Building a computer, at least in the beginning, feels like something you have to do holistically and at the same time like a chicken and the egg scenario. For example, what size power supply you buy depends on what you’re going to use for your video card. Not all video cards fit in all cases. […]
Read more "Building My Next Workstation–Part 2"It’s been four years – maybe more – since I last bought a workstation to use for development and lab work. It’s served me well since then, hasn’t changed much, but is slow by the standards of what I use today even in my laptop. When I bought the last one it was to host […]
Read more "Building My Next Workstation–Part 1"My Nexus 7 tablet has grown on me, though I think it’s more about having a dedicated tablet than the hardware. I’ve never been a big fan of cases for devices, they seem to throw away the lightness of the form factor that we pass extra for, and without any case I can slip the […]
Read more "My $200 Oops"It’s easy to get comfortable in a job and neglect to capture the relationships and connections you’ve built – for me it’s LinkedIn, but using whatever product you prefer. Think about work today. You work with a handful or two of colleagues that you really know, but you know a lot more people than that. […]
Read more "Annual Catch Up and End of Job/Contract Networking Steps"I think it was because I had just received an email about sponsoring a SQLSaturday that had me thinking about it on the drive to the office today. It’s not easy to walk up to a table and get an understanding of what a product does beyond the sound bite – you really need a […]
Read more "Some Thoughts About Sponsors at SQLSaturday"Last year LinkedIn rolled out a new feature called endorsements, not to be confused with recommendations. Recommendations are free form comments from a connection about you and your work, endorsements are a click-here if your connection knows skill x. I think it’s a great feature. Asking for a recommendation can be awkward and in the […]
Read more "LinkedIn Endorsements"Ever since it was announced I’ve been ambivalent about the PASS Business Analytics Conference. I believe PASS should look for places to grow the community and the craft. I believe PASS should take some risks and endure the occasional loss (as long as it is not a bet the company kind of risk). I believe […]
Read more "The PASS BA Conference–Good Idea or Not?"My friend Don Gabor is presenting a two hour seminar titled “Mastering the Art of Conversation and Making Business Contacts” in New York City on February 21. If you’re in the area it’s well worth the $30 to attend – you can register at http://skl.sh/129G4gM. Not in NYC? Don is the man when it comes […]
Read more "Don Gabor Presents Mastering the Art of Conversation and Making Business Contacts in NYC"I’m planning to attend SQLSaturday #200 in Philadelphia on June 1, 2013. Number 200! This will be my first trip to Philly and I’m bringing the family with me so we can spend a couple days there and then after the event we’ll be taking the train to DC for a few more days of […]
Read more "SQLSaturday #200 in Philadelphia (And Vacation)"Quite a few years ago my first job in the military was driving a tracked vehicle, a variant of the well known M113. Drivers drive of course, but they also own the routine maintenance of the vehicle, a process that starts with daily and weekly checks from a checklist – the equivalent of kicking the […]
Read more "One Slick Solution and Unexpected Consequences"
SQLAndy 