Tag Archives: ThatConference

Guard rail along side empty road and green fields.

That Diversity, Continued

By Riley Major, 2018-09-12

Clark Sell opened That Conference up this year with a video about community, reminding us that they didn’t set out to be event organizers but rather to help bring us together. For them, these three days at a water park are just the spark to ignite year-round engagement with our fellow technologists. That’s what sets this event apart for me– its inspirational and encouraging vibe. Continue reading

That Community

Riley Major – 2017-08-09

Buckets of bacon, piles of marshmallows, and fire (yes, real fire this year) await those in the queue snaking out the door into the hallway. Kids tired from days of water play wait to finally get mom or dad back. They dig into a giant bowl of Starbursts and bury their head in screens. “Can I have another one mom?” “I don’t care.” Continue reading

Curds, Code, and Config

Pyle Center

The Pyle Center on the UW Madison Campus at the end of SQL Saturday #604.

Salty and squeaky make a good curd. Informative sessions and engaging conversations make a good conference. SQL Saturday #604 in Madison, Wisconsin this past weekend had plenty of both. I’m happy to have contributed with my session, “XML vs JSON – Battle Royale”. Continue reading

No one wants to eat you.

T-SQL Tuesday Logo

“When are we going to see you up there?” Mark Vaillancourt had just finished presenting DANGER: The Art and Science of Presenting at SQL Saturday #238. He and Mike Donnelly had put the question to me as they were packing up. I demurred; surely that was best left to experts like them. They persisted, noting how I was always at our user group meetings and how a novice viewpoint was often more helpful for beginners. Being an audience member was one thing, I protested, and speaking was quite another. They kept on the offensive but I managed to slink away without any firm commitments. Nonetheless, they’d struck a chord. Continue reading