"So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar..."

Am I the last person to see this

The shoe circus with Bill Gates? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImyK29QLs_A.

And, am I the only person to get locked in the accessible* restroom at the Sydney conference center, minutes before her chalk talk? Perhaps the only presenter at TechEd who found herself calling for help and rattling the wheelchair-wide sliding door in panicked fashion?

In my experience, it is difficult to be an ambassador for Microsoft when you are locked in a toilet.

I promised to post some follow up stuff for people who came to my little chalk talks, like what to expect when you take an exam for the first time, dates for all of the Visual Studio 2008 exams, the PPTs, etc - will do so in a bit. Remind me if there was something else I was supposed to do, too. Stand by.

* Really?

It....is....ALIVE!

Yeah, OK, so Trika told you about this already, but I thought I'd come back here personally to let you all know, if you didn’t already, that the Master Program application link is live! We opened the door, as promised this Tuesday and have had a great response already.

This seems a good a time as any to give a few more details regarding the application process. In general, there are 3 steps:

1.       Submit application

2.       Submit documentation

3.       Pick you session and pay

Step 1: what you need to make doubly sure of here is that all of the pre-requisite exams listed on our program site, and again in the application, currently show on your transcripts! If they do not show at this time – don’t submit. If you submit anyway, you have successfully thrown away $125 L and you will need to start over and pay again.

After this is validated (usually within 24 hours) you will receive a mail instructing you to upload the requested documents on our program site.

Step 2: Submit documentation. I’ve talked about the need to submit a resume before and we’ve added two additional document requirements. What you will need to submit in this step is:

1.       Resume / CV  - yeah, one of those

2.       Project overview document from a recent project - One single page document describing a recent project in which you have been involved. This document should detail the project outline and goals, your role on the project, what you were responsible for delivering and any other information you feel best demonstrates your expertise. The focus of the document should be your contribution to the project, not simply a description of the project. Note: we’ll be providing some ‘good’ and ‘bad’ samples of these overviews on that site within the next week or so to help get that point across even better.

3.       Project deliverable document from this project - One sanitized document you have authored demonstrating your deep knowledge of the products and technologies of the Program you are applying for. This document must be in English and must not contain sensitive customer details. Examples of project documentation are: architecture overview document, implementation plans, migration plans, summary of risk/environment assessment, root cause analysis document from a troubleshooting engagement

After you upload your documents, you indicate that they’re ready for review at which point our program leads will take a look. They may want to contact you if they feel they need clarification. Ideally, you’re available for that potential follow up over the next 5 business days.

Speaking of which: within 5 business you should hear the results of that document review. If it’s a go, we’re on to the next step.

Step 3: Time to pick out your exact training dates and pay the program fees.

That’s pretty much it!

Let me know if you have any questions and we hope to see you soon.

-Per

Great visual for VS2008 certs

Look what our boy Jorgen did. I think it's really clear and helpful. Here's the full poast on it.

Just had a Tim Tam

And I'm humming a little song about how it's nice in Australia, when you have a Tim Tam, and you might see a wombat on the weekend. Mmm-hm.

Action required

If I can fly for 14 hours to get here, you can come up to Bayside room 202 for my session. It's at 10:15 AM today. I'll go over the WS2008 certs (I feel like a broken record but a lot of people don't know this stuff yet*) and virtualization certs, system center certs, and a few other things. Will be fascinating as.

• Then I'll be in the Developer Studio at 1:30 to talk about Visual Studio 2008 certs - a 30 minute chalk talk-ish thing about what ever you want to discuss.
• Tomorrow, Friday, in the MVP lounge at 10 (I think?) I'll talk about Microsoft Certified Master (half hour chalk talk)
• Tomorrow in the Developer Studio at 1 I'll have a little cert 101 chalk-talk (why get certified, picking a cert, what to expect on exams) and Q&A.

In the meantime (Warwick James and co), come say hello or ask about cert stuff. I'll hang out in the MSDN lounge area (by the Surface) when I'm not in any sessions. I have brown hair. I will hold a coozie (stubbies, you call them?) and stand just like this all day so you can recognize me.

btw any great speakers you'd recommend checking out today or tomorrow?

