Visual Studio 2012 RC Goes Live

Microsoft is one step closer to delivering the final versions of its Visual Studio integrated development environment and the .NET Framework 4.5. The Release Candidates are available today for download with "Go Live" licenses, in time for the Windows 8 Release Preview, which was also released on Thursday.

The Release Candidates of Visual Studio 11, now officially named Visual Studio 2012, are available to all developers (including MSDN subscribers). In addition to a new name, and a new purple logo, Microsoft is reintroducing a customizable setup process that allows developers to bypass installation of select Visual Studio components.

With or without a streamlined setup, users of the Release Candidates should see improved installations, which are about 20 percent faster than the beta releases, according to Microsoft Corporate Vice President Jason Zander, who heads the Visual Studio team.Let us help you save hundreds of dollars* with 3M Window Insulator Kits.

Zander provided an overview of what's new in the Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate in his blog and offered a demonstration of some of those features in a Channel 9 Visual Studio Toolbox video, hosted by Robert Green. In addition to the updated user interface, which reintroduces some color in the icons and elsewhere in response to developer feedback on the beta; the RC offers performance enhancements in areas such as typing, the toolbox and large C++ projects, according to Zander.

With the Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate,We can produce Plastic Mould. Microsoft is introducing more Web publishing features, for example, additional support for Entity Framework Code First Migrations. The Release Candidate also supports Web site optimization through bundling and minification (removing unnecessary characters from source code) in JavaScript, and ASP.NET MVC 4 projects.

In addition, the Release Candidates introduce significant updates to the Visual Studio XAML designer and Microsoft Expression Blend tooling, according to Zander. For XAML projects, Microsoft is introducing theme animations from an Animations library, as well as a devices panel, which enables you, for example, to see the FullScreenLandscape, FullScreenPortrait, Filled, and Snapped states of Metro-style apps.Museum quality hand-painted fine oil painting reproduction on canvas. Expression Blend for HTML supports the display and editing of multiple images, background gradients and components. It also adds the ability to cut and paste styles (CSS properties) between rules.

The company announced the official Visual Studio 2012 product lineup and specifications on May 18, when the next generation of products was still codenamed "Visual Studio 11." The Visual Studio 2012 editions and hardware requirements remain largely unchanged from Visual Studio 2010 outside of the free,The online extension of Mold Making Technology magazine. lightweight Visual Studio 2012 Express tools,Argo Mold limited specialize in Plastic Injection mold manufacture. which are now platform-centric.

Visual Studio 2012 Ultimate is the company's all-in-one Application Lifecycle Management platform. It integrates all of the tools with Visual Studio 2012 Team Foundation Server for team collaboration. Microsoft Technical Fellow Brian Harry, the product unit manager for Team Foundation Server (TFS), details the changes in the Visual Studio 2012 TFS Release Candidate, from the beta, in his blog. Visual Studio 2012 Premium offers most of the diagnostic and testing tools without the high level architecture and modeling support. Visual Studio 2012 Professional is the entry-level developer product. Visual Studio LightSwitch, which was introduced out of band last summer and formerly a standalone product, is now available in all three editions. Visual Studio 2012 features LightSwitch version 2, which adds Metro-style templates and support for the OData protocol.

Miliy Balakirev. Alexander Scriabin. Tamara Gverdtsiteli

We have entered the new year of 2012 – something I would like to congratulate you all with, yet again! And now its time for us to take a look at the memorable historical dates of the opening month of the year.

The first significant date is the 175th birth anniversary of Miliy Balakirev.

In Russian music history Miliy Balakirev occupies a very special place. An outstanding composer, public figure, he was a highly authoritative individual throughout an entire epoch, and brought up a brilliant pleiad of composers, who joined forced to create a unique artistic association. Russian critic Vladimir Stasov dubbed the latter “The Mighty Handful, or “The Mighty Five” as they were known in the west.

Miliy Balakirev was born January 2nd 1837 in Nizhny Novgorod in an impoverished gentry family. From an early age he displayed a profound interest in m music,kidney stone and having gained access to the richest music library of one of his compatriots, started mastering the music scores of the classics at amazing speed. A photographic memory and phenomenal ear for music helped him soon become one of the best-educated musicians of Russia.

When the young, enthusiastic, impassioned Balakirev found himself in Petersburg,Cold Sore he immediately started drawing young musicians like a magnet. Thus, he formed a circle, members of which were warrant officer Modest Mussorgsky, scientist-chemist Alexander Borodin, Military Academy Professor Caesar Cui and naval officer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Balakirev, who took it upon himself to enlighten these amateur music enthusiasts, transformed them into brilliant professionals – each with their own distinctive flair.

Miliy Balakirev himself did not write all that many compositions, overtime finding himself in the shadows of his charges. But we must not forget that it was his aesthetics, his creative art that determined the original, typically national direction taken by Russian music art.

