Welcome to the another Global Nerdy Saturday “picdump!” I know, it’s a day late. Between some extra work and Valentine’s Day, I wasn’t able to assemble it until today.
Anyhow, here’s the weekly article where I post the technology- and work-related memes, pictures, and cartoons floating around the internet that I found interesting or relevant this week. Share and enjoy!
At the time of writing, if you go to this URL at the (incredibly unserious) DOGE.GOV site…
https://doge.gov/workforce?orgId=7cd300eb-cf3f-47f5-90f1-9e66a8bc8d07
…you’ll see this:
The doge.gov website that was spun up to track Elon Musk’s cuts to the federal government is insecure and pulls from a database that can be edited by anyone, according to two separate people who found the vulnerability and shared it with 404 Media. One coder added at least two database entries that are visible on the live site and say “this is a joke of a .gov site” and “THESE ‘EXPERTS’ LEFT THEIR DATABASE OPEN -roro.”
Not only do the DOGEbags lack forensic accountants, it seems that they’re short on people with even the most basic cybersecurity chops.
Here’s what’s happening in the thriving tech scene in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas for the week of Monday, February 17 through Sunday, February 23, 2025! There’s a lot going on; find the event that appeals to you…and go!
This list includes both in-person and online events. Note that each item in the list includes:
✅ When the event will take place
✅ What the event is
✅ Where the event will take place
✅ Who is holding the event
Tuesday morning at 10, online: Computer Coach presents Cracking the ATS Code, where ATS is short for “applicant tracking system,” the software that recruiters use to process job applications. They’ll share insider tips on how to optimize your resume to get past the ATS and strategies for tailoring your job applications to increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday evening at 6 at the Jimmie B. Keel library in Carrollwood: TFAB, the Tampa Bay Microsoft Fabric Analytics User Group — formerly the Tampa Bay SQL Server User Group — will be holding their monthly meeting.
Find out more and register here.
Wednesday at noon, online: Computer Coach will feature The Strategic Professional: Leveraging Personal Branding for Career Growth, with guest speaker Chik Quintans, a trusted expert in managing and marketing reputations for hundreds of mortgage professionals and small service businesses with over 15 years’ experience.
You’ll learn:
Find out more and register here.
Thursday, February 20 at 5:30 at Thrive DTSP in St. Pete: Tampa Bay Techies, Tampa Bay AI Meetup, Computer Coach, and Masterminds Tampa Bay are hosting Guardians of the Digital Age: A CISO Panel. It’s an exclusive fireside chat featuring three top local Chief Information Security Officers as they share insights on the evolving cybersecurity landscape, emerging threats, and best practices for resilience in 2025 and beyond.
Following the discussion, we’ll commemorate a major milestone with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the official opening of No Limit Technology’s new space. Network with industry leaders, gain valuable perspectives, and celebrate this exciting new chapter!
Find out more and register here.
Thursday at 6:30 at Wild Rover Brewery in Tampa: Lean Beer is all about promoting knowledge sharing and networking among professionals with a passion for Agile Product Development. It’s a great place to ask questions and share your stories of using Agile and Lean software approaches, over an adult beverage, if you choose. We discuss any topics on Agile and Lean that are of interest to whomever is gathered. You suggest the topics, then we prioritize that list democratically, through a good ol’-fashioned vote. We manage our discussions via time boxes, and a Roman vote (drinks up/drinks down). Vegas rules apply!
Find out more and register here.
Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Lala’s Sangria in Tampa: The Tampa branch of the US Tech Network meetup is holding a gathering this Friday and the next two Fridays for startup founders, business leaders, industry experts, investors, and developers!
Find out more and register here.
How do I put this list together?
It’s largely automated. I have a collection of Python scripts in a Jupyter Notebook that scrapes Meetup and Eventbrite for events in categories that I consider to be “tech,” “entrepreneur,” and “nerd.” The result is a checklist that I review. I make judgment calls and uncheck any items that I don’t think fit on this list.
In addition to events that my scripts find, I also manually add events when their organizers contact me with their details.
What goes into this list?
I prefer to cast a wide net, so the list includes events that would be of interest to techies, nerds, and entrepreneurs. It includes (but isn’t limited to) events that fall under any of these categories:
At last night’s meetup held by the Tampa Bay Product Group, presenter Jamel Canty put up a slide with a phrase I’ve always liked, but haven’t seen in a while:
“Resume-generating events.”
He was using it in the same sense as a similar phrase: career-limiting move: an action, behavior, or colossal screw-up that leads to your dismissal, which in turn necessitates your generating revised resumes as you start a new job search.
