Information Science

Franjo Kmet – Profesionalni planinski i gorski vodič Osnivač i voditelj brenda **Mountain Fit** – programa usmjerenog na planinarenje, alpinizam i outdoor aktivnosti. Voditelj planinarskih škola, visokogorskih tečajeva, ledenjačkih i sportsko-penjačkih programa. Strastveni prenositelj znanja i iskustava iz planinarenja i alpinizma. Organizator i vodič uspona, trekinga, ekspedicija i planinarskih izleta diljem svijeta – od Alpa do Himalaje i Patagonije. Planine su prirodni "terapeut" koji djeluje na više razina – od fiziologije (endorphini, serotonin) do egzistencijalne promjene. Najmoćniji efekt često dolazi upravo kroz smanjenje ega – kad ego prestane biti glavni lik priče, um postaje tiši, otvoreniji i sretniji. Teme LevelUp Meetup-a: **Smanjenje stresa i anksioznosti** Planine pružaju tišinu, ritmično hodanje i fokus na svaki korak – to brzo prekida krug briga i pretjeranog razmišljanja. * **Povećanje osjećaja prisutnosti i mindfulnessa** Hodanje po stazi, disanje na većoj visini, promatranje oblaka ili slušanja vjetra prirodno nas uvodi u „ovdje i sada“, smanjujući mentalni šum i preopterećenost mislima. * **Doživljaj strahopoštovanja i šire perspektive** Pogled s vrha, ogromnost planina i beskrajno nebo izazivaju duboki osjećaj strahopoštovanja. * **Povećanje samopouzdanja i osjećaja postignuća** Svaki uspješan uspon, savladavanje tehničkog dijela ili dolazak na vrh gradi unutarnju snagu i samopoštovanje. * **Povećana povezanost s prirodom i osjećaj smisla života** Boravak u planinama jača osjećaj da smo dio prirode. Napredak je nemoguć bez promjene, i oni koji ne mogu promijeniti svoj um ne mogu promijeniti ništa! 📍 Pivana, Ilica 222, Zagreb 🗓 11.02.2026. u 18:00 h Organizator: Međunarodni institut za emocionalnu zrelost – zajednica poduzetnika, stručnjaka i znanstvenika posvećenih razvoju pojedinaca i društva.🌐 http://emotionalmaturity.eu

