Net Neutrality

Join startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals in business, finance and tech for an **evening of business networking in the elegant Sycamore Bar at the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel, Covent Garden.** \*\* Note re Contactless Cards\*\* 
Free RSVP gives entry only - the contactless business card is not included.
To receive a contactless networking card, please book a paid ticket when available. **This informal yet refined business mixer** is the perfect opportunity to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, and build meaningful business connections that go beyond LinkedIn. \*\* Dress Code\*\*
 As this is a 5-star hotel, smart or business attire is required. Please avoid casual wear, hoodies, or sportswear. **What to Expect** ✅ Relaxed, premium networking environment - no stage or speeches, just natural conversations with inspiring professionals.
 ✅ Mix of industries - startups, tech, finance and business. ✅ Guest list of max 40 attendees to encourage genuine connections as opposed to impersonal crowded conferences. **Why Attend** • Expand your network with startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, business owners and senior professionals in business, finance and tech from London and beyond.
 • Share insights and opportunities in tech, business growth, and digital innovation.
 • Experience luxury yet relaxed networking in one of Covent Garden’s most sophisticated venues. **Venue** Sycamore Bar, Middle Eight Hotel
A refined, design-led bar inside the 5-star Middle Eight Hotel.
Located in the heart of Covent Garden, within walking distance of Holborn, Covent Garden, and Tottenham Court Road stations. **Important Info** • Ages: 18+ (ID required for bar purchases)
 • Photography Notice: The event may be filmed or photographed for promotional use by [CineEye (audiovisual production company in London)
](www.cineeye.co.uk) • Dress Code: Smart/business attire only (see above). • Contactless Cards: Free RSVP does not include contactless business card (see above). **Join Us** Step into an evening where business meets elegance - designed for founders, innovators, and professionals who value meaningful business conversations. **Limited to 40 spots - reserve yours today!**

**Important note: [Please sign up on Luma](https://luma.com/pynrnh6d); otherwise, your name won't be on the guest list** **About the event** Research increasingly shows citations influence which sources LLMs surface. However, not all citations drive the outcomes you need. ​ For Women’s History Month, we’re hosting a special Sip & Search event to unpack what’s changing in AI search and how to stay visible. ​**Here's what we'll discuss:** * ​What makes certain sites and sources more “citable” in LLMs * ​How to earn higher-quality citations that improve visibility and preference * ​What to track in answer engines and how to turn it into performance gains and ROI **Panelists** * ​[Liv Day](https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-day-seo/), SEO Lead at Digitaloft * ​[Charlie Marchant](https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliemarchant/), CEO at Exposure Ninja * ​[Rejoice Ojiaku](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rejoiceojiaku/), Senior Content Specialist at Wise **Besides the panel, you’ll enjoy an evening of:** * ​Fun karaoke vibes * ​Networking with SEO and digital marketing leaders in a laid-back setting * ​Great food and free drinks * ​Q&A time with experts shaping AI search and LLM visibility​ **Curious about the vibes at Sip & Search?** ​Here’s[ a 1-minute video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIbfZGAG-VE) from our last event to get you excited. We'd like to thank our sponsors for making this event possible * [Moz](moz.com) * [Profound](tryprofound.com) **Important note:** [Please sign up on Luma](https://luma.com/pynrnh6d); otherwise, your name won't be on the guest list

