Modern Simple Living

Feature Mastering the MCSA: My 70-462 SQL Server Journey A deep dive into database administration and the road to certification. 12 Chapters 3 Exam Attempts 810 Passing Score ~75 Days Duration Table of Contents ① Study Plan Overview ② Progress Updates ③ Exam Attempt and Reflections Section I Study Plan Overview I am currently working through the 70-462 SQL Server 2012 Administrator book as part of my MCSA certification path. Having built web apps from scratch and deployed various vendor solutions on SQL Server, I have a solid foundation. This reading feels like second nature and is serving to deepen my existing knowledge. My goal is to finish the text efficiently and sit for the exam.   The Schedule → 1/19 — Chapter 1 → 1/20 — Chapter 2 → 1/22 — Chapter 3 → 1/23 — Chapters 4, 5, 6 → 1/24 — Chapters 7, 8, 9 → 1/25 — Chapter 10 → 1/26 — Chapter 11 → 1/27 — Chapter 12 → 1/28 - 2/4 — Exam Prep Tip: If practice questions feel too simple compared to your previous exam experi...

Gear Review The Hunt for the Perfect Pair: Selecting My Next Headphones *From specs to soundstage, the search for the ultimate audio upgrade* $250 Budget ~7 Days Delivery 4 Candidates Evaluated 1 Final Winner Table of Contents ① Candidate Evaluation ② Build Quality Considerations ③ Update: 1/20/16 — Rethinking the Strategy ④ Update: 1/23/16 — The Case for Open-Back ⑤ Update: 1/26/16 — The Decision Section I Candidate Evaluation Once I pass all my exams for the MCSA, I plan to reward myself with a nice pair of headphones. Currently, I own only the Audio Technica M50x, which have served me well, but I feel it's time to expand my growing collection. I’m willing to spend $250 and have begun evaluating several options.   → ATH M70x — High-end candidate for potential upgrade. → MSR7 — Current frontrunner, though I am wary of relying solely on specifications. → Sony MDR-1A — A strong contender for my next set. Before making a decision, I wanted to catalog my current collection and ...

Gear Review Hands-On: iLive IA54B Budget Headphones An emergency audio solution for the frugal student. $10 Price 20 Hz-20 kHz Frequency 32 ohms Impedance Table of Contents ① The Situation ② Basic Specifications ③ Sound Quality ④ Build Quality ⑤ Comparison and Conclusion Section I The Situation While studying for my next exam at the shopping mall, I realized I forgot to bring a pair of headphones. Rather than make the two-hour drive back home, I decided to buy a basic pair of headphones. I came across the iLive IA54B for $10 at Sears, which fit my needs perfectly.   Section II Basic Specifications → Frequency Range — 20 Hz - 20 kHz → Sensitivity — 100 dB → Impedance — 32 ohms → Connector — 1/8" Stereo Adapter Section III Sound Quality Given the $10 price tag, expectations should be tempered. Initially, the sound quality was poor, with exaggerated bass and nearly non-existent mids. Certain tracks that typically showcase high and mid frequencies were nearly imperceptible. ...