5 dogs, 2 cats killed in Second Street apartment fire, Albany firefighters say Five dogs and two cats died after a fire broke out in an apartment building Tuesday afternoon in Albany.

www.timesunion.com/news/article...

Donate to Help Glenn Rebuild After Tragic Loss, organized by Freedom Stratton Glenn Read, a dedicated veteran and beloved friend, recently experienced a devas… Freedom Stratton needs your support for Help Glenn Rebuild After Tragic Loss

Hi folks...

The person in question, Glenn Read, is a friend of mine. He lost everything in a devastating fire. If you are able to kick in a few bucks, please do so.

gofund.me/f5ccf4178

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 3/16/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData #UserGroup Since I now have a couple of confirmed speaking engagements, I figured I should mention them. March 16 (tonight!): March CASSUG user group meeting: I will be the speaker tonight for my own user group! I will talk about using the free SQL Server Developer Edition to create a sandbox environment for people learning about SQL Server! This presentation is geared toward SQL Server newbies, so if you're just learning about SQL Server, come check it out!

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 3/16/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData #UserGroup

Since I now have a couple of confirmed speaking engagements, I figured I should mention them. March 16 (tonight!): March CASSUG user group meeting: I will be the speaker tonight for my own user group! I will talk…

I’m heading to the Tar Heel State in May! #DayOfData #SQLSaturday I received word that I have been accepted to speak at Raleigh Day of Data (formerly SQL Saturday) on May 23! I will be doing my presentation called Tech Writing for Techies, a session intended to educate people who are not technical writers as to what tech writing is about, and why it's important to the development process. We'll see you there!

I’m heading to the Tar Heel State in May! #DayOfData #SQLSaturday

I received word that I have been accepted to speak at Raleigh Day of Data (formerly SQL Saturday) on May 23! I will be doing my presentation called Tech Writing for Techies, a session intended to educate people who are not technical…

To office or not to office? When I first started my current job nearly three years ago, I was required by my then-new employer to work in the office full-time for six months. For me, personally, this wasn't a big deal; I've commuted to offices for the vast majority of my professional life, including long before working from home became a thing. This morning, I read a glimpse of something someone posted on…

To office or not to office?

When I first started my current job nearly three years ago, I was required by my then-new employer to work in the office full-time for six months. For me, personally, this wasn't a big deal; I've commuted to offices for the vast majority of my professional life,…

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 2/27/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData #UserGroup Well, a couple of days after mentioning a couple of Day of Data events to which I've submitted, I just found out that I'll be speaking next month for my own user group! After our March user group speaker withdrew, Ed asked me if I could step in as a replacement speaker for next month. Naturally, I said, sure!

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 2/27/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData #UserGroup

Well, a couple of days after mentioning a couple of Day of Data events to which I've submitted, I just found out that I'll be speaking next month for my own user group! After our March user group speaker withdrew,…

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 2/25/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData Boy, it's been a while since I posted one of these. The fact is, since my trip out to Seattle for PASS Data Community Summit, I haven't been doing any presenting. I still don't have any confirmed speaking dates yet. However, there are two events to which I've submitted. I submitted proposals to two Day of Data -- formerly known as SQL Saturday -- events.

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 2/25/2026) #SQLSaturday #DayOfData

Boy, it's been a while since I posted one of these. The fact is, since my trip out to Seattle for PASS Data Community Summit, I haven't been doing any presenting. I still don't have any confirmed speaking dates yet. However,…

Day of Data Albany 2026 (#1144)

Day of Data (formerly SQL Saturday) Albany will take place on Saturday, August 8!

For more info and to register, go to dayofdata.org/2026-08-08-d...

More Documentation is Needed

My friend Steve Jones posted this, and since it's a topic that's close to my heart (not to mention one of my big pet peeves in regards to people who don't heed it), I am reposting what he wrote.

New Year’s reflections Well, it's January 2. We're two days into 2026. This is the time of year when everyone starts making resolutions that they have no intention of keeping. That's why I've written that we should make goals, not resolutions. As such, I have goals that I'd like to pursue. Here are a few of them. Stay healthy. Yeah, I know it's not really something that's measurable, but…

New Year’s reflections

Well, it's January 2. We're two days into 2026. This is the time of year when everyone starts making resolutions that they have no intention of keeping. That's why I've written that we should make goals, not resolutions. As such, I have goals that I'd like to pursue. Here…

Looking for a speaking opportunity? Check out New Stars of Data! I got a notification this morning that the call for speakers for New Stars of Data is now open! If you're an aspiring presentation speaker in the Microsoft Data Platform, check out this opportunity! It is a chance for new speakers to present at a large conference such as PASS Data Community Summit! You are eligible to apply if you've never spoken at a large conference such as PASS Summit (I've spoken at PASS Summit five times, so I wouldn't be eligible).

