Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

There are a number of exceptional events taking place close to home (Vancouver, BC, Canada) over the next few weeks… here are just 5 Data-centric events to excite the senses! New Era of Data Warehouse Design – with ColumnStore technology  (Free event) Operationalize Power BI  (Free event) PASS Summit 2016  (discount code provided!) Columnstore & […]

Well, on June 1st, Microsoft delivered a new version of its “Enterprise Class” Database, SQL Server.  Why should you upgrade?  There are so many reasons that I can think of, but likely you’ll be interested because… SQL Server Developer’s Edition is now FREE! … so why not take it for a spin… Need resources to get […]

Okay, this is pertaining my LAST blog post, “SQL Server 2016 Community Launch Event – Vancouver, B.C.”  a.k.a. The Event As Vancouver is one of the TOP 10 most expensive cities to live, it’s reasonable to expect that it is also one of the TOP 10 most expensive cities to host an event… Community event, […]

What?  Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Community Launch Event Where?  UBC Robson Square Downtown Campus (800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3B7) When?  Thursday, May 19th, 2016  (9 AM – 5 PM) We will have Microsoft Employees, Data Platform MVPs and Seasoned SQL Professionals talking about and demonstrating the new features of SQL Server 2016.  Of course, […]

As I roll up my sleeves, make some espresso [insert 12 other OCD / procrastination habits], In preparations for another SQLSaturday, I think once again about how I have needs.  I’m not talking about the one’s that Abraham Maslov provided me – those are a given.  I have certain needs as a presenter in order to be […]

…In less than 2 weeks! – Register Now #SQLSatVancouver We’re BAAAaaack! Well after almost 2 1/2 years we decided to do it one more time! (For historical purposes you can check-out my last post on the topic here.) “What’s a SQLSaturday?” A little unsure what a SQL Saturday is… well you can read the original […]

Potatoes, cream and butter not required! Tomorrow evening I will be delivering a presentation to the Vancouver PASS Chapter the Vancouver BI PASS Chapter and invitations have gone out to various other local UGs as I will be covering a few different areas. Power Query is a pretty slick tool and I will add details […]

Wow! The end of an amazing Day #1 – Dimensional Modeling in Depth. I frequently espouse the benefits of benefits of following the Kimball approach to clients. Sometimes they listen and send their people to the Kimball University Training, and sometimes they simply buy them the book and say, “Make it so, Number One!” [Think […]

I have always been a fan of the Kimball Books for providing a playbook for how to do Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence (DW/BI), and I have always had an excuse for not biting the bullet and taking the course.  Now, my time is running out.  The team is retiring, as stated here.  I am […]

It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I share with everyone that I will be presenting with Niko Neugebauer (t | IN | mvp) at the upcoming PASS Business Analytics Conference in San Jose, California. I have been going to PASS conferences for over a decade now, and occasionally I have submitted an abstract or […]