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July 2006 - Posts

Monday, July 31, 2006 5:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 31

The month ends and the week begins with a beautiful day for self-propulsion: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 17 Drove: 9 Did Not Compete: 8 I've got a couple of commitments this week which might put continued walking at risk; stay tuned to regard the state of
Posted by Ward Pond | 0 Comments
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Sunday, July 30, 2006 8:30 PM

New SQL Server 2005 Books OnLine Available For Download

The July, 2006 update to SQL Server 2005 Books OnLine is available here . At the moment, the new version is available only in English. Here's a summary of what's covered: New Conceptual and Task Topics Breaking Changes to Integration Services Features
Posted by Ward Pond | 0 Comments
Saturday, July 29, 2006 2:30 PM

Pond's Seventh Law, Applied: Avoiding Random Elegance

Another application of Pond's Laws comes to light from an exchange on an internal SQL Server discussion list. My good friend and colleague John Huschka, a Senior Software Development Engineer for Microsoft Business Solutions' FRx Software Corporation,
Posted by Ward Pond | 4 Comments
Friday, July 28, 2006 11:30 PM

DWWTWT?: July 28

As I hoped, the week ended on a non-combustible note: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 16 Drove: 9 Did Not Compete: 8 Hope you have a great weekend.. -wp
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Thursday, July 27, 2006 10:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 27

As predicted yesterday, no after-work commitments had me back on the sidewalk: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 15 Drove: 9 Did Not Compete: 8 I plan to end the week walking; tune in tomorrow to gauge my success.. -wp
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Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:30 PM

DWWTWT?: July 26

A late afternoon appointment in Issaquah meant that I needed to drive to work today so as not to lose half an hour walking back to my car: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 14 Drove: 9 Did Not Compete: 8 Tomorrow I should be back on the sidewalk.. -wp
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Tuesday, July 25, 2006 5:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 25

The heat wave is pretty much an historical reference at this point. It was probably in the low-mid 60s on my walk to work this morning: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 14 Drove: 8 Did Not Compete: 8 Tomorrow may be a different story, as I've got an appointment
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Monday, July 24, 2006 10:45 PM

DWWTWT?: July 24

The office move is complete, and the heat wave is slowly dissipating. It was pretty warm at 8 this morning (low 70s) but it wasn't unpleasant morning for a walk: Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 13 Drove: 8 Did Not Compete: 8 Congratulations to the Mariners on
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Monday, July 24, 2006 10:30 PM

Database Programming: Temp Tables or Table Variables?

On the occasion of this blog's one hundredth post, I thought I'd pass along some information I recently discussed with my youngest cousin, Tom, who is like me an otherwise rational person who's been bitten by the database development bug. In a conversation
Posted by Ward Pond | 9 Comments
Friday, July 21, 2006 5:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 21

It's 105 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. What a great day to be telecommuting from a home without air conditioning! Telecommuted: 2 Walked: 12 Drove: 8 Did Not Compete: 8 Happy ninth birthday to my younger grandson, Alex! -wp
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Friday, July 21, 2006 12:15 AM

Pond’s Eleventh Law Emerges From Reflection Upon The Perils Of Going Fast

When I first published Pond’s Laws, I promised it would be a living document. Herewith is the first evidence.
Posted by Ward Pond | 1 Comments
Thursday, July 20, 2006 11:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 20

As promised yesterday, our office move causes a new category to be introduced to our tally: Telecommuted: 1 Walked: 12 Drove: 8 Did Not Compete: 8 You can probably guess how this will go tomorrow.. we're due back in our new offices on Monday. -wp
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Wednesday, July 19, 2006 7:45 PM

DWWTWT?: July 19

For the first time since June 23, I employed an internal combustion engine to get to work today. With an office move scheduled for the rest of the week, there were a few last minute fragile items I wanted to bring home, so: Walked: 12 Drove: 8 Did Not
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Tuesday, July 18, 2006 6:30 PM

DWWTWT?: July 18

It was a little warmer this morning than it was yesterday, but it was still a fine day to leave the car in the garage: Walked: 12 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 8 It's been a beautiful summer in the Pacific Northwest, but we're supposed to get some heat by
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Monday, July 17, 2006 11:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 17

Back to work, and back on foot on a crisp morning with high clouds. A nice cool morning to walk to work. Walked: 11 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 8 Vacation was wonderful, but it's great to be back.. -wp
Posted by Ward Pond | 1 Comments
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Monday, July 17, 2006 11:00 PM

Non-Technical Content: Home From Moses Lake A Day Early

My final dispatch re: the Northern Washington Babe Ruth 13U Tournament (edited on 18 July to include final result) : The game against Central Kitsap didn't fall the Raiders' way. They fell to a 7-0 deficit after two innings and rallied to within 9-6 before
Posted by Ward Pond | 1 Comments
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Saturday, July 15, 2006 11:00 AM

Non-Technical Content: Redmond Raiders Win Thriller

Another dispatch from the Northern Washington Babe Ruth 13U Tournament.. Last night, the Redmond Raiders came back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the host team, the Moses Lake Desert Dogs, 7-4. The boys scored three runs in the fifth to tie the game, and
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Friday, July 14, 2006 5:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 14