March's Book: Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist by Kate Raworth. Economics is broken. It has failed to predict, let alone prevent, financial crises that have shaken the foundations of our societies. Its outdated theories have permitted a world in which extreme poverty persists while the wealth of the super-rich grows year on year. And its blind spots have led to policies that are degrading the living world on a scale that threatens all of our futures. Can it be fixed? In Doughnut Economics, Oxford academic Kate Raworth identifies seven critical ways in which mainstream economics has led us astray, and sets out a roadmap for bringing humanity into a sweet spot that meets the needs of all within the means of the planet. En route, she deconstructs the character of ‘rational economic man’ and explains what really makes us tick. She reveals how an obsession with equilibrium has left economists helpless when facing the boom and bust of the real-world economy. She highlights the dangers of ignoring the role of energy and nature’s resources – and the far-reaching implications for economic growth when we take them into account. And in the process, she creates a new, cutting-edge economic model that is fit for the 21st century – one in which a doughnut-shaped compass points the way to human progress. Ambitious, radical and rigorously argued, Doughnut Economics promises to reframe and redraw the future of economics for a new generation. The meeting starts at 7:30. Shortly after 7.30, we will break up into small groups. Those familiar with the CLH Book Group meeting know how this works: in each group we take turns introducing ourselves and giving our 1 minute thoughts on the book. It's important not to go over a minute and not to interrupt other people's minute so that everyone gets a chance to participate. After this first round, each group discusses for another 20 minutes or so. We then shuffle the groups so as to talk to as many different people as possible and in the new groups repeat our introductions and 1 minute thoughts. We'll do this a couple of times before coming all together at the end in one last big group. While we are very social and welcoming, the book group's primary focus is on discussing books. Feel free to turn up if you haven't managed to finish this month's book but note that the group works best when we have all read at least half of the book and are prepared to share our opinions. *** £3 per person to attend. If it's your first time, come and try us out for free! If you prefer, you can [pay online, by clicking here](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZWCNRJ25BDL96). We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information on our site but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any views expressed here are those of the individual posting them and may not reflect those of CLH.

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/china-connector-ukchina-business-networking-london-tickets-1984280479329?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/china-connector-ukchina-business-networking-london-tickets-1984280479329?aff=meetup)** UK–China business networking in London at 2 Chesham. Connect with entrepreneurs, investors & trade leaders for cross-border growth. ## **UK–China Business Networking Event, London** China Connector® is a premium UK–China business networking event in London, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, trade professionals, and senior decision-makers for high-level cross-border conversations. If you are building partnerships, exploring international trade, sourcing from China, expanding into the UK market, or seeking trusted advisers for UK–China business, this event provides the right environment for strategic introductions. Hosted at 2 Chesham, London, one of London’s most prestigious business districts, the setting reflects the calibre of professionals in the room. Guests are welcome to stay free of charge for the [London Connector](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-business-networking-event-by-london-connector-2-chesham-hotel-tickets-1984217477890 "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-business-networking-event-by-london-connector-2-chesham-hotel-tickets-1984217477890")® networking event, which begins at 6:00 PM. ## **👥 Who Should Attend?** This London-China networking event is ideal for: * UK businesses expanding into China * Chinese businesses operating in the UK * Import and export professionals * Cross-border investors and deal-makers * Manufacturers, sourcing agents, and distributors * Legal, tax, and compliance advisers specialising in UK–China trade * Supply chain and logistics experts * International trade consultants * Members of the Chinese business community in London If your work involves UK–China trade, investment, manufacturing, or international expansion, this event is for you. ## **🌟 Why Attend China Connector® London?** * Build trusted UK–China business relationships * Discover new trade and investment opportunities * Meet senior decision-makers in one room * Strengthen your presence in London’s international business community * Gain insights into operating across UK and Chinese markets * Expand your high-level global network This is structured networking focused on quality conversations and meaningful commercial connections. ## **🔔 Part of the Connector Series** China Connector® is part of the broader London Connector® network, which includes: * Property Connector® * Legal Connector® * Wealth Connector® * Startup Connector® * Director Connector® * And other curated sector- & industry-focused events One community. Multiple high-quality rooms. ## **📍 Event Details** 📍 Venue: 2 Chesham, London ⏰ Time: 4:30 PM 👔 Dress Code: Office attire or smart casual (No T-shirts or trainers. Collared shirt required for men.) Our team will be on-site to facilitate valuable UK–China business introductions. ## **📲 Exclusive WhatsApp Networking Group** All confirmed attendees will receive an email invitation on the day to join a dedicated WhatsApp group to continue conversations and share opportunities after the event. ## **📸 Event Disclaimer** Photos and videos may be taken during the event for use across social media and future promotional materials. China Connector® is London’s UK–China networking event where international professionals connect, collaborate, and grow. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london) * [London networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking) * [London Business networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking)

