December, 2008

Born To Learn

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  • Free Books, for reading in the cold days (or warm days for those who live in the southern hemisphere..)

    It's that time of the year again - festive, white & freezing in Redmond.  Microsoft Press continues its 25th Anniversary ebook giveaway.  And this month we have books from Joseph Davies, Michael Howard and David LeBlanc.

    For those for who are not on the Microsoft Press Connection newsletter list, below are links to download.  Please note that these download are only good till 24th of December.  So do it soon! :-)

    Understanding IPv6, by Joseph Davies
    Writing Secure Code for Vista, by Michael Howard and David LeBlanc

    Happy holidays to you all~~

    Posted by Joanne Lin

    Comments

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:00 PM by Boris

    # Bad luck with free staff

    Trying to get "Understanding IPv6" and getting to some Visual Studio 2008 free book offer. Do not work BTW

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:17 PM by Joanne Lin (MS)

    # re: Free Books, for reading in the cold days (or warm days for those who live in the southern hemisphere..)

    Hmm...that's weird.  The links work fine for me.  Could you try and get me a screenshot if it continues to happen?  I have no clue why that was...

    Joanne

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 3:28 PM by Boris

    # Observer effect

    Looks like "Observer effect", but started the procedure from other computer to use Snipper for screenshoting - and got the book now.

    Thanks for pushing for new try.

    Friday, December 19, 2008 10:46 AM by WallyTgoat

    # re: Free Books, for reading in the cold days (or warm days for those who live in the southern hemisphere..)

    Thanks for the links... Love the reading..

    Saturday, December 20, 2008 12:20 AM by Christopher Kusek

    # re: Free Books, for reading in the cold days (or warm days for those who live in the southern hemisphere..)

    Thanks for the information! I've been so busy since Wednesday (and since that mail went out) I didn't even have a chance to check up on it!

    http://www.pkguild.com/2008/12/20/free-books-before-the-25th-ipv6-and-secure-core-for-the-holidays/

    Sunday, December 21, 2008 2:15 PM by Muruganantham Durairaj

    # re: Free Books, for reading in the cold days (or warm days for those who live in the southern hemisphere..)

    Thanks for good information.

    BTW, me too faced the problem as said by "Boris", But after two more trials, got into intended link.

    Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:25 AM by sarah

    # treadmill

    I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

    Sarah

    http://www.thetreadmillguide.com

  • Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    Great article over at TechRepublic on the 10 best IT certifications.

    How many of them do you have? (I’ve got three)

    Posted by Krosen

    Comments

    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:30 PM by Michael D. Alligood

    # re: Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    I have 3 and 1/2...

    I let my CCNA retire. Didn t have much use for it. :)

    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 9:31 PM by James Goodwin

    # Mr

    I count 6 for me and 2 more on my personal development plan for next year.

    Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:06 PM by Charles P.

    # re: Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    I have 6 as well, maybe make it 7 or 8 in the next year.

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 8:02 PM by Michael D. Alligood

    # re: Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    Wait, are we counting individual MCTS and MCITP certifications??? :)

    Thursday, December 18, 2008 3:25 AM by ErikEJ

    # re: Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    I have 4 (of the 10 on the list)

    Friday, December 19, 2008 4:21 PM by .rev [askthemct.com]

    # re: Who’s #1? (and #2, and #4, and even #8)

    @Michael No because if were counting each one individually I d have 25 of the top 10. :)

  • My first house party

    Let me get the context out of the way first:

    I was a volunteer, regional organizer, and multiple-time donor for the Obama campaign, which means I received multiple e-mails a day from the organization throughout the summer and fall. That’s pretty normal, I guess, when a campaign realizes they’ve got a live one on the line.

    However, what at first surprised me, and then intrigued me, and finally impressed the heck out of me (even while occasionally annoying me) is:

    They haven’t stopped.

    It’s like someone forgot to tell the president-elect’s team: You won! It’s okay to stand down now.

