In Vehicle Device Mounting Solutions

I have installed more than my fair share of devices / device mounts in various vehicles for my wife and me. I always end up taking way too much time to remove/reinstall the panels and/or dash components, what a pain. Well, I think I have found a very good alternative, www.ProClipUSA.com, their mounts slip into the seams between panel sections of the dashboard and provide a nice tight fit. They also have a full complement of device specific holders. I just ordered a setup for my iPhone and will report back after it arrives and gets installed.

UK News Article - Police set to step up hacking of home PCs

Check out this article from the UK - Their Home Office has quietly adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to hack into people’s personal computers without a warrant.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5439604.ece

The Secret In-N-Out Burger Menu Items

In-N-Out Burger has a secret unpublished menu for insiders who are in-the-know.

Normal Burgers:

• "X-by-Y" = X meat patties and Y slices of cheese. I.e.:
• "3-by-3" = three meat patties and three slices of cheese.
• "4-by-4" = four meat patties and four slices of cheese.
• "2-by-4" = two meat patties and four slices of cheese.
  *Note: You may get a burger with the exact number of meat patties or cheese slices you want (up to 4x4). Just tell the In-N-Out Burger cashier how many meat patties and how many cheese slices you want. For instance, if you want 4 pieces of meat and 3 pieces of cheese tell them you want a "4-by-3."
• "Double Meat" = a Double Double without cheese.
• "X-by-Meat Burger" = X meat patties (up-to four) and no cheese slices, so a "3 by Meat" = three meat patties and no cheese slices.
  

Special Burgers:

• "Animal Style" = the meat is cooked and fried with mustard and then pickles are added, extra spread and grilled onions are added.
• "Protein Style" = for all you low-carbohydrate dieters, this is a burger with no bun (wrapped in lettuce).
• "Flying Dutchman" = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else - not even a bun!
• "Grilled Cheese" = no meat, just melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun.
• "Veggie Burger" = burger with double tomatoes but no patty or cheese. Sometimes called the "Wish Burger."

Customize your burger:

• "Medium Rare" meat
• "Triple Everything" will get you extra lettuce, tomatoes and onions.
• "Whole Grilled Onion"
• "Only" designates no spread
• "Extra Toast" leaves your bread on the grill a tad longer resulting in “crispy buns.”
• "Light Toast" opposite of Extra Toast.
• "Chopped Chilies" adds some mild pickled peppers to the bottom of your burger or fries.
• "Mustard and/or Ketchup" can be substituted for the spread.
• "Fried Mustard" is fried mustard with pickles and can be added to your burger or fries.

Fries:

• "Animal Style Fries" = fries topped with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).
• "Cheese Fries" = fries with one or two slices of melted cheese.
• Fries "Well-Done" = extra crispy fries . . . even better than the regular!
• Fries "Light" = opposite of fries well-done, more raw than most people like 'em

Drinks:

• Large and extra large shakes are available, the cup sizes for these shakes are one below soft drink sizes.
• "Neapolitan" Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate swirled together — not blended.
• "Root Beer Float" specify whether you want it more creamy or soda-ey.
• "Around the world" is an order containing a shake of each flavor.

Microsoft User Research

If your interested in sharing your opinion and you live near either Redmond Washington or Mountain View California then maybe you should sign up for Microsoft's User Research. http://www.microsoft.com/usability/enroll.mspx

SBS Licensing from a Partner Perspective - 5W50 Webcast on January 16th

Eric Ligman and myself will be presenting a 5W50 webcast on Licensing for the Small Business Specialist ... from a Partner Perspective on January 16th starting at 9 AM PDT. Join us http://www.mssmallbiz.com/training/

Confused about Microsoft Licensing for Small Businesses. Join the club! As everyone knows, no one knows licensing better than Eric Ligman! Join Eric, along with Tim Carney, a fellow Microsoft Small Business Specialist and a SBSC User Group Leader, for this 5W50 webcast where they will discuss the basics of Microsoft Licensing for the Small Business. They will answer these questions:
- When should I sell OEM, Retail, Open Value, Open Value Subscription, Open Value Company Wide, Open Business Licenses, Open Government and Open Volume?
- When and why should I promote Software Assurance?
- When and why should I promote “Spread Payments” over an “Up-Front Payment”?
- What do all of those abbreviations (OV, OVS, L, L+SA …) mean?
- What about SKU’s? How do I get the right SKUs? Are there any clear tools to use?
- Is there an upgrade SKU from Windows Small Business Server 2003 to...?
- Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition specifics:
o What Operating Systems can I run on the second server?
o Can I run SQL on the first server?
o How long can I run SQL 2005?
o What about Virtualization and Terminal Server?
o My client is interested in MOSS or Unified Messaging, can they still use SBS and if so, what licensing is needed?
By the end of this 5W50 webcast, we will have definitively answered your most important questions:
- Why should I even care about licensing?
- What’s in it for me (WIIFM)?
- How can licensing help my business in this tight economy?

SBS & EBS 2008 Premium - SQL & 2nd Server Downgrade Rights

Until December 31, 2009, Microsoft has increased the component compatibility of Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 for maximum flexibility.

With SQL you have a choice to deploy one these products:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard x64;
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard x86;
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard x64;
and, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard x86.

All four versions are being shipped as part of SBS 2008 Premium and EBS 2008 Premium until December 31, 2009, after which only the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Editions will be included.

You also have the choice to deploy one the following as the second server:

Windows Server 2008 Standard x64;
Windows Server 2008 Standard x86;
Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x64;
and, Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard x86.

Windows Server 2008 Standard (x86 and x64) are shipping as part of SBS 2008 Premium and EBS 2008 Premium, beginning on January 2, 2009, your partner can exercise the second server downgrade option for you by visiting the Solutions Pathway, as with the SQL downgrade the 2nd server downgrade is available until December 31, 2009.

Helping Microsoft Partners Deploy Windows SharePoint Services to Clients

This is not new news, just a repeat for those that did not get it the first five times. Erik Thorsell from Success Computer Consulting created a tool for Microsoft Partners that helps us deploy WSS and build a business around it. The toolkit can be found here.