Categories
Artificial Intelligence Current Events

Elon threatens to make OpenAI leaders “most hated men in America,” a topic where he’s a subject matter expert

From Ars Technica’s article:

Just days before the trial started, Elon Musk tried to settle his lawsuit, which alleges that under Sam Altman’s direction, OpenAI abandoned its mission to serve as a nonprofit making AI to benefit humanity.

According to a Sunday court filing from OpenAI, Musk messaged OpenAI President Greg Brockman two days ahead of the trial to “gauge interest” in a possible settlement. Brockman promptly responded, suggesting that “both sides” drop their claims. But Musk refused, then appeared to grow threatening enough that the court may allow Brockman to testify on the message as evidence supposedly revealing Musk’s true motives for pursuing the litigation.

“By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America,” Musk responded to Brockman’s suggestion that all claims be dropped. “If you insist, so it will be.”

OpenAI clearly did not accept the settlement terms, as the trial started last week with Musk as the first witness. On the stand, Musk stumbled several times, perhaps weakening his case by making concessions, growing hot-tempered, backing off claims that AI risks may quickly become existential, and admitting his ignorance when it comes to AI safety at his own company, xAI.

In short, it’s classic Muskrat moves: make threats, dilute said threats, get huffy, admit ignorance in a field where he claims expertise, repeat.

Categories
Developer Relations Hardware Reading Material What I’m Up To

Stuff that arrived over the weekend

A few goodies I’d ordered all arrived nearly at once on Saturday, and I thought I’d share them here.

Business card

A snapshot of Joey de Villa’s desk, showing two boxes of his business cards. One business card is raised so it is readable. Beside the boxes are a mechanical keyboard and a steel mug with a stciker on it that reads “Punch today in the face”.
New business cards! Tap to view at full size.

It’s been a while since I’ve had an honest-to-goodness business card, but since NetFoundry makes them available to employees and since a good chunk of my job is about making myself available to the public, I placed an order and received two boxes containing a few hundred cards in total.

These days, I tend to simply display my LinkedIn QR code on my phone when exchanging contact details with people, but I still like the old-school feel of giving someone a card (which just so happens to contain my LinkedIn QR code).

Book: Developer Relations Activity Patterns

Joey de Villa, smiling and holding up a paperback copy of the book Developer Relations Activity Patterns.
It arrived! Tap to view at full size.

Another thing that arrived on Saturday was my copy of Developer Relations Activity Patterns, written by Ted Neward, Scott T. McAllister, David Neal, and Chris Woodruff, and published by Apress, which is now an imprint of Springer Nature.

I know a couple of the authors. Way back in 2016, Ted reached out to me after I’d landed a developer relations job with SMARTRAC and wanted to see how they did developer relations. I also know David from my time at Auth0, because shortly after I joined, Auth0 merged with Okta, where David worked. In fact, to prepare for my technical interview with Auth0, my primary resource was David’s 2019 article in the Okta Developer blog, An Illustrated Guide to OAuth and OpenID Connect.

Since I’m now pretty much Supreme Developer Advocate at NetFoundry (I’m the only one; it’s a small, scrappy company that punches above its weight class), I figured the book would be useful.

Also, I have a policy of buying books written by people I know, as illustrated in the meme below:

Meme with title “When you tell someone about your book and they say ‘oh cool’ instead of buying it immediately.” Below the title is a cat wearing cool sunglasses and a gold chain necklace saying “That wasn’t very cash money of you”.
I try to be cash money all the time. Tap to view at full size.

You may have noticed that I bought the dead-tree edition instead of an electronic one. This also follows a rule of mine:

  1. If the content is ephemeral or likely to be outdated in a couple of years (or a couple of months, given the pace of change these days), get the electronic version.
  2. If the content is likely to be longer-lasting or seems timeless, get the paper version.

Also, it’s nice to get away from screens from time to time. I’ve carved out a little time each day to sit on the rocking chair on our front porch and read paper books, and  Developer Relations Activity Patterns will be one of them.

Teeny-weeny hard drive

Joey de Villa holding up his Lexar external drive side-by-side with his NetFoundry business card. Viewed from the top, they’re the same size.
Nice and compact! Tap to view at full size.

Between the RAMpocalypse brought about by AI data centers hogging all the storage chips and the war in Iran blocking off access to a large chunk of the world’s helium (it’s a key part of making high-end chips; see my earlier article for an explanation), SSD prices are climbing.

