Emmanuel's Blog

We are selling our Kenmore Side-by-Side fridge, the exact model no. is 253.54673302.  This is a great fridge that has worked well for us since we bought it new 4 years ago. 

It is a stainless steel side-by-side fridge with tons of features -

• Dimensions:
• Height: 69 1/4.
• Width: 39 1/2.
• Depth: 31 1/4.
• Sliding glass shelves.
• Tons of bins.
• Bin for ‘temperature controlled meats’.
• Humidity controlled crisper.
• Lots of room for groceries in both the fridge and freezer.
• Stainless steel – the kind that is “fingerprint proof”, black sides.
• Excellent condition and very clean.
• Energy Star compliant.
• Filtered and Ice water.
• Ice maker.
• Through-the-door ice & water dispenser (note: currently not working – you’ll need to call Sears).
• User Manual: click here to download the PDF.

We bought a new fridge (expensive, over $1800!) - we are now remodeling and this fridge no longer fits the new space.  Below I have more pictures and the user manual. 

Continue reading "Kenmore Side-by-Side Fridge for Sale" »

In the last few days I have been learning how to use the Microsoft Entity Framework 4.0, LINQ to SQL, Entity SQl, and more.  Specifically, I started working on a brand new project, so I was able to use the “Model First” approach.

 
The Entity Data Model consists of the CSDL, the MSL,
the SSDL, and the generated DDL (SQL Scripts)

As I started working with the .EDMX file in Visual Studio I started researching articles and books that could help me out – and found this great article:

Model-First in the Entity Framework 4, by Jon Fancey, July 2010
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff830362

Summary: In this paper we'll look at the new Entity Framework 4 that ships with .NET Framework 4 and Visual Studio 2010. I'll discuss how you can approach it's usage from a model-first perspective with the premise that you can drive database design from a model and build both your database as well as your data access layer declaratively from this model. The model contains the description of your data represented as entities and relationships providing a powerful approach to working with ADO.NET, creating a separation of concerns through an abstraction between a model definition and its implementation.

The author has an example on how to extend the DDL generation – allowing you to define indexes on Scalar Properties in your model. Unfortunately, the given example did not work - so after I found the issue and got it working, I wrote up this tutorial. Follow the instructions below to add extended properties to your model (CSDL) so when you generate your .SQL script (DDL) you'll create indexes on specific scalar properties you've defined.

See below for the tutorial and links I found useful while learning how to use the Entity Framework.  I have been using .netTiers (http://nettiers.com/), an awesome ORM set if tenplates for CodeSmith (http://codesmithtools.com/) for a few years, but now that Microsoft has its own ORM (the Entity Framework) and its data strategy is clearly set on EF, it’s a good idea to learn it and use it.

Continue reading "Microsoft Entity Framework 4: extending your DDL generation by adding indexes on Scalar Properties" »

A few months ago we installed an Endless Pool in our house – for more information on the Endless Pool, click here. 

 
Our iPad hangs out by the clean Endless Pool

The Endless Pool is a complete system that includes the pool plus a water quality system located at the front of the pool to heat, filter and purify the water, a swim current generator and return channels.  Unlike a traditional pool, an Endless Pool requires very little maintenance, on average a few minutes each week to test the water and add some Clorox bleach.

The Endless Pool contains a filter that needs to be either replaced or cleaned every few months.  I found a great article on Endless Pool maintenance here – but it did not contain any pictures.  As I cleaned my filter, I took a bunch of pictures and I thought it would be a good idea to post it here (plus if I ever forget how to clean my filter, I can always look up this tutorial). 

See below for more pictures and details – the pictures and instructions below are provided for reference only – the lawyers tell me that I am not responsible if you blow up your Endless Pool or damage it in any way for misreading anything in my blog.

Continue reading "How to clean your Endless Pool filter" »

Since the beginning of the year I have lost over 20 lbs.  I have also been working out and building muscle, so I have probably lost more than 20 lbs in fat.

From January to May 2010 I have lost over 20 lbs

I feel that for the first time in my life I have a good handle on my weight.  Below, I have some thoughts on what has changed for me – if you struggle with your weight you may find a tip or two useful.

Continue reading "How I lost 20 lbs - Thoughts and Tips" »

The boss has gone mad and the electronic devices below are being sold on eBay right now for cheap!  Check it out, there might just be something you may like – all the auctions are below.

