the bofe blog

I came across this article in my DBA readings: Is SQL Server keeping up with MySQL?

Since I’ve got experience on both sides of the fence, I’ll chime in and try to not be biased.

When did MySQL finally add stored procedures?

Version 5.0. From my experience, they are young/buggy. For instance no variables for LIMITs or default parameter values.

How about transaction support, SSIS-like capabilities, a scheduled job management system, and a relatively easy-to-use consolidated GUI management tool?

Version 4.1. The rest of the question is a bit loaded.

MySQL as a query engine has lots of nice features and performs well. You should always use the platform that will meet your needs.

Simply put, MySQL’s administration tools don’t cut it.

“LIMIT” notwithstanding, if SQL Server’s functional specs weren’t already light years beyond MySQL with SQL Server 2005, it will certainly leave them in the dust when SQL Server 2008 hits the streets.

I don’t know about light years. Especially for the query engine.

SQL Server’s query engine is still greatly ahead of MySQL and the administrative tools are light years ahead.

I’ve been doing WAY too much thinking about the Intro music analysis.

With Last.FM and Youtube, I got the numbers for the 2007 Hot 100 Number-One Hits

(click for full image)

2007’s average introduction length was 3%.

Notable information:

• Average song length was 4 minutes and 25 seconds
• Kanye West – Stronger had a negative introduction
• Maroon 5 – Makes me Wonder had the longest intro

I’ll be running several more years. My prediction: this experiment will show society’s attention span has gone way down, and further prove that popular music sucks. =)

I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of an intro in popular music. Do long, non-vocals introductions work? Are they common?

An intro time is the number of seconds of music played before vocals enter the song.

The Intro Ratio™ is the number of seconds of an intro divided by the songs total number of seconds.

There are cases when this ratio can be negative. Think songs starting out A-Capella. Instrumental songs need not apply.

Since the thoughts were originally spawned by Metallica’s unnecessarily long intro to “King Nothing”, I thought I’d analyze a Metallica album.

An instrumental song, “To Live Is To Die” was omitted.

Hulu is a great new video service.

It’s got a feature that Youtube doesn’t compete with.

Oh, and full episodes of Family Guy/Simpsons =)

Please update your satellite imagery/addresses for Murray, KY. I know we aren’t exactly your top priority, but this is getting ridiculous.

The following things have happened since the maps were last updated:

• I graduated.
• I worked three different full time jobs and moved three times.
• The Wellness Center (shown under construction in the photo) has been open for OVER THREE YEARS. (source)
• My current apartment complex was finished and has been open for years.
• Friends that I’ve had have met, gotten married, and conceived.
• Things that have happened since Duke Nukem Forever was announced was released.

Thank you.

Scott posted a personal finance spreadsheet.

Here’s the one I did for savings.

savings.xls – just edit the yellow highlighted values. [updated. thanks johnO]

I haven’t done a post like this in a while.

If you’re new here, occaisionally I point out really geeky things in songs.

• All in the key
• POLY
• Needs More Vibra-Slap

This post is from the man himself, Ronald Jenkees.

Ronald is one hell of an artist — if you like this, go buy his CD.

This is the first track on his cd — and man is it busy… listen for the duel going on between the triangle and the high hat.

Age = N + 1

Where N is the most recent Wrestlemania.

• Orange – Restaurants
• Blue – Fast Food
• Green – Groceries

Time Period: Past Five Months.

From the graph it’s obvious I eat out a lot. It’s quick and social, but how expensive is it?

This April I will eat one meal at a restaurant. I will post monthly dollar totals for each category along with updates on how this has affected my weight. I do not intend on boycotting restaurants for the rest of my life, but I do want to really examine the impact they have on my budget. The immediate goal I have with this is to have a real idea of how much money I’m spending while eating out — the long term goal is to dramatically cut the number of times don’t prepare my own food.

The past week’s geek posts were kind of pent up. I don’t know if I’ll be able to not post about databases regularly… since it’s kind of the Thing That I Do. Thanks for coming back =)

I’m under 210 lbs (fluctuating between 205-210) which is A Good Thing™. I was 230+ in November. I’ve got to hit 190 to no longer be obese and 180 to hit my goal. I went on a weight loss kick in the fall of 2005 and got to 210 (from 240+) but could never get under. Things were a bit more drastic then, diet wise. I wasn’t able to sustain it. Now I’m attempting to eat reasonably and exercise reasonably. I’m back in the pool but I’m also lifting weights and riding a bike occasionally. When the weather looks better, the bike usage will go up.

Short term goal: 180 lbs. Long term goal: 180 lbs in 5, 10, 15, 20 years.

I lost my sideburns… but they’re rebounding. I lost a bet with my friend Pat where I had to remove my sideburns. Most of my friends around here have never seen me without them. The only people I know that have seen me burnless are the crew from KC.

A while back I wrote about Mint.com and I can say it’s still amazing. I’ve taken a look at my spending habits and come up with an itemized budget that I’ll be able to stick to including the notorious unknown expenses while adding to ING Direct on a monthly basis.

If you can’t tell by my past few posts, I’m on fire about work. I know these things are cyclical, but it’s been over five months and I’m still enjoying it. We’re in the midst of a very massive and long-term project with amazing benefits. It’s exciting to see everyone working towards this goal.

Bibleshark is still alive and kicking. Last month Derek and I put in a work day to go through our laundry list of fixes/additions to the site. We fixed a lot of bugs and added 6 translations (New American Standard, Amplified Translation, The Twentieth Century, The Emphasized Bible, The Centenary Translation, The Living Oracles). Unlike Jason Calacanis, we believe in having a life outside of work. I kind of think of it like the Geek Reserves… one weekend a month. =)

I have another project I want to publish, but it has some startup costs associated with it. I’ve done some of the write-ups already, but it’s a very large/long term project. Maybe I’ll use my economic stimulus check to buy some equipment and software.