    But of course, it’s not okay. How simple the world ‘s problems seemed even just weeks ago on Election Day compared to where we are now. There’s so much work to be done, so much damage to repair.

    Which is why I’m so impressed with and appreciative of how the president-elect is conducting his transition.

    Consider:

    • Weekly youtube addresses. Maybe you’re not impressed yet—after all, presidents have been giving weekly radio addresses for years. Is this so different? Well, yes, in two very significant ways: 1) you can view the address anytime, anywhere in the world, and 2) you can talk back. After each address, there are hundreds of comments from viewers (increasing in number every week, with over 1,300 comments on his last address), and I am sure that the president-elect’s team is taking a pulse frequently.
    • Topic-specific community forums on the transition team’s site. Smart move, bringing visitors directly to the transition web site, and hosting discussions to keep them involved.
    • Open for Questions.” Last week, 20,000 people+ voted up/down on questions posed by the community. Those questions are now being answered this week, with another round of voting coming soon.

    I’m not completely enamored with this inclusive strategy—although I would be if every other e-mail wouldn’t be hawking an Obama mug, calendar or t-shirt as a reward for just one more donation! Although I think the strategy is brilliant, I’m annoyed primarily because it works so well on me (Calendar hanging in my office, t-shirts worn with pride, car magnet stolen weeks ago. I drew the line at the mug, though, mostly because I don’t want to be thought of as easy. A guy needs to protect his reputation.)

    But what has me absolutely gobsmacked and convinced that we’re in for a very different form of government than any of us in the U.S. have heretofore witnessed is what happened this past weekend.

    This weekend, I hosted a house party.

    This, in itself, is a precedent. I’ve co-hosted house parties in the past, meaning that my wife threw a party in our hose and I didn’t leave, but this is the first time I actually planned and hosted all on my own (Beth made cookies, though. Thanks, honey!)

    The interesting part is why I threw the party:

    The Obama campaign asked me to.

    This past weekend, there must have been thousands of these parties all across the U.S. I say this with confidence based on the speed with which my party filled up—18 RSVPs within an hour of me posting the event. I didn’t even have a chance to invite any of my friends!

    So on Saturday afternoon, I had a house full of strangers, most of whom had volunteered during the campaign, some of whom hadn’t but wished they could have. All were fueled by the fire of their passion and determination to bring progressive change to America and lured by the promise of an opportunity to direct their energies.

    We introduced ourselves, watched a video sent to us by the campaign, and identified the issues we cared about individually and found common ground collectively.

    Then we did something really cool: we decided—as did neighborhood meetings across America this weekend—to drive a community service project. Thousands of groups in communities across America, all responding to the president-elect’s call to service within their own communities.

    That’s true power: the ability to inspire and motivate masses of people to positive action.

    That’s shrewd politics: demonstrative and visible action in every community, promoting the president-elect’s agenda and building capital among the American public.

    That’s smart campaigning: with millions of volunteers and donors, why let them slip away and have to hunt them down in four years when it’s time to run for re-election? Keep them engaged all along the way, and as a not-so-incidental consequence: think of all of the success stories you can tell.

    What was our project? We decided to focus primarily on education and care for our senior citizens. We have a senior center nearby that is about to lose funding from the state, and a school district undergoing draconian budget cuts. We plan to start up a relationship between the senior center and local junior high and high schools to benefit both.

    We’re starting with having the kids mentor the seniors in the use of technology, teaching them how to use computers and the Internet. But we also have our eye on having the seniors mentor the kids by sharing the benefit of their expertise and experience to help compensate for the cuts happening in the schools.

    Around the room, there was also a lot of passion around the environment, economy, science and research, healthcare, and America’s standing in the world, and we saw opportunities over time to address these issues—either directly or indirectly—with both audiences.

