Future of Journalism

Welcome back ramblers, rovers, loungers and loafers and happy 2026! It's a new year, but we're picking where we left off, in the onetime capital of cockney London with its dockworkers and gangsters, the Isle of Dogs - which became the landing-pad for an invasion of alien Thatcherites in the 1980s with the construction of Canary Wharf, which now towers over the council estates and parklands of this misunderstood peninsula. From there we'll head west, looking eventually to end up in the Brutalist wonderland (featured in Kubrick's *Clockwork Orange*!) of Thamesmead, possibly by way of the free Woolwich Ferry service from north shore to south. Meet at Canary Wharf station, out in front of the big curved class canopy. Elizabeth Line services at Abbey Wood will get us home. See you there! Check planned TfL disruptions here - our day should be all clear for most everybody: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/planned-track-closures.pdf A little background on our City Drifting project here: **Now just wait a minute. What the hell is a drift ([dérive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9rive))?** A drift is any unplanned journey through the urban landscape in which participants practice a form of radical mindfulness, collectively exploring new ways of relating mentally, ideologically and materially to the "ordinary" urban environment we all think we know so well. First theorised publicly by Situationist thinker, artist and provocateur Guy Debord in his 1956 essay *[Theory of the Dérive](https://libcom.org/article/theory-derive-guy-debord)*, drifting is a sort of *critique of ideology* done by walking, looking, and feeling. **The urban environment of London is not a neutral space:** it is packed with surveillance equipment, anti-homeless architecture, consumerist [Gruen transfers,](https://www.smartcapitalmind.com/what-is-the-gruen-transfer.htm) crowd management systems and security perimeters, among a thousand other subtle and not-so-subtle methods of population control. Moreover, our everyday relationship to the city and its pathways is conditioned deeply by our habits of movement and our habitual perceptions: our commute to work, to school, our nips down to the shops, etc. **All these routines create what Marxists call a *reified* relationship with the urban environment: through over-familiarity it becomes something seemingly natural, "just there", ordinary, unchangeable - boring.** This boredom and familiarity kills the radical imagination, without which we're fucked. To be able to start to imagine how society could be transformed, we also need to imagine how spaces, buildings, their use, their whole purpose (and who these serve) could themselves be transformed. A necessary step in this process, according to Debord and the Situationists, is the drift. Like the 19th-century gentleman *[flâneur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur),* by wandering the city with an attitude of "fresh eyes", we can shake loose our ingrained sense of what London and its streets are like. **As a collective, we will work to "estrange our senses" and see the streets, buildings and people differently, as if we were encountering them for the first time.** That is to say: these aren't just random walks around London - with the right frame of mind, they will be opportunities to turn the world upside down, if only for a moment! But don't take it from me - as Debord observed: *"In a dérive one or more persons during a certain period **drop their relations, their work and leisure activities, and all their other usual motives for movement and action, and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there.** Chance is a less important factor in this activity than one might think: from a dérive point of view cities have [psychogeographical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography) contours, with constant currents, fixed points and vortexes that strongly discourage entry into or exit from certain zones."* See you on the streets comrades, and remember, as [Raoul Vaneigem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Vaneigem) once wrote: *"All space is occupied by the enemy. We are living under a permanent curfew. Not just the cops — the geometry".*

YOU MUST BUY AN EVENTBRITE TICKET UNLESS YOU TOOK PART IN THE CURRENT 1 MONTH JAM: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-jam-sunday-screening-and-social-feb-tickets-1981570943033 The London Film-Jam Social (free) is an opportunity to meet and chat with other Jammers both past, present and future as well as to have a look at what we've been up to! Come along and see what we are all about or just catch up with old friends an relive those crazy days of filmmaking, or just chat about films in general. We'll start the night at about 6.00 by showing a few films made at previous Jams and then there will be the much awaited Premieres of the 1 Month Film Jam Films. After that everyone can mingle for a few hours to get know each other. Everybody welcome! Venue: Upstairs at The Hercules, 2 Kennington Road, London, SE1 7BL. Very easy to get to..... 5 Minutes walk from Waterloo or just over the road from Lambeth North Tube Station. More tickets here : [Film Jam Social \(Apr\) Tickets\, Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 17:30 \| Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-jam-social-apr-tickets-879388172697?aff=oddtdtcreator) Free Event on Meetup Vegan food available 18+ Event

Come out and have a drink and chat with others about the shows you listen to and why you do it! Share a show ahead of time so we can talk about it day of. A good place to meet with creators, actors, and listeners of all kinds.

