Blockchain

**❗️IMPORTANT❗️ Please register only on Luma: [https://luma.com/tjrvpd6v](https://luma.com/tjrvpd6v)** ​ In this session, we’ll walk through building a real product landing page — the kind you’d actually ship for a startup, side project, or portfolio. Starting from a Figma design, we’ll move all the way to production-ready code using modern AI tools like Cursor and MCP. ​This is a practical, honest look at how modern designers work closer to real product delivery. ​ ​🧠 **What we’ll cover** ​• Turning Figma designs into reusable code components • Translating a design system into clean, consistent code • Adding subtle motion and interactivity • Where AI fits into a modern design-to-code workflow ​No laptop needed — this is a guided, walkthrough-style session focused on learning and inspiration. ​ 📅 **Date & Time:** January 27, 6:00 PM 🎟 **Entry:** Free ​ ​🎙 **Speaker:** ​[Nima Tahami](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimatahami/) is a product designer, builder, and educator with 15 years of experience turning ideas into shipped products. He has taught 18,000+ students worldwide through best-selling Figma courses and is currently building CueClip, an AI video editor, while helping teams bridge the gap between design and code. ​ ​👥 **Who should join:** ​• Mid+ product designers • Design-minded engineers and builders • Anyone curious about AI-powered product workflows ​ ​📅 **Agenda:** ​6:00 PM — Doors open 6:30 – 6:45 PM — Event intro 6:45 – 8:00 PM — Main session with Nima 8:00 – 9:00 PM — Networking ​ ​✨ Come for the learning, stay for the conversations. Friendly, practical, and community-driven — we can’t wait to see you.

***This is a ticketed event, please register on [luma](https://luma.com/27b9w1n5) to reserve your spot.*** [​](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrin-gardhouse-988691175) Kathrin Gardhouse presents her draft paper on how liability insurance could function as a form of private regulation for frontier AI, translating catastrophic risk into enforceable safety standards rather than box-ticking compliance. The talk outlines a proposed “minimum insurability pathway” for AI developers and explores whether and how a narrow, restrictive insurance mandate could meaningfully reduce catastrophic AI risks while complementing public regulation. ​​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions ​​If you can't attend in person, join our live stream starting at 6:30 pm via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live). ​​This is part of our weekly **[AI Policy Tuesdays ](https://luma.com/trajectory-labs?k=c)**series. Join us in examining questions like: * ​​How should AI development be regulated? * ​​What are the economic and social implications of widespread automation? * ​​How do we balance innovation with safety considerations? * ​​What governance structures are needed for safer AI?

Join us for a recurring Pokécraft event that brings a new and exciting craft centered around the Pokémon universe. Plus, the best part is, you get to take home your unique creation as a memento of your Pokécraft experience. We will be painting bulk Pokémon cards for this event. Unleash your inner artist, bond with fellow TCG enthusiasts, and let your imagination run wild! **Event Highlights:** * **All Materials Provided:** We supply everything you need depending on the event (Perler/fuse beads, heat source, felt, bulk cards, paint, top loader and stickers.) * **Fun for All Ages:** Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner, our workshop is designed to be enjoyable for everyone. * **Take Home Your Creations:** Leave with your personalized piece! One of a kind! 🎟️ Ticket Information: * Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. * Feel free to bring your cards to trade! You can reserve your spot for this event here on meetup or on the LVLUP GAMES site here: https://lvlupgames.ca/products/pokecrafts-various-dates

