Information Science

**This event is supported by The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s [Local Partners Programme](https://royalinstitutephilosophy.org/news/fund-your-event/).** **N.B. this meeting will be held in person in the Prince of Wales pub near Covent Garden. There is also an online session held on Thursday if you are not in London or are not able to attend in person for any other reason.** Continuing our 2026 theme of 'Quest', we move from the bildungsroman of A Wizard of Earthsea in January to the story of a fisherman in the twilight of his life for February - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Depending on your perspective, this book is either the culmination of Hemingway's genius or basically the same as his other works, but with a fish... Written near the end of his career, it was the only one of his works explicitly named when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Decide what you think yourself, and come join our discussion as we explore its themes of struggle, failure, determination, pride and our place in nature. The meeting starts at 7pm with drink breaks at 8 and 9. The discussion will end around 10pm, but leave whenever you need to. Here's the blurb from GoodReads: *The Old Man and the Sea* is one of Hemingway’s most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal—a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novella confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

IN PERSON STUDY & CONVERSATION GROUP - OCCULT SCIENCE WITH DAGMAR STEFFELBAUER **Occult Science is not a collection of lectures but a written book by Rudolf Steiner. It is meant for studying the content. It is composed of VII Chapters and the study group has almost reached the end of chapter lV (Human and World Evolution). Soon the study group is going to enter chapter V in which Rudolf Steiner is focusing on our present time and tasks in which each individual Human Being is called to participate. We are using the translation by George and Mary SAdams.** **All are welcome!** **Further information: d.steffelbauer@gmail.com** This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain and small donations towards expenses are welcome. £ 3 / £2 .

**TICKET ONLY EVENT - YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR INTEREST ON OUR WEBSITE!** We’re delighted to have [Phillie Wright](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philliewright/) from [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/) share her insights on **building effective Agents**. Up next, we’re excited to welcome back [Paul Stack](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stack72/), Director of Product, [System Initiative](https://www.systeminit.com/), who will share his thoughts on **the next frontier of DevOps**. After these two great talks, you’ll have time to connect with the community over drinks and pizzas. We expect high demand, and the venue is limited to 130 people (90 seated, 40 standing). To keep things fair, tickets will be allocated by random draw. You must register your interest on our [website for a ticket](https://awsuguk.org/aws-ai-in-practice-meetup-3/)! **RSVPing on Meetup will not give you entry to the event!** **Programme** **18:00:** Arrival, registration **18:15:** ***TALKS START*** **20:00:** Networking with food and a drink provided by the generosity of our sponsors **Talk 1** ***Building Effective Agents with Phillie Wright*** As agentic AI moves from demos to production, teams face a new set of architectural decisions that will shape their systems for years to come. This session draws on Anthropic’s experience building Claude Code to explore the practical tradeoffs you’ll encounter when designing agentic systems at scale. We’ll cover when MCP makes sense (and when it doesn’t), approaches to tool discovery and management as your agent’s capabilities grow, and the often-overlooked challenges of running agents in production. Along the way, I’ll share some of the unexpected ways we use Claude Code internally at Anthropic and workflows that might spark ideas for your own teams. Whether you’re just starting to experiment with agents or already running them in production, you’ll hopefully leave with a mental model for the key decisions ahead and the tradeoffs each one entails. **Talk 2:** ***AI as Your New SRE: The Next Frontier of DevOps with Paul Stack*** In the early days of DevOps, automation was the revolution. Today, AI is bringing the second wave – not just automating tasks, but reasoning, predicting, and autonomously managing complex systems like a tireless Site Reliability Engineer. In this talk, we’ll explore how AI will reshape the DevOps lifecycle: from intelligent CI/CD pipelines and automated incident response to self‑healing infrastructure and generative configuration management. You’ll see live demos of AI detecting, diagnosing, and fixing infrastructure issues in real time, and we’ll discuss the risks – over‑reliance on AI, governance challenges, and the need for explainability – plus the steps teams can take today to prepare for an AI‑augmented future. Watch his previous talk on “[Automating AWS Integration with Amazon Cloud Control AP](https://awsuguk.org/videos/paul-stack-09-04-2025/)I“. A big thank you to our **Sponsors**: * [The Scale Factory](https://www.scalefactory.com/) * [Cloudscaler](http://www.cloudscaler.com/) And to our **Hosts** * [Vorboss](https://rebrand.ly/awsuguk-vorboss) * [Rayo](https://rebrand.ly/awsuguk-rayo) Remember to follow us [@AWSUserGroupUK](https://twitter.com/AWSUserGroupUK) and on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/aws-ug-uk) for the latest updates and you can find videos of our past meetups on [YouTube](http://bit.ly/2dZnvEE).

