14Apr 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Publishing at PASS

PASS
I've been working with Andy Warren on several things for PASS through the editorial committee. Some of the work is available now. First, I've searched out all the online SQL Server communities that I could track down. I gathered information about the community and whether or not they published articles and what the contact for publication is. All the information about the online communities is gathered in one place. Please look them over. If I missed someone's favorite community, please let me know. I'll update it. If I've got some bad information up there, again, pass the word and I'll get the changes in. If you're looking for somewhere to go for help, support, or just someone to talk to, I think you can find something to suit you there. PASS is…
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08Apr 2009 by Grant Fritchey 15 Comments

PASS Summit 09 Call For Speakers Deadline Extended

PASS
It's now running until Friday April 24th. That's good news if you couldn't get yourself together by this Friday. However, I wonder if they're also extending the time for the committee to make it's decisions? That means extended worry and sweat for those of us who have already submitted abstracts. But, on the other hand, if they haven't extended the committee's deadlines, then that means those guys are going to be working their behinds off to meet the original date (end of May). I also wonder if it means that they're not getting enough abstracts or if the quality of the abstracts has slipped? New this year you can check out the abstracts to see what others have submitted. That makes for some interesting reading, but now I'm wondering if it's…
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07Apr 2009 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

SQL Server Standard Article Available

PASS, SQL Server, T-SQL
Unfortunately PASS decided to put the SQL Server Standard to sleep right after I got an article published in it (and no, it wasn't my fault). However, PASS, being the service oriented organization that they are, has decided to make back issues of the magazine available online. So, to read the article I wrote comparing various methods of retrieving versioned data using different TSQL constructs, click this link. Go to page 14. Oh yeah, and you can see other peoples articles here too. There are other things coming out of the editorial committee soon (although I need to get one of them done myself... yikes).
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24Mar 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Community

Misc, PASS
I'm always impressed and amazed with what happens in the SQL Server community. If you need help, there almost always seems to be a willing and able hand that reaches down to pull you up. It happens again and again, all around. I take part in SQL Server Central, one of the best, and biggest, communities out there for SQL Server. The people that pitch in every day are some of the nicest you're ever going to meet, but they're also extremely well informed. I regularly benefit from people swinging by this blog to offer suggestions or solutions or improvements to my ramblings. I've been making friends and developing contacts at the PASS Summit for the last four years and at my local user's group for the last two.  I've also been…
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20Mar 2009 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

PASS Call for Speakers

PASS
Yeah, everyone has a blog post up about it. Who am I to buck the trend. The call for speakers is officially open. You will need to set up a PassPort if you don't have one already (a wise move, whoever thought of it). Get on over there and register.
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11Mar 2009 by Grant Fritchey 8 Comments

PASS Call for Speakers, March 20th

PASS
In case you don't read the Connector when it comes out (and delete it like I used to), they've announced that the call for speakers is going to open on March 20th and close on April 3rd. No links to the web site yet. That will be in the Connector and on the PASS web site when they open it. I've got three presentations that I'm putting in. I hope everyone else is ready with theirs.
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19Feb 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Networking

Misc, PASS
Andy Warren has just posted the last entry in a very interesting set of posts about building and working your own network. I think they're all worth a read, especially if you've been thinking about blogging, Twitter, LinkedIn or just volunteering at your local users group.
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16Nov 2008 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

In and Registered

PASS
Finally arrived in Seattle. The airline, to remain nameless (UNITED), didn't get my luggage on my flight (or anyone else flying out of Providence). Yay! Checked in to the hotel and registered at the Summit. The bag this year is disappointing in the extreme. They're clearly cutting costs, but, if it goes towards more speakers, presentations, better food, it's worth it.  Nice shirt though. Not a t-shirt this year, it's a golf shirt. I can wear that to work. Useful. Since I'm presenting, I got a speaker's gift. It's wicked cool. A 128gb mobile drive, engraved with PASS & my name. I expected a clock of some other equally useless chochki. I'm very happy to have something functional. Usual bag full of ads & flyers. The final issue of the…
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16Nov 2008 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

My Bags are packed, I’m ready to go

PASS
Not quite, but I am getting the final preperations done to fly to Seattle. The shuttle service is picking me up at 7:30 this morning. Then it's off to PASS. There's quite a line-up of speakers this year. The Tuesday pre-con's, which I can't attend because of the PASS Volunteer Training, look fantastic. It should be a good conference this year.
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