Sign up for beta 2, due any day now!
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/evaluation/betanominations.asp is the link to sign up. Reporting services is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time (keep in mind I'm a SQL Server geek!). It's fun to play with, you can do lots of cool reports, and play with your database in a whole new way.
My first blog effort so be gentle... :-)
I'm Richard Waymire, currently I'm the group program manager for the Management Tools on the SQL Server development team. I've been with Microsoft since May of 1998, always on the SQL Server team. I've worked on security, muliple instance support, failover clustering, 64-bit, management tools, and several other items in my tenure here.
I've co-authored several books, including Sams “Teach Yourself SQL Server 2000 in 21 Days”. I participate in the newsgroups as much as possible and love to talk to folks about their issues with SQL Server and help out whenever possible. Before coming to Microsoft I was a SQL Server trainer, consultant and MVP. I've been a speaker at about 50 different conferences over the last few years, so I like to get out and meet folks.
I'm starting a blog because I'd like to share cool tips & tricks I've learned, information about SQL Server 2000 and Yukon, and get feedback from you about what you like and what you don't like about SQL Server.
As to upcoming events I'll be speaking at ITForum in November (http://www.microsoft.com/europe/msitforum/) in Copenhagen, giving talks on Yukon Business Intelligence, Manageability, Availability, as well as an overview of SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services. Unfortunately this means I'll miss PASS for the first time ever but that's life... Hopefully I'll get to meet lots of SQL Server folks at the conference!