The Bit Bucket

Hi Folks,

I was recently interviewed by Andrew and Michael and their Frankly Speaking podcast. Was great fun. The show is here: (Download no longer available)

Greg

2010-01-06

I’ve been doing a lot of work lately with StreamInsight, coming in SQL Server 2008 R2.

There are three development models you can use with StreamInsight: Implicit Server, Explicit Server and IObservable/IObserver.

When I was working through material on the IObservable/IObserver pattern, it wasn’t immediately apparent to me where it had come from. It’s based on the Rx Framework for .NET (Reactive Extensions). I finally got to watch the PDC Online session from Erik Meijer on the Rx Framework a few days ago and so many things suddenly fell into place for me.

2010-01-06

With the climate summit in Copenhagen now finished, I wanted to make a few comments about a trend that really annoys me. I’m fairly “green oriented” in my outlook but amongst “green” scientists and advocates, there is an endless desire to make each cause sound much stronger than the facts permit. I think this does their support more harm than good. The recent expose on modified emails bore that out only too well but I want to show a few simpler examples.

2009-12-20

The title says it all. An old buddy of mine Wally McClure has just released a short new eBook on Wrox that covers how to get started building iPhone and iPod Touch applications using MonoTouch. That should be of interest to the C#/.NET developers out there.

Just bought a copy myself and was pleasantly surprised. It’s 42 pages and $6.99 and comes as a PDF download.

2009-12-03

Not long back, it became very common for dodgy domain registration companies to send letters to domain owners that they weren’t dealing with. Rather than saying “hey we’re a great registrar and here’s why you should switch to us”, the common ploy was to send out something that looked like a renewal notice, hoping that the receiver would just authorize and pay it without thinking. In Australia, the ACCC (basically the consumer watchdog) has been chasing down and taking action against such practices.

2009-11-09

Sorry that shows have been slow coming this year. That’s about to change (famous last words).

The good news is that show 45 with guest SQL Server MVP Jamie Thomson discussing SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is now available for download from https://sqldownunder.com . In the show, Jamie discusses lessons he learned while moving from DTS to SSIS and covers off many best practices for working with SSIS.

Enjoy!

2009-11-09

My colleague Antonio Soto pointed us at a new (and free) book providing Sharepoint-related advice for SQL Server administrators. You’ll find it here: SharePoint guidance for SQL Server 2008 database administrators (Downloadable book)

2009-11-08

This is no ordinary book. Paul Nielsen took up Bill Gates’ challenge at a recent MVP summit to do something notable to give back to the community. He organised a large group of SQL Server MVPs to create a unique book and worked with Manning to get it published. The money made on the book was to go directly to a charity and the charity chosen was WarChild.

I had the privilege (along with Kalen Delaney, Adam Machanic, Kimberley Tripp and Paul Randall) to be one of the editors on this book but the magic contribution has come from the 53 SQL Server MVPs involved with the book.

2009-10-31

Given my interest in science, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve only just got around to reading Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life”. What prompted me to read it this time was watching two episodes of “The Genius of Charles Darwin” while flying across to the U.S. It’s an excellent documentary by Richard Dawkins. Dawkins can see overbearing at times but in this series, he’s measured, accurate and inspiring. In the documentary, he showed one of his most prized possessions: a first edition copy of this book.

2009-10-31

Our buddy Kevin Kline has started a travel meme to provide ideas for people travelling to PASS, given many don’t travel very often. He’s after some good solid travel tips. I’m one of the people he called out so here are a few that come to mind immediately:

1. Delays and mishaps occur. If you don’t allow enough time between flight connections, etc. then you are asking for problems, regardless of what the airline says. For example, I never allow an international to domestic connection through Los Angeles of less than three hours and prefer four hours. The further you’re travelling from, the more you can get delayed. Airlines will let you book a two hour connection there. Don’t do it. If you’re feeling frustrated with delays, get over it.

   2009-10-26