    We arrived at our idea as a natural outcome based on the people in the room, and the talents we bring to bear: we had a volunteer accountant at the senior center, husband-and-wife photographers who offered to document the project, a public school teacher and a PTA officer, and more. It was a lot of fun to come together with people I had never met and find an opportunity to serve the common good.

    And it struck me, as it has many times over the last month: Barack Obama is a consummate community organizer. It’s in his background, and I’m betting it’ll be the way he chooses to lead and govern. I remember at the Republican convention, Governor Palin and Rudy Giuliani dismissing the work of community organizers; of all the things said by both sides during the campaign, it’s those words that I think will prove over time to be the most foolish.

    Experience as a community organizer may prove to be *the* most important experience for governing inclusively and effectively.

    At least I think it will be. We’ll see, won’t we?

    Today, I’m back at work, and the professional side of me is taking lesson: if I can do this within my neighborhood, and the president-elect can do it with America, what could we accomplish on other stages?

    If those of us in the MCP and MCT communities acted together, what could we accomplish for our communities?

    Food for thought.

    Posted by Krosen

    Comments

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:57 PM by Joseph

    # re: My first house party

    Stick to certification!

    Politics is very inappropriate. You just alienated half your audience.

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008 2:15 PM by Krosen

    # re: My first house party

    Joseph, I knew I risked that kind of reaction by posting that article, which is why I didn t post any of my political views during the campaign.

    But my intent was really to publish from a first-hand perspective a powerful example of harnessing community to drive results, which is what my team is all about--and what the president-elect is doing so well.

    It just so happens that the example happens to have a political context.

    Read the article again, and I think you ll see the point I was trying to get across. Regardless of one s political views, there are some very cool and powerful examples in what the president-elect is doing for anyone involved with on-line or in-person communities.

    Sorry if I offended you--certainly not my intent!

    Thursday, December 18, 2008 11:04 AM by WallyTgoat

    # re: My first house party

    novel... now pass the koolaid. nuff said.

    Sunday, December 28, 2008 11:02 AM by name required

    # re: My first house party

    As a member of those technical communities, I can appreciate how others have used "community" to inspire and motivate. We try to do the same with UGs, though in UGs, self interests usually prevail.

  • Hey, look: an elephant!

    While I don’t have any stats to back it up, I have a pretty strong suspicion that I’m pretty much the last blogger on the Internet to comment on our rapidly tanking global economy.

    That’s partly because I’m very aware that it’s a sensitive subject that may already have impacted you. (My family felt it pretty early on: my brother has worked in the hotel industry his entire career, an industry that was hit hard from the get-go. He was laid off last month.)

    In part, it’s because I’m not an economist, I don’t have a crystal ball, and I certainly don’t have any easy answers or prescient financial advice for navigating through difficult times.

    But largely, it’s because every time I started to blog about it in the shower (the blogging part in my head), I couldn’t figure out how to express my thoughts without coming across as opportunistic.

    And then I realized that was precisely the point I needed to express.

    Because here’s the thing: in the back of my mind ever since it became clear months ago that we are mudsliding into a recession, there’s been one thought playing over and over like a song I can’t get out of my head:

    Thank goodness my certifications are up to date.

    Now if I were you, I’d be viewing this confession with a great deal of skepticism: many of you know I’ve been at Microsoft for the past twelve years, and it’s been at least seven years since I’ve been in a hardcore technical role. (Heck, it’s been at least four years since I’ve even been in a softcore one). What does a Microsoft marketing guy need an MCP certification for?

    And if that’s not enough to make you doubt my T.G.I.C. sincerity, add to that the fact it’s my team’s job to attract and support, engage and encourage our MCP and MCT communities.

    In light of that, how can I possibly expect any reasonable person to believe that I’m genuinely concerned about my own certifications?

    Here’s the thing (I know I said that last thing was the thing, but this is the real thing):

    I’m fortunate enough to have made it this far in my career, to be sitting in my office typing this, because I decided in 1992—at the tail-end of a previous recession which did not treat me well at all--to get Microsoft Certified.