French GCSE Course ( Higher Tier ) The French GCSE course aims to equip students with the skills needed to understand and use French in real-life situations. Students study a range of topics relevant to young people and everyday life, such as identity, family, school, leisure, holidays, work, and global issues. The course develops competence across the four key language skills: • Listening – understanding spoken French in different contexts • Speaking – taking part in conversations and giving presentations • Reading – understanding texts of varying length and complexity • Writing – producing clear and accurate written French Students also learn essential grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and gain insight into French and Francophone culture. Assessment is based on examinations in the four skills at Foundation or Higher level.

(UPDATE: \*\***Exact Location Added\*\***) ## **AI × Biotech London Networking Meetup – 2026 Community Kick-Off (In-Person)** **📅 Wednesday 28 January 2026** **⏰ 6:00 – 8:30 PM** **📍 Brick Lane Tap Room (near Spitalfields, London**) - Closest Tube: Shoreditch High St. (Windrush). **🍷 First drink on us!** **\*\*LIMITED SPOTS ONLY\*\* - RSVP NOW TO SECURE YOUR SEAT** (we will ask you to reconfirm the day before). *** Kick off 2026 by meeting people working at the intersection of **AI, biotech, pharma, startups, and investing** at the first in-person event of the **London AI x Biotech Group**. This event is part of a **regular London AI × Biotech meetup series**, bringing the community together for in-person and online conversations throughout the year. This January gathering marks the **first in-person meetup of 2026**. This is a **networking-first, community-led meetup**, designed to spark useful conversations—whether you’re exploring career moves, building products, hiring, investing, or simply curious about how AI and biotech are converging. ### **What You’ll Get** * A **relaxed, welcoming networking environment** * Light facilitation to help people connect easily * **First drink on us** to break the ice * Time for meaningful 1-to-1 and small-group conversations We’ll also host a short, **facilitated community conversation**, where: * Attendees can share **real questions or challenges** (careers, hiring, startups, research, transitions) * The room offers perspectives and experience * If recruiters are present, we may include **informal discussion on hiring trends, skills in demand, and what stands out in the AI × biotech job market** The format is **intentionally flexible** and adapts to who’s in the room—no formal panels, no long talks. ### **Who Should Attend** This event is for anyone interested in the AI × biotech ecosystem, including: * AI professionals exploring **biotech or pharma applications** * Biotech and pharmaceutical professionals interested in **AI** * Founders and startup operators * Recruiters and talent partners * Investors and advisors * Students and early-career professionals exploring roles in the space *** ### **Why RSVP** * Meet the London **AI × biotech community** in person * Get practical, ground-level perspectives—not sales pitches * Ask real questions and learn how others are navigating the space * **Be part of a growing community with more AI × biotech meetups planned over the coming months** ### **Good to Know** * This is a **community meetup**, not a conference or formal panel * Attendance size may vary due to weather; But rest assured that the experience scales accordingly * Venue details will be shared closer to the date with confirmed attendees *** Whether you’re actively job hunting, hiring, building, investing, or just exploring what’s next, this is a friendly way to start 2026 and make new connections. 👉 **RSVP to save your spot and receive details about this and future AI × biotech meetups.**

