Ward Pond's SQL Server blog

This Space Is Closed -- at least for now

WardPond — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:15:00 GMT

(updated 14 October 2010 to include a pointer to my new SQL Server-related blog) Today I received the unhappy news that my current position at Microsoft has been eliminated, effective this Friday. This was not entirely unexpected, but I find...(read more)

More About Our Dad, Thomas Alexander Pond

WardPond — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:00:00 GMT

We've posted Dad's obituary online at my website . Please stop by and read it. He lived a remarkable life. -wp this copyrighted material was originally posted at http://blogs.technet.com/wardpond . the author and his employer are pleased to provide...(read more)

RIP Thomas Alexander Pond: 1924-2010

WardPond — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:30:00 GMT

I’ve been down, but not like this before - Paul Barrere (Little Feat), All That You Dream It’s a very disturbing trend in one’s life when so much of one’s writing begins with the three letters which this entry does. It’s...(read more)

RIP Richie Hayward: 1946-2010

WardPond — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:45:00 GMT

Sad, sad news today from the worlds of music and friendship: Richie Hayward – founding member, drummer, writer, and singer in the seminal American rock and roll band Little Feat – lost his year-long battle with liver cancer today. He was only...(read more)

Two New Corners of the InterWebs -- and They’re Mine!

WardPond — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:00:00 GMT

A busy weekend here in central Florida, as I established two new personal domains: http://WardPond.net , my personal website, and http://pondsponderings.wordpress.com , my personal blog While you’ve been in no danger of being deluged by personal traffic...(read more)

Serving the SQL Server Blogosphere for a Twentieth of a Century!

WardPond — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:56:00 GMT

It’s been exactly five years since this blog went live with a questionable Admiral Stockdale reference, and despite an extended hiatus recently to due a confluence of personal and professional issues, your interest in my ponderings continues to a humbling...(read more)

Five Things About sp_.. (okay.. Four Things and a Closing Argument)

WardPond — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:30:00 GMT

Celebrating the first day of Summer with the first technical post on the blog since mid-Winter (apologies for my absence).. Jens has a great post regarding the internal behavior of various forms of sp_-named programmability objects. Some SQLRAP-related...(read more)

Happy Birthday, Mom v78.05

WardPond — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:15:00 GMT

Today would’ve been my mother’s 83rd birthday if we hadn’t lost her to emphysema on 4 November 2004. I wish I could call her today, but I can’t. Please find time soon, if you’re able, to call your mother and thank her for your life. Such precious...(read more)

MERGE, XML Access, and a CTE: Not So Fast

WardPond — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:45:00 GMT

A bit of old news, as I return to the blog in earnest after some time away.. Last summer, in the posts Database Programming: What I’ve Learned About SQL Server 2008 (with a little on SQL Server 2005 thrown in) and Database Programming: Why I Like MERGE...(read more)

R.I.P. Robert B. Parker

WardPond — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Sad news today from the world of letters with the passing of Robert B. Parker , author of over 50 books, including the thirty-seven which comprise the Spenser series of detective novels. I’ve been an unabashed fan of Parker’s since I read my first Spenser...(read more)