The SkySQL & MariaDB: Solutions Day for the MySQL Database (the first of its kind) took place last Friday (April 13th) in Santa Clara, and we’d like to thank everyone who attended, participated and generally helped make it the successful day that it was!

Seal for yourself what a happy day it was:

Images have been used to convey stories since the dawn of time, and though this was a 21st century technology event, we thought we’d go “old school” to illustrate this post instead of writing it! [You can also follow the full story on our Facebook

Great speaker line up at SkySQL & MariaDB: Solutions Day for the MySQL Database and Percona Live MySQL Conference & Expo

If you haven’t yet registeredfor next week’sSkySQL & MariaDB: Solutions Day for the MySQL Database, do it today so you don’t miss any of these important discussions about MariaDB, MySQL & related technologies:

• Opening keynote from Monty Widenius and David Axmark

• SkySQL, MySQL, MariaDB & the Cloud, withUlf Sandberg, Kaj Arnö, and Ivan Zoratti of SkySQL

• Automating master failover and

Let’s be clear from the get-go: contrary to what this picture and the title of this post may suggest, we are not giving Oliver - SkySQL’s honorary mascot - away next week! He was very good, though, to pose for this picture to help us better illustrate the size of this inflatable seal! We’ll let your imagination decide what else this photo represents. Or better yet, join us in Santa Clara, next week, at what’s looking to be a pretty exciting gathering of MySQL-aficionados!

That’s right, the SkySQL & MariaDB: Solutions Day for the MySQL Database and

SkySQL and Percona are giving away free tickets to the Percona Live MySQL Conference and Expo, and you can win them! We’re also giving away copies of High Performance MySQL, 3rd Edition!

If you haven’t yet signed up for the Percona Live: MySQL Conference & Expo in Santa Clara, CA the week of April 9, now is the time. Friends of SkySQL can save 10% off their registration fee by using the discount code “SKY-PL12” upon registration. As well, if you reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara before March 18th, you can take advantage of Percona's special conference room rate for the conference - be sure to ask for their discounted room rate when you register!