Backbone.js

In an era focused on scalable efficiency, the pursuit of absolute service consistency is often seen as the ultimate goal. But what is gained and what is lost when service offerings are entirely predictable? Does aiming for uniformity stifle necessary adaptation and human connection? Join us for an intimate discussion exploring the often overlooked trade-offs of **service consistency**. We'll dive into when consistency builds “trust and reliability”, and when it becomes “a barrier to designing flexible, empathetic, and truly customer-centric experiences”. **#ServiceDesign #ServiceConsistency #ServiceManagement** **What’s a Service Design DC salon?** Our salons are an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow designers, engage in meaningful conversations, and gain fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of our field. Space is limited to ensure an intimate atmosphere and encourage deeper conversations. Whether you have been to a past salon or will be a first timer, we’d be happy to have you join this group discussion of service design practitioners and enthusiasts in the Washington D.C. area! **Evening Agenda** * 6:00 P.M. - Doors Open / Socializing \* * 6:30 P.M. - Salon begins * 8:00 P.M. - Salon Wraps up \*We will provide light refreshments, including food and drinks, during the salon. **Note about RSVPs:** * Due to the limited number of available spots, we kindly request that you update your RSVP if you are unable to attend so others may have the opportunity to join. Thank you for your understanding. *** Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **Technical Assent!** *At Technical Assent, we believe that government can be a platform for service innovation where services can be designed to be more relevant to customers, more reliable, and delivered at a lower cost.* *Our company exists to build high-performing government service organizations — government-to-citizens (G2C), government-to-government (G2G), and shared services. Our approach is unique in that we improve service performance from the bottom-up, starting with customer experience. We use that insight to design and modify the talent, tools, and technology that deliver government services to each customer. Technical Assent is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business appraised at CMMI-SVC Level 3.*

**Tomorrow's hike is cancelled due to iffy weather. Expected reschedule date is April 4, 2026.** This is the third hike along the original boundary line between the nation’s capital, Virginia, and Maryland. See stones placed every mile along the boundary survey line in 1792. These stones are the first federal monuments in the nation’s capital. Initially, we will hike a short distance along the Capital Crescent Trail to view NW Stone 4, which is on Delcarlia Reservoir grounds. We will come back to our meeting location and hike north along Norton Street and Loughboro Road (restroom opportunity at Sibley Hospital) to Delcarlia Parkway. We will hike a short distance along Delcarlia Parkway and then on Spring Valley neighborhood streets to Warren Place and Delcarlia Parkway, where we will get you as close as we can to the location of NW Stone 5, which is also on Delcarlia Reservoir grounds. We will hike Spring Valley neighborhood streets to Massachusetts Avenue and Western Avenue at Westmorland Circle, and then on sidewalks along Western Avenue (NW stones 6, 7, and 8 are in front yards along Western Avenue), on trails through the northern portion of Rock Creek Park(NW 9 is adjacent to the park), and on sidewalks along streets in Silver Spring (North corner stone is just south of East-West Highway, west of 16th Street) to the Silver Spring Metro Station. Total distance is approximately 10.5 miles. We will meet 9:30 am, Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the connector trail to the Capital Crescent Trail (Norton Street and Potomac Avenue NW). Parking is available in the area. Public transportation to and from the hike works. If you drive, you can take metro and a bus back to your vehicle. Occasional restroom opportunities are available along the hike route. Bring water, lunch or snacks, and dress for the weather. Sun protection (such as hat & sunglasses) is recommended if the weather is sunny or partly sunny. All participants must sign a liability waiver at the start. SCPRO requests a voluntary donation of $2 per person to help support our all-volunteer program. You need not be a Sierra Club member to participate, but if you'd like to join, go to: [http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia](http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia).

• What we'll do Economist William Michael Cunningham on Podbeam Thursdays at 6 pm. https://www.podbean.com/

Cost: free Court Type: Outdoor Sand Level: Social (everyone is welcome) Transportation: Parking will be right in front of the courts. What to bring: a ball if you have one. This is a social volleyball which means as long as you played volleyball before and can keep some rally going you can attend. The point is to practice being a team player, have fun, be social, and make friends. We should try to have 2 passes before sending the ball over on most plays. Let's get everyone involved in the game.

Social Sips & Bites, we’re checking out Kaldi's Social House. Join us in Arlington for a laid-back happy hour featuring great drinks, great food and the Social Sips & Bites energy we all love. Perfect for unwinding after work, catching up with friends, and meeting new faces. What to expect • Happy hour drinks & cocktails • Delicious bites with bold flavors • A cozy, stylish setting • Easy conversations and great company Come out, grab a drink, and help us officially add this spot to our Social Sips & Bites rotation. RSVP early - good vibes and good spots always fill up https://www.kaldissocialhouse.net/

Top level Backgammon Tournament play. Have fun and improve your game. Free lessons to new and inexperienced players. Club been active over 30 years, posting on Meetup is new.

