Astrophysics

THE DESTINY OF A NATION - YEAR 2026 Vedic Astrology with Brendan Feeley Thursday January 22, 2026 at 7:30pm We Network of Lighters are so excited and delighted that Brendan Feeley, M.A., D.Ay., is coming to be with us Thursday, January 22! The year has started with a bang and the alignment of planets in the heavens in the first week of January promised an unexpected military event. What else can we expect in year 2026? What do the planets promise and when will the events take place? The year 2025 saw a shift in the global power structure with the inauguration of President Trump and the introduction of tariffs and many other strategic changes. 2026 brings the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and in November, the mid-term elections will determine the balance of power in the national capital's corridors of power. We also have the gubernatorial races; 36 states will elect governors. We can say that 2026 is a decisive year in defining the future of the nation and the driver is going to be voter sentiment. Since President Trump took office, we have witnessed a restructuring of global alliances and countries are redefining their strategies. Brendan will examine the following topics in his talk: USA economy Mid-term elections Venezuela and the fate of Nicolas Madura Israel, Iran and the Middle East Banking and digital money The stock market The property market  Meet, Greet, Eat and Pray 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Potluck Please bring your favorite healthy dinner dish to serve 8 people. Astrology Presentation - 7:30 pm  PLACE: The Network of Light, 6304 30th Street NW Washington, DC 20015 Please park on Tennyson Street. Please do not park in the 30th St. cul-de-sac. LOVE DONATION: $20 suggested As usual, no one is turned away due to lack of funds. Brendan Feeley is a professional Vedic astrologer with a full- time practice in Rockville, MD. He is recognized internationally for his writings, teachings and lectures on Vedic astrology, Ayurveda and Vedic philosophy. He is a founding member of the Council of Vedic Astrologers-USA and has received the professional title of Jyotish Kovid (excellence in Jyotish) in recognition for his work. For more information, visit www.bpfeeley.com Contact Brendan Feeley, M.A., D.Ay. (301) 424-6644 or email bpfeeley@aol.com

Looking for a classy spot with budget-friendly bites and drinks? Join Social Sips & Bites for an upscale happy hour with unbeatable deals! Menu Highlights: $10 Margaritas $8 Wines Appetizers from $9–$17, including their signature steak This will be a small and fun group.

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

## Details **Location:** **Crimson Whiskey Bar (Downstairs Bar, Not Rooftop)** The purpose of Thinkers and Drinkers is to facilitate casual but meaningful and interesting conversations with other people in a face-to-face setting. The topics cover a wide variety of issues and are different for every meeting. While conversations may get heated at times, we ask that all members be respectful of each other and refrain from personal insults. # **Topic: When is Foreign Intervention Justified?** Just three days into the new year, the US launched an operation that captured President Maduro of Venezuela and brought him back to the US to stand trial. This occurred in a time when most Americans, regardless of party affiliation, are against getting involved in another foreign war, with memories of Iraq still fresh in their minds. While it may be too soon to definitely judge the consequences of this intervention, there are many examples of foreign interventions by both the US and other countries in the last century. Some of which were more successful than others. The US intervention in the Gulf War (1991) to liberate Kuwait is considered to have been a quick, decisive victory that was very popular in both the US and Kuwait itself. Other intervention examples by countries include: * USA invasion of Iraq (*2003-2011*) * Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (*1979-1989*) * French intervention in Mali civil conflict (*2013-present*) * Chinese intervention in the Korean War (*1950-1953*) * Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia to overthrow Khmer Rouge (*1978-1989*) * USA intervention in Vietnam War (*1965-1973*) * Indian intervention in Bangladesh independence war (*1971*) * Cuban intervention in Angola civil war (*1975-1991*) * South African intervention in Angola civil war (*1975-1988*) * Russian intervention in Syria civil war (*2015-present*) * Saudi-led intervention in Yemen civil war (*2015-present*) * USA support for coup in Chile against Allende (*1973*) * Soviet suppression of Hungarian Revolution (*1956*) * USA intervention in Dominican Republic (*1965*) * Turkish intervention in Syria civil war (*2016-present*) # **Questions to Consider** * How much should human rights affect the decision to intervene? * Is intervening based on ideological grounds warranted? * How important is maintaining international law on intervention? * Should we differentiate between direct military action and covert (CIA-like) operations to topple governments? * Should security and economic interests be the deciding factor? **SUPPORT THINKERS AND DRINKERS:** Thinkers and Drinkers International is a registered 501(c)7 nonprofit organization. We work hard to create an organization that adds value to our communities while keeping membership free for all. If you find value in what we’re doing, please consider donating through Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/thinkers](https://www.patreon.com/thinkers) CONNECT: Instagram: @ThinkersDrinkersInternational Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/thinkersdrinkersinternational/](https://www.facebook.com/thinkersdrinkersinternational/) Podcast: [https://www.spreaker.com/user/thinkersdrinkersinternational](https://www.spreaker.com/user/thinkersdrinkersinternational) Email: [ThinkersDrinkersInternational@gmail.com](mailto:ThinkersDrinkersInternational@gmail.com)

