What do you call the person who graduated last in their med school class?

Doctor.

It's an old joke, but one I very much appreciated today. Just like the person last in class, I would like to have done better: I needed 700; I got 721. I was pretty close. But, at the end of the day, this still belongs to me....

I knocked out 70-762 today. 

Study materials:
Udemy Courses
MeasureUp tests
Microsoft Press Exam Ref books
Exam Skills
Microsoft.com Exam Reference

MCSE: Data Management and Analytics

Since I began my professional geek journey a little over two decades ago, I've known about the big Microsoft MCSE Certification. It's changed a bit over the years, but I honestly never thought I'd be one of the people to obtain one. On my journey to MCSE, I am now 3 for 3 (well, technically 4 for 5, but we don't count MCSA for SQL 2012/14, right?). That's 70-764 and 70-765 for an MCSA: Database Administration. And today caps off 70-762 for an MCSE: Data Management & Analytics. 

I know Microsoft is retiring MCSx at the end of January, but this was a requirement for where I work. I've  only had a few months to knock out all 3, but I'm a little proud of myself for actually pulling it off. It helped that I've been a database person for several years now, but it REALLY DIDN'T HELP that COVID has played a little bit of havoc with our ability do things like be around a proctor. I've been fortunate that we have a proctor site on base that I can take these tests in. There is absolutely ZERO chance that I could make my home office an acceptable place for an exam proctor.

Since I have access to that on-base proctoring, I think I'll probably also take 70-761 and add on the MCSA: Database Development while I can.

And since Microsoft has apparently decided that Azure will rule the world, I guess I'll be taking a look at that next. 

I'm going to try to enjoy my shiny new MCSE for the last couple of weeks of the sh*t-show that has been 2020, and not even think about certification stuff until January. 

Yeah, right.

An Aviation Legend Has Passed Away

Chuck Yeager's life reads like a storybook. His aviation career started on the mechanic side, but he apparently decided to become a pilot after realizing that "pilots have beautiful girls on their arms". During his early exploits as a P-51 fighter pilot, he was shot down over France, but survived the bailout to be rescued by the French Resistance. He escaped over the mountains to Spain, carrying another wounded pilot (who he had to preform emergency surgery on in the field), and was reunited with Allied forces. He was able to talk his way back into a flying slot, and on October 12, 1944, shot down 5 Luftwaffe planes in a single engagement - two without even firing a shot at them (by colliding during evasive maneuvers). Later that November, he became one of the first pilots to shoot down a German ME-262 jet. 

Chuck Yeager came home from WWII as a Double Ace, with 11 confirmed aerial victories.

At that point in their career, a pilot has had a pretty good run, so they should probably retire, right? Not Chuck. 

 On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager climbed into the cockpit of a Bell X-1 (named "Glamorous Glennis" - like all his other aircraft - after his wife), to attempt another first. 

Up until this point, it was believed that an airplane couldn't move faster than sound without breaking apart. It showed an unbelievable amount of guts to want to prove that belief wrong, and it took a very special pilot to be willing to risk everything to shatter that belief. Chuck was that pilot.

The margin of error for that flight was incredibly slim, and when his drop plane released him well below the required speed, the attempt very nearly ended in disaster before it had even really started. But Chuck Yeager's piloting skill allowed him to keep the X-1 under control and begin his test run. 

According to Yeager himself, the only indication that he had even crossed the Sound Barrier was a small blip on the airspeed indicator. 

He did it.

His earlier exploits as a pilot had already likely ensured himself a spot in the history books, but this event highlighted him. Everyone would know the name Chuck Yeager.

He ushered in a new age of aviation, and he continued on to push the limits further and further. He faced death several times over the course of his career, but kept on keeping on. His story is legend.

On December 7, 2020, Chuck Yeager, one of the most legendary and fascinating people in the history of aviation, passed away at 97 years old. 

From his autobiography: "I haven't yet done everything, but by the time I'm finished, I won't have missed much," he wrote. "If I auger in (crash) tomorrow, it won't be with a frown on my face. I've had a ball."  

General Yeager, you have been an inspiration to pretty much every pilot I've ever known. Thank you.

Advent of Code 2020

 Advent of Code 2020 has begun! 

I have a lot going on right now, but let's see if I make it further this year than I have in past years.