Greg's Cool [Insert Clever Name] of the Day

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Blogger Backup v1.0.7.16 Released (Logging in no longer required, new BBSettings file, added logging and updated GData library)

I've just released a new, pretty major, release of my Blogger Backup utility, v1.0.7.16.

Based on community feedback, I've totally reworked how the list of available blogs is created, saved and used.

In short, you no longer have to log into Blogger just to backup you blog.

You build your list of blogs, either by logging into Blogger ONCE to grab your list of blogs, or you can manually enter your Blogger URL's. Then this list of blogs is saved in a new BBSettings file. Then next time you want to backup your blog, the list will be grabbed from the BBSettings file. i.e. no logging into Blogger every time just to list your blogs.

This also works as a backup to any login issues. I've seen some instances where a valid Blogger ID/Password doesn't seem to work, though it should. So now in that case, with the new manual URL entry, you can still backup your blog.

Also in this release, I've completely revamped how all the settings are saved. All settings are now saved in a BBSettings file. A file where you decide is saved. Also a file you can backup, copy to another location or machine, etc.

To see the rest of the changes, please see the project home page.

Next up I think it's time to finally start working on the extra save formats (PDF, HTML, etc). I'll very likely be providing a two versions of the save formats. A "As is looks like in the browser/on the blog" and "raw, formatting free, just the post and no extra flare from the blog" version.

Some v1.0.7.16 screenshots...

Free Guide to Creating, Modifying and Installing TFS Reports and Understanding the TFS Data Warehouse

Microsoft Downloads - Creating and Customizing TFS Reports

"This article provides an introduction to the important concepts and step by step instructions to Create and Customize Reports for Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team Foundation Server (TFS).
..."

Microsoft must have heard my cries of mental anguish and despair during my recent "Create a Team Foundation Server Report" quest and have provided this download as a map to future adventurers (lol... yeah, I've been reading too much fantasy recently, can you tell? ;)

If you creating or modifying TFS reports, or plan to, then you owe it to your brain cells and sanity to take a few minutes and check out this information...

The download includes 10 files, four PDF's, five sample reports (RDL) and a readme;

Creating and Customizing TFS Reports.PDF

34 page PDF introducing the TFS data warehouse, how to get started building a report, building a query/data source, and then actually creating a new Bug Rate (with parameters)

"If you’ve used Microsoft® Visual Studio® Team Foundation Server (TFS), you may have seen reports that you would like to customize. I recently volunteered to revise some of the standard reports for the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) team at Microsoft, and I have to admit that I didn’t realize what I had signed up for. It quickly became apparent that I’d volunteered for more than I was expecting. Working with reports can be very intimidating because it uses different technologies that you may not be familiar with. This article provides an introduction to the important concepts you’ll need to learn a “minimal path” through the technologies.

..."

How To Install a Report to TFS Project.PDF

10 page PDF covering how to manually install a TFS report on a Reporting Services server for a given TFS Project, hook up to the default, already existing data sources, etc

Bug Trends.PDF (Bug Trends.RDL)

Six page PDF providing a few details on the included Bug Trends report. How to use it, what it's all about and how to customize it.

Remaining Work.PDF (Remaining Work by Count.RDL, Remaining Work by Size.RDL)

Five page PDF providing a few details on the included Remaining Work reports. How to use them, what they are all about and how to customize them.

Status by Area.PDF (Status by Area.RDL)

Six page PDF providing a few details on the included Status by Area report. How to use it, what it's all about and how to customize it.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Access Code Project from within Visual Studio 2005 - A Cool VS Addin from SlickEdit (with Source of course)

Code Project - The Code Project Browser Add-in for VS 2005

"At SlickEdit, we've put several "advertorials" out now on Code Project about our Tools for Visual Studio® 2005 product. I'm one of the developers on the Tools team [profile], and I love Code Project for learning how to do new things, especially because I learn best by seeing examples of how something's done. However, in order to see the sample code for an article, you have to:
Download the sample zip file.
Browse to it and unzip the contents somewhere.
Go to Visual Studio and Open the project.
I also love convenience, and that's why I made this add-in. It let's you browse Code Project directly in Visual Studio 2005. When you click on a link that would normally download a zip file, it asks you instead if you'd like to open the sample up using the Code Project Browser. If you say yes, the add-in will download the file, unzip it to a base "My documents\My Code Project Samples" directory, then load it directly. It also provides a sidebar where you can view, reload and delete all of the projects you've downloaded. Finally, it allows you to keep Code Project favorites, just like any respectable web browser would.
..."