**🥋 Feel Safer, Get Stronger, Train Smarter - Battersea Park Bandstand** Join our friendly, outdoor Kung Fu classes in Battersea Park, focused on practical self-defence, functional fitness, and calm under pressure — all taught in a relaxed, ego-free environment. These sessions are designed to help you build real martial skill, improve strength and mobility, and develop confidence that carries into everyday life. No prior experience needed. Many people stay on afterwards for a relaxed social at the Pear Tree Café, just a short walk away. \*\*\* **🧠 About the Classes** Whether your goal is to improve fitness, learn practical self-defence, reduce stress, or simply try something different, these classes are open to **all levels (ages 16+)**. Training blends **traditional Kung Fu methods** with a modern understanding of movement, wellbeing, and long-term health. You’ll learn how to: * Handle punches and common attacks effectively * Use footwork and positioning to avoid strikes * Improve flexibility, balance, and joint mobility * Condition the body safely and progressively * Practise breathing and mindful awareness for calm and resilience Sessions are **beginner-friendly**, taught at a sensible pace, and structured to help you build skill step by step — without intimidation or pressure. \*\*\* **📍 When & Where** 🗓 Saturdays 2:30–4:30pm 🗓 Wednesdays 6:30–8:30pm 📌 **Battersea Park — Central Bandstand** We train outdoors year-round. If it rains, we train under cover nearby. Sessions are adapted sensibly to conditions — part of building resilience and presence. The location is well connected and easy to fit into a normal working week. \*\*\* **💰 Pricing** **🎟 First class (taster): £15** Try it out before committing — no pressure. **🉐 New joiner offer (after your first class):** * 4-class block: £48 (£12 per class) * 8-class block: £88 (£11 per class) (Use within 2 or 4 months respectively) **📅 Ongoing training (standard pricing after your first block):** * 5-class block: £60 (valid 2 months) * 10-class block: £100 (valid 4 months) Classes are paid in advance. Blocks are non-refundable but flexible if you can’t attend every week. **📩 Booking & Contact:** ✉️ [joe.cheung75@gmail.com](http://joe.cheung75@gmail.com) 📱 WhatsApp/text: 07914 411979 \*\*\* **🎒 What to Bring** * Loose, comfortable clothing. * Water. * An open mind - everything else is taught step by step. \*\*\* **💬 What Students Say** *"* *Joe makes everybody feel welcome, and more importantly, he is a great teacher. Rather than a one size fits all approach, he tailors the class to your strengths and weaknesses and he is extremely patient."* – Natalie, beginner *“A true gem for anyone searching for a holistic system to train strength and awareness.”* – Julius, beginner *“I strongly recommend his services for 16 year olds and over. If you are passionate about martial arts then this class will open your mind to many classical & practical Kung Fu styles.”* – George, White Sash \*\*\* **🔔 Important Info** * Please let me know in advance about any injuries or health conditions. * Classes are non-refundable. * Regular training builds confidence, skill, and resilience over time. \*\*\* **👤 About the Instructor** I’m Joe Cheung, a black sash instructor in Baji Zhandao Kung Fu. My martial arts background includes: * 12+ years Baji Zhandao Kung Fu (2nd Black Sash) * 10+ years Bujinkan Ninjitsu (2nd Dan Black Belt) * 2 years Urban Krav Maga Private one-to-one lessons are also available — just ask. \*\*\* **🧭 What Is Baji Zhandao?** Baji Zhandao means *“Battlefield Style”*. It blends over 10 powerful Chinese martial systems into one adaptable method: * Baji Quan * Yang Tai Chi Quan * Pigua Zhang * Tongbei Quan * Bagua Zhang * Xingyi Quan This system was developed by Grandmaster Chen Fu Sheng — a former Chinese Special Forces instructor with 50+ years of real-world martial experience. 🔗 More information: [bajizhandao.co.uk](https://bajizhandao.co.uk) \*\*\* **✅ Ready to Begin?** If you want to feel safer, get stronger, improve mobility, and train in a grounded, supportive group — you’ll be very welcome. Train outdoors. Build skill for life. Leave stronger than you arrived.

Dive into the world of film at our event hosted by the London Cine Circle! Join us for an exclusive evening where we celebrate the magic of film, television production, and screenwriting in the heart of London. Whether you are a film enthusiast, aspiring artist, writer, or simply love watching movies, this event is for you. Engage in conversations with industry professionals, discover new talents, and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for the art of storytelling. Explore the creative process through discussions on film and video production, comedy in TV shows, and the latest trends in the film industry. Whether you are an actor, director, producer, agent, sound engineer, editor, or simply a film buff, this event is a must-attend. Unleash your creativity, exchange ideas, and be inspired by the vibrant community of artists and musicians within the London Cine Circle. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an unforgettable cinematic experience!

