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 Last year, our local .NET User Group held a four session .NET University to cover the 3.0 Framework (WPF, WCF, WF, and CardSpace).
Now, thanks to Karl Rissland (special thanks to Doug for sharing the information), there are sessions for BizTalk. You can get all the information over at the .NET University Site (Power Points, videos, labs, etc...). If there is anyone that would like to present the material at our Pee Dee Area User Group, please let me know!!!
For those that have never heard of this product... You should check it out. Microsoft recently released a new version (FREE) downloadable here. What is it you ask... The SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) gathers data from Microsoft Windows and SQL Server configuration settings. BPA uses a predefined list of SQL Server 2005 recommendations and best practices to determine if there are potential issues in the database environment. It provides a great deal of information about your servers. I ran it on my local SQL Server so I could show an example and it found this. Apply Cumulative Update to Improve Query Performance On versions of SQL Server before 9.0.3171.0, a known issue can degrade query performance on 32-bit and 64-bit systems with 2 gigabytes (GB) or more of memory. When you execute queries under the context of a login that is not a member of the sysadmin fixed server role, you might encounter performance degradation symptoms that arise from a large and growing Security Token cache. These issues can include performance degradation of queries, high CPU usage for the SQL Server process, and a sharp increase in worker threads and SQL user connections. Systems that have less than 2 GB of memory should not experience these issues because normal memory usage requirements keep the Security Token cache from growing too large. Best Practices Recommendations Apply the latest cumulative update package or cumulative update package #3 from the SQL Server Support page to SQL Server versions before 9.0.3171.0. Alternatively, you can apply the following hotfixes, which are all included in cumulative update package #3. - KB article 927396: Queries take a longer time to finish running when the size of the TokenAndPermUserStore cache grows in SQL Server 2005
- KB article 933564: FIX: A gradual increase in memory consumption for the USERSTORE_TOKENPERM cache store occurs in SQL Server 2005
- KB article 937745: FIX: You may receive error messages when you try to log in to an instance of SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server handles many concurrent connections
Kinda interesting stuff. Other items listed (for more examples). Keep in mind, this is my local SQL development server... don't be too critical  - Sysdtslog90 Table is found in [msdb] database on Server [slowMachine]. Do not create the Sysdtslog90 table for logging in the [master] and [msdb] databases. This is not a security related concern but could be a performance issue since SSIS can generate a lot of logging data. We recommend creating a separate database for logging.
- Login [goodUserBlah] on Server [slowMachine] has Password Policy set to [True] and Password Expiration set to [False]. We recommend that both Password Policy and Expiration must be enabled for SQL accounts.
- Service [MSSQLSERVER] on host [slowMachine] is found to be running under LocalSystem account. We recommend that SQL Server services should not run under LocalSystem account.
- Database [awesomeDatabase] on server [slowMachine] does not have PAGE_VERIFY option set to 'CHECKSUM'. We recommend setting PAGE_VERIFY option to 'CHECKSUM'.
- It's found that DBCC CheckDB for database [awesomeDatabase] on server [slowMachine] has not executed ever since the database created. We recommend you to check the database for integrity at least once in 14 days.
Anyway... you get the idea... SQL 2000 Version here. NOTE: You will need registry access to scan the SQL Server.
 Wow! What a night last night. We (PDANUG) had the pleasure of having Brian Hitney and Chad Brooks come to little ole' Florence, SC. It was exciting to see 33 techies crammed into our conference room with laptops and power strips everywhere!
Watching everyone play guitar hero was fun... lets just say... some people are obviously better than others! And it showed! I am speaking for Florence and the rest of South Carolina, a location that does not get credit for being the tech center of the South.... Thank you both for everything you guys do for us!!! YOU BOTH ROCK!!!
Oh yeah... Getting a FREE copy of Visual Studio 2008 rocked too!!!
We have a saying where I grew up (Lancaster, SC): "Free is for me"
Coming to Florence, SC, tomorrow, December 11th, 2007!!! Pee Dee Area .NET User Groups Presents: Brian Hitney & Chad Brooks
Topic: Visual Studio 2008 Install-fest!!