Ciao! L'appuntamento di **febbraio** è per **mercoledì 11 alle 19** con un altro interessante talk in presenza, sempre al [Politecnico di Milano](https://www.google.com/maps/place/45%C2%B028'41.3%22N+9%C2%B013'43.6%22E/@45.478127,9.228763,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d45.478127!4d9.228763?entry=ttu)! Questo mese lo speaker sarà **Cesare Capobianco**, con il talk **Dal sito al sistema: come estendere WordPress con CRM, preventivi, portali e fatture (senza litigare col commercialista)** Abstract Costruiamo ottimi siti WordPress. Ma spesso il sito è solo una piccola parte dell’ecosistema digitale di una PMI. Vendite, preventivi, fatturazione, assistenza clienti e follow-up vivono altrove, in modo frammentato e poco efficiente. Questo talk parte da una domanda concreta: come possiamo estendere il nostro ruolo da “chi fa il sito” a consulenti del sistema digitale dell’azienda, aumentando il valore percepito e la sostenibilità economica del nostro lavoro? L’incontro è pratico e orientato alla strategia, non solo al codice. Vedremo come usare WordPress come punto di ingresso di un sistema aziendale più ampio e coerente, collegandolo a CRM, gestionali, strumenti di marketing, AI chat e helpdesk. In particolare parleremo di: come individuare le applicazioni aziendali che devono dialogare con il sito e come trasformare queste esigenze in consulenza e integrazione, non solo ore di sviluppo; come strutturare proposte semplici da vendere ma percepite come realmente convenienti, capaci di generare fiducia, referenze e nuove opportunità; come affrontare il tema delicato delle fatture elettroniche e dell’integrazione contabile, producendo dati corretti dal sito senza sostituire (né scontentare) il commercialista; come scegliere consapevolmente tra plugin WordPress, piattaforme di integrazione low-code (Make, Zapier) e soluzioni open source modulari come Odoo, anche con il supporto dell’AI per prototipi e demo rapide. Obiettivo Fornire una mappa concreta per ampliare i propri servizi WordPress e competere nel ruolo di consulente per il business digitale, restando nell’open source e con costi controllati \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Saremo in diretta streaming** Non puoi partecipare di persona? Noi non ti giudicheremo! :) Se vuoi, puoi seguirci anche in diretta streaming su YouTube. Il link sarà visibile solo una volta che avrai fatto la tua iscrizione all'evento. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **I prossimi appuntamenti della community WordPress** **Checkout Summit** La prima conferenza indipendente dal vivo per i professionisti di WooCommerce. 23-24 aprile a Palermo https://checkoutsummit.com/ **WordCamp Torino** 8-9 maggio a Torino https://torino.wordcamp.org/2026/ **WordCamp Europe** 4-6 giugno a Cracovia https://europe.wordcamp.org/2026/ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **In breve, ecco come sarà organizzata la serata:** 19:00 Benvenuto + networking 19:20 Presentazione (di circa 50 minuti) 20:10 Domande e risposte 20:30 Fine; Chi vuole può continuare il networking in un bar o pizzeria vicino al luogo dell’evento. All’inizio dell’incontro faremo il conteggio per prenotare: per non creare disguidi conferma la presenza solo se sei sicuro di venire. Networking significa che ci sarà tempo per chiacchierare con chi partecipa e fare amicizia. Potresti trovare una persona interessante, un futuro cliente, un futuro fornitore o un nuovo partner di lavoro, chi può dirlo? Non riesci a venire, o devi dare la tua disdetta? Nessun rancore, sarà per la prossima. Ti chiediamo solo di farci sapere 24 ore prima così - liberiamo il tuo posto per altre persone. **Vuoi essere speaker?** Beh, nulla di più facile: **Compila il modulo [cliccando qui](https://wpmilano.org/speaker-form/)**. Ti risponderemo per fornirti tutti i dettagli. Ci vediamo lì! 😉

Fortlaufend werden auf WordPress-Websites von Bots automatische „Brute Force Attacken” ausgeübt. Mit einer Serie ziemlich fieser Bot-Attacken wird die WP-Website nachhaltig auf Schwachstellen abgeklopft. Ziel ist das System zu übernehmen, andere Inhalte auf der Website zu platzieren oder sogar Schadsoftware zu installieren. In diesem Talk tauchen wir in die Welt der digitalen Sicherheit ein und schauen uns an, welche Strategien wirklich helfen können, WordPress-Websites widerstandsfähiger zu machen — und welche beliebten „Tricks” in Wahrheit kaum Schutz bieten. Anhand praxisnaher Beispiele zeigt Bernhard Kau, wo sich der Einsatz lohnt und wo man besser die Finger davon lässt. Es schließt sich eine offenen Diskussion an. [Bernhard Kau](https://kau-boys.de/) ↗ ist PHP- und Webentwickler und Mitorganisator des [WordPress Meetup Berlin](https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/berlin-wordpress-meetup/) ↗ **ACHTUNG: Das Treffen findet komlett online via ZOOM statt, da wir dieses mal für uns Dresdner keinen Raum bekamen.** **Zur Teilnahme ist eine Anmeldung unbedint erforderlich.** Alle dürfen bei unseren [WordPress-Meetups](https://wpdrs.de/) ↗ kostenfrei teilnehmen, unabhängig von den Vorkenntnissen, der Ausbildung, dem wirtschaftlichem oder finanziellem Hintergrund oder aus irgendwelchen anderen Kriterien. ... TREFFPUNKT: [Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden (SLUB)](https://www.slub-dresden.de/) ↗ Zellescher Weg 18 01069 Dresden ➡️ Gruppenraum 0.46 (in der Ebene 0); siehe [3D-Gebäudeplan](https://3d.slub-dresden.de/viewer?p=3&b=5&f=11&c=8939&l=3003&lang=de) ↗ (Der zutreffende Gruppenraum für unseren Treff in der SLUB wird hier noch rechtzeitig vorher bekanntgegeben.) ... EINSCHRÄNKUNG: Max. 12 Personen ... HINWEISE Die Teilnahme an unserem WordPress-Meetup ist kostenlos. Es gelten hierbei unsere [Regeln](https://wpdrs.de/ueber-uns/regeln/) ↗ ... CODE OF CONDUCT Als WordPress Meetup verpflichten wir uns den Code of Conduct (sprich: unsere "Verhaltensregeln") einzuhalten. [Diese findest du hier](https://wpdrs.de/ueber-uns/regeln/verhaltenskodex/) ↗. ... VERWEISE • [Unsere Webseite](https://wpdrs.de/) ↗ • [Wir bei Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wordpress-meetup-dresden/) ↗ • [Wir bei Mastodon](https://mastodon.social/@wpdrs) ↗ • [Nützliche Links](https://wpdrs.de/linksammlung/) ↗