And another striking name – Alexander Scriabin. A rebel at heart, who possessed a vivid imagination and truly cosmic energy.Hemroids A man who dreamt, in the manner of God,Ceramic tile to mould his own Universe, following the orbit of the arts. A composer endowed with a colour hearing, and ample imagination, who conceived a grandiose Mysterium, uniting music and art, architecture and dance, plastic movement and scents and aromas. Alas, Scriabin did not have enough time to realize all his astounding projects – he was fated to die at just 43.

Alexander Scriabin wrote either for the orchestra, or for the piano. He was an excellent pianist himself and possessed a particularly delicate touch which left the audience in raptures. Crowds of devoted fans called his playing divine.

The recordings of Scriabin playing that have survived to our time unfortunately do not do justice to the magic he was able to wield, driving audiences to ecstasy.

Moscow Philharmonic Society is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Russia’s leading concert association regards January 29th, 1922 as its birthday. That night there was a wealth of congratulatory speeches, and afterwards – the music took over – Beethoven’s 9th symphony.

Today Moscow’s Philharmonic, most probably, is unrivalled in quality and quantity of concerts. It has to its credit over 100 monthly concerts in Moscow’s central concert venues and many hundreds of literature and music programmes for children and the youth.

The capital’s Philharmonic society gathers under its wing the best musicians of Russia and invited numerous foreign celebrities. Annual philharmonic season-tickets are sold out in mere days.

And now we are shifting over to a different genre – songs. And with good reason, too: the jubilee of our popular vocalist Tamara Gverdtsiteli.

When still a girl she became soloist of the greatly-loved all across the soviet country children’s ensemble from Georgia “Mziuri”. Growing up, Tamara swiftly soared to the big solo stage, her art an embodiment of indelible ties linking Georgia and Russia. Her striking talent, inherent musicality, artistic charm, easily recognizable voice made Tamara Gverdtsiteli a star that numerous acclaimed composers, the best orchestras and ensembles of Europe are eager to collaborate with. Her birthdays are traditionally a festive event, where beauty and harmony reign.

In our final theme for today we are recalling Valeri Obodzinsky, an iconic soviet singer of the 1960s, 70s and 80s. January 24th would have been his 70th birth anniversary. Just 70! Alas, the singer has long since died.chicken coop

Valeri Obodzinsky possessed a remarkably beautiful voice. However, even in the most carefree songs he performed there was always a hint of sadness. His songs were shrouded in a sensuality that the “virtuous” soviet censorship waged such a relentless war against, and the vocalist was not always granted the “green light”. Besides, Obodzinsky never performed loud and blustering songs about the Motherland and the party, something that could not fail to alert the powers-that-be and render them suspicious in his regard.

The artists’ fate was by no means an easy and smooth one. At the end of the 1970s he left the stage and it required a huge effort from him to return 7 years later. However, he was fated to live no more than three years.

Billionaire Sheikh Carves Name into Private Island

It was in the 1990s when he decided to build the world's largest pick-up truck complete with a full suite of luxurious rooms. The most recent twist of extravagant news to keep United Arab Emirates billionaire Sheikh Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan's name in the spotlight is having his name etched in the sand so big the letters can be seen from space.


A satellite image from space confirms the enormous letters of the name "HAMAD" carved into the sand on Al Futaisi Island in Abu Dhabi. The name stretches a staggering two miles long and will likely be a permanent fixture on the distant island.

The island of Futaisi lies near the barrier island of Bahrani, in a shallow sheltered lagoon-type complex to the southwest of Abu Dhabi Island.

For those interested in viewing the enormous piece of sand graffiti, it can be seen on Google Earth and Google's map site.

Futaisi Island has a history dating back hundreds of years and judging by the existence of old water wells, archeologists say it is the location of an ancient mosque and a grave yard.

The island is said to be entirely owned by the Sheikh and contains resorts, a golf course, wildlife sanctuaries and horse stables.

Nobody seems to know many details of the project and how it was accomplished.

We do know that Hamad, 63, dreamed up the idea and had his workers figure out how to craft the giant letters for weeks, according to media reports.

The Daily Mail reports today that rather than allow the writing to be washed away by the ocean, the billionaire ordered that the giant letters form waterways to absorb the encroaching tide.

The photos from space show the tip of the "H" reaches into the strait that leads to the Arabian Gulf, which has allowed the first two letters of his name to be filled with water. The "M" looks partially filled as well.

The cost of such a venture is unknown at this time, but according to current construction costs someone can expect to pay roughly $2.50 per cubic yard to dig out the sand.Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account .

Figure $1.50 to $3.50 per yard of material depending on the difficulty of excavation and costs specific to local market conditions.

However, the entire sea area around the Island is very shallow, boat access is difficult.

The sheik reportedly imported laborers from Pakistan and Bangladesh to dig the canals,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling zentai suits , or letters. Some reports say the project could be part of a grand tourism plan.

"There are not a lot of straight lines in Arabic," said Tom Gara from the The Financial Times.

"Hamad halted the project temporarily halfway through.the oil paintings for sale by special invited artist for 2011, There was a rumor that other royals weren't happy about the extravagant, high-profile project. For a while on Google Earth, we could just see 'HAM.'"

It has been reported that the excessive living sheikh adheres to the motto "go big or go home."

