Travel Companions

🇭🇷 Programiranje u paru je kada dvije osobe rade na istom zadatku, za istim računalom, u isto vrijeme. Na prvi pogled zvuči dvostruko skuplje — kako to uopće može biti jeftinije? U ovom predavanju istražit ćemo zašto je ta intuicija pogrešna. Pogledat ćemo kako solo programiranje tiho gomila skrivene troškove, te kako programiranje u paru, kada se pravilno prakticira, sprječava mnoge od njih prije nego što nastanu. Pridružite nam se i saznajte zašto bi rad u paru mogao biti najpametnija investicija koju možete napraviti. 🇬🇧 Pair programming is two people working on the same task, at the same computer, at the same time. At first glance, that sounds twice as expensive — how could that possibly be cheaper? In this talk, we’ll explore why that intuition is wrong. We’ll look at how solo programming quietly accumulates hidden costs, and how pair programming, when practiced well, prevents many of them before they form. Join us and discover why working in pairs might be the smartest investment you can make. 📣 Speaker: [Marko Bjelac](https://www.linkedin.com/in/markobjelac) ⏰ Schedule: \- Introduction \- Pair programming is cheaper \- Q&A or ⚡LIVE PAIRING⚡ \(if test subject is acquired\) ©️ Image by [freepik](https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/people-cooking-illustration_7882565.htm)

**Hey fellow AWS enthusiasts! ✨** Last time we heard a lot about the latest announcements from AWS re:Invent 2025, featuring AWS' new **[Agentic AI IDE Kiro](https://kiro.dev/)**! This evening, we are welcoming **[Marco Strauß](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco333444555/)**, a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, supporting customers in the Manufacturing sector. With his talk **"AI-driven Software Development - Dawn of a New Age?"**, he will introduce Kiro, the new agentic AI with an IDE and CLI that helps you go from prototype to production with spec-driven development. Using Kiro's structured approach will help you go far beyond the boundaries of vibe coding and deliver production ready software at scale. A special shoutout to our friends from **[nerdware](https://www.nerdware.dev/)** who supporting us with location, drink and food! **📆 Tonight's Agenda** 18:45 - Doors Open 19:00 - Welcoming by our hosts 19:15 - Talk by our speaker 20:00 - Pizza, Drinks & Networking Looking forward to seeing you 👋🏻 Nora & Frank

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

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

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

Speaker: **Tomislav Maričević** Title: **Nix ❤️ Python: Maybe you don't need devcontainers after all** Life is too short to wait for Docker image rebuilds during everyday development. This talk shows how Nix and devenv provide deterministic, host-native development environments that model compilers, runtimes, system libraries, and tooling as a reproducible dependency graph — eliminating much of the toolchain complexity developers often push into Docker and Docker Compose. We will compare the failure modes each approach addresses, demonstrate where devenv can replace Compose in local workflows, and clarify where containers remain the correct abstraction. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Join us on **Tuesday** at MaMa for a fun technical deep dive. Drinks and, most likely, very opinionated discussion afterwards at [Old Pharmacy Pub](https://maps.app.goo.gl/AeaRdnBrMqPiRhvPA) 🍻🍷🥤☕️

We’re happy to announce the next **AWS User Group Zagreb meetup**, once again focused on a **recap of this year’s AWS re:Invent**, followed by a short startup spotlight. **Date**: February 12, 2026 **Time**: 18:00 **Venue**: Planinska 13a, third floor, Tellus [Google Maps Link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/bMHxbf56yZni87ip6) When you exit the elevator, the doors are on the right with a sign "Tellus". ### **Speakers** **Bojan Sovilj** Bojan is an active AWS community member and frequent speaker who regularly attends AWS re:Invent. He focuses on translating AWS announcements into practical insights, helping teams understand how new services and changes impact real-world architectures and development workflows. **Bruno Rožman** Bruno is part of the Sonder AI team and will briefly introduce the product and its motivation. **Ante Čerkez** Ante is the CTO at Sonder AI and will touch on how AWS is used to support the Sonder platform. *** ### **Agenda** #### **AWS re:Invent 2025 Recap** **Speaker:** Bojan Sovilj AWS re:Invent continues to grow every year, with a large number of announcements across infrastructure, application development, data, and AI. In this session, Bojan will deliver a **structured and practical recap of AWS re:Invent 2025**, focusing on the announcements and trends that are most relevant for AWS users today. The talk will cover: * The most important **service launches and updates** * Key **technology and architectural trends** introduced at re:Invent * Context on what is truly new versus incremental changes * How these updates may influence **application design, infrastructure, and operations** Rather than attempting to cover everything, the session will focus on **relevance and impact**, helping attendees decide what’s worth exploring further. *** #### **Startup Spotlight: Sonder AI** **Speakers:** Bruno Rožman & Ante Čerkez **Topic:** **Why networking is inefficient today and how Sonder is building a “personal connection system” using AWS** A short startup-focused talk on: * The problem Sonder is addressing in modern networking * How AWS supports their product development *** ### **Networking** After the talks, we’ll continue with informal networking, drinks, and discussions with fellow AWS community members. *** **Attendance is free, registration is required.**

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

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online 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) The formal presentation will start at noon

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Cup O Joe Coffee House](https://www.cupojoe.com/)!

