Astrophysics

Title: Frontrunners, the Mid-Atlantic's AI conference! You're invited to the Frontrunners AI conference, March 27th, in Arlington, VA at GMU's Van Metre Hall. Frontrunners will be a single day tech conference this year featuring AI and data topics. You can read all about Frontrunners here: [Frontrunners](https://frontrunners.tech/) If you want to speak at Frontrunners, submit your talk here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedNNa4N64vgfsvAtGcBngKJrtd3h1_x0T019GTW-rSwCj0jQ/viewform This is a paid event, so you will have to register at the Frontrunners AI site or at the direct registration link is as follows (but please also RSVP on this meetup to help us reach others): https://frontrunners.ticketspice.com/frontrunners-2026 Thanks. We hope to see you there.

We meet typically from 12:15 to 1:15 PM on the second and fourth Fridays of the month in Conference Room 2E908 at the National Cancer Institute http://gene.toastmastersclubs.org/ For details on Directions and Security Check-in: http://gene.toastmastersclubs.org/directions.html

Come check out the Carter Farm Band at Tommy Joe's. Fantastic group of musicians playing the softer side of classic rock music. Admission is free, the food is great, and the crowd will be fun!

Come celebrate the golden anniversary of the showcase transit of Washington, the Metrorail! We'll be traveling back and forth over the original stretch of the Red line that opened on March 27, 1976, distributing [t-shirts](https://transitenthusiastsdc.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/t-shirt-order-form.pdf), balloons and stickers. Once we've spread our cheer, we'll retire to the Metro Bar just outside the Rhode Island Avenue station to reminisce and celebrate more. Join us! **NOTE**: Our "official" celebration begins at 4:30. We may add a noontime celebration if there is enough interest. Please email me at williamrice63@gmail.com if you'd like to participate in the earlier event. **ALSO NOTE**: WMATA has of this writing not yet announced what it is doing to celebrate. We will monitor its communications and keep you updated if we adjust our activities to accommodate the agency's plans.

Every Friday night at 7:30pm you are welcome to attend the Covenant Life Church School of Holy Spirit. Whether you are just beginning in the prophetic or a seasoned saint, the Friday night School of the Holy Spirit provides the opportunity to be trained and exercised in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The sessions are taught by Apostle/Prophets Jeff & Linda Herbert who are ordained by Christian International. They are fully certified by CI to raise and train using the Manual for Ministering Spiritual Gifts and the Apostolic Prophetic Training series. Everyone who is willing will have the opportunity to pray for others during the activation times and will be used in their gifts. All sessions are free. Everyone is welcome. Childcare is not provided. For additional information: www.covenant-life-church.org

You're warmly invited to join us for an evening of **dinner and meaningful conversation** at the Alexandria Baha'i Center! Once a month, we gather for a relaxed **potluck dinner** – a wonderful chance to connect without a formal speaker or program. And please, **don't feel obligated to bring a dish**; we always have an abundance of delicious food for everyone to share. Just bring yourself and enjoy the company! For more information about the Alexandria Baha'i Community, visit our website: https://www.alexandriavabahai.org/

Free Event. Join the National Capital Astronomers and Meadowside Nature Center (Rockville) to gaze upon the stars at this nighttime watch party! Viewing scopes and binoculars will be provided for guests to observe planets, the moon, stars, and more. The viewing area is on an open lawn; **guests must walk about five minutes along uneven trail to reach the viewing area**. Please either register on the MoCo park website (https://montgomeryparks.org/events/star-party/) **OR** sign a waiver when you arrive at the nature center. Feel free to bring your own telescope and/or binoculars as well.

Every Sunday afternoon before church, one of the Covenant Life Church prophetess' hosts a prophetic training class that activates participants in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. During this class, participants will be provided opportunity to be taught how to use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and will have opportunity to ask questions and talk with someone who has been used in the Gifts during ministry. Teaching is provided on the gifts with emphasis on the Gift of the Prophecy. A combination of lecture and experiential learning is employed to teach, guide and instruct the participants. Everyone is welcome, all classes are free. Childcare is not provided.

Greetings conscious black friends! I am Cody V, and I recently completed my 40 minute short film called Purple Velvet Planet. A lot of creatives here in the DMV worked hard on it, and we are excited to premier it Sunday March 29th at the historic AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring. The film is a blend of story, music, and self discovery. We've been getting tons of positive feedback so far. Tickets are available at purplevelvetplanet.eventbrite.com and they start at $7. Check out the trailer and the synopsis. I hope to see you there! **TRAILER** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qd69fWFfxU **SYNOPSIS** *In a world where music is regulated, performances are monitored by the government, and musicians need registrations to perform in public venues, Light is an “undocumented” rapper with few options for success. His socially conscious lyrics aren't doing him any favors, either. Speaking to many of the issues we are facing today, this film will appeal to music lovers, film aficionados, and everyone searching for ways to be more joyous in these troubling times. Purple Velvet Planet aspires to provide a path to personal peace amidst the chaos, through a masterful blend of music and story.*

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

We'll check out Shaghf Cafe in Fairfax. There is a retail parking around the block and behind the building. Please have a picture profile so we can recognize you in the meetup. Please only sign up if you're sure about attending this meetup, and please update your RSVP as soon as possible if you need to cancel, thank you!

LOCATION FOR THIS MONTH - [Spark Social House](https://spark-dc.com/). We’re here to make new Bi+ friends, catch up with old ones! This event is monthly; **check the comments day-of for where to meet and how to find us**. We’ll be here, queer, and full of cheer!

So this month's prompt is more general. I think we can all agree that we are living in "unique" times that require coping skills. I think that one role and/or purpose of philosophy is to help us deal with our daily lives and our "unique" times. So, let's share our feelings and thoughts about which philosopher/philosophy we turn to in order to deal with our crazy events. Who/what helps you stay focused in your daily life and helps you sleep at night. I find that Stoicism with a little philosophical pessimism mixed in goes a long way in helping me deal with what I see as very destructive, fearful and mean spirited public policies at both the state and federal levels. Hope to see you on March 28th!

Let’s get together at the Crowne Plaza and talk deals, creative finance, problem solving, whatever you want! Hubert Bruce Hosts, COREE members share ideas and resources. Open to the public!

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

This meeting will be a discussion of the book "the Science of Aliens" by Mark Brake