Hi All,

I use BlogEngine.NET , the best opensource .NET blogging platform. And on Friday morning I had been busy for about 20 mins upgrading to 1.6 version. The upgrade was pretty smooth but with one glitch. I found an issue while following the usual steps learnt over my previous upgrade experiences, Well then, there is a step missing (its missing even on the BlogEngine.NET Upgrade Page).

There has been some changes done to the App_Data\DataStore folder with some addition of some config files. I was eventually able to find this issue when BenAmada replied to me on the BlogEngine.NET forums. Well this fixes all the issues with the installation and I am currently checking out the new features of the upgrade!

For an excellent upgrade instruction guide head over to David Wynne’ Blog. I wish I had seen it earlier :)

Regards,
Bhavik.

Source: The Windows Blog - http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2010/02/01/
important-reminder-regarding-expiration-of-the-windows-7-rc.aspx

“On February 15th, people still running the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) will receive a notification reminding them that starting March 1st, 2010, their PC will begin experiencing bi-hourly shutdowns. These shutdowns will continue through June 1st, 2010.

On June 1st, 2010, a non-genuine experience is triggered where your wallpaper is removed and “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will be displayed in the lower right corner above the taskbar. This means your PC will no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads that require genuine Windows validation.

To avoid any data loss, I suggest making plans to move to a released version of Windows 7 before the automatic shutdowns start. During these shutdowns, your work will not be saved.”

In short – Please upgrade to RTM version before Feb 15 to avoid nagging.

Regards,
Bhavik.

Hi Folks,

In case you are unaware, Silverlight Live Streaming(silverlight.live.com) is being discontinuedshortly. But now you can host your videos on Windows Azure.

Get more details on the how to do so -http://blogs.msdn.com/david_sayed/archive/2010/01/07/hosting-videos-on-windows-azure.aspx

Regards,
Bhavik Vora.

Got this nice forward. Thought of sharing this to you all ---

Hope you will enjoy the  very useful hand book. All the  forty  points are worth remembering while we all welcome the  New Year 2010.
Thank you 2009 for having made all of us sail through without any great trouble. Wish you a great new year 2010.       
                 "TIMELY & VERY HANDY 2 FOLLOW"
            A VERY VERY HAPPY 2010 IN ADVANCE
FANTASTIC HAPPINESS HANDBOOK 2010

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2009.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most self is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about

Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, Madhavan, Kareena, Boman Irani.
Directed by : Rajkumar Hirani
Length: 2 hours 50 mins (approximately)

Loosely based on novel ‘5 Point Someone’ by Chetan Bhagat, '3-Idiots' is a feel good movie which is hilarious, filled with emotions and comes with a clear message for the current education system. Set in the background of an Engineering college, the movie focuses on the real ground issues prevalent in current system as theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge, exam stress, career rat race, student suicides, peer and parents pressure.

The film starts with Farhan (Madhavan) who has boarded a plane and a frantic call from his college friend “Silencer” who tells them that Rancho (Aamir) has been found. He manages to get the plane do an emergency landing by enacting a cardiac arrest and is on route to pick up Raju (Sharman). Soon they find that he is in Shimla and they start the journey to meet him. Then movie goes into a flashback.

Shot in IIM-Bangalore, the 3 students Farhan, Raju and Rancho enter the Imperial College of Engineering (ICE), the premier college of Engineering in India of which Viru Sahastrabudhhe aka ‘Virus’ (Boman Irani) is the dean of. College starts with Ragging of the newcomers where seniors are trying to force undo their pants. Rancho takes the charge and pulls of the plug on the senior with his plain simple knowledge of science. Following these are very comic sequences in college involving Rancho and various professors and the dean himself.

The movie rides on the emotional drama unfolding at various check points where Rancho emerges as the savior. Rancho is the best friend who makes his friends realize their dreams, the unknown stranger who ignites a break-up and then falls in love with Pia (Kareena) who is actually Viru’s daugher, the scientist who comes up with innovations that come from applying theory to practice. The ultimate timings of the dialogs and the jokes will engross you so much that you wouldn’t want the movie to stop.

Rancho emerges as the Student of the Year while he graduate and mysteriously disappears. And movie then comes back to the present. And from here to “All Iz Well” is the happy ending of the movie.

There is so much to write in the review. But wouldn’t want to spoil the fun for the movie-goers. :).

Positives: Movie is a laughter riot. Based on a strong script Aamir, Sharman and Madhavan delivers the positive message that Hirani wishes to tell as he has done with the MunnaBhai series. You can relate Rancho with Munnabhai, and will fall in love with the fun-loving, patient and extremely soft hearted character. The Music is notably good. Boman is also an respectable and adorable in his role.

Negatives: Kareena was in a short 20 min cameo role. (I’d rather consider it as a positive, but for the junta).

Verdict: 5/5. After all the movie is inspired from “5 point someone” ;). The movie is a total paisa-wasool and is right for this festive season. I am really lucky to see the 2 awesome movies – Avatar and 3 Idiots back to back, a good start to the end of this year. I am ready to watch any of the movie again. Any goers ?

