Today is the first day that I've really had any significant time on the computer over vacation. That probably sounds like it should be the rule, and it does tend to be, but this is the first time in a long time that I've let go of SQLServerCentral for a… Read more

I made a series of resolutions in January related to SQLServerCentral. These are things that I wanted to accomplish this year, things to work on, and it’s time to check how I am doing for through the second quarter. I’ve copied the list below and included my updates as of… Read more

I was asked to attend SQLSaturday #17 in Baton Rouge, LA. Despite my lack of desire to travel, I've never been to Louisiana (just driven across), the timing is good, and so I submitted an abstract to speak. The organizers had asked Red Gate to send someone, and since I'm… Read more

I recently attended SQL Saturday #14 in Pensacola and took my daughter along. This was the third presentation she's come with me for, and it worked out OK. She sat up front and flipped slides for me as I'd forgotten my clicker on the trip.

However it wasn't perfect. At… Read more

I still love my G1, and I got a pleasant surprise recently. I was out at dinner with my wife, and we needed to look something up. So we decided to race, her with her Blackberry Curve (and Verizon), me with my Tmobile G1. The kids were excited, and so… Read more

It's late, it's been a busy day, so why bother to spend 10 or 15 minutes at night jotting things down?

For me there are a few reasons, but the main one is that it's cathartic. I can unwind a little, let go of things, and sometimes think more clearly.… Read more

I went to add a few things to the new Windows 7 desktop today, and of course I have installer issues. I'm trying a few things, and need to post what works.

I did solve my screen saver issue. Apparently lots of USB mice and keyboards don't allow the screen… Read more

One of the new features with SQL Server 2008 is the addition of extensible key management, allowing hardware devices to be integrated into the encryption/decryption process for the keys securing your data. There are various vendors that are building Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) that can connect to your SQL Server… Read more

Someone asked me recently if I subscribed to any services to keep up with SQL Server content. Meaning did I "pay" for content.

I said "no" at first, but wanted to follow up with more details. Since this was across Twitter, 140 characters doesn't leave much room for details,… Read more

No.

Blogging is not for everyone and you don't want to give the impression you are something you are not doing something right if you don't blog. Not everyone is a writer, not everyone likes putting their thoughts down, and not everyone is brave enough to publish out on the… Read more

In my Modern Resume presentation, I tried to structure it to go from easy to hard things to do in terms of branding yourself. So the order has been:

• Profiles (social networking)
• Blogging
• Authoring
• Speaking
• Volunteering
• Leadership
• Research

Actually I added research later, so that is at the end when… Read more

What’s the cost of e-books? It’s an interesting question that I have always wondered. I found this account of the cost of books, and it makes sense to me. I think this is about what I expect.

It is somewhat confirmed by this section on CoolerBooks: What aren’t ebooks… Read more

I ran across a story about the new Kindle blog publishing features. It was called “How the Kindle Now Lets You Steal this Blog” It talks about how anyone can enter a feed for a blog, enter their information and start getting paid. In the example shown, someone… Read more

I added a new blog to my reader today: The Client Revolution.

I heard about this from @NeilDavidson, and he mentioned it was a good example of innovation in the legal industry. Quite a few things I've read on there could be applied to other professional fields, especially… Read more

I was out Friday night with family at Parker Days, the festival downtown in my little city and checked email while the kids and relatives were on the Ferris Wheel. I saw on Twitter that a number of people were announcing the sessions they'd had accepted. So I fired up… Read more

A week ago I spoke at the Pensacola SQLSaturday event to about 30 people. A few drifted in late, so I’m not sure of the totals, but I did get these metrics from the surveys, when I had 24 people in the room:

Social Networking

• Facebook – 18, or about…

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There’s a contest going on at PASS looking for answers to  “Best Thing I Learned at PASS”. I don’t want to enter since I’m going and I don’t need to free admission to PASS, the hotel, etc, but it is a great question to answer. VP of PASS,… Read more

I study karate on a regular basis, and over the years I've practiced a number of different martial arts, most of them in fairly strict in the traditions and routines of student behavior. When I started this new school with me son, it was a lot less strict. That was… Read more

While I was in Pensacola last weekend, I sat next to Andy Warren and I was telling him about getting my son, ,Delaney a knife for Boy Scouts. My son had earned his Totin' Chip card and was excited to be able to carry one, so I looked on Amazon… Read more

This is part two of a series on writing a technical article. The advice might apply to non-technical articles, but I’m focusing specifically with my examples on technical pieces. Other parts are listed at the end of this article.

I've been asked often about where I get ideas from. The… Read more