The rockin' guys at SlickEdit let me know that they just posted this very cool VS2005 addin.

As it says, it lets you browse, download, manage and open Code Project projects from within Visual Studio. The best about it is how it lets you download and open the CP project in VS in one step... A nice time saver.

It installed quickly and with no problems (on Vista) and worked the first time out. Also the source opened and compiled with no problems.

The article and source provides a number of great examples, how to create a VS2005 addin, logging into a web site like Code Project, using the BackgroundWorker class to download files in the background yet still provide progress status, some nice UI controls, etc, etc.

I dig that these guys are giving back by posting this project (and including the source). I feel it says allot about SlickEdit...

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Free SQL Server Monitor Gadget for your Vista Sidebar

SSIS Junkie - Announcing SQL Server Monitor Gadget for Windows Vista Sidebar

"It gives me great pleasure to announce that as of today, Conchango are making available version 1 of our SQL Server Monitor Gadget for Windows Vista Sidebar.

The gadget does exactly what it says on the tin; it monitors a specified SQL Server database for various metrics and displays them on the Windows Vista Sidebar. It is provided for use by SQL Server DBAs that require a nice'n'easy way of monitoring important metrics on their SQL Server installations. ..."

Time to put your Vista sidebar to work...

This looks like a very quick and easy way to monitor a SQL Server database. Something that might some in handy if you have a problem DB that needs size monitoring.

As an interesting side note, the download is being hosted on Microsoft's beta LiveDrive (aka SkyDrive), folders.live.com

(via SQL Server Code - SQL Server Monitor Gadget for Windows Vista Sidebar)

Funny how a little 4.5 Earthquake will wake you up...

Magnitude 4.5 - GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIFORNIA

It funny how a 4.5 just under your feet (or there about) will kick you out of bed...

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Shuttle Launch in HD = Wow!

Santa brought us a large Full HD TV last Christmas and a couple months ago I finally got around to signing us up for Digital Cable (with HD DVR/receiver of course ;).

As I write this, I am watching the Endeavor launch in HD on HDNet.

All I can say is... WOW!

Refactor! Pro (and Refactor! Free [VB.NET]) v2.5 Released

ctodx - Pssst! Wanna get some new software before the hip kids get it?

"OK, this is strictly hush hush, on a need-to-know basis. Don't tell everyone, but we've just uploaded CodeRush and Refactor! Pro 2.5 to the Client Center.

Yep, it's a significant new release, deserving of the bump in version number. We've got the world's first refactorings ever targeted for C# 3.0 and VB9. You read that right: not just Las Vegas' first refactorings for C# 3.0 and VB9, not just Nevada's, not just the United States', but the Earth's. And since the slime molds of Europa, moon of Jupiter, quite possibly don't exist and, even if they did, wouldn't care about .NET, we're talking about the first refactorings for C# 3.0 and VB9 in the Solar System!
..."

Though not specifically mentioned, when I went to their Client Center (and logged in), Refactor! Free (VB.NET) v2.5 was available for me to download...

(via Larkware News - The Daily Grind 1203)

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Vista "SP0.5" (KB938979 & KB938194) Now Available on MS Downloads

Update for Windows Vista (KB938194)

"This is a reliability update. Install this update to improve the reliability of Windows Vista in certain scenarios. Additional information about this update can be found in KB Article 938194. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer."

Update for Windows Vista (KB938979)

"This is a performance update. Install this update to improve the performance of Windows Vista in certain scenarios. Additional information about this update can be found in KB Article 938979. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer."

An update is available that improves the performance and reliability of Windows Vista [KB938979]

"...

By applying this update, you can achieve better performance and responsiveness in various scenarios. This update also improves the reliability of Windows Vista.
This update resolves the following issues on a Windows Vista-based computer:

You experience a long delay when you try to exit the Photos screen saver.

A memory leak occurs when you use the Windows Energy screen saver.

If User Account Control is disabled on the computer, you cannot install a network printer successfully. This problem occurs if the network printer is hosted by a Windows XP-based or a Windows Server 2003-based computer.

When you write data to an AVI file by using the AVIStreamWrite function, the file header of the AVI file is corrupted.

