Saxophones

Badminton Wednesday is a fun, friendly weekly session for badminton enthusiasts who are looking for regular competitive sessions. Our sessions are for players who can compete at intermediate to advanced level. We provide hybrid feather shuttles and games are organised to maximise competition and allow players to rotate partners. We have access to 4 courts and attendees must wear the appropriate footwear and clothing. **Venue:** School 21 Pitchford Street London E15 4RZ **General Play:** Costs for general play is £10 for a 2 hour session from 8pm - 10pm. **Racquet hire:** If you wish to hire a racquet, hire cost is £5 + £20 returnable deposit when the racquet is returned to us in it's original condition. We operate a pay and play policy so we ask that all members make payment either in advance or when you arrive for your session - see payments details below. Payable by cash or bank transfer to Christopher Butcher Monzo Bank Account Number : 73518191 Sort code :04-00-04 Please include your name and session day as reference eg Julie220223 **Disclaimer:** Shuttlers and School 21 do not accept any responsibility for any breakage, loss or injury during the session. The venue is based in Stratford, East London and offers male and female changing rooms, shower facilities and onsite parking. **Please do not attend this session if you have not joined the event on the Meetup group as demand is high and games cannot be guaranteed if you turn up without joining the event.** **If you RSVP to join an event and cannot attend the session, we kindly request that you amend your RSVP as soon as possible so that the spot is made available to other members on the waitlist.** We at Shuttlers look forward to welcoming you to the group. Members can contact Chris on 07565 790725 or Julie on 07956 957696 if you require further information.

**A night dedicated to spiritual uplifting, with mantra meditation, a short talk and a delicious VEGGIE/VEGAN DINNER** 🌱 SCHEDULE: * **6:30 Mindfulness Intro Meditation** We begin the session with mindfulness exercises, breath-work and a guided meditation. We create a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere that starts us on the right foot for the rest of the night 🌙 **7:00 Wisdom Talk** Every week a new guest speaker sharing ancient spiritual wisdom and philosophy. World-famous monks and yogis, authors, artists, motivational speakers, and more 👀 Check our [Instagram page](https://www.instagram.com/studio108_ldn/) to find out upcoming speakers. * **7:30 Mantra Meditation (Kirtan)** Kirtan and Mantra meditation is a beautiful process of spiritual connection through sound. We allow our ears to take in the vibration of the Mantra and then use our voices to sing out the Mantra, filling the space with an unexpected symphony 🎶 * **8:00 Veggie/Vegan Dinner** 🌱 Served in our wonderful cafe area on the ground floor. The food we serve at Studio 108 is cooked by our amazing team and always made with spiritual consciousness and love ❤️ **Ticket Price** 🎟 (includes Dinner): Door price: General £17 \| *Student £14* Online \(Eventbrite\): General £14 \| *Student £10* **Where** 📍: 57 Theobalds Road, Holborn, WC1X 8SP **When** 📆: Every Wednesday at 6.30pm (Doors open at 6.15pm) [Book online](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/studio-108-34126014551) or pay at the door🚪 [@studio108_ldn](https://www.instagram.com/studio108_ldn/) to stay up to date and find out more.

**Note: The cost is increasing for 2025 to cover increased court and shuttle costs** Central Badminton Club is a long-established, sociable group who enjoy badminton at an intermediate level. A reasonable standard of play is expected: guests should be regular players with a few years’ experience – no beginners, please. Join us for two hours of friendly, competitive badminton with like-minded enthusiasts. We use four courts, but even so we need to limit numbers so that everybody gets a fair number of games. We play from 8 to 10pm, with optional drinks and socialising in the pub afterwards. The cost of £12 per two-hour session includes feather shuttles. You can pay in cash at the session, or via bank transfer: * Account name: Central Badminton Club * Account number: 25977568 * Sort code: 30 98 97 Our commitment is to ensure that you have an enjoyable evening. However, since we are a non- profit club with tight finances, we expect that once you RSVP you commit yourself to play. You may cancel up to 24 hours before the the session to avoid any attendance charge and to allow other people on the wait list to play. If you do not show without notice we reserve the right to charge a full non-attendance fee if you come again and persistent offenders may be blocked from our club. So please be thoughtful and let us know in good time if you cannot attend.