Looking for a speaking opportunity? Check out New Stars of Data!

I got a notification this morning that the call for speakers for New Stars of Data is now open! If you're an aspiring presentation speaker in the Microsoft Data Platform, check out this opportunity! It is a chance for new speakers to…

Where to network

Yesterday, this post (below) from The Ladders showed up on my social media, and since it is directly relevant to my networking presentation -- in fact, I address it directly in my presentation -- I wanted to talk about it. I have a couple of slides in my presentation where I talk…

#SQLSelfie

Greetings from Seattle! #PASSSummit #PASSDataCommunitySummit This will be a short post, mainly because I’m writing this on my phone (I left my laptop in my hotel room; I don’t really need it today), and writing a blog post from my phone is difficult to do. But anyway… I’m writing from the lobby of the Seattle Convention Center for PASS Data Community Summit! Today is mainly a day of precons (which I’m not registered for).

Greetings from Seattle! #PASSSummit #PASSDataCommunitySummit

Adding generated guitar parts to my music Because of the last few months dealing with my illness, I've had a lot of free time on my hands. Recently, I started tackling extracurricular projects that haven't received enough of my attention, namely, my original music. I have a number of demos that I've put together, and I have several more that I've started but haven't been able to finish.

Adding generated guitar parts to my music

Because of the last few months dealing with my illness, I've had a lot of free time on my hands. Recently, I started tackling extracurricular projects that haven't received enough of my attention, namely, my original music. I have a number of demos that…

One Man, One Heart, One Soul by Intermezzo One Man, One Heart, One Soul - A young man asks himself questions, and tries to be honest with his own feelings. #pop #rock #adultContemporary #ballad #PowerBallad

I've been wanting to add guitar tracks to a number of my demos. Slight problem: I don't play guitar.

So today, I did some experimenting, and added a guitar track to one of them! 🎵
soundclick.com/song/6120567

All sessions - PASS Data Community Summit

Come check out my session at PASS Summit! passdatacommunitysummit.com/sessions/1164

3 Reasons You Can’t Miss PASS Summit 2025 YouTube video by PASS Data Community Summit

I got an email from the folks at #PASSDataCommunitySummit saying that I should share this video to promote the event next month. Okay, I will oblige!

youtu.be/ixRENV1jUeY?...

Yeah, I’ve been quiet lately As regular readers of my blog (both of you) may have noticed, I've been pretty quiet lately. It's like I went down to PASS On Tour and pretty much dropped out of site. Well, there's a reason why. Roughly just before Labor Day weekend, I started feeling ill. It was bad enough that I took some sick days from work. A few days ended up being -- well, a lot longer.

Yeah, I’ve been quiet lately

As regular readers of my blog (both of you) may have noticed, I've been pretty quiet lately. It's like I went down to PASS On Tour and pretty much dropped out of site. Well, there's a reason why. Roughly just before Labor Day weekend, I started feeling ill. It was bad…

PASS Summit On Tour — the debrief Well, I'm actually writing this about three days after I arrived home from PASS Summit On Tour NYC. I wish I could say that I took the last three days to decompress, but that's not the case; I went right back to work the next day. It was a fun but tiring trip -- they always are. Even my wife commented about how tired I looked when she picked me up at the train station.

PASS Summit On Tour — the debrief

Well, I'm actually writing this about three days after I arrived home from PASS Summit On Tour NYC. I wish I could say that I took the last three days to decompress, but that's not the case; I went right back to work the next day. It was a fun but tiring trip --…

PASS Summit On Tour Preview This coming Monday, I'll be traveling down to NYC for PASS Summit On Tour. This is one of three "traveling" events (the other two are in Dallas and The Netherlands) that provides attendees with a smaller, more localized, and less expensive version of PASS Summit. I'm very much looking forward to going to this event on Monday (

PASS Summit On Tour Preview

This coming Monday, I'll be traveling down to NYC for PASS Summit On Tour. This is one of three "traveling" events (the other two are in Dallas and The Netherlands) that provides attendees with a smaller, more localized, and less expensive version of PASS Summit. I'm…

Reminder: I’m speaking at #PASSSummitOnTour NYC next week! Next week (August 19), I'll be presenting one of my favorite sessions in one of my favorite cities! Come hear my presentation, Networking 101: Building Professional Relationships, at PASS Summit On Tour NYC! In my session, we'll discuss tips for incorporating networking into your professional development! We'll practice networking within the confines of our conference room, so be prepared to network!