Regards,
Bhavik
Original Post: http://blog.bhavikvora.com/post/2009/12/24/3-Idiots-(2009-e28093-Hindi).aspx

Original Post: http://blog.bhavikvora.com/post/2009/12/23/Avatar-3D-(2009-e28093-English).aspx

James Cameron, writer and director of Blockbusters like Terminator 1 and 2, Titanic, Aliens presents to you Avatar – a Sci-fiction movie set at backdrop of an alien land – Pandora and their inhabitants Na’vi (that understand and talk in English – Now I know why it is an universal language :p). It’s 2154AD, and Humans are deployed to a moon Pandora to Polyphemus for exploiting ‘Unobtanium’ (see the unusual name :)), a precious metal which sells for $20mn/kg back on Earth. And there are Scientists who are trying to understand Na’vi by creating hybrid Avatars. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) is a former Marine who is paralyzed below waist, is chosen for the ‘Avatar Program’ when his twin brother who was a scientist there is killed. And he takes his brother's place because he is compatible with his brother’s avatar.

The story unfolds into Jake’s Avatar getting lost into the jungle and is attacked by many dangerous predators. This attracts the attention of a female Na’vi named Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) who initially thought of killing Jake, saves her when some floating seeds are attracted to him and she sees it as a spirityal sign from Eywa (mother goddess, they worship). Neytiri then takes her to the Na’vi Hometree, where the clan lives. Amidst much confrontation, Neytiri’s father, the leader of the tribe allows Jake being part of them.

Moving forward the story, underneath Na’vi hometree is enormous deposits of the precious metal. Colonel Miles Quaritch, head of military operations convinces Parker Selfridge, head of operations for the company to attack the clan and get hold of the situation. Earlier Miles had commanded Jack to obtain the trust of the Na’vi clan and convince them to migrate elsewhere. But, Jack falls in love with Neytiri and the events take an different turn. Not divulging much of the story, I recommend you to find it out yourself.

The movie has so much visually enthralling experiences. The whole Avatar experience is fun. The knowing of how the Na’vis live, survive, hunt and believe in soul. The way they say sorry to the animals after they are hunt. The cinematography, the sceneries, the funda’s of being a Na’vi, Choosing a ‘Toruk’, a winged creature which they use to hunt, the network of memories stored in sacred trees and the healing power of the Tree of Soul. The imagination just takes a elite level with 3D effects.

Positives: Everything. Every minute of 2hour 45 mins was spent well. 3D was a great plus.
Negatives: None that i can think of now.
Ratings: 5/5 (My First movie with 5/5 ratings!). Its a complete paisa-wasool. Go for it! Its the movie of the year :)

Ps. Please post your feedback on the movie/my review. Let me know where can I improve on. :) Thanks for your support.

Regards,
Bhavik.

If you have worked with the Team Explorer in Visual Studio (VSTF) you know there is a functionality missing of moving multiple files/folders. But you can use TF.exe which has a move command and supports Wildcard.

Syntax: tf.exe move <items> <destination>

Usage: tf.exe move $/TeamProject1/Source/WebApp1/* $/TeamProject1/Source/WebApp2/

Note: You’ll need to run this command from Visual Studio Command Prompt.

Hope it helps save time, as it did for me :)

Regards,
Bhavik

Well firstly thanks to Bhavir Thakkar, who has inspired me to write these review at places where its more accessible to the necessary folks. Well then, This is my first review. Will try to sum it up in few lines.

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Shazahn Padamsee (daughter of AlyquePadamesee), Prem Chopra, Gauhar Khan.

Positives:
The Movie starts with a real good ground reality on How Salesmen work and how they are ruled by the Sales Target deadlines. The characters in the movie are well carved in the 1st half including the “boss” of the trainee – Ranbir who is fun to watch. Also the timings of the dialogs of folks (boss, receptionist, the assembler and few folks) are too good :). The movie unfolds into a situation where the hero is forced to start his own company in the company he’s currently working. The drama goes smooth until the MD finds out about the ruckus. Prem Chopra makes a warm come-back.

Negatives:
Over usage of few dialogs (Superman). Movie drifts apart at some scenes. Inclusion of the Herione/Introduction could have been done much better. (Also could have carved some more parts for her sister ;)). Actor does a descent job in his role which i liked him breaking the “i-wanna-be-the-center-of-attraction” tag but still wears the “I-wanna-grab-every-piece-of-emotional-attention-i-can” which is tolerable. The movie shapes into a typical Hindi Movie into fictitious situations and an imaginary end. Use of Scotty Pep+ :p

Overall Feedback:
Nice to watch. I’ll give it 3/5. Just go in for watching the real characters (side actors) that make the movie really fun. Its lovely to watch the comics of “boss” and “Assembler” and sometimes the Actor. Not really worth spending a fortune to watch the movie.

HI all,

Found a very interesting article to spoof MAC Address on any of the following OSs - XP/Vista/Win7/Server2003/2008/MacOSX/Unix/Linux. You dont need any software to install, just few tricks.
How to Change or Spoof MAC Address in Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003/2008, Mac OS X, Unix and Linux

Hope it helps.

Regards,
Bhavik

Hey folks,

Many of us may be facing this problem. We are not able to maximize the Remote Desktop Window, since at our local box the resolution is very high compared to the remote machine.

Now you can maximize to full screen with help of the shortcut – Ctrl + Alt + Break when you are inside the remote desktop window.

Hope this helps :)

Regards,
Bhavik.