More chances to enter

There are more chances to enter the Phoenix Gu 2010 VIP ticket contest. One is coming up today. You’ll need to pay attention to get in. Follow @azgroups, @sevdnug, @wynapse, @joshcoffman, and @csinc for the quickest notice.

Just a reminder, the prize is a VIP ticket to the 7th annual Scott Guthrie event in Scottsdale. Jeff Palermo and Scott Hanselman are the 2 other speakers this year. This ticket includes front seats, power and internet access, and valet parking. You can buy the ticket here. We’ll end the contest and pick a winner in time to buy one assuming it doesn’t sell out. So you shouldn’t wait if you have to have VIP seating. There are no more free seats available so it’s VIP or nothing now.

OK GO! Phoenix Gu 2010 VIP Contest Begins

Using our new capabilities for content management via CloudDB, we have placed a secret code somewhere on our site. It’s not on the blog portion, so you can skip looking there. To enter, you need to submit your answer on twitter to josh or csinc.

This is the first entry chance.  There will be more, but only the first respondent gets in on this one.

Oh, and please check out the rules.

Phoenix Gu 2010 VIP Ticket contest rules

OK, so like any contest it’s best to lay out some ground rules. First, this is semi-informal; It’s really just something fun and hopefully encourages community among developers i the Phoenix metro. So here it is, the informal contest rule.

1. If Josh or Computerist Solutions has done business with you in the last 12 months, you are not eligible. This includes work for pay or trade. Nothing against our customers, just trying to keep it fair and not appear slanted in anyway.
2. The winner from last year will also not be eligible, sorry Mark. Please encourage others to enter though. This is about the local tech community, AZGroups, and the Scott Guthrie event – which we are lucky to have here.
3. Josh reserves the right to pick the winner at his sole discretion, or with the assistance of advisors also at his discretion.
4. While the exact details aren’t worked out nor the time frame, it will obviously be before May 10th.

That’s it. Nothing formal or complicated. Let’s all keep it honorable and smooth. I’ve got a good idea what I want to do for entering, but I haven’t had time to work out the details. Expect them this week. It will involve twitter (josh, csinc), this blog, and maybe some other outside if I can get it.

I like puzzles, reading, tech, and sports. You should probably expect something related to one or more of those, and it won’t be very intense but hopefully mildly entertaining.

Cassandra db link

Another post for my own reference.  I’m planning on learning more about how Cassandra works; sounds like a good approach.

http://arin.me/blog/wtf-is-a-supercolumn-cassandra-data-model

http://www.ridgway.co.za/archive/2009/11/06/net-developers-guide-to-getting-started-with-cassandra.aspx

@robconery and @migueldeicaza are talking about a Cassandra driver.

Middle-earth quiz book

A friend a co-worker has re-published (self-published this time) her Middle-earth quiz book, and it is currently available on amazon create space.  It should be also available on amazon’s storefront before too long.  I’d like to see her get back the cost of buying the rights from the original publisher and publishing it herself.

Promoting Phoenix Gu 2010

Put this on your site/blog to help advertise the Phoenix Gu 2010 event.

<div style="width: 250px;"><iframe name="countdown" id="mgframe" src="
http://www.eventbrite.com/countdown-widget?eid=611672529" width="250"
height="332" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"
frameborder="0" ></iframe></div>

looks like this:

via @scottcate on @azgroups yahoo group

Microsoft is more open than you think

The background music definitely has a corporate cheese theme, but the point is valid.  There has been a significant shift in recent years, and MS is much more open and OSS friendly.  It’s smart move for their business and good for everyone.  Credit where credit is due.

vid:

http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/us/details/b9ac0bdd-1936-44c4-80c5-4275360638c2

Free VIP ticket for Phoenix Gu 2010

Phoenix Gu 2010: Attack of the Clones OR Phoenix Gu 2010: Scott3D?  Get it? Scott Guthrie + Scott Cate + Scott Hanselman? I dunno; I make it up as I go along.

So yes, Scott “Teh Gu” Guthrie is coming back to Phoenix for his annual visit. Yes, he is bringing Jeff “can’t think of a nickname for him yet” Palermo and Scott “HaHa/2” Hanselmen with him.  Thanks once again to Scott “head in the clouddb” Cate (clouddb), and whoever else helps out.

Oh and yes, ComputeristSolutions is giving away a VIP ticket. Still working out the details, but stay tuned to here and on twitter (@csinc or @joshcoffman).

Scott Guthrie Coming to Phoenix on May 10 2010

Just a quick note, Scott Guthrie is coming back to Phoenix again and bringing Scott Hanselman and Jeff Palermo with him.  It’s always a great event.  See details here.

Oh, and its on May 10, 2010 from 8am to 6pm MST.

Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center
7700 East McCormick Parkway
Scottsdale AZ, 85258

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csinc cms

Just a quick note about recent changes to the site.. ComputeristSolutions.com is now largely driven by content from CloudDB. There are a couple of exceptions, namely the footer. I’ve been pleased with the experience and would definitely use CloudDB again or recommend it for the right circumstance.

I’ll be adding a little content management feature set. Plus there are a couple layout and design flaws we need to fix. It’s coming together nicely otherwise.