Reminder: I’m speaking at #PASSSummitOnTour NYC next week!

Next week (August 19), I'll be presenting one of my favorite sessions in one of my favorite cities! Come hear my presentation, Networking 101: Building Professional Relationships, at PASS Summit On Tour NYC! In my session, we'll discuss…

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 7/28/2025) #PASSDataCommunitySummit #PASSSummitOnTour I figured this was a good time for an upcoming event update. I am confirmed for two upcoming events, both of which are related to PASS Data Community Summit! I will be doing my networking presentation at the following two PASS events. Tuesday, August 19: PASS Summit On Tour NYC November 19-21 (exact date TBD): PASS Data Community Summit…

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 7/28/2025) #PASSDataCommunitySummit #PASSSummitOnTour

I figured this was a good time for an upcoming event update. I am confirmed for two upcoming events, both of which are related to PASS Data Community Summit! I will be doing my networking presentation at the…

I got an email saying I should promote #PASSSummitOnTour #PASSSummitOnTourNYC. Okay, I will oblige! passdatacommunitysummit.com/pass-summit-...

Congrats, Microsoft MVPs, and a lament I was poking around LinkedIn and saw posts from multiple #SQLFamily friends saying they were named Microsoft MVPs. I am very happy for all my friends who are recognized with this award! To my friends who were recognized, congrats! You are all very well deserving! That said, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a slight twinge of jealousy.

Congrats, Microsoft MVPs, and a lament

I was poking around LinkedIn and saw posts from multiple #SQLFamily friends saying they were named Microsoft MVPs. I am very happy for all my friends who are recognized with this award! To my friends who were recognized, congrats! You are all very well…

As part of my speaker instructions for both #PASSSummitOnTour and #PASSDataCommunitySummit, I was asked to create a promo video. Since I'm doing the same presentation for both events, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone.
passdatacommunitysummit.com
passdatacommunitysummit.com/pass-summit....

I’m looking for help with my original music. I need a male vocalist, although other music help is welcome (I play keyboards). Stylistically, best description is yacht rock — think Christopher Cross, Toto, Michael McDonald, Chris DeBurgh, etc.

Check out my music here: www.soundclick.com/intermezzo

I’m speaking at #PASSDataCommunitySummit!!! I can now say it's official: I've been selected to speak at 2025 PASS Data Community Summit! This will be my fifth time speaking at this event, and my third time making the trip to Seattle for this event (the other two were virtual)! I'll be doing what is probably my favorite presentation: my networking talk! This is in addition to my trip down to NYC for PASS On Tour in August! Hope to see you in Seattle the week of November 17!

I’m speaking at #PASSDataCommunitySummit!!!

I can now say it's official: I've been selected to speak at 2025 PASS Data Community Summit! This will be my fifth time speaking at this event, and my third time making the trip to Seattle for this event (the other two were virtual)! I'll be doing what…

Speakers at PASS Data Community Summit PASS Summit 2024 welcomed a diverse line-up of topic experts delivering world-class training and career...

It's official! I will make the trip to Seattle in November, where I will present at #PASSDataCommunitySummit!
passdatacommunitysummit.com/speakers/Ray...

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 6/10/2025) #SQLSaturday #PASSDataCommunitySummit #PASSSummitOnTour Now that I've announced PASS Summit On Tour NYC, this is probably a good time to update my list of upcoming speaking engagements. Saturday, June 14 (this upcoming Saturday): SQL Saturday Montreal -- I will be presenting my networking and job-hunt sessions this Saturday north of the border this weekend! These are probably my two best-selling presentations. On se voit au Canada ce samedi!

Upcoming speaking engagements (as of 6/10/2025) #SQLSaturday #PASSDataCommunitySummit #PASSSummitOnTour

Now that I've announced PASS Summit On Tour NYC, this is probably a good time to update my list of upcoming speaking engagements. Saturday, June 14 (this upcoming Saturday): SQL Saturday…