Barney Lawrence

the covers of Wyrd Science issues 3-7 laid out on a gradient landscape next to the caption WIN THE LOT!

it hasn't helped sell any mags but it appears our nonsense on here has just pushed our account over 5K 'followers', so let's embrace that as some kind of achievement!

Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*

Data people. Why not submit a session to the Birmingham user group.
Also give @dataluthier.bsky.social a follow and a warm welcome to bluesky.

Welcome aboard!

I am of the opinion that the secret aim of team building exercises is to give the team a shared trauma to bond over afterwards.

I used to work at a small shop that made little plastic vampires.

There were only 2 of us working there, so I had to make every second count.

It's much better than bees on chips.

Movie about a crack team of attack patissiers called The Baker's Dozen

They go in all buns glazing

In memoriam...

Second session on #Copilot for #sql done. Nice filled room with a lot of interaction, fun and demos.
Next up @barneylawrence.bsky.social on #Purview!

everyone should checkout Messenger by Abeto. it's a free browser game where ur just a little delivery kid on a little planet!
messenger.abeto.co

Simon Sabin and I sit down and chat to answer one simple question: why bother with conferences in 2026?

In the chat, we talk about meeting peers, asking real questions, and learning from battle-tested content (not vendor demos).

Watch (or just listen to) the video: 
https://youtu.be/zwGDfL-B3jQ

I vote the former. Surely a well meaning new writer will welcome tips on writing etiquette.

They should have had Prince Andrew welcome him to a nice meal at Pizza Express then sent him home.

Microsoft Data Platform Group - Birmingham: Call for Speakers What we're about Birmingham Microsoft Data Platform Group - Bringing the West Midlands Microsoft Data Platform Community together. What? A virtual ...

Got a sudden spark of inspiration at @fabconeurope.bsky.social this week (or just over your morning coffee)? Why not share it with fellow data folks at the Microsoft Data Platform User Group Birmingham!

We’re on MeetUp, online & in-person. Take the stage!🎤

Me with the plastic head from the previous picture balanced where my usual head should be.

I am a very serious person who has almost finished his conference slides.

A white plastic angular head with a flat top. Might be a coffee table?

Anyone else have one of these in their room for FabCon?

@beckyannison.bsky.social sounds like something you'd have an opinion on.

Why in-person events matter: insights from the community When 2020 happened, a lot of things came to a standstill. Working at the office, going to a bar or a movie, and attending in-person events. Before we knew it, everything went online. Work from home became the standard, services like Netflix and movies at home boomed, and data events were available through Teams or Zoom. Since 2022, many events have returned to in-person formats (or are attempting to), but I'm hearing from numerous organisers that attendance is declining.

Blog alert!

This time on reasons why the community thinks in-person events still matter!
#DataSaturday
#SqlSaturday
#Meetup
#AzureDataTechGroups

Screenshot of a tweet with the text, “Thanks everyone for comments on the draft, here it is revised with all your edits.” The image accompanying the tweet is a photograph of a pizza that is half traditional, and half topped with a roasted chicken and colorful candies

#AcademicWriting be like

Will it come bundled with an SSMS t-shirt?

The end of an era! Thanks for all you've done and no doubt see you at a conference sometime soon.

two pictures of Sam Altman below. A picture of Burke in the movie Aliens with the text. Hold on, hold on just a 2nd. This is clearly an important technology we're dealing with. And I don't think any that you or I or anybody has the right to arbitrarily pull the plug because of copyright issues,

www.reddit.com/r/behindtheb...

Alexander Graham's Belt is an infinitely extensible piece of string with a paper cup attached to each end.

I’m working on a blog post on why people should attend in-person events. I can think of many reasons but I’d love the input of the broader community. If you have a few seconds to spare, please fill in this link. Thanks! #DataSaturday #SqlSaturday #Meetup

forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

🚨 Only HOURS left to submit your session for Fabric February 2026!! 🚨

You don't want to miss out on all the #FabFeb-fabulousness, #SNÆCKS AND getting to experience Norway in February! 💚🍩🍿✨

Don't wait, submit your fabulous sessions before the time runs out: 👉 sessionize.com/fabric-febru...

yo this guy is cooking

Tomorrow Clancy's Data Warehouse Toolkit.

It would be right at home in an episode of The Day to Day.

SQLBits is returning to ICC Wales! 🎉

📅 22–25 April 2026 | Newport, Wales

4 days of world-class training, 100s of sessions, exclusive access to the ICC (including new woodland walks 🌿), and unforgettable evening events.

#SQLBits #DataCommunity #ICCWales