Sorry, not reference but 'resource' database.  Hidden system database introduced in SQL Server 2005.

Isn't there a hidden system database named references?

Isn't there a hidden system database you also need to take care of?

Thank you, I like your explanation of the USE statement being a hint.  But wouldn't that also imply you should be able to change the database context within a stored...

Why is switching the db context within a transaction allowed?

np.eye and not np.identity ?

Thanks to [nova] for your answer that included "Opens the door to a lot of other powerful APIs, like Spark".

This idea is the one that could get me on board...

Thank you all for responding.

In our shop there's now a lot of hand waving about relative efficiencies, but so far no proof!  We don't have a problem with throughput.  Who...

We need to do this type of thing but for many countries, some of them whose work week is not Monday to Friday.  Our solution is to maintain an international...

Hmmm ... the ugliest syntax wins!

Of course this is true, especially for SQL specialists. However, I need to be good in 4-5 things to do my job (it's a small company; you wear many...

Thanks for responding.
Yes, we're now auditing successful logins.  It's a security requirement.  
Individual accounts are getting 50,000+ records in a 24 hour period.  These are SSMS sessions; looks like...

Looks like query 2 has a typo.