Geek Networking At AODSF: Con Report And More

Discussion Communication

(I wanted to post more on franchises, but I’ve got something worth interrupting my Soul Train of thought for.)

A few years ago I started doing Geek Career Networking events at conventions. It was a mixture of discussing networking and connecting people in the audience. It wasn’t a true networking event if you want to be technical; it was a panel on networking with real networking bolted on.

I’ve always wanted to try a “real” connection-focused Networking even in the convention scenes. The kind where you mix around and meet people based on your professional interests. I figured one would be useful at a convention, and perhaps in a time where ConSuites aren’t always a guarantee, necessary.

Fortunately, the crew at AODSF let me try out a full Geek Networking event.    The results were “pretty good” but let’s get into the details and the lessons learned – because I’d like to not just share, but hear other ideas.

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Make It So: Code At Cons

Discussion Communication

Coding is vitally important in our high-tech world. It’s not just a skill you use in a career, but something that is vital for empowering people. Being able to do a web page on your own, making a helpful macro, understanding a script is the key to using modern tools and understanding how the world works. I’m guessing you’ve coded at least a little bit if you’re reading it -just think what you wouldn’t know without it.

Imagine every time you have to explain something technical to someone with no experience.  Imagine how disempowered they are.

This is why I’m glad to see organizations and events promoting coding, such as:

So I got thinking. Coding is important. We’re geeks and we probably know it or should know it. We’d like to empower our fellow geeks – and ourselves.

There’s something we can do, and I want to suggest we Make It So.

We need to hold Learn To Code Events at conventions.

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California Extreme – Looking Back, Looking Forward

caextreme_2001_collage

Last year I found out about California Extreme, an event in the Bay Area where people get together to show off, discuss, and of course to play old video games and pinball machines over the course of two days. This has been running for 16 years, and its to my shame as a geek that I took so long to discover it.

So needless to say this year I went, if only because I felt a near-moral obligation to do so. This is pure applied geekery – a historical and social event that also contains some people who do or did make a living in involved industries, and a ton of hands-on experiences.

Here’s what I saw. Short form – it was great. But dive in longer – there’s a lot to share.

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