Here are new features for v2.0:

• Updated to target .NET 3.5 Framework
• Added support for message body being loaded from a file
• Added support for multiple file attachments
• Added support for logging to the Windows Application Event Log

You can download the latest runtime or source from the project page on CodePlex.

It took quite a bit of tinkering but I was able to come up with a solution that works (and works well) in IE, Firefox, Safari and Chrome.  It still uses jQuery but doesn’t depend on a plug-in.  Here’s the code in case you’re looking for the same thing:

First, the iFrame…

<iframe src="Page1.htm" id="MyFrame" 
frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" 
width="800px" height="100px" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Next, the JavaScript to resize it…

<script type="text/javascript">
 
     function sizeFrame() {
          jQuery("#MyFrame", top.document).css({ height: 0 });
          var heightDiv = jQuery("#MyFrame", top.document).contents().find('body').attr('scrollHeight');
          jQuery("#MyFrame", top.document).css({ height: heightDiv });
     }
 
     jQuery(function() {
          sizeFrame();
          jQuery("#MyFrame").load(sizeFrame);            
     });
 
</script>

This line is needed to initially initialize the height so that it works in Safari and Chrome. Without this line the window will never shrink to fit smaller content, it will just retain the last biggest height.

jQuery("#MyFrame", top.document).css({ height: 0 });

It’s been one of those weeks

It should be noted that I was able to take a screen shot, upload it to Wordpress and make this blog post before that message went away and I was able to interact with Visual Studio.NET again!

General Meeting Information

• Date: Monday, July 6, 2009
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Location: Merkle located at 7001 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
• Directions: Visit this MapQuest link for directions
• RSVP: Please email Ray Barley (raymondbarley@gmail.com) if you are attending so we can plan appropriately
• Web site: http://www.bssug.org/

Presentation Information

• Title: SQL Server Reporting Services Report Builder 2.0
• Speaker: Craig Guyer of Microsoft
• Abstract: Authoring reports for SQL Server Reporting Services is even easier than before using the new stand-alone application Report Builder 2.0 (RB2). In this session we will walk through creating some basic reports, show how RB2 fits in with other report authoring applications, and discuss other new report authoring features in SQL Server 2008.

Well, what happens if the thing you want is $18.50?  What about if it’s $22.53?  You only need another $2.47 to get free shipping (which may cost you 3x that much).  There must be a way you can get that free shipping without adding another $30 thing to your order that you didn’t need…

Enter item fillers.  These websites are great because they let you search by a specific amount you need in order to qualify for free shipping.  Just load up the site, put in your amount, pick some categories that you may want to look in and optionally put in a search keyword and viola… you have pages of items that are close to that $2.47 that you needed to spend in order to get free shipping!

Two sites that I found recently were SlickFillers.net and FillerItem.com.  The first site is the one that I actually used earlier in the week when I was buying some stuff (see screen shot above).  I liked that site better because it showed information about most discounted items and top sellers.  I guess for me I wanted to try to get something that normally costs much more than the $7.44 that I was spending

So next time you’re shopping for something cheap at Amazon and you’re just shy of getting that free shipping, don’t forget about these item fillers.  You can also quickly Google amazon item fillers and you’ll find these two sites right up there at the top.

Along with dusting off my running shoes I’ve dusted off and charged back up the Garmin Forerunner.  What the heck is that you ask?  It’s a wrist-mounted GPS fitness computer!  Come on, you didn’t think I’d have a gadget for running?  You must not read this site or know me.  Actually, if you’re into running or thinking of getting into running you may want to consider picking up this or one of their other models.  It’s great when you’re trying to train for a race (5-k, 10-k, half or full marathon, etc) or just want to track your routs/progress and allows you to download your data for free to the Garmin Connect website.

Two things to note if you already have one of these devices or consider buying this model.  1, they have a firmware (software) update for the unit.  Since I hadn’t used mine in a few years mine was a few versions behind.  All you need for this is to download their web updater software and it’s pretty much automatic from there.  2, this unit only has a serial (RS-232) interface to the computer.  If you don’t know what that means all you need to know is that most new laptops and Macs don’t have serial interfaces.  You can solve this problem by picking up a USB to Serial cable adapter.  This will make working with any modern computers (laptops and Macs) much easier and faster.

