It’s Monday time for this week’s weekly link round-up.  If you want to catch these links “live” (so exciting), follow me on twitter (@StrateSQL).  And see these throughout the day as I tweet out links of things I find interesting.  While these links aren’t the answer to life, the universe, and everything, they often share a few things about SQL Server and related technology topics that others may find useful. The links included in this summary are those prefixed with “Reading” and are items I’ve read over the past few days, usually after hours when sharing would be less than useful, and spaced out to avoid spamming.  The content of the links usually pertain to SQL Server, technology, and career topics; which I think others would find useful.

The Most Popular “Reading” Link

This weeks most popular link last week is from a blog post written by Joey D’Antoni (Blog | @jdanton) on his favorite new feature of SQL Server 2014.  While there are many great new features, Joey chooses Backup Encryption in Standard Edition.  From a data security perspective, this is a great choice, check out Joey’s blog to read more.

Reading: "My Favorite New Feature in SQL Server 2014" http://t.co/TvynZfgM3e #sqlserver

— Jason Strate (@StrateSQL) May 29, 2014

Last week’s top 20 “Reading” Links

Along with the top link, here are the top twenty items relating to SQL Server, technology and careers that were shared last week.  If you missed them throughout the week, here’s the opportunity to get caught up on some items that other’s read after I linked them out.

1. My Favorite New Feature in SQL Server 2014 [40 clicks]
2. Introducing What_To_Compress V2 [28 clicks]
3. Mark Atwood – Some advice, if you are going to speak at a geek conference. [19 clicks]
4. What Does a Good Mentor Do for You? [18 clicks]
5. Don’t $%^&ing Delete Your SQL Server Cluster Resource [17 clicks]
6. Default Configuration of SQL Server (and query hints) [16 clicks]
7. SQL Server bitmap operators, bitmasks and bit arrays [16 clicks]
8. How Much Memory Does SQL Server Need? [14 clicks]
9. Curious Partition Function Behaviour [12 clicks]
10. ebook: Database as a Service using Windows Azure Pack [10 clicks]
11. Microsoft and developer trust (or lack thereof) [10 clicks]
12. Wait, What’s That? The Science Behind Why Your Mind Keeps Wandering [10 clicks]
13. The Four Horsemen of Business Failure [9 clicks]
14. Curious About the SQL Server Server 2014 Cardinality Estimator? [9 clicks]
15. Free ebook: Introducing Microsoft Azure HDInsight [8 clicks]
16. New High Availability Planning Worksheet [8 clicks]
17. Is “Do What You Love” Bad Career Advice? [7 clicks]
18. Version 9.04.0013 of the RML Utilities for x86 and x64 has been released to the download center [6 clicks]
19. Azure: 99.95% SQL Database SLA, 500 GB DB Size, Improved Performance Self-Service Restore, and Business Continuity [5 clicks]
20. Why Your Abstract Wasn’t Selected [5 clicks]

Other Stuff Shared

Of course, no week would be complete without a few off-topic links.  These have nothing to do with technology or your career, but they are interesting and worth a second look.

1. Woman Beautifully Defends Her Body After Instagram Removes Her Butt Selfie [62 clicks]
2. MILEY CYRUS’S BANGERZ TOUR: When Sex Stops Selling [32 clicks]
3. ‘New York Post’ Gives Kim and Kanye the World’s Worst Wedding Announcement [23 clicks]
4. This Invention Will Change The World, Just Watch [20 clicks]
5. Solar Roadways passes $1.4 million in crowdfunding: Just short of the $56 trillion required, but not bad for a crazy idea [18 clicks]
6. Don’t Want to Exercise? Use the Braveheart Technique [14 clicks]
7. Gigantic School of Rays [10 clicks]

Got something you think I should read and share, leave a comment below.  Also, if you want to see all of the links that were tweeted out last week?