Information Science

Exactly thirty years ago, Alan Sokal published his famous hoax, intensifying the “Science Wars” and criticising postmodern thinkers such as Bruno Latour and Jaques Derrida for their interpretations of science. The Science Wars represent an attempt, perhaps an unsuccessful but nonetheless meaningful one, at establishing a dialogue between philosophy and the natural sciences. In this iteration of the Philosophy of Life Sciences Reading Group we’ll revisit this moment by returning to one of Latour’s early engagements with science: his essay “Give me a laboratory and I will raise the world”. Here, Latour views the lab not as an isolated, “sacred” space, but as a powerful site which transforms the invisible into visible, not a passive observer but something that actively reshapes reality. Are scientific facts constructed? What is a scientific truth? Anyone from any background is welcome! If you’d like the pdf or to ask any question feel free to drop me a message. Please don’t worry too much about the RSVP list: we usually have 5-10 people attending already.

Do you want to meet new people in a relaxing chill atmosphere surrounded by new books? Do you dislike loud and smelly places like pubs and clubs? This is the event for you. Science and Philosophy Book Club is creating a new kind of meetup where people who love books and knowledge can meet new friends in a big book shop. We will explore around different sections of the book shop together as a group while making interesting conversations with each other. We will go to both fiction and non-fiction areas. If you feel shy and feel nervous to come alone, I will make sure you will feel comfortable and accomodate to your needs. I will help introduce you to others so you can go over the barrier of anxiety when approaching a new person. We will meet on the ground floor lounge area of Doubletree Hilton Hotel at 6 p.m. It is an amazing cosy bar with classy vibes. We will wait for everyone to show up while getting some drinks and socializing. At 7 p.m we will head to the Waterstones book store near Russel Square and UCL. After we explore the book store, we will come back to the hotel bar and stay there for the rest of the night. This event requires £5 donation to cover the venue fees. You can pay via cash or card. Thank you for helping the book club!

Would you enjoy a relaxed evening with fellow Science Fiction and Fantasy fans? If so, we’d love to meet you. Our next gathering takes place on **Saturday 23rd May from 6pm** at **The Mad Hatter**, just by Blackfriars Bridge. Drop in, say hello, and join us for a drink. We’re a long‑running group that’s been meeting since **1998**—long before meetup sites existed. Over the years we’ve hosted celebrity meet‑and‑greets, attended conventions together, run role‑playing games, organised cinema trips, LARPs, and plenty more. These pub meetups are all about socialising and connecting with other Sci‑Fi and Fantasy enthusiasts. To help break the ice, we’ll be running a fun **team quiz at 8.30pm**. There’s no fee to attend—just pay for whatever food or drink you order at the venue.