Please join us for our next Bioinformatics London meetup, where we welcome **Francisco Azuaje**, Director of Bioinformatics and AI at **Genomics England**, for a talk on what it really takes to turn powerful models and rich datasets into safe, trustworthy impact in the clinic. **Francisco Azuaje** is Director of Bioinformatics at **Genomics England**, where he leads applied ML and GenAI across national-scale genomic and clinical datasets. With 25+ years across academia, public sector and pharma (including UCB and the Luxembourg Institute of Health), his work focuses on what actually works in AI for bioinformatics: moving from proof-of-concept to robust, governed systems that clinicians and patients can trust. In this talk, he will discuss real-world lessons from deploying AI in genomics pipelines and health data platforms, touching on verification, safety, organisational friction, and why the hard problems now are as much social and operational as they are technical. Approximate schedule: * 18:30 – Doors open * 18:45 – Chitchat, announcements * 19:00 – Talk and Q&A * 19:45 – End, then adjourn to a nearby pub for informal discussion Please **RSVP at least the day before** so we can provide an attendee list to reception. Make sure your Meetup name looks like a real name (e.g. “J Smith” or “Jane Jones”, not “weaselstabber”) so University of Westminster reception can identify you. We look forward to seeing you there for an honest discussion about what it takes to make AI and genomics work *for* real patients, not just in demos.

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-business-networking-event-by-london-connector-2-chesham-hotel-tickets-1984217477890?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-business-networking-event-by-london-connector-2-chesham-hotel-tickets-1984217477890?aff=meetup)** Join London Connector for a premium business networking event in Central London. Meet entrepreneurs, professionals, founders and expats London Connector hosts premium business and social networking events across Central London, including Belgravia, Mayfair, Soho and the City. Our events connect entrepreneurs, founders, expats, investors and professionals looking to grow their London network. With more than 100 events hosted every single year and a vibrant international community, London Connector is one of the city’s leading networking platforms. ## **Why Attend?** The London Connector series has built a reputation for bringing together ambitious entrepreneurs, company directors, investors, innovators, and professionals from a wide variety of industries. The goal is simple: to connect people who are serious about business, collaboration, and creating opportunities in a relaxed and welcoming environment At this event, you can: * Meet **entrepreneurs and directors** looking to expand their network. * Connect with **investors and professionals** from diverse sectors. * Explore **partnerships, collaborations, and client opportunities**. * Enjoy a **stylish and relaxed setting** ideal for both social and business networking. ## **Event Highlights** * **Informal networking** with introductions facilitated by our host and the members of the London Connector community.. * A welcoming environment where conversations naturally lead to opportunities. * Networking from **6:00 PM until 9:00 PM**, with plenty of time to meet new people and build lasting connections. ## **Who Should Join?** * **Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders –** looking to showcase your ideas, find mentors, or attract strategic partners and investors. * **Business Owners & Company Directors –** interested in building partnerships, meeting potential clients, or discovering innovative solutions for your business. * **Investors & Advisors –** seeking exposure to exciting ventures, forward-thinking entrepreneurs, and professionals in various industries. * **Professionals from SMEs & Corporates –** aiming to grow your personal network, generate leads, or explore collaborations outside your immediate field. * **Consultants & Service Providers –** in areas such as marketing, finance, legal, HR, tech, or sustainability, who want to connect with decision-makers and companies in need of your expertise. * **Innovators & Tech Enthusiasts –** eager to stay ahead of trends, share insights, and explore potential alliances in digital, fintech, AI, or other growth sectors. * **Anyone new to London’s business scene –** looking for a welcoming community where professional introductions are natural, warm, and meaningful. ## **Secure Your Place** Spaces are limited and this event may sell out in advance. To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend booking early. 👉 **Reserve your ticket today and be part of an evening where business meets opportunity in the heart of Belgravia.** **WhatsApp Group** 📲 Continue the conversation before and after the event by joining our exclusive attendee WhatsApp group. On the day of the event, you will receive an email inviting you to join the WhatsApp message for the event. **Event Disclaimer 📸** Photos and videos may be taken during the event for use across our social media channels and promotional materials. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london) * [London networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking) * [London Business networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking)