Fortunately, there was a very short-time deal for a two-pack of 2TB Lexar SL500 SSDs for about $400, so we placed an order so that Anitra and I could each have one. They arrived on Saturday, and they’re about the size of my business card!

Joey de Villa holding up his Lexar external drive side-by-side (and on its side) with his NetFoundry business card. The drive is quite thin!
Skinny! Tap to view at full size.
Categories
Current Events Meetups Tampa Bay

It’s gonna be May in Tampa Bay!

It’s May, and there’s going to be a lot happening in Tampa Bay’s tech scene, including…

AI Salon St. Pete/Tampa (Wednesday, May 6)

@ spARK Labs / ARK Innovation Center • 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

This AI Salon will feature Chad Mairn, Professor and Founder of the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College. It’ll feature the this format: keynote → startup pitches → open mic → networking.

Find out more and register here.

TEKsystems’ Meet and Greet (Thursday, May 7)

@ TEKsystems offices • 6:00 p.m.

Ready to level up your network? Connect with industry-leading recruiters and fellow tech professionals at TEKsystems, one of the world’s premier IT staffing firms. Whether you’re looking for your next role in Web development, Cloud, Data Science, or Cybersecurity—or just want to be proactive in today’s shifting economy—this is the place to be.

Find out more and register here.

The Save the Kids Gatsby Gala (Friday, May 8)

@ The Orlo House & Ballroom • 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Organized by Disrupt the Bay, this is a Roaring ’20s-themed charity event in Tampa, FL, dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research, particularly targeting ATRT. There’ll be a premium cocktail hour, live entertainment, curated dining, silent and live auctions, and powerful stories showcasing the real impact their support makes for children and families. It’s not just a gala—it’s an experience where purpose meets style, and generosity fuels life-saving breakthroughs led by Save The Kids Foundation.

And hey, you’ll get to hang out with this guy:

Find out more and register here.

BSides Tampa 2026: Unlucky 13! (Saturday, May 16)

@ Marshall Student Center, USF • 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

BSides Tampa, a cybersecurity conference that brings in 2,000+ attendees and held right here in Tampa Bay, returns for its 13th year on Saturday, May 16! It’s a full day with…

  • Great keynotes and presentations across seven tracks: keynotes, red team, blue team, cloud security, GRC and privacy, appsec, and AI and emerging
  • The exhibitor hall, where they don’t scan your badge, which means that you won’t get spammed as a result and they won’t sell your info
  • Interactive villages: malware, social engineering, IOT, network, lockpicking
  • A chance to meet the technology and cybersecurity professionals in the area, including these two…

Find out more and register here.

SOF Week (May 18 – 21)

@ SOF Week campus (see map below), May 18 – 21

SOF Week (“SOF” being short for “Special Operations Forces”) brings the international Special Operations community together for one focused week of collaboration, learning, and capability development. Jointly supported by U.S. Special Operations Command and the Global SOF Foundation, the event serves as the central gathering point for SOF Operators, government leaders, and industry partners working to advance the mission. There’s a fair bit of overlap with the technology industry (including SOFWERX).

Find out more and register here.

poweredUP Tampa Bay Tech Festival (Wednesday, May 20)

@ Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater • Starting at 11:00 a.m.

One of the largest technology conferences in the Tampa Bay region returns on May 20, bringing together hundreds of technology leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and students for a full day of learning, insight, and connection.

This year, poweredUP Tampa Bay Tech Fest introduces an exciting new format designed to give attendees both the big-picture view of where technology is heading in our region and the practical knowledge they can take back to their teams.

Find out more and register here.

 

Categories
Picdump

Saturday picdump for Saturday, May 2

Happy Saturday, everyone! Here on Global Nerdy, Saturday means that it’s time for another “picdump” — the weekly assortment of amusing or interesting pictures, comics, and memes I found over the past week. Share and enjoy!



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Categories
Current Events Meetups Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay tech, entrepreneur, and nerd events list (Monday, May 4 – Sunday, May 10)

Here’s what’s happening in the thriving tech scene in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas for the week of Monday, May 4 through Sunday, May 10!

