💖 @anitra’s hubby
đź’» Technical experience lead at Packfiles.io
📱 Mobile/IoT/AR developer
🪗 Rock/pop accordion
🇵🇠The Thrilla from Manila
🇨🇦 Canadian citizen
🎹 More of a social justice *bard* than a social justice warrior
🌴 Living in Tampa, Florida
The Tampa Bay #Python meetup group is under new management! (And yes, it’s me.)
I’d like to thank Joe Blankenship for all he did — not just with Tampa Bay Python, but also giving Tampa Bay a data conference in the form of Data4 — and for entrusting me with the group.
The details are in my post, which also explains the unlikely circumstances under which I learned Python.
https://www.globalnerdy.com/2025/05/05/tampa-bay-python-is-under-new-management/
Here’s some inspiration for the first Monday of May: “Don’t just watch other people’s adventures!”
I’d saved these images on my hard drive a while back and stumbled on them this weekend. They’re Roman Bero’s creations, and I hope they inspire you!
Want to see the full-size version of these pictures? Click the link!
https://www.joeydevilla.com/2025/05/05/dont-just-watch-other-peoples-adventures/
Welcome to the working week! Here’s the “official unofficial” list of the tech, entrepreneur, and nerd events happening this week in and around Tampa Bay. Find your event, find your people, make some opportunities, and #MakeItTampaBay!
#Tampa #TampaBay #StPetersburgFL #events #tech #technology #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #nerd #meetup #meetups #networking
BSides Tampa 12 is TWO SATURDAYS FROM NOW, and Anitra and I will be presenting “Surviving Your Layoff” at 1:00 p.m. in the Career Track. If you need a session that will keep you awake during the dreaded Siesta Time Slot, this is it! We’ll present “street fighting” layoff survival tips and tricks in a fun, informative presentation — and yes, there will be accordion!
Here’s the Sunday “picdump” from my personal blog, “The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century!” It’s got 216 memes, pictures, and cartoons floating around the internet that I found interesting or relevant this week. Share and enjoy!
These four are just a sample; the link to the full set is in the comments.
https://www.joeydevilla.com/2025/05/04/sunday-picdump-for-may-4-2025/
Welcome to the first Saturday of May 2025! Since it’s Saturday, it’s time for yet another “picdump” — a collection of tech- and work- related images, comics, and memes that I found amusing, relevant, or both! Share and enjoy.
https://www.globalnerdy.com/2025/05/03/saturday-picdump-for-may-2-2025/
Here’s the list of tech, entrepreneur, and nerd events happening in Tampa Bay next week, courtesy of Tampa Bay’s tech blog, Global Nerdy! Find your events, find your people, make opportunities, and #MakeItTampaBay!
#Tampa #TampaBay #StPetersburgFL #events #tech #technology #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #nerd #meetup #meetups #networking
I just finished watching “Conclave,” and I made it through eight years of (a quite good) Catholic school where Keanu Reeves also went. So I have an excuse for the “Pope memes” kick I’m on right now.
https://www.joeydevilla.com/2025/04/30/im-referring-to-the-fast-food-chain-as-pope-yes-from-now-on/
Just a reminder during the papal transition.
https://www.joeydevilla.com/2025/04/30/just-a-reminder-during-the-papal-transition/
I asked Claude to explain what a behavioral interview was, in the style of Joey de Villa. It not only came up with something very smart-assy and snarky, but with a seemingly new acronym, STARBS, which takes STAR (situation - task - action - result) and augments it with BS, as in “bullshit.”
*I* wish I’d come up with that one!
Three famous questions:
1. What's the most important open problem in your field?
2. What are you working on?
3. Why aren't both answers the same?
Dr. Richard Hamming’s “You and Your Research:” https://paulgraham.com/hamming.html
[2 of 2]
Register for the event here:
https://www.meetup.com/tampadevs/events/307501145/
Read more about the event on Tampa Bay’s tech blog, Global Nerdy:
https://www.globalnerdy.com/2025/04/27/join-tampa-bays-tech-groups-this-wednesday-at-the-happy-hour-networking-ai-lightning-talk-event/
[1 of 2] THIS AFTERNOON! Join Tampa Bay’s tech meetups, catch up with your peers, make new connections, and get caught up on the latest developments in AI!
It’ll take place at 5:30 p.m. at Thrive DTSP, where we’ll be serving food, drinks, and a great experience, including James Gress’ talk on the latest artificial intelligence happenings.
I’ve just been informed that I’ll be presenting at Kansas City Developer Conference (KCDC) 2025. As you might expect, my presentation topic will be a little bit offbeat, as I’m going to talk about Python programming via the Ren’Py visual novel engine and how to take this fun platform to strange new heights.
It’s happening in August, and I’m excited and pleased to have landed a speaking gig at KCDC!
https://www.globalnerdy.com/2025/04/29/im-speaking-at-kansas-city-developer-conference/
The best summary of the Canadian election.
https://www.joeydevilla.com/2025/04/28/the-best-summary-of-the-canadian-election/
WEDNESDAY! It’s a meetup of Tampa Bay’s tech meetups, a chance to catch up with your peers and make new connections, and a great way to get caught up on the latest developments in AI (you *do* know about MCP, don’t you?).
It happens on Wednesday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Thrive DTSP, and yes, we’ll be serving food, drinks, and a great experience, including James Gress’ talk on the latest artificial intelligence happenings.
@Coldforge It’s a reference to the “Buy Canadian and avoid buying American / American-sourced products” movement in Canada and not a “No Real Scotsman” thing (see https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/buy-canadian-grows-more-us-companies-say-retailers-turning-away-their-products-2025-03-31/ for an example).
I myself wouldn’t pass the “No Real Scotsman” purity test myself, as I’m a citizen through naturalization.
It’s election day in Canada, and in case it wasn’t clear, here’s the difference between the two leading candidates for Prime Minister...
It’s a new week, and as of Thursday, a new month (and on Sunday, May the Fourth)! Here’s what’s happening this week in Tampa Bay’s tech, entrepreneur, and nerd scene, courtesy of Tampa Bay’s tech blog, Global Nerdy, which has been active here in “The OTHER Bay Area” since 2014.
THIS WEDNESDAY! Join Tampa Bay’s tech meetup groups in a much-needed social gathering at Thrive DTSP with networking, a quick AI talk by Accenture’s James Gress, all your favorite meetup groups including Tampa Devs and Tampa Bay Techies, and of course, the accordion. In addition to good company and good discussions, there’ll also be complimentary food and drink.
It all happens this Wednesday, April 30th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Thrive DTSP in St. Pete!