[Click Here To RSVP Now](https://AICourse2026.eventbrite.com/?aff=DCMU) Free Virtual Course AI is creating one of the biggest shifts in how we work, earn, compete, and build wealth — and this moment won’t last forever. Right now, AI is helping people generate new income streams, automate hours of work, cut business costs, streamline operations, 10x productivity, and operate at a level that once required entire teams. Yet most people are barely scratching the surface, using AI the same way they use Google — and missing out on life-changing opportunities. This intro webinar is your starting point. You’ll learn how to begin mastering AI to elevate your 9–5 career, optimize your business, and create new income opportunities. You’ll also understand why AI is far more powerful than the casual everyday use you see online. Afropolitan Cities is partnering with Dr. Iyanuoluwa Odebode, Ph.D, Founder & CEO of Wokkah, an expert in AI-powered decision-making and innovation. Iyanu teaches businesses and professionals how to use AI to save time, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue — and he will walk you through the exact foundations you need to start doing the same. What You’ll Learn (Clear, Practical, Immediately Useful) This webinar gives you a high-level roadmap to: • A strong foundational understanding of what AI really is — and what it is not • The secrets, techniques, and systems behind effective prompting (prompt engineering) • How everyday people are turning AI from “just prompts” into income, client systems, and scalable operations • How to leverage AI to 10x your productivity at work and in business • How to monetize AI and create multiple income opportunities • How simple AI systems can help you work better, smarter, and faster — while cutting significant operational costs • Real case studies showing how AI is used today in both professional and business contexts AI is now doing the work of assistants, analysts, editors, marketers, researchers, and strategists — all at once. When you learn how to “speak” to AI properly through effective prompts, your possibilities multiply. See less

Are you ready for a new you with new friends? Join us for a happy hour Gathering @ Stella's in Kensington! Make new friends! Stella's is a fun sports bar FREE Parking Good food and drink menu! Guests must be over 50 to attend Seating is first come first serve This is a non reservation event If the weather is bad I will cancel it within 2 hours before the event. RSVP today

Trivia!! Trivia starts promptly at 7, come earlier to get set up 630-645. Clear Sky's Meadery. 15201 Display Ct, Rockville, MD 20850

• What we'll do Visit our observatory, look through club members’ telescopes, or bring your own. Location: Northway Fields Park, Greenbelt, MD. Observatory is at the end of a dirt road. Adults and children are welcome. Event will be cancelled if it’s clouded over. • What to bring Bring your own telescope if you want.

We will be playing **SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence** with up to 4 players. If you have a copy of this game please let me know and I will open the event to more players. All experience levels welcome. Expect the game teach to start promptly within the first 10 minutes. In **SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence**, you lead a scientific institution tasked with searching for traces of life beyond planet Earth. Players will explore nearby planets and their moons by launching probes from Earth while taking advantage of ever-shifting planetary positions. Decide whether to land on their surface to collect valuable samples, or stay in orbit for a broader survey. Additionally, by directing your telescopes to gaze into distant star systems, you may detect traces of alien signals or undiscovered exoplanets, and collect promising data to examine and study back home. Back on Earth, you can invest in upgrading your equipment so you can analyze incoming data more efficiently, boost your telescope signal capacity, or increase your supply of resources—all to expand the scope of your search that could lead to a discovery of extraterrestrial life forms. Find [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsJgjoEYNAY&pp=ygUQaG93IHRvIHBsYXkgc2V0aQ%3D%3D) a how to play video on youtube. Find [here](https://filemanager.czechgames.com/storage/files/seti-search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence/rules/seti-rules-en.pdf) the rulebook. Note: Please remember to update your RSVP if you can not attend the event. **The earlier you update your RSVP the better** so that players on the waitlist can attend. No-shows may make it harder to attend future meetups. Also, all library rules apply to this meetup event. Mainly that no food is allowed in the library. Covered drinks are allowed.

