We have restarted the .NET forum monthly newsletter. First mailer was sent out last Friday. Well! Actually this is the second one. First one was sent a very long time back. Unfortunately we never got a chance to continue this. Now I have planned things to continue this mailer on a monthly basis. This is apart from the monthly user group meeting information mailer. If you are a member in the forum, by now you should have received it. Would really appreciate your feedback on this.

If you have any information which you would like to include in the mailer please feel free to inform admin@dotnetforum.lk. You can include details about articles you have written, .net related events (with photos) you did at your university, school etc.

We are considering calling for few sponsors also, but still haven't finalized details on this.

Yesterday I started working on the next version of my blog. It's going to take some time to finish this as i'll be doing it bit by bit while doing everything else. It's a tough choice what to include and what not to include. There are so many things which I want to put in but if I try to do everything it'll be a never ending project. So i'm going to spend this week trying to decide what to include and what not to.

Anyways I have already decided to include a bit of Silvelright and it'll be done with ASP.NET 3.5. Hosting is going to be a bit of a problem as i'm going to have to upgrade the servers. Also have decided to finish the photo gallery which I never got a chance to finish in the current version.

As some of ya'll already know .NET Forum now has two new sections.

SMS Notifications
This was implemented as a response to a request came from few members to get a SMS notification about the Monthly User Group Meetings. So form members can register for this thorugh http://sms.dotnetforum.lk.

Link Partners
This is mainly focusing on driving more traffic to the website and also to the registered member's website. You can register thorugh http://linkpartners.dotnetforum.lk. If you still haven't ... hurry up, only a limited number of slots available.

What's Next?
Some more interesting tools and programs are in development and ya'll will see those in the near future.

HOW TO RESPOND TO BOMB THREATS

The following actions will protect your life, and help protect others’ lives and property.

SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS

• DO be watchful of your surroundings at all times, during regular office hours, after office hours, and on weekends.
• DO NOT hang around the area where the suspected bomb is located. Leave the place immediately.
• DO report immediately to your security any unattended items that you notice. DO call the following numbers to get emergency assistance: 118, 119, 24-33333 (Police Emergency), or 243-4253 / 2244-057 (bomb squad).
• DO NOT place yourself in exposed areas (near glass windows for example) and DO NOT peep out to see what is happening when you hear bombs: you might get directly in harm’s way and make yourself an easy target. DO move away immediately and crouch down if you hear any sound of gun-fire or any other similar sound or should you observe an unusual crack suddenly developing on the glass sheets.
• DO be as calm as possible. If someone else takes charge of the situation follow him/her without hesitation.
• DO help to vacate the building – when necessary - in an urgent and orderly manner.
• DO NOT make any unnecessary movements and decisions before ascertaining the situation around you properly (For example, if it is an attack on the building, floors above or You must be mindful of this when exiting.) below you could be affected.
• DO ensure that your attire does not hinder movement in an emergency (For example high heels may cause injury in an emergency evacuation). Abandon immediately any sharp / protruding objects you may be carrying in these situations.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS

• DO observe the behavior of Customers, Vendors, Messengers, Delivery Boys, etc. as and when time permits and notify your security or manager immediately if anything unusual is observed. Exercise your right tactfully and without the notice of the person concerned so that you protect yourself, other staff members, and the property of the institution without jeopardizing the institution and its customer relations.

Thank you for reading these life-saving tips. Please pass this on to people you know!

Finally got a HSDPA / 3G / EDGE / GPRS Data Card from Dialog and now I have internet access anywhere. Woo! Hoo! Speed is pretty good.

Imagine Cup 2008 online competetions round 1 ends in 9 hours. I just logged into check and many teams have submitted their entries. Anyways as always it is there is are last minute fellas. Right at this moment i'm waiting in office till a team come to upload their entry and they are about 2 hours late. Anyways ... i'm bit pissed about that they are late, because I have another appointment, But i'm waiting because I know how Imagine Cup changes lives of young innovators around the world :)

Best wishes to all the competetors :)

More details about the Local software Design Competetion will be published later.