Hi everyone! Join us for the RubyZG February. We'll hear about building a query builder with AI and what is like to work at a company where Ruby On Rails itself was created. This event is hosted by [DECODE](https://decode.agency/about-us/) who will be providing snacks and refreshments after the formal part of the meetup. Btw. they are hiring, so be sure to check [their open positions](https://decode.agency/open-positions/). For those coming by car, there is no dedicated parking but there should be plenty of parking at that time in the street in front of the building. See you at DECODE! \*\*\* How to use AI agents to build query builder by [Lovro Žmak](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovro-zmak-22706253/) Does code generation with AI agents always help or is it better to manually write it sometimes ? How does Arel fit into the story and how did it influence the code design decisions ? This talk will bring you the story of building a query builder with AI agents, from initial wrong directions to the final solution. Through practical examples and live demos, you will receive guidelines on how to use AI agents to generate usable and sustainable code. **Working at 37signals: The birthplace of Ruby On Rails** by [Stanko Krtalić Rusendić](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanko-krtalic/) Last July Stanko started working at [37signals](https://37signals.com/), the company behind Basecamp, Hey & Fizzy and the place from which the very first version or Ruby On Rails was extracted back in 2004. It's still the company with the largest influence on the direction of Rails development with major contributions like ActiveStorage, SolidQueue, Turbo & Stimulus. We'll hear how the company works and what it's like to work there.

Where locals, expats & travellers turn Thursday into Small Friday. Hey everyone! Whether you’ve just landed in Zagreb, been here a while, or live right around the corner, **Small Friday International Zagreb** (**[SFIZ.FUN](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb)**) is your go-to for winter evenings, language swapping, and good times with great people. 📍 **Where?** The Beertija, Pavla Hatza 16 🕗 **When?** Thursdays, every other week from 8PM ✨ Free to join, just grab a drink and support the bar’s rockin’ vibe 🍺🎸 ✨ Open to all, all ages, all vibes, all language levels welcome 💬 **What to expect?** 🗣️ **Language Exchange:** English, Croatian, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Ukrainian, Russian… you name it 💬🌐 🌍 **Cultural Vibes:** Locals, expats, travellers, Erasmus students . . . sharing tips, stories & laughs 🎭✨ 🤝 **New Connections:** Real convos, real mates, winter evenings to remember 🤗 🍷 **Weekend Planners:** From concerts, winter sports, partying to fests and day trips, let’s plot our winter adventures 🎶❄️🏔️ 🌟 **Why now?** 🎭 Winter is when Zagreb slows. The days are cold and sometimes snowy, the city quieter, more reflective. It’s the season for winter walks, museums and cinemas, snow-dusted hikes on Sljeme, and simple pleasures like warm food and long conversations indoors.🌍💖💬 Zagreb is unusual in that winter can mean a mini ski break close to home. Sljeme offers easy slopes for beginners and casual skiers, without crowds or queues. Ice skating adds to the rhythm, outdoors at Šalata or indoors at Velesajam and the Admiral Ice Dome. ⛸️🎿 And the best way to share it? At **[SFIZ.FUN](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb)**. Our meetups are where plans get made, tips get swapped, and crews form to explore Zagreb together. 🌍💖 🍺 **Why The Beertija?** Because it’s that place everyone ends up wishing they’d gone to 😏✨ Warm beer cellar vibes 🍻🔥, cosy living-room energy 🛋️☕, 🚭 non-smoking inside (happy clothes, happy lungs 😌), plus a covered outdoor patio for quick smoke breaks 🚬😉. Skip it, and you’ll hear about it later 👀💬 💡 Top tip: Turn up early, smile, catch someone’s eye, and dive into conversation, that’s how the magic starts 😉💫 No pressure, just rock up and join the crew. 💖 Let’s ditch the screen, grab a drink, and meet the world! See you soon, **SFIZ Crew** P.S. Spread the word https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb 🔎 **How to Spot Us** New here? Best trick is to swing by right at the start, that’s when it’s easiest to find the crew and jump straight in, or ask the bar staff about the event ✨ Need quick updates or can’t see us straight away? No worries, our [WhatsApp group](https://sites.google.com/view/smallfridayinternationalzagreb/faq/sfiz-whatsapp-guide-keeping-it-fun-and-respectful) is where you can ask quick questions. 💖 #ZagrebGlobalMingle 💖

**Autogenic training** is a method that, by directing attention to specific parts of the body and entering a state of deep relaxation, reconnects the brain with the body. By establishing communication between the brain and physical organs and body parts, we can positively influence our overall health. The **RDD Club** is organizing an **Autogenic Training session in Zagreb**, Maksimir, held in the hall at **Ružmarinka 15** (ground floor of the building). The training will take place on **February 13 and February 20, 2026**, both dates being **Fridays at 6:30 PM**. The session on **February 20** will be held as a **dual-language session**, in **Croatian and English**, so participants who do not understand Croatian are also welcome. **No prior registration is required.** The donation is **€15**.

Pojďme se pravidelně potkávat a sdílet zkušenosti z Power Platformy, co nás na ní baví, co nás trápí a co nového zajímavého přichází. A pokud už nám to někde reálně běží, pochlubme se, jak to funguje nebo nefunguje. Témata jsou primárně Power Automate, Power Apps, Power Pages, Power BI, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365 a Dataverse. Budeme rádi i za méně pokročilé příspěvky, protože většinou jsme velmi hluboko v technických detailech. **Lokalita:** Fyzicky v Microsoftu v Praze Vyskočilova 1561/4a, Praha 4, 140 00 Místnost Morava Případně online na [https://ppug.community/stream](https://ppug.community/stream) **Jazyk:** čeština **Agenda:** [https://ppug.community/agenda](https://ppug.community/agenda) **Přihlašte vlastní příspěvek:** [https://ppug.community/sessions](https://ppug.community/sessions) **Link na stream:** [https://ppug.community/stream](https://ppug.community/stream) **Občerstvení:** Bagety **Úroveň:** 100-300 Tak si prosím naplánujte čas ve svých kalendářích a přijďte, pokud bude chuť a čas, tak si po meetupu určitě můžeme sednout na pivo.

**ToWork è una micro-community che ogni settimana organizza dopo lavoro informali tra LAVORATORI DIGITALI, FREELANCE, CREATIVI E REMOTE WORKERS.** **Ad ogni incontro ti sentirai parte di un gruppo e farai nuove interessanti amicizie partendo dal tuo lavoro.** Ti sentirai subito tra amici, garantito! ⚠️*PER PARTECIPARE È FONDAMENTALE REGISTRARSI AL LINK QUI SOTTO.* **La location la scoprirai SOLO DOPO LA REGISTRAZIONE.👇🏻** [CLICCA QUI PER REGISTRARTI](https://luma.com/e6u1nmr7)

Hallo liebe Java User Group Mitglieder! Im ersten Meetup des Jahres geht es mit Felix Tensing um das Thema Bottom-Up-Tests. Wir freuen uns euch zu sehen (virtuell oder vor Ort). Dank an [BRANDAD](https://brandad-solutions.de/) für Location, Bier und Pizza! \-\-\- Frühes Testen in der Softwareentwicklung gilt längst als bewährte Praxis – dennoch verlassen sich viele Entwickler:innen weiterhin auf „den Tester“, um ihre Arbeit zu prüfen. Entwicklung und Test laufen getrennt, Feedbackschleifen verlängern sich und es entstehen Wissenssilos. Die Folge: Fehler werden spät entdeckt, Korrekturen teurer und das gemeinsame Verständnis für Anforderungen und Nutzer:innen bleibt lückenhaft. Exploratives Testen bietet hier eine einfache und wirkungsvolle Lösung. In selbstorganisierten Sessions können Teams ohne Vorwissen unmittelbar starten. Test-Chartas geben Orientierung, ohne die kreative Erkundung einzuschränken. Schon kurze, fokussierte Sessions liefern wertvolles Feedback, decken blinde Flecken auf und fördern den Wissensaustausch im Team. So profitiert das ganze Team vom Knowledge-Aufbau – sei es fachliches Wissen, Testmethoden oder Aspekte wie Barrierefreiheit. Der Vortrag zeigt praxisnah, wie Entwickler:innen exploratives Testen bottom-up einführen können – auch ohne offizielles „Go“ von oben. Anhand von Beispielen, konkreten Anleitungen und leicht übertragbaren Formaten erhalten Teilnehmende einen Hands-on-Einstieg, mit dem sie sofort beginnen und profitieren können. Exploratives Testen zeigt sofort Wirkung – wenn ihr es einfach ausprobiert. \-\-\- Dein Vortrag bei der Java Usergroup Nürnberg! Hast du dich in letzter Zeit in deinem Projekt oder privat mit einem interessanten Thema beschäftigt? Vermutlich ist das nicht nur für dich selbst interessant! Hast du Lust, selber einmal einen Vortrag bei der Java-Usergroup Nürnberg zu halten? Wir sind nicht nur auf Java-Themen fokussiert, sondern beschäftigen uns gern mit und um alles über Software Entwicklung und IT. Wir wollen bei der JUG nicht nur bekannten Speaker\*innen eine Plattform geben und die neuesten State-of-the-Art Technologien vorstellen. Wir freuen uns auch besonders, wenn wir Themen aus unserem technologischen (Arbeits-)alltag Raum geben zu können. Melde dich gerne bei uns, wenn du dazu Lust hast, wir geben wenn gewünscht gerne auch Hilfestellung bei der Vorbereitung!

## (Lesson 2) ## What to expect Project Equilibrium is an in-person introduction to disciplined, rule-based trading automation. This first event is designed to be clear, practical, and approachable no hype, no pressure, and no prior technical background required. ### Why we meet (two-session structure) This meetup is structured as **two lessons**: **Lesson 1 — The “Why” (mindset + framework)** * What Project Equilibrium is (and what it is not) * Why we focus on process, rules, and execution discipline * What “24/7 execution” means in practice * Q&A and open discussion **Lesson 2 — The “How” (step-by-step setup)** * A simple walkthrough of the basic tools you need * Step-by-step guidance to install and prepare the required exchange apps/accounts * A clear checklist to be ready for future sessions (You won’t be left alone—everything is explained calmly and in order.) ### What to bring To make the second lesson smooth, please bring: * **A smartphone** (for authentication and exchange app setup) * **A laptop** (for the setup steps and configuration) If you only have one device, you can still join Lesson 1. The setup lesson is simply easier with both. ### Who this is for * People curious about algorithmic execution and portfolio discipline * Beginners who want a structured approach * Experienced traders who want more consistency and less stress ### Agenda * Welcome + introductions * Lesson focus of the day (Why / How) * Guided walkthrough (where applicable) * Q&A + next steps ### How to find the group * Arrive a few minutes early and look for the **Project Equilibrium** group. * I will be there to welcome attendees if you’re unsure, simply ask the venue staff for the Meetup group name.

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/)