When you copy or move a large file, the "estimated time remaining" takes a long time to be calculated and displayed.

After you resume the computer from hibernation, it takes a long time to display the logon screen.

When you synchronize an offline file to a server, the offline file is corrupted.

If you edit an image file that uses the RAW image format, data loss occurs in the image file. This problem occurs if the RAW image is from any of the following digital SLR camera models:

Canon EOS 1D

Canon EOS 1DS

After you resume the computer from hibernation, the computer loses its default gateway address.

Poor memory management performance occurs.

..."

An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista [KB938194]

"...
This update resolves some compatibility issues and reliability issues in Windows Vista. By applying this update, you can achieve better reliability and hardware compatibility in various scenarios.
This update resolves the following issues:

The screen may go blank when you try to upgrade the video driver.

The computer stops responding, and you receive a "Display driver stopped responding and has recovered" error message. You can restart the computer only by pressing the computer's power button.

The computer stops responding or restarts unexpectedly when you play video games or perform desktop operations.

The Diagnostic Policy Service (DPS) stops responding when the computer is under heavy load or when very little memory is available. This problem prevents diagnostics from working.

The screen goes blank after an external display device that is connected to the computer is turned off. For example, this problem may occur when a projector is turned off during a presentation.

A computer that has NVIDIA G80 series graphic drivers installed stops responding.

Visual appearance issues occur when you play graphics-intensive games.

You experience poor playback quality when you play HD DVD disks or Blu-ray disks on a large monitor.

Applications that load the Netcfgx.dll component exit unexpectedly.

Windows Calendar exits unexpectedly after you create a new appointment, create a new task, and then restart the computer.

Internet Connection Sharing stops responding after you upgrade a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista and then restart the computer.

The Printer Spooler service stops unexpectedly.

You receive a "Stop 0x0000009F" error when you put the computer to sleep while a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection is active.

..."

Wow, those are some updates.

Take a look at the number of files updated in these two updates and you'll know why it's being called Vista "Pre-SP1" or "Mini-SP1", or "SP0.5"

I'm downloading and applying them both now. Keep your fingers crossed... :)

Four Year Blog-aversary

This is the end of my fourth year of active blogging, and my 2,469th post, and has become my tradition, today I look back on the past year and think about what I've learned...

But first, I'd like to thank you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for your blogging.

Thank you all...

1) It's not a sprint, its a marathon

Remember to pace yourself, but also remember to keep going, even if it's at a walk... Technology, business, the world, etc will not stop if you do. But again, it does not hurt to husband your strength and set a steady pace for yourself. Sprinting is a good way to max your stress and burn out...

2) There's always room to rescue one more cat

'nuff said...

3) Don't be afraid to delete comments (and don't let the attack comments get you down...)

Look, it's YOUR blog. If you don't like a comment, delete it. If someone throws trash into your yard, you throw it away, right? Same deal.

Also when (when, not if... blog long enough and Mr. Anonymous will drop an attack comment... just a matter of time... sigh...) you get attack comments, try not to let them get you down too much. I know, it's hard to not let those effect you. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt... If it's time to stop blogging, then stop, but don't let the anonymous rabble control you. You control you!

4) If you're a developer, code on the side. Code for the joy of it...

Tech is moving way to fast to assume that everything you'll need to learn you'll learn at work. (LOL... that sounds like an idea for a Dilbert strip or something...)

Take charge of your future and your learning. And apply it! That's the trick. Pick a personally interesting project and start coding. And don't worry, just code.

My OSS projects that I've worked on in the last year have saved my sanity and reminded me why I'm a developer. It's reminded me just how much I love to code. Reminded me of the joy of programming...

5) Remember that teenagers will usually grow out of it

'nuff said...

6) Don't blog/email/comment/im when you're angry or something you wouldn't want your kids or parents to see.

Yeah, it's common sense, but common sense is rarely all that common. Remember, electronic data NEVER dies.

7) Save for retirement NOW

It's pretty simple. The sooner you start saving, the sooner you'll be able to retire... Your retirement is your reasonability. Do you really expect the Social Security (for those of us in the US) to be there for you? Your company pension? Take the time now to start putting away for your retirement...

8) Build your Disaster Kit NOW

Start building your Disaster Preparedness Kit now. And keep building it. Like security, it's not something that's ever done. Again during a major disaster, do you really believe the government will be there as soon as you need them? Your, and your family's, disaster safety and preparedness is, in part, YOUR responsibility...