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

This week’s events

Monday, May 4

Event name and location Group Time
Monthly Championship Tounament
Monday, May 4 · 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Loner Seekers Euchre – Tampa 1:30 PM
Venice Area Toastmasters Club #5486
Online event
Toastmasters District 48 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM EDT
Tea Tavern – Dungeons and Dragons
Monday, May 4 · 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Tea Tavern Dungeons and Dragons Meetup Group – DMS WANTED 5:59 PM
Speakeasy Toastmasters #4698
Online event
Toastmasters District 48 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
ACE Advanced Toastmasters 3274480
Online event
Toastmasters Divisions C & D 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
Sarasota Blood on the Clocktower
Clocktower meetup
Board Games and Card Games in Sarasota & Bradenton 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
MTG: Commander Night
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Food, Fun & Games!
Village Inn
Gulfside Gatherings 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Toast of Lakewood Ranch Toastmasters Club
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall
Toastmasters District 48 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
North Port Toastmasters Meets Online!!
Online event
Toastmasters District 48 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Adult Dungeons & Dragons One-Shot Campaigns at Conworlds Emporium
Conworlds Emporium
Tarpon Springs Community Fun & Games 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Getting ready for that next Job?
Online event
Tampa AI Applications Meetup Group 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Lakeland (FL) Toastmasters Club #2262
GFWC United Women’s Club of Lakeland
Toastmasters Division E 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Stirling Toastmasters Club #7461614 | Public Speaking & Leadership Development
Dunedin
Toastmasters District 48 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Let’s Talk Toastmasters
Online event
Toastmasters Divisions C & D 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
DigiMondays
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Weekly General Meetup
Online event
Beginning Web Development 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Where is Bitcoin Going?
Online event
Bitcoiners of Southwest Florida 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Return to the top of the list

Tuesday, May 5

Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. at Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (Tampa): Entrepreneurs Learning and Growth Hub presents Preparing Your Business for AI Automation.

Many businesses attempt to automate too early and struggle with broken processes, unreliable results, and increased complexity. This session focuses on how entrepreneurs can properly prepare their business for AI automation by building the right foundations first.

In this session, you’ll explore what needs to be in place before introducing AI so automation supports growth instead of creating operational risk.

Find out more and register here.

Tuesdat at 10:00 a.m. online: Computer Coach / Tech  Success Network presents LinkedIn Master Class: Being Found In The Crowd.

Standing out on LinkedIn takes more than just having a profile. It takes intention, clarity, and the right approach. This live webinar is designed to help professionals cut through the noise and get noticed by recruiters, hiring managers, and industry peers. Led by the Computer Coach Career Services team, this session breaks down how LinkedIn actually works and how to use it as a tool for visibility, connection, and career growth.

Find out more and register here.

Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (Tampa): Tampa Bay Biotech presents Building Agentic AI Assistants: A Tutorial for Everyone.

Join Tampa Bay Biotech for a practical and engaging introduction to Agentic AI — the new generation of AI assistants that can reason, plan, use tools, and complete multi-step tasks. This session will explain how agent-based AI differs from traditional AI and standard prompt-response systems, then walk through the core architecture behind intelligent assistants, including LLMs, memory, tools, planning, execution, and orchestration.

Find out more and register here.

Event name and location Group Time
v-Lean Coffee
Online event
Tampa Bay Agile 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM EDT
CEO Toastmasters
Online event
Toastmasters Divisions C & D 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM EDT
Preparing Your Business for AI Automation
Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
Entrepreneurs Learning & Growth Hub 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
LinkedIn Master Class: Being Found In The Crowd
Online event
Tech Success Network 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Building Agentic AI Assistants: A Tutorial for Everyone
Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
Tampa Bay Biotech 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
Weekly Open Make Night
4931 W Nassau St
Tampa Hackerspace 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Disney Lorcana Night
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Hobby Night
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
May Critique Night
Tap Room at the Hollander Hotel
Creative Writers Support Group 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Pinellas Writers and Authors Weekly Meeting (Online/Zoom)
Online event
Pinellas Writers Group 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Loner Seekers Euchre – Tampa
Shamrocks Ale House
Loner Seekers Euchre – Tampa 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
D&D @ Critical Hit Games (Full)
Critical Hit Games
RPG-Pinellas 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
[Virtual] Tampa Bay Bitcoin Meetup: News, Markets, & Community
Online event
Tampa Bay Bitcoin 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Winter Springs Toastmasters Club
Online event
Toastmasters Divisions C & D 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM EDT
Boards & Bones Table Top RPGs
Nerdbrew Rented Space
Nerdbrew Events 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Trivia Nights @ Escape Brewing Company – Trinity
Escape Brewing Company
Tampa Bay Area Trivia Players 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
St. Pete Beers ‘n Board Games Meetup for Young Adults
Pinellas Ale Works Brewery
St. Pete Beers ‘n Board Games for Young Adults 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Yu-Gi-Oh Evening Tournament
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
AMA – Ask Me Anything Related to Photography, Computers and Software
Downtown Pizza Sports Bar and Grill
Florida Center for Creative Photography 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Keynotes and More Advanced Toastmasters Biweekly Meeting
Online event
Toastmasters Division E 7:07 PM to 8:37 PM EDT
Nic At Nite – Weekly Movie Night
Online event
Nerdbrew Events 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Trading Tuesday
Online event
Bitcoiners of Southwest Florida 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Return to the top of the list