※English part below 101 Canadamingleに興味をお持ちいただきありがとうございます🇨🇦✨ このグループは 2026年1月に結成され、毎週月曜日または火曜日に言語交換イベントを開催しています。 ボードゲームやワークシートを通して、日本語と英語を楽しく学びましょう！ 初心者の方も大歓迎です。 リラックスした雰囲気の中で、楽しく会話練習ができます😊 ⏰ 日時：1月27日（火）18:00〜20:00 📍 場所：Formocha（Eglinton St 近く） 55 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1G8 💰 参加費：$5 （+ カフェでの1人1オーダー必須） 💳 **お支払いについて** 参加費は【**事前支払い**】をお願いしています。 🚫 キャンセルについて 準備の都合上、当日キャンセルはご遠慮ください。 やむを得ない場合は、できるだけ前日までにご連絡をお願いいたします。 皆さまのご理解とご協力をよろしくお願いいたします。 ご質問がありましたら、下記の Instagram までお気軽にDMください📩 [@101.canadamingle](https://www.instagram.com/101.canadamingle?igsh=ZjVtb3Jscjc0anhx) ———————————————————— Thank you for your interest in 101 Canadamingle 🇨🇦✨ This group was formed in January 2026, and we host language exchange events every Monday or Tuesday. Let’s enjoy learning Japanese and English together through board games and worksheets! Beginners are more than welcome. This is a relaxed and friendly environment where you can practice conversation and have fun 😊 ⏰ Date & Time: Tuesday\, January 27 \| 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 📍 Location: Formocha (near Eglinton St) 55 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1G8 💰 Fee: $5 （One drink order required） 💳 **Payment** We kindly ask all participants to complete the payment **in advance**. 🚫 Cancellation Policy To ensure smooth event preparation, same-day cancellations are not accepted. If you need to cancel due to unavoidable circumstances, please let us know by the day before. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a DM on Instagram 📩 [@101.canadamingle](https://www.instagram.com/101.canadamingle?igsh=ZjVtb3Jscjc0anhx)

***Tickets must be purchased in advance!*** [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest) **Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blockchain, Tech & Finance Networking Event!** Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blockchain, Tech & Finance Networking Event! Join us for an exciting evening of dynamic networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration in the heart of Toronto. This in-person event will take place at IDK Social Bar, a modern venue designed to spark connections and conversations among forward-thinking professionals. Whether you're passionate about artificial intelligence, blockchain, finance, or cutting-edge technology, this event is your gateway to building meaningful connections, exploring new opportunities, and engaging with Toronto’s most ambitious innovators. ### 🌐 Event Highlights * Networking Opportunities: Connect with AI experts, blockchain innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of tech and finance. * Collaboration & Partnerships: Discover synergies and potential ventures across industries at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and fintech. * Future Trends: Stay ahead by exploring the latest breakthroughs in AI applications, blockchain adoption, and financial technologies driving global transformation. ### 👥 Who Should Attend? * Professionals: Build valuable connections in AI, blockchain, finance, and technology. * Entrepreneurs & CEOs: Exchange insights with other founders and business leaders. * Investors & VCs: Discover innovative startups and promising ventures. * Developers & Engineers: Meet peers working on AI-driven and blockchain-powered projects. * Job Seekers & Recent Graduates: Explore career opportunities in high-growth industries. * Startups & Project Managers: Recruit talent, find partners, and showcase your innovations. * Media & Influencers: Connect with industry thought leaders and innovators. ### 📅 Date & Location When: Wed\, Jan 28th\, 2025 \| 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Where: Mademoiselle Toronto ### *✨ The Stellar Socials Experience* At Stellar Socials by Limitless, we specialize in curating premium networking events that bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across North America. Our mission is to inspire collaboration, innovation, and growth by facilitating authentic connections in stylish, high-energy environments. Expect a relaxed yet purposeful evening where organic conversations flow. Whether attending solo or with colleagues, you’ll leave with new contacts, fresh insights, and opportunities for collaboration. ### 📲 Join Our Community * Instagram: [@stellarsocialsbylimitless](https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/ "https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/") * Facebook: Stellar Socials by Limitless * TikTok: @stellar.socials

