Silverlight and XAML are cornerstones in Microsoft's development future. An understanding of those two technologies will become increasingly useful in creating apps for the "Windows stack," which includes the new Windows phone as well as the desktop and the web.

Getting a handle on XML is really pretty easy. Pick up a book like this and in a few hours you'll be flinging XML around like an old hand.

Or a site like this that offers free tutorials can be quite useful. You'll be able to work through a bunch in no time.

If you've got time to go through at least some of that material before the seminar, so much the better. I know it can be difficult to come home and study after a long day at work. For me, the key is to turn on music instead of the tv (or Netflix).

Let us know how it goes!