Are the posted questions getting worse?
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SQLBill (6/25/2015)
For me, he was building up this world/environment where the ruler was killed, a split happened, and fighting was going on to determine the 'rightful' ruler. I 'knew' who he was going to make the final triumphant winner...I just knew it and I really liked the character, rooted for him, etc.....then he got killed off. Okay, now I get into another character....yep...killed off. He really seems to want you to get behind a character and when you are drawn in, he kills him/her off.For me, this. I just ran out of characters to cheer for.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverabilityWe walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass -
I've heard that the CIA/NSA can learn a lot about you from what's on your bookshelf.
Not sure what they'd make of the cat.
My mantra: No loops! No CURSORs! No RBAR! Hoo-uh![/I]My thought question: Have you ever been told that your query runs too fast?
My advice:
INDEXing a poor-performing query is like putting sugar on cat food. Yeah, it probably tastes better but are you sure you want to eat it?
The path of least resistance can be a slippery slope. Take care that fixing your fixes of fixes doesn't snowball and end up costing you more than fixing the root cause would have in the first place.Need to UNPIVOT? Why not CROSS APPLY VALUES instead?[/url]
Since random numbers are too important to be left to chance, let's generate some![/url]
Learn to understand recursive CTEs by example.[/url]
[url url=http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/St -
ChrisM@Work (6/25/2015)
GilaMonster (6/25/2015)
I found a photo of my Siamese.*sniff*
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I am also sorry for your loss.
Perhaps this will help a little (it did for me): Rainbow Bridge
My mantra: No loops! No CURSORs! No RBAR! Hoo-uh![/I]My thought question: Have you ever been told that your query runs too fast?
My advice:
INDEXing a poor-performing query is like putting sugar on cat food. Yeah, it probably tastes better but are you sure you want to eat it?
The path of least resistance can be a slippery slope. Take care that fixing your fixes of fixes doesn't snowball and end up costing you more than fixing the root cause would have in the first place.Need to UNPIVOT? Why not CROSS APPLY VALUES instead?[/url]
Since random numbers are too important to be left to chance, let's generate some![/url]
Learn to understand recursive CTEs by example.[/url]
[url url=http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/St -
Grant Fritchey (6/25/2015)
The real problem, if you want to call it one, is that while I probably buy somewhere between 2-5 SF books a month, they're all on the Kindle now. I don't recall the last SF paper book I purchased.I see a slightly different real problem: lots of books that Iwould love to have on Kindle just don't exist in that format (or in any ebook format except perhaps really awful PDF which while displayable on a Kindle isn't really readable on a Kindle (and conversion to mobi format doesn't help). Add to that the limited number of books on a Kindle and the difficulties caused even with that number by having only a single level of classification instead of a decent hierarchical directory structure and I am finding it dificult not to buy paper books, even though I really have run out of shelf-space for them (my wife and I already have far too much book shelf space for the size of our houses).
I still buy plenty of history books on paper (reading maps on a Kindle is a giant PITA, especially as my eyes age).
I agree maps are a giant PITA, but history books aren't the only ones with maps in them - some science fiction books and some fantasy books have maps, and many geography books and geology boooks and even theology books like Peake's commentary on the bible (maybe that's why Peake's isn't available as an e-book). And engineering drawings, tables, and database diagrams can be a nightmare in Kindle too. Of course a magnifying glass can help with some of those, but a decent one won't fit into any of my pockets.
Tom
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We don't buy cookbooks on Kindle because they simply look better as the real thing. We probably should start to buy them electronically because we're running out of space very quickly. It may be because I'm tight but my main gripe with my Kindle is that you have to re-buy stuff you already have to get it on to your device. With CD to mp3 you can upload directly to your player so I can take my whole collection around with me. With the Kindle, if I want to take a favourite book on holiday, I have to fork out again. I know it's impossible but it's nice to have a dream.
I think my Dad's argument for not buying one is best though. His case for not getting a Kindle is that he can't copy-and-paste from that to his computer. It has been pointed out that you can't do that with a real book.
On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.
