Windows Azure HDInsight Service

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Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the release of their new HDInsight Service preview for Windows Azure. HDInsight Service brings an Apache Hadoop solution to the cloud and allows users to manage, analyze and report on big data. The new preview is directly integrated into the windowsazure.com portal and includes a number of enhancements and features such as simplified cluster deployment and the ability to deploy a cluster of up to 40 nodes.

For more information check out these sites:




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Win Registration to the PASS BA Conference

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I wanted to give you a heads-up about a contest this week that gives you a chance to win registration to the inaugural PASS Business Analytics (BA) Conference.

About the Event
The PASS Business Analytics Conference is a professional, community-oriented gathering for business analytics professionals, which will take place at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, April 10-12, 2013. The 2-day Conference features 60+ sessions across 5 topic tracks and will bring together 1,200 business analysts, data scientists, architects, and business analytics/business intelligence practitioners to connect, share, and learn. You can learn more about the PASS BA Conference at http://passbaconference.com/.

How to Win
Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter Monday, March 11 through to Wednesday, March 13, and share how your job function is becoming more analytics focused for your chance to win one of five passes. Make sure you’re following the BA Conference on Twitter (@passbac/#passbac) and Facebook for more information.

Good luck! And even if you don’t win, you can get $200 off registration by using the Azure VC discount code BAC337VC - just remember to register by March 15 for the best rate.


 
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Introducing Microsoft “Data Explorer” Preview for Excel

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Today, Microsoft launched their latest Excel add-in, Data Explorer. This tool provides an intuitive user interface and a seamless experience for data discovery, data transformation and enrichment. For those who find the name sounds familiar, it is probably because you used the tool when it was SQL Azure Lab project in 2011. This release however is a preview of a new set of features that are coming soon to Excel!

Microsoft “Data Explorer” Preview for Excel allows you to import data from a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional data sources such as  CSV, Windows Azure SQL Database, Oracle, MySQL, Sharepoint list, OData Feed, Facebook, etc. This imported data can then be merged and shaped to match your data analysis requirements or prepare it for further analysis and modeling by tools such as PowerPivot and PowerView.

Data Explorer - Other Sources options
Data Explorer introduces a query editor which provides users with a simple way to define and shape their data. The editor allows you to perform tasks like filter, hide columns, transform data, split a column of text, to name a few. There is also a Steps pane that allows you to add, edit, reorder or delete query steps to ensure your data is transformed in the way you need.

Data Explorer - Query Editor
Microsoft “Data Explorer” Preview for Excel is another step towards improving self-service Business Intelligence by giving business users more capabilities to import, explore and analyze data with familiar tools!

Check out the video to see what it can do and you can download and try the preview here.

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2013 = Changes

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At the beginning of the year, I told some of my friends that I planned to make some changes this year. Much to my surprise, the first change for 2013 occurred a mere few weeks later - I changed my occupation.  This week I started my job as a full time lecturer at the School of Business and Computer Science, a tertiary level educational institute in Trinidad and Tobago.

After being in the IT corporate world for over a decade, it was a very difficult decision to leave and join the education system. Entering a new field is a challenge but I believe this step is necessary for some of my long term plans and goals. I also see this as a new opportunity to help grow the IT world in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the Caribbean.

I intended to write about this earlier but activities such as SQLSaturday #185, MVP Summit and also wrapping up previous work from Teleios kept me extremely busy. Hopefully I will have more time to blog in the future.

While I started this year with some plans in mind, the fact that I changed careers might mean change in plans as well. As Nido Qubein stated 'Change brings opportunity'!

 
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Thank You for 2012

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Like every other year, 2012 had its ups and downs but this has been a great SQL Server year for me. This post isn't to highlight my SQL Server achievements and activities but to thank all the people who assisted me and encouraged me this year! The list is long so I can’t mention everyone here but I am going to mention groups and some members from the groups who have gone above and beyond for me.


Special Thanks to:

TTSSUG Committee Members - Anand Singh, Ruselle Seeboo, Mitra Sinanan, Gisselle Ramsaran, Jason Deyalsingh and Hasani Holder.