    There is a clear B.C. (before certification) and A.C. (after certification) dividing line in my career and in my life, and it’s pretty striking when I reflect on the vastly different life I led on either side of that line.

    Microsoft certification opened the door for me to a new career, a new community (both in the real world and on-line), and a quality of life I never seriously believed I would enjoy—all before I ever joined Microsoft.

    That was then, this is now: I’ve spent my entire twelve-year career at Microsoft in the learning division, trying to pay forward a debt that I still don’t feel is anywhere close to being paid in full. I’ll think about moving on when I stop meeting people who can match or top my story in terms of the impact our certifications have had on their lives and their families.

    That’s assuming, of course, that the decision of when to move on is my choice to make.

    Before the rumors start: I’m not hinting at anything, and I have no reason to believe my job is at risk.

    But I went through the last recession while working at Microsoft, and our organization did not emerge unscathed: our training and certification business suffered significant declines shortly after the turn of the millennium, and we downsized quite a bit. I watched as a lot of my colleagues (who didn’t believe they were anywhere near done either) were let go, and it was a pretty sobering experience.

    So I don’t take anything for granted, which is why I’m so glad I’m certified.

    ‘cause here’s the thing (the really real thing):

    I don’t want to lose my job, but if I do, I certainly don’t want to leave Microsoft. But if I have to, I certainly don’t want to leave the industry.

    At Microsoft, if your job is eliminated and you’re a good performer, you have a fighting chance to find another job in the company quickly. But it’s competitive enough under normal circumstances, and any frequent, observant visitor to our external jobs web site may have noticed the significant reduction in open positions over the past few months.

    If I’m going to have to compete for a new job—and realistically, isn’t that always a “when” and not an “if” for all of us?—I want every edge I can get, and even/especially at Microsoft, our certifications help candidates stand out from a rapidly increasing pile of resumes.

    If my next IT job is somewhere beyond the Microsoft campus, I need that edge even more: those certifications attest that even though I may not have had a hands-on technical role for several years, I still have the knowledge and hands-on skill to jump right back into the fray.

    That provides me with considerable peace of mind, which is why I’ve continued to update my ITPro certifications with each and every version even though my marketing co-workers probably think I’m a bit excessive about it.

    I realize that most of you aren’t marketers, and that you’re currently in technical roles. So you’ve got it a bit easier than I do—you probably don’t need to worry much about the likes of me competing with you for a job (my peace-of-mind is somewhat less considerable having now reflected upon that last statement)—but don’t you still want every edge you can get, every insurance policy you can find? Hopefully, your next career move will happen when you want it to, but if your hand is forced early, don’t you want to be ready for it?

    ‘Cause this is the thing, the real thing, the really real thing, the Coca-Cola of things:

    I’m not this passionately committed to maintaining my certifications because I work for Microsoft Learning.

    I’m this passionately committed because someday: I won’t.

    Posted by Krosen

    Comments

    Thursday, December 11, 2008 12:17 AM by abarkl

    # re: Hey, look: an elephant!

    Although we ve only met once briefly, it s truly amazing how very similar our stories.

    My brother was also laid off last month and has spent most of his career as a auto finance manager. And I have been hit hard this month after months of very secure contract work; If that’s not an oxymoron.

    I’m not big into politics or religion, but I believe what I believe, and I’ll do anything to support my family. I’ve tried the best I can to raise my children with my honor, integrity, and truth being the example.

    I’ve been independent and self employed since 1999 when I decided no one else was going to decide again if I worked or not. And for several years as a field engineer prior to that, working at a fortune 500 company for many years, I was responsible for my clients, schedule, and finances. I decided to leave that fulltime job because I became Microsoft certified, and after seeing my first MCT in action that’s all I wanted to be.

    There’s no doubt in my mind I made the right choice, and although I’ve had to learn some big lessons along the way, I wouldn’t change a thing. I survived a life changing event in 1991 and it gave me the courage to prove to the world that I was worth my weight in gold. 