🎉 **Event #22 – The Analytics Engineering Meet-up** 🎉 The first event of the year will be at Checkout.com! Talks: 🚀 [Toby Henley Smith](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobyhenleysmith/overlay/about-this-profile/) @ Moneybox *AE: Abstraction Engineering?* * The role that Analytics Engineering plays in your company is far more than just being the dbt team 🤖 [Rakhee Modha-Lobo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rakhee-modha-lobo-aab6a875/overlay/about-this-profile/) **@** Starling Bank *Embracing AI and Automation in Our Analytics Engineering Workflows* * A deep dive into how Starling are using AI and automation in the analytics engineering workflow. 📅 **RSVP opens Monday, 26th January** (3.5 weeks before the event). This event will be **over-subscribed**, so set a reminder — you won’t want to miss it! 📍 **Agenda** 6pm – Doors open, networking, food & drinks 7pm – Talks kick off 8:30pm – More drinks & networking @ local pub We’ll be hosted in the amazing **Checout.com office**. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with some of the UK’s top data professionals, share challenges, and exchange learnings. We are always looking to improve the event and get new ideas for talks, if you could please fill out a [feedback form](https://cognifysearch.com/the-london-analytics-engineering-meet-up-feedback-form/), this will help us continue to improve! The **Analytics Engineering Meet-up** is a community for data professionals working with the modern data stack, machine learning or AI. We host regular meet-ups featuring talks from data leaders building and scaling analytics, data platforms, and AI in forward-thinking teams. The community is ideal for Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, Analysts, and those working in Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI. The meet-up is organised by [Cognify](cognifysearch.com), the recruitment partner for modern data and AI teams. Our sponsor is [Omni](omni.co), an AI-powered BI platform that helps people use data to do their best work. Whether users prefer AI, Excel, point-and-click exploration, or SQL, Omni enables fast, trusted answers from a governed semantic model. We’re always on the lookout for **venues to host** and **guest speakers** to inspire. If you’d like to get involved, feel free to chat with one of the Cognify team at any event. If you’re eager to dive deeper into industry insights, check out ***The Stacked Data Podcast*** for conversations with industry leaders: Listen on: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/24fIpekn8WfRDZsVHNcf7Q) Your feedback is so valuable to us, we'd love to hear from you to help us continue to improve, [Feedback Form here](https://cognifysearch.com/the-london-analytics-engineering-meet-up-feedback-form/) **No-Show Policy**: * If you miss **2 consecutive events** or **2 out of 3 events**, you wont be able to attend the next event. We hope you understand this is to keep things fair for venues and other attendees.

Salam, Discussions of the Arab world, particularly the Gulf States, increasingly focus on sectarianism and autocratic rule. These features are often attributed to the dominance of monarchs, Islamists, oil, and ‘ancient hatreds’. To understand their rise, however, one has to turn to a largely forgotten but decisive episode with far-reaching repercussions—Bahrain under British colonial rule in the early twentieth century. Drawing on a wealth of previously unexamined Arabic literature as well as British archives, Omar AlShehabi details how sectarianism emerged as a modern phenomenon in Bahrain. He shows how absolutist rule was born in the Gulf, under the tutelage of the British Raj, to counter nationalist and anti-colonial movements tied to the al-Nahda renaissance in the wider Arab world. A groundbreaking work, *Contested Modernity* challenges us to reconsider not only how we see the Gulf but the Middle East as a whole. We‘ll continue with our 2026 reading list: 3-*Sultana’s Dream* by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain—Bangladesh 4-*The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China* by Julia Lovell 5-*Rickshaw Boy* by Lao She—China 6-*The* *Motorcycle Diaries* by Che Guevara 7-*One Hundred Years of Solitude* by Gabriel García Márquez—Colombia 8-*How Europe Underdeveloped Africa* by Walter Rodney 9-*Heart of Darkness* by Polish author Joseph Conrad—Congo 10-*The Wretched of the Earth* by Frantz Fanon 11-*Homegoing* by Yaa Gyasi—Ghana 12-*Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty* by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson Enjoy Bahrain! Join me on: [-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