PLEASE NOTE APPROX 20-25 MEMBERS WILL BE ON THE WALK, NOT WHAT IS ADVERTISED, AS ONLY ABOUT HALF THE MEMBERS TURN UP WITH MOST MEETUP GROUPS. Hi all, cost & info below, please do not miss this walk, it's magical! For centuries people have roamed at night through the dark alleys of London, so please join everyone for a fun 2.5 mile linear walk from Blackfriars to Farringdon, Lost London walk around Blackfriars, St Pauls and Clerkenwell by Lantern in the dark! (**Before this walk, in the daytime there is a wonderful Earls Court Walk. If you link both the walks together, this walk is HALF PRICE! There is a break in between the walks to eat or drink locally. The other walk is not far by the underground train, on the same train line)** Lantern Walk: Some brief local info along the way, it has wonderful hidden areas and I will show you the colourful highlights, lost alleyways and old cobbled streets and wonderful simply amazing things to see at night! I will show you the lost remains of a Palace and Monasteries, where the Monks roamed nearly 1,000 years ago, where hangings took place and remains of a medieval prison, where a medieval man is buried from the black death surrounded by candles, huge black death was ripe and thousand of people buried under our feet, where young Georgian teenagers would lure people into being robbed by Candlelight, where Cock fighting took place in pubs, backstreets and and hidden Churches. Great Atmospheric Pub afterward for a social get-together where food and drinks are available, 1 minute from the underground **WHERE TO MEET** **(Please allow 15 minutes to arrive before departure time)** Please meet outside the front of The Blackfriars Pub, which is directly opposite the station. 174 Queen Victoria St, Greater, City of London, London EC4V 4EG. I will be wearing a black top hat, black cloak and holding a lantern! Toilets entrance is located downstairs in the station or inside the pub. Walk ends at Farringdon Station **COST** £10 cash/card payment by simply turning up on the day. There is no charge to RSVP beforehand on the Meetup event. Walks are normally 90% full before the day, so an early RSVP is advisable to avoid disappointment. **AFTER SOCIAL DRINKS/MEAL (For attendees of the walk only sorry)** Crown and Pepper Pub, Unit 5 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6DQ **ABOUT OUR LONDON WALKS** It is a 15-year fascinating journey together to explore the whole of beautiful, enchanting Secret London. The only walking group in the World offering this unique experience! The individual walks have been created from an original route several miles in length (usually on average about 50 miles) where we have checked every nook and cranny, every hidden alleyway, lane, lost cobbled path, cul de sac, avenue, road or street in that area for you! It is then shortened, to give back to you a magical walk with all the best bits of 'Lovely London', voted the best City in the World for the 10th year running! What is given back to you is the most scenic, healthy walk (usually 3-6 miles in length) with some of the walks containing hidden cobbled lanes, lost shops, secret gems, areas lost in time, wonderful views, idyllic Instagram photo shots and all sorts! Now and then some brief local info is mentioned or something of historical importance along the way. You will have plenty of time to chat and meet new friends whilst walking the amazing lost areas of London! So we welcome you to the colourful highlights of this fascinating City of London with simply wonderful things to see! **TERMS AND CONDITIONS** PLEASE ensure ARRIVAL at least 15 minutes BEFORE the start of the walk, sorry no latecomers are accepted for whatever reason. Members attend the unique walks from our different meetup groups. IF LATE, SORRY WE ARE UNABLE TO RECEIVE CALLS OR ANSWER EMAILS AS WELCOMING MEMBERS, LEADING THE WALK, AND CONCENTRATING ON THE SAFETY OF THE GROUP. PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH THE GROUP UP, PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. Part Tour - Medium pace walk from 'Visit England' Award-Winning Guide and our group featured in the National Press! Please Note: Some events, being a large attended meetup group will be an organised walk only, but members are very welcome to organise their own get-togethers after the event. You are required to be fit and healthy with appropriate footwear & clothing, responsible for meeting at the correct location, own safety and to not lose the group by viewing the organiser/making the organiser aware as much as possible, or follow/not lose sight of the person(s) from the same walk in front. We advise carrying water and some snacks. The organiser is also not responsible for any circumstances that may affect the group or personally such as personal accidents, rail information, engineering works, cancellations, rail strikes or delays, heavy traffic, tours affected, weather, walk paths or routes closed, postcodes for car parks or for when we arrive back at the station, or anything else not mentioned! By joining the event you agree to all the terms and conditions. No Dogs allowed sorry We really look forward to welcoming you on the walks/tours for a wonderful, great, fun day!

