Rob Pegoraro - 2025 in Tech!

Pi May General Meeting - one week early, on May 17, 2025
Hybrid Meeting, in person at Olli in Fairfax, via Zoom (see below)
Pi Members, join us for another fun return of intrepid journo Rob Pegoraro to the Pi. This year, we'll partner again with PATACS to have a live meeting next weekend, on May 17th, at the Olli facility in Fairfax. We had a very successful such session back in 2023, and glad we could arrange it again with Rob and Patacs! So first, more about the program, then directions, and last the Zoom invite for our remote folks.
So don't miss thiis year's Rob talk, current state of tech in 2025, aka, "What fresh hell is this"!
1. More About the Program
The PATACS meeting opens informally at 1 pm - at some point there will be a short talk about Google Mail Web Interface by Geof Goodrum. After this, there will be refreshments, with a sheet cake!
Around 2 pm, Rob will speak, and here's his talk:
Yes, so many things seem kind of terrible right now. Between Trump's tariffs and his crusade against environmental-protection policies, even a tablet or a TV purchase isn't what it used to be. I'll talk about what's going on right now, what you can do about it (spoiler alert: sometimes nothing), and what's actually getting better in the tech universe.

2. BIO: (from Rob’s About page)

Here’s the short version of my bio:
Rob Pegoraro writes about interesting problems and possibilities in consumer technology.
And here’s a longer take on it:
Rob Pegoraro tries to make sense of computers, consumer electronics, telecom services, the Internet, software and other things that beep or blink for a variety of online and print outlets.
But wait, there’s more.
As of mid 2023, I contribute regularly to PCMag and Fast Company and tend a few tech guides at Wirecutter. Earlier, I wrote a tech Q&A column (sound familiar?) for USA Today, had a long string of work on tech-policy issues and the occasional review at Yahoo Finance (a transition from my earlier role at Yahoo Tech), before which I covered tech issues for the Computer & Communications Industry Association’s Disruptive Competition Project blog, Discovery News and the Consumer Electronics Association. You can also find me less frequently at such other sites as Stream TV Insider, Light Reading, and AARP, and the list of sites that have run my freelance work since 2011 now includes the likes of the Atlantic, Boing Boing, the Verge, the New Republic, TechCrunch and even the Washington Post. And as of May 2019, you’re welcome to support me directly at Patreon. (from us, here's link to that: https://www.patreon.com/c/robpegoraro)

For more, including how to pronounce Rob's last, name, see https://robpegoraro.com/about/
3. Directions

> > Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
> > Tallwood, TA1
> > 4210 Roberts Road
> > Fairfax, VA 22032-1028

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ybak7q3TVYtkWK8P7
Parking is easy, there's parking lot in front of building, another behind it.
Coming from anywhere on Route 236 (Little River Turnpike) turn on Roberts Road: Left if you're going west, right if going east. OLLI/GMU will be on the right after half mile or so. Roberts Road has a lot of stop signs and speed bumps. Go slow as you climb hill, it's a sudden right turn at crest.
Don't have dessert before coming; there'll be a sheet cake.
And save appetite -- after meeting -- 3:30 or so, if there's interest, we'll go for eats -- plenty places nearby.

This meeting will be in person and via Zoom sent to your Pi email.

Remember at the meeting to check into our online attendance form, https://wap.org/attend. The form also lets you add feedback, or request topics for future meetings, plus those checked in are eligible for the door prize drawn later in the meeting!

See you there!