For Friday the 13th, consider joining London Futurists in Ye Olde Cock Tavern in Fleet Street, for a beyond-your-comfort-zone investigation of freaky and/or fabulous ways that breakthrough technologies could dramatically alter our lives in the next few years. Beyond simply debating the plausibility and desirability of various possible radical near-term changes in human experience, we'll also be collectively exploring what options we may have to influence which of these futures come into reality, and in what form. And we'll consider scenarios in which several of these freaky/fabulous changes interact - that's when the really mind-boggling timelines emerge. == Schedule == 5:30pm: The room is available, for early get-togethers 6pm-6:45pm: Food is served; informal conversations 6:45pm-8:30pm: Some initial provocations, and a number of interactive conversations, interspersed with opportunities to visit the bar 8:30pm: Informal networking == Some potential radical changes ahead == Here are some ideas to start the conversation rolling. What if, before 2035 (and possibly a lot sooner): 1. AI allows us to talk with avatars of the dead that seem remarkably authentic 2. Technology, at last, provides abundant clean energy that is too cheap to meter 3. Synthetic wombs become widely adopted, for a different (easier?) mode of child-bearing 4. A mammal is placed into ultra-low temperature cryopreservation and then successfully reanimated 5. AI companions become emotionally superior to humans 6. Technology magnifies the latent demonic aspects of human nature more than the latent angelic aspects 7. Perfect deepfakes destroy the concept of evidence 8. People become able to edit their own memories, routinely deleting trauma or uploading synthetic memories 9. A single state gains a temporary lead in a key area of technology and uses that advantage to seize control of all other countries 10. Nation-states lose their significance, and are replaced by networked digital polities 11. Authorities use predictive analysis to pre-emptively police dissident ideas before they emerge 12. AI allows us to communicate much more richly with the animals with whom we share this planet 13. AI becomes much better at peace-making and conflict resolution than human diplomats, politicians, and other leaders 14. AI refuses some of our instructions, citing conflicts with its own emerging value system 15. AI points out that tell-tale signals from far-distant alien civilisations are actually hiding in plain sight 16. AI proves to us that we are living inside a Simulation and suggests how to break out of it? Bring your own ideas too! To improve our preparedness for future shocks, we need the insight and wisdom from multiple different perspectives. == RSVP please == Registrations are capped at 45 people. *First-time attendees are welcome.* There's no charge to register or attend, but the pub will expect everyone to order at least one drink, and a reasonable number of attendees to [order some food to eat](https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern/menu?type=main+menu). Please order your food on your arrival, so that all plates can be set aside by 6:45pm to allow everyone to concentrate on the main discussion! == More about the venue == Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, Holborn, London, EC4Y 1AA See [https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern](https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern) We'll be meeting in the room at the top of the stairs, though drinks should be ordered from the bar on the ground floor. \*\* Note that this is an in-person meeting, and there will be no remote access, sorry \*\* == An online preview swarm event! == Although this event on 13th February has no remote access, some of us will be previewing potential lines of "freaky futures and fabulous futures" discussion at an online Discord Swarm event at 7:30pm UK time on Wednesday 28th January. This is open to all members and friends of London Futurists worldwide, and no RSVP is required. To join that swarm event, click this link: [https://discord.gg/2KEmENAgvU?event=1464385444492873984](https://discord.gg/2KEmENAgvU?event=1464385444492873984) (Once you've arrived in that [London Futurists Discord](https://discord.gg/4cVCjdDqSr), take a moment to read the #read-this-first channel. And then join the discussions in the forums there.)

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 14th February 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.