Wednesday, May 6

St. Pete / Tampa AI salonWednesday at 5:30 p.m. @ spARK Labs (St. Pete): The St. Pete / Tampa AI Salon is back with Chad Mairn, Professor and Founder of the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College. It’ll feature the this format: keynote → startup pitches → open mic → networking.

Find out more and register here.

Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at Vaco (Tampa): Tampa Bay Product Group presents Product Builders & Bingo: Casual Networking Social Hour.

Get ready for a networking experience that trades awkward silence for a little friendly competition. We’re turning the standard “so, what do you do?” small talk into a low-stakes scavenger hunt with our interactive Networking Bingo. Each attendee will receive a custom bingo card packed with a mix of product-focused prompts and lighthearted personal fun facts. Your mission is simple: strike up a conversation, find someone who matches a square, and have them sign your card. It’s the ultimate icebreaker designed to help you connect with as many local product peers as possible in a relaxed, pressure-free environment.

While you hunt for those winning rows, we’ll keep the energy high with plenty of fuel for your conversations. Food along with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options will be provided to keep things casual. Beyond the networking, we’ll also have exciting giveaways throughout the night for those who participate in the quest. Whether you’re a seasoned product leader or new to the field, come for the community, stay for the prizes, and leave with a whole new set of local connections.

Find out more and register here.

Event name and location Group Time
World Toasters Toastmasters Club
Online event
Toastmasters Division E 7:05 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Tampa Highrisers Toastmasters
Hyde Park United Methodist Church
Toastmasters District 48 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM EDT
Computer Repair Clinic
2079 Range Rd
Tampa Bay Technology Center 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT
1 Million Cups St. Pete
The Greenhouse
1 Million Cups 9:00 AM
1 Million Cups Tampa
Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
1 Million Cups 9:00 AM
Tech Hiring Trends: What Recruiters Are Seeing Across IT
Online event
Tech Success Network 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT
Wednesday Night Gaming
Nerdy Needs
Brandon Boardgamers 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
40k Escalation League
Battlebrush Games
Battlebrush Games: Paint Minis & Play Warhammer/Warmachine 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
St. Pete / Tampa AI Salon
spARK Labs
AI Salon 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
CNC Wednesday’s
MakerSpace Pinellas
Makerspaces Pinellas Meetup Group 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
Wednesday Board Game Night
Bridge Center
Tampa Gaming Guild 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Orlando Chess Association
West Osceola Library
Greater Orlando Chess 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Chess Night at Conworlds Emporium Every Wednesday
Conworlds Emporium
Tarpon Springs Community Fun & Games 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Product Builders & Bingo: Casual Networking Social Hour
Vaco – Skycenter
Tampa Bay Product Group 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Casual Commander Wednesdays
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Board Game Night
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Blockchain & Crypto Investors & Enthusiasts – International Blockchain Group
Pinellas Ale Works, St. Petersburg, FL
Blockchain and Crypto Investors and Enthusiasts 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Sun Coast Euchre Club
The Hanger Restaurant & Flight Lounge
Suncoast Euchre Club -St Pete 6:50 PM to 8:50 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Carrollwood Toastmasters Meetings meet In-Person and Online
Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library
Toastmasters District 48 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Apopka Foliage Toastmasters
Online event
Apopka Foliage Toastmasters 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Games & Grog! Board game night @ Peabodies
Peabodies
Nerdbrew Events 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
ONLINE / SPANISH: EPICTETO DISERTACIONES POR ARRIANO
Online event
Orlando Stoics 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Trivia Night at Tampa Tap Room – Carrollwood
Tampa Tap Room
Tampa Bay Area Trivia Players 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Cardfight Vanguard!! OverDress Weekly
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
May meetup – Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Pier 22
Reading the Classics 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Return to the top of the list

Thursday, May 7

Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at TEKsystems (Tampa):

Ready to level up your network? Connect with industry-leading recruiters and fellow tech professionals at TEKsystems, one of the world’s premier IT staffing firms. Whether you’re looking for your next role in Web development, Cloud, Data Science, or Cybersecurity—or just want to be proactive in today’s shifting economy—this is the place to be.