**——————————** **Event Description:** **——————————** Welcome product enthusiasts! We're a meet-up group that hosts regular speaking events for those interested in the world of **digital products** and **doing things differently!** Each meet-up features new guests from some of the most influential product companies around the world, providing unique insights, tangible ideas, and new techniques to help drive change from the inside out. **————————** **Event Format:** **————————** This is a **hybrid** event, offering the option to come along in person or join us from anywhere in the world online! **————** **Venue:** **————** 🚨 We are at Wrap co-working Brighton, a stone's throw from the station. We're looking forward to seeing you there! 🚨 **————————** **Our Supporters:** **————————** Our March event is supported by **[MPB](https://www.mpb.com/en-uk)** the world’s leading platform for buying, selling and trading used photography and videography equipment, making kit more accessible and sustainable for creators everywhere. And as always our friends at **[Silicon Brighton](https://siliconbrighton.com/)**, whose mission is to put Brighton on the map as a technology hub, spotlighting the region for talent and investment. **————————** **Our speakers:** **————————** **Steve Down** **Steve Down is a Senior Product Manager at Channel 4, specialising in building high performing streaming apps for the biggest screen in the home.** He’s spent years shaping TV experiences at major UK broadcasters, tackling platform fragmentation, performance constraints and all the quirks that make doing product on TV Apps a whole world of its own. He regularly writes and speaks about the realities of Connected TV product development, sharing lessons from building and scaling TV apps across diverse platforms and fast changing user behaviours. His industry contributions unpack everything from platform limitations and UX challenges to experimentation gaps and the future of big screen viewing. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **Behind the Streams: The untold story of TV App Product Management** Forget what you know about doing Product Management on web and mobile - TV is a whole different ball game. You’re juggling dozens of platforms & stakeholders, designing for a lean-back user experience, and working in an environment where optimal performance is everything. Add in the giants like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube as competitors, and standing out gets tough. **In this session, Steve will pull back the curtain on:** \- What makes TV product management so different \- The skills you need to succeed in streaming \- How you can break into one of the most exciting areas in product today If you’ve ever thought about working in streaming or just want to know what happens behind the biggest screen in the house, this talk is for you. **Raff Di Meo** Senior Product Design Manager at Optimizely. Raff has spent over 10 years designing products across startups, agencies, and enterprise SaaS, including a startup acquisition. Today, he's a Senior Product Design Manager at Optimizely, where he leads a team of designers reshaping how marketing teams create content across the web. He's an active speaker in the UX community and writes Some Designers on Substack, championing inclusivity and supporting designers through a profession that won't sit still. **————————** **About the Talk:** **————————** **When too easy to use becomes a problem: from e-commerce returns to AI in design** A few years ago, Raff designed a returns flow for an e-commerce product. It was fast, frictionless, and users loved it. It also helped normalise a behaviour that cost businesses millions and generated thousands of tonnes of waste. By every metric tracked, it was a success. By every metric not tracked, it was a disaster. Today, the same pattern is playing out. Not just in the products we design, but in how we design them. Teams are reshaping their entire process around AI tools that can't even retain their own users. We're told the old ways are dead. Move faster. Ship more. Trust the tools. In this talk, Raff will share what the returns project taught him about the gap between a successful design and a responsible one, and how those lessons are shaping how his team is navigating AI right now: what they're using, what's genuinely working, and what they're deliberately protecting. You'll leave with three things you can take back to your team: why understanding the problem still comes first, how to explore with AI without losing your craft, and a dead-simple habit for catching unintended consequences before they ship. **——————————** **About your hosts:** **——————————** Product Unleashed is brought to you by your hosts **[John Griffin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-griffin-designer/)** and **[Dominic Port](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-port/)**. The duo have worked on the design of products of all shapes and sizes and bring their energy and enthusiasm to this unique meetup, packed with great guests and knowledge - for anyone interested in levelling up their game in the world of products.

*Is privacy a fundamental human right?* *Should privacy ever be sacrificed for security?* *How does surveillance change how we behave?* *Is privacy necessary for democracy?* This time we will be discussing the **right to privacy** in the relative privacy of an upstairs room of a North London pub! No walk this time (due to a broken toe)! Instead we will head indoors and experiment with a different format - a talk and discussion session. Meet at 2pm at the Star of Kings pub in King's Cross, upstairs in the green room. If you want to do some reading on the subject I recommend **The Right to Oblivion** by Lowry Pressly: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Oblivion-Privacy-Good-Life/dp/067430490X A YouTube video on the same book by Unsolicited Advice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5sx5nGNIyc If you have any other recommendations on the subject feel free to post in the commends below. There will be a short presentation then group discussions. This group encourages friendly, constructive conversations rather than confrontational debates; so give everyone space to talk, be respectful and actively listen to others. It's not about 'winning' a debate but about expressing your opinion and learning about other people's views. Admission £5, if you are a student, unemployed or retired then you can attend for free. You can pay in cash or card on the walk or online with this link: [https://pay.tide.co/products/philosophy-kfDyHrXZ](https://pay.tide.co/products/philosophy-kfDyHrXZ) **This event is supported by the Royal Institute of Philosophy.**