I've made it my tradition that every Christmas each family group gets more disaster stuff. So each year our kits keep building, growing and getting better. Our kits are not perfect, but something it better than nothing...

I hope you are never involved in a disaster, but it seems smart to prepare for one just in case, doesn't it?

Okay, I think that's enough for now. ;)

Take care...

Related Past Post XRef:
Three Year Blog-aversary...
Two Years and Counting...

AsmZip - Compressing and Hiding Assemblies/DLL's in your .Net EXE

Francesco's blog - Compressing and hiding DLLs

"I like the ability to extend the power of my applications by simply adding a reference to an assembly that contains the functions or the controls that I need. I like much less, however, the need to distribute and deploy many DLLs together with my executables. In this post I show a technique that I use to compress (nearly) all the DLLs of a Windows Forms application and "merge" them with the main EXE.

All the files you need are in this ZIP archive, which contains the AsmZip.exe utility (which you run from the command prompt) and two source files, Unzipper.cs and Unzipper.vb. I suggest that you copy the AsmZip utility in a directory listed on the system path, to run it easily.
..."

An interesting deployment approach, sort of the same, yet different from, ILMerge.

I like that it compresses the DLL's, making the entire package smaller (but of course the EXE bigger).

The main EXE needs to be updated to include the provided UnZipper class (C# and VB.Net versions are provided)

For me, the most interesting thing about this is how it shows .Net's flexibility in loading assemblies.

(via /egilh - Compressing and hiding DLLs)

Monday, August 06, 2007

"Team Development with Team Foundation Server Guide" Released (RTW, v1, Final version, etc)

J.D. Meier's Blog - New Release: patterns & practices Team Development with Team Foundation Server Guide

"Today we release the final version of our patterns & practices: Team Development with Visual Studio Team Foundation Server. It's our Microsoft playbook for Team Foundation Server. It shows you how to make the most of the Team Foundation Server. It's a compendium of proven practices, product team recommendations, and insights from the field.

Download the guide.
Read the guide online.

Key Changes Since Beta 1

We added guidelines for build, project management and reporting.
We added practices at a glance for build, project management, and reporting.
We added a chapter to summarize key Visual Studio 2008 changes.
We revamped our Internet access strategies.
We did a full sweep of the guide.
We completed more thorough product team reviews for key chapters

..."

Free 6.6MB, 496 page PDF filled with outstanding TFS information.

As I said when the beta version came out, this is a "must read" for anyone using or considering TFS.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Search your Internet Explorer History/Cache via Windows Desktop Search

Microsoft Support - Availability and functionality of the Windows Desktop Search: Add-in for Internet Explorer History

"The Windows Desktop Search: Add-in for Internet Explorer History add-in indexes the history of the Web pages that you visit in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Specifically, this add-in creates, maintains, and indexes cached pages that correspond to the Web pages that you visit. This functionality lets you search the contents of these Web pages.
Additionally, if you visit the same Web page on two different dates, two versions of this page will appear in the cache and in the index. Therefore, you can search the contents of this Web page as it existed on the two different dates.
Prerequisites
To install the Windows Desktop Search: Add-in for Internet Explorer History, the computer must have one of the following installations:
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or a later version
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4)
• Windows Vista
..."

Microsoft Downloads - Windows Desktop Search: Add-in for Internet Explorer History

"...

This Add-in indexes the history of the web pages you have browsed using Internet Explorer.
By downloading this Add-in, your Internet Explorer History will be indexed by Windows Desktop Search when your PC is idle or when you select ‘Index Now’. Once the index is updated you can immediately search your Internet Explorer History.

..."

I missed this when it came out last December (December 2006).

One tip, if you want to limit your search to just your IE history/cache, use the "iehistory" qualifier in your search. So lets say you installed this, and then visited my blog, and now wanted to search JUST your IE History for those visits, "iehistory coolthing" would do it for you...