Cost: free Court Type: Outdoor Sand Transportation: Parking will be right in front of the courts. MINIMUM 4 people (no incthe host) in attendance otherwise event will be cancelled the day RSVP ends (the day of event). Level: BB and higher level This is an advanced volleyball at BB or higher level.

## Details - Please read all below before you sign up **Cost:** Free **Court Type:** Outdoor Grass **Level:** B/BB/A **Transportation:** Parking will be right by the grass. **What to bring:** at least 3 bottles of water and a ball/net if you have one. **10 persons per net max** **Host's Philosophy on this event:** The purpose of this meetup is to create a fun and supportive environment where we can improve our skills, enjoy competitive games, and connect socially. While we do aim to play seriously and challenge ourselves, the focus is more on growth and enjoyment than simply winning at all costs. That’s why the title doesn’t include “competitive” or “social”—we want a healthy mix of both. This is a space where you won’t be judged for making mistakes, but we do expect a mindset geared toward learning and getting better over time. That said, this group isn’t intended for total beginners; a basic understanding of the game is expected so that everyone can contribute to meaningful and engaging matches. The host holds the right to remove you from the game if they believe that you are at a C level. **Skill Level:** 1. **If you want to know your level, please see the link below:** [Smiley Social Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/edit) **YouTube:** The games may be recorded and uploaded to our channel here: Let the host know if you have an issue with this. [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@mp02626) **ATTENDANCE:** **Player Selection:** Regulars > League Members > Your Vibe > Skills > \*Your Attendance Ratio > New Members \* If you have 3 events attended and 6 events you dropped off, you may or may not be invited. Anyone with a drop-off level of -.50 or lower. The host takes attendance very seriously. Please remove yourself from the event (if you can't make it) as early as possible to allow others to join. You will be marked as a ***no-show*** if you don't show up to the event, including removing yourself 60 min or less before the event start time. [Smiley Social Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg/edit) **Q&A** * Bringing your dog is welcome and encouraged. * *Can I come if I don't know how to play?* No, you may not. The host does teach a beginner's volleyball class that you may attend on Saturdays. * *Can I be late or leave early?* The host expects you to be there **on time** and leave on time. If you need to come late or leave early, please let the host know ahead of time. * *Can I come even if I am not on the going list?* No, sorry **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco) 3. [Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/)