Love shooting at night but tired of dragging your tripod around? This session is about learning a set of techniques to shoot using a single, fast prime lens (e.g. 50mm, 35mm f/1.2, f/1.4, f1.8) You know that small, lightweight, inexpensive but beautiful lens that sits quietly in your camera bag? Tonight you’ll put it to good use! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * Using a fast aperture to allow hand holding at night * Create bokeh for beautiful shallow depth of field * Getting depth of field in your shot * Tips for getting sharp shots whilst handholding at night EXPERIENCE * All levels welcome! EQUIPMENT * Any camera * 50mm f1.8 - any lens will work but a fast lens (f1.8-f2.8) is recommended * No tripods needed * We'll be wandering around so be sure to wear appropriate shoes. TRAVEL * As usual check the TFL website for any issues that may delay your journey CONTACT Alex 07956 264049 UPCOMING EVENTS https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-wednesday-eve-18/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-wednesday-eve-18/) **⋆⋆⋆** KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR. Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners. This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer. We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home. This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery. The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise. **Choosing a suitable chair** If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve. The chair on the right was completed in about 12 weeks. If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand. [Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2r8UvbQtaH5RTVKUjlBdkhDX3c/view?usp=sharing) **Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable**. We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm. The use of tools and machinery is included. All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.

Join us for some fun, competitive, but friendly games at our 4-court sports hall. We use Hybrid Kawasaki Kong 500's during the 3-hour session. **PAYMENT** * **Session Fee: £12** * We are cashless, kindly pay the session fee **by midnight** on the night before the session. You are welcome to pay early! You can even pay when you book! See our About page for the full process. * If no payment is received, you will be removed and may even be liable for a late cancellation fee if your spot is not taken. * Please use **“your meetup name + date of event”** as payment reference * **Account name:** Thomas Lam * **Sort code:** 04-00-03 * **Account number:** 7478 8608 **LATE CANCELLATION OR NO-SHOW** * **All** **no-shows or late cancellations** (24 hrs or less) will be charged if your spot is not taken by someone else - you will have a title next to your name with the amount and date owed. * Members with 2 no shows/late cancellations will be removed from the group unless outstanding payment is received * **The late cancellation policy** is set up to discourage last-minute cancellations and therefore applies with or without the presence of a waitlist * **Note:** If you are on the Waitlist and a spot becomes available, you will automatically be bumped onto the On list provided the event has not yet started. It is your responsibility to **remove yourself from the waitlist** if you can no longer make it to avoid being charged a no-show if someone cancels late. **PLAYING** * Please wait to be marked off before entering the hall. * Sessions are to finish promptly on the hour by school requests. * If you finish a match with 5 minutes to go, please start packing up instead of starting a new game. **RACKET HIRE** * Please note that we won't be hiring out rackets, so kindly bring your own racket. **PARKING** * There is parking available, but it is now paid parking. Parking is opposite the entrance. Please check the signs for parking payment instructions. **TRACK & TRACE** * We will collect your phone number on-site. Your phone number will also be used in case of fire to contact you if you have not made it to the fire evacuation areas. You can see maps at the venue. We are excited to see you guys on the court! Team LSBC