Wyjście na kręgle🎳 🎳 Zapraszam do wspólnego spędzenia niedzielnego popołudnia:) Zagramy drużynowo, a na najlepszy zespół czekają nagrody. Spotykamy się o 15.30 w środku w All Star Lanes na Brick Lane. Program spotkania: 15:30 - zbiórka, wypożyczenie butów, zamawianie drinków/przekąsek 16.00-18.20 - dwie rozgrywki w kręgle 18.20-19.00 - oddanie butów, podliczenie punktów i rozdanie nagród Od 19.00 - dalsza integracja dla chętnych (zamykają 00.00) Osoby zdecydowane proszę o wpłacenie £26 do 28 stycznia 2026 na poniższe konto: Agnieszka Wojtarek Account 51503260 Sort code 30-98-36 Tytuł przelewu: Kręgle Ewentualnie moze być też Revolut. WAŻNE: 1. Weźcie ze sobą dokument tozsamości. 2. Jeśli chcesz być w drużynie z konkretną osobą daj znać wcześniej. W przeciwnym razie zostaniesz losowo dodany do któregoś z zespołów. 3. Zwrotów nie przewiduję, ale można odsprzedać swoje miejsce innej osobie. Mam nadzieję, że do zobaczenia!🥳🥳🎳🎳

Step away from the screen and join us for our Offline Women Hangout at the Reading Room. We are meeting to unplug and enjoy a few hours of unstructured time together. There is no set agenda or forced socializing. We simply gather to exist in the same space, screen-free. The Reading Room inside the Wellcome Collection is a unique mix of a library and a gallery. It is filled with over a thousand books and curious historical objects. Unlike a standard library, this is a social space where talking is welcome. It is specifically designed for movement, conversation, and discovery. **What you can do** * **Explore**: Try out the various activities stationed around the room, from creative prompts to interactive displays. * **Read**: Pick up any book from the open shelves or bring your own. * **Create:** Bring your journal or sketchbook to capture thoughts (note: the library allows *pencils only* to protect the books). * **Relax:** Grab a beanbag on the stairs and just exist and people-watch. * **Socialize:** Engage in low-pressure conversation with other Offline Women in the social zones. Spots are limited to ensure the group remains small, intimate, and everyone has a great time connecting face-to-face.

High‑contrast photography is one of the most powerful ways to create bold, emotionally charged images. This workshop is designed for photographers to learn about the many different types of contrast they can work with. Learning to control and creatively exploit contrast will elevate your visual storytelling - this is not just about the tension between light and shadow! Whether you're shooting portraits, street scenes, or abstract compositions, understanding contrast is the key to unlocking striking, unforgettable images. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * How to see good locations & conditions for contrast * Camera settings * Composition EQUIPMENT: * Any camera * Any lens such as a standard 18-55, 24-70mm etc. OTHER ESSENTIALS * A fun and experimental attitude! TRAVEL * As usual check TFL website for any issues that may delay your journey CONTACT * Alex 07956 264049 UPCOMING EVENTS www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar Photo ©Fiona Mackillop