    I too have used my Microsoft certifications and experience to create a lifestyle I hope to never loose.

    One concern in the back of my mind is all the newly unemployed workers who need work and may do anything to get it.

    The interesting aspects about self employment is the lack of paid vacations, unemployment insurance, and a boss.

    In the heart of our industry, certifications are second when it comes to separating yourself from the competition. For me it’s relationships, credibility, and experience. I’ve had many clients during my years of self employment; 90% of them are now out of the business, but even the new ones will be mine until they are no longer in business. I don’t lose business!

    For me it may not be as easy to jump back into a technical engineer role. Especially the part about having to directly report to one person or even worse, reporting to the same location each day.

    One of the reasons I continue to do what I do is the requirement to stay ahead. I love to learn and impart my knowledge with those who are willing to learn.

    We can’t forget we are always selling ourselves to the world; even when there’s no monetary gain. I too am passionate about my career and certifications, and my role in society.

    Thanks, for providing a topic and space for reflection.

    Thursday, December 11, 2008 5:18 AM by Sean

    # re: Hey, look: an elephant!

    I agree completely. We found out recently that our company is planning on migrating all our local applications, services and associated servers back to the company HQ data center and closing down our data center in our region.

    Of course nobody knows what that means from a people perspective but the first thing I did was pick up my Windows 2008 Resource Kits and start getting ready to update my MCSE.

    I m a big fan of keeping certs up to date and already updated my Exchange cert to MCITP: Exchange 2007 but that news certainly gave me another piece of motiviation.

    I know a lot of people think certs are not that valuable but for me they are a way to test my knowledge and force me to keep up to date with current technologies.

    Anyway hopefully things here in Australia won t get as bad as some in the media claim. I just heard one doomsdayer in the media today saying that he expects unemployment rates to rival that of the Great Depression and hit 12% here in Oz next year!

    I m due to take 70-649 soon so hopefully I will pass and can add another few certs to my CV - just in case ;-)

    Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:15 AM by Jim Goodwin

    # re: Hey, look: an elephant!

    Well said, very well said.  I have worked as a Technical Trainer most of my time in IT, first part-time and now full time.  I have taught in academic, vocational, and corporate environments.  I have worked for Fortune 200 companies, government contractors, and some very small businesses in the last 10 years.  I have been downsized out of a job twice during that time and knew that I never had to worry about finding that next position because I had skills, experience, and certifications that made me marketable. I have always taught my career-changer students that our industry is very different than most in that in IT, you alone are responsible for your job security and professional development.  If you keep up-to-date with technology, learn constantly (as if your livelihood depended on it), and seek out new experiences and opportunities, then you will be in demand.  And that is real career security that transcends one position or another. 

    I got in to training to share that freedom and peace that this career path can offer.  And like you Ken, I still feel like I am paying forward the great gift that was given me by my mentor. As MCT s we have the greatest job ever.  I get paid very well to help other people succeed and make their lives better.  It just doesn t get any better than that. Happy Holidays everyone and just keep remembering that it is always darkest just before the dawn, and the dawn is very close now.  

    Sunday, December 14, 2008 6:42 AM by Christopher Kusek

    # re: Hey, look: an elephant!

    I m glad to see a post like this, especially given many of the unknown circumstances around all of us.

    I watch as highly skilled, greatly qualified folks I know are let go from their positions for any number of economic reasons only to find that next position harder to reach because they have not been keeping themselves relevant and current on paper to coincide with what they re more than capable of in their mind.

    I regularly try to raise awareness of Certification, whether Beta Exams, or currently available exams, including giving away tools (books, resources, vouchers, etc) to make sure that people are indeed making themselves competitive in this field of ours.   There s no doubt that I ll continue to keep myself updated on a regular basis, but I can only nudge others so much in that direction (no matter how much I may harp, scream and yell for people to stay current! or even semi-current!)