*our fault

a few bits

If you won't believe me, for once, here's the official news about the 40% offer i was on about earlier: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/offers/discount/default.mspx

And, some of you have already noticed the Master registration is open, with some good new info you'll want to check out about each of the programs. Check the registration page. And a few tweaks to the dates I reported earlier, below. No dates yet for MOSS and OCS Master programs but will be in the "first half of 2009," I'm told, so mark your calendars. Just go ahead and block out January 1 - June 30. Save the date!

*Indicates public beta rotation with 50 percent registration discount

Finally, if I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, it's really creepy to map my travel schedule like you do. Maybe you should talk to someone.

In related news, I'm in Sydney, now, so you'll want to move move your little pushpin.

I remain, quite creepily, your friend,
Trika

Hello?

Can you hear me from down here?

Certification event in Kuala Lumpur, September 17

I just heard about this certification evening coming up in Malaysia. I'm not there, but maybe you are? Microsoft Learning's general manager, Lutz, will be talking and it will likely be a really interesting gathering. Thanks, Foong Chee, for sending!

Here are the details: Certification Chat with Microsoft Learning

YOU'RE INVITED!

1. HEAR: Gain from others as you listen to key influential industrial speakers from Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Regional, and a top Microsoft partner share their experience and how their career has gained tremendously.
2. MEET: Network with the best in the industry such as Microsoft Learning General Manager, Microsoft Regional Area Sales Director, IT Directors, technopreneurs, and many other key representatives from the industry.
3. RECEIVE: Each participant who attends will receive a 25% discount voucher for your next Microsoft Certification exam. There will also be special Hands-On Lab courses up for grabs! Sign-up for training promotions during the event and be entitled for offers up to 40% discount! Plus, you stand to walk away with Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise and Windows Server 2008 Standard edition software.

MDeC KDI PROGRAMMES
Training and certification incentives for professionals currently working with an MSC Organization. Fresh graduates and unemployed individuals qualify for FUNDINGS under MDeC's Jobcamp programme.

Venue: Microsoft Malaysia Sdn Bhd Auditorium East, Level 29, Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC

Date: 17 September 2008

Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Fee: Complimentary Seating sponsored by Microsoft Learning Malaysia and Guidance View

AGENDA

7.00: Registration - *Refreshment will be provided from 6.45pm onwards

7.15: The Value of Certification
Lutz Ziob, General Manager
Microsoft Learning Worldwide

8.00: Customer Testimonials: Why Microsoft Certification is valuable to me and my company

8.30: HOT Jobs in the Market: Jobstreet Malaysia

8.50: Planning Your Certification Path, Guidance View, Microsoft Gold CPLS (Certified Partner for Learning Solutions)

HOW TO REGISTER?
To register, please click here. For more enquiries, email inquiry@guidanceview.com

Price reduction on retiring exams (and VS/SQL upgrade exams)

Complete your Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD), Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), or Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) certification or upgrade your certifications to Visual Studio 2005 or SQL Server 2005 with a 40 percent automatic price reduction on retiring and upgrade exams. The price reduction is valid on:

• All exams scheduled to retire on March 31, 2009
• Upgrade exams from MCAD and MCSD to Visual Studio 2005 and from MCDBA to SQL Server 2005 MCITP... you benefit from the shorter upgrade path AND you get set up for another upgrade path to 2008

This is not an “offer,” meaning you don’t need a code or voucher or anything. To get the reduced price, you just register like usual with Prometric at any worldwide location. Across the board, all of the exams listed below will be priced 40% less than the normal price, permanently. We’re doing this to encourage people to finish up their MCAD, MCSD, or MCDBA certifications before the underlying exams retire. And, of course we want to encourage people who have certifications on older technologies to upgrade.

Last time we retired exams we allowed a “grace period,” where people could complete their exams for a little while after the official retire date, to accommodate people who didn't know in advance or couldn't get a seat in time. Even though that was well intentioned (this just in: we actually prefer that you are not mad at us) the grace period also caused confusion for people who stuck to the dates we announced, and I don't think we'll do that again. So, we’ll try and let everyone know well in advance in case one of these exams is on your to-do list. We're sending out a notice sometime this coming week with a reminder of retiring exams and notice about the price reduction. But not everyone gets that - so please help get the word out.