(via Technical Weblog of Eric Charran - Searching IE History with Windows Desktop Search)

Update #1 8/4/2007 @ 5:34PM PDT:

You can also use "store:iehistory" to limit the searching to just the IE History/cache...
(for example, "store:iehistory coolthing")

For additional advanced Windows Desktop Search information, check out this page, Windows Desktop Search: Advanced Query Reference for 3.x

Five Time Zones updated in the "August 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems"

Microsoft Support - August 2007 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft Windows operating systems

"Important This update supersedes and replaces update KB931836, released in January 2007. This update also includes additional time zone changes that were signed in to law after update KB931836 was created. Customers who have already deployed update KB931836 should evaluate whether any of the five specific time zone changes that are addressed in the update described by this KB article merit deploying this update immediately. If systems are not directly affected, you can schedule deployment at the next available opportunity. We recommend that all customers standardize on the most current Windows cumulative time zone update to guarantee the consistency of the time zone database on all systems.
...
Updates from the previous cumulative Windows time zone update
The following changes have been made since the previous Windows cumulative time zone update, described in KB931836:
• Caucasus Standard Time
Changes display name to Caucasus Standard Time as cities in the previous display name have separate time zones, and removes DST settings.
• Armenian Standard Time
Creates a new time zone for Armenia to better align with different DST changes in the Caucasus Region.
• New Zealand Standard Time
Adjusts DST start and end dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).
• GTB Standard Time
Correct the display name for GTB Standard Time on Windows Server 2003 SP2 to include Bucharest.
• Jordan Standard Time
Adjusts DST start and end times and dates according to changes signed in to law after the prior cumulative time zone update was created (February 2007).
..."

I saw this Time Zone update on Microsoft Downloads and was wondering what its deal was and if I should rush to apply it... Thinking others may have the same question, above is a very hacked and slashed version of the KB article.

(via Satisfy Me - Your questions: Is KB 933360 a required Windows update for Daylight Saving Time and Time Zones?)

Sigh, I guess it was only a matter of time? My 360 is a victim of the 3 Red Rings of Death...

Turn on my 306 this morning and the 3 Red Rings greeted me. sigh... And here I was starting to suck less at Guitar Hero II. ;)

After only about 30 minutes waiting on hold for an agent, and 10 minutes going through the "unplug the unit, remove the HDD, yada, yada" I got my reference number and the return shipping box is on the way. Three to four weeks was the return estimate I was given...

While I'm not all that happy that it died, I am glad that the warranty for the 3 rings of death issue was extended.

Sigh, now I have this 300 HD-DVD that I can't watch. grr... So I guess it's time to buy an 360 Elite?
(When I suggested that I got "the look" from my wife. LOL... ).

But I guess it's good it happened now and not after just getting Halo 3. :)

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Los Angeles Fire Department = Tech Rockers

LAFD News & Information - LAFD Turns the Tables on a Tech Interview

"The Los Angeles Fire Department has earned a great deal of buzz this week regarding the Department's nascent on-line offerings, including our increasingly popular LAFD_ALERT service, Twitter Feed, Flickr Photo Gallery and YouTube Channel.
Earlier today, we received a call from Heather Havenstein, a Senior Reporter for Computerworld Magazine, seeking an interview by telephone to discuss the use of technology in LAFD Media and Public Relations.
Sure we said... but why be conventional?
Most LAFD stakeholders have seen the end result of such interviews. What if instead - in the spirit of Web 2.0, they could actually listen on-line as the interview took place, and then had an opportunity to speak with the reporter?

Heather kindly agreed. So, on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 7:00AM Pacific Time, we'll be activating our internet-based LAFD TalkRadio to allow you to listen in and later participate, as we discuss present and future LAFD internet offerings with Computerworld Magazine.

..." [Post leached almost in full]

You go LAFD!

Since it started, I've found their blog very informative and their recent additional Web2 presence is also pretty darn cool. Now this? These guys are on the tech-ball.

I like how they are saying in the interview how, that besides their time, they are using free services. That all this coolness is not costing us, the taxpayers, big bucks (or hardly any bucks at all for that matter).

Remember this is a civil organization, and yet they seem to be more technology agile and aware than many (most?) companies...

Great job guys. You officially rock. :)

[Listening to LAFD TalkRadio]

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Standalone Downloads for Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) 1.2.1 and MAPI Client Libraries

Microsoft Downloads - Collaboration Data Objects, version 1.2.1

"Beginning in Exchange 2007 Beta 2 and Outlook 2007 Beta 2, CDO 1.2.1 will no longer be provided as a part of the install of the product. As a result, there is functionality missing that many applications depend upon. CDO 1.2.1 is a package providing access to Outlook-compatible objects through a COM-based API.

..."