Join us for a special edition of Deeper Discussions, where we dive into thought-provoking **fiction** that challenges perspectives, sparks imagination, and opens doors to meaningful conversations. Whether you're a lifelong reader or rediscovering the joy of novels, this is a space to explore stories that stay with you long after the final page. **This Month's Book - One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez** One Hundred Years of Solitude follows generations of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. It blends everyday life with magical, surreal events in a dreamlike style. The story explores time, memory, and the repeating patterns of family life. **How does it work?** * Brief introductions and reflections on what struck you most * Moderated discussion exploring plot, themes, and characters * Open conversation where different interpretations are welcomed ️ * We wrap up by sharing insights and connections made **What to Expect?** **Close Reading:** We go beyond surface-level plot summary. Expect discussions that examine the author's choices, narrative techniques, and the questions left lingering in the silence between pages. **Thoughtful Dialogue:** This isn't a race to share opinions—it's a space for genuine exploration. We listen, we reflect, we build on each other's insights. **Meaningful Connections:** Great fiction holds up a mirror to the human experience. Through discussing characters' choices and moral dilemmas, we often discover something about ourselves and each other. **How to get the most out of this event?** **Finish the Book:** Please attend only if you've completed the book. Spoilers will flow freely, and the richest discussions come from those who've made the full journey. **Ground it in the Text:** Bring your interpretations, but anchor them in what's actually on the page. Quote passages. Reference scenes. Let the author's words guide us. **Respect & Openness:** Every interpretation matters. Make space for quieter voices. Challenge ideas, not people. Stay curious rather than defensive. **Why a Fiction Book Club?** **Explore the Human Condition:** Fiction lets us inhabit lives we'll never live, forcing us to confront questions about identity, morality, love, and loss. **Sharpen Your Thinking:** Close reading develops critical thinking—noticing what the author chose to include, exclude, and how the story is told matters as much as what happens. **Deepen Connections:** Discussing characters' choices and moral dilemmas creates surprisingly intimate conversations with fellow readers. **Who is this event for?** * You find yourself thinking about books long after you've finished them * You want more from book discussions than "I liked it" or "I didn't" * You're curious how others interpret the same story differently * You value thoughtful dialogue over debate ️✨ * You're looking for meaningful connections with fellow readers **What's in it for you?** * **Fresh Perspectives:** Discover interpretations you'd never have considered alone * **Deeper Understanding:** Unpack themes and symbols that enrich your reading * **Genuine Connection:** Bond with others over shared literary experiences * **A Space to Think:** Slow down from the noise and engage with ideas that matter **Ready to dive deeper into stories that matter?** Join us for an evening where fiction becomes a gateway to understanding ourselves and each other. ✨ **We really hope to see you there!** **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80) **Keep This Event Free** If this event brings you something meaningful, you can help others access the same transformational experience. Whether it's £5 or £15, every contribution keeps these events accessible to everyone in our community. You'll find a QR code on your conversation sheet during the event, or you can contribute here #SupportYourCommunity [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/deeperconnections) [Buy Me A Coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/deeperconnections) [PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DDSNCCFCYUEB2)

We love a good chat. Come and join us at Table 45

Tired of small talk and ready to connect on a real level? Join us for **deep**, **meaningful conversations** and **new friendships** 👯‍♀️🎉 with a group of like-minded individuals who share your interests. This event is **free** but you will be **required** to buy food or drink before you can join us 🍭🍬🧁🍰🥤🧃- having water doesn't support the venue **Who is it for?** * You want more satisfying, deeper conversations * You want more meaningful and long-lasting connections in your life * You crave more from life and know its out there * You are bored of just socialising and want to have fun and explore a new type of event! **What's in it for you?** * **No more awkward silences!** We'll provide questions to spark engaging conversations. 💡 * **Meet like-minded people** who crave deeper connections. 🤝 * **Have fun** in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. 😊 **How does it work?** * We'll pair you up with different people for **15-minute 1-1 chats**. 🔄 * **Use our questions** as a starting point, or go off on your own tangent! 🗺️ * Be **open**, **honest**, and **curious**. 👂 * 15 minutes is a good amount of time to explore a question deeply and **not have awkward silence**.⏳ * You are also **free to take the conversation in any direction** you choose.🤩 * You can always sit out a round to **take a break** 😪 **Examples of questions that we provide:** * "If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?" 🦸‍♀️ * "What's your biggest fear, and why does it scare you?" 😱 * "What's the most meaningful thing you've ever done?" ❤️ * "What would you do if you had all the money and time in the world?" 💰 **Why do we love deep conversations?** * They're **authentic**, **raw**, and **honest**. * There are **no limits** to where they can go. * You'll feel **uplifted**, **inspired**, and **connected**. 🌟 **How to be a great conversation partner?** * **Be Respectful:** Listen attentively and avoid interrupting others. 👂 * **Be Open-Minded:** Consider different viewpoints and challenge your own assumptions. 🧠 * **Be Engaging:** Ask thoughtful questions and contribute to the conversation. 💬 * **Be vulnerable:** We are a safe space, so it’s okay to be yourself 🥺 🙈 * **Be honest:** Be honest about our experience of life 🌍 * **Be curious:** Be interested in the other person ❓ 🤔 👀 **Ready to take the plunge?** 🌊 Join us and experience the magic of deeper conversations! 💫 You may leave feeling **uplifted**, **inspired**, **connected**, **invigorated**, **positive**, **grateful**!❤️ **What others have to say**: * **Parimal**: "I had the most amazing time! The conversations were refreshing and genuinely authentic." * **David Saville**: "This is a wonderful event run by two extraordinary individuals." * **Edomi**: "This is one of the best meetups I've been to. Highly recommended!" We really hope to see you there! 👋 **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centered around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. 🧠💡 * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. 🗣️💬 * **Accessibility:** We believe meaningful connection should be accessible to everyone. Our community makes this possible by supporting each other. 🤝 **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) 👉🏽 [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80) **Keep This Event Free 💝** If this event brings you something meaningful, you can help others access the same transformational experience. Whether it's £5 or £15, every contribution keeps these events accessible to everyone in our community. You'll find a QR code on your conversation sheet during the event, or you can contribute here #SupportYourCommunity 👉🏽 [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/deeperconnections) 👉🏽 [Buy Me A Coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/deeperconnections) 👉🏽 [PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DDSNCCFCYUEB2)