—Charles Babbage, Passages from the Life of a PhilosopherHow to post a question to get the most help http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537
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I've gone partially kindle (well, kindle for the iPad), partially paper for books. If I've started a series in paper, I want the entire series that way. If I've started in kindle, the entire series is bought on kindle.
Also depends where I see the book, in a book shop or while browsing Amazon and whether it's available from my local online store.
Edit: For IT books I'm mostly buying electronic now (a lot from O'Reilly) because it means I can take my entire library with me to office/clients.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverabilityWe walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass -
For those who do read on the Kindle, if you're ever desperate for a new book, in trouble with the significant other over money spent, or are just interested in branching out, there's always the Baen Free Library. There really are some excellent books in there.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore RooseveltAuthor of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning -
Ah, I've a hankering to read The Elenium/Tamuli again (4th time!) but gave them away some time ago 🙁
My bookshelf's mainly Banks & Stephenson now, with a sprinkling of Gaiman.
I've read all the Song of Ice & Fire books so far, last one was a bit of a slog though.
Get the feeling that Martin wasn't quite sure where things were going himself and padded a lot.
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GilaMonster (6/26/2015)
I've gone partially kindle (well, kindle for the iPad), partially paper for books. If I've started a series in paper, I want the entire series that way. If I've started in kindle, the entire series is bought on kindle.Also depends where I see the book, in a book shop or while browsing Amazon and whether it's available from my local online store.
Most times, I prefer an actual paper book. There is research, which I prefer to do on a screen, but I like paper for everything else. I know, probably a bit unusual in the world today.
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GilaMonster (6/25/2015)
As promised, the bookshelves.OK, I've tried to make out the title of the Shadowrun book on the shelf, and had no luck. I *know* it's one of the older ones, but I can't zoom in enough to make it out...
Looks like you're a primarily fantasy reader, with a smattering of SF? If you like the Star Trek novels (no matter TOS, TNG, DS9, or what) pick up a copy of Redshirts by John Scalzi...
😎
What with all the Jim Butcher and Mercedes Lackey, I think you and my wife would get along famously on books...
🙂
Oh, and the cat, she loves cats (so do I)
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GilaMonster (6/25/2015)
SQLBill (6/25/2015)
For me, he was building up this world/environment where the ruler was killed, a split happened, and fighting was going on to determine the 'rightful' ruler. I 'knew' who he was going to make the final triumphant winner...I just knew it and I really liked the character, rooted for him, etc.....then he got killed off. Okay, now I get into another character....yep...killed off. He really seems to want you to get behind a character and when you are drawn in, he kills him/her off.For me, this. I just ran out of characters to cheer for.
He never really gives you anybody who is shiny and makes you feel good, all of them are a little off. Even Bran, Hodor'ing Hodor is a bit squicky. I could have thought Caitlyn, but yeah, not sure anymore. It really just feels like a writer's playground to me more than a cohesive story ("what if ALL the magic was real, discuss"), but maybe the ending will tie it all back together somehow.
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dwain.c (6/25/2015)
I've heard that the CIA/NSA can learn a lot about you from what's on your bookshelf.Not sure what they'd make of the cat.
pshaw, that's nothing compared to your cell phone records, browsing history, physical location and contents of your trash. They don't need to know what you like to read, just how to manipulate you. *waves at Agent 61435795 off-screen
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jonathan.crawford (6/26/2015)
dwain.c (6/25/2015)
I've heard that the CIA/NSA can learn a lot about you from what's on your bookshelf.Not sure what they'd make of the cat.
pshaw, that's nothing compared to your cell phone records, browsing history, physical location and contents of your trash. They don't need to know what you like to read, just how to manipulate you. *waves at Agent 61435795 off-screen
Don't be naïve
😎
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In regards to Game of Thrones, aside from the food issue, what are the tangents that bug you the most? (The subplots that some disagree are actual subplots).
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If y'all didn't know the speakers for this year's PASS Summit has been announced, http://www.sqlpass.org/summit/2015/Sessions/Speakers.aspx. Several Threadizens on the list, myslef included for the first time. The most glaring omission is Gail, but I just checked the submitted speaker list and her name isn't there. Why no submission this year, Gail? Are you going to be there?
Jack Corbett
Consultant - Straight Path Solutions
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