Here are the exams with reduced price:

•  

  • Exam 70-228: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
  • Exam 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
  • Exam 70-447: Upgrade: MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • Exam 70-300: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures
  • Exam 70-301: Managing, Organizing, and Delivering IT Projects by Using Microsoft Solutions Framework 3.0
  • Exam 70-305: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
  • Exam 70-306: Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
  • Exam 70-310: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Exam 70-315: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
  • Exam 70-316: Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
  • Exam 70-320: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Exam 70-330: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
  • Exam 70-340: Implementing Security for Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Exam 70-551: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Web Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Exam 70-552: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCPD Windows Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Exam 70-553: Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 1
  • Exam 70-554: Upgrade: MCSD Microsoft .NET Skills to MCPD Enterprise Application Developer by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework: Part 2
  • Exam 70-558: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Windows Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Exam 70-559: Upgrade: MCAD Skills to MCTS Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework
  Those last two are the new upgrade path from MCAD that Gerry talked about.

SQL Server 2008 live meeting recording

Hi, here's the recording from Wednesday's live meeting: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/lmevents/view?id=MSFT082708AMlm&pw=ATT11813. Choose the Live Meeting replay version, not the hi-fi one. Thanks for showing up. Thanks Jeff for presenting!
Trika

Bookmarking is Tip of Iceberg, Reports Say

Our friends and TechNet and MSDN are creating and fine-tuning their "social platform"--all the ways you all can interact with and learn from each other and Microsoft online. Apparently there are about 15 million of you who visit TN and about 15 million of you who visit MSDN, so there's no shortage of people to school you, or be schooled by you. John Martin (OT: ask him if he groks) writes a bit here about what else is going on besides the bookmarking you might have heard about recently...

Check your possums at the door

On Wednesday next week I’ll arrive in Sydney for TechEd Australia. It will be fun, I think! This is what I’m talking about—different than what was listed in the session tool, originally, now so please help spread the word:

Windows Server 2008 Certifications (plus Bells and Whistles): 75 minutes. Find out how to certify your skills on Windows Server 2008 to show hiring managers and employers that you’ve got the skills to help them get the most return on their technology investment. In this session I will review the available certifications and direct roadmaps; explain upgrade paths and entry points for those of you working with earlier versions of Windows Server; provide an introduction to complementary certifications in the arena of virtualization and systems management; and point out resources and offers to help you earn your certification. And whatever else we have time for.

• Audience: IT Professionals working with Windows Server.
• Thursday, September 4 from 10:15 – 11:30 AM

A few other sessions and chalk talks on the table:

Microsoft Certification 101: 20 minutes. Not sure where to start with certification? Think it seems confusing or not worth the hassle? I’ll help you see how simple getting certified can be with an introduction to certifications available today; pointers to your most likely first step; and the 411 on what to expect when you take your exam. 

• Audience: Anyone interested in certification but not sure where to start, including brand new IT pros and developers and one-time certified professionals who are feeling rusty
• Thursday, September 4 at lunchtime

Microsoft Certified Master: 30 minutes. If you’re an IT professional confident you know more than anyone about Microsoft’s latest technologies, the Microsoft Certified Master credential might be your next step. Get an overview and pointers to new information about this new certification, which combines on-site training, labs, and exam work to certify the deepest technology skills in the industry.

• Audience: IT professionals with deep experience on Active Directory, Exchange, SQL Server, OCS, or SharePoint
• Friday, September 5 from 11-11:30 at the MVP something or other

Visual Studio 2008 Certification: 20 minutes. Today’s very specific, very targeted developer certifications let you create a custom certification to demonstrate your individual skill set on the latest tools from Microsoft. We’ll explain the certifications available today, the exams required to earn them, and talk about your next step from any starting point.

