Moose Views November 2011

Cover Story: What Can the Cloud Do for You?
Time Is Running Out On the Trade-Up
Great Ideas for Leftover Turkey
Get Out of Your Slump!
Fight Depression with Vitamin D
The Lighter Side
This Month in History
Moose Logic Coming Events
November Recommended Reading

(Moose Views is a monthly newsletter prepared by Moose Logic to bring you information and tips on maintaining a trouble-free network)

What Can the Cloud Do for You?

As we’ve observed before, the industry is abuzz with talk about “The Cloud.” The problem is that it seems the term “cloud” can mean just about anything you want it to mean – and if it can mean anything you want it to mean, then it means nothing.

But, as my old buddy "SquidlyMan” (you know who you are) commented on one of our blog posts last spring, “Cloud Computing is here today and here to stay.” And if you’ve ever used DropBox to synchronize files between different devices, or Mozy or Carbonite to back up your personal PC, or Apple’s iCloud to store your iTunes, or a service like gmail or Hotmail for your personal email account, or Facebook to share your photos, then you’re using cloud computing.

What I think many of us struggle with is how to tap into the cloud for our business needs. Which services actually make sense for my business? Should I look at point solutions like hosted email or hosted SharePoint? Is the cloud a cost-effective option for off-site data backup? Can I use the cloud for a disaster recovery solution? If so, how? What role should Microsoft’s Azure or Amazon’s EC2 play? Is there really such a thing as a “private cloud?” How can I use the cloud to meet a temporary need for increased computing capacity? Should I just get rid of all my servers and move everything to the cloud? If I do that, how do I protect myself against the kinds of service interruptions that have hit even the largest cloud service providers over the last couple of years?

If you’ve been asking yourself these kinds of questions, please join us at Daniel’s Broiler at South Lake Union on Thursday, December 8, at 11:30 am – because this is exactly what we’re going to be discussing. And if you’re already using cloud services in your business, we’d love to have you join us to share your experiences. And, if nothing else, you’ll enjoy a great lunch on us.

We’re going to try to agree on a working definition of “cloud computing,” and then see how that definition applies to all of the things that the “cloud” term has been applied to. We’ll talk about private clouds – what they are, and what they are not. We’ll talk about public clouds. And, of course, we’ll talk about what Moose Logic is doing in the cloud, and the role Citrix plays in our cloud offerings.

Seating is limited – reserve yours today.

Time Is Running Out On the Trade-Up!

If your Citrix Subscription Advantage has expired, you have a golden opportunity to do something about it: through December 31, you can take advantage of the XenDesktop Trade-Up program for the same price as customers whose Subscription Advantage is current.

But after the end of the year, it will cost you an additional $50/license to trade up to XenDesktop if your Subscription Advantage isn’t current.

If you act before December 31, even if your Subscription Advantage is expired, you can still take advantage of the 2-for-1 offer: trade up all of your XenApp licenses and get two XenDesktop User / Device licenses for each XenApp license. Or trade up only a portion of your licenses and get 1-for-1. Or, if your “concurrency ratio” is greater than two to one, you can trade up to the new XenDesktop Concurrent Use license.

Whichever program you choose, your new XenDesktop licenses will come with a full year of Subscription Advantage. It’s a great way to get current, stay current, and gain access to all of the VDI functionality included with XenDesktop. And if your Subscription Advantage has been expired for a significant length of time, you may well find that the trade-up offer is less expensive than any other reinstatement option.

So don’t let the deadline sneak up on you—give us a call and let us put together a trade-up quote for you.

