Information Retrieval

Join us for our new members meet and greet coffee and conversation event! WE will have ice breaker games and Topic conversations ( no politics). This is for a fun relaxing event to get to know other people. Location: Panera Bread- Metro friendly FREE Parking on Sunday's Members only please Seating is open ( this is a non reservation event) Food and Drinks available. Grab some Coffee and Meet new friends!

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation as we discuss ***Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It* by Cory Doctorow** Here's the summary: **Explaining the process of the “enshittification” of digital platforms over time and what to do about it.** Cory Doctorow's *Enshittification* takes a witty yet incisive look at the tech landscape, where platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Google start off great—before they inevitably turn terrible. In this contemporary moment of digital decline, Doctorow explores how tech giants lure users in with convenience and then degrade their services over time, squeezing profit at the cost of user experience. With a mix of sharp humor and deep insight, he unveils the slow creep of "enshittification," turning the online world into a worse place, one algorithm at a time. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**

Well folks, the District Trivia game that used to play here is now \*gone\*, and has been replaced by a brand new game called "Sporcle." It is a national game, and one that we can earn a lot of prizes playing. And anyone playing this day would be a pioneer, as this is the first day that this game will be played here! Game On an interesting venue, and the first one of its kind outside of Maryland. The place features a unique setting, with food, drinks and lots of video games! People should try to arrive at least 15 minutes early (4:45 for the 5:00 game), and whoever is there first, to grab a table for four in the upstairs area. There should be street parking in the surrounding neighborhood, or accessible via the U Street Metro station, with a station one block away.

**PLEASE do not RSVP on Meetup - only posting here so more people can learn about upcoming events** We are excited to host a **pairs** speed puzzling competition on **Sunday, March 1st**! No experience is needed, and all ages are welcome. **Please note**: Registration is required, RSVPing on Meetup does not reserve your spot! Please sign up at [bit.ly/novapuzzlers-march](bit.ly/novapuzzlers-march) **Date**: March 1st, 2026 **Time**: 11am (please try to arrive 5 minutes early!) **Address**: George Mason Regional Library Meeting Room (7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale VA) **Price**: $40 per pair **Notes**: * Teams will get to keep the competition puzzle, and prizes will be given for the winning team! * There is free parking in front of the library * There is no time limit, but the event will end at 1:30pm

What's better than brunch? Brunch with the LGBTQ+ community, of course! Join the Dulles Triangles at 11:00 AM for a dazzling brunch at **[Amphora Diner](http://amphoragroup.com/amphoras-diner-deluxe/)**, located at **1151 Elden St, Herndon, VA 20170**. This is your chance to catch up with old pals, make some new ones, and bask in the glory of a Sunday well-brunched! Amphora’s menu is as diverse as our community, offering everything from omelets and pancakes to divine bakery treats. Seriously, their pastries are more irresistible than a shirtless Ryan Gosling holding a puppy! **RSVP Required!** Amphora needs a headcount beforehand, and adding seats at the last minute is like trying to squeeze into last year’s pride outfit—tricky! To ensure you get a seat at the brunch extravaganza, RSVP on Meetup or in the Dulles Triangles Facebook group by the day before. Those who RSVP get priority seating, and we promise not to judge if you show up in sequins. Remember to ask for Dulles Triangles when you arrive. Use the links below to RSVP and secure your spot faster than you can say "mimosas." This event is usually held on the first Sunday of each month, but check for updates because we like to keep things as flexible as our dance moves. Keep an eye on the current schedule so you don't miss out!

This meeting will be dedicated to talking about the entirety of “Sátántangó” by László Krasznahorkai. We will be meeting in the National Portrait Gallery Atrium. To stay up to date with events and discuss meetings or books, you can join our Whatsapp group. Please message me to get added.

Celebrating our many March Birthdays (including mine!) has become an annual tradition at Slater Run Vineyards. For 300 years, the Slater family has farmed along Goose Creek. In 2010,they added the grapevines and the rest is history. They grow 13 acres of vines on site and specialize in Bordeaux Style Red Blends. Slater Run Vineyards offers a Hunt Country wine experience with sweeping views overlooking the vineyard from a bright and airy tasting room. They allow us to bring our own food so let's have a birthday style celebration feast! March birthday babies, let us know if you will be celebrating with us!

🎉 **Puzzle Palooza: PUZZLES OF ALL KINDS WELCOME at the Board Room! 🧩** Join us for **Puzzle Palooza** in our puzzle swap series! Whether you're into jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, sudoku, logic puzzles, or brain teasers, this event is for you. Bring any type of puzzle—whether it’s a challenging 1000-piece jigsaw, a captivating 3D puzzle, a fun puzzle book, or a unique brain-bending game—and swap it with fellow puzzle lovers. Let’s share the joy of solving and discover new puzzles to enjoy! 📅 **Date:** Sunday March 1, 2026 🕒 **Time:** 3:00 PM 📍 **Location:** [Board Room DC](https://boardroomdc.com/), 1737 Connecticut Avenue NW, WDC 20009, in the mezzanine. **Event Highlights:** 🌐 **Networking:** Connect with fellow puzzle enthusiasts over a game and some delicious drinks. It's a perfect blend of puzzles, games, and great company. 🧩 **Puzzle Swap Extravaganza:** Immerse yourself in a sea of puzzles as we transform the Board Room into a Puzzle Paradise. Bring your puzzles to trade, and discover hidden gems for your collection. 🎲 **Board Game Delights:** Enjoy the fantastic selection of board games available at the Board Room. Take a break from puzzles and explore a world of strategic challenges and social fun. **Agenda:** * 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - check in and chat! * 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm - introductions and swap * 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm - social puzzling **How to Join:** 1. **Save the Date:** This is your ticket to Puzzle Paradise. Mark your calendar and get ready for an afternoon of puzzling delight. 2. **Location:** Board Room DC, known for its vibrant atmosphere and extensive game collection. [1737 Connecticut Avenue NW, WDC 20009](https://boardroomdc.com/) 3. **Spread the Word:** Invite your friends and fellow puzzle lovers. Let's make this Puzzle Paradise an unforgettable experience! \*\*\*Please note that if your puzzle is not swapped, you are still responsible for taking it home. **This is not a swap where you will be able to drop off puzzles and leave**\*\*\* For all of our Swap Series, please prioritize community safety. Ensure you're vaccinated before joining us. Your commitment creates a secure space for our shared love of cooking and good times. See you responsibly at the meetup!