• Audience: Developers new to certification; developers upgrading an earlier certification
• Friday, September 5 at lunchtime

And check it:

• Take exams on site for less than half of normal price! I believe there are baseball caps for people who take exams (pick them up where you take your exam), some kind of photo opp, and the great feeling of going how with a new exam (or first certification!) under your belt. You can sign up on-site at the Prometric/cert center booth.
• There will be special offers and, more importantly, the chance to talk to our Certified Partners for Learning Solutions in person about how to meet your training and certification goals. These partners will be on site – look for them and say hello. Look for DDLS in the Core Infrastructure area and CEO, EXCOM, KAZ, NEW HORIZONS AND ITTS in the Community, Industry and Learning area. Check out ComNet for details of all the training partner offers. I’ve seen them and it looks great.
• Visit the Microsoft Press booth to get 30% off the regular retail price of all the newest Self-paced Training Kits during tech·ed 2008.
• A prolific Microsoft Press author, Orin Thomas, will be doing some book signings at the Microsoft Press booth.
• And that’s probably where I’ll be standing around, too.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all, catching a few great speakers and seeing some of the other nice people who will be there, like Kyle! Though some nice people will be missed. More soon.

Oh, hello, Tiny Geeklette.

You look very formidable, in your geek grrrl hat.

Now stop sticking out your tongue, for once, and go be nice to your new baby sister. Set up her mobile device, or whatever.

Thanks, Robb Dilallo, for sending and congratulations again. Reproducing MCPs, represent!

Oh, hello, Peru.

You gentlemen--Edgard, Alfredo, Jesus, Jonathan, and Jorge, to be specific--look very sharp, in your geek hats. Now stop sitting by that picturesque waterfall, for once, and go configure something.

Thanks, Jesus, for sending, Lima, represent!

TechEd New Zealand

I leave Seattle this Friday and after approximately 214 hours of flying, I will land in Auckland for TechEd New Zealand.

I’m talking on Tuesday afternoon, want to come? Last year half the audience was new to certification, it seemed like—so we thought we’d do Cert 101 for the session, this time. I thought I’d throw in a lot of examples (WS2008, Vista, VS and SQL 2008… to show how it all works). What do you think?

Getting Started with Microsoft Certification: 30 minutes. If you have never taken an exam before—or if it’s been a while—you might not know where to begin in planning a certification path to validate and show off your skills on the latest technologies from Microsoft. No matter what your technology focus, you will leave this session with an understanding of certifications available to you today, a good idea of the certification you’ll pursue and your next steps, and an understanding of what to expect when you take your first exam.

• Audience: IT professionals and developers who aren’t sure where to start, or who have grown rusty, in the world of certification.
• Tuesday, September 2 from 1:40 – 2:10

This is not what the abstract on the session site says, so I’d love it if you can spread the word so no one is very mad when they show up for the session.

Many other things will be happening!

• We have some excellent Certified Partners for Learning Solutions (CPLS) in attendance—ACE, Auldhouse and EXCOM Education---you can find them in their booths in the Exhibitor Market Place. They are experts on coming up with a training and certification plan for you—so be sure to block off time to talk to them.
• You can go home with a 25% discount voucher for MCP exams that can be used with Second Shot! These vouchers are good after the event, but you can only pick them up from our CPLSs partners at TechEd. Another good reason to visit their booths…
• I hear that you’ll find a flyer in your bag for a 25% discount on Measure Up Practice Exams, too.
• I was so glad to hear that many of our teams around the world made some of our ridiculous Certified ___ hats, so the first 800 people to show an MCP ID at one of our CPLS booths in Auckland will get one to take home, that's fun.
• Something I’ll be doing is visiting the ACE, Auldhouse, and EXCOM booths, trying to learn things from them, like what new courses are good, and, um, the Haka. So come visit and say hi.

Something else I will do is try to look unselfconscious at a visitors’ dinner on Sunday where I won’t know anyone. You are supposed to look confident, I think, at these things, eating canapés and pretending you have tons of people you could talk to if you wanted to.

Oh, that’s right. I could talk to heaps of people. But instead, I’ll just stand here alone, looking confident. With bit of canapé on face.