Here’s a handy chart that summarizes the list price of the various trade-up options:

Trade-up From	Trade-up 2:1 (User/Device)		Trade-up 1:1 (User/Device)		Trade-up 1:1 (CCU)
	XD-E	XD-P	XD-E	XD-P	XD-E	XD-P
XenApp Platinum	n/a	$185	n/a	$135	n/a	$220
XenApp Enterprise	$130	$275	$85	$225	$155	$330
XenApp Advanced	$190	$330	$140	$280	$230	$395
XenApp Fundamentals	n/a	n/a	$140	$280	n/a	n/a

Great Ideas for Leftover Turkey

If you’ve had enough of hot and cold turkey sandwiches, these ideas will help you use up the rest of that leftover turkey:

Add some turkey to your favorite salad. You can also add in some other seasonal flavors to liven things up. Try cubed turkey with chopped apple, celery, grapes, and nuts. Toss with poppy-seed dressing and serve on fresh spinach leaves. Top with a few mandarin oranges and some more nuts.
Make barbecue sandwiches by heating shredded turkey in some barbecue sauce and serving on crusty rolls. Top with sliced red onion, a few pickle slices, and a spoonful of coleslaw to complete your meal.
Turkey is a great addition to your favorite chili recipe. Since your turkey is already cooked, be sure to add it at the last minute to prevent it from becoming dry and overcooked.
If you don't have enough time to make a classic turkey soup from your leftovers, simply stir some chopped turkey meat into your favorite prepared soup.
(This author’s personal favorite) Have some turkey for breakfast. Use up your leftover vegetables and turkey in an omelet or scrambled eggs. Add some cheese to complete your dish.
Turkey tacos can be easily made by combining leftover turkey meat and taco seasoning. Spoon into a warmed taco shell, and top with lettuce, chopped tomato, cheese, salsa, and avocado.

Get Out of Your Slump

If you find that you are suffering from neck soreness and tightness, shoulder pain, headaches, or even migraines, you may need to examine your posture. Researchers have found a definite link between poor posture and headache frequency. Poor posture can lead to muscle tension and spasms. Because your head can weigh up to ten pounds, any imbalance found on top of your neck and shoulders will lead to spinal and muscular tension, resulting in muscle tightness. This pain is then referred to the back of your head. Research into the causes of migraines has shown a connection between neck pain and these types of headaches as well. Doctors believe that irritation in the neck and upper shoulder area can trigger migraines.

Many people are genetically and structurally predisposed to migraines. However, if you find that you are having headaches at the end of the day, you may need to evaluate your posture. In clinical trials, people who did posture and strengthening exercises reduced the frequency of their headaches.

It only takes a few simple steps to improve your posture. Start by "checking-in" to evaluate your posture several times a day. If you find you are slumping or slouching, focus on aligning and lengthening your spine. When walking, try to maintain a tall posture, stretching your spine up through your back, shoulders, and neck. Try imagining a string at the top of your head that you can pull up to balance your head over your shoulders and to straighten your spine.

When at work, sit tall without hunching over. Regular breaks away from your computer will help you release stored tension. Incorporate some simple stretching routines into your day. For example, you may try stretching your neck by tilting your head from side to side and then forward and backward. To stretch your shoulders, pull them towards your ears, and then drop them down in a relaxed position, repeating this several times. By improving your posture and using some concentrated relaxation techniques, you can reduce the chance that you will leave work with a stiff neck, tight shoulders, or an aching head.

Fight Depression with Vitamin D

Researchers in the Netherlands found that lower levels of vitamin D were strongly associated with depression among older people. This connection was strong even when corrected for age, gender, smoking, general health, physical activity, and geographic location. Those seniors in the study who reported either minor depression or major depressive disorder had blood levels of vitamin D that were 14 percent lower than those in the study who were not depressed. There is also increasing evidence that Vitamin D boosts the immune system.

Low levels of vitamin D are common, especially among the elderly. A majority of women (57%) and many men (39%) have low levels of this vitamin. Researchers suspect that vitamin D helps transmit nerve messages in the brain. A low level of vitamin D could lead to a negative change in the way the brain processes these messages, which could lead to depression. There is strong evidence that extra exposure to sunlight, which increases levels of vitamin D, helps treat some types of depression. Supplements may also help.

If you think you might have a low level of vitamin D, talk to your doctor. You can have your blood level checked. If it is low, your doctor can suggest the best way to increase your intake of this vitamin.