Find out more and register here.

Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at The Neon Temple (Tampa): The Neon Temple presents Ouroboros of TPRM, is your TPRM actually working anymore?

Come join The Neon temple as D4B05H drops some knowledge-bombs about TPRM (Third-Party Risk Management). Understanding how the landscape has changed, and with the rise of AI, how effective actually is your current TPRM program? Some lessons learned from building an effective vendor TPRM program and how you can learn from their struggles.

Find out more and register here.

Event name and location Group Time
West Orange Working Professionals – Coffee Meetup
Island Touch Cafe
West Orange Working Professionals 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM EDT
Sarasota Speakers Exchange Toastmasters
Online event
Toastmasters District 48 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Open Board Gaming Day at Dark Side
Dark Side Comics & Games
Board Games and Card Games in Sarasota & Bradenton 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Omni Toastmasters Club 6861
Online event
Toastmasters Divisions C & D 5:45 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Meet & Greet: TEKsystems Tampa
TEKsystems Tampa
Tampa Devs 6:00 PM EDT
[AL] Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk [APL 1 Tier 1]
Coliseum of Comics Kissimmee
Adventurers of Central Florida 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Board Game Night
Conworlds Emporium
Tarpon Springs Community Fun & Games 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Warhammer Night
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
START YOUR OWN SIDE GIG! Small Business Thursdays!
MakerSpace Pinellas
Makerspaces Pinellas Meetup Group 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Writing Meetup
HotWax Coffee Shop, Kava Bar & Tap House
Tampa Free Writing Group 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Ouroboros of TPRM, is your TPRM actually working anymore?
The Neon Temple
The Neon Temple 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Palm Harbor Toastmasters Club #8248
1500 16th St
Toastmasters District 48 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
FABulous Thursdays
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
One Piece Thursdays
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Pathfinder Society
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Live streaming production and talent
124 S Ring Ave
Live streaming production and talent 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Thursday Tacos & Tax Write Offs
Online event
Nerdbrew Events 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM EDT
Game Night!
Lucky Spartan
Tampa 20’s and 30’s Social Crew 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Return to the top of the list

Friday, May 8

Friday at 6:00 p.m. at The Orlo (Tampa):

Organized by Disrupt the Bay, this is a Roaring ’20s-themed charity event in Tampa, FL, dedicated to raising funds for pediatric cancer research, particularly targeting ATRT. There’ll be a premium cocktail hour, live entertainment, curated dining, silent and live auctions, and powerful stories showcasing the real impact their support makes for children and families. It’s not just a gala—it’s an experience where purpose meets style, and generosity fuels life-saving breakthroughs led by Save The Kids Foundation.

And hey, you’ll get to hang out with this guy:

Find out more and register here.

Event name and location Group Time
Osceola Toastmasters Club
Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA)
Toastmasters Division E 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM EDT
Computer Repair Clinic
2079 Range Rd
Tampa Bay Technology Center 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM EDT
Age of Sigmar: Escalation League
Battlebrush Games
Battlebrush Games: Paint Minis & Play Warhammer/Warmachine 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Friday Board Game Night
Bridge Club
Tampa Gaming Guild 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Disrupt The Bay’s Save The Kids Gatsby Gala
The Orlo House & Ballroom
Tampa Bay AI Meetup 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
MTG: Commander FNM
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Taps & Drafts | EDH/MtG Night
1Up Entertainment, Tampa
Nerdbrew Events 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Modern FNM
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM EDT
The Practicing Stoic: A 13-Week Online Discussion Series
Online event
Orlando Stoics 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM EDT
Friday Pokemon Tournament
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM EDT
Friday Night Gaming @ Pinchasers
Pinchasers / VETERANS location
Tampa Bay Meetup (20’s & 30’s) 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
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Saturday, May 9

