I've had a lot of "fun" working the with new spatial types in SQL Server 2008. Fun like your first root canal sometimes, fun like a great first date other times.

One of the "root canal moments" for me has been around Geographic Markup Language (GML) support. I had spent a good chunk of time generating GML for use in class to subsequently learn that SQL Server's support for GML is "limited." Isaac Kunen was kind enough to point me to http://schemas.microsoft.com/sqlserver/profiles/gml/.

Folks, please learn from my mistake -- understand that schema before you go about generating or consuming GML for the construction of geometry or geography instances.

Speaking of best practices, another frequent pendant on the  MSDN Forums/SQL Server Katmai/SQL server Katmai Spatial forum has started a thread (http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3586982&SiteID=1) addressing the differences between geometry and geography types.  

I think he's off to a great start but I'd like to have the "the rest of us" who are interested in the spatial bits chime in on the tread.I'll even come out and say it. Please.

July is going to be a busy month for me. On week of the 20th, I'll be teaching our Essential SQL Server class in Boston (see http://www.develop.com/us/training/course.aspx?id=180) and then doing a private engagement in the Sacramento area the next week. If you know of any user group/PASS group meetings in those areas around those areas, please let me know.