It’s (finally) time for Monday’s weekly blog and twitter round-up for last week (it’s even on time). This post is a good chance to catch up on data platform technology and career related information I’ve shared in the last week and activity on this blog.  If you haven’t already, follow me on twitter (@StrateSQL) and we can chat about the information I share throughout the week.

Most Popular Article Shared

Last weeks most popular link blog post by Brent Ozar (Blog | @brento) on the differences between contractors and consultants and FTEs.  This is an important distinction, because if you show up and act like a contractor or consultant and that’s not what the customer is expecting, you’re already starting off on the wrong foot for satisfying the customer needs.  I recommend checking out Brent’s post, even for those that know are familiar with the distinctions.

Reading: "What’s the Difference Between Contractor and Consultant and FTE?" http://t.co/2E4HFdvJ8a #career

— Jason Strate (@StrateSQL) July 30, 2015

Last Week’s Popular Posts

The most popular posts on this blog in the week are:

1. 31 Days of SSIS – The Introduction (658)
2. Get Just The Tools: SSMS Download (455)
3. 31 Days of SSIS as a Book (384)
4. 31 Days of SSIS – Raw Files Are Awesome (1/31) (344)
5. Looking to SQL Server 2014 High Availability In Standard Edition (159)
6. The Side Effect of NOLOCK (135)
7. Determining Filegroup for a Table (135)
8. Security Questions: Difference Between db_datawriter and db_ddladmin? (129)
9. 31 Days of SSIS – Using Breakpoints (2/31) (127)
10. XQuery for the Non-Expert – Value (117)

Last Week’s Top 20 “Reading” Links

Along with the most popular link, here are the top twenty items relating to SQL Server, technology and careers that were shared last week. If you missed them throughout the week, here’s the opportunity to get caught up on some items that other’s read after I linked them out.

1. What’s the Difference Between Contractor and Consultant and FTE? [18 clicks]
2. Successful Skill Building and Networking through SQL Saturday [17 clicks]
3. Power BI Desktop Designer: My First Run Through [16 clicks]
4. Save Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars per Server [16 clicks]
5. 6 psychological tricks to be more productive [15 clicks]
6. Thoughts On the Microsoft/Pyramid Power BI Deal [12 clicks]
7. 3 Management Mistakes That Could Destroy Professional Services Businesses [12 clicks]
8. Avoid “Uptalk” to Communicate With More Confidence [12 clicks]
9. Cultural Difference Between Google And Microsoft Boils Down To Their Food [11 clicks]
10. Splitting Files for SQL DW [10 clicks]
11. FORMAT() is nice and all, but… [10 clicks]
12. Intro to Datazen Setup Your Datazen Environment [9 clicks]
13. 5 Questions with Josh Fennessey [8 clicks]
14. Power BI and Big Data [8 clicks]
15. Microsoft Partner Network Members: Get Your Exam Voucher Packs by August 2015 [7 clicks]
16. Virtual Network (VNET) support for HDInsight is now generally available [6 clicks]
17. New Datazen Server Build Brings some MDX Magic [6 clicks]
18. The Return of Second Shot in July 2015 [5 clicks]
19. Professional Development – The Stradivarius of Teams [4 clicks]
20. Introduction to Power BI Desktop Video Walkthrough [4 clicks]

Last Week’s Posts From Previous Years

Sometimes the most useful content on a blog wasn’t written in the past week, it’s often other articles shared in the past that resonate with readers. Check out the following links that I published in past years over the past week:

1. Security Questions: Recommended Security Book (2013-07-27)
2. Gotta Stop Violating Foreign Keys (2009-07-29)
3. The Sixth Sense (2009-07-29)
4. Finding Number of Reports Executed By Folder (2009-07-30)
5. Analyzing Report Execution Time (2009-07-31)
6. Reporting Services ExecutionLog (2006-08-02)
7. Always Use Parameters. Even if you don’t use Stored Procedures. (2006-08-03)

Other Items Shared

Of course, no week would be complete without a few off-topic links. These have nothing to do with technology or your career, but they are interesting and worth a second look.

1. Moms Guessing What Porn Terms Mean Is So Uncomfortable It’s Hilarious [48 clicks]
2. Gorilla Cracks Glass Window At Zoo After Little Girl Beats Chest April 24, 2015 | by Kristy Hamilto [24 clicks]
3. 5 Science Facts Jurrassic World Totally Ignored [23 clicks]
4. 21 Jokes That Are So Stupid, They’re Actually Funny [22 clicks]
5. The Five Biggest Threats To Human Existence [16 clicks]
6. Don’t judge Ashley Madison users too quickly, their accounts may be fake [15 clicks]
7. 9 Awesome Literary Maps Every Book Lover Needs To See [11 clicks]
8. Joe Johnston’s STAR WARS Concept Art is Still Awesome 35 Years Later | Nerdist [9 clicks]
9. Monty Python- Lumberjack Song [7 clicks]
10. Jackyl – The Lumberjack [6 clicks]

Got something you think I should read and share, leave a comment below. Also, if you want to see all of the links that were tweeted out last week?