The Ethereum Developers Meetup in Toronto (and surrounding area) is back for 2026! Our first guest of the year will be [Jan Gorzny](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jangorzny), co-founder of the Ethereum Layer 2 [Zircuit](https://www.zircuit.com/), the safe haven for onchain finance. Jan is a co-founder of Zircuit. He is an experienced researcher in algorithm design and formal methods and is interested in all things rollups, plasma, and beyond. At Zircuit, Jan's research is focused on sequencer-level security, minimizing proof generation time, and developing novel methods to check the correctness of zero-knowledge circuits. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo in 2022. Regardless if you're new to the Ethereum community or have been in this community for years, we'd love to get Toronto, Waterloo and surrounding area Ethereum builders bonded together to create and build synergies. Please join us for some refreshments and enjoy a couple hours surrounded by like-minded builders of Ethereum. RSVP here and follow our Luma group calendar here: https://luma.com/ethereumdevelopers

***Tickets must be purchased in advance!*** [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest) **Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blochain, Tech & Finance Networking Event!** Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blockchain, Tech & Finance Networking Event! Join us for an exciting evening of dynamic networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration in the heart of Toronto. This in-person event will take place at IDK Social Bar, a modern venue designed to spark connections and conversations among forward-thinking professionals. Whether you're passionate about artificial intelligence, blockchain, finance, or cutting-edge technology, this event is your gateway to building meaningful connections, exploring new opportunities, and engaging with Toronto’s most ambitious innovators. ### 🌐 Event Highlights * Networking Opportunities: Connect with AI experts, blockchain innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of tech and finance. * Collaboration & Partnerships: Discover synergies and potential ventures across industries at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and fintech. * Future Trends: Stay ahead by exploring the latest breakthroughs in AI applications, blockchain adoption, and financial technologies driving global transformation. ### 👥 Who Should Attend? * Professionals: Build valuable connections in AI, blockchain, finance, and technology. * Entrepreneurs & CEOs: Exchange insights with other founders and business leaders. * Investors & VCs: Discover innovative startups and promising ventures. * Developers & Engineers: Meet peers working on AI-driven and blockchain-powered projects. * Job Seekers & Recent Graduates: Explore career opportunities in high-growth industries. * Startups & Project Managers: Recruit talent, find partners, and showcase your innovations. * Media & Influencers: Connect with industry thought leaders and innovators. ### 📅 Date & Location When: Wed\, Jan 28th\, 2025 \| 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Where: Mademoiselle Toronto ### *✨ The Stellar Socials Experience* At Stellar Socials by Limitless, we specialize in curating premium networking events that bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across North America. Our mission is to inspire collaboration, innovation, and growth by facilitating authentic connections in stylish, high-energy environments. Expect a relaxed yet purposeful evening where organic conversations flow. Whether attending solo or with colleagues, you’ll leave with new contacts, fresh insights, and opportunities for collaboration. ### 📲 Join Our Community * Instagram: [@stellarsocialsbylimitless](https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/ "https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/") * Facebook: Stellar Socials by Limitless * TikTok: @stellar.socials

