)

[A very competitive and wise move on Microsoft's part I would say.]