Directions: http://pdanug.net Tentative schedule: 6:00 PM - 6:20 PM Socializing / Free Food / XBox 360 Play
6:20 PM - 6:30 PM Introduction, Sponsor Time, and News.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Presentation / VS 2008 Install-fest and Wrap Up I know I posted about this here, but I wanted to remind everyone planning on attending to please register. To do so, follow the link below: 
And if you are not currently subscribed to the Pee Dee Area .NET User Group blog, you can here  to keep informed.
Coming to Florence, SC; December 11th, 2007!!! Pee Dee Area .NET User Groups Presents: Brian Hitney
Topic: Silverlight and AJAX Development with Visual Studio 2008 + Visual Studio 2008 Install-fest!!
 We have a very special holiday event planned for December! Brian Hitney from Microsoft will be dropping in to give us an overview of Silverlight and AJAX development in Visual Studio 2008. You don’t want to miss this event because Brian will be bringing with him a FREE COPY of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional for each attendee! That’s right, a free copy to all attendees! However, there are some rules that you must follow: - You must be present to receive a copy of Visual Studio 2008 Professional.
- It is highly recommended that each attendee bring their laptop/desktop to the event, after all, this is an install-fest. For those people with desktops, we may have a few extra LCD panels at the event for general use but they will be first-come first-serve.
- Quantities of Visual Studio 2008 Professional are limited and the people who bring their computers will be first in line. In other words, if you don’t bring your computer and we run out of copies to hand out, you simply won’t receive a copy.
- These copies of Visual Studio 2008 Professional are Not for Resale. (No E-bay!!!)
Please register here so we have an idea of how many people will be attending.
Tentative schedule:
6:00 PM - 6:20 PM Socializing / Free Dinner
6:20 PM - 6:30 PM Introduction, Sponsor Time, and News.
6:30 PM - 7:15 PM Presentation
7:15 PM - 8:00 PM VS 2008 Install-fest and Wrap Up Hope to see you there!!!
 It is here... With everyone promoting the released of Visual Studio 2008...
What about SQL? Yeah I know, not yet RTM... but an update either way. Get it while it's hot! (download here) Also, Express Edition is now available with this release...
Ya gotta be kidding me!!! Only FOUR MORE EPISODES of Heroes before re-runs!!! This "writers' strike" stinks! According to TV Guide, the December 3rd episode has been reworked to possibly serve as the season finale... Visit here for a complete list of show's that are going in the dark soon. Man... this stinks... Did I already say that this stinks? FOUR more Heroes! What are we going to talk about on Tuesday Mornings... Someone... Please say it ain't so!!!
I have noticed that twice in the past week FeedBurner has not reported any Google Reader subscribers. I have confirmed this on my other blog, Susanne's blog (wife), and Chris Craft's blog. Yesterday... 47 Subscribers... 19 Subscribers on Google.  Today... 29 Subscribers... 0 Subscribers on Google. 
The same thing happened on November 3rd too. Anyone else have this going on? Any clue what is up?
 As many of you may already know, Susanne and I surrendered to God's call to ministry last March. We have been fervently praying for God's will in our lives, and for His guidance in the next step(s) we should be taking in obedience to accomplish His will.
After much prayer, we have decided to sell our home. We have had a burden on our hearts for over a year now concerning financial freedom (thanks Joe), and while we have made great strides in getting there, we feel that this will be a BIG STEP towards finally making it happen! We know that God is in control, and we have already found a home that is going to be a step of faith. We are trusting that God will sell our house quickly and He can make it happen! Buy purchasing this home, we will accomplish two things...we will be DEBT FREE except for a mortgage (which by the way will be a little more than half of what we are currently paying) and we will also be fulfilling a dream of being "out in the country" on a few acres of land.  Please pray for favor with the owners of this property (a sister and two brothers selling their mother's home) and for God's perfect plan to be accomplished. We have not listed our house with a realtor because financially that would be a bit of a set back, so we are trying to sell it on our own.
We have constructed a website at www.2121TwinBridge.com for potential buyers to view, and we have made printable flyers to distribute. If you know of anyone that would be interested in buying our house, please let them know. Otherwise, please pray that the house will sell quickly and that we will be able to accomplish our financial goals.
