Sorry Steve, I can't relate to how 'shovelling manure' takes longer than expected - thankfully. Or warming up the tractor, artificially inseminating a cow, or similar farming-related tasks. 🙂

While it may be interesting to debate the relevance and value of regulatory requirements to the actual business, as database professionals we should consider the opportunity that this opens for...

Steve,

You're going to have to be careful about your editorials now that Mom Jones is keeping an eye on things.  You can't for example reminisce about how you took your...

I was called by a Microsoft recruiter wanting to talk to me about a position they had available. “We can talk, as long as...

Steve,

You seem to have been hovering around the difference between the database engine part of SQL and the BI/SSIS stuff that it getting tagged on and most experienced or senior...

Something like...

DECLARE @Firm int, @test-2 int

DECLARE Table2_Cursor CURSOR FOR

SELECT Firm,test FROM Table2;

OPEN Table2_Cursor;

FETCH NEXT FROM Table2_Cursor

INTO @Firm, @test-2;

WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0

   BEGIN

      UPDATE Table1

     ...

Mike,

I like the idea of indexes in xml datatypes, particularly when combined with schemas.  There was a comment in one of Steve’s editorial posts a few weeks ago that said...

Wanderer,

When it comes to accessing the database I am fairly anal about how developers access the database and tend to create an abstraction layer for developers that use more simple...

Ken,

I accept your criticism of the use of boolean discriminator attributes.  There are other mechanisms (such as an IsInClass function using bitwise operators) that would allow for the implementation of...

Thanks for your positive comments - especially from people respected within the SQL community.  Although my blogs are littered with my personal motivation for walking the MCA road, perhaps a post...

Steve,

Since in our field circular references should be avoided (almost at any cost) maybe it raises an eyebrow as to our suitability for certification, writing certification books or anything beyond...

For some reason IT is unique in rewarding those candidates that have the latest skills in the latest technologies - above experience.  For some reason corporates and their project managers...

We can discuss certification as much as we like but the problem is that you cannot generalize.

If you are sitting in a stable job and not intending to move soon...

Check out the recently added post on the MCA blog - Common fallacies around MCA programme.

Looks to me like this discussion is going to continue long after the thread...

I welcome not only the architecture certification, but also the more intense discussion in the industry on what architecture is, such as being done by the folks...