TechZulu’s Geoffrey Emery interviews James Johnson while at the firestarter event. James is the Founder and President of the Inland Empire .NET User’s Group in Riverside California. He has been developing software since the HyperCard/Laser Disc days, still remembers sending backup tapes to get one-off CDs, loves staying ahead of the curve in new technology, and is passionate about getting people excited in their own potential. You can keep up on James’ adventures at www.duringlunch.com. We talked to James about ado.net data services and what it means to develop using beta bits. It was a fun talk with a great community organizer.

James Session was on - Consuming REST-based data with ADO.NET Data Services and introduced the ADO.NET Data Services framework and how to integrate REST-ful queries into your applications.

TechZulu’s Geoffrey Emery interviews Joey Snow at the firestarter event. Joey an IT Pro Evangelist who has been A Microsoft Certified Trainer and MCSE since 1998,and has spent the past twelve years working in various Information Technology roles specializing in Microsoft technologies. We dive into his current role at Microsoft  and  how he went from the help desk to  IT Pro and how use technet and Joey's blog to figure out how you to can do it too.

TechZulu's Geoffrey Emery interviews Matt Penner at the firestarter Event. Mat talks about his work with sql spatial and what it takes to get into the GIS(Geographical Information Systems). Mat then takes us down the path of the how GIS has changed the way people think about maps in general and what we can learn from the great technological advancement.

Matt is a database engineer and the GIS Administrator for the Val Verde Unified School District in Perris, CA. He has been an avid developer since the days of Basic on an old XT and loves to be involved with technology on the cutting edge. As an officer in the Inland Empire .NET User's Group, he enjoys regular discussions with fellow colleagues and presenters about development strategies and the future of technology. He has been an administrator of Microsoft SQL Server since version 6.5 and a .Net developer since 1.0. As a GIS developer for the last couple of years, his "daily work" projects often include managing and manipulating spatial data.

Mat'ts Sessions

Beginning SQL Spatial Features

Introducing spatial data types, what they are, how they work in SQL Server 2008 and what you can start to do with them.

Advanced SQL Spatial Features and Real World Examples

Manipulation of spatial data using the built-in analysis functions as well as using Virtual Earth to create real world examples.