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧! Free Registration Link [https://buytickets.at/indianprofessionalslondonuk/2211094](https://buytickets.at/indianprofessionalslondonuk/2211094?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExdHo2eEFkNlhtb3lLRWFCeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR57Mdb5CamMoDvniWEOnUl7sfGpPwP2UVZS9ft4GI83SmF9lPo-Rnc-7nEdNA_aem_runFXrftLtgFJXPVeiz7XA) Godrej x IPLUK NRI HomeFest Saturday, 23rd May 2026 10:30 AM — 5 PM (2 slots for booking available) Venue: Old Street Gallery, London EC2A 4NA As NRIs, we all carry that dream, a home back in India. Whether it’s for your parents, your retirement, or simply roots you want to hold on to. But navigating Indian property from the UK? That’s where it gets complicated. That’s exactly why IPLUK has partnered with Godrej Properties - India’s most trusted names in real estate, to bring their experts directly to London, just for our community. On the day you’ll get to: * Explore 20+ premium Godrej developments across Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Noida and more * Access exclusive NRI deals and discounts only available at this event (for IPLUK community) * Speak one-to-one with Godrej’s property specialists visiting from India * Get clarity on the NRI home buying process — legal, financial, everything **Registration is completely FREE!** Don’t miss this one. WhatsApp Group For Attendees: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/KmqjU92vKWe7tFTHHx0ldP?mode=gi_t](https://chat.whatsapp.com/KmqjU92vKWe7tFTHHx0ldP?mode=gi_t&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExdHo2eEFkNlhtb3lLRWFCeXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6J7HSLz_lu1660lYe_I6Jtw4toJ92_lEIUsbmz3lok4I_OvQ1StvlF-Ln1Iw_aem_Wfw8kFlhTGgZpQEM-k5UxQ)

**Please make sure you get a ticket** **only RSVP won’t count**- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/indian-professionals-in-london-ai-bootcamp-tickets-1988464324322 AI Bootcamp: Practical AI for Everyday Work A Hands-On Meetup Experience About This Session Whether you’re running a startup, leading a team, or looking to work smarter — this session shows you how to practically implement AI in your work. Real use cases, live demos, and hands-on building. No fluff, no theory overload. Duration: 3 Hours Format: Interactive + Hands-On Level: Beginner to Intermediate What We’ll Cover • What AI Actually Is — Cut through the hype. Understand what AI and automation can realistically do for your business or role today • AI Across Industries — Use cases from startups, operations, HR, finance, sales, marketing, and customer success • AI Automation in Practice — Where automation fits: workflows, lead handling, content pipelines, internal ops, and more • Live Demonstrations — Watch AI tackle real business problems — from generating SOPs to summarising data to drafting investor-ready content • Build Your Own Use Case — Map one challenge from your business or job to an AI solution and build your first working prompt or workflow • Group Sharing — Peer learning across founders, operators, and professionals from different industries • Safe & Smart AI Use — Governance, limitations, what needs human oversight, and how to build AI into your team responsibly • Your 30-Day Implementation Plan — Leave with a clear starting point: one use case, one tool, one action What You’ll Leave With • A mapped AI use case specific to your business or role • A working prompt or automation blueprint you built in the session • A 30-day plan to implement AI in one area of your work • Practical frameworks for evaluating AI tools and workflows • A network of founders and professionals building with AI Who Should Attend • Startup founders exploring how to use AI to scale without scaling headcount • Team leads and operators who want to automate repetitive processes • Professionals looking to use AI to do higher-quality work, faster • Anyone serious about moving from curious about AI to actually using it Bring your laptop. Come with one business problem in mind. Leave with a plan to solve it.