**Business networking event for young entrepreneurs** Welcome to Perspectivv, a community of young entrepreneurs like no other! Unlike traditional networking events that lean towards a more formal approach, our events resemble more of a social setting as we believe this provides the most ideal atmosphere for young entrepreneurs to network with other like-minded individuals. We have a fast growing community and are constantly striving to provide an inclusive environment that attracts a diverse range of people no matter what stage they’re at in their entrepreneurial journey. So whether you're an established business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, business professional or simply just want to meet new people, this is the perfect opportunity for you to expand your network and make new connections. **Event details:** * Date: March 27th, 2026 * Time: 18:30 - 21:00 * Venue: Lucy Wong \| Fitzrovia * Address: 33-34 Rathbone Pl, London W1T 1JN Follow us on Instagram to join our community and stay up to date with all the latest from [@perspectivv_ltd](https://www.instagram.com/perspectivv_ltd/) Please be advised that tickets are sold on other ticketing platforms outside of Meetup. You can expect approximately 30-40 attendees at each of our events. *Kindly note that your attendance implies consent to feature in any event-related photos or videos used for promotional purposes.*

**What this is** A relaxed, social pool night for lesbian and bisexual women, designed to make meeting people feel natural rather than forced. Pool gives everyone something to do, which makes conversation easier, especially if you’re arriving on your own. You don’t need to be good at pool and it’s not competitive. Some women play properly, some mostly chat, some do a bit of both. All of that is normal here. The games run for around an hour and a half, and most people stay on afterwards for drinks. It’s an easy, sociable evening rather than a structured or intense event. Women usually range from their 20s through to their 60s. Most weeks it’s a genuine mix of new faces and returning women, so you won’t be the only person coming for the first time. Most people come on their own. That’s normal here, and it doesn’t feel awkward or cliquey once you’re there. Hosts are present throughout and help things settle naturally. If you’re feeling nervous, you won’t be the only one. Many women feel that way before their first event and end up staying longer than they expected. **Important** This is a female-only lesbian space. That boundary is clear and upheld at events. If that doesn’t work for you, this won’t be the right event. **Event details** 📍 Hurricane Room, King’s Cross 🕒 Friday 20th March · 7:00 pm 🎱 Pool games for around 1.5 hours, drinks afterwards **Tickets** £16 per person. This includes pool table hire, venue entry, and hosting. Places are limited so the night stays calm and social. We have six tickets remaining. If you’re planning to come, it’s best to book sooner rather than later. Book your ticket here: [www.thelcommunity.com/lesbian-pool-night](https://thelcommunity.com/march-female-only-lesbian-pool-night/) **Meeting point** Please come to the main bar or waiting area when you arrive. We’ll be there to greet you and get everyone settled before heading to the tables. Please arrive ten minutes before the event begins so we can arrange teams and start smoothly. **How to attend** You must book in advance to attend. RSVPing on Meetup helps others feel comfortable coming too and keeps you updated if anything changes. **Staying connected** If you’d like to stay connected between events, you can also join the wider L Community network and private WhatsApp groups by registering here: [https://thelcommunity.com/register/](https://thelcommunity.com/register/)