Your Friday night just got better! Join us at select [#MarketDistrict](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/marketdistrict?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXglupYTNnuPXhU3gU2DI9GInOg8OWWSvEJTry0VDGnMwh3tC6LxAkyc13s7j-hzoCa7zpemBLJbwdOAIfL-4l-h-eX3x7UFBl6CgHm1ijsL9C9hR_jWvIa_CNOjxBCQzMpVcaRfKr1LrRukr4nY0KHoqN2w3gXLadSqHBf6hPcBx13ltDk2suI8GhnjfjDOUs&__tn__=*NK-R) (we are meeting at Grandview Yard) locations for Flights & Bites on the third Friday of the month from 5-8pm. We'll meet about 5:30pm til 7:00pm. Feel free to join us anytime before 6:45pm. **Cost: $15.00 per person *(covers 4 wine or beer samples paired with gourmet appetizers)*** **Meet**: The staff will set aside tables for our group, just behind the bar. Feel free to brings cards if you want to play after your tasting. Sometimes, we head to a venue to hear live music afterwards.

# **Band: Old Possum's Menagerie; Caller: Richard Ades** Beginner lesson at 1:30, regular dancing begins at 2:00 pm NOTE THAT WE ARE TEMPORARILY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF EVENING. Dance with us in the afternoon then you can still go out in the evening! **Sponsor: All Soles Contra and Square Dancing, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd., Columbus OH 43214** 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 1:30 - 2:00, followed by dancing 2:00 - 430. 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. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. If the weather cooperates we will be meeting in the patio. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

MCKS PRANIC HEALING® Level I In PRANIC HEALING® Level 1, you learn the basics of working with your energy aura, including learning to "scan," or feel the energy, to "sweep," or clean away congested energy, and to "energize," or supplement areas in your aura that have a pranic deficiency. PRANIC HEALING® has been taught to doctors, nurses, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, shiatsu practitioners, and many others in the healing field. It has allowed them to heal confidently and consistently in the shortest learning time possible. These professionals find PRANIC HEALING® very effective and easy to apply. Other topics covered in PRANIC HEALING® Level 1: Energetic anatomy: You will learn to work with the network of chakras, meridians and auras to accelerate the healing processes of your body. Preventive healing: You will learn to remove the negative energetic patterns of a disease to prevent it from fully manifesting as a physical ailment. Self-Pranic healing: You will learn to apply these healing techniques to accelerate your own healing. Step-by-step techniques for ailments related to your: respiratory system, e.g., asthma,; circulatory system, e.g., heart ailments; gastrointestinal system, e.g., irritable bowel syndrome; musculoskeletal system, e.g., arthritis and back pain; reproductive system, e.g., menstrual problems. You'll also learn how to address common problems as migraines and sinusitis. Additionally, you'll learn to apply distant healing to loved ones who are not present in the room with you. All PRANIC HEALING® courses are "experiential," which means that you learn by actually performing the techniques and exercises in class - on yourself and those around you. During class, all the principles will be explained thoroughly and you will practice the techniques exhaustively so you will be confident in your ability to produce positive results when you finish the course. This is Day 2 of 2 Attendance at day one is required to attend day 2. The Course text book is Choa Kok Sui, "Miracles through Pranic Healing" Please bring this with you to class. PRANIC HEALING® Level 1 is a prerequisite to all other GMCKS courses. For those interested to review the class...Review fee is only $75!! LOOK AT THIS!! Review for FREE when you bring a new student to class with you.