Event name and location Group Time
Saturday Chess at Wholefoods in Midtown, Tampa
Whole Foods Market
Chess Republic 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
EZ Stock (Stock, Options, Market)
2079 Range Rd
Tampa Bay Technology Center 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT
Get on Bitcoin Book Signing
The Book Shack
Tampa Bay Bitcoin 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
How to Start a BRAND vs Private Label
Online event
Tampa Bay Amazon Sellers Meetup 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT
How to Start a BRAND vs Private Label
Online event
Tampa Amazon Seller Meetup Group 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT
Youth Dungeons & Dragons Saturdays (Ages7-12) At Conworlds Emporium
Saturday, May 9 · 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
Tarpon Springs Community Fun & Games 1:00 PM
NNO Book Club: Time Shelter
Plate Tapas Grill & Lounge
Nerd Night Out 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT
FREE Fab Lab Orientation
Faulhaber Fab Lab
Suncoast Makers 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT
D&D (5e) @ Black Harbor Gaming (FULL)
Black Harbor Gaming
St Pete and Pinellas Tabletop RPG Group 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM EDT
Saturday Chess @ Cozy Kava St. Pete
Cozy Kava
Chess Republic 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
Bitcoin Social in St. Petersburg
Beech Kombucha
Tampa Bay Bitcoin 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Warmachine Journeyman League
Battlebrush Games
Battlebrush Games: Paint Minis & Play Warhammer/Warmachine 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Pathfinder D&D (Beginner to Experienced)
Descent Into Gaming
Bradenton Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Meetup Group 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM EDT
May 9th – Let’s have fun!
IHOP
New Port Richey Game Night 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM EDT
Community Hang-out Night
Online event
Nerdbrew Events 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Yu-Gi-Oh Evening Tournament
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM EDT
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Sunday, May 10

Event name and location Group Time
Sunday Chess at Wholefoods in Midtown, Tampa
Whole Foods Market
Chess Republic 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
D&D Adventurers League
Critical Hit Games
Critical Hit Games 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM EDT
IMPROV Drop-In Class! (FUN! No experience required) [$20]
Spitfire Theater
Tampa 20’s and 30’s Social Crew 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Sunday Pokemon League
Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!
Sunshine Games 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Tampa AI Builders Meetup – Casual Meet & Greet
AI Wealth Builders of Tampa 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
A Duck Presents NB Movie Night
Discord.io/Nerdbrew
Nerd Night Out 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM EDT
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About this list

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:

    • Programming, DevOps, systems administration, and testing
    • Tech project management / agile processes
    • Video, board, and role-playing games
    • Book, philosophy, and discussion clubs
    • Tech, business, and entrepreneur networking events
    • Toastmasters and other events related to improving your presentation and public speaking skills, because nerds really need to up their presentation game
    • Sci-fi, fantasy, and other genre fandoms
  • Self-improvement, especially of the sort that appeals to techies
  • Anything I deem geeky
Categories
Meetups Tampa Bay What I’m Up To

Scenes from “Tech in Full Effect” (Saturday, April 18, 2026)

On Saturday, April 18th, Anitra and I attended Tech in Full Effect, a gathering of Tampa people in Tampa’s tech scene who also enjoy ’90s hip-hop and R&B, and we had a grand time!

Organized by Jordyn Short and Tiffiny B., it took place at Gaspar’s Luxury Estate in South Tampa, a large house and property that can serve as a vacation place for a large group, or in the case of Tech in Full Effect, a lovely party venue.

They had DJ Will spinning ’90s classics…

…’90s hip-hop/R&B-themed drinks…

…and opportunities aplenty to catch up with old friends and make new ones:

While many of the guests were local, a number came from way, way out of town, including from Jacksonville, Miami, Atlanta, and even San Francisco.

I had lots of conversations, and some of the topics were…

  • What am I doing after Tampa Bay Tech Week? My answer: “Get up to speed on the new job, keep cranking out the Tampa Bay tech events list, touch base with the new connections I made, try and find a venue for an upcoming Tampa Bay AI Meetup.”

  • My favorite current hip hop? Tkandz and Relaye. None of the “mumble stuff.”

  • Did we buy a Mac Mini to run OpenClaw? No, Anitra and I got his-and-hers M5 MacBook Pros as our main devices and are turning our old M1 MacBooks into to agent machines.

(I try to bring both Steve Urkel and Stefan Urquelle energy.)

All in all, it was a great event with great people, great conversations, and great food and drink in an unusual setting for a Tampa Bay tech event. My thanks to Tiffiny and Jordyn for putting it on — and please let us know when and where you’re holding the next one!

Categories
Artificial Intelligence Humor

Seems legit

Text message that reads: “Hey this is Sundar Pichai CEO of Google listen I need $500 so we can fix search but it has to be iGoogle Play Store gift cards / Here I’ll prove to you I’ll say something only Sundar would say: Artificial Intelligence.”