Have you been thinking about speaking at the upcoming SQL Rally in Dallas? If so, remember that the deadline for submissions is coming up fast – you only have until this Sunday (1/22) to add your abstract to the list of potential sessions.

Why Speak at Rally?

Great question! After… Read more

Like many others, I’m planning a few changes for my life for next year.  I’m a believer in finding one’s own way, while still abiding the advice of the wise.  Often called upon for inspirations are the timeless words of Confucius, the inspiring speeches of Martin Luther King,… Read more

There’s a large group of people that mean a lot to me.  Some of them I know well, and others I only know peripherally through their relationships with those with whom I am more familiar.  Some of them I like a lot, but with others I rarely see eye-to-eye.  Many… Read more

It’s that time of the year again – the SQL PASS summit 2011 is underway! Today I’m participating in the blogger table, so I’ll be live blogging the keynote and surrounding hoopla.  I’ll be updating this post periodically as the first official day gets kicked off, so check back periodically. Read more

Note: This post was originally posted on October 29, 2009.  In the interest of the upcoming conference season, I’m republishing it as a reminder (to myself, as much as anyone) to get off the bench and meet people.

I have a sad story to tell you.  Sit down and grab… Read more

Note: This post was originally posted on October 29, 2009.  In the interest of the upcoming conference season, I’m republishing it as a reminder (to myself, as much as anyone) to get off the bench and meet people.

I have a sad story to tell you.  Sit down and grab… Read more

This past Saturday, I made the relatively short (3 hour) drive north to Oklahoma City to participate in their first ever SQL Saturday event.  I have to say that this was one of the best SQL Saturday events I’ve attended, which is especially notable since it was their first such… Read more

This past Saturday, I made the relatively short (3 hour) drive north to Oklahoma City to participate in their first ever SQL Saturday event.  I have to say that this was one of the best SQL Saturday events I’ve attended, which is especially notable since it was their first such… Read more

Ok, I have two admissions that I must bare to the world in this post.  The first is that I’ve been a little lazy.  I’ve admired – from a distance – this T-SQL Tuesday thing ever since it started.  It’s been great!  A bunch of people blogging on the same… Read more

Ok, I have two admissions that I must bare to the world in this post.  The first is that I’ve been a little lazy.  I’ve admired – from a distance – this T-SQL Tuesday thing ever since it started.  It’s been great!  A bunch of people blogging on the same… Read more

“Hey man, this is Ty*, what’s happening?” roared the familiar voice in my Bluetooth earpiece.  It was a voice I knew well, and briefly brought a smile to my face.  After exchanging pleasantries and catching up a bit, Ty revealed the real reason for his call:  “Say, dude, I’m looking… Read more

“Hey man, this is Ty*, what’s happening?” roared the familiar voice in my Bluetooth earpiece.  It was a voice I knew well, and briefly brought a smile to my face.  After exchanging pleasantries and catching up a bit, Ty revealed the real reason for his call:  “Say, dude, I’m looking… Read more

Attention, southerners (or those who can find their way south)!  There’s another great SQL Saturday event coming up in August in Oklahoma City, and I hope to see you there.  The Oklahoma City SQL Server User Group is hosting this event on August 27th.  Our group in Dallas has… Read more

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for SQL Server community and PASS related news.

First and probably most importantly is that the location for SQL Rally 2012 has been chosen, and we are happy to announce that it’ll be right here in Dallas!  After several months of research… Read more

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for SQL Server community and PASS related news.

First and probably most importantly is that the location for SQL Rally 2012 has been chosen, and we are happy to announce that it’ll be right here in Dallas!  After several months of research… Read more

As I write this, I’m somewhere in the air over Florida, headed back home to Dallas from participating in the first-ever SQL Rally event.  The past few days have been an adventure in many ways, and I’m happy to report that the entire experience was both positive and memorable.

Wednesday Read more

Earlier today I read a blog post that compares consultants with corporate staff members.  The author unashamedly compares consultants to major league baseball players, while grouping corporate staffers into the minor leagues.  While he does make a few valid points, the theme of the post – as well as… Read more

Earlier today I read a blog post that compares consultants with corporate staff members.  The author unashamedly compares consultants to major league baseball players, while grouping corporate staffers into the minor leagues.  While he does make a few valid points, the theme of the post – as well as… Read more

During my visit to Denver last September for SQL Saturday 52, I spent a while talking with Marc Beacom, who mentioned that the 3 PASS chapters in and around Denver hold their monthly meetings on consecutive nights.  When I brought up my love for snowskiing, he suggested that… Read more

Next week, I’ll be making a swing through central Colorado on a working vacation of sorts.  I met up with Marc Beacom when I went up to Denver to speak at their SQL Saturday in September, and he mentioned that they have three user groups (Boulder, Colorado Springs Read more