**Meet2Click Curated Conversations** Each Meet2Click Curated Conversation dinner centres around a carefully chosen topic or shared interest, designed to spark thoughtful conversation and meaningful connection. Modern life is often driven by success, productivity, and constant achievement — yet we rarely pause to ask a deeper question: **What does happiness really mean?** Many of us equate happiness with achievement, status, or temporary pleasure. But research suggests happiness is something more intentional — built through meaning, satisfaction, and connection. If we don’t define it consciously, we risk chasing the wrong version of it. At this small-group dinner experience, we will explore: • Can happiness be built? • Does success actually make us happy? • Is happiness more about meaning or enjoyment? Inspired by the happiness framework developed by Harvard professor and bestselling author Arthur Brooks, guests will receive a short overview of his key ideas two days before the event to reflect on ahead of our discussion. This is not a debate. It is not a lecture. It’s a relaxed, friendly conversation around the table with curious, open-minded people. If you value thoughtful conversation and meaningful connection, join us for an evening dedicated to exploring what happiness truly means — and whether we are living in alignment with it. **Launch Season Benefit** During our initial Meet2Click dinners, guests will enjoy **up to 50% off food** at the restaurant. This introductory benefit is available for a limited launch period. Food and drinks are paid individually, directly with the restaurant. ⸻ Details Location: Shiro Sushi, London Date: 27 March **Ticket price:** £15 per person *(includes your seat and contribution to the evening — food and drinks ordered and paid individually at the restaurant)* Seats are intentionally limited to encourage meaningful conversation and genuine connection. Additional Information: Photos or videos may be taken during the event for promotional purposes. Should you wish to opt out, please notify the host upon arrival, and your preferences will be respected.

In every society there will come a time when the conditions of life are no longer acceptable for people to tolerate. Maybe your government hasn't listened to the people's requests year after year, and small problems have become big ones. Maybe your government is corrupt, selling its people out for any bribe it can get. Maybe the streets are unsafe, the food is scarce, and the future looks darker than the present. At what point does revolution become necessary? When should we rise up and start a revolution? Can a government ever be so bad that any alternative is better? Should revolution be a last resort? and how do we know when we have reached the last resort? Can violence ever be justified in the pursuit of a better society? \*Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comment section\* #======# Donation! Thank you for being a member. I have made a donation page for those who want to help with the costs. [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) #======# Group chat We have a telegram group chat and here is a link for the front door: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) #======# The Examined Life, "Let's Discuss..." session is an open discussion. The format of this event will be: 13:15 - Free flow group discussion about the topic. 14:00 ish - We will be splitting into smaller groups for more engaging discussion about what interests each of you. 16:00 - End of the official meetup. Most often attendees stay and continue discussing up to around 18:00. #======# Please RSVP if you can commit to attending and change your RSVP if something comes up. Inaccurate RSVPs can keep potential attendees on the waiting list and makes it difficult to plan for room sizes and bookings. Art work: tank man tiananmen Square 1989 by Jeff Widener at Associated Press