Happy 5th Anniversary, Gale!! Bless your heart for letting the boys and me be.. Out and about in Moses Lake.. Walked: 10 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 8 Go Raiders! -wp
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Thursday, July 13, 2006 5:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 13

Out and about in Moses Lake.. Walked: 10 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 7 Go Raiders! -wp
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Thursday, July 13, 2006 4:00 PM

Non-Technical Content: Raiders Now 1-1 In Tournament Play

Today's action in the Northern Washington Babe Ruth Tournament saw our Redmond Raiders fall to the Ellensburg Pounders, 12-5. The boys were up 3-0 after the top of the first inning, but the Pounders responded with five runs of their own in the bottom
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:30 PM

Optional Parameters: Adam Hopes I'm Joking, But The Joke's On Me

This is absolutely my last gasp on optional parameters. Adam Machanic left some syntax in a comment here which shows just how far off base my "last gasp" in this post was. My syntax produced 594 logical reads to resolve a query while the equivalent dynamic
Posted by Ward Pond | 5 Comments
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:15 PM

Non-Technical Content: Redmond Raiders Win First Game

Frequent visitors to this space will recall that I'm spending the rest of this week in Moses Lake, WA, watching my son Kyle play in the Northern Washington Babe Ruth Baseball 13U Tournament. This afternoon, Kyle's Redmond Raiders played their first game,
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 5:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 12

Out and about in Moses Lake.. Walked: 10 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 6 Go Raiders! -wp
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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 4:30 PM

DWWTWT?: July 11

On our way out the door to Moses Lake.. Walked: 10 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 5 Seven days, with no competition remaing this week.. Go Raiders! -wp
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Monday, July 10, 2006 8:00 PM

Database Programming: One Last Gasp On Optional Parameters

July 12 update: Everything that follows is WRONG . See Adam's comment and my follow-up . You might think I'm obsessing over this, and you may well be right, but I wanted to make one more comment about handling optional parameters. The issue with the syntax
Posted by Ward Pond | 6 Comments
Monday, July 10, 2006 5:15 PM

DWWTWT?: July 10

After a week off, today I was back in the saddle and back on my feet: Walked: 9 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 5 (Full disclosure compels me to admit that since I got a ride to the corner from my wife, who was taking my daughter to work, today was technically
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Saturday, July 08, 2006 9:00 AM

Technical News: The Develop Without Borders Contest

Word of another great programming contest has made its way to my inbox. Sponsored by Microsoft and HP , it’s called the Develop Without Borders Challenge and it encourages developers and architects to submit a solution design that helps a non-profit organization.
Posted by Ward Pond | 2 Comments
Friday, July 07, 2006 4:45 PM

DWWTWT?: July 7

Completing a work week of leisure: Walked: 8 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 5 We did fire up the MG today for a couple of errands, so today most likely would've been a "drove" were it not for the leisurely lifestyle. Next week looks like two-days-on, three-days-off
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Thursday, July 06, 2006 10:30 AM

DWWTWT?: July 6

No work today: Walked: 8 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 4 The Little Feat show was terrific as usual. For you true aficionados , the set list was as follows: One Clear Moment Down On The Farm -> Candyman Blues Rag Mama Rag Cajun Girl Spanish Moon ->
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Wednesday, July 05, 2006 3:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 5

No work today, as my vacation continues: Walked: 8 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 3 Tonight is a big night for Gale and me, as we're off to see our friends Little Feat at the Woodland Park Zoo amphitheatre. If I've got my act together tomorrow, I'll post a
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Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:45 PM

Database Programming: No Better Options For Optional Parameters

Well, the current leg of the great "optional parameter code-off" has been completed. You definitely want to party with me on a national holday. :) Previous posts in this thread (many filled with questionable advice, as least that coming from me) may be
Posted by Ward Pond | 0 Comments
Tuesday, July 04, 2006 3:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 4

Today is Independence Day in the US, a company holiday. It would be incredibly silly of me to either walk or drive to work today. Walked: 8 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 2 230 years old and still going strong.. -wp
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Monday, July 03, 2006 6:00 PM

Redmond Raiders Update: Moses Lake, Here They Come!

A brief update for those of you interested in Babe Ruth basball: Kyle's team, the Redmond Raiders, won the District 3 All-Star Tournament, sweeping three games without a loss. The team will be the 3A representative to the state tournament, which starts
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Monday, July 03, 2006 5:15 PM

Database Programming: Nearing Capitulation On Optional Parameters

Adam and Tony both left comments indicating that either flavor of my proposed optional parameter syntax will result in a table scan, and that performance will (to appropriate Tony's characterization) suck. That's quite correct. There's one more syntax
Posted by Ward Pond | 1 Comments
Monday, July 03, 2006 5:00 PM

DWWTWT?: July 3

I'm on vacation today, so we need to add a new category to our scorecard: Walked: 8 Drove: 7 Did Not Compete: 1 You can probably guess how the rest of the week is going to go.. -wp
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