Continue reading "The boss has gone mad – cool electronic devices for sale!" »

Janelle is selling her antique mahogany dresser. It was purchased from antique store on Church street in San Francisco.  It has numerous flaws so she’s selling it cheap - $200 or best offer - with a special price for friends and family.

See more pictures below and click on this link to contact us: s...@ehuna.org.

Continue reading "Antique Mahogany Dresser - $200 or best offer" »

If I believed that once I buy an electronic device, that I have the right to run whatever code I want on it, I would “jailbreak” my iPad.  I would then have screenshots like the one below of multiple apps running at the same time, including running 3rd party apps in the background – or “multitasking” – something Apple and Steve Jobs currently don’t support.

 
Multiple apps theoretically running at the same time on my iPad

Apple has announced multitasking support for the iPad in fall 2010 – but it will be limited – for example most apps will simply stop once they are in the background.  This theoretical multitasking works now – all you’d need is Spirit (http://spiritjb.com/) and Multifl0w (http://www.multifl0w.com/).  I have more screenshots below.

Continue reading "Running multiple apps on the iPad at the same time (Multitasking) – now!" »

Today I gave a presentation to my co-workers Sung P. and Lanh N. on how to use the new Windows Azure CloudDrive feature.  I thought it would be a good idea to share what I found on the Azure CloudDrive with the .NET development community.

My sample Windows Azure Web Role mounts a VHD
from Azure Storage and reads text files from this ‘CloudDrive’

In the screenscasts, I show how you can create a VHD file, format it and upload it to Azure Storage.  I then show how a Windows Azure Web Role can retrieve the VHD file from Azure Storage, cache it locally and mount it as a NTFS drive.

I created two separate screencasts which you can access below:

  Windows Azure CloudDrive -
  Creating a VHD and Uploading it to Azure Storage (Part 1 of 2, 30 minutes)
  http://screencasts.ehuna.org/2010/03/windows_azure_clouddrive_creat.html

  Creating a Web Role that mounts the CloudDrive
  from Azure Storage and reads text files (Part 2 of 2, 22 minutes)
  http://screencasts.ehuna.org/2010/03/windows_azure_clouddrive_creat_1.html

Each article contains the screencast and notes; you can also download the source code of the Visual Studio 2010 RC sample projects used in the videos:

  http://blog.ehuna.org/files/Visual-Studio-Solution-AzureSpeed1.zip (134 KB)

Below I have screenshots, links, and additional notes on Windows Azure CloudDrive that I used during the presentation.  Good Times!

Continue reading "How to use the new Windows Azure CloudDrive feature – two screencasts available" »

For a few years I’ve been using SQL Compare from Red-Gate – an amazing product that allows you to do compare and synchronize SQL Server database schemas – and much more:

For more info see -
http://www.red-gate.com/products/SQL_Compare/index.htm 

Red Gate has announced they now have an early access build of SQL Compare 8 that works with SQL Azure!  If you're interested in trying this out please complete the form at:

   http://www.red-gate.com/Azure

Please note that I' do not work for Microsoft or Red Gate Software – I’m just a very happy customer.

Below I have more information on how this support for SQL Azure came about.  Just like Microsoft has the “Windows 7 was my idea!” ads – I’m proud to say “Support for SQL Azure in SQL Compare was my idea!” – and this time it might just be true!

Continue reading "Red-Gate’s SQL Compare – now with SQL Azure support!" »

Today I sat down with my co-worker Arif A. and we went over a couple of ways I found to speed up Windows Azure Development. 

Basically we discuss how you can host your web roles in IIS and how you can create a keyboard shortcut to quickly attach the Visual Studio debugger to an IIS process – giving you your RAD (Rapid Application Development) process back!  I created two separate screencasts which you can access below:

  How to speed up Windows Azure Development (Part 1 of 2, 18 minutes)
  http://screencasts.ehuna.org/2010/01/how_to_speed_up_windows_azure.html

  How to speed up Windows Azure Development (Part 2 of 2, 9 minutes)
  http://screencasts.ehuna.org/2010/01/how_to_speed_up_windows_azure_1.html

Each article contains the screencast, additional notes and a sample Visual Studio 2008 project you can download.  Good Times!