    Thanks for your words of experience over time, an experience which parallels that of my own as well. ;)

    I feel this might be the path of many of us, highly technical people, heavily certified, and yet moving more from technical roles into Marketing and other roles (I m not in Marketing yet! but it always looks like they can use more and more help!)

    Thanks!

    Christopher

    (In reference to those Vouchers and other things before.. With the holidays in season, I ve been running a number of contests and giveaways of Books, Vouchers and more!) So any readers of this who are looking for that proverbial free ride... it s out there, and here ;)

    Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:54 PM by Kendel

    # re: Hey, look: an elephant!

    Hey everyone this information has been very helpful to me and i know that it has been to other just the same.This computer industry is getting competitive day by day.The topic was brought to my attention:is certification more valuable than a bachelors or masters degree?After many discussion on the topic it came to the conclusion that a bachelors or masters degree is much more valuable than certifications the main reason being:certifications are just base on a specific computer technology rather than a more all round technology,for example like the bachelors or masters degree.Also another topic was raise,weather certifications was enough to get a job over the bachelors and masters degree s?The out come of that discussion was the certification alone was not enough,base on research the have a strong hole in the job market you needed to have the trinity combination:certifications,exoerience and a bachelors or masters degree in computers.There as an IT personnel i looking to achieve them all three so that i can be ahead of everyone else which will also ensure that i m the choosen one.Also it seems that IT organization is hiring folks for not one but many job postions.When you look at some of the criteria for a specific job role its amazing at what they ask for.

  • There’s a party in my mouth!

    Sweet, salty, smoky, goodness…

    vosges_mos_bacon_bar

    Posted by Krosen

    Tuesday, December 09, 2008 4:57 AM by Andrew Storrs

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    That is wrong on so many levels Ken. :p

    Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:49 AM by David Lawlor

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    Taste testing a possible new MCP perk?

    Tuesday, December 09, 2008 8:19 PM by richarddp

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    Your idea of a Party is obvioulsy waaaaayy different to mine!

    Wednesday, December 10, 2008 11:13 PM by Chance

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    We had these at a rather large street festival where I live - 2nd largest in the US I may add - only they were affectionately referred to as "pig lickers".  Sooooo not worth the money.  maybe they re better when they re "gourmet"....just not in MY mouth....

    Monday, December 15, 2008 1:06 PM by Ann

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    Congratulations at your food-fashion forwardness. Bacon has been *the* culinary watchword <a href="in >http://bacontoday.com/bacon-cupcakes-part-deux/">in the pastry world</a> of late.

    Here s a menu for your next party: <a href="Maple >http://www.endlesssimmer.com/2008/04/29/who-cooked-it-better-bacon-cupcakes/">Maple Bacon Cupcakes, Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupakes, and (whimper) Coffee-Buttermilk-Dark Chocolate-Bacon cupcakes.</a>

    Monday, January 12, 2009 7:06 PM by Trika

    # re: There’s a party in my mouth!

    Dear Ken,

    You can t say that.

    Your friend,

    Trika

  • Are you a CPLS Partner? Win up $15k!

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    ·         Whenever an employee or student orders a TechNet Plus Direct subscription using the CPLS Partner’s unique promo code they are entered into a contest for most subscriptions sold.  A minimum of (10) orders per partner are required for eligibility, the first contest period ends 2/28/09.  The second contest period ends 5/31/09.  CPLS Partners should email their PAM/TPAM for contest rules or Todd Stallard [email protected] for campaign details. CPLS Partners can win up to $15,000 via this campaign.

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    Learn about TechNet Plus Direct, visit the internal
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    Posted by Sarah Grant

  • Hyper-V Course Releases to Manufacturing

    Here’s a new ongoing feature on Born to Learn: RTM announcements whenever we ship a new Microsoft Official instructor-led training course.