Discover how AI, tech & IP law are reshaping creativity, business, and ownership at LinkedIn Local Toronto LinkedIn Local Toronto: "Where AI, Tech & IP Collide: The Future of Ownership" \~ Wed Jan 28, 6-9pm ✨ Ready to build real connections with real people — while diving into one of the most explosive topics in business today? Join us for LinkedIn Local Toronto, a milestone meetup exploring how AI, technology, and intellectual property are rewriting the rules of innovation, ownership, and creativity. **Register to this external link:** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/linkedin-local-toronto-meetup-ai-tech-ip-law-the-future-of-ownership-tickets-1915140529879?aff=oddtdtcreator Whether you're an entrepreneur, creative, lawyer, or corporate leader, this is your space to network with purpose, exchange ideas, and explore how the rise of AI is reshaping every industry. 💡 This Month’s Theme: “Where AI, Tech & IP Collide: The Future of Ownership” AI is moving faster than regulation. Tech is evolving faster than our policies. And innovation? It’s forcing us all to rethink what it means to own an idea. At this event, we’ll bring together three expert voices to unpack: What AI means for creators, innovators, and business owners The new frontier of intellectual property and ownership in an AI-driven world How to stay ahead legally, ethically, and strategically Come for the insight. Stay for the connection. 🗓️ Event Details 📅 Wednesday, January 28, 2025 🕕 6:00 – 9:00 PM ET 📍 Dipchand LLP – Simpson Tower, 401 Bay St, Suite 2100, Toronto, ON M5H2Y4 💰 $15 Early Bird \| $20 Regular \| Drinks included **Register to this external link:** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/linkedin-local-toronto-meetup-ai-tech-ip-law-the-future-of-ownership-tickets-1915140529879?aff=oddtdtcreator 💥 What to Expect ✔️ Lively Networking (6:00–6:45 PM) Start the night off with a drink and great conversation. Meet fellow professionals, founders, and innovators shaping Toronto’s tech and business landscape. ✔️ Expert Panel (6:45–7:30 PM) A 45-minute discussion featuring three thought leaders on AI, law, and innovation — moderated by Bobby Umar Featuring: Amber Mac \- Keynote Speaker on AI \|President\, AmberMac Media Inc\. \|Host of The AmberMac Show on SiriusXM Liz Dipchand — Managing Partner at Dipchand LLP \| IP Lawyer & Trusted Advisor to Innovators and Founders Bobby Umar — 5x TEDx Speaker \| CEO\, Thought Leadership Branding Club \| Inc Magazine Top 100 Leadership Speaker Mohit Rajhans \- Media Consultant \| Award\-Winning Speaker on AI Adoption for Leaders & Professionals \| 🇨🇦 National Media Contributor \(20\+ yrs\) ✔️ More Networking (7:30–8:00 PM) Continue the connections and dive deeper into the conversations that matter most to you. ✔️ Open Mic (8:00–8:20 PM) Got a tip, ask, or pitch? Step up to the mic for 30 seconds to share your idea, question, or business. ✔️ Final Networking & Wrap-Up (8:20–9:00 PM) Keep the momentum going — you never know who you’ll meet next. 🥂 Why Attend Connect with Toronto’s most active professional community on LinkedIn. Learn from experts navigating the intersection of AI, tech, and law. Discover new opportunities for collaboration, visibility, and growth. Celebrate the 30th edition of LinkedIn Local Toronto — 30 meetups, thousands of connections, countless stories. This isn’t a business card swap. It’s where relationships, ideas, and innovation collide. 🎟️ Grab Your Ticket Now $15 Early Bird ticket (available until Dec 31) includes: ✔️Entry to the event ✔️Complimentary drink ✔️Access to the panel, open mic, and community networking ✔️Seats always fill up fast — secure yours early and join the conversation on AI, ownership, and the future of innovation. **Register to this external link:** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/linkedin-local-toronto-meetup-ai-tech-ip-law-the-future-of-ownership-tickets-1915140529879?aff=oddtdtcreator $20 General Admission after Early Bird ends. #LinkedInLocal #LinkedInLocalTO #AI #Innovation #Tech #NetworkingToronto

In modern Java applications, distributed systems are everywhere, and so are failure modes. But how do you know when your cluster is fragile, or if it’s on the brink of breaking? This talk dives into practical observability and resiliency techniques for distributed Java environments. We’ll highlight key patterns, failure signals, and metrics that matter, backed by a live demo using Hazelcast, Chaos-mesh, Prometheus, and Grafana. You’ll learn: Core Patterns – Leader election, partitioning, replication Metrics That Matter – Backup count, member count, JVM health, Golden Signals Failure-Aware Design – Resilience patterns, chaos testing principles Live Demo – Deploy a working cluster, simulate node failure, and explore metrics to observe how data integrity holds as the system nears its fault tolerance threshold Ideal for Java developers, architects, and SREs, this session blends theory, tools, and real-world failure scenarios to help you build distributed systems that stay online—even when things go wrong. **About the venue** Free Times Cafe has bistro-style seating and a full food and drink menu. Please consider helping to support the venue by planning to have supper during the talk. **Speaker Bio** Joe Sherwin is a Principal Solution Architect at Hazelcast with 22 years of experience in the design, development, and implementation of application systems within multi-tier distributed computing environments. Working with clients such as Vanguard, Fannie Mae, Federal Reserve Bank, Citi Group, Bear Stearns, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, Comcast Corp, Webster Bank, Gartner Group, The Hartford Life Company, IBM Global Services, Mass Mutual, Lincoln National Financial Corporation, Bank of America, and Barnes & Noble Online Group, Mr. Sherwin has been instrumental in the development of large-scale mission-critical E-commerce, insurance, and financial systems. He has experience architecting & implementing solution using CORBA, RMI, Java EE compliant distributed Object architectures, in-memory high transaction/low latency solutions using Hazelcast IMDG®, GemFire, Ehcache & Oracle Coherence, and solutions deployable on IaaS or PaaS platforms like Cloud Foundry, Amazon Web Services, Rackspace or Heroku.

