Reasons Why I Should Not Be A SQL MVP

Utility Control Point

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ May 13, 2010 ⋅ 12 comments

I’ll be honest, I was *really* looking forward to using the Utility Control Point feature in SQL 2008 R2. I wanted to give the UCP a test drive, kick the tires, and get out on the open road. I even started asking around to see if we could get our hands on the shiny new [...]

What 5 things Should SQL Server Get Rid Of?

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ May 11, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments

I was tagged by Paul Randal (blog | twitter) in a recent chainposting on what features I would like to see removed from SQL Server. Paul did not say if I was allowed to repeat any of the items he listed but I am going to do so anyway because I feel that strongly about [...]

Death to NNTP!

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ May 5, 2010 ⋅ 6 comments

Well, it’s official, the MS newsgroups are going the way of Microsoft Bob by the end of this year. While I have never hid my feelings for newsgroups or forums I will say that participating in the private MVP newsgroups was one of the benefits I enjoyed the most as an MVP. So, I should [...]

Canceling a SQL Azure Account

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ April 26, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments

or…not…
I wanted to cancel my account before I got hit up for “hidden charges” or something ridonkulous like that and could not find any way to cancel my subscription short of calling someone on the phone which could be my least favorite thing to do.
From what I could tell, I should be allowed to “opt-out” [...]

SQLstrology

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ June 23, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

So the other day I noticed that colorstrology is apparently a real thing and not something that I thought I was dreaming about after pulling an all night bender with ten pounds of double thick bacon. But what has yet to be written, until now that is, would be…wait for it…wait for it…
SQLstrology.
Yeah, that’s right, [...]

Cold Calls

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ April 23, 2009 ⋅ 8 comments

I am thinking I should blog about this, but I didn’t want people to think I am a bigger ass than I already am. I have been assured that is not possible, so here goes.
Just a quick note to all those sales-persons out there that have me on their list of call to make. Stop [...]

Now Writing for MSSQLTips.com

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ April 7, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

Every now and then I see requests come to our team that say “hey, buddy, when was the last time that database was restored?” My first thought has been, historically, “how the hell am I supposed to know that?” After all, the management tools given to us (EM, SSMS) never list a “last restore date” [...]

Latest Email Scam

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ April 2, 2009 ⋅ 19 comments

Normally I do not spend any time on this blog talking about all the email scams that get sent my way, no matter how interesting they may appear. But I wanted to mention one email that came my way yesterday. It was trapped by our corporate spam filter, and I did not see it until [...]

Chris Hansen Should Be a DBA

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ March 30, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments

Thankfully I had yet another cross country flight yesterday. Why thankfully? Because the travel gives me ample time (and booze) to think about things like “If there was a DBA reality television show, what would it be like?” I started with the basics, something in a Survivor format, maybe a Big Brother, or The Apprentice, [...]

When To Use Auto Shrink

By Thomas LaRock ⋅ March 27, 2009 ⋅ 4 comments

Never, that’s when.
Don’t want to believe me? Well then, who would you believe? How about the SQL Craftsman, a man with more MVP-ness than myself.
What’s that? Not good enough for you? Well, then, let me introduce you to Paul Randal. He had some thoughts on the subject.
http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlserverstorageengine/archive/2007/03/28/turn-auto-shrink-off.aspx
http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/paul/post/Auto-shrink-e28093-turn-it-OFF!.aspx
So why is this still an option? I don’t [...]