**Update: full for drums, bass, piano, guitar, 1 of 3 spots taken for lead instruments** *\*\* The 9M Studios sessions are now 3 hours long. The group is encouraged to use the last hour to call additional songs that are not on the repertoire list - similar to an open jam, or to experiment with arrangements such as intros and endings for the original repertoire. \*\** full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. already full for your instrument? Please check back on Wednesday mornings, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: 9M Studios, SE17 1DX **Who's it for** anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responbility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat 7 Feb)** * Blues in the Closet in F (warm up) (Stanley Turrentine) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9vNUao-Cww](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9vNUao-Cww) * Corcovado in C (note odd number of measures) (Cannonball Adderley) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=open6GCI6ZA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=open6GCI6ZA) * Caravan in Fm (note: the form is AABA, first chord C7) (tricky, rhythm instruments learn accompany parts) (Stringspace) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTnxMoRWd8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTnxMoRWd8) * There is no greater love in Bb (Freddie Hubbard) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelwhSdHhw0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelwhSdHhw0) Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat 14 Feb)** * Autumn Leaves in Gm (Art Pepper) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmaCfzyf9NY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmaCfzyf9NY) * Chameleon in Bbm (Stringspace) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynX6UywBl9Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynX6UywBl9Y) * Beatrice in F (Sam Rivers) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs) * Beautiful Love in Dm (Munne, Hamilton) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gcuEdDzg-g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gcuEdDzg-g) **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, and microphones. Limited number of music stands. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Vocalists** singers very welcome though usually I suggest you come to the intermediate sessions where you can pick your own song and key (as chances are many of the above are not in the right key for your range) **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

**Update: full for drums, guitar, piano, lead instruments** full list of scheduled sessions: https://www.meetup.com/Practice-Jazz-Jam-Sessions/events/ **What is it** The novice rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity for people who are relatively new to jazz, to play in a friendly, low-pressure environment. With a short set list that attendees can prepare in advance, it becomes a little less daunting to play and get the most out of practising in a group. See below for this week's setlist. Please sign up before attending. Already full for your instrument? Please check back every other Wednesday, when new sessions go live. If you keep not being able to get a spot, please message the organiser (Xie). Location: Vortex upstairs **Who's it for** Anyone who has practised following the forms (chord progressions) of jazz tunes - maybe on their own at home - and would like to build up playing experience, expand repertoire and practice performing with other musicians. There are various introductions on how jazz jams work - see e.g. https://jazznightschool.org/pages/jam-session-basics You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing. While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements. Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas. Playing the melody, or "head" - the responsibility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time. **What it's like** A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on. Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments. **Tunes this week (Sat 7 Feb)** * Blues in the Closet in F (warm up) (Stanley Turrentine) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9vNUao-Cww](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9vNUao-Cww) * Corcovado in C (note odd number of measures) (Cannonball Adderley) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=open6GCI6ZA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=open6GCI6ZA) * Caravan in Fm (note: the form is AABA, first chord C7) (tricky, rhythm instruments learn accompany parts) (Stringspace) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTnxMoRWd8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTnxMoRWd8) * There is no greater love in Bb (Freddie Hubbard) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelwhSdHhw0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelwhSdHhw0) Everyone is encouraged to listen to a variety of recordings for each song, but please ensure you are familiar with the recording provided as a primary reference. **Tune preview - next novice session (Sat 14 Feb)** * Autumn Leaves in Gm (Art Pepper) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmaCfzyf9NY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmaCfzyf9NY) * Chameleon in Bbm (Stringspace) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynX6UywBl9Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynX6UywBl9Y) * Beatrice in F (Sam Rivers) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lnek_Z_Zs) * Beautiful Love in Dm (Munne, Hamilton) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gcuEdDzg-g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gcuEdDzg-g) **Preparing for the session** The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books. Resource for sheet music: https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html http://therealbook.info/ Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc. Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off **Equipment** there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, stands, and microphones. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch **Vocalists** Singers are welcome, however please note that the songs have fixed keys, and some of the repertoire are likely not in the right key for your range. If you are an experienced singer, it may be possible to arrange sessions with repertoire catered to you - to explore this, please first come to the "Afternoon Open Jams" so I can get a sense of your singing. **Observing** Would you like to attend a session without playing/singing, to get an idea of the format or to get a sense of what to practise first at home? You can sign up as usual to any novice session, and send me a message that you'd like only to watch the session. When you feel ready, the fee paid can be carried over toward any future session where you join to play or sing at the rehearsal. **Cancellation policy** Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible. Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session. \-\-\-\-\- any questions do get in touch!

