Je parle au Canada! DevOpsDays Montréal May 27-28

My first speaking engagement for 2024 is scheduled! I received news today that I have been accepted to speak at DevOpsDays Montréal on May 27-28! I will be doing my job hunt presentation! I'm excited about this event for a number of reasons. This is my first scheduled presentation for 2024. I always enjoy visiting …

Adjustments

When I was in grad school, I once wrote in a paper that "Ben Franklin had it wrong. There are not two sure things in life; there are three: death, taxes, and change." As I recall, my professor loved that quote, and even asked me if he could use it. The fact is, change happens. …

An open letter to young people entering the job market

This is aimed mainly toward young people who fall into any of the following categories: has graduated from college within the past five years and is actively job searching, has graduated from high school (maybe also within the last five years) and is looking to enter a trade, is still in school (high school, college, …

Goals for 2024

As I write this, we're already a few days into 2024. I hope everyone had a happy, festive, and safe holiday -- whatever holiday you celebrate -- as well as an equally festive New Year's celebration. For me, personally, New Year's Eve was a quiet evening in my living room along with my wife, and New Year's …

What is an “expert?”

Years ago, Chris Bell, one of my friends on the SQL Saturday circuit, gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me for years. He told me (and I'm paraphrasing here), "the definition of an expert is someone who knows something that you don't." When someone says someone is an "expert," most people conjure …

TONIGHT: Speaking for the Minnesota #PASS Group, Tuesday November 21 #PASSMN #UserGroup #SQLFamily

Reminder: I will be doing my job hunt presentation virtually for the PASSMN user group tonight! If you want to check it out, see my earlier post (below) for more information, including details on how to join! Hope to see you there! https://pianorayk.wordpress.com/2023/11/13/speaking-for-the-minnesota-pass-group-tuesday-november-21-passmn-usergroup-sqlfamily/?page_id=8301

Worldstock #WorldPeace #UniteTheWorld #StopHate

For whatever reason, during my commute into the office this morning, my mind started wandering (as it usually does), and I started thinking about the conflicts throughout the world at the current moment: Israel vs. Hamas, Ukraine vs. Russia, and so on. And this is to say nothing about conflicts that have been ongoing for …

Speaking for the Minnesota #PASS Group, Tuesday November 21 #PASSMN #UserGroup #SQLFamily

I just confirmed that I have a speaking engagement next week! I will be presenting virtually for the PASS Minnesota SQL user group! My presentation will take place via Zoom next Tuesday, November 21, at 5:30 pm EST (note: the 4:30 time listed in the Meetup is CST). I will be doing my job hunt …

Yeah, it’s been a while, I know…

No, I'm not dead yet, I swear. But it has been a while since I've posted anything substantive, other than user group meeting announcements (with another one coming later today -- stay tuned) and upcoming speaking engagements. I believe I have one in two weeks (I just sent out an email to confirm), and I …

My first #STCSummit: the debrief #STC23 #TechComm

This article is going out a little later than I'd hoped, but better late than never, and I wanted to get this out while stuff was still fresh in my mind. After taking some time to recover, I've returned home from my first STC Summit! I've wanted to attend this event for some time, and …