Azure VC Committee Members - Paras Doshi and Jose Rivera.

PASS - Entire PASS team and Board of Directors.

SQL Server Family.

SolidQ - Fernando Guerrero, Antonio Soto, Ron Talmage and Paul Turley.

SQL Server Team (Microsoft) - Suzanna Litwin (Moran), Emilie Bridon, Katrina Munsell.

Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago - Nancy Manfredonia, Indera Ghanesh.

Last but not least, special thanks to all my readers for taking the time to read my ramblings and dealing with my grammatical errors.

Wishing you all a new year filled with peace, joy, health and prosperity. See you in 2013!

 
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SQL in Seattle

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Last month, I travelled to Seattle for one of my favourite events of the year - PASS Summit!
This year's summit trip had an extra benefit, another SQL Server event called Red Gate SQL in the City.

Seattle

SQL In the City - 5th November

As stated on the website, 'SQL in the City brings together Red Gate and the SQL community for an awesome day of free SQL Server training the Red Gate way.'

The event had very interesting and informative sessions as well as some well-known SQL Server speakers.  I went to three of the sessions and spent the rest of the day meeting Red Gate staff and attendees. At the end of the day was a networking session as well as free swag. I had an awesome first experience at this the event. Thanks Red Gate!

PASS Summit 2012 - 6th - 9th November

Starting my own PASS Summit tradition -
Super Hero T-Shirts Day!
I was looking forward to this event since the last day of PASS Summit 2011. This year some things were different but adjusting to the changes was not difficult. The fact that the next summit isn’t going to be in Seattle means I should be prepared for more changes next year.

I tried to balance the time that I spent participating in the various activities at the event. I went to some sessions based on recommendations that I received during my PASS Summit Interviews. I visited the exhibition booths to see what products/services were offered and also to talk to them about sponsor SQLSaturday #185. Of course I also had to make time to visit the Community Zone, the SQL Clinic and all my PASS friends in the HQ booth and room.

One of the best things about the summit is the fact that I get to see my friends and also make new friends. This was my first summit as an MVP and being on the MVP mailing list made me create a new list of people that I had to meet. The list is very long but I wanted to highlight a few persons because of the things they have done for me before meeting me in person:

Me and Katrina Munsell (aka @SQLServer)
Due to my limited trips to events in the US, I try to do something for the community at the PASS Summit every year. I participated at the bloggers table again this year but due to some wireless issues my posts weren't what I wanted them to be. I also hosted a 'Birds of the feather' table and even though it was the only 'Cloud table' I am glad to say that we had people present to talk about the topic.  Jeremiah Peschka can confirm that the picture below wasn't photo shopped.

Birds of the feather - The Cloud table 
 
Some events that occurred during the trip that stood out in my mind (in no particular order) are:

1.       Hanging out with my friends Para Doshi and Adam Machanic. 
2.       My interactions with Katrina Munsell. She is funny and very cool. Thanks for the SQL Server swag!
3.       Meeting my SolidQ boss, Antonio Soto and the rest of the SolidQ family at the 10th Anniversary event!
4.       Getting saved from Jennifer McCown at the bloggers' table when I was starving. Thanks Jen!
5.       Wendy Pastrick supplying us with internet at the bloggers' table.  Thanks Wendy!
6.       Going for coffee with Jeremiah Peschka which resulted with us running down the street to FedEx with a Red Gate box.
7.       Hanging out with Rob Farley and the LobsterPot team.
8.       Cindy Gross impersonation of Mark Souza.
9.       Watching a long line of people waiting for an autograph from Pinal Dave.
10.    Meeting Paul White.

As I stated, this list has some events and not all the events but I can’t end this post without highlight the best memory for this trip – Winning an Xbox from the SQL Server booth. Thanks Microsoft for my Christmas gift!
 
My Gift arrives safely- Xbox with Kinect and two games

Overall the summit was great and I can't wait for PASS Summit 2013!

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