My mother-in-law had a camera that still uses film.  She isn't really technical, but her camera was acting up over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Her birthday is coming up in a couple of days, so we decided to get her a digital camera (one of the Black Friday Bargains).  I started to think back to how technology has really changed things like photography.  Before Digitial Cameras, there was a lot of planning and preparation of taking pictures because film was expensive and you did not really know what you got until the film was developed.  With today's cameras, take a bunch of pictures, view them instantly, and delete the ones that you don't want, post them to a picture sharing site onthe internet, and you just solved a lot of problems that took a lot of time.

One other example is of course Word Processing.  Who would go back and use a typewriter now?  What about Presentation software like PowerPoint - before programs like these, you had to actually create slides that you put in a slide projector.  There are many more....

Is Kindle and other "readers" a fad or is it a paradigm shift? Are online on-demand streaming of TV Shows and Movies replacing the "appointment TV" that we have grown up with? 

What Technology hasn't replaced (at least yet)....

Pencil / Paper - it is still the quickest and most inuitive way to jot a quick short note.  It is also considered appropriate almost anywhere as it will not interefere with the navigational systems of airplanes and people don't look at you funny if you jot down a note in church.  Try that with any electronic device and you will either be accused of jeopardizing flight safety or being rude (or not taking the message seriously).

Junk Mail - Yes SPAM still abounds in our inboxes, but that is fairly well handled or at least ignored by us.Yesterday, I got a bunch of junk mail (coupons, flyers, speciall offers just for me).  I threw most of it out - MOST of it.  But since it got in my hands and I looked at it for a few seconds, I found a coupon that I could use.  The ability to get an ad into your hands still has value to the advertiser.

What else has Technolgy not yet taken over?  What is the next thing to be taken over by technology

Sep 15 is the last day to be a part of history for 24 Hours of PASS.  Louis and Paul will be doing a 2nd take of their session for 24 Hours of PASS.  Register at the following link :

 https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8000181573/Registration.aspx?pageName=qh37c3hrckwswsj5

This event takes place on Sep 15 at 8pm EDT.  At this event, a special code will be revealed to save an additional $100 off of the registration price for the 2009 PASS Community Summit. BTW, Sep 15, 2009 is also the last day to register for the summit and save $400 off of the registration price.  That's $500 off with the code that you will receive by watching Louis and Paul on their second take.  If you missed the original, you missed a great show.  Plan to attend with a friend.  If you attended this session for the event on Sep 1 at 8pm EDT, be a part of the electricity that drove the excitement of this event for the second time around.

I am honored to be the guest speaker at the Richmond SQL Server User Group on Monday, Sep 15.  They usually have their meetings on the 2nd Thursday of the month, but they made a special exception.  I will be speaking about SQL Server 2008 and Consolidation.  If you are in the area, drop by and socialize with other SQL Server Professionals.  You can find out more information here:  http://richmondsql.org/cs2007/

Recently, PASS has opened it call for nominations for the seats for the Board of Directors.  The deadline to get your nomination in is Sep 3, 2009.  I have been a member of PASS and involved since 2001.  I started out volunteering for a committee.  I then led the committee.  And I ran for the Board of Dirctors in Nov 2002.  I did not win, but I was appointed (starting in Jan 2003) to fill the vacancy created as a board member decided to resign.  That is how I made my journey to the Board of Directors. 

The organization has changed significantly over the years as has the role of a director.  When I first started, the position was more tactical than strategic.  Lately, the position demands more strategic thinking; there is still plenty of tactical work to do, but we are encouraging more of that work to be done by our dedicated committee leaders and volunteers.  While the organization is best known for the annual PASS Community Summit, there are other ways which the organization serves the community.  There are lots of great ideas and limited resources in which to execute.  Part of the responsibilities of being on the Board is to help to determine which of these ideas make sense to allocate resources to.  We have budget meetings to help sort this out, but you get to spend the time with some great folks. 

Kevin Kline has produced several articles that may be found at www.sqlpass.org which outline some of the traits of a good director.  You do not need to have all of the traits listed to be successful.  You do need to be motivated to improve yourself and to work cooperatively with others.  Perhaps the one item which has been common with the other successful directors over the years is the goal to keep the community in the forefront when making decisions and setting direction.  Maybe you are that next person to join the Board and help set the direction.

I have volunteered to be a part of the THRIVE campaign for several months now.  In June, Chuck Heinzelman and I did a webcast based on SQL Server Express and how it could be used to enhance your skills for SQL Server.  I have been on vacation for a couple of weeks and found out during that time that I was named Thrive's IT Pro of the Month!  It is an honor to be awarded as I believe that many folks in the community strive to help others in their quest to enhance their SQL Server skills.  I urge everyone to visit www.microsoft.com/thrive to see the resources available and what MSFT is doing to help those who really want to succed to get ahead.

Chuck Heinzelman and I are on the Advisory Board for the THRIVE Campaign by Microsoft.   The THRIVE campaign is about getting people to use tools that they already own or are FREE to download in order to learn/enhance new skills.  I thought right away about SQL Server Express and how this could help people learn more about SQL Server.  Chuck and I will discuss and demo several features in Express.  I invite youto join us.

·         Title: TechNet Webcast: Enhance Your SQL Skills with SQL Server Express 2008 (Level 200)

·         Presenter: Rick Heiges & Chuck Heinzelman

·         Webcast Length: 60

·         Date/Time: 6/24/2009 10:00:00 AM Pacific

Attendee Registration URL:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032417593&Culture=en-US

Just last week, the call fro abstracts ended.  At the end of this week, the rates will bump up.  See below for more information on some great reasons to come to the 2009 PASS Community Summit....  Of course the number one reason isn't even listed here - that is you can seek out the SQLBLOG.com bloggers and give them a piece of your mind.  :-) 

Top 10 Reasons You Can't Afford to Miss PASS Summit Unite 2009

1.        Network with over 2,000 SQL Server and BI professionals plus hundreds of Microsoft SQL Server and BI team members

2.        Gain new skills and strategies to optimize SQL Server and BI, with over 160 technical sessions, hands-on labs, and pre- and post-conference seminars

3.        Get the answers you need-immediately-at the "Ask the Experts" Lounge and Microsoft CSS First Aid Station

4.        Learn SQL Server best practices you can implement right away

5.        Meet with key Microsoft executives, engineers, and top SQL Server vendors

6.        Gain insights into new advances, roadmaps, and plans for Microsoft SQL 

7.        Get new ideas, get re-invigorated, and be inspired! Attendees tell us this is one of the most valuable things they get out of PASS Summit, year after year 

8.        Learn how to do even more with what you have and increase the ROI of your SQL Server investment

9.        Bring information and copies of presentations for others in your organization. Attendees can also purchase a DVD set containing all the sessions at a special, Summit attendee rate for in-depth learning all year long

10.     Get the early bird rate of only $1,195 if you register by Friday, May 1!

Connect, share, and learn with the leading SQL Server users from around the world. Don't miss the top SQL Server and BI conference of the year!

Register now for the early bird rate of only $1,195 - a 35% discount off the regular conference rate! Send 5 people from your company and save even more.  

Need to convince your boss for approval to attend? Get ROI Justification.

See you in Seattle!