Join fellow Indian pros in London for a day of fun, hands-on AI bootcamp where you’ll level up your skills and network for all levels! **AI Bootcamp: Practical AI for Everyday Work** Hands-on session where participants discover how AI can save time and improve daily work through real examples, simple prompts, and immediate takeaways. **Key Topics Covered** **AI Fundamentals & Ethics:** Understanding AI capabilities, limitations, and responsible use. **Prompt Engineering:** Techniques for using tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E. **No-Code/Low-Code Tools:** Utilizing platforms like Zapier, Canva AI, and Notion for workflow automation. **My Job, My AI Use Case" Activity** Worksheet exercise: identify one repetitive task from your job, turn it into an AI use case, build simple prompts. **Industry-Specific Use Cases:** Real examples from operations, HR, finance, retail, marketing, healthcare admin. Shows specific problems AI solves faster.

🌌Ever look up and marvel with insatiable curiosity at the beauty and wonder of the **universe?** That wild sobering thought that somewhere in the chaos of creation - through the emergence of us - the universe became **conscious** enough to look back in time and not just ask the existential questions, but try to answer them. 🚀 Join fellow big picture and deep thinkers to take a look at **Venus,** **Jupiter** along with planet's potential life‑harbouring **moons**, iconic beautiful **star fields**, the remnants of supernovae witnessed by our earliest ancestors, **multi‑star systems** reminiscent of the twin suns of *Star Wars* and even **Tau Ceti**, a star hosting two Earth‑like worlds in its habitable zone. All of this under the spring evening - with drinks, engaging conversation, and good‑natured banter — this May. In between observing - we'll have **drinks and engaging chats** on all astronomy related topics for those inclined: Space exploration \| Fermi Paradox \| Astrobiology \| Cosmology \| paleontology\, \| SETI & Drake Equation for alien civilisations estimates \| exoplanetology etc as well as non space chats and banter too\. No doubt we'll hear the usual jokes we've all heard before\! If those don't make you laugh\, my impersonation of Los Angeles ET will\! 👽 And to help set the mood and make the night feel even extra stary, I’ll put my DJ hat to play some space‑theme tunes and songs about the stars! You don't need a telescope as you will be able to view through scopes belonging to me and other club members (as long as you behave responsibly and don't temper with expensive equipment). If you have your own telescope/binoculars feel free to bring along and I can help you setting it up if you're a newbie **==== ITINERARY =====** We will meet outside H&I Station in Highbury Islington. After a short wait for anyone delayed, I will escort everyone to our observation point in the local park 5 minutes walk away and brief you in terms of what to expect, observing etiquette, tips, equipment handling and take any questions you have - weather general or astronomy/cosmology related. **After Drinks:** Unless I have a very important 9AM Tue deadline for a unfinished client presentation or something - most of us usually head to a cosy bar for a drink. If so - I will annouce the pub when we leave the park **==== What Can You Expect To See (this time of year)? ====** * Orion Nebula * Jupiter and 4 moons * Meteors * Andromedia Galaxy * Star clusters such as the Pleiades & Owl Cluster etc * International Space station fly by * Binary & tripple star systems (think planet *Tatooine in* Starwars!), * Neptune * Uranuus * Our moon * A look towards the galactic centre of the Mlikyway where that supermassive £22b Labour black hole sits (Sagittarius A) More here from Jodrell Bank Observatory/Astrophysics Centre: [http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/](http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/) Guide to viewing the cosmos for beginners: [https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp](https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp) **===Weather Dependent=====** The event is subject to clear skies forecasts on the night so if on the actual afternoon of the event the weather forecasts looks unsuitable beyond doubt then I will postpone so please check the event status on the day of the event . If this event is still listed here at 5PM on the day, it will be going ahead at the designated day and time! Lucas Skywalker - The Singin, Dancin, DJ-in Astronomer