Microsoft Downloads - Microsoft Exchange Server MAPI Client and Collaboration Data Objects 1.2.1

"Starting with Exchange 2007, neither the Messaging API (MAPI) client libraries nor CDO 1.2.1 are provided as a part of the base product installation. As a result, there is functionality missing that many applications depend on. Microsoft Exchange MAPI and CDO 1.2.1 provide access to these APIs, which, in turn, provide access to the contents of MAPI stores

...

The Messaging API is a COM-like API that provides access to the contents of messaging stores. CDO 1.2.1 (Collaboration Data Objects, version 1.2.1) is a package providing access to Outlook-compatible objects through a COM-based API. Using either CDO or MAPI, a program can connect to a MAPI store, and then perform operations against that store. Starting with Exchange 2007, Microsoft will distribute the MAPI client libraries and CDO 1.2.1 as a Web download

..."

I know I'm going to need these downloads one day in the not too distant future...

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

I've been Simpsonized...

Me simpsonized...

Why? Cause everyone else is being simpsonized too? This meme makes me laugh, so I joined in...

Team System Web Access Power Tool Now Available (Think TeamPlain v2.0 but with added Microsoft Sauce)

bharry's WebLog - Team System Web Access Power Tool Available!

"Today [Monday, July 30th] we released the first "official" power tool release of Team System Web Access. You can download it from here [Visual Studio Team System Web Access Power Tool].

Let me put this in context. When Microsoft first acquired DevBiz, we provided v1.0 of TeamPlain for download. Based on customer demand, we uploaded a preview of TeamPlain 2.0. Neither were supported by Microsoft customer support but both were available for download by all Team Foundation Server licensed users.
With our release today of the Team System Web Access Power Tool, several things have changed. This new version is based on the TeamPlain 2.0 code base but a great deal of work has gone into it since March. Although, it is still not yet an officially released Microsoft product it has taken some great strides, including:
Microsoft Customer Support Services will now support it.
The code has been run through the Microsoft release process which is an extensive gauntlet of checks that help ensure quality. Among the more important ones is a security review to make sure the code is not susceptible to attack.
We have tested it to a moderate degree (including internally dogfooding it for a couple of months).

..."

I use Microsoft's release of TeamPlain/Team System Web Access v1.0 almost every day. For quick TFS work, it's much faster than firing up Visual Studio/Team Explorer...

I've been looking forward to v2.0 and think I'll be installing this today. I'll let you know if I have any problems.

Note that in comments bharry says that if you have v1.0 installed, to uninstall it before you install this version...

Managing Large System Deployment and Configuration with PowerShell Paper by Scott Hanselman

Scott Hanselman's ComputerZen.com - Paper - Managing Large Scale System Deployment and Configuration with Windows PowerShell

"Literally 1 million years ago, as I remember it (actually around November of 2006) I wrote a paper on our Financial Services solution that uses PowerShell to manage deployment.

There were a few Channel 9 Videos on the subject and a whole category on PowerShell was born on my blog. I even did a few presentations on the topic.
...
Fast forward to darn-near August 2007. My last day at Corillian is Thursday and my first day at Microsoft is in Sept...so, here's me releasing the paper myself and phooey on all those folks who were taking so long to publish it. ..."

This is a very interesting paper, which includes how Scott and team add remote execution functionality to PowerShell (think something like PSExec for PowerShell, see this blog post, ScriptBlock and Runspace Remoting in PowerShell, for more details).

I'm still trying to digest this paper, but it looks kind of, sort of, like SMS (System Management Services) + Development (i.e. Source Control access [SVN], Build [MSBuild/NANT] and Testing [NUnit] + Deployment and Configuration)

One thing to note... This is just a paper. No referenced source code seems to be available (yet).

Tutorials on how to use Paint.Net to create Eyes, Sunsets, Seashells, Rings, and more...

Paint.NET - Paint.NET Tutorial Spotlight: Make Realistic Eyes, by Ash

"...
Ash has posted a tutorial on the forums titled: “Easiest way to make realistic eyes“. He makes use of the Shape3D plugin I mentioned before in order to produce the following:

Yes, this was created with Paint.NET! There aren’t very many steps required in order to make the eye, and you don’t even have to be very artistically inclined. The Shape3D plug helped a lot with the difficulty level, of course, but it’s very interesting to see plugins having such an enormous contribution to the utility of the program.
..."