Let's go backpacking on a barrier island! I have wanted to do this trip since I missed it last year. \-\-\- below mostly copied from last time\-\-\- Assateague Island is a 37-mile long barrier island. It is known for its undeveloped beaches, wild horses, waterfowl, and the Assateague Lighthouse. This stretch of beach walking is some of the most pristine anywhere, at times veering into an almost meditative quality as you walk along the sand. And, oddly, even though it is essentially flat and a straight line, walking in sand is not exactly easy. You'll find yourself aiming for firm footing, and your feet (and everything else) will be sandy. Best to avoid heavy footwear here. Caveat; I've never done this trail before Updated 2/5: Trip rank is tentatively MO W1. It may be warm by end of Feb or it may still be cold as hell. If it looks like another W2 type of weekend, I will give up on the trip for the year lol. You can read more about trip ranks [here.](https://dculbackpacking.com/about/tripranks/) **Plan (Updated 2/5)** We have postponed again due to bad weather on 7th. Hoping to have better luck on Feb 28th (fingers crossed) \-\-\- Here's what got so far (special thanks to Andrew for tips): We are planning to do a key swap shuttle. Looks like we have enough drivers at this point. I will rent a car if necessary. For now we'll assume all of the DC based car pool crew will meet at the Greenbelt Metro Station at \~7:45-8am. This may change as we figure out car pool configurations closer to the hike and/or if folks self-organize in comments. All drivers will then meet at Maryland District Ranger Station/Campground Office. **We need the entire group assembled here before noon to pull the permit.** **\- Located** in the Maryland District of Assateague Island on west side of Bayberry Drive, after the entrance station. The GPS address is 6633 Bayberry Drive, Berlin, Maryland 21811. * https://maps.app.goo.gl/k5JNnJBgsP2Q1jUFA We'll get our permits, \- Note that the park service won't issue the permit in case of bad weather\. Will call if it seems necessary\. Half group will stay and start in MD (SOBOs). The other half of hikers will go to the VA side (NOBOs, preferably the faster hikers). We can do the swapped leg up front. After pulling the permit, NOBOs will drive SOBOs’ cars to the VA southern terminus to stage them. When the groups meet at the campsite, we’ll swap keys. That way each person finishes at their terminus with their own car + keys. Parking: \- For those starting in Maryland\, park at North Beach \(not far from ranger station\); \- For those starting in Virginia\, go to Herbert H\. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center\. Staff will provide parking information\. Vehicles must display parking tag obtained with permit\. https://maps\.app\.goo\.gl/scc77myoRAD5nBzM8 * Side note: Tom's Cover visitor center in VA is permanently closed (Nov 2025). Will be demolished We'll do splits of about 14 / 14. There is no freshwater on the island so plan to start will all the water you'll need for the trip. Depending on wind, we'll either camp at Stateline (on the beach side) or Pope Bay (on the bay side). Expect the camp ground to be sand. **Resources** Caltopo TBD (this is 99% walking in a straight line but I'll probably still make one) Locations: [Greenbelt Metro](https://maps.app.goo.gl/FWTMyBM5Qpy1CNLe6) [Ranger Station for Permit and MD Parking](https://maps.app.goo.gl/k5JNnJBgsP2Q1jUFA) [Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center (for those starting in VA)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/scc77myoRAD5nBzM8) Past trips: \- https://dculbackpacking\.com/2022/03/29/trip\-report\-hiking\-on\-the\-beach\-in\-winter\-assateague/ \- https://www\.meetup\.com/dc\-ul\-backpacking/events/304254668/?eventOrigin=group_events_list Weather - [NOAA](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=wc&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=rain&w8=thunder&w9=snow&w10=fzg&w11=sleet&w13u=0&w14u=1&w15u=1&AheadHour=48&FcstType=graphical&textField1=37.94&textField2=-75.36&site=all&unit=0&dd=&bw=&AheadDay.x=58&AheadDay.y=12) - [Accuweather](https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/assateague-state-park/21842/daily-weather-forecast/19678_poi?day=7) From NPS: \- https://www\.nps\.gov/asis/planyourvisit/backcountry\-camping\.htm **The Fine Print** * By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's liability waiver terms. ([https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver](https://dculbackpacking.com/about/liability-waiver/#more-110)) * If you are a member, don't forget to pay your annual $10 dues. You can check to see if you need to pay dues by seeing if the current year is listed next to your name in your DC UL profile. Applicants do not need to pay dues for their first trip with the group. To pay your dues via PayPal, use this link: [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15](https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JenniferAdach/15) * All non-drivers should expect to pay $0.10 per mile to their driver, in accordance with the DC UL carpool policy.

Friends Join Us for a Transformative Two-Day Workshop on Authentic Relating on Feb 28th and March 1st. ART Level 1! Authentic Relating is about creating deeper, more meaningful connections by being open, honest, and present with others. In this workshop, you will learn practical tools to communicate more effectively, understand and express your true self, and cultivate empathy and trust in your relationships. **What to Expect:** * **Interactive Exercises:** Engage in a variety of activities designed to help you practice authentic relating principles. * **Group Discussions:** Share experiences and insights in a safe and supportive environment. * **Personal Growth:** Discover new ways to connect with yourself and others on a deeper level. Please RSVP to secure your spot, as space is limited. To learn more please click the link below. You can register online by going here: [https://authenticrelating.co/product/level-1-washington-dc-feb2026/](https://authenticrelating.co/product/level-1-washington-dc-feb2026/) *Enroll before January 28th and get 100 dollars off.*

*\*\* Tickets are $195 plus tax & gratuity, paid at the restaurant at end of dinner. Make your reservation via Resy [here.](https://resy.com/cities/washington-dc/venues/del-mar-dc/events/masterclass-presents-recaredo-2026-02-27?date=2026-02-04&seats=1) \*\** Please join us at Del Mar DC for an all sparkling wine dinner with Recaredo. Experience four chef crafted dishes paired with the following award winning wines: * Recaredo Terrers 2019 * Recaredo Intens Rosat 2020 * Recaredo Serral del Vell 2018 * Recaredo Reserva Particular 2014 * Turo D'en Mota 2009 Recaredo is a family of grape growers and winemakers specialising in terroir sparkling wines that speak of their origins with honesty and transparency. *"Since 1924, we have been learning from time, and we continue to add new chapters to a story of passion and dedication to craftsmanship.* *We produce only vintage Brut Nature wines, using grapes from vineyards cultivated in accordance with the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture. We harvest by hand, age our wines under natural cork, and disgorge manually without adding sugar.* *This approach to winemaking — grounded in deep respect for the land — allows us to express the purity of the Corpinnat landscape through wines of remarkable depth, ageing potential, and vibrant spirit."*