The Lighter Side

Thanksgiving Trivia

Thanksgiving was only celebrated in an unofficial capacity until President Abraham Lincoln declared it a national holiday in 1863.
Today, Plymouth Rock is only the size of a car engine. It has cracked three times over the years, getting smaller each time.
The first meal eaten on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin was roast turkey in foil food packets.
Cranberries are ready to be harvested when they will bound four inches when dropped.
Wild turkeys can fly for short distances at 55 miles per hour. Most domesticated turkeys cannot fly at all.
Domestic turkeys may not be the sharpest tack in the barnyard, but the rumor that they will look up at falling rain until they drown is not true.
Potatoes were not served at the first Thanksgiving because the Pilgrims thought they were poisonous.

Here's Your Sign....

In a restaurant: “Open seven days a week and weekends.”
On a ski lift in Taos, New Mexico: “No jumping from the lift. Survivors will be prosecuted.”
At a Santa Fe gas station: “We will sell gasoline to anyone in a glass container.”
On a shop in Maine: “Our motto is to give our customers the lowest possible prices and workmanship.”
At a zoo in Budapest: “Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.”
On the grounds of a private school: “No trespassing without permission.”
At an optometrist’s office: “If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place.”
At a car dealership: “The best way to get back on your feet — miss a car payment.”
Outside a muffler shop: “No appointment necessary. We can hear you coming.”
Two signs found on top of one another in a diner: “Restrooms to the left.” “Please wait for the hostess to seat you.”
Fitness center sign: “Self esteem is feeling good about yourself — regardless of the facts.”
On a plumber’s truck: “We repair what your husband fixed.”
A poster on a bulletin board: “Are you an adult that cannot read? If so, we can help.”

This Month In History

November 1, 1776 - Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in California
November 2, 1734 - Daniel Boone was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania
November 3, 1948 - The Chicago Tribune published the infamous headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman"
November 4, 1879 - Will Rogers was born in Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
November 5, 1912 — Leonard Slye was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...you probably know him as Roy Rogers, actor, singer, and "King of the Cowboys"
November 6, 1814 - Adolphe Sax, inventor of the Saxophone, was born in Dinant, Belgium
November 7, 1944 — Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first, and only, person elected to four terms as President of the United States
November 8, 1889 — Montana was admitted as the 41^st state
November 9, 1989 - The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time in 28 years, paving the way for the reunification of Germany the following year (something that, as a child of the 60s and 70s, I never thought I would see in my lifetime)
November 10, 1775 — The United States Marine Corps was established. Semper Fi!
November 11, 1821 - George S. Patton, famous American general of World War II, was born in San Gabriel, CA
November 12, 1927 - President Calvin Coolidge officially opened the Holland Tunnel between New York City and Jersey City - only foot traffic was allowed the first day
November 13, 1967 - Carl Burton Stokes became the first black mayor of a U.S. City (Cleveland, OH)
November 14, 1969 - Apollo 12, the second successful manned mission to the moon, was launched
November 15, 1777 — The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress
November 16, 1805 - The Lewis & Clark Expedition reached the Pacific Ocean
November 17, 1869 — The Suez Canal was opened after more than ten years of construction
November 18, 1928 - Mickey Mouse first appeared on the screen of the Colony Theatre in New York City, starring in the first animated cartoon talking picture, "Steamboat Willie"
November 19, 1863 — President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address
November 20, 1959 - The Ford Motor Company ceased production of the Edsel
November 21, 1980 - Over 86 million viewers tuned in to CBS's hit drama Dallas, to find out who shot villainous tycoon J.R. Ewing
November 22, 1718 - Blackbeard the Pirate was killed during a fight at sea
November 23, 1835 - A patent for a horseshoe manufacturing machine was issued
November 24, 1874 - A patent was issued to Joseph Glidden for his invention of barbed wire
November 25, 1973 - A presidential order requiring speed limits to be cut from a maximum of 70 mph to 55 mph was issued
November 26, 1716 - The first lion was exhibited in the U.S.
November 27, 1942 - Jimi Hendrix was born right here in Seattle, WA
November 28, 1520 - Explorer Ferdinand Magellan of Portugal passed through the strait at the southern tip of South America
November 29, 1890 - The first Army-Navy football game was played at West Point...Navy won 24-0
November 30, 1782 - The United States and Great Britain signed a peace treaty in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War

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