Microsoft is making available a cool tool, which is available as a free download. It makes searching for data in MS Outlook much more informative than it may previously have been. Check out the warnings on the page!
http://www.microsoft.com - Download details: Lookout V1.2.
It is truly amazing what even the threat of competition can do :-) Another one we owe to 'Google' I suppose.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Friday, July 16, 2004
Knowledge 'needs' Information 'needs' data
Whether we call it intuition, where the analysis is done subconsciously, or data mining, which is the opposite end of the scale, we need data available in the relevant format. With intuition, the data is absorbed continuously, over a period of time, and the brain filters and arranges based on experience, which is why no two business people will present you with the 'same' understanding, unless they got it from a book, where you could look as well. With DM we sometimes even need to know what we are looking for, and the data we need to look in, before we start the searching. Why? Because we are trying to confirm something to aid our understanding of the situation represented in the sample data being used.
Since we can't be all things to all people, thank goodness that there are people who are prepared to fill in the gaps for us.
With this in mind I will sometimes place links here to areas where I have found valuable data in the past, and where I think others may also be able to derive benefit!
Here we go with the first of these:-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summary Results from The OLAP Survey 3 Sponsored by: Microstrategy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Download "Summary Results from The OLAP Survey 3" and get insight into actual customer experiences with various BI products. Through statistical data, you'll learn about the product capabilities and support that you can expect from a range of BI products and vendors. You'll also get an overview of different vendor's implementation time scales, query performance, Web deployment rate and more. Download here: http://searchDatabase.com/r/0,,30691,00.htm?track=NL-255&ad=486908&Microstrategy" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Change Data Capture - Next Generation ETL Sponsored by: Attunity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This white paper provides an overview of change data capture (CDC), the most current and effective way to integrate your shop's data. Download now and learn how to maximize the efficiency of operational data extraction, minimize resource usage and minimize the latency in the delivery of the changed data to potential consumers. You'll also read about a unified solution that can help your organization achieve successful bulk data movement, change data capture, federated data access and direct data access. Download here: http://searchDatabase.com/r/0,,30714,00.htm?track=NL-255&ad=486908 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Data Caching Strategies for RDBMS Applications Sponsored by: ObjectStore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Learn how data caching can help your organization go beyond its existing IT infrastructure. Download "Data Caching Strategies for RDBMS Applications" and learn the fundamental concepts of middle-tier caching and how your shop can increase the scalability, consistency, and recoverability of existing enterprise information systems. Download here: http://searchDatabase.com/r/0,,30713,00.htm?track=NL-255&ad=486908
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Which is best live or virtual
Whatever you feel is best is fine by me. I find that the biggest problem people have is the amount that they are expected to learn these days. If you can't get on a live course for whatever reason, then take a look at this 'sample' list of eLearning courses . If any of them take your fancy then you can always go to the QA site and book one.
Team work rules but synergism is better
Sounds like something out of StarTrek doesn't it.
I really believe that working in teams is better than working alone. However, I don't think that being in close proximity physically is a requirement of such success. I think tools like the one here at Help HalfBakery are an excellent example of the way things start out small and then grow into something of value. It is currently just an area to play. A bit like WebLogs really, however, it goes that one step further because it assumes some interaction as opposed to being an individual broadcasting.
I really believe that working in teams is better than working alone. However, I don't think that being in close proximity physically is a requirement of such success. I think tools like the one here at Help HalfBakery are an excellent example of the way things start out small and then grow into something of value. It is currently just an area to play. A bit like WebLogs really, however, it goes that one step further because it assumes some interaction as opposed to being an individual broadcasting.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Use QA Lite if SQLCMD too unfriendly an interface for SQLExpress
I have tried the Microsoft Web Data Administrator as an interface to SQLExpress, and it is fine, but I have decided to use QALite from now. It allows me to work much faster than having to go through the Cassini Web Server. It is a free download and comes with documentation at the link provided in this entry.
Friday, July 09, 2004
What's it all about
Latest Microsoft patch does not plug all holes
It would appear that another sharp individual has decided to become a thorn in Microsoft' side (forgive me English is not my first language). It is amazing how people will jump on the bandwagon thinking they are helping but actually make things worse. Face it, we need an Operating System otherwise we would be at the mercy of hardware vendors. Ok so Microsoft OS's are not Open. However, does this really matter, I personally don't think so. Any more than I agree with the argument that Unix is not so good nowadays because it is not Open either "since there are so many variants of it, and it is more and more controlled by few and fewer". It is amazing but I have been at the receiving end of arguments with people on 'both' sides of the fence? Just in case you are wondering I don't usually partake in these arguments. The funny thing is, with passionate people it doesn't matter what you say, if anything. They have enough energy to include you in their argument as long as you are prepared to sit and listen to them. Then depending on how much they were allowed to re-enforce their beliefs in your presence they will either be friend or foe.
