Immodest Proposals XV: Head in the Cloud

Hello again, everyone!

It's time for Immodest Proposals XV.

In recent years, the Internet has become something of a mainstay of modern life in the developed world. It is now a pipeline of human information, connected to our kitchens, bedrooms, televisions, and telephones--so much more than the network of large university computers first envisioned during the Cold War!

With that, we've found that the Internet can be a convenient place to store information about ourselves and to help manage our lives. Our calendars, our contacts, our to-do lists, our medical information, and even the odd trivia fact are all now stored at the touch of a button. Often this means that we stop storing these things in our heads, that we come to rely on these devices to the exclusion of our own mental capacities.

For some, this can negatively affect focus and presence of mind. For others, this can bring them to heights of productivity that were not possible before our lives moved "to the cloud."

So, for Immodest Proposals XV, we are going to discuss how the use of these "outsourced brain" services can help us, hurt us, or anything in between. We will discuss whether it is the technology, or the user, who needs to be changed to preserve mental focus.

A second, special part of the discussion will center on mental techniques from various traditions of mental discipline which can be used to deal with the many interrupts and changes that these technologies can introduce in our lives.

So, Join John Skylar at the Way Station on Monday, March 19th to discuss whether cloud-based services expand our abilities at the expense of our minds!

THE VENUE

We'll get together at The Waystation, an awesome bar in Prospect Heights, and discuss these questions.

Waystation is the only steampunk bar we've ever heard of, and for anyone who is a Doctor Who fan, it's also got a TARDIS restroom that's bigger on the inside!

For those of you who don't like British science fiction, the bar slings some excellent drinks and always has a good craft brew on tap.

THE GORY DETAILS (and COST)

$5 in advance/$10 at the door (no fees) Free for those who have purchased a subscription for this season (through Immodest Proposals XX)!

We've set it up so that you can pay in advance when you RSVP with meetup! Online RSVPs will be open though February 13th at 4 PM.

DOORS at 7:30, event starts at 8:00.

As last time, if we get more than 20 attendees, we'll be raffling off a free Better Worlds t-shirt! Hopefully we'll see one or two of our past winners there with their t-shirt.

ALSO AS LAST TIME, the Way Station is offering happy hour pricing to us throughout the event, so you get even more with your attendance.

All costs go right back in to getting awesome opportunities and venues for Immodest Proposals meetings. Not a cent is wasted.

Sadly, we cannot offer refunds if you miss the event.