Thank you all so much for praying, and for being wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ who we can turn to in our trials, laugh with in our joys, weep with in our sorrows, and celebrate with in our successes. We cannot imagine doing this "thing" called life without you all!!!
 Had to pass this along to anyone that needs to purchase a Domain Name.
I just purchased a new domain name and the initial cost was $10.15 I entered Code OYH3 and it lowered the cost to $7.15. Great Savings!!! (Home for Sale @ www.2121TwinBridge.com) Other valid promo codes are: OYH1 & OYH2. (found the codes here)
 Russ Fustino is coming to Florence, SC this Wednesday! Russ is a MSDN Developer Community Champion for Microsoft. (Register for the event here) Russ is stopping by on his way to Raleigh from Tallahassee!
FYI: A copy of Office Ultimate 2007 will be given away! Did you ever feel inundated with developer tools? Did you ever feel you are missing something that could make your life easier as a developer and as a power user? There are so many tools available to choose from and it keeps getting tougher to keep up with. Tool familiarity continues to be one of the top developers challenges. This series of seminars is all about tools for developers, by developers. Welcome to this new, fresh and original ground breaking MSDN seminar series from Russ’ Tool Shed called … It’s All About The Tools. This is the first installment of many more to come. This session is tech talk about tools for developers. Join Microsoft Florida Developer Evangelist Russ Fustino for his take on what's hot in the developer's toolbox. There's something here for everyone, from beginners to experts. Oh, by the way, you might want to put your hard hat on for this one! In this session you will see demonstrations the following tools and a few more surprises… Fiddler
Web Stress Tool
IE Developer Toolbar
Visual Studio IDE tools
code convertors
obfuscator
snippit manager (and the snippet tool in vista as a bonus)
toolbox scratch pad
Refactor
Visual Studio Express tool’s
Visual Web Developer Express:
Web Administrator
Membership and personalization
Visual Express C#
XNA Express
Live Services
Spaces
Live Writer
MSDN article on search provider (2007.08) Silverlight 1.0/1.1 XAML Designer (Expression Blend)
Community Tool Web Site Review
Top downloaded SDK’s
GotDotNet: http://www.gotdotnet.com/team/ide/
MSDN Dev Center: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/powertoys/
CodePlex home: http://www.codeplex.com/Default.aspx
Download center and more! To find out more and register for the event go here. This is going to be an awesome event! Florence, Columbia, Charleston, Conway, Myrtle Beach, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Charlotte (anyone from anyplace)... You are ALL WELCOME to attend this FREE event.
I have known about this for a while, but just recently stumbled upon it again. Here is a cool site at http://www.databaseanswers.org to assist with data model designs. They have hundreds of database designs specific for certain types of needs such as... 163+ data models... Thanks Chris Craft for first sharing the site with me!
Microsoft now provides a way to get a hotfix without calling them... (Will need the KB Article Number) Simply use this submission form. Thanks Chris!
 Windows 2008 RC0 was released yesterday. I am really looking forward to using IIS7. I am anxious to setup a few web sites with SQL 2008 and see how it works and performs.
Get it Windows 2008 RC0 here
Get SQL 2008 CTP here Cool Benefits of Windows 2008 (taken from here) - Cross-site copy allows you to easily copy Web site settings across multiple Web servers without additional configuration.
- Built-in virtualization to virtualize multiple operating systems—Windows, Linux and others—on a single server. With virtualization built into the operating system and with simpler, more flexible licensing policies, it's now easier than ever to take advantage of all the benefits and cost savings of virtualization.
- Protection of your server with security innovations that reduce attack surface area of the kernel, resulting in a more robust and secure server environment.
- Protection against malicious software with User Account Control with a new authentication architecture. (NOOOOOOOOOOO)
- Simplified management of your IT infrastructure by using new tools that provide a one-stop interface for server configuration and monitoring, as well as the ability to automate routine tasks.
- Effectively pinpointing and resolving trouble spots with powerful diagnostic tools that give you ongoing visibility into your server environment, both physical and virtual.
And the one I really want to see... - Delegated administration of applications and sites so you can give control to different parts of the Web server to those who need it.
My understanding is that this will allow web hosting companies to give more control of IIS to clients hosting their web applications on your server. Pretty cool!!! Thanks Somasegar for the announcement.
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