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Come out to Improving for our monthly iOS and Mac meetings. This Month's Presentation: Nothing yet. (You should volunteer). What is Cocoaheads (http://cocoaheads.org/)? CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X and iOS (including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch). During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics. What is BuckeyeCocoa (http://buckeyecocoa.org/)? BuckeyeCocoa is a group of Objective-C/Swift developers/enthusiasts. We host monthly Cocoaheads and near-weekly NSCoder meetings in Columbus, Ohio. The meetings are free to attend. Presentations! Presenters welcome! We are always in need of people willing to present material. Any Swift and/or Objective-C related topic is welcome. Times can be 5 minutes (i.e. lightning talks) to a maximum of 2 hours. Interested? Contact info is on the BuckeyeCocoa website. To volunteer for a presentation contact us at @BuckeyeCocoa on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter! @BuckeyeCocoa (https://twitter.com/#!/Buckeyecocoa/) For more information: http://buckeyecocoa.org/

**Hello Columbus!** **The community is buzzing and growing well.** **We are thrilled to bring our third BrowserStack QA Meetup on March 12th!** We are creating a space for deeper insights, meaningful connections, and a vibe you won't want to miss. **What to expect:** * **Connect:** Network with Columbus' top engineering and QA minds. * **Learn:** Real-world tactics and trends you can use immediately. * **Enjoy:** Food, drinks, and great community spirit. **Agenda** * **[Sam Gomez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samueljgomez/)** is presenting "AI is more than LLMs: Choosing the right AI for your needs." **RSVP Essential:** Space is limited, and we want to ensure a great experience for everyone. **RSVP now to secure your spot!** 📍 **Venue:** Leading EDJE, 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 📍 **Free Parking:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017 📅 **Date & Time:** March 12, 6:00 PM **Stay Connected!** Want to continue the conversation beyond the meetup? Join our **BrowserStack Discord Server** to get updates, connect with fellow QA professionals, and be part of an ongoing discussion. **Don’t miss out—click below to join!** 🔗 [\[](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[Join the BrowserStack Discord Server](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[\]](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW) **A Few Notes:** ✅ This is an **in-person event** ✅ **RSVP does not guarantee a seat** – A confirmation email will be sent one day before the event. **TALK ABSTRACT:** AI is all the hype these days; however, despite (or maybe because of) the excitement around it, a high percentage of AI projects fail. Projects that are over budget, delayed, or that fail to scale past the POC phase are very common. In many of these scenarios, choosing the right approach can be as critical as the solution itself. Should you build a tailored machine learning model, leverage the power of large language models (LLMs), or integrate with AI copilots? Each option has unique strengths, trade-offs, and resource requirements, and the key to success lies in aligning your choice with your business goals and technical constraints. In this talk, we will go beyond the basic concepts and definitions to provide a practical guide that allows attendees to navigate these decisions through real-world case studies. We will examine scenarios in which different AI paradigms were chosen, discuss the factors that influenced those decisions, and outline the process for evaluating needs, constraints, and outcomes. From assessing data availability and team expertise to balancing cost and scalability, you'll gain insights into the critical considerations that guide the selection process. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear process for determining whether machine learning, LLMs, or copilots are best suited to your AI challenges and understand the resources and strategies needed to bring your chosen solution to life. This talk is ideal for decision-makers, technical leads, and innovators seeking to demystify AI implementation and maximize the impact of their investments.

**New Dojo Location!** **Draft Day Columbus** 1130 Dublin Road Columbus, OH 43215 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for topic suggestions and people interested in presenting at our monthly meetings. To this end we've set up a survey form at [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc)

🌿 The Fitness Experience 🌿 This is not just a workout—it’s a vibe. The Fitness Experience is a high-energy, feel-good outdoor fitness meetup designed for every body and every level. Whether you’re just getting started, getting back into it, or already living an active lifestyle, this experience meets you where you are and pushes you just enough to level up. Expect movement, fresh air, challenges, laughter, and real community. We sweat together, encourage each other, and stay accountable—because consistency is easier with friends! Motivation with meaning: ✨ Show up for yourself ✨ Progress over perfection ✨ Consistency creates confidence Each month, we pop up at a new scenic outdoor location—parks, waterfronts, city greenspaces, and hidden urban gems—bringing fitness to life in the most inspiring settings possible. Come solo. Bring a friend. Leave energized.

Meeting @ Improving's office in Downtown Columbus, near Cosi. Parking is paid, food & drink are free! This time we're hanging out after the long winter break. We are going to look at a group-member's project used to help learn the fundamentals of Go, and if time allows, we can take a look at how we like to build Go projects using AI.