More Random Thoughts

Anyway, I just had the privilege of speaking at the State Farm DB2 User Group this morning and it was an enjoyable event. This corporate user group has more members than many of the "open enrollment" user groups I've worked with. I think it is a good idea for larger companies with a lot of DBAs and developers to forge their own specific user groups and solicit speakers and vendors to populate them. Doing so would allow the company to get some specialized presentations and provide some on-going education to their technicians -- all without having to send their employees on the road (and have them stuck at the airport, instead of me)!

Another thing I've been thinking about recently is the recent re-birth of data administration. Oh, I know, a lot of you DAs out there are thinking it never died - and perhaps you are correct. But there was a phase there (mid-90s onward) when data administration was not viewed to be as valuable as it once was. At least it seemed that way given the lack of budget and high-level exposure the role was given at many companies. But now with all of the government regulations and on-going compliance projects, it seems that the value of data and metadata is being reconsidered. This is a good thing.

Eventually, I hope that all data professionals work together to build a standard methodology for defining, capturing, moving, storing, managing, accessing and manipulating data. Something that a company can sink its teeth into and then compare its internal processes against a "best practices" model for data architecture. Wouldn't that be nice?

On the non-technical front I've been enjoying the latest CD release from Fountains of Wayne called Out of State Plates. This two disc set is a collection of odds & ends that is better than most groups' A-list material. If you like power pop, you'll love this new release from Fountains of Wayne.

Well, those are all of my thoughts for now, so I'll sign off and investigate whether my flight is going to take off or not...