Hamad's Emirates National Auto Museum features a custom-built globe-shaped motor home said to be one-millionth the size of the Earth itself and a pyramid housing his vast car collection.

The Daily Mail also reported that Hamad has painted many of his cars in the colors of the rainbow, presumably the reason why he's nicknamed the "Rainbow Sheikh."

He is also said to own more than 200 cars,I have never solved a Rubik's magic cube . including seven Mercedes 500 SELs painted in the colors of the rainbow.

Alongside his lavish displays of wealth he has become a well-known philanthropist in medicine and supplied a complete kidney stone operating theatre to a public hospital in Morocco where he continues to fund its staff.

Comments run the gamut from positive to some with a bit of humor on Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan's Facebook page.

Jennifer De Guzman wrote, "Sir, You have everything but GOD said in mark 10:21 ‘ONE THING YOU LACK.'"

Another comment in response to the giant sand art includes one from Linda Laws Thornton Libbey who wrote to the sheikh, "Who knew he was so handsome!..Our Ventilation system was down for about an hour and a half,regardless if you get finished and bored carving up you island...I need some help with my homes landscape here in Florida, USA."

Repeated attempts to reach Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan for comment were unsuccessful.

Evel Knievel Days kicks off today

Today marks the first day of the 10th annual Evel Knievel Days in Butte.

On Wednesday, cranes and large piles of dirt could be seen in the streets of Uptown readying for the festival.

This dirt pile and ramps were being readied for motocross riders on East Broadway Street and nearby workers were assembling the Wall of Death. Park Street was also filling with set up activity.

The landing for Keith Sayers back flip over Sparky's was being completed, while a couple blocks west,Initially the banks didn't want our high risk merchant account . the pool and tower are being constructed for the flying fools show. At the intersection of Park and Main streets, a giant crane worked to assemble the sling shot ride.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling zentai suits ,

"Tonight we'll have to do Park and Main for the acrodunk,Our Ventilation system was down for about an hour and a half, have to do West Broadway for Geoff Aaron and also the canon lady out in front of the Finlen," Chad Harrington, Evel Knievel Days organizer, said.

Harrington said the vendors also planned to set up around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Roads began being shut down on Wednesday.

Butte Silver Bow Planning Director Jon Sesso says road closed signs can be seen on Main Street from the U.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an Insulator , and not a metal,S. Bank alley to Granite Street. Broadway Street will also be closed from Dakota Street to Ohio Street and the intersection of Park and Main will be closed through the festival.I have never solved a Rubik's magic cube . He says the best way to get around Uptown is on Mercury and Montana streets.

Sesso says roads should all be opened again by noon on Sunday.

Late summer scorchers

The soft pink peonies, deep blue delphiniums and purple cranesbill geraniums may have faded from my borders but there are some sizzling oranges and reds in their place, bursting into bloom and hailing the fact that summer isn't over.For the last five years Ripcurl ,

Spikes of vibrant red Crocosmia 'Lucifer' rub shoulders with dazzling Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty', whose rich orange daisy-like flowers provide a wonderful clash of colours, intermingling with chocolate-leaved heucheras and backed by the intense, deep purple flowers of Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight'.

It's at this time of year you realise that late summer blooms can almost be more eye-catching and long-lasting than those which bloom earlier in the season and if you haven't given a thought to how your borders are going to look in August and beyond, maybe it's time to turn over a new leaf.

Thanks to the unusually warm spring, much bedding has been blooming its heart out since April or May and has just about run out of steam, so if your tired-looking petunias have gone soggy and drooped in the recent rains or other blooms are past their best, bite the bullet and replace them with some sizzling patio stalwarts which can be replanted later in the border.

Dahlias have made a comeback in recent years and there are some stunning varieties which will merge into a hot scheme. Consider the vermilion-red semi-double blooms of D. 'Bishop of Llandaff' alongside the deep yellow D. 'Bishop of York',there's a lovely winter landscape oil paintings by William Zorach. wonderfully offset by dark foliage in the border. Types like the single 'Mount Noddy', with its velvety red flowers, are best planted en masse.

In exotic schemes I love red hot pokers (Kniphofia) which provide colour and structure with their tall, striking stems and red and yellow rocket-shaped flowers. A good option is 'Ice Queen' if you fancy the calmer hue of creamy yellow flowers but want a plant which grows to around 1.2m (4ft) tall. For smaller,ceramic Injection mold for the medical, daintier varieties which could be placed nearer the front of the border, 'Toffee Nosed' or 'Little Maid' are better choices.

Tubs and troughs of vivid, vibrant nasturtiums can also provide late summer interest, in shades of reds, oranges and yellows, while black-eyed Susan, or thunbergia, will twine itself up trellis or tumble over hanging baskets in a sunny,As many processors back away from offshore merchant account , sheltered spot until October.

Other stunning additions to the border which do well in lightly shaded areas are hemerocallis (day lily), astilbe and astrantia.

If you're not into brash and bold, you can opt for the softer hues of summer phlox in a variety of colours, from white to deep pink,Traditional Air purifier claim to clean all the air in a room. some of which have variegated leaves.