For those that think that Unix administrators are gods there is a shock in store in the near future. It is not them it is the business people who employee them and the laws they are controlled by, which are designed to get rid of mistrust which causes friction in the money machine.
Talking about money machines and friction, we could use a bit more here in the UK. We need more to buy some more Satellite dishes, and stuff. It is difficult to get the house looking right with a dish just on one side. Then we can spend twice as much time watching those silly adverts on the children'? Channels. You wouldn't believe what you need until informed about the need by your children. One wonders whether the money machine is not working properly because of the lack of it in the right places. But then it may not be an illness at all, it may just be bad sampling of the population.
Ah so that’s why they need the money. They want the training they feel they need rather than going on courses they are told to go on!
Thank goodness for the Meta Group report below, you would almost wonder what was going on unless you commissioned a report and read it. Perhaps the problem is in the term 'IT organisations'. Outsourcing the IT groups to someone that can do what you can't, better than you. But then if you can't do it sufficiently acceptably then how do you measure how well they are doing it? Oh don't mention it but it is all built into the system ha, ha, ha
Worried, I can understand that.
Did you know there is a phobia for most letters of the alphabet, you don't believe me. Then take a look at this Link
Ranted out AJ :-)
PS If you made it to here then I hope you are smiling.
"What are fears but voices airy?
Whispering harm where harm is not.
And deluding the unwary
Till the fatal bolt is shot!"
---- Wordsworth
It would appear that another sharp individual has decided to become a thorn in Microsoft' side (forgive me English is not my first language). It is amazing how people will jump on the bandwagon thinking they are helping but actually make things worse. Face it, we need an Operating System otherwise we would be at the mercy of hardware vendors. Ok so Microsoft OS's are not Open. However, does this really matter, I personally don't think so. Any more than I agree with the argument that Unix is not so good nowadays because it is not Open either "since there are so many variants of it, and it is more and more controlled by few and fewer". It is amazing but I have been at the receiving end of arguments with people on 'both' sides of the fence? Just in case you are wondering I don't usually partake in these arguments. The funny thing is, with passionate people it doesn't matter what you say, if anything. They have enough energy to include you in their argument as long as you are prepared to sit and listen to them. Then depending on how much they were allowed to re-enforce their beliefs in your presence they will either be friend or foe.
Computer Weekly, 7 July Link
Microsoft's effort last week to fix a vulnerability in the Internet Explorer (IE) web browser program and end the latest series of internet attacks does not address another closely related and dangerous vulnerability, according to a security specialist.
Dutch security expert Jelmer Kuperus published code on the web last week that he said can be used to break into fully patched Windows systems using a slightly modified version of an attack called Download.Ject which Microsoft patched last week.
The latest attack targets a hole in a different Windows component than the one addressed by Microsoft's software patch. Using a similar attack, malicious hackers could break into even patched Windows machines, Kuperus said.
For those that think that Unix administrators are gods there is a shock in store in the near future. It is not them it is the business people who employee them and the laws they are controlled by, which are designed to get rid of mistrust which causes friction in the money machine.
Linux access rights expose CIOs Link
Computer Weekly, 8 July
June was a big month for IT directors of companies listed on any of the US stock exchanges, including UK firms, or having a close business relationship with a company listed there.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which covers the need to protect the integrity of information provided to investors, set a deadline of last month for various criteria to be met.
According to Bloor Research, at least one chief information officer's neck is already on the block because he could not show adequate tracability of who did what to critical financial data and processes under his control.
Similar legislation is appearing in Europe. Commercial organisations will have to be able to demonstrate that they control who has access to what critical financial information and when.
In the US, non-compliance can result in fines or imprisonment. And what the US is doing today will happen here tomorrow.
It is time to review the issue, especially if you use Unix or Linux systems, which require administrators to have access at a level that allows them to view and change critical data without being audited.
Talking about money machines and friction, we could use a bit more here in the UK. We need more to buy some more Satellite dishes, and stuff. It is difficult to get the house looking right with a dish just on one side. Then we can spend twice as much time watching those silly adverts on the children'? Channels. You wouldn't believe what you need until informed about the need by your children. One wonders whether the money machine is not working properly because of the lack of it in the right places. But then it may not be an illness at all, it may just be bad sampling of the population.
UK IT staff say 'show me the money' Link
Money, not work-life balance, still matters the most for UK IT staff when it comes to new jobs, according to a worldwide recruitment survey.
