I have gotten a few questions about how I did the panoramic image from the Stand Down post. I found a great little utility called Autostitch it is "first fully automatic 2D image stitcher" you point it at a number of images and it dose the rest. You don't need to do anything with aligning the images, it could not be any easer.

I get asked a lot by my family and friends about how they should secure their computers so this is another entry on this topic with some updates from the last time I covered this.

First get router! I don’t care if you only have one computer in the house you still need this! I like the Linksys products, they’re cheap and easy to setup, get the BEFSR41 at a minimum.

Next make sure you have XP Service Pack 2 running! I know some will say it’s a pain but it is needed... no questions just get it!

Now stop running as a local administrator! This is huge pain but it is the best thing you can to protect yourself. If you don’t know what I am talking about check out nonadmin.editme.com

OK now we are set to talk about software you want to run to keep your system clean.

Go to the Microsoft Security software: Downloads and trials site:

• Install the 12-month free trial of Computer Associates Antivirus product.
• Install Windows Defender (I know it’s beta but it’s good)

Now make chose run a tool bar for Internet Explorer (MSN or Google) or better yet install the Internet Explorer 7 beta this will help stop popups and other annoying problems.

BAM!!! Your all done, now just make sure you login as admin once a week to let updates happen and be a smart user. Don’t trust the attachments that anyone sends you (no not even aunt Mable). Stop installing every application that you think will let you get free stuff (no Limewire or others).

What does the future hold? Vista! Yes I know it’s going to be an OS upgrade but by default you will run in a protected mode, even if you are logged in as an administrator.

Good luck!

Resources:

Microsoft Security at Home web site

Are you interested in the future of .NET? The site http://www.netfx3.com/ is a great resource for all things new in the 3.0 world.

Remember 3.0 is not a base framework update it just adds the WinFX components check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/winfx/ for more information.

I did my semi-regular cooking job at the San Diego Stand Down... Ok so it was my second time in five years but I am resolving to do it every year that I can from now on. What is Stand Down? Read all about it here http://www.vvsd.net/standdown.htm.

I am not much of a bleeding hart but I know it is all too easy for anyone to fall in to a bad place and I think some times for people who are in the military it can be especially easy. So I did my little part by helping to feed 1300+ lunches and 800+ dinners on Friday, working for over 12 hours and suffering a horrible sunburn (especially bad as my wife yelled at me as I was leaving the house to put on sunscreen). I did this with the local American Legion (yes I am a member) and a bunch of people who have been doing this for almost as long as this event has been going on. I find it quite strange how many people on one of the hottest weekends of the year still came out to help with this event (did I menchen I am not much of a bleeding hart?). As you can see from the photos below there was everything setup that someone would need to start down a better path.

All in all this was quite executing but I felt good about helping out in my little way and in a strange way I look forward to next year.

An overview of the whole thing (from there web site)	This was a panoramic I took of the main part of the grounds
The (not so well shaded) galley.	The food line before attacked
The back side of the tents
The glamour Job...	Cutting the meatloaf
Hair cut anyone?	Court will be in session... Quite Please.
Some fun for the kids too	Some wet fun too

I am sure you all have been waiting like myself for the final version and now it's here!

Mobile Client Software Factory

Go get it!

 

I drive a 1996 or 97 Toyota Camry, it's beat up (am not easy on cars) it sinks as the kids have spilled milk in it but just look what it did...

Yep the old thing just passed 150000 miles (I was diving when the odometer hi 150000 so I did the safe thing and waited to take this picture) I just love this car it is still running great and has been quite low maintance over all. I want a new car but I just can't do it while this one is working so well.

Just wanted to brag... :)

This is an intresting one we (Microsoft) is funding an open source project on SourceForge for an Office 2007 add-in to allow interoperability with .PDF, .XLS, and .ODF formats.

See the project site at http://sourceforge.net/projects/ODF-converter

OK so that is cool, I know I will use it but I have to ask… why? Microsoft (ok that is still we) also just announced a new open source site called CodePlex. What give why not use CodePlex? OK I know I am just a DE but come on mother ship! 

Well we are done the evals have been rolling in and about to be closed down.

Over all the response has been great, the event as a whole has received 8.13 out of a posable 9. I think that is fantastic! My favorite comment has been:

“Outstanding. My first exposure, and was really happy to have the opportunity to mix with others in the community and beef up my skillset and overall awareness of the technology. I have some ideas for more sessions, but what was provided was more than enough to keep me busy. Definitely worth the time invested to connect with the community and the technology.”

I would like to say a big THANKS to Daniel Egan & Michele Leroux Bustamante who were the ones who made this Code Camp happen! As well as Andrew Karcher & Mark Rosenberg who did a ton of work with the volunteers, signs etc. The entire San Diego and greater SoCal developer community really helped get the word out and make this a great success, thanks to every one.

I have been getting pictures from many different people. Here are some of my favorite.

  

I am sure others have pictures posted, let me know where they are and I will link to them.

Jeff sent me his collection: http://camel-turd.com/killola/codecamp/

 

I hope to see everyone at the Fullerton CodeCamp in January!

This is a email test post... If this works then I can now do posting from e= mail. I am not sure that is a good thing but it's cool! :)

I have just upgraded to dasBlog 1.8 from 1.7 as I was just getting hammered with track back spam. I will re do my skin soon sorry for any problems.

Quite interesting and good add-in for office to allow anyone to produce files that have the Creative Commons license into a document.

Go get it and produce something great for the world!

Office Add-in: Creative Commons Add-in for Microsoft Office

WOW I went to a MSDN event today… all I can say is wow if you have not been to a MSDN event you need to experience this type of event. You can see all kinds of geek information all in a movie theater. And yes if you try hard you can sneak in to a free movie after the event .

At the event today and I am sure at the event coming up this Thursday in Garden Grove for information about user groups and events so here is a list of local resources:

SoCal Resources:
MSDN Flash (http://msdn.microsoft.com/flash)
SoCal .NET Events (http://www.socalnetevents.org)
List of SoCal User Groups (http://www.socalnetevents.org/Default.aspx?tabid=61) I know bad back ground but the list is good!

San Diego User Groups:
San Diego .NET Developers Group (http://www.sddotnetdg.org)
San Diego .NET User Group (http://www.sandiegodotnet.com)

I will have a section of this site soon that list all the groups that I can find\know about so if you know if a group please let me know.

I know I am a coder so I should not care about infrastructure stuff but I do… I have see way too many developers blamed for infrastructure so I guess it has been an issue of self preservation but if you can get your servers monitored!

Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 Beta 2