    First up: Course 6422, Implementing and Managing Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V™

    Available to MCTs on the MCT Download Center now; orderable by our Certified Partners for Learning Solutions on December 19th.

    Find a CPLS offering this class near you! (add your location when the search results appear)

    Posted by Krosen

  • Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    Chuck Hickson picked up on a subtle but significant thing in my call to cams yesterday:

    I didn t think MCP s as such, existed anymore.  I know "I m an MCTS" doesn t rhyme with "I m a PC", but isn t it odd to promote a dead credential?

    Do MCPs exist anymore? Heck, yes!

    Okay, so maybe it s been a few years since Microsoft has used the term "MCP."

    But really: what else are we going to call ourselves? What else embraces all of our certified IT Pros, Developers, Dynamics specialists, Office specialists, and architects?

    Sure, I have an MCITP certification, and an MCSE certification, and an MCDST certification, and an MCTS certification.

    But I am an MCP.

    We are a diverse community spanning a multitude of professions, and we deserve a shared badge to reflect it. Me, I kind of like this one:MCP(rgb)

    So heads up: I’m taking it back!

    Microsoft. Certified. Professional.

    Who’s with me?

     

    (I’m going to get in so much trouble over this…)

    Posted by Krosen

    Comments

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 2:52 PM by James Hippolite

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    I m with you.  With the plethora of Certs, it s very handy to have a single nomenclature.

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:20 PM by Niall M

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    Damm straight!

    MCP for life.. MCTS for short time :P

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:20 PM by EduardoKita

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    Declaring your MCP status is like stating a foundation. I can become an MCTS, MCITP, MCSE... but in my heart, I´m a proud MCP!

    Loved the emphasis!

    Microsoft. Certified. Professional.

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:36 PM by Michael D. Alligood

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    D@mn the man!!! I m with you - that is until you get busted then I will say that I tried to warn you all along but you kept insisting and coerced us into following you by bribing us with webcams and swag until we lost faith in our abilities to resist and crumbled to your desires. I am sure that is a run-on sentence but I can recite it with a great deal of charm and believability, but I digress...

    I M AN MCP. And Spartacus...

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 5:04 PM by ljwestmcsd

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    But ...

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.mspx states the following:

    MCP: The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential is a one-exam certification that demonstrates your skills on <b>legacy</b> Microsoft technologies.

    The MCP requirements page (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcp/requirements.mspx) does not list the certifications that earn an MCTS/MCITP/MCPD.

    If I understand the websites correctly, unless you passed one of the "legacy" exams, you are not an MCP. Microsoft needs to modify its website to make it clear whether or not that is true.

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:42 PM by Krosen

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    LJ: I won t tell if you won t!

    But seriously--good point. We know we need to take that one up, and soon.

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 10:54 PM by Michael D. Alligood

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    I believe, like everything in life, MCP has evolved beyond passing a single exam and become more of a community.

    With that said;

    The name is P... MCP.

    Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:59 AM by Udai from Bangalore

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    That is the spirit and the exact way to face the technology heat. I am with you.

    Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:19 PM by ljwestmcsd

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    I just took an exam this afternoon and actually read the Non Disclosure Agreement. According to it, MCP stands for Microsoft Certification Program!

    You folks at Microsoft need to talk to each other regarding what these acronyms mean and, if necessary, correct the lawyers who wrote the NDA.

    [Off topic, but you all need to also strengthen the NDA -- it only talks basically about proxy testing and developing braindumps, you need to specifically forbid people from using braindumps also.]

    Friday, December 12, 2008 5:50 AM by Peter Read

    # re: Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    LJ - completely agree with the sentiment - braindumps must be stopped, and hopefully the new simulation technologies will help that.  And I m fairly sure cheating generally is forbidden in the MCP agreement (is that what it s called? with the "you lose all your certs if you do...." clause). 

    But being a little pedantic, the NDA is a non-disclosure agreement...  So it s there to stop people disclosing the info....  Which isn t quite the same thing.