Hopefully I can stick with the running now and build back up to doing some races.  My co-worker is doing the Virginia Beach Half-Marathon this Labor Day weekend.  I would love to go with him but we have so much else going on this summer that I really just can’t take another weekend away.  I may be able to convince him to do the Baltimore Half-Marathon this October.  We’ll have to see how that works out I guess.

Either way I plan on getting in at least 2 runs a week for now as I ease back into things.30

www.google-vs-bing.com

There are definitely a ton of options, most of which I don’t understand.  I do feel like so far just using the auto-mode the photos have been awesome.  The best feature that I’ve been loving is the quick recovery time between shooting pictures.  I hope to learn more about the advanced features in the future when I have more time.  For now I’ll rely on the auto and scene modes.

One thing that I did do was update the camera’s firmware this week.  In case you’re not aware, it’s always a good idea when purchasing any kind of camera, camcorder, etc. to check to see if there are firmware upgrades.  Typically they fix bugs or ad support for new accessories that may have come out since the product was initially released.

If you’re a fellow Rebel XSi owner you can get the latest firmware and upgrade instructions here.  The process is very easy and only requires that you have a card reader for your SD card.

By the way, speaking of SD cards, I highly suggest that if you’re in the market for a DSLR camera that you pickup a good quality SD memory card.  Going with a cheap generic card, which cheap, will not allow you to fully take advantage of the speed that your camera can most likely write to the card.  Generic and cheap cards are slow, and you’ll wait for the images to be written to your card between pictures.  In order to eliminate this bottleneck I went with the SanDisk 16gb Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC High Performance Card.

They key here is the 30MB/s speed.  That’s where this card stands out above others (the 16GB of storage doesn’t hurt either). I had picked one up at Best Buy the day before the kid’s birthday party for almost $80 more and ended up ordering the one linked above from Amazon because it was much cheaper.  Once the Amazon.com one came I simply took that box back and returned it to Best Buy.

All in all I’ve taken a few hundred pictures with the new camera and love it.  It’s definitely bulky and not as convenient as carrying around the old point and shoot, but the end result is worth it as far as I’m concerned.

I’ll let you know if it blows up my Mac in my next post…

While I don’t think the Digital SLR will completely fill all of our photography needs I think it will slowly become the better option as the kids (two of which will be 3 here in June) get into more activities which will require their own personal sports illustrated (or whatever they do) photographer.  I still see us throwing the crappy old battery hungry point and shoot into the van for occasional use where we may not feel like lugging around a bigger camera.

The one model I’m seriously considering is a basic/entry level SLR from Canon.  Consumer Reports recommended it and my main dilemma now is to decide if I should get a kit where they bundle in a basic lens or get the body and my own lens separately.  For simplicity sake here’s a link to the Canon EOS Rebel XSi from Amazon.

As you can see from that link you can buy the camera body only or the standard bundle with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Image Stabilization) Lens.  If you go by Amazon you’ll see that there’s about a $100 difference between the two models.  And while not a big deal, the standard lens is only about the same as a 3x magnification range and is about what I’d have with my standard point and shoot. While I realize the quality difference would be massive when compared to the point and shoot I feel like not having the ability for distance shots may just have me reaching for the smaller one a lot of the time.

I wonder if it would just be better to get the body by itself and find a full range lens (18-200mm) and carry around 1 lens vs. having two in the bag.  I guess I’ll really have to consider what the majority of the shots will be.  Maybe having standard zoom (the one you get with the bundle) will be what I use most of the time and I could pickup a telephoto lens (50-250mm) for when the kids start soccer or whatever.  Or, you can find other places like B&H Photo that sell kits with both the standard zoom and telephoto bundled together.

Hmmm… decisions, decisions.  If any of you guys have any suggestions I’d love to hear them.  With two vacations coming up in the next few months I think pulling the trigger soon will result in lots of nice pictures when we’re on the beach in the Outer Banks this summer and down in Florida conquering Disney this fall.