**Londoners! Join us Sunday, March 29th at noon as we stare futility in the face and laugh: we're joining tens of thousands of proud dorks nationwide who love their communities and want them to be more beautiful. We refuse to accept that life under capitalism means swimming in the unwanted filth of our plastic-addicted civilisation.** **Sturdy gloves, bags and picking tools will be provided, so just bring good shoes, durable clothing and a fearless determination. Joining us will be residents of the local area who need our help to bring some pride back to their neighbourhoods.** **We'll meet at noon at Abbey Wood station on the end of the Elizabeth Line, about 20 mins from central London. Our community partners will lead us onwards from around 12:30.** **The intrepid picker who picks the most will win a £10 Co-op gift card!** Why is LCC doing litter-picking? Read on for our analysis of why this form of mutual aid is both necessary and weirdly fun. \-\-\-\- Have you noticed that lately, the filth seems to be spreading? Living in a great megalopolis like London, it's easy to gaslight ourselves into believing that it's always been like this, that "cities are just dirty"; and anyway if there's a problem, the council should solve it! What else do we pay taxes for? But no, it's not your imagination. Halfway through the 2020s and we really are living through an [unprecedented explosion](https://wastedirect.co.uk/guides/fly-tipping-statistics/) in fly-tipping and general filth. It's true that, [across the country,](https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/economic-growth/regional-development/2024/01/council-bankruptcy-tracker-local-government-authorities-finances) many of the local governments whose job it is to collect trash are going bankrupt or getting close. In Birmingham, which went bankrupt in 2023, this financial situation has provided cover for a refusal to pay sanitation workers a fair wage, leading to one of the [longest all-out strikes](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crleyz0d557o) in modern British history and sky-high rubbish piles - even as the council says it's [no longer](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crleyz0d557o) bankrupt. None of this really explains what's going on in London, where local authorities are still mostly solvent and sanitation workers not on strike, at least after Tower Hamlets [settled its dispute](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66917779) a few years ago. This despite the fact that London has some of the [highest fly-tipping rates](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/fly-tipping-uk-map-ranked-worst-b2705154.html) in the country. To our historical-materialist minds here at LCC HQ, there are bigger forces than councils at work, namely: the exhaustion of the global supply chain in recycling and waste on the one hand, and on the other, the ongoing colonisation of our spectacularly corrupt political economy by organised crime. These days there's simply too much trash for councils to deal with, at any price - which is where fly-tipping comes in. Without most of us being aware, China - once the [leading importer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%27s_waste_import_ban) of the world's waste - quietly [stopped accepting westerners' trash in 2018 as part of National Sword](https://e360.yale.edu/features/piling-up-how-chinas-ban-on-importing-waste-has-stalled-global-recycling). Having allowed the [recycling and waste-processing infrastructure](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/09/britain-2bn-recycling-industry-export-plastic-waste) necessary to deal with it ourselves to collapse along with the rest of our industry, since foisting it on the Global South is more to our liking, we are now swimming in an ocean of garbage with no idea what to do with it. A paltry 600,000 tons of waste, including valuable recyclables, is now being dumped abroad annually - and with Indonesia [having just joined China in banning waste imports,](https://seasia.co/2025/09/06/indonesia-ends-plastic-waste-imports-amid-growing-environmental-concerns) it's no wonder that things are really starting to get bad here. Perhaps this explains why over the past couple years, [criminal gangs have been porting millions of tonnes of our junk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/organised-crime-fly-tipping-police-environment-agency-b2853238.html) away from the cities, mostly to illegal "mega-tip" sites in the countryside. We've already [buried ancient woodlands and bluebell fields in Kent](https://news.sky.com/story/ancient-bluebell-woodland-smothered-in-illegal-waste-as-campaigners-tell-authorities-to-do-the-right-thing-13125165) under hundreds of tonnes of rubbish; we all saw the news about [Kidlington's 150m long, 15m wide, 10m high super-tip.](https://news.sky.com/story/kidlington-fly-tipping-two-men-arrested-over-rubbish-dumped-in-oxfordshire-field-13500924) Now that these sites have become too large to ignore, suddenly laws are being enforced out there. As of writing, it seems that the chickens have come home to the cities to roost: fly-tipping gangs are now simply leaving our alleys, parks and road by-passes strewn with a distributed, ever-growing network of waste piles. A situation now exists where the reality of waste has become impossible to ignore in the traditional way, that of putting it in the bin and forgetting its existence: the streets are proof that, in the age of plastics, nothing can ever really be "thrown away". In fact, there is no *away.* Alongside the proliferation of chemical waste, human shit and other effluvia now coursing through our rivers and water tables, we can add the trash crisis to Britain's overall *sanitation crisis.* So what? Like so much about life under modern capitalism, from the Epstein revelations to skyrocketing food insecurity, the mind looks for an escape route when confronted with the scale of the problem. British leftists raised on a steady diet of *Novara Media*-style social-democratic welfarism will protest: working-class people work hard enough without having to clean their own streets! The government needs to fund waste collection properly, rebuild our recycling plants and crack down on the fly-tippers! All that may be true. But Britain doesn't have a government, it has an occupying army of capitalist parasites wearing a liberal-democratic skin suit. They're not going to help us and they never will, because there is no sanitation crisis inside their gated communities. What's a proletarian supposed to do? Live with the indignity? Get used to living like an unloved animal, just because conditions outside are like a pigsty? You can definitely write your councillor, petition Parliament, and generally campaign for a state-led clean-up. But if we've seen much evidence of anything in politics in the last twenty years, it's that this kind of activism is niche. Too niche to make much of a difference. This won't change from the "top down", with one more big push by activist groups to get everyone involved in their letter-writing campaign. People, largely, lack the confidence to get involved in anything political. To rebuild that confidence, we need to work from the bottom up. Many hands make light work, as the saying goes - workers together can really transform an area in the space of an afternoon, if enough of them rally to the task. In this case, we're working from the *very* bottom: picking up trash may not represent even a small-scale political "victory", but having a more beautiful local street or park does make for a marginally more enjoyable daily life. Meeting and building solidarity with other people who love their community and aren't afraid to put some work in to make it better is also a powerful reason to get out there. Not quite "another world is possible", but maybe this - especially for those who are looking for a community of like-minded people - could be a step towards achieving that consciousness. Litter-picking groups have [grown in popularity across Britain](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgnne5mmz7o), but not so much London as of yet. Why? Maybe we think we're too cool for something so profoundly dorky, thankless and Sisyphean. Isn't the trash just going to come back? Maybe - but one must imagine Sisyphus happy. So pull on those work gloves and join us for a bit of litter-picking! https://www.tcv.org.uk/media_hub/litter-picking-a-beginners-guide/