Welcome ! OM Chanting is a group practice that uses the transformational power of OM to activate the self-healing potential of participants, promote inner peace and purify the environment. OM Chanting is a free practice, however, donations are welcome to help cover the rent of the studio. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- EVENT DETAILS: address: 283 Spadina Avenue; 3rd floor. ( SE corner of Spadina and Dundas). We will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes earlier. We will be sitting on chairs; you can also sit on the floor if you prefer. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water. Looking forward to seeing you ! For more information about Om Chanting, please visit: [https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) Much Love, Veda Cell: 416-845-9375

The public sphere is currently dominated by a handful of social media platforms — for example, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit — all built on centralized networks. Centralized networks concentrate decision-making and infrastructure in a single entity that manages user identity, data storage, policy enforcement, and content curation. This concentration of control grants platforms enormous power over online communication and public discourse. Yet these platforms are operated by unelected actors accountable primarily to shareholders rather than the public. I argue that operators of platforms built on centralized networks can’t legitimately exercise power over the public sphere. By contrast, platforms built on decentralized networks — which distribute control over identity, data, and policy across independent nodes interoperating through open protocols — can in principle exercise their power legitimately. The upshot is that legitimate platform governance requires migrating to decentralized architectures. Chris Howard https://www.mcgill.ca/philosophy/chris-howard Associate Professor Department of Philosophy McGill University About the Speaker: I'm an Associate Professor of Philosophy at [McGill University](https://www.mcgill.ca/philosophy/), where i direct the [Philosophy, Technology, & Policy Lab](https://www.mcgillptplab.com/). My earlier work was in normative ethics & metaethics. Now I work on questions about power, legitimacy, & governance in digital infrastructure. I'm focused on the illegitimate power of centralized social media platforms & AI systems, & on the prospects for legitimate decentralized alternatives. Before joining McGill, I was a research assistant professor at [UNC-Chapel Hill](https://philosophy.unc.edu/) & core faculty in the [UNC/Duke program in philosophy, politics, & economics](https://ppe.unc.edu/). **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a talk with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. The talk will also be streamed online with live chat [here](https://www.youtube.com/live/NGJrCWCnkyY). About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

For January, we’re reading Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. For fans of Flight Behavior and Station Eleven, a novel set on the brink of catastrophe, as a young woman chases the world's last birds--and her own final chance for redemption. Franny Stone has always been a wanderer. By following the ocean's tides and the birds that soar above, she can forget the losses that have haunted her life. But when the wild she loves begins to disappear, Franny can no longer wander without a destination. She arrives in remote Greenland with one purpose: to find the world's last flock of Arctic terns and track their final migration. She convinces Ennis Malone, captain of the Saghani, to take her onboard, winning over his eccentric crew with promises that the birds will lead them to fish. As the Saghani fights its way south, Franny's dark history begins to unspool. Battered by night terrors, accumulating a pile of unsent letters, and obsessed with pursuing the terns at any cost, Franny is full of secrets. When her quest threatens the safety of the entire crew, Franny must ask herself what she is really running toward--and running from. Propelled by a narrator as fierce and fragile as the terns she is following, Charlotte McConaghy's Migrations is both an ode to our threatened world and a breathtaking page-turner about the lengths we will go for the people we love.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

## Details \#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. \#\#\# What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time \#\#\# Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.