Every time we're at a conference, we get asked whether we're going to write any books on the kinds of things we talk about. Well, at present the answer is no - we just don't have time unfortunately. And, honestly, we like doing smaller chunks of more timely content rather than a complete book which takes a lot longer to "get to press". However, we have a plan that we'd like to gauge interest in to see whether or not it's worthwhile (Paul already blogged about this).

Basically, there are two full-day workshops that we presented this year, Database Maintenance: From Planning to Practice to Post-Mortem and Disaster Recovery: From Planning to Practice to Post-Mortem. Each of these has 100+ slides in them and we add *a lot* of content while we're presenting...just looking at the slides really isn't enough. However, our plan is to take each of these slide decks and then add comprehensive notes for each slide. Once complete, we'll create a full printout of the entire deck - with notes - for US $99.99. In addition to the printout, we will create a section on our website that includes relevant whitepaper links, KB article links, and blog post links - corresponding with specific slides/topics from the deck. Additionally, as we'd be shipping the book to you anyway, we'll throw in a free copy of the AlwaysOn DVD and the Manageability DVD, with around 20 hours of self-paced labs on them. Shipping and handling would be included for domestic US orders, and US $10 extra for non-US orders.

So, if there's enough interest in this, then we'll go forward and try to make these available for ordering by January/February 2008. So - if you're interested in this (no obligation) please drop Paul a mail.

Thanks,

kt (& pr)

Donald Wayne Tripp
Donald Wayne Tripp was born on August 6, 1944 in Fort Madison, Iowa. After fighting a long and courageous battle with cancer, Don passed away peacefully on November 28, 2007 at home in Redmond, Washington, with his daughter and son-in-law by his side.
 
Don is survived by his daughter, Kimberly L. Tripp; his son-in-law, Paul S. Randal; his grandchildren Kiera and Katelyn Randal; his Mother, Doris McDonnell; his brothers Jon McDonnell and Wayne Tripp; his sisters Linda Fussell and Bonnie Bostick; his brother-in-law, Ted Fussell; his sister-in-law Valerie Tripp; his nephew and many nieces; and his wife of 22 years, Ursula Tripp. He will be greatly missed by these and many other relatives and friends.
 
Don was very charismatic, always quick to lighten the mood with his humor - lately he'd say that "I'm in great shape - besides a little cancer". He was an avid sailor and loved nothing more than being on the water - especially Lake Michigan - where he first sailed "Flutterby", an 18 foot SolCat, and then a variety of sail-boats (and ice-boats in WI) over many years. When not on the water somehow, he loved his local haunts and enjoyed an occasional Meyers-and-tonic with friends.
 
By far his greatest pleasure was introducing friends, family, and even acquaintances to sailing - especially as a Regional Sales Manager for Hunter Yachts - which he gladly took on as his second career after working for Moore Business Forms for almost 30 years. For Moore he received numerous "Achievement Awards" in Sales but he was most rewarded by sales that lead people to the boat of their dreams. He was a graduate of the University of Iowa in 1968, a member of the Army and Air Force Reserves for six years and took his first sky dive in 1962, the year he graduated from Fort Madison High School. He loved adventure and had it not been for a hurricane that washed ashore his 40-foot trimaran in 1978, he would have raced in the (London) Observer's Singlehanded Trans-Atlantic Race in 1980.
 
Over the past few months, Don greatly enjoyed bird watching from the deck of our house. He especially enjoyed torturing the squirrels by spraying “Pam” on the poles of the many bird feeders. Don’t worry; it didn’t really stop them from getting the food – but it did provide for many hours of entertainment as they slid down the pole after lunch or on their way to having lunch.
 
A "Celebration of Life" Memorial Reception is being planned for Memorial Day weekend. Please send email to KimberlyLTripp@hotmail.com for more information.
 
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to a Cancer charity of your choosing. For example, consider donating to the Cancer Research Foundation at http://www.cancerresearchfdn.org/donate/.