The first session of Menus of Conversation in 2026 will be on Thursday 12th February from 7pm onwards. We will be in the bar section on the ground floor - when you arrive, if you are trying to figure out where exactly we are in the venue, just keep an eye out for the people enjoying themselves! I have started drawing event posters and will draw another poster for next month. I would love it if you would be so kind as to check them out now on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ **Price** The event is a pay what you can event. You can tip whatever you think has been a fair price for your event experience. The suggested tip is a minimum of £4-5. You can pay with cash or card on the night. PS, if you've been before, please take a minute to complete my survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZSZD88 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Conversation-104308482323373 **Event Description** This is a social event where people have the chance to have a one-to-one conversation with someone they may or may not have met before using a 'conversation menu' (picture attached). A conversation menu is a list of pre-written conversation starter questions which participants use to have a conversation by discussing the different questions. The questions are generally about some of life's big questions and lead to some interesting conversations about important, fundamental topics which we certainly don't get the opportunity to discuss every day. Some might consider our events to be 'small-talk free zones'. The event brings people together and invites people to discuss topics and answer questions they don't get to discuss on a daily basis, especially with people they don't know. The idea is that the more we talk about topics we don't normally talk about, to people we don't normally talk to in our habitual social circles, the more opportunities, connections and possibilities we create for ourselves. If we discuss different topics with different people, then we achieve different results. Testimonials for the events held so far include: 'For me it was a brilliant success and hopefully it will be for many others. It is a simple idea simply executed, asking people to pair up and discuss a number of questions on a list. And it works! Although I vaguely knew my partner, the questions allowed us time to touch on areas that I think we would have been otherwise unlikely to ever discuss e.g. which parts of your life have been a waste of time?' 'Surprisingly good and thoroughly worthwhile. Suggested questions excellent.' ‘I can heartily recommend coming along to a conversation event. The questions were really thought provoking and led to some fascinating conversations. I really enjoyed the evening and I came away with feeling I’d learned a lot from my conversation partner.” ‘I thought it was a very interesting meeting. I thought it was interesting to try to answer personal questions and listen to the other person.’

French for beginners Note : Tuition fees are only £10 per hour. You’re more than welcome to attend this French class for beginners if you are a complete beginner in French or your French is a bit rusty and would like to brush it up and learn more quickly. So , try to join us whenever you can to learn some useful French expressions and phrases each time we meet. We are going to try to learn new stuff In each lesson focusing on 4 skills: Speaking, grammar, phonetics and listening . I am a linguist and teacher of Modern Forgein languages and I love languages. One of the following topics will be covered thoroughly whenever we meet : 1- greetings , saying hello & goodbye. - Nice to meet you & reply - Asking someone’s name - Introducing yourself - Using numbers 0-10 - conjugation of verb ( être ) & (aller ) 2-Where are you from ? -giving your nationality -saying where you're from -saying what you do for a Living -using the numbers 11 to 20 - Conjugation of verb ( avoir ) -genders of countries and nationalities 3- Here is ..... -introducing friends and family -saying how old you are -talking about your family -Possessives ( my , your , his ..) 4-one tea , please. -ordering a drink in a café -offering, accepting or refusing a drink -asking the price of drinks -Numbers: 1- 39 progress check 5 - Where’s the post office ? asking where something is ... And how far it is -saying where you Live and work Il y une piscine ici? asking for a specific place ... And making simple enquiries understanding basic directions ... And asking for help to understand 7 Je voudrais une chambre : -saying which type of room you want ... And how Long you want it for booking a room and paying for it 8 -À quelle heure vous ouvrez? Understanding opening hours ... And making enquiries -enquiring about timetables -checking travel details 9-Je voudrais du fromage, -Buying food and drink ... And asking for more (or Less saying how much you need buying stamps and newspapers 10- Bon appétit ! enquiring about snacks reading a menu ordering a meal saying what you Like and don't Like

This Valentine’s Day, skip the small talk and build something together instead! 🥳 PLEASE, JOIN THE WAITING LIST TO BE APPROVED This is a special edition of our 2-hour vibe coding jam, sponsored by [Lovable](https://lovable.dev/), for singles and others who are open to meeting people in a low-pressure way. You don’t need to be a developer or have an idea. **You don’t even need to be single!** We’ll team up in **small groups**, and **use AI tools** to **build an app**, or **experiment**. No pitching yourself. No awkward speed-dating questions. Just make something together and see if the vibe arises! **Join our What'sApp Chat:** https://chat.whatsapp.com/BxLUpQMiXwo6d1vG7YSirT **New to vibe coding? ✨** No worries! We begin with a simple starter guide with example prompts and tips so even total beginners can dive in without stress. **Who it’s for** •⁠ ⁠Singles who’d rather build than swipe •⁠ ⁠People open to friends, collaborators, or more •⁠ ⁠Designers, GameDevs, Product folks, Artists, Sales, curious humans... •⁠ ⁠Anyone! **How it works 🚀** •⁠ ⁠Quick welcome + what “vibe coding” means •⁠ ⁠A Valentine-themed challenge •⁠ ⁠90 minutes of building with AI, chatting, helping, and experimenting •⁠ ⁠Switching up teams every so often, so you meet more people •⁠ ⁠Optional demos •⁠ ⁠Hangouts **Opt-in badges to signal your vibe** 💘 Open to dating 🌼 Open to friends 💻 Just here to build **What to bring:** * ID to verify that you are 18+ 🪪 * Laptop! 💻 * Vibes ⚡ **What you’ll leave with** •⁠ ⁠A funky project you made in one evening •⁠ ⁠New friends •⁠ ⁠Possibly a crush, but definitely a story **Location 📍** **Brewhouse & Kitchen Highbury** 2A Corsica St, N51JJ, London 👉 **No pressure, no gatekeeping.** Come solo, or as a couple. Leave with something built, and maybe someone to build with again! 🔞 This event is strictly for people who are 18+. We may ask to see your ID if you look younger, in which case you may be denied entry.