Join PSW Science® on January 23 at 8 PM as we welcome Lecturer Gordon Guyatt, Professor of Medicine and Health Research Methods at McMaster University, for the Presidents' Lecture. During the question and answer period, in-person attendees and live stream viewers may ask the speaker questions, and in-person attendees may also engage with the speaker during the post-lecture reception. Refreshments are served. For more information on this meeting, please visit: https://pswscience.org/meeting/2529/ The meeting will be held in the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club. The Powell Auditorium is located at 2170 Florida Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008. Use of the Cosmos Club is restricted to the Powell Auditorium, the entryway to the auditorium, and the restrooms immediately outside the auditorium. Please note there is no onsite parking available. PSW Science, founded in 1871, is one of the oldest scientific societies in Washington D.C. Now, over 150 years later, we celebrate the Society's rich history and contributions to scientific discovery and cross-disciplinary collaboration. For information on how to become a member of PSW Science and membership benefits, please visit https://pswscience.org/join/

Shilohites Toastmasters meets every 2nd and 4th Sundays. Meetings start at 4:00 pm, and last one hour. We are a community club open to all. Parking is free. We focus on personal goals for professional development.

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.

* We meet inside Compass Coffee. * Details on parking below. * Bring something to read, as we often take some time at the beginning telling each other about what we're currently reading. * I have a favor to ask of you. To offset the cost of Meetup fees (\~$200 a year), I kindly request that you consider a small donation to my my [Pledge account](https://www.meetup.com/a-different-type-of-book-club-arlington/#pledge). 😊 **NOTE: NO DISCUSSION OF POLITICS: 12/31/21 UPDATE** For the sake of polite company, moving forward, we will avoid the discussion of politics at meetings of the book club. Please let me know if you have any questions. **PARKING** On Saturdays and Sundays, parking is free on 16th Street N. (near Hillside Park, 1601 N. Pierce Street, Arlington, Va.), and also on the adjacent N. Pierce Street (between Clarendon Blvd. and Fairfax Dr.). Likewise, on weekends, parking on N. Queen Street (between Clarendon Blvd. and Fairfax Dr.) is free. **NON-ATTENDANCE / NO-SHOW POLICY** If you have said that you will attend this event, but no longer are able to attend, please kindly update your status to "Not Attending" so that someone on the waitlist is able to RSVP. **Because this Meetup group is popular, and typically has a waitlist, effective immediately, I'm instituting a two-event no-show policy. If you RSVP as "Attending" but do not show at two events, you will be removed from this Meetup group.** We look forward to seeing you! Best, Jay

Bitcoin District is a community of Bitcoiners living & working in the greater DMV metro area. Join us for a "Coffee & Bitcoin" meetup where we'll talk about what's happening in the world of Bitcoin. This is an easygoing, open-door gathering where anyone curious about Bitcoin can ask questions and meet the local community. No presentations, no pressure — just good coffee, good conversation, and a space to talk about what’s happening in the Bitcoin world. New to Bitcoin, actively building, or simply interested in connecting with the local community? Stop by, say hello, and spend a Saturday morning with us. Checkout the cafe's menu: [https://www.opencitycathedraldc.com/](https://www.opencitycathedraldc.com/) **Getting There:** 🚗 Street Parking Nearby (Mass Ave, etc) 🚗 Washington National Cathedral – [Paid Garage](https://asgpark.com/facilities/3101-wisconsin-avenue-parking/) 🚇 30-min walk from Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan **⚠️ Our events are Bitcoin focused and we generally avoid discussing other coins & tokens. Nothing discussed during this meetup is financial advice. Always do your own research.**

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Optional topic for this meet up: Is life a dream? Is life a simulation? Dreams feel real while they last. Could life work the same way? How do we know we’re awake, and what follows if we can’t be sure? Let’s kick that around over a around of drinks: • What makes something feel real: continuity, shared evidence, or meaning? • How do we know we're not in a simulation? • How would you tell you’re awake (reality checks, memory, other people)? • If life is dreamlike, what becomes of free will and responsibility? • Is identity a story we keep telling—who’s the narrator? • Are we author, actor, or audience in our dreams and how would you tell? • Does art/film reveal reality or replace it? No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it’s fun.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

Let’s meetup at Cafe Istanbul for the last day of Restaurant Week. You get three courses for $30. This is the menu: https://614now.com/rw-menu/cafeistanbul-easton

Optimistic Orators Toastmasters non-profit speech improvement group. No materials needed.

ASH is Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists of First Unitarian Universalists of Columbus Ohio TBD Snacks are usually available, and you are welcome to bringing something to share!

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. Topic TBD! 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 Columbus Library - Northern Lights Branch in the Meeting Room 1C.

**NEW LOCATION: Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: * 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. * 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). For this first meeting of the year, we will be reviewing submissions for the [Your Program is Hideous and Obfuscated Challenge (YPHOC). ](https://docs.google.com/document/d/13zbxwElpJqPMuAN4Ele2hUgsqtFKzH3OCTL5NEeiLKQ)Submissions for this challenge are due by January 12th, 2026. The details can be found here: or on our website http://www.cohpy.org See Our [Parking Map](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1u2A4fLNlxwLJn0KA_hKc8bnFlFHLvsHBDh-_8wzX_tk/edit?usp=sharing) We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact centralohpython@gmail.com