A litmus test is a way of determining your answer to a question based on a single issue or response. Steve Jones sees this as a bad idea, especially when looking to hire technical people.  Read more...

Steve Jones has attended the PASS Summit annually, and found value. But for this Friday's poll, did you find value this week? Or have you in the past? Let others know.  Read more...

One of the very common things that is needed in SQL Server is performing a restore of a database. It's also one of the most important things that needs to take place. So why isn't this a simpler process? Steve Jones wonders why we can't make this a simpler process.  Read more...

Sharepoint is a product that many IT people despise, but it's a popular seller for Microsoft. Steve Jones thinks that Sharepoint's growth is a good thing for DBAs as well.  Read more...

An open letter asks Google to change their default protocol to be more secure. Are there things that we might want to do inside SQL Server to make it more secure by default? Any low hanging fruit that would help the platform?  Read more...

What type of previous experience makes a good DBA? Is it necessary to have other experience? Steve Jones asks the question in today's Friday poll.  Read more...

With the election of the Board of Directors complete for 2009, Steve Jones takes a step back to examine what we might want from a professional organization. If you care about having an organization for SQL Server professionals, read this and let us know if you agree or disagree.  Read more...

Steve Jones has attended a lot of conferences, including one recently in Austin. With the PASS Summit and SQL Connections coming up soon, he shares some reasons why a conference can be a great way to spend your training money.  Read more...

A new feature is available on SQLServerCentral, and Steve Jones talks a little about how it fits in with your strategy here at the site. Visit ask.sqlservercentral.com and let us know what you think.  Read more...

Feel like making a prediction this Friday? Steve Jones looks to the future with information workers and a knowledge economy. Answer this Friday poll and give us your guess about the future.  Read more...

Is it hard for technology workers to ask for help? Or accept it? We seem to often be the type of people that want to solve problems and fix things on our own. Is that a problem? Steve Jones thinks that we should sometimes put aside our pride and get things done.  Read more...

What great historical figures would make great DBAs? A guest editorial from Grant Fritchey examines the traits and characteristics we look for in this role and which famous people we might choose and why.  Read more...

Would you want to work at Microsoft? Do you think Steve Jones does? Read a few thoughts from him on his experience with the software giant.  Read more...

Are you a manager of one? Steve Jones say show this might be a good thing to be. You might improve your chances of landing the next job by showing your employer that you can be more productive.  Read more...

Do you invest in your own career? Should you? Steve Jones asks the question in today's Friday poll.  Read more...

Hadoop is an interesting new software project in the Linux world that deals with large data sets. Steve Jones wonders if anyone in the SQL Server world has started working with it.  Read more...

It's easy to get excited if you work at a startup, or a software company. But for corporate workers that toil in IT departments all around the world, how do you keep them motivated? Steve Jones has a few thoughts about simple things that make workers feel better about their jobs.  Read more...

Providing support for your manager or boss in getting his or her job is a good thing. Steve Jones comments on what benefits you might get and why this could enhance your career.  Read more...

Steve Jones is a part of Generation X, who surprisingly seems to be more Web 2.0 oriented than Generation Y.  Read more...

Are IT administrators focusing on the wrong attacks when securing their systems? Should we as DBAs and developers care? Steve Jones argues that we want to be aware of these issues.  Read more...

Running backups is enough for disaster recovery, right? That's a myth that could get you into trouble. Steve Jones explains there's more that's needed.  Read more...

Do we really need to corner the market for our particular business? Steve Jones talks about the need to grow your business at the expense of others.  Read more...

Every profession has its share of myths about how it works. IT might have more than its share and Steve Jones comments on a few of them.  Read more...