03Aug 2009 by Grant Fritchey 8 Comments

SQL Server Standard

Misc, PASS
PASS is relaunching the SQL Server Standard with a wholly new approach and format. I'll put more out about it as it becomes available. I just wanted to get the word out now, as far and as wide as I can. Basically submissions are open for articles. We're only interested in publishing experienced writers who've published in some other tech-reviewed medium (Simple-Talk, books, SQL Server magazine, the old SQL Server Standard, are a few examples).  If you're interested, send me a direct tweet @GFritchey or an email to grant.fritchey -at- sqlpass.org. All the details will be published soon over at the PASS web site. Short info for those interested: experienced writers who are members of PASS abstracts can be 4-6 sentences describing the thrust, scope & length of the article…
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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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31Jul 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

PASS & SQL Bloggers

PASS
PASS is trying to find better ways to reach out to SQL Bloggers. They're going to experiment with taking advantage of the new subgroup features offered by LinkedIn. Membership to the subgroup will come fromthose currently listed in the PASS blog directory. If you're looking to get into a tighter, more direct, communication with the PASS organization, be sure you've got a LinkedIn account and that you get your blog listed on the PASS web site (requirements are pretty simple, blog regularly about SQL Server topics).
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21Jul 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Conversations

PASS
Do you know how to start a conversation or how to join one? I usually wait for a pause and then blurt out whatever point I thought was missed, missing, or insufficiently covered. In other words, don't come to me for advice. The fact of the matter is, while the legend of misanthropic, barely washed, hardly lucid, but frighteningly competent IT personnel is alive and strong, in reality, we need to speak to each other, our peers, and worse yet, the business people. Developing social skills is a must. Further, with the economy being what it is (and looks to be for some time to come) you probably need to put those social skills to work building up a network, people you can help and, hopefully never needed, can help…
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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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17Jun 2009 by Grant Fritchey 4 Comments

The Best Thing I learned at PASS

PASS
And if you think keeping this below 250 words was easy... You try it. I've received a lot from the PASS conference. I've attended technical sessions that blew my socks off and made me twitch in my seat, fighting the urge to start writing TSQL code, immediately. I don't think any of that is the best thing I learned at PASS. No, the best thing I learned at PASS is summed up in a single phrase, You Can. My first summit, I ventured out of the hotel room and met people volunteering with PASS. They were having fun. I asked if I could join in. You Can, just volunteer. I volunteered and began to meet people online. The next summit, I met more people, names, people I had learned from. I asked them, can I hang…
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10Jun 2009 by Grant Fritchey 9 Comments

PASS Summit Session Preview

PASS
The Pre/Post Conference Sessions and the Spotlight Sessions for the PASS Summit 2009 have been announced. Go check it out. This is going to be a fantastic conference this year based on the topics and the people presenting (and I'm still humbled to be included with that group). I wasn't aware that they had shifted the structure of the conference so that it takes place from Tuesday-Thursday instead of Wednesday-Friday. I'm not sure I like that. I'm not sure I dislike that. In addition to the Pre/Post conferences, a special new session, and program, has been put together by Andy Warren on networking. Since networking is one of the very best reasons to attend the PASS Summit (although pure geek joy can be had in the sessions), this should be very…
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27May 2009 by Grant Fritchey 16 Comments

WHOOOP!

PASS, SQL Server, T-SQL
I just got the good word, I submitted an abstract for a spotlight session at the PASS Summit and it was accepted. Jazzed doesn't begin to describe it. If you're interested in hearing what I think about Best Practices for working with Execution Plans, please swing by.
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17Apr 2009 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Pushing Connect

PASS
I have posted multiple times that I think Microsoft Connect is one of the best tools you can use to communicate with Microsoft. It works. Buck Woody is reinforcing my position from the Microsoft side of the fence. Look, Microsoft is not a small nimble company like Red Gate. And again, unlike Red Gate, you might not find yourself in a conversation with the CEO of Microsoft on the floor of a conference like the PASS Summit. And short of going to PASS or TechEd to track down some of the developers and project managers (many of whom attend these conferences), you need to have a mechanism to communicate with the company. You can try standing on your front door step and screaming (trust me, the neighbors just call the police)…
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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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