Tech entrepreneurs in and around KC, join us for happy hour!

Venture Fridays is a simple but fun concept: The startup culture of Kansas City and surrounding areas is invited to gather at our private office lounge to discuss what we’re all thinking about, working on, needing help with, and might do for each other. Existing or aspiring entrepreneurs of all types and ages are invited. Let’s raise our glasses to building the entrepreneurial culture beyond ourselves.

Doors are open on Rainbow Boulevard (Westwood, Kan.) 4 to 6 p.m. on the 2nd Friday of every month. Who are your hosts? We’re a web marketing metacompany, still whiffing the baby powder of our start in 2009. We work hard, and we play hard. Sometimes Venture Fridays will be co-located with other events, sometimes not. Either way, we’ll be here drinking and thinking. Will you? Drop in.

No soliciting or mooching please (entrepreneurial mojo required; read more in Discussions).

Want to present your idea, get feedback, or find testers? Have an idea for an awesome entrepreneurial jam? We invite startup stimulation. Contact Carrie at Red Nova Labs.
http://www.meetup.com/VentureFridays/events/33260372/?a=ea1.2_evn&rv=ea1.2

Mystery Ball hits the App Store on Thursday, Nov. 3, and Red Nova Labs is celebrating the only way we know how – with a big ol’ bash. The Mystery Ball Launch Party is on Friday night, Nov. 4.

Mystery Ball is the first release from Red Nova Labs Games and it was the work of one man. Lawrence-based developer David Howe created the art, designed and programmed the game. Mystery Ball is an iOS universal game with HD graphics and retina support that can be played on iPhone 3GS+, iPod Touch 3+ and iPad 1+.

The mission of the game is to help a ball named FRED conquer his fears, as part of the Professor’s Grand Experiment. FRED is afraid of just about everything, most notably heights, time and being touched. FRED travels through dozens of physics-enabled, fully 3D worlds, navigating around the game’s frenemies and picking up badges along the way to unlock his fears. He is aided by Doodads like a magnet, a bubble machine, a phase shifter and many more.

Howe will demonstrate the game and talk about the 6 month process that went into designing and developing Mystery Ball. You can also learn more here: http://www.mysteryballgame.com/

Launch party attendees will be treated to a special Mystery Brew, uniquely prepared to commemorate the event by local nanobrewer Wilderness Brewing Company. We will also have a keg of root beer for the non-alcohol drinkers and kids. The Professor is expected to make an appearance, and attendees will be able to play the game on iPads set up around the Discovery Lounge.

If you’d like to attend, RSVP here http://www.mysteryballgame.com/rsvp

Venture Fridays members welcome! Mystery Ball has been demonstrated by David Howe twice at Venture Fridays (first during the conceptual phase and again a month before submission to Apple).

Good programming practices can significantly make a good developer. Good developers are needed in today's industry and they're still rare relative to the demand. Good programmers can be effective as 5-10 average programmers.

In this meetup we will focus more on writing good code.

We will be writing code together on a white board. You might need to write code separately or take notes, so bring papers and a pencil and/or your laptop.

Let's share our experiences/knowledge about good programming!
http://www.meetup.com/KCDevelopers/events/38728092/

Tue, Oct 25, 2011, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Centriq Training, 8700 State Line Rd, Leawood, KS 66206
Presenter: Boon T. Lee
Topic: Transitioning From Developer to Manager
Sponsor: ECCO Select

This month, we'll be holding the OWASP chapter meeting along side the local B-Sides event on October 26.

Details on BSidesKC are at:
http://www.securitybsides.com/w/page/26298468/BSidesKC

If you will be attending, please register for the event (free) at:
http://bsideskc.eventbrite.com

When: Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Where: Johnson County KS conference center Suite 201 - Map
http://g.co/maps/zh83 Free Parking!

We've got some space set aside for us. During the event (time to be
determined) I'll share some slides on the size and scope of OWASP from a national perspective and then open the conversation up to the questions and informational needs of attendees.

The meeting topic: An Agile Simulation

Explaining what an Agile process entails can sometimes be difficult, especially to people that are not familiar with any software development practices. What is one to do in such as situation? Play a game of course! This month's meeting will focus on a game based simulation to show some of the aspects what a scrum approach looks like in non-technical terms. Since Martin Olson is leading it, you can be sure that there won't be any technical abilities required. All you have to know how to do is roll a die and count.

We'll set up the game and run through a couple of iterations and collect our metrics. After we've gotten a feel for the process and various components and characteristics, we'll discuss our observations and answer any questions the group might have about the game, an agile approach at large or Martin's apparent lack of technical skills.

This will be a good session to bring those that are not familiar with Agile but have an interest. It is doubtful that we'd be able to cover all the facets of an agile approach in one evening, but hopefully we can provide some foundations and common ground that your organization
and work from. Since we're meeting at Centriq, you should plan on
eating before you arrive. (Five Guys and some other eateries are
located across the street). This is tentatively the last meeting for
2011 since late November and December are typically filled with holiday obligations. If you feel strongly and would like to try to meet again before the end of the year, please attend and make your voice heard.

Martin Olson is a principal at Silicon Prairie Solutions and has worked as an Agile Coach, Scrum Master and General Cat Herder since 2003.

Windows/Freeware SIG - Tuesday Oct 18th 6:30 pm New Horizons
This month let us get back to basics. Are there hidden tricks in Windows that make its use more productive and simplify the method or reduce the steps needed to get to the desired result? How can I troubleshoot my problem(s)? How can I help my family/friends with their problem either in person or remotely? Are there methods other than Windows/Microsoft Update to keep my equipment up to date? Is it advisable to purchase extended warranties? Whose warranty should I purchase, store/manufacturer? Are there interesting utilities included in Windows that I can use? How is the best way to protect my PC for minimal or no cost? This list can go on and on and everyone has an opinion. Come share yours with the group and we can all become smarter or at least better informed.


As usual there will be a question and answer session for general or specific questions.

Where: New Horizons Computer Learning Center
Metcalf South Shopping Center
96th& Metcalf, Overland Park, KS
(Please enter the door of Metcalf South on the lower level of the
shopping center on the West - You will find New Horizons inside the
center area.) Room 6

Bill Diamond
Windows/Freeware SIG leader