03Aug 2009 by Grant Fritchey 5 Comments

24 Hours of PASS

PASS
I'm fairly certain Jack Bauer isn't involved with this new initiative from PASS. Just as I'm also certain I won't be the only person to invoke 24 while referring to 24 Hours of PASS. But even without Jack Bauer, I'm on the edge of my seat. 24 different sessions by top names in the industry from all around the world. I wonder if I can do this without sleep? Probably not. I'll still being trying to attend as many of these as I can work in. I'm really looking forward to it.  People you want to hear are going to be there. Jessica Moss is going to talk about Reporting Services. Adam Machanic is going to introduce CLR. Gail Shaw will be presenting (at something like 2:oh my flipping god…
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23Jun 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Learning Spatial Data in SQL Server 2008

PASS, Spatial Data
PASS just published a new Top 10 list of mine over at the their web site. This one is the Top 10 Articles on the web if you're trying to learn about spatial data. I'm not trying to say that I know what I'm doing with spatial data. I'm still feeling my way forward. These articles have proved to be the most useful in the learning I've done so far. I wanted to publish a little more information than we put into our Top 10 lists over at PASS. Having the list is good, but I thought it needed a bit of commentary to be complete. All these articles are good and all the web sites hosting the articles have good stuff on them. A few of the web sites stand out. Paul Randal's…
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18Aug 2008 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Training and Learning

SQL Server, Tools
I think these are usually two different things, but most people conflate the two. There was a great discussion over at SQL Server Central based on an editorial by Steve Jones. It's worth reading through to see how people learn or get themselves trained. One common theme is reading books. I'm looking at stacks of them all over my desk, so it would be hard to deny their use. If you too like to read, then I've got something for you. Red Gate is doing a promotion where, when you purchase SQL Tool Belt, you can also download five E-Books offered by Apress. Several of them look pretty interesting, so this is a good deal. Not to mention, if you're not using some of the tools from SQL Tool Belt already, you're…
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28Mar 2008 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

New SCOM Book

Tools
I got a new SCOM book in the mail yesterday, System Center Operations Manager Unleashed. It's friggin' huge. I've just started reading through it and it looks pretty good. So far, it's much more thorough than the only other book available for SCOM, Mastering System Center Operations Manager 2007. I'm going to ready through more of it before I post a review to Amazon. I think I'll write up a review for the PASS book reviews too. Hey, if you have time on your hands, get on over there, request a book and write up your own review.
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