MnTech Tech Connect 2024

Today was Tech Connect 2024 hosted by MnTech at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. There were over 600 people this year and a number of good presentations.

Sessions I attended:

Overall observations:

  • There were so many references to AI. Everyone still talking about it and starting to show real-world use cases. There is still more hype than substance here, but the substance seems to be showing up. Multiple companies shared that AI adoption isn’t automatic and you have to make sure you bring people along.
  • The quantum computing session was more interesting than I expected and showed how far that technology has come. I think this is still a decade out and a big bet, but accessing quantum infrastructure via the cloud is an obvious go-to-market path to bring this esoteric tech to teams.
  • It is super fun to watch the Minnesota Twins technology team because their content is so fun and very advanced stuff. Plus they have a whole production team that makes super high-quality visuals.
Bald speaker in a blazer holds a microphone on a conference stage beside a podium, with a large screen reading Tech Connect Tech Innovation in the North Star State May 8 2024 Speaker at a podium presents a slide on quantum computing and cryptography to a small seated audience in a conference room Large conference ballroom with hundreds of seated attendees watching a panel of four speakers on a blue-lit stage with two large projection screens showing YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS Large conference ballroom filled with hundreds of attendees seated at round tables facing a stage where five panelists sit for a CIO Leadership Panel, displayed on two large screens. Group of nine conference attendees smiling around a round black-draped table in a large convention hall filled with other guests

I collected the ENS 7th Anniversary NFT! I continue to be a big fan of ENS and think it is one of the most important crypto projects.

Circular badge reading Guardians of the Namespace 7th Anniversary May 4th 2024 May the Address Be With You, with cartoon figures around a glowing ENS logo hologram in a spaceship interior.

Also see 6th Anniversary.

I’m looking forward to Minnesota Technology Association Tech Connect 2024 event on Wednesday. To have a little fun I created a You’ve met Jamie Thingelstad at Tech Connect 2024 POAP to share with folks that I see there. If you are at the event say Hi and I’ll give you a claim code! 🤝

I pre-ordered the Ledger Stax on Dec 10, 2022 and after a very long wait I got notified that they will be shipping in June! I have two on the way. I am looking forward to trying the Ledger Stax out after a 17 month wait!

Bitcoin passed 1 billion total all-time transactions tonight! Currently at 1,000,196,488. 👏

Squirrels Eat Two Pounds of Chocolate

For Mother’s Day I ordered some Freese’s Candy for Tammy. We had these when we were in Milwaukee and she has declared them her favorite Turtles. They are delicious. So I ordered one pound of them for her as well as a pound of salted caramel in milk chocolate.

I timed the order so it would come next week, but they shipped it fast and it delivered even faster. They dropped it off on Saturday at 2:34pm.

In just two hours, an intrepid squirrel approached. The squirrel smelled it, pushed the box around, tipped it over, and got to work at whatever delicious smells were inside.

This rascal even took a break sitting on my chair! 🐿️

After the mayhem was in full swing one of the neighborhood rabbits thought they would check it out too.

Over the course of that afternoon and the next morning several squirrels stopped by to check out the situation.

When we got home we found both boxes of chocolate completely emptied and bits of the box scattered around. I hope those squirrels were miserable from all that sugar.

Finished game of Five Crowns — Mazie was the winner!

My bro-in-law Max and I getting ready for the 80’s Prom Murder Mystery Party. 🕵️‍♂️