**It’s that time again! With February now here, we're hugely excited to be hosting our latest Social Pub Quiz, exclusively for 20s and 30s.** Yep that's right, every month we host latest our very special creative and quirky pub quiz in Central London, just for our community. And as always, our crack team of quizmasters have concocted a range of entertaining and social quiz rounds, each designed to challenge your wit and intelligence with a range of fun and fascinating questions. And we'll also be throwing in some fun team games designed to test your speed, creativity and teamwork - with previous quizzes featuring everything from crafty challenges, poetry duels to Marmalade Sandwich time trials! Best of all, we have some amazing prizes up for grabs and so don't miss out on what promises to be a memorable afternoon of quizzing, socialising, and friendly competition. Unfortunately as the pub can only fit a limited number of us in for the quiz and so as always, places will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. **\- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \-** **WHERE/WHEN** Venue Address: The Star By Liverpool Street, 94 Middlesex St, London E1 7EZ ([https://maps.app.goo.gl/hcx4jN9BnqDry2Ws5](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hcx4jN9BnqDry2Ws5)) Nearest Tube Stations: Liverpool Street (5 mins walk) and Aldgate (10 mins). Start Time - 4:30pm Finish time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm (Approx) **\- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \- \-** **JOIN THE COMMUNITY** Set up in November 2021, the project was set up to help 20s and 30s in London meet, connect and hopefully build life-long friendships. To help make this happen, we also host all kinds of events from free social walks, games evenings, day trips, social events, activity nights to picnics. To learn more about our community or to follow us on social media, please follow one of the links below. **Website - [https://friendship-project.co.uk](https://friendship-project.co.uk/)** **Instagram - [https://www.instagram.com/great.friendship](https://www.instagram.com/great.friendship)**

🖤 ***An angelic exterior masks a hell-bent appetite for violence — a stark contrast between the protagonist’s innocent appearance and their rebellious actions.*** 👋 Hello guys — we’re going way back in time to a French coming-of-age classic and the directorial debut of **François Truffaut**. The film received widespread acclaim on release, earned numerous nominations, and is now regarded as one of the greatest films ever made — as well as Truffaut’s most successful film in his home country. The premise follows thirteen-year-old Antoine (Jean-Pierre Léaud) can’t seem to do anything right. Scolded at home and targeted at school, luck never falls his way. When it all becomes too much, he abandons everything and takes his chances on the streets of Paris. By turns joyful and bitterly hard, this fragile freedom leads to a painful, poignant conclusion. We’ll be meeting at the **Picturehouse Central Bar** (upstairs) — ***please collect your ticket before heading in.*** We’ll then head up to **Screen 5** (I’ll be in **seat E5**, but feel free to sit wherever you like). After the film, we’ll reconvene at the bar for drinks, a discussion of this classy French classic, and a **[Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse)** score. **Looking forward to seeing you all.** **See you then,** **Faheem** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 👉 **HEADS UP** * If you ***sign up*** but later can’t make it, please 🙏 **just drop us a quick message** (or change your RSVP) — it really helps with planning. And follow our club **[@movieroadhouseuk](https://www.instagram.com/movieroadhouseuk/)** on **Instagram** — for fun updates! **🗓️ SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN** * **1:30 PM:** Meet & Greet (Picturehouse Bar Upstairs) * **2:15 PM:** Movie (Screen 5) * **4:15 PM:** Film Discussion 📱**STAY CONNECTED** * Join our WhatsApp or Telegram groups (available by request), or hop onto our **[WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaMVu2Z1NCrYkXpqOd1X)** or **[Telegram Channel](https://t.me/movieroadhouse)**[ ](https://t.me/movieroadhouse)for quiet updates without the chat. Whatever you prefer! 🎬 **PLOT DETAILS** * A young boy, left without attention, delves into a life of petty crime. [Trailer ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exDvxlfHQB0) 🎟️ **TICKET INFO & PRICES** * **Price:** From £9:35 * **Members Price:** From £0.00 * **Tickets**: [Picturehouse Central ](https://web.picturehouses.com/order/showtimes/022-113683/seats) 📍**VENUE ADDRESS** * 15 Great Windmill Street, Shaftesbury Ave, Piccadilly Circus, London W1D 7DH 🔊 **HOW WE ROLL** * Have fun, be respectful, and no abuse of any kind * Three-time no-show limit (applies after your first attended event), please update your RSVP if your plans change * This group is for over-18s only 🌐 **FOLLOW US ONLINE** * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/movieroadhouseuk/) * [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse) * [WhatsApp News Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaMVu2Z1NCrYkXpqOd1X) * [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/movieroadhouse) * [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@movieroadhouse) * [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/MovieRoadhouse) * [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/movieroadhouselondon) * [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@jonnyhideout) * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jonnyhideout/) (Jonny) * [Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/the_motion_picture_blogger?igsh=a3FjeWllbWZib3Jq&utm_source=qr)(Tom) 🫂**RELATED HANGOUTS** * [The Hideout: Film Club London](https://www.meetup.com/thehideoutlondon/) * [Music Roadhouse London](https://www.meetup.com/billpophot100/)