Wine Not? is a women-only gathering before the Balancers Saturday social. Most attendees come solo, so it’s an easy and welcoming place to meet people and settle in before the night gets busier. London can make meeting new people feel awkward, especially if you're coming alone. This early social creates a comfortable environment where you can chat, laugh, and get to know a few friendly faces first. Expect a relaxed atmosphere, a few light games, and plenty of time to connect naturally. Around **8.30 pm the main Balancers social begins**, and the room fills as over **150 people usually join the night**. Wine Not? naturally flows into the rest of the evening, so you’re welcome to stay and enjoy the full experience. Coming solo is completely normal. Our hosts will be there to help everyone feel comfortable, included, and connected from the start. **Check out our past events here:** **[https://www.instagram.com/_balancers/](https://www.instagram.com/_balancers/)** **Want to stay in the loop? Join our WhatsApp community: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/IJKXDkwUTlmDsYTOCIUg7O](https://chat.whatsapp.com/IJKXDkwUTlmDsYTOCIUg7O)** *Remember, our pillars are Openness, Respect, Kindness and Authenticity. Attendance at this event is subject to our [Code of Conduct](https://www.balancers.app/code-of-conduct) and [Terms of Service](https://www.balancers.app/term-of-service). By joining, you may receive emails about Balancers events and community updates. You can unsubscribe at any time.*

**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** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA

Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts—CORE—is an informal community for anyone enthusiastic or curious about radio—whether you're new to radio and want to learn or you've been tinkering for years and want to share. Ham radio operators, GMRS users, Meshtastic fans, software-defined radio nerds, makers, and technical and non-technical folks are all welcome. No experience required or expected. This month we have **WiFi HaLow: Introduction and Practical Use** with **Alex Barbur**. Details are are [core.radio](https://core.radio).

Builders, creators, architects, admins, consultants - come one, come all. This one's for you. We're bringing a little friendly competition to the Columbus ServiceNow community while highlighting the cool things people have built on the platform. Five presenters will take the stage to showcase something they've built, solved, designed, or imagined on the ServiceNow platform - and a panel of judges (plus YOU, our amazing audience) will score them live. So basically, America's Got Talent but make it ServiceNow's Got Talent. Bring a notepad if you'd like 'cause you'll definitely be learning something new. Each presenter gets 10 minutes max to wow the crowd with: • A demo • A real-world business solution • A bold idea • A UX transformation • Or a creative use of the platform Judging Criteria: 🏆 Business Value 🚀 Innovation ✨ User Experience This event is about celebrating ideas, sharing knowledge, and showing how ServiceNow can drive both business impact and meaningful user value. Come learn. Come support. Come get inspired. Refreshments and bites will be provided. And maybe next time… you’ll be on stage.

* Who Can Attend \* The Central Ohio .Net Developers Group meetings are free and open to the public! All developers; professional, student, and hobbyist are welcome and encouraged to attend. * When we meet \* The Central Ohio .Net Developers Group meets on the 4th Thursday of every month. * Where we meet \* Please check our Meetup group link below for the latest location details! * Join our Meetup Group \* https://www.meetup.com/Central-Ohio-NET-Developers-Group-CONDG/

Join us again this Saturday for drinks and sweets at this delicious Vegan co-op bakery. Mingle with likeminded Columbus Vegans. We will aim to sit outside after purchasing items and hopefully taking in cooperative weather. Special note on parking: Please try to park along Acton, Richards and/or Chatham streets so as to free up the lot at the back of the building for pick-up orders. Thank you. 😊 Patty Cake offers everything from cupcakes, cookies, cakes, muffins, whoopie pies, as well as gluten free goodies. They also have coffee, oat milk and cold brew

TBA- We will do lunch before the play too! Tickets are on sale now only $20.