Arnie Rowland: Ramblings of a Harried Technogeek

Financial Transparency is Good for Community

ArnieRowland — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:44:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Paying for Free

ArnieRowland — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:45:00 GMT

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...(read more)

There should only be one ...

ArnieRowland — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:07:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Additional Proposals Receive Awards

ArnieRowland — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:16:00 GMT

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.)...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Early September Awards Announced

ArnieRowland — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:13:00 GMT

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.)...(read more)

Project Phoenix expands to Australia and New Zealand

ArnieRowland — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:11:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Late August Awards Announced

ArnieRowland — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:06:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Project Phoenix: Early August Awards Announced

ArnieRowland — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:31:00 GMT

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

ArnieRowland — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 07:27:00 GMT

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...(read more)

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes ...

ArnieRowland — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:52:00 GMT

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...(read more)

I come to you, humbled...

ArnieRowland — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:01:00 GMT

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...(read more)

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

ArnieRowland — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:04:00 GMT

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...(read more)

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

ArnieRowland — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:48:00 GMT

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...(read more)

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

ArnieRowland — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:20:00 GMT

"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...(read more)

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

ArnieRowland — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:03:00 GMT

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...(read more)