Let's get together to reinforce and make new connections in the Low Carb \| Keto \| Carnivore community\. This meetup will be an informal time for all of us to socialise, commune, share and network. Basically, have a great time and make some new friends. 1. Connect with other Low Carb \| Keto \| Carnivore Members\. This is particularly important if you're new to Low Carb \| Keto \| Carnivore \- it helps you stick to it when you have friends and a community around you with the same goals\. 2. Swap notes on your Low Carb \| Keto \| Carnivore experiences or learn from\, get advice\, and tips from other members\. Location: Ibis London City - Shoreditch 5 Commercial St London E1 6BF A £1 voluntary donation towards membership costs would be very appreciated. Looking forward to catching up with you again or meeting you if you haven't attended one of our past events!

Check the end for terms and conditions, by booking you are agreeing to them. **What to expect for first-timers:** by now I have organised over 1000 photography workshops and you can see my work [here](https://vosa.photography/). My approach is allowing one-on-one time with the model in a small group with a laissez-faire style, not intruding on the creative process or micromanaging. I want to be helpful without choking your creativity. People with different experience levels mix in the group, so I will ask how I can help, where you are at in your photography and if there is anything you wish to improve or if there is anything you like to try. Perhaps you just want to get your camera out, get confidence, practice and shoot, and that's fine too! If you want to test or learn something, I will help you; if you need advice, I will help you too, and if you just want to shoot and have a good time, that's great too! We meet outside Bank Station infront of the Royal Exchange big stairs. Save on booking fees and get one on one tuition on our website at: [https://vosaphotographyworkshops.com/event/photography-workshop-with-aurora/](https://vosaphotographyworkshops.com/event/photography-workshop-with-aurora/) We are booked with Aurora We will assist each other, making it a great day to try and test. I will bring flash/reflector that you can use. Suitable for beginners and experienced photographers. Shoot for practice, fun or your portfolio. Any advice or help that you need please just ask on the day, I can set you up shooting in manual in no time. You can also use our flash and I can help you setting it up, even if it is your first time. Reflectors will also be at hand. We will shoot in a small group of max 4 in turns and helping each other. Film cameras and video recording are welcome. You can check what we have been up to lately on our Instagram [@shooting_with_models.](https://www.instagram.com/shooting_with_models/?hl=en) Looking forward to it! Virgilio [https://vosaphotographyworkshops.com/](https://vosaphotographyworkshops.com/) [@vosa.photography](https://www.instagram.com/vosa.photography/?hl=en) [https://vosa.photography/](https://vosa.photography/) Terms and conditions: By purchasing tickets to attend you are waiving any liability on my part for personal damage or accident to you or your personal belongings. You are responsible for your own person and belongings. Tickets are non transferable and non refundable except in case of event cancellation, please double check your schedule before signing up. You agree to follow the organizers instructions at all times and be respectful to all attending and members of the public. When shooting with a model strictly no physical contact with the model, you can instruct verbally or demonstrate asking to mirror your movement or position...Please keep comments tasteful. The booked model could be changed if the original model could not attend for any reason. The stated number of attendeed is a target rarely missed, most often could be lower if bookings are low or in rare occassions higher due to the different booking platforms not synchonising, arrangements will be made if it is deemend by the organiser to significantly impact the smooth running of the workshop. **Usage**: as the photographer you have the copyright, models sign a model release form that allows the photographers in the workshop to use the photos for personal, portfolio, social media, art, competitions, magazines... **Not allowed usage** : stock photography, associated with third party brands, demeaning and deep fake including adult content. You can take a screen shot of the release free of charge on the day of the shoot, if you need a copy afterwards there is a £10 admin fee. Occasionally you might be recorded in behind the scenes videos, like the instagram stories that we post or the like with an effort to preserve your privacy but if you mind it just make it known by sending me a direct message and you wont appear in any recording.