    Wednesday, January 07, 2009 3:15 AM by mannie

    # Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs looking to come back east!

    MCP Interested In Relocation To Florida / NJ

    Hey VA Currently, I live in Colorado. I am very interested in relocating back to

    the east-coast...New Jersey and or Florida.

    I am working, and enjoy my job; I have over 15 yrs of experience in the tech

    industry. I am Microsoft certified and currently working on additional

    Microsft designations. I have experience with Oracle, Unix, Linux, and some

    health care experience. But my love and interest is the Microsoft

    infrastructure. I have extensive training, experience and hands-on with:

    Server 2000 / 2003 / 2008,  Exch 2003 (some 2007), SQL 2000, 2005,

    SharePoint, XP, Vista, and some CRM....(Thank God for my home lab, my Action

    Pack, Virtual server and Virtual PC).

    I am looking for long-term contracts (more than 6 months if possible), and

    perm opportunities.

    Call or e-mail ASAP, or anytime!!!!

    --

    Thanks......

    Mannie

    MCP, MCSA, MCTS

    720.238.5294

    [email protected]

    [email protected]

    ________________________________________

    E.L.McCullough (a.k.a: Mannie)

  • I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Are you Microsoft Certified? Got a webcam?

    Then declare your MCP pride!

    1) Record a short video of yourself that starts with the statement, “I’m an MCP, and…” (finish it any way you like)

    2) Upload it to youtube (or dailymotion, or your other favorite video site)

    3) Post the link here

    …and if I draw your name as one of 5 random winners (from among those of you sending us a link to your MPC Pride video), I’ll send you one of our really cool new LifeCam Show Webcams!

    (Yes, I’m swiping shamelessly from our "I’m a PC” campaign. If anyone from Corporate Advertising comes down on me, my story is that I’m selectively dyslexic. Back me up on this, okay?)

    I’ll draw the names next Friday, so start bragging!

    Posted by Krosen

    Comments

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 3:43 AM by IT Training & Certification in Russia

    # MCP? Расскажи о себе и выиграй web-камеру Microsoft!

    Кен Розен опубликовал в блоге Microsoft Learning Community новый конкурс. Если Вы MCP - запишите...

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 8:52 AM by Chuck Hickson

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    I didn t think MCP s as such, existed anymore.  I know "I m an MCTS" doesn t rhyme with "I m a PC", but isn t it odd to promote a dead credential?

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:20 PM by ljwestmcsd

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Let me see if I understand this right - if you already have a webcam, you might win a webcam. What if you actually need a webcam because you don t have one yet?

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:26 PM by ljwestmcsd

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Let me see if I understand this right - if you already have a webcam, you might win a webcam. What if you actually need a webcam because you don t have one yet?

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 5:05 PM by ljwestmcsd

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Sorry about the double post.

    Sorry about the double post.

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:37 PM by Krosen

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Yeah, LJ, but these are really *cool* webcams. (feel free to use a digital camera/videocam instead of a webcam to play!)

    Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:23 AM by Erdal

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    ERDAL says: I m an MCP (Ken new trend for you)

    In Facebook :)))

    Friday, December 05, 2008 1:38 PM by Born to Learn

    # Yes, Virginia, there are MCPs!

    Chuck Hickson picked up on a subtle but significant thing in my call to cams yesterday: I didn t think

    Thursday, December 11, 2008 2:36 PM by Helmer

    # re: I’m an MCP, and I have a webcam!

    Ehh....nobody posted a link yet?!

  • Service-Oriented AJAX in Denver, USA

    Our Microsoft Press author, Office MVP Daniel Larson, had a great night releasing his newest book Developing Service Oriented AJAX Applications on the Microsoft Platform with the Denver .Net User Group last week.

    Check out what he thinks about AJAX and some photos on his blog.  If you happen to be living in the area, here is a coupon for 30% off of his new book at SoftPro.

    Denver VS User Group 060