But the UK and Singapore are alone on this with workers in other countries opting for training and work-life balance as priorities.
The poll by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters surveyed 8,000 people globally across IT and non-IT fields. The overall results showed 34 per cent found ongoing training and personal development were most important and 32 per cent said work-life balance. Money came top for 26 per cent while just eight per cent were more bothered about the benefits package.
Ah so that’s why they need the money. They want the training they feel they need rather than going on courses they are told to go on!
IT staff sign up for Linux summer camp Link
An increasing number of IT professionals are giving up sun, sea and sand to attend intensive summer-camp training courses in technical skills, especially Linux.
Accelerated learning specialist The Training Camp said that it has seen demand for its residential IT courses double this summer compared to last year.
The company runs fast-track courses throughout the year, many of which are paid-for by attendees' employers.
Training Camp co-founder Robert Chapman had noticed a marked increase in the number of people taking courses privately during their annual summer leave.
Thank goodness for the Meta Group report below, you would almost wonder what was going on unless you commissioned a report and read it. Perhaps the problem is in the term 'IT organisations'. Outsourcing the IT groups to someone that can do what you can't, better than you. But then if you can't do it sufficiently acceptably then how do you measure how well they are doing it? Oh don't mention it but it is all built into the system ha, ha, ha
Balancing benefits with burnout for technology staff
Employee burnout and frustration with long working hours, limited growth in personal pay and fewer bonuses to go round are some of the issues highlighted in Meta Group’s 2004 IT Staffing and Compensation Guide, a comprehensive study of more than 650 information technology organisations. Most significantly, the study found that IT organisations were having difficulty in maintaining and developing skills in key areas to keep projects - and profits - moving forward.
Among the many areas of concern, few are as evident as employee morale. More than 72 per cent indicate that low IT employee morale is currently a serious issue in their organisations - a problem that could spell longer-range increases in staff turnover, lower productivity, and less overall shareholder value to the organisation as a whole if not addressed.
Worried, I can understand that.
Did you know there is a phobia for most letters of the alphabet, you don't believe me. Then take a look at this Link
Ranted out AJ :-)
PS If you made it to here then I hope you are smiling.
"What are fears but voices airy?
Whispering harm where harm is not.
And deluding the unwary
Till the fatal bolt is shot!"
---- Wordsworth
You can use WEB Data Administrator with SQLExpress
Hi if you look at the SQLExpress Web Log here you will see that a new product for administering SQLExpress will be released as part of Beta 3. However, I just downloaded the Web Data Administrator from the Microsoft download site and it seems to work just fine. There are two versions so if like me you are using a virual machine then you can download the Cassini version which has a smaller footprint.
Click Here for the Cassini version of the SQL WEB Data Administrator
Click Here for the Cassini version of the SQL WEB Data Administrator
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Five Tibetan Rites
Something that has always interested me is how some people can excercise like mad and get nowhere while other people don't even bother to excercise and appear quite fit anyway. A few months ago I was talking to one of the other instructors who is into Karate and he told me about some excercises that he does which are supposed to be excellent for you. He had got to the point where he was doing hundreds of these a day. I followed up the lead he provided and finally came across the Five Tibetans.
It would appear that the Budhist monks needed to keep their physical energy primed while spending hours and hours observing their inner workings.
This may seem easy to someone who has never tried meditating, but all of the guys in the class a few weeks ago who were expected to keep still for two hours revealed to themselves the truth about the difficulty of keeping still if you are not fit for it.
There are 5 excercises, combined with breathing and meditation, which were designed to provide these budhists with he requisite energy. They have become to be known as the 5 Tibetans and they are movements that are designed so that 21 repetitions of each will eventually build the energy that you can use while seeking deeper meaning to your life. Alternatively they will give you endless energy to increase the reps instead. You invest the 21 and reap the rest - Either mental or phyiscal, it just depends what makes you tick :-)
Five Tibetan Rites
It would appear that the Budhist monks needed to keep their physical energy primed while spending hours and hours observing their inner workings.
This may seem easy to someone who has never tried meditating, but all of the guys in the class a few weeks ago who were expected to keep still for two hours revealed to themselves the truth about the difficulty of keeping still if you are not fit for it.
There are 5 excercises, combined with breathing and meditation, which were designed to provide these budhists with he requisite energy. They have become to be known as the 5 Tibetans and they are movements that are designed so that 21 repetitions of each will eventually build the energy that you can use while seeking deeper meaning to your life. Alternatively they will give you endless energy to increase the reps instead. You invest the 21 and reap the rest - Either mental or phyiscal, it just depends what makes you tick :-)
Five Tibetan Rites