Join our group for under-represented writers who want more time to write, feedback on their work, and tips on developing their craft. \*\* Please come to the Reading Room on the 2nd floor at The Wellcome Collection and look out for the Writer's Corner sign \*\* The Writers' Corner is a peer support community for under-represented writers, with bi-monthly meet-ups both online and in-person. Join us if you want more time and space to write, get feedback on your work or to develop your craft. We welcome all writers who tend to get overlooked by the publishing industry, or struggle to afford the costs of other writing courses and groups. We'll let you self define, but we particularly welcome writers of colour, those from the LGBTQ+ community, disabled writers, unpaid carers, low income writers and anyone who self-defines as a woman. While we have done our best to pick venues that are accessible to all, if you have any specific accesss requirements please send us a message so we can discuss how we can meet your needs. That includes anyone feeling anxious about attending a group for the first time (very happy for you to come a bit early, before everyone else, if that helps). While we are establishing the group we will be deciding week-by-week how each session will be structured. This will be led by the group. Once we are more established we will have a structured programme of events that you can chose to take part in.

**People Analytics 101: Making Sense of Compensation Data** Compensation data is one of the most widely used and widely misunderstood forms of people analytics. The session will cover where compensation data comes from, including market pricing data, internal payroll data, and benchmarking sources, and how companies think about structuring and analyzing that information. We will explore how compensation data is leveraged to set salary ranges, manage internal equity, support hiring and retention, and align pay with business strategy. A portion of the session will address common data challenges and limitations, such as market noise, inconsistent job matching, and incomplete datasets, while keeping the primary focus on practical use rather than technical depth. The session will also look ahead at where the space is going, including the growing impact of pay transparency laws, expanding pay equity requirements, and emerging regulations in the US and Europe that require organizations to report on gender and pay gaps. The goal is to give attendees a clear mental model for how compensation analytics works today and why getting it right is becoming increasingly critical. (note: we are back at Rev1 this month!) **About Our Speaker** [Alex Moore](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexscottmoore/) is the founder of [Moore Cooperative](https://moorecooperative.com/), where he advises organizations on compensation strategy, pay equity, and people analytics. His work focuses on helping organizations like the Ohio Supreme Court design, analyze, and communicate compensation systems that are data-informed, defensible, and aligned with organizational goals. Alex lives in Granville, Ohio and has three little kiddos. More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Here is the secret of being positive and free: Thinking positively is not enough. You also have to get rid of the negative thinking. Your mind is like a garden. You can plant many beautiful flowers in it, but if you don't get rid of the weeds when you plant your flowers, the weeds will soon take over the whole garden. A positive thought is like a flower in your mental garden, and a negative thought is like a weed. You cannot expect to have a positive mindset if you continue to have negative thoughts dwelling and growing there. So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts? That's what this Meetup is all about. Attend this local meeting and find out! The Meetup event will be led by a consultant who had helped many people live happier in 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 & Scientology life improvement center.

The topic for February is "Transitions" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

This is not just a money class. This is a restoration space. The I AM Worthy of Ownership™ Path is a 12-step, sister-centered journey for women who are ready to build financial stability without shame, fear, or pressure—and to do it in a way that honors both wisdom and the spirit. Many women don’t struggle with money because they lack discipline or intelligence. They struggle because of unhealed experiences, survival patterns, and the quiet belief that they are “behind” or “disqualified.” This series gently challenges those beliefs while offering practical tools for peace, clarity, and long-term planning. Together, we will talk honestly about: Releasing shame and money anxiety Building stability as a form of self-respect and spiritual discipline Understanding money as a tool, not a source of worth Managing debt with clarity instead of condemnation Preparing for life’s unexpected moments without fear Laying a calm foundation for future ownership and legacy Each session blends practical financial education with reflection, conversation, and encouragement. There is no pressure to share personal numbers or experiences. You are welcome to speak, journal quietly, or simply listen. This is not about hustle. This is not about perfection. This is about alignment, wisdom, and peace. Who this series is for: Women who are starting over or rebuilding Women who want stability without stress Women preparing for future ownership or housing decisions Women who want their financial lives to reflect wholeness, not fear No prior financial knowledge is required. Come as you are. Bring a notebook. Leave a little lighter than you arrived. Light refreshments will be served along with 30 minutes of networking.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.