“Resume-generating event” also has another meaning: a major warning sign at a company (examples: an ominous all-hands meeting, a merger or acquisition, a Boeing-style product failure) that causes employees of a company to start looking for work elsewhere.
Given the current work environment, assisted by the culture’s general slouch towards authoritarianism and the balance of power favors management, expect to see this phrase used more often.
Welcome to the another Global Nerdy Saturday “picdump!” It’s the weekly article where I post the technology- and work-related memes, pictures, and cartoons floating around the internet that I found interesting or relevant this week. Share and enjoy!
Here’s what’s happening in the thriving tech scene in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas for the week of Monday, February 10 through Sunday, February 16, 2025! There’s a lot going on; find the event that appeals to you…and go!
This list includes both in-person and online events. Note that each item in the list includes:
✅ When the event will take place
✅ What the event is
✅ Where the event will take place
✅ Who is holding the event
Tuesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at Embarc Collective (Tampa): Tampa Bay Product Group presents Sparking Product Leadership, where they’ll explore:
how to transform Product Managers from reactive players into proactive, customer-obsessed leaders. Learn the art of aligning product initiatives with strategic goals, identifying champions who are open to change, and using diplomacy—not politics—to build alliances. Through data, storytelling, and calculated risks, discover how to foster a culture of innovation, achieve quick wins, and balance courage with tact to drive impactful results. Get ready to lead with intention, influence mindsets, and ignite a product-led transformation!
Find out more and register here.
Wednesday evening from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (Tampa): AI & Data Analytics Tampa’s meetup will feature Kash Mehdi – Vice President of Growth, DataGalaxy, whose presentation will be AI-Ready Data: The Real Game-Changer Isn’t Just AI, It’s Data Literacy…
Organizations today are consuming and producing more data than ever before, thanks to advances in data-related technologies like OpenAI, DeepSeek, and the Internet of Things. According to several market research studies, organizations are doubling or even tripling their data volume each year.
However, rather than just relying on smart AI or large language models, the real foundation for success lies in building data and AI literacy among people and establishing strong data management standards.
While organizations seek AI-ready data to unlock new business opportunities in medicine, science, and research, one of the biggest challenges is that much of the critical knowledge about their assets resides in people’s minds rather than being embedded in language models or available as contextual data for AI.
As we move into 2025, organizations will be presented with significant opportunities through AI, but unresolved challenges in data management remain—especially regarding their most valuable asset: people. Success in this landscape requires fostering data and AI literacy and ensuring that data actors (both producers and consumers) understand how their roles impact each other. Moreover, collaboration at the right time and place is essential to provide valuable business context, ultimately driving success in AI initiatives.
Find out more and register here.
How do I put this list together?
It’s largely automated. I have a collection of Python scripts in a Jupyter Notebook that scrapes Meetup and Eventbrite for events in categories that I consider to be “tech,” “entrepreneur,” and “nerd.” The result is a checklist that I review. I make judgment calls and uncheck any items that I don’t think fit on this list.
In addition to events that my scripts find, I also manually add events when their organizers contact me with their details.
What goes into this list?
I prefer to cast a wide net, so the list includes events that would be of interest to techies, nerds, and entrepreneurs. It includes (but isn’t limited to) events that fall under any of these categories:
On Wednesday at 6 p.m. at OCC Road House & Museum (St. Pete), Tampa Bay Agile will host the St. Pete edition of Lean Beer!
This Meetup group is all about promoting knowledge sharing and networking among professionals with a passion for Agile Product Development. Come drink with us and explore anything Agile. Whether you’re a Scrum enthusiast or just curious about Agile practices, this is the perfect platform to exchange experiences, network, vent, and foster your Agile knowledge. All this while drinking beer together! We will meet at OCC Roadhouse the first Wednesday of every month at 6 pm kicking off the lean beer topics around 6:30. Come join!
Find out more and register here.
Thursday evening, from 6:30 – 8:30 at 511 Franklin (Tampa), Tampa Bay Techies will host the Tech Networking Happy Hour. This event will offer:
✨ A relaxed, business-casual setting to meet and connect with tech professionals, job seekers, and enthusiasts.
✨ Opportunities to expand your network, share ideas, and discover new career possibilities.
✨ A community-driven vibe that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in the tech world.
Whether you’re a seasoned tech pro, a student eager to break into the industry, or just someone passionate about technology, this event is for you! Come mingle, make connections, and enjoy great conversations over drinks and light bites.
ℹ️ This is an age-restricted event — you must be 23 or older to attend.