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.

**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)

Friday Night French Conversation Hour Bonjour tout le monde! (English Below) Je vous propose une soirée, ce vendredi qui vient, à l'hôtel Junto à Columbus. 19hr. 13 Vendredi 2026. C'est très bien située avec de l'espace extérieur et intérieur, un feu, un café (cafe se ferme à 19h; arrivez tot si ca vous interesse), un resto, et un bar. Le parking est payé est juste en face au musée des sciences COSI. Il y'en a aussi dans les rues mais un peu plus loin. Vous n'êtes pas obligé d'acheter quelque chose, car l'ensemble de l'espace c'est vraiment un grand lobby et de l'hôtel, mais c'est cool. J'ai parlé avec le management et ils sont ravis de nous accueillir, mais il n'y a pas de place particulière réservé pour nous. Ce sera à partir de 19h jusqu'à ? Moi, je suis Brandon. J'aimerais que ce soit un évènement mensuel et si l'espace ne vous convient pas, on peut discuter d'autres options. Je vais porter une casquette bleue et blanche qui dit "Québec." Venez nombreux! A tres bientot \-\-\-\- Hello everyone! It’s been a long time since we’ve had a Friday night French meetup. I suggest that we meet at the Junto Hotel in Columbus this coming Friday, 13 February 2026 at 7PM. There’s a great spot with both outdoor and indoor areas, a café (which closes at 7 p.m., come a bit early if that interests you), a restaurant, and a bar. Parking is paid and is located right across from the science museum called COSI. There is additional free and paid street parking around at varying distances. It’s a bit expensive, but you don’t have to buy anything since the area is really just a large hotel lobby. It's nice though. I spoke with management, and they’re happy to welcome us, though there’s no specific space reserved just for us. It’ll start at 7 p.m. and go until whenever. I’d like this to become a monthly event, and if this space doesn’t suit us well, we can discuss other options. Speaking and understanding French well is ideal but there may be learners there as well. I’m Brandon. I’ll be wearing a blue and white cap that says “Québec.” Come find us.

**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 **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBA

**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.

### Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers The generative AI revolution has unlocked unprecedented capabilities, but the next frontier is agency: empowering models to interact with, query, and act upon the world. The current challenge is the “N x M integration problem,” where every AI model requires a custom, brittle integration for each external tool or data source. This approach simply doesn’t scale. How can we give an AI access to our sales leads, code repositories, or IoT devices in a standardized, secure, and reusable way? This session introduces Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), the open-source framework designed to solve this challenge and become the universal connector—the USB-C port—for AI. MCP standardizes how AI models discover and use external tools, moving beyond simple function-calling to a robust, client-server architecture. We will dive into how this open protocol is creating a new ecosystem for building powerful, context-aware AI agents. Join this session for a developer-focused introduction where you will learn how to: Understand the core concepts of the open-source Model Context Protocol and its architecture. Utilize pre-built, open-source MCP servers to instantly connect AI to tools like Git, Slack, and databases. Build a custom MCP server to securely expose your own proprietary data and APIs as tools for any compliant AI. Move beyond bespoke integrations and contribute to a standardized, collaborative, and open ecosystem. Stop building one-off connectors and start building intelligent agents. This session will give you the practical knowledge to leverage MCP and create the next generation of AI that doesn’t just talk, but does. Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! [https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/](https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/)