**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 13:45-14:00 - Arrive, grab your seat, shuffle around if you want to sit at a different table to meet new faces, and do table introductions. This is also when I check people in on the Meetup app. * 14:00-14:05 - Once everyone has been checked in, I give an explanation of Practical Philosophy read the guidelines, introduce the week’s philosophy topic, and share the jump-off points. * 14:05-14:55 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 14:55 onwards - We do a group conclusion of the things we discussed, and then we typically take a photo and go on our way :) If you don't want to be in the group photo, there's no pressure, it's just a way to close out the meeting. We occasionally have an unofficial social so the different groups can mingle afterwards too! **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. If you'd like to donate to support our running costs, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate will be present. Tea’s and coffees and are paid by the individual should they wish to have them. **💛 WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * What will we talk about? What's the topic? The topic for the week is shared every week in the Whatsapp group before the session. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in 25+ countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈

Para Ecuador, Max nos propone la lectura _Lengua ajena_ de Julia Rendón Abrahamson, (160 páginas). La autora forma parte del boom femenino literario de Ecuador. El libro trata los siguientes temas: la maternidad, la emigración, la vida de una madre soltera en Nueva York, y la dificultad de encontrar un lugar propio. Este libro añade una variedad temática a lo que llevamos leyendo hasta ahora.

You can be surrounded by eight million people and still feel like no one knows your name. You pass the same faces on the same street every morning. You hear your neighbours through the walls, their arguments, their music, their laughter. But you've never spoken. The city promised connection. It delivered proximity. Is proximity without intimacy crueller than actual solitude? If everyone is lonely, who's keeping us apart? Who is responsible for the stranger next door? Here is a documentary about Joyce Vincent that is related to this topic: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819513/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819513/) *Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comments below.* —————————————————————————————————————————————— **💛 Support The Examined Life** Enjoying the discussions? Please consider donating, it keeps us running. 👉 Donate here: [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Join our Telegram group chat** Stay connected between sessions: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) —————————————————————————————————————————————— **About the session** The Examined Life "Let's Discuss…" session is an open, welcoming discussion, no prior reading or expertise required. Format: * **13:15** Free-flowing group discussion on the topic * **14:00 (ish)** We split into smaller groups for deeper conversation on what interests you most * **16:00** Official end of the meetup. Most attendees stay on and keep chatting until around 18:00 —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Please RSVP accurately** Please update your RSVP if plans change, it helps us plan and frees up spots for others. —————————————————————————————————————————————— **Artwork:** A Frozen River by a Town at Evening 1665 by Aert van der Neer

**Latest Dojo Location!** **Knotty Pine Brewing** 1765 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 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 speakers for our Monthly Meetups! Fill out the form if you are interested in presenting to the Python Community. https://forms.gle/ehSfUAC2WgR34Crq9

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

**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** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** TBD

Welcome to the group! We are kicking things off with our very first meetup and would love for you to join. **All levels are welcome**, from absolute beginners to native speakers. This is a purely casual get-together to practice speaking, make new friends, and have a good time. Drop by, say hi (*or salut!*), and let's hang out! At Panera Bread 300 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 *Note: We're kicking things off at Panera for this first one to see how it goes, but we can definitely look into other fun spots or activities for future meetups based on what the group wants to do!* Can't wait to see you there! ☕️🥖

By popular demand, the group wanted to read and discuss the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche, that inspired the Truffaut movie we watched last year. The book is available through the Columbus Library's interlibrary loan system. They reported there are twenty-eight copies available in the state of Ohio. If you have a library card, you can file an interlibrary loan request here: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/library-services/ . There are also used copies available on Amazon and eBay for under twenty dollars. You may want to rewatch the movie after reading the book, so we can compare and contrast in our discussion. The Columbus Library has four copies on DVD, and it's streaming on HBOMax.

SATURDAY: This event is 2:30 - 4 pm SATURDAY. Conversation tends toward intermediate/advanced, but everybody is welcome. If you come and don't see us right away, keep looking. We could be anywhere in the restaurant.

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia