Rationality and Reasoning

Hello and welcome to our special joint meetup between **Cloud Platform Engineering London**, **Cloud Platform Engineering Leaders**, **Data & AI Leaders**, **AWS AI UG**, **Azure AI UG**, and **GCP London**. This crossover event brings together platform engineers, cloud architects, data and AI leaders, SREs, engineering managers, technology executives, and practitioners exploring how AI is reshaping modern cloud platforms, developer workflows, business transformation, and enterprise engineering. This is a special **Community Stack ecosystem event**, bringing together several of our cloud, platform, and data-focused communities for an evening of practical talks, senior technical discussion, and cross-community networking. A huge thank you to **[Arrows](https://www.arrowsgroup.com/)** for hosting and sponsoring this event, and for supporting the growth of the cloud, platform engineering, data, and AI community in London. Speakers and sessions: **Get a High Return-on-Investment from AI Business Transformation** **Nora Balla, Founder and AI Business Transformation Lead, Add Velocity** Nora Balla is the founder of Add Velocity, an AI-native business transformation and implementation consultancy. Nora has gained extensive experience across investment products, business transformation, finance operations, and regulated asset and wealth management environments. Previously a freelancer, she now operates in a collaborative delivery model, helping organisations scale AI and automation solutions in complex business settings. Her experience includes finance transformation at Harley-Davidson, reporting process improvements in commercial real estate funds, and supporting the Aladdin implementation at Royal London Asset Management. In this session, Nora will explore how organisations can achieve a stronger return on investment from AI business transformation. The talk will cover the opportunities and high-value use cases, the real risks organisations need to manage, the skills required for the agentic era, how to define and measure success, and practical tips for improving efficiency when working with AI systems. **Agents in the Fastlane** **Ryan Cormack, Principal Engineer, Motorway** **Luke Marrai, Engineering Manager, Motorway** Motorway has used traditional AI and machine learning for years to enhance and improve its systems. But how can those years of learning be applied to build the next generation of agentic systems for users? In this session, Ryan Cormack and Luke Marrai from Motorway will explore how they are enhancing the functionality of Motorway’s platform to provide more accurate search results for dealers looking to acquire stock through the online marketplace. The talk will cover how Motorway is using **AWS AgentCore** to run its agentic systems, and how evals are being used to ensure the system performs as expected. Ryan Cormack is a Principal Engineer at Motorway, the UK’s leading used car marketplace, where he leads technical strategy and drives AI-powered transformation across the engineering organisation. With over 14 years of experience building and scaling systems on AWS, Ryan specialises in turning architectural best practices into practical engineering outcomes, from cloud modernisation programmes to the adoption of agentic workflows and AI-native developer tooling. Luke Marrai is an Engineering Manager at Motorway, supporting engineering delivery and helping teams build effective, scalable technology for one of the UK’s leading automotive technology platforms. Agenda: **18:00** — Arrival, refreshments and networking **18:30** — Welcome and introduction **18:35** — Get a High Return-on-Investment from AI Business Transformation — Nora Balla **19:00** — Break and networking **19:20** — Agents in the Fastlane — Ryan Cormack and Luke Marrai **20:00** — Networking **20:45** — Close **Join us on June 11th:** We are also hosting the **Cloud Native & Open Source AI Conference** on **June 11th in London**, bringing together a fantastic line-up of speakers across AI, cloud-native, open-source, platform engineering, leadership, and modern infrastructure. You can view the full speaker line-up and event details **[here](https://www.communitystack.io/conferences/cloud-native-london)** **About the communities:** This event is jointly hosted across **Cloud Platform Engineering London**, **Cloud Platform Engineering Leaders**, **Data & AI Leaders**, **AWS AI UG**, **Azure AI UG**, and **GCP London**. Together, these communities form part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)**, bringing together technical practitioners, leaders, partners, and organisations across cloud, platform engineering, data, AI, and open technology. We are always keen to hear from speakers, hosts, sponsors, and community partners. If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please reach out to **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)** via LinkedIn. This event follows the **[Community Stack Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct)** and **[Privacy Policy](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy)**, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees.

**Hi everyone** **WELCOME TO LATIN KRAZY THURSDAYS MEETUP EVENT** **Now** **DOWNSTAIRS** **@ SWAY BAR ,** **EACH THURSDAY FROM 7PM YOU CAN GRAB A BOOTH TO MEETUP BEFORE AND AFTER CLASSES TO CHAT AND MAKE FRIENDS** **( please bring photo ID for club entry )** **FREE ENTRY TIL 9PM** **WE HAVE SALSA AND BACHATA CLASSES FOR JUST** **£8.00 1 CLASS OR £10.00 X 2 CLASSES** **A DISCOUNTED PRICE FOR MEMBERS** **THURSDAY NIGHT DANCE CLASSES TIMETABLE** **7.30pm – 8.30pm** **SALSA ROOM x 3 levels = Beginners / Improver and Cali** **BACHATA ROOM =** **Bachata with Brandy - General Level** **8.30pm – 9.30pm** **SALSA ROOM = x 3 levels = Beginners 2 / Improver 2 and Cali Style** **BACHATA with Brandy** **General levels both hours** **Teachers** **SALSA = Karin ,Nadeem, Leo** **Bachata = Brandy** **Come and buy your ticket on the night, no need for a partner,** **no need to have danced before.** **£10.00 1 hour /£12.00 2 hours )** **£8.00 /10.00 students and NHS workers. ( must show I.D)** **INCLUDES CLUB NIGHT !** **PLUS Club night to follow, hosted by Miss Latin K and** **TOP UK DJ playing all the best in Salsa , Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton and More** **Plus Bachata from Dominican Republic in our very own Bachata Room** **with Dj De La Cruz** **It's a party night every week.. Latin Krazy the hottest night in the UK.** **Dress Code Smart casual , no baseball caps,** **LOOK OUT FOR THE SHOWS, COMPETITIONS AND MORE** **UK'S NO 1 SALSA / LATIN NIGHT.** **Salsa dancing in London UK.**

AI assistants are getting more capable. The question is how we build effective workflows around them. At DevDay London, [Lucy Joyce](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-joyce-597485166/), [Ash Shakrani](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-shakrani/) and [Arun Kurian](https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-mathew-kurian-39b8aa5a/) will explore harness engineering through the lens of a payment integration. From requirements and design through to implementation, they’ll demonstrate why context alone isn’t enough for successful AI-assisted development. Drawing on real-world experience, they’ll show how engineering harnesses, reusable context, standards, and validation workflows help teams move beyond experimentation and build reliable, scalable AI-assisted development practices. **This session will unpack:** 🎯 Why “more context” isn’t the answer on its own 🎯 What engineering harnesses are and how they create reliable feedback loops 🎯 How standards, workflows, and validation reduce AI-generated rework and technical debt 🎯 Practical techniques teams can adopt immediately to improve AI outcomes 🗓️ **Save the Date:** 2nd July, 2026 📍 **Location:** Sahaj Software, 1 Quality Court, London, WC2A 1HR 🕕 **Time:** 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (BST) The evening will feature: 🎤 **One engaging talk** with Q&A 🤝 **Plenty of time for networking** over free pizza and non-alcoholic drinks Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and share with fellow tech enthusiasts. 👉 Please click the link below to register. https://sahaj.ai/events/harness-engineering-in-practice-from-requirements-to-implementation/

**🔥 Join the Drumming Revolution! – Samba Fusion in East London! 🥁🎶** Want to try something new? Do something creative, fun and sociable with a friendly group of people? Drumming is great for physical and mental health, wellbeing and making new friends. Our inclusive and friendly Samba band welcomes everyone—whether you're a seasoned percussionist or have never touched a drum before. No experience? No problem! We provide all the instruments and will have you grooving in no time. Feel the rhythm, meet great people, and be part of an electrifying sound that moves the streets. Just bring your enthusiasm—we’ll bring the drums! Ready to make some noise? See you there! 🔥🎶 Sambattalion is an established East London based Samba Fusion Band. We have been going for over ten years and use meetup as one way to recruit new members. We play gigs in and around London and beyond. Please bring ear plugs / ear protectors. We have some but if you can please bring your own - and wear them. We are very loud! No experience required. We practice every Thursday, 7.00pm-10.00pm (with a 30 minute break) It is £5 per session (your first session is FREE). Cash only please - pay on the day. We are entirely not-for-profit.

Here is a recap of how the Club works: 1\. We meet every six weeks or so in or near the National Theatre\. 2\. We vote in advance and pick two articles from a short list to read before we meet\. Usually one relates to politics/current affairs and the other to history\, culture or science\. 3\. We talk about each one for around half an hour and the beauty of Article Club is that we can think more deeply about the broader themes of a topic\, and how well the article gets to grips with them\. 4\. We each give a score out of 10 for the articles that have been discussed\. 5\. We set the date for the next Article Club and sometimes adjourn to the pub\. I will post in the comments a Google form that you can use to vote for the articles you would like to read and discuss at this event. The point of Article Club is to challenge ourselves to read a diverse range of articles, share them with like-minded people and deal with our anxiety that we aren't reading books. Article Club was set up by Ross Bailey in 2015 who did a fantastic job at running it. Ross was followed by the equally fantastic Claire Ferraro and I (Alistair Baker) have been in the chair for the past eight years. OUR NEXT MEETUP: ARTICLE CLUB #77 Thursday 2nd July 2026 - 7:30pm to around 9:15pm. We sit on the soft round seats in the Lyttelton Theatre bar on the first floor.

[https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86445824652?pwd=OxfsaRDVWwnpPRRHoYURI1V0ZZRadR.1](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86445824652?pwd=OxfsaRDVWwnpPRRHoYURI1V0ZZRadR.1) Uncover the most common traps keeping you stuck, turn self-sabotage into clarity, define your #1 goal & sharpen it with real accountability. **Do you feel like you’re working hard but not really moving forward with your dream?** Whether it’s **building a business alongside your 9–5, taking the next big step in your career, or simply creating more balance and well-being** — something keeps holding you back. You’re not lazy. You’re stuck in hidden traps that almost every ambitious person falls into. That’s exactly what this **2-hour online workshop** is about. Johanna (*founder of Beyond Beginner with nearly 1,000 members, and known as the Queen of Accountability*) will reveal the **3 real reasons you’re stuck** and guide you through practical exercises to break free. You’ll **define your #1 goal**, test it in a **live “Goal Roast”**, and leave with an **action plan + accountability** that actually sticks.

**Please register on [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ljc-meetup-at-neo4j-smarter-search-with-spring-ai-and-neo4j-tickets-1991379537804) to join this event.** **About this event** We're excited to invite you to our next Meetup, co-hosted with neo4j! Join the London Java Community for an evening of technical talks, networking, and knowledge sharing hosted by Neo4j. This month’s meetup explores two of the hottest areas in modern software development: integrating Generative AI into Java applications and deploying Machine Learning models within Java ecosystems. Whether you’re a Java developer, architect, data engineer, or simply curious about the latest innovations shaping our industry, this session will provide practical insights and real-world examples from experienced practitioners. **SPEAKER 1** **Akmal Chaudhri**, Neo4j Title: Smarter Search with Spring AI and Neo4j Abstract: In this session, we'll walk through a Spring Boot app that integrates Spring AI with Spring Data Neo4j to build intelligent search over real Goodreads book data. We'll cover how to set up a Neo4j vector store, generate embeddings via OpenAI and expose results through a REST API. We'll also explore how graph search and vector search work together and what it takes to configure and connect these pieces in a Spring application. If you've been wondering how to bring GenAI capabilities into your existing Spring stack, this talk offers a practical, code-first look at how it all fits together. Bio: Akmal is a technical leader and evangelist with extensive experience across databases, AI and developer enablement. Specialised in technical writing, education and community strategy, he has a proven ability to translate complex technology into clear, engaging narratives that inspire learning and adoption. He is a regular international speaker, published author and contributor to thought leadership in data systems, AI and developer education. **SPEAKER 2** **Matt Scott**, CTO, Nimbus Pay & **Alex Callinan**, Data Scientist, Nimbus Pay Title: Integrating Machine Learning models with Java Abstract: This presentation walks Java developers through the full journey of integrating machine learning into their applications. It then weighs up the pros and cons of two practical deployment paths. Matt Scott bio: Matt is a cloud-native architect and fintech leader with over twenty years building secure, scalable payment platforms, including containerized JVM-based systems. As CTO of NimbusPay Technologies, he designs cloud-agnostic card issuing solutions, with deep expertise in Java architecture, distributed systems, and DevSecOps. Alex Callinan bio: Alex is a Data Scientist at NimbusPay Technologies, where he builds and ships machine learning models into production. He's passionate about bridging the gap between trained models and the real-world applications that put them to work. This event is organised by RecWorks on behalf of the London Java Community. The London Java Community is sponsored by Hazelcast, Neo4j, Redis, and Discover

In this session we will read aloud some of the Tractatus Logico Philosoophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein, and discuss it. One of the most difficult books of philosophy ever written, it attempts in no more than 79 pages to set out the limits of language, knowlege and reality. Bertrand Russell described it as "an achievement of extraordinary difficulty and importance" and a work of "philosophical genius". No preparation or background knowledge required for the session. We will read together, share explanations where we can, and form our reactions. Gather in Highgate Library from 3.15, read and discuss 3.30 to 4.30. Optional socialising in the Boogaloo pub afterwards.

© Copyright Richard Sutcliffe **MEET:** Tea at 10.45 at Costa Coffee, 3 Millbrook Place, Mornington Cres, London NW1 2JA or ticket barriers Mornington Crescent station at 11.15 for the start of the walk. My number is **07815009191.** A Walk Around the St Pancras Quartier. St Pancras church, although it has been altered much has its roots in the 12th century. We'll see one of the first gyms in the country, but for Germans only. The burial ground torn down by Thomas Hardy for the Midland Railway. and the richest Victorian woman in England. Finally, of course the station itself in all its glory and the remarkable Midland Hotel with all mod cons when it was built, yet completely outmoded 50 years later. Find out why. Please pay £12 cash on the day or to my account sort 090128 acct 75471878. If you see the word 'Unpaid' by your name only you can see it. It means you have not paid through Meet up. No one else can see this; you have not been shamed as a debtor. My number is 07815009191.

**🏛️ 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. Please note that RSVP via the meetup app is mandatory, including for any people you bring along with you so we and the venue have headcount and know who is with us. 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: * 14:00-14.15 - Arrive, take a seat so there is 4-7 ppl per table. Shuffle around if you want to sit at a different table to meet new faces, and do your table introductions. This is also when I check people in on the Meetup app. RSVP for you and any guests is mandatory. * 14:15-14:20 - Once everyone has been checked in on the Meetup app, I will give a short explainer on what PPC is about, read the guidelines, introduce topic’s jump-off points. * 14:20-15:20 - Kick off with 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. * 15:20-15:30 - We typically take a group photo. 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, usually in the park with a board-game or we continue out discussions and hear what members on other tables discussed! **🧧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 of the conversation. * 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) 👈

In this event, we will discuss about a science or philosophy book chosen by London Science and Philosophy Book Club. The attendees will be divided into groups and each of them will focus on a chapter in the book. This month we will discuss about a fascinating book called Supersense: From Superstition to Religion by Bruce Hood. If you haven't read the book, it's no problem. I will bring you up to speed with the discussion materials. We will meet in a nice lounge area at 6 p.m for introductions. Please come on time so you will not miss out on valuable discussion midway. If you end up in the waitlist, feel free to show up. Book Description: Why is it that Tony Blair always wore the same pair of shoes when answering Prime Minister's Questions? That John McEnroe notoriously refused to step on the white lines of a tennis court between points? And that President-elect Barack Obama played a game of basketball the morning of his victory in the Iowa primary, and continued the tradition the day of every following primary? Superstitious habits are common. Do you ever cross your fingers, knock on wood, avoid walking under ladders, or step around black cats? Sentimental value often supersedes material worth. If someone offered to replace your childhood teddy bear or wedding ring with a brand new, exact replica, would you do it? How about £20 for trying on a jumper owned by Fred West? Where do such feelings come from and why do most of us have them? Humans are born with brains designed to make sense of the world and that need for an explanation can lead to beliefs that go beyond reason. To be true they would have to be supernatural. With scientific education we learn that such beliefs are irrational but at an intuitive level they can be resistant to reason or lie dormant in otherwise sensible adults. It now seems unlikely that any effort to get rid of supernatural beliefs or superstitious behaviours will be completely successful. This is not all bad news - such beliefs are a useful glue that binds us together as a society. Combining brilliant insight with witty example Hood weaves a page-turning account of our 'supersense' that navigates a path through brain science, child development, popular culture, mental illness and the paranormal. After reading SuperSense, you will realize why you are not as reasonable as you might like to think - and why that might be no bad thing. Agenda: 6 p.m to 7 p.m: Introduction and Socializing 7 p.m to 9:30 p.m: Book Discussion 9:30 p.m to late night: Drinks, Dinner or Feel free to go home

**In Person Seminar - The Destiny of Humanity and Human Beings in the Age of AI** **With Paul Levy** Why has Artificial Intelligence appeared so quickly in our world and what does it mean for us to be living in these times? With plenty of time for conversation and discussion Paul Levy will examine the opportunity presented to each and every one of us to meet the challenges of the age of digital technology and so-called "AI". Paul will draw upon current research, his own direct experience, and insights from Anthroposophy, ***Paul Levy is a writer, academic and author of several books including Technosophy, Digital Inferno and The Poetry of Change.*** All Welcome, No Need to Book, No Charge. This event will not be recorded. DONATIONS There is no charge for online or face to face events, except for Workshops involving extra cost. Voluntary donations towards our overheads are gratefully received and can be made either by Paypal or by Bank Transfer to a Nationwide account held for this purpose: PAYPAL: to SUE PEAT at suejoanpeat@gmail.com BANK TRANSFER: ACCOUNT NAME: ADRIAN HOTTEN ACCOUNT NO: 31466776 SORT CODE: 07-01-16 Many thanks.

When people know they are being watched, by governments, corporations, or even those closest to them, something shifts. They begin to self-censor, to soften their opinions, to avoid behaviors that might invite judgment. Gradually, the performance becomes the person. What starts as caution hardens into habit, and habit reshapes identity. Without privacy, people are not acting from genuine values or beliefs. They are playing to an audience they can never fully see. A society built on constant surveillance may appear orderly on the surface, but beneath that order lies something quieter and more corrosive: anxiety, conformity, and the slow erosion of the self. When we lose the ability to exist unobserved, we lose something essential about what it means to be free. Is privacy a right, or is it a luxury? Can you freely think if you know someone is watching? Would you trade your privacy for safety? Here is a video you may like: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7JWIhJG5Xw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7JWIhJG5Xw) *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:** The False Mirror 1929 by René Magritte

Take a whirlwind journey into the wondrous world of the fungal kingdom in this visually stunning book by interdisciplinary artist and biodesigner Kit Ondaatje Rolls. Discover fungi’s far-reaching impact on the fabric of life on Earth – and beyond – through mycology, folklore, art, and activities. More than peculiar organisms underfoot, fungi are catalysts of ecological, cultural and spiritual renewal across the globe. Entwining modern science and ancient wisdom – and ancient science and modern wisdom – this book digs deep into the mycological heart of life on Earth. Complemented by fascinating photography and art in many forms, this transformative book invites you to personally connect with the fungal world: Discover the close relationship between fungi and death, how decay becomes new life and the historical practices of midwives and witches who commune with fungi. Connect with the divine, with mushrooms as “light-filled herbs” which can cleanse, purify and elevate consciousness. Journey from soils to seas to skies: Learning how global networks and food webs are connected by fungi. Listen to the lessons mushrooms teach: From providing medicine and inspiration for many civilizations, to teaching us to embrace paradox and uncertainty. Interact with these fascinating organisms: Build a living psychedelic sanctuary; learn how to read a tree; create your own medicinal mushroom extracts and so much more! This volume features 30 short stories, each entangling the life of a human and a fungus, with each tale ending with a recipe or experiment from notable figures in the fungi community. Entangle yourself in the myth, madness, medicine and malaise of these creatures to deeper your connection with yourself, others, and the world around you.

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Most people use LLMs by feel: ask a question, read the answer, decide whether it “seems good,” and move on. That works for casual use. It does not work when you are building software, automating workflows, writing important documents, or relying on AI for anything that needs to be repeatable. In this talk, we’ll look at how to improve and evaluate the inputs and outputs of LLMs using practical measurement techniques. We’ll cover how prompt changes affect results, how to compare outputs, how to build simple evaluation sets, and how math-based methods like similarity scoring can help you move beyond guesswork. This will be beginner-friendly, so even if you don't know anything about AI, you should get something out of it. However, this will be a little more technical than our intro talks. You do not need to be an AI researcher, but programmers and technically curious attendees will get a lot out of it. We’ll cover: * Why “it looks good” is not enough * How to improve prompts by changing the input, context, and constraints * How to compare LLM outputs more systematically * Basic evaluation techniques for accuracy, consistency, and usefulness * How embeddings, cosine similarity, and scoring can help evaluate results * Where automated evaluation works — and where humans still need to stay in the loop By the end, you’ll have a practical mental model for treating LLMs less like magic and more like systems you can test, measure, and improve. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This presentation will be by Ben Iten, humanist chaplain and HCCO Board Member. Speaking on expressing Humanism values in American democracy. This meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online. The formal presentation will start at noon. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)

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