**Summary** For this event, we will do the [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/), a ten-thousand acre conservation center in Muskingum County. It is the largest such center in North America and one of the largest in the entire world. During this tour, we'll visit The Wilds' rhino herd in their state-of-the-art heated barns and learn how The Wilds' animal management team takes care of one of the largest herds of rhinos outside of Africa and Asia. **The date and time of this tour** We will be doing the 1:00 p.m. [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) on Saturday, February 28. The tour is scheduled to last 90 minutes. **What you need to do to attend** Signing up here on Meetup will not get you into The Wilds for the tour. You must go out to The Wilds' [website](https://www.thewilds.org/) and [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour). Please [purchase your ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour), then sign up here on Meetup so I know how many to expect. **Attendance cap** There are only eight total slots/tickets available for this tour. As I obviously have already bought one of the tickets, that leaves seven spaces for everyone else. If you are interested in this event, I urge you to [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at The Wilds' website as soon as possible. Since their website is obviously public, nothing prevents other people having nothing to do with *GOhio!* from buying their own tickets, thereby potentially taking an available slot away from you. **Additional notes on attendance** I have now run several events at The Wilds. While the location of The Wilds and the pricing of the tickets generally leads to small turnouts, the people who have gone have all enjoyed it and were glad they went. If you've never been to The Wilds and you like zoos or animals at all, you are likely to find any tour at The Wilds to be a rewarding experience. **Tickets and pricing** [Tickets](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) for this tour are $95, or $76 if you're a Wilds' member. I've posted screen shots, below, to help you be sure you're buying tickets for the correct event. Wilds' memberships pay for themselves if you go to The Wilds at least twice a year, and [Columbus Zoo members](https://www.columbuszoo.org/membership) get a discount on memberships to The Wilds. I will always run at least two events a year at The Wilds. Tickets for all Wilds' tours must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance of the actual tour. **Cancellations and refunds** Per The Wilds' [Cancellation Policy](https://www.thewilds.org/policies): *In order to be eligible for refund and accrue no rescheduling fees, cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance of reservation. Cancellations made within 14 days of reservation will not receive a refund.* You may [contact The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/contact) at (740) 638-5030 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can email them at information@thewilds.org. **Waiver of liability** After you purchase your ticket, you will likely be asked to fill out a waiver of liability. This is a very short document and should take you no more than two minutes to complete. **Where we'll meet** We will meet at The Wilds, whose actual address is [14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732](https://www.google.com/maps/place/14000+International+Rd,+Cumberland,+OH+43732/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837dae07a595557:0xa1ceca93325a8bd1?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Please try to be there by 12:30 p.m. For most Wilds' tours, a shuttle bus will take you to the actual spot of the tour. So think of this as though you're going to the airport to catch a flight. It helps to be on time. The Wilds generally asks that people arrive at least thirty minutes because the scheduled start time of their tour. **GPS / Getting to The Wilds** The Wilds is in a very rural area, but I've never had a problem getting there with my GPS (I have Verizon). I've also uploaded a JPG map, below, of Muskingum County. Sometimes, though, it's hard to get a signal when you're at The Wilds and getting ready to leave. So you might want to consider downloading an offline map in Google Maps. Your cell phone should pick up a signal, however, within a few minutes after you leave. The Wilds' Visitor Center does have free Wi-Fi. **Carpooling?** If you want to carpool, I recommend discussing this in the comments, below, to this event. While I don't myself carpool, I will do what I can to help you arrange something if I can. **The weather** Dress for the weather. Just because the barn is heated doesn't mean it will be warm. And wear closed-toed shoes. Wilds' tours typically run no matter what the weather is. **After the tour** Once we're done with the rhinos, we'll head over to the very highly rated [Y-Bridge Brewing Company](https://ybridgebrewing.com/). The brewery is about thirty minutes from The Wilds, and it will be on the way back to Columbus for most, if not all, of us. The brewery's actual address is [1417 Linden Ave Ste D, Zanesville, OH 43701](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1417+Linden+Ave+d,+Zanesville,+OH+43701/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837edd6cc50824f:0xe3a0af1ccb2aefbf?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Y-Bridge Brewing does not serve food; however, they have several [food options](https://ybridgebrewing.com/food-options). I encourage you to check these out ahead of time on their website for yourself. However, here are a few of them: *Within walking distance -- 120 feet away* * [Angry Bull Saloon](https://www.facebook.com/AngryBullSaloonZanesville/) (pizza & subs) * The Corner Pub Sports Bar and Grill (classic bar food) *Delivery options -- [Door Dash](https://www.doordash.com/)* * [4 Star Pizza](https://fourstarpizza.com/), (740) 452-9300 * [Donatos](https://www.donatos.com/), (740) 452-7900 * [Pizza Cottage](https://www.pizza-cottage.com/), (740) 455-6000 * [Dominos](https://www.dominos.com/), (740) 455-3126 * [Papa John's](https://www.papajohns.com/), (740) 450-4100 If you live in the area or can't make The Wilds but still want to meet us at the brewery, that's fine too.