Join us for an evening at one of London's most amazing locations for night photography. Shooting around Tower Bridge we'll help you take photos of Tower Bridge, the City and the Shard at night. This workshop is aimed at everyone from beginners / refreshers to those who want to do night shooting in the safety of a group. EQUIPMENT * Tripod (necessary) * Any camera * Kit lens 24-70 or similar * A fun and experimental attitude! OTHER ESSENTIALS * Dress warmly and appropriately for the weather TRAVEL * Check the TFL website for any issues that might disrupt your journey CONTACT * Alex 07956 264049 OTHER EVENTS https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar

I am proud to announce that we having our jam at the Temple Of Art & Music in Elephant & Castle!! The jam is called MIC DROP and it is a freestyle jam meaning there is going to be no setlist. The aim is for everyone to have fun and jam with an emphasis of trying to come up with new original sounds/songs and improvisation. The Temple Of Art and Music is a live music venue and bar in Elephant & Castle so I encourage anyone attending to bring friends as it will be great fun for them even if they are not playing. The venue has a PA system, drum kit, mics and guitar/bass amps. There is no guarantee that there will be cymbals or drum accessories with the drum kit at the venue. Drummers please being your own if you can. Like all our other jams it will be a chance to jam with other musicians playing the music that you love in a gentle environment with no judgement and no pressure. This jam also uniquely gives the opportunity to play in front of a crowd! Tickets are **£10 online** message us let us know what instrument you play and we will confirm if there is space and send you the Eventbrite link for the jam. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information about this jam and London Jam Sessions. At London Jam Sessions we have an active community on WhatsApp where we all discuss the upcoming jams and future events. Everyone in the community is encouraged to ask questions and bring forward new ideas. Dm me and I can add you to our Whatsapp group.

Join us for an evening at one of London's most amazing locations for night photography. Shooting around Tower Bridge we'll help you take photos of Tower Bridge, the City and the Shard at night. This workshop is aimed at everyone from beginners / refreshers to those who want to do night shooting in the safety of a group. EQUIPMENT * Tripod (necessary) * Any camera * Kit lens 24-70 or similar * A fun and experimental attitude! OTHER ESSENTIALS * Dress warmly and appropriately for the weather TRAVEL * Check the TFL website for any issues that might disrupt your journey CONTACT * Alex 07956 264049 **VALENCIA PHOTOGRAHY WEEKEND - April 2026** [www.meetup.com/londonphotographicopa/events/313112221/](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographicopa/events/313112221/) OTHER EVENTS [https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographicopa/events/calendar](https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar)

Afternoon sessions, free and open to a public audience. Anyone can join in to play (or sing) - please put your name and instrument (or vocals) down on the sign up sheet, which will usually be on the downstairs bar. **New format: the open jam will start shortly after 3pm, open from the start to those who are dropping by to join us.** The house band will also play a couple of songs throughout the afternoon, including from the [future standards](https://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/future-standards-3-2024-04-14-2024-05-12-2024-06-09-2024-08-03/2024-09-22/) repertoire - which everyone is also encouraged to call. Contact me for sheet music. There will also be a possible break for a 30 minute novice+, improver or intermediate set. Many people also come to the open jam, who are looking to join a novice+ or intermediate rehearsal for the first time, so I can get a sense of your playing first. We'll likely go somewhere for food afterwards. See you then Xie

Philosophy in the Park is a philosophical discussion group. Open to all. No previous philosophical experience necessary. We will meet in the Barbican Centre on Level Minus 1. Outside The Hall. Here's how it works: * At the start of each hour vote on which questions to discuss. You can vote for more than one question if you'd like. The questions with the most votes are the questions we discuss. * We then break up into groups and each group does a different question. The question is just a starting point and it's cool if you go on tangents and up end talking about different things. You're welcome to join in and participate or if you'd prefer you're welcome to sit back and enjoy the conversation. After an hour we all come back together, take a quick break and then repeat all over again. So in 3 hours we go around 3 times. The aim is to have fun, meet new people, generate interesting and thought-provoking conversations, have your horizons expanded, challenge your preconceptions and who knows - you might even learn something? In order to make the conversations as fun, interesting and productive for everyone as possible please follow these simple guidelines: 1. Keep it Philosophical (No Science, no History, no Evolutionary Psychology, no contestable facts, personal anecdotes etc). 2. Think for Yourself (No phones, no looking up definitions, no name dropping Philosophers / books you've read). 3. Tangents are Cool (Don't worry too much if the subject drifts and you don't answer the question). 4. Keep it Succinct (Like this). 5. Be Excellent to Each Other (But of course). Philosophy is about conceptual analysis. It's thinking about thinking. It's not about empiricism or the real world. It's about abstractions, concepts and ideas. To terms of the right attitude: It's not about debating and trying to win - it's about listening to people and working collaboratively to increase our collective understanding. No homework or prior knowledge or reading is necessary - simply come and enjoy the discussions. After the event finishes we have an area reserved in The Shakespeare pub which is just around the corner from the Barbican. You are very welcome to join us if you'd like. If you would like to submit a question please join the Whatsapp group. Question submissions take place on the Thursday before the meeting. We hope to see you there. Nice one. ... To join the Philosophy in the Park WhatsApp Group please click here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK) (in order to stop spam bots this will take you to a Waiting Room. Once in please write your name and we will join you to the main chat). If the link doesn't work then please send me a message with your phone number and I can add you directly. Meetup charges subscription fees. If you would like to make a donation please click here: [https://paypal.me/philosophycollective](https://paypal.me/philosophycollective)

### 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/)

**New Dojo Location!** **Draft Day Columbus** 1130 Dublin Road Columbus, OH 43215 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for topic suggestions and people interested in presenting at our monthly meetings. To this end we've set up a survey form at [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15eBKF1nQQ2XS5gzD4rvhVRHMBEj7lJtHuA9wXupS3Uc)

**Caller: Dan Kappus** **Band: Trillium** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

Come out to Improving for our monthly iOS and Mac meetings. This Month's Presentation: Bring a lightning talk with you and let's learn some quick things. What is Cocoaheads (http://cocoaheads.org/)? CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X and iOS (including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch). During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics. What is BuckeyeCocoa (http://buckeyecocoa.org/)? BuckeyeCocoa is a group of Objective-C/Swift developers/enthusiasts. We host monthly Cocoaheads and near-weekly NSCoder meetings in Columbus, Ohio. The meetings are free to attend. Presentations! Presenters welcome! We are always in need of people willing to present material. Any Swift and/or Objective-C related topic is welcome. Times can be 5 minutes (i.e. lightning talks) to a maximum of 2 hours. Interested? Contact info is on the BuckeyeCocoa website. To volunteer for a presentation contact us at @BuckeyeCocoa on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter! @BuckeyeCocoa (https://twitter.com/#!/Buckeyecocoa/) For more information: http://buckeyecocoa.org/

Join us as Evan Stone demonstrates how to leverage Python and AI to create intelligent automations for Minecraft servers. Learn how to build custom tools that enhance player experiences through automated tasks, smart game mechanics, and AI-driven features. Whether you're interested in game development, automation, or practical AI applications, this talk will show you how Python can transform multiplayer gaming experiences. AGENDA: 7:00pm - Opening announcements 7:10pm - Automating Minecraft with Python and AI 7:50pm - Q&A

Let’s meet and discuss whatever comes to mind about one of Tennesse Williams’ most famous plays.