Arnie Rowland: Ramblings of a Harried Technogeek

Financial Transparency is Good for Community

2011-11-07T15:44:00Z

I was recently in a conversation with several people that had previously organized one or more community events. The topic evolved into a discussion of Sponsors, and eventually, fund raising. Being able to adequately raise the funds necessary is critical to producing a successful event. Many vendors will readily provide products for raffles and give-aways (SWAG), but the success of the event hangs on being able to raise cold, hard, cash. Venues and equipment have to be rented, refreshments and lunches...(read more)

Paying for Free

2011-09-26T19:45:00Z

It seems like there is a widespread malaise in the country these days. Everyone's clamoring to cut taxes -but no one wants to have their neighborhood school closed, or fear bridges collapsing underneath them, or damage their automobiles while driving over deteriorating streets and roads. They expect Fire and Police personnel to magically appear when needed. The list can go on and on. Folks want and expect so many things to be available, yet they don't want to pay for them. They don't care if someone...(read more)

There should only be one ...

2010-11-16T08:07:00Z

When visiting clients, I often find that one or more databases have a table (or several) containing metadata. Most often, these tables have only a single row of data containing metadata about the company, the application, or the database itself. Quite likely, there should only be a single row of data in these metadata tables. Sometimes, I find an INSERT TRIGGER employed to make sure that another row of data is not accidentally added to the metadata table. The TRIGGER may count the rows in the table,...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Additional Proposals Receive Awards

2010-10-24T01:16:00Z

10/23/2010 Two more eligible developers and deserving projects have been selected. Any proposals submitted but not selected this time will be reconsidered at each upcoming award cycle. (Refer to this to review the award criteria, details, and benefits.) In no order of implied importance. Michael Peterson , Leesburg, VA Class Roster Management for Leesburg Open Arms School. The school currently uses a spreadsheet with a bunch of ugly macros to manage their class rosters. The information is duplicated...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Early September Awards Announced

2010-09-15T06:13:00Z

9/14/2010 Two more eligible developers and deserving projects have been selected. Any proposals submitted but not selected this time will be reconsidered at each upcoming award cycle. (Refer to this to review the award criteria, details, and benefits.) In no order of implied importance. Alan Minner , Camp Verde, Arizona Verde Valley Robotics is an organization in central Arizona working with schools and youth organizations in the Verde Valley to promote STEM education through robotics programs and...(read more)

Project Phoenix expands to Australia and New Zealand

2010-09-13T00:11:00Z

A couple of months ago, many Microsoft MVPs received Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate MSDN subscriptions (retail value: ~$12,000) to distribute as we saw fit. I started Project Phoenix , encouraging unemployed or underemployed developers to engage with a non-profit to propose a software solution to a problem for the non-profit. I contacted a few vendors, asking them to supplement the MSDN subscription with additional items, such as books, training, and tools. Soon, other MVPs joined with me to broaden...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Late August Awards Announced

2010-08-31T21:06:00Z

Two more eligible developers and deserving projects have been selected. Any proposals submitted but not selected this time will be reconsidered at each upcoming award cycle. (Refer to this to review the award criteria, details, and benefits.) In no order of implied importance. Carol-Lee Tutch , Hillsboro, OR SOLV is a non-profit organization that brings together individual vounteers, service and conservation groups, businesses and government agencies in activities to restore our natural spaces and...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Early August Awards Announced

2010-08-18T15:31:00Z

Two more eligible developers and deserving projects have been selected. Any proposals submitted but not selected this time will be reconsidered at each upcoming award cycle. (Refer to this to review the award criteria, details, and benefits.) In no order of implied importance. Nick Portelli, East Lansing, MI Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster County Pennsylvania offers children opportunities for professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with qualified volunteers. Each relationship...(read more)

Project Phoenix: May we have the July awards please ...

2010-08-04T07:27:00Z

The first two developers and projects have been selected –and there were some tough choices. However, those projects not selected this time will be reconsidered at each upcoming award cycle. (Refer to this to review the award benefits.) In no order of implied importance. Ayaz Bashir, Bayonne, NJ A website upgrade including a robust content management system that would help Mosques conduct their daily and weekly activities, including a WP7 phone app that would automatically adjust for the constant...(read more)

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes ...

2010-07-31T04:52:00Z

Project Phoenix expands to include Australia and New Zealand, more here . NOTE: At least one developer and project will be selected every week for the remainder of 2010. View the Awards to date here . Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, over the next five months, twenty-four (24) unemployed or underemployed developers will be selected because of their non-profit project proposals. One eligible developer and deserving non-profit project will be selected each week to receive a valuable package...(read more)

I come to you, humbled...

2010-07-21T07:01:00Z

WOW! A couple of weeks ago, I announced that I would be offering a few MSDN Ultimate subscriptions to unemployed or under-employed developers to help them improve and update their skills in consideration for doing social good by helping out a non-profit of their choice. I didn't anticipate the level of resonance this has received in the development community. MVPs - both friends and friends-to-be contacted me and asked to join the project. I decided to expand beyond just the MSDN Ultimate subscription...(read more)

While you don't get a 'Free Lunch', you will get your just desserts...

2010-07-12T19:04:00Z

07/30/2010 UPDATE: Lastest News about the project is here . UPDATE: Additional Microsoft MVPs have joined the project and we will now be selecting at least two (2) now three (3) qualifying projects each month. The selected first tier project will have the package listed below. The package for the selected second tier project is still being worked out -but will contain at least a MSDN Ultimate Subscription. In a previous blog entry, I discussed making a package of software, tools, training, and books...(read more)

There will be no 'Free Lunch' -just great feelings of accomplishment

2010-07-02T21:48:00Z

07/30/2010 UPDATE: Lastest News about the project is here . NEW: Project Criteria and Submission Here I was again awarded the ‘Most Valuable Professional’ (MVP) designation from Microsoft for my community activities, especially for my contributions with the SQL Server and .NET communities. One of the benefits of being a MVP is that on occasion, a special opportunity is made available by Microsoft. This year, I have been provided with a few subscriptions for MSDN Ultimate to give out as I see fit....(read more)

It will happen on a spring day in May...

2010-02-22T16:20:00Z

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May." - Edwin Way Teale This spring, the Portland, Oregon, development community is coming together in a way never experienced before. Using the University of Portland campus, SQL Saturday and Portland CodeCamp are combining and coordinating efforts to bring 700-800 regional technology professionals together for the opportunity to immerse themselves in seminars, presentations, group exploration, and networking -using both the...(read more)

It doesn't matter, it's just data...

2009-12-15T01:03:00Z

Database Design. Sounds simple, and at the same time, demanding. I mean, what's to design. You just need a few tables to hold the data for the application you are creating. You just can't really take the time to design -the entire project is agile and under continuous evolution. Or, you are trying to support a database that someone else allegedly 'designed'. Yes, you know it is bad, held together with more of a wish than a demand. Yes, you would just love to take the time and 'do it right' -but let's...(read more)