Higher Grounds – Arlington is part of a growing network of gatherings where we create space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you you (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Arlington who are also seeking deeper conversations. Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions * What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? * When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? * What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles * Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? * What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? * How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human * What human experiences will AI never truly understand? * If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? * What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning * What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? * How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? * What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche * What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? * Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? * What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose * When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? * What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? * How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection * What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? * When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? * What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality * What are you running out of time to say or do? * How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? * What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? Suggested Questions: Society & Culture * What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? * Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? * What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy * What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? * When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out? * What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

The Oddball Adventures series continues in a parallel universe where the year 1941 is radically different from the one we know from history books. Emperor Napoleon V rules France, and for the last 70 years scientists have been mysteriously disappearing, depriving mankind of their inventions. Without radio, television, electricity, aviation, and the internal combustion engine, the world is mired in outdated technology powered by coal and steam. April, a gifted young inventor, her grandfather, her talking cat, and Julius, a young ruffian, begin a daunting quest to find April's parents, two of the missing scientists. ■ Title — *April and the Extraordinary World* ■ A.K.A. — *Avril et le monde truqué* ■ Directors — Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci ■ Cast — Marion Cotillard, Marc-André Grondin, Philippe Katerine ■ Rating — PG ■ ©2015 \| 1h 45m \| Adventure\, Animation\, Comedy\, Fantasy\, Sci\-Fi

We will meet outside as long as the weather is nice. If not, we will move inside. Look out for a comment the morning of each meeting with our exact location. As we are meeting in person, please remember to bring something to read as we usually spend some time sharing our current reads and/or reading when meeting in person. As a reminder, there is no assigned reading; please bring whatever you are currently working on. This group is super casual, sometimes we read and sometimes we talk the whole time. **** NO SHOW POLICY: Due to the high number of members on the waitlist recently we are having to reinstate our no-show policy. If you sign up and no-show to 2 events you will be removed from the group. Reminders are provided weekly to change your RSVP to allow those on the waitlist a chance to come to the meet-up, no 3rd chances with be given. Please be considerate to your fellow members. Thank you! I look forward to reading you!

Window functions have nothing to do with the Windows operating system but provide a “window” to a result set when used in SQL queries. They are powerful, set-based methods to view data in unexpected ways. Window functions provide easy, set-based solutions to solve some common problems: * Using running totals * Performing operations in intervals * Identifying data gaps and islands * Performing aggregates without losing detail Many people are confused by window functions and do not know how to use them properly. This session will explore window functions, how they work, and how to use them. Demonstrations with several examples will solidify how window functions can simplify queries and make them more powerful.

Join membersrs of the Central Ohio UX and digital design community for a casual monthly breakfast.

**Google Analytics Alternatives** Is it finally time to make the switch away from Google Analytics? Two-and-a-half years ago Jason Packer asked this question at Columbus Web Analytics Wednesday. Since then: Google’s Universal Analytics has been sunset, we’ve changed our name to Columbus Data & Analytics Wednesday, and Jason has released two editions of his book “Google Analytics Alternatives”. Fresh off the release of the 2nd edition of his book, we thought it was time to re-open this conversation. While people love to complain about it, GA’s market share has remained relatively constant (at least in the United States). Why is that? You won’t find any complaints about GA4 in this talk, but rather an overview of what’s currently available in the market and how to frame your decision-making process. We’ll also be giving out some free copies of Jason’s book! So even if you’ve got a “GA4Lyfe” tattoo (no judgement), there’s free books to go with the free pizza and beer. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

This meeting will be an open discussion about the book "an Immense World" by Ed Yong

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

Join us as we get together to see SIRAT, an Oscar-nominated Best International Film from Spain that follows a father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A father, accompanied by his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco while searching for his daughter who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. As their search continues, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. The film is directed by Oliver Laxe and stars Sergi Lopez, Bruno Nunez Arjona and Richard Bellamy. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70 BUZZ & ACCLAIM: SIRAT has already won numerous awards, including 4 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, along with the Chicago, Montclair and Toronto International Film Festivals! It also earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is earning a stellar 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes which calls it “an unforgettable exercise in tension” and “a brutal reminder that the journey can be more important than the destination.” PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will confirm/announce details as the date gets closer. Once showtime is confirmed, advance purchase (via GFC website preferred) is advised! Once you have your ticket, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan