Sorge bereitende Hypotheken

Hi everyone! Let’s take a walk along the Belgian coast to enjoy some fresh salty air and gaze at the horizon. We’re planning a walk of around 3 hours starting east of Ostende (Oosterover) passing De Haan and finishing in Wenduine or whenever we collectively decide to go back to the van by tram😊 Meeting point: Tournay-Solvaypark Entrance (Boitsfort Train Station) 💶 Contribution: €20 per person, which covers fuel, parking, as well as snacks and drinks along the way. Kindly complete your registration before signing up. Thank you. Yifei Yang BE12363234512492 Communication: your name+ event Group size: small and cozy — limited to 6 people ( 7 seats in the van) If you prefer to drive your own car or come by train/bus, you’re very welcome to join us as well (No need for payment) In this case, please contact the organizers.

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @ **Château Moderne**, on Saturday, is 18 April 2026, from 10:00 - 13:00. **Château Moderne will be changing its name to Radio Moderne!** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the place, you will see a long table that is set up for the event. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== *** **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I post the event on Saturday/Sunday for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder as an email or a comment on the event page on Thursday/Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the first three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON SATURDAY!** **LOCATION:** Château Moderne Mont des Arts 1 1000 Bruxelles

**This weekend’s hike takes us through the heart of Haspengouw at the peak of the blossom season.**Expect gently rolling landscapes filled with **flowering apple, pear and cherry trees** turning the region into a sea of white and soft pink. We start our hike in **Alken**, walking through the nature reserve **De Grote Beemd**, following the river **Herk** and passing the historic **Graetmolen**. From there the route leads us straight into the ***orchards where the blossom landscape changes*** with every turn. Along the way we may even come across a **pop‑up bar between the orchards** — the perfect place to pause, enjoy the moment and soak in the spring atmosphere. We’ll have our lunch break near the elegant **Mariagaarde Castle** before continuing mostly along the **GR 128 (Vlaanderenroute)** towards **Sint‑Truiden** on quiet paths with wide views over blooming Haspengouw. After our hike we can continue our good habit, of taking a nice beer/pancake/snack in a local pub in Sint-Truiden before returning to Brussels. ***Don't forget to pay Maikel a drink :-)*** We will walk both ***on paved and unpaved roads***. I’ve ***never walked this road before*** so it’s possible that there are some mistakes in the planning. **●●Meeting point** We meet at ***08h20 in front of the Starbucks in Brussels Central***. The train ( IC1507 Hasselt) leaves from ***platform 3 at 08h41***. We arrive at our ***destination Alken at 09h49*** and start our hike to Sint-Truiden. **●● Train tickets** ***\- single ticket Brussels to Alken \(11\,40 € weekend / 6\,80 € with train card\+\)*** ***\- single ticket Sint\-Truiden to Brussels \(10\,20 € weekend / 6\,10 € with train card\+\)*** **●● Trains back to Brussels:** There is a ***direct train train every hour*** from Sint-Truiden to Brussels at ***XX:19 from platform 1.*** ***LAST TRAIN = 22h19*** **●● Specifics** distance: \~ 27 km elevation gain: \~ 101 m net walking time: \~ 6h00 level: ***easy – open to everyone*** ***In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike, even few hours before the event. If this must happen, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So, it is important to have access to either the Meetup.com website and/or your emails.*** ●● ***What to bring*** \- warm comfortable hiking clothes – ***waterproof hiking shoes*** \- extra socks to change \+ compeed for blisters \- enough water \(min 2 l\) and food for lunch/breaks \- sun protection oil\, a hat and sunglasses OR a raincoat (please consult the weather forecast on [www.meteo.be](http://www.meteo.be/)) **\- some money to pay Maikel a drink ;\-\)** ●● ***Basic rules*** Please RSVP only if you ***really intend to come***. And if your plans change ***update your RSVP latest 1 day before the hike*** so other people still have the possibility to join. This is basic courtesy towards others. ***People who cancel at the last day or don’t show up for the hike will be blacklisted for future hikes.*** Do not show up for a hike unless you are on the roster (i.e. Yes RSVP - but not Wait Listed) **●● *Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability*** **By signing up for this event you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.**

!!!!!!!!!!!!! READ ALL OF THIS - MANDATORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it is raining at or close to start time consider the ride cancelled. Common sense prevails. Ride length is generally about 35 kms at a pace of 18 kph with stops as needed so people catch up. We are advanced in terms of fitness and speed. We do have occasional beginner rides too. (http://redirect.viglink.com?key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&u=https%3A//goo.gl/maps/qKG78wnW2dk) Please bring: A MOUNTAIN BIKE ! This is important. NO hybrids or road bikes - they won’t make it where we ride. The club is a MOUNTAIN BIKE club. E-Bikes are discouraged – we are trying to get some exercise 😊 A HELMET - MANDATORY ! No helmet = no ride with us. WEAR A HELMET !!!!!! And no, I don't care if you drove 2 hours and forgot your helmet ! Bring some water and a snack. A spare tube. DON'T BRING: A bike that is going to fall apart. Brakes need to brake, tires need to be properly inflated. Shifters need to shift ! The time to confirm this is a few days BEFORE the ride so you are not scrambling the morning of the ride. Don’t bring: kick stands, bike locks, fenders, baskets or fenders/mud guards they will just fall off and slow you down! Take this stuff off before you come. Meet at: Cool island / Ave Louise Avenue Louise 589, 1000 Bruxelles goo.gl/maps/qKG78wnW2dk (http://redirect.viglink.com?key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&u=https%3A//goo.gl/maps/qKG78wnW2dk) As an FYI we're the http://www.bigm.be/ (http://redirect.viglink.com?key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&u=https%3A//goo.gl/maps/qKG78wnW2dk) Big M mountain bike club. We invite you to come out and join us. If you decide that this is a club you'd like to join the yearly dues are 15 euros and that entitles you to access to our members only forum and calendar etc.

**Join us for an hour of writing!** We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 11:00 - Quick introductions 11:15 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 12:15 - The End: chat, take off, or keep writing OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 12:15. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! **What Should I Bring?** Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s overhead music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. There are plugs in the cafe but we may not be seated right next to them, so please charge any device before coming ! **Other Important Details:** WIFI : the cafe has wifi, the password is written on the menu TRAVEL / PARKING: The cafe is in the center of the city. An uncovered bike rack is available. For more information on parking, please visit https://leuven.be/parkeren SEATING INFORMATION: Please RSVP so I know how many seats to book ! GUIDELINES: **You are required to order at least one thing to support the café.**

What's up Friends! 👋 
Ready for some bouldering fun? Boulder-what? 🤔 It’s climbing (FR: escalade, le bloc) up to 4.5m high without ropes—and in my case, without much hope! 😂✨ It’s a super fun indoor activity, but be warned: it does require a certain level of physical fitness and/or skill. Most importantly, though, it requires awesome company—which we’ve got! 😎
 The Idea: 📍 Meeting Point: For those arriving at 17:00, we’ll meet at the cafeteria (next to the billiards table). Feel free to start earlier or later—just drop me a message or write in the group chat so we can meet up. 💪 Stay & climb as long as you want - venue closes at midnight! 🥤 Recharge: If you’ve had enough climbing for the day (we usually do this after 2 hours of climbing), we may head back to the cafeteria (or to the rooftop if it's sunny🌤️) for snacks, drinks & games. Cafeteria closes at 22:00. Where: 📍Arkose: (Brussels Canal) Rue Willy de Bruyn Straat 52, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique 🔗 https://arkose.com/

Fees: 🤑Entry fee without shoes: - 18 eur (first-timers 10€ with online promo activated) - reduced rates: students, minors, job seekers, firefighters, military (proof required) 👟 Shoe Rental: 5€ (if you don’t have your own) 🎫 10-session pass: 150€
 Good to Know: ✍️ First-timers need to create an account (takes 5min) - do it in advance and pay online to pay less and avoid wasting time onsite 💦 Hydration is key! Bring a water bottle. 🔐 Lockers available, but bring your own padlock. 🚿 Changing rooms & showers on-site. 👕 Wear comfy sports clothes—it gets intense! 🧴 Only liquid magnesium is allowed (for grip) - in reality most people use powder🤫 👟 Thinking of going regularly? Bouldering shoes are a great investment! (Decathlon: ~45-65€ per pair.)

⚠️ Safety First! Bouldering is fun, but safety comes first! Stay alert, know your limits, and don’t take unnecessary risks. Enjoy responsibly! 💪 
📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check your messages 👀 at least on the day before the event to avoid missing critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊
👉Can’t make it? Cancel or drop a message in the chat - helps running things smoothly! 👉 Don't show up if you are on the waiting list or show up at your own risk. 
See you at the walls folks😉

PLEASE NOTE: this session will exceptionally begin at 14h and end at 17h What comes to mind when we hear the word "dream"? 1) Experiences we undergo while sleeping? 2) Hopes, desires and goals we cherish for the future? 3) Daydreaming? 4) Imagining, thought-experimenting, inventing? 5) ...? How are all these various forms of dreaming connected to our waking, here-and-now lives? What life experiences have you had that noticeably influenced your dreams? What dreams have you had that especially affected, possibly changing or even transforming, your life? How can we maximize the value of our dreams? How can we maximize the value our waking/here-and-now experiences have on our dreams? What can dreams teach us about consciousness? [Jef, might you want to add Jung and Freud to the BINGO cards? 😉😅] How do dreaming and non-dreaming affect self-identity, and vice-versa? Should we categorically aim to avoid all nightmares (or not)? Does free will exist in dreams? Do all dreams carry messages? (What) can we learn (something) from the "logic" of dreams? Can dreams predict the future? (How) can we know whether we are dreaming or not dreaming? If our waking consciousness would turn out to be all a dream after all, how might "waking consciousness lucid dreaming" manifest itself to us? "Life, as I experience it, is an ongoing quest to search for, collect and process "dream material": scenes, sounds and events during waking life that will inevitably return later (sometimes much later) during dream sleep, (dis)guised in all various forms and permutations ... only to resurface, rematerialize and recur in new configurations and in new contexts during future waking life. Like the ongoing cycle of breathing, a continual exchange of "dream material" is constantly occurring, oscillating back and forth between waking and sleeping, between consciousness and the unconscious, between past and future." — Alnata Karuna This session will be an opportunity to talk about and to share our dreams - in whatever forms or contents - and to explore together their possible roles and significance in our lives. [https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams](https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams) [https://allaboutpsychology.substack.com/p/the-psychology-of-daydreaming](https://allaboutpsychology.substack.com/p/the-psychology-of-daydreaming) [https://youtu.be/oiAQlDBJ88U?is=XGS_yOiQ_quk9N4f](https://youtu.be/oiAQlDBJ88U?is=XGS_yOiQ_quk9N4f) [https://youtu.be/gemBa8L7jQo?is=DsTTxyu0vwddr76f](https://youtu.be/gemBa8L7jQo?is=DsTTxyu0vwddr76f) [https://youtu.be/5cCW2a8kT3Q?is=ERhHppMUhtwG0wdt](https://youtu.be/5cCW2a8kT3Q?is=ERhHppMUhtwG0wdt)

Spirit Walks are unique nature hikes meant to lift up anyone's spirit, in a friendly, meaningful and even partially therapeutic way. It's usually a lot of fun, since we value authentic connection, share a healthy lunch, keep a positive/dynamic mindset, while maintaining safe, vulnerable space for whatever wants to come in the moment. We value an adventurous spirit, creativity, deep connection and authenticity. In a spontaneous way, it could happen that we stop and learn about a medicinal plant, do a somatic (stretch) exercise, do a silent meditation, an authentic relating game or a creative expression, all with the goal of coming back to ourselves, reconnect with others and get absorbed by the wonderful and powerful healing aspects of our surrounding nature. As a experienced trauma- and burn-out therapist, Ken knows very well how to create a feel-good, nurturing and healing atmosphere in a natural, unassuming way. It can bring back joy and energy in someone's life. You'll never feel alone. For this particular hike, we will experience the wonderful nature reserve the 'Doode Beemde' and its beautiful surroundings, starting and coming back at Oud-Heverlee station. It's nto a very difficult hike, nothing to stress about, it's around 13km. There's a few communication guidelines to keep in the back of your minds during our hikes: This is supposed to be inclusive, fun & a bit adventurous. We love some deep talks, but try to avoid any polarizing topics, gossip and complaining. Be respectful to each others' viewpoints and try not to judge too openly. We should be able to get back at the station around 16h45h approx. I'm personally going by car, if others of you have space in their car, please propose your free seats in the comment section of this hike. You're responsible for your own safety and well-being down the road. In case something happens (you get lost, you can't proceed,...), we will do our common best to find a solution, but don't expect the whole group to become dependent. Take care and see you soon! Ken

Let's meet to write ! Schedule : 11:00 - 11:30 am : Presentation tour. Share briefly with the group about your project and your "goal of the day". 11:30 - 13:30 : Let's write ! 13:30 : Conclusion tour. Did you achieve your goal of the day ? See you soon !

Hello! This is a meet-up to play tennis from 2 pm to 4 pm on Sunday. Meeting is on the courts. The courts are booked under the name Jean-Marc. This event is for intermediate and advanced players and not organised for novice players or beginners. Please make sure to bring the exact sum of 10 € in cash. The event is non-commercial. This sum covers the cost of the courts reserved. The organizer is not there to make money out of you. Ladies are encouraged to join. If anyone wants to drop out, they should do it on Saturday morning, not on Sunday the day of the meetup, another wise it would be too late to find a replacement in time or to cancel a court in time with reimbursement. If you don't do this, you will be asked by the organizer to reimburse your participation fee. If this happens too late then those who have cancelled after Saturday morning will have to cover the extra cost for reserving the courts. In the past meetups, it happened too many times that we were an oneven number and because of that all those present had less fun to play. If you don't show up without giving a written excuse in time, the first future participation will be cancelled and you will be asked to reimburse the participation fee. If it happens too many times you will not be able to participate anymore. In case if we are an uneven number of players, then the last player (except the host of course who has to collect the money) can leave or persuade other players to play with him or her. Of course if the last player leaves, then he or she doesn't have to pay the participation fee. If this player leaves, he or she will be added on a future event by the host or organizer in the participation list if the player is far away in the waiting list. This is the advantage of leaving on a voluntary basis;-). We operate on the principle of Fair Play as we do not have umpires or referees. Any disputes or disagreements over line calls or scores should be resolved immediately on the court and, when agreement is not possible, the point or game should be replayed. To be able to replay the game, 3 players need to agree on that without manipulation of the one who disputes an entire game, anotherwise injustice could occur where in the end possibly the biggest cheater could win... This situation applies also, if the host or the organizer is involved. When one of the players still doesn't accept this compromise, then it should be reported (meetup message by preference) to the organizer or host of the meetup event. One of the consequences could be that the first upcoming event could be cancelled by the organizer for the player who doesn't comply with the compromise to play the point or the game again. If the same player does that again for a second time, then the person will see 4 of his next tennis meetups cancelled. If this happens a third time with the same player, then the player in question will be banned from all future tennis meetups with an exclusion as a final result. Whenever there is a big problem, it should be reported as well to the organizer of the group so he can, if necessary, take actions to improve the situation for all the players. Please also note that if you are the first on the waiting list, you will automatically be moved up to the attendance list if someone pulls out. So if you are on the waiting list and see that you cannot attend, please also change your status to not going. If you would like to organize a meet up either this week or next week please get in touch with me, my name is Jean-Marc. It will depend on your initiatives to create more tennis meetups per week.

What's up Friends! 👋 If the weather behaves🤞let’s head out for a walk in nature together.🌳✨ If it looks rainy, we’ll have to call it off - so let’s hope the sun🌤️shows up! 🏞️ Where: This time we are off to explore the magical Halle forest🪻🌳! 📍Meeting Points: (check map on the event page) • Point H: 10:20 Halle Train Station (not shown on the map): from here, you can hop on the free shuttle or rent a bike to get to Point B. • Point A: 11:00 Parking 1a (Hogebermweg – 1500 Halle) - best spot if you're coming by car. • Point B: 11:00 Parking 2 (⚠️ Not accessible by car) Bosmuseum (Vlasmarktdreef 4, Halle) - best spot if you take the shuttle from the train station Point AB: around 12:00-12:30 - perfect spot to catch up with the group if you started the walk elsewhere • Point C: around 13:00-14:00 - picnic area: our recharge station. ‼️The main group will start from point A. Check the event page the day before just in case there are any changes! ⏱Timing Be at point A around 5-10 minutes in advance. We will be on the move at 11:00 sharp. And if you get there later… well, good luck finding us! 👀😜 We will picnic at point C around 13:00. 💡 The idea We will walk for about 2-3 km and enjoy the views and the fresh air. We'll hang around point AB for some time to allow others to join the main group. Once we reach the picnic area we will take a longer break and recharge with some snacks. 👉What to bring? Enough food 🥪 to keep your soul happy (snacks 🍪 to share with the group are of course welcome). Don't forget your comfy clothes 🧥, walking shoes 👟, and most impotantly enough water 💦 to stay hydrated. ☝️Good to Know: About the venue: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/ 📝Practical info: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/ 🤑 Access to the forest is free. Getting there: 🚘 By car: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/car/ 🅿️ Free parking is available however spots can be tough to get at peak hours. To be on the safe side, you can also park for free in Halle (Welkomstlaan) and take the free shuttle (see below). Parking 2 is not accessible by car. 🚌 Free shuttle bus, available on the day of the event (every 30 min) can take you from Halle station (Stationsplein) to Parking 2 (point B) 🚂 For other (paid) public transport options from Halle station check here 🔗 https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/public-transport/ 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️ Bike rentals available at Halle station (about 5 km from the forest). 🔗 https://www.blue-bike.be/en/location-details/station-halle-e-lock-/ 🚦If you find yourself on the waiting list but you absolutely want to join or if you have any other question - feel free to contact me directly via the chat. 📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check 👀 the event page at least on the day before the event to avoid missing any critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉Respect nature 🚯♻️ & forest rules: https://www.hallerbos.be/en/visitors-info/bluebell-festival-2025/ 👉No formalities - just chill 😎
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊 👉Can’t make it? Cancel so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot 🙏 👉 Don't show up if you are on the waitlist See you there folks😉

Once a year, something special happens near Brussels… The forest of Hallerbos transforms into a purple-blue carpet of wild bluebells 🌸 , one of the most beautiful natural sights in Belgium. We’ll explore this magical forest together, enjoy a relaxed social walk, and take time to connect, take photos, and just enjoy the moment. 👉 Perfect mix of nature + good vibes + international community 🥾 The Plan - Meet 12:30 for brunch at Midi Station (Time Off) - Train departing from Midi station to Halle at 14:14 - Arrival Halle at 14:24 where we'll take a shuttle bus to the bluebell forest - Scenic walk through the bluebell forest - Distance: \~7–9 km (easy pace) - Duration: \~2.5–3 hours (with stops) - Photo stops & chill moments included 📸 - Optional drink or snack after the walk 🧡 No rush, no pressure — we walk together 🚆 Meeting Point & Transport We’ll go together from Brussels: 📍 Meeting point: (e.g. Brussels Central Station – exact spot shared before event) ⏰ Departure time: (to be confirmed) OR 📍 Direct meeting at Hallerbos (details shared in WhatsApp group) 🌍 Who’s This For? - Expats & locals - Nature lovers 🌿 - People who enjoy social walks - Solo attendees welcome 🙌 👉 You don’t need to know anyone — that’s the whole point 💸 Participation To join, you must be a Sunday Vacations member: - Explorer: (€5/year) - Voyager (€50/year) - Ambassador (€150/year) 👉 Membership: [https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership) ⚠️ Important Notes - Bluebells are fragile → please stay on paths - Bring comfortable shoes (can be muddy) - Weather-appropriate clothing \*Respect nature 🌿 📲 WhatsApp Group A WhatsApp group will be created before the event for: - Live updates - Meeting point confirmation - Easy coordination 🌟 Why Join? Because moments like this are rare… And they’re even better when shared with the right people. [www.sundayvacations.com](www.sundayvacations.com)

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

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

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

This month's prompt concerns the idea of the “warrior philosopher” (seemed appropriate in these times)--that is someone whose understanding of violence, power, and justice is forged through direct experience of war. We are looking at Major General Smedley D. Butler, a highly decorated U.S. Marine raised in a Quaker (pacifist) tradition who later became a prominent critic of American militarism (there is a wonderful biography of Gen. Butler called "Gangsters of Capitalism") Butler's argument in *War Is a Racket* (1935): that many U.S. interventions were driven less by national defense than by corporate and financial interests, with Butler portraying himself as an enforcer for business and Wall Street. We can consider the moral ambiguity of his insider critique—whether complicity strengthens or undermines credibility and also consider some of the concrete reforms he proposed (e.g., “conscript” capital before soldiers, restrict the military to coastal defense, and have only those who fight decide on war). Butler’s life arc clearly changed from pacifist upbringing to warrior to antiwar crusader—and asks whether true understanding of peace requires firsthand knowledge of war, and what that implies about the cost of suffering. So do we need to suffer to understand suffering? Do we have to experience war to appreciate peace? As one more question: in the movie "A Few Good Men" Jack Nicholson's character says that "you have the luxury of not knowing what I know" so do most of us go through life oblivious to real violence and suffering? See you at Drunken Philosophy!

Let’s get together for a relaxed Saturday brunch! This will be the very first event for our group. Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, get out more, or just enjoy good conversation over brunch, this is the perfect place to start. We’ll be meeting at The Goat Gahanna for great food, drinks, and a welcoming, no-pressure atmosphere.

**The idea for this group is to build a community where men can gather together and build connections & learn and grow from each other.** How we start each meeting is by each of us checking in with our "roses and thorns" aka what are the good things and the bad things going on in your life recently? Then we will go into a topic discussion. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS** \*\*THERE WILL BE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR NO-SHOWS. IF YOU RSVP TO A MEETING AND FAIL TO SHOW UP WITHOUT NOTICE, YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE GROUP. THIS IS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE GROUP\*\* 1. Confidentiality - EVERYTHING that is shared NEVER leaves this space so that this space remains safe and sacred. There is a zero tolerance policy for this. If a man is in violation of this, they will be permanently removed from the group. 2. Non-Judgement - we respect and honor every man’s truth so that we may receive the same from others. While we may not agree on everything, we commit to respecting every man’s perspectives and engaging in honorable discussion with one another. 3. Be committed - honor your commitment to this group and to yourself. If you attend a meeting, please commit yourself fully to the meeting. Also be committed to your own journey. When we fail, we own it & clean it up. 4. Speak from the heart - this is NOT a space to “look good”, have the “right” answers, and have it all together. Relax and know you are not alone. Be exactly who you are within the safety of this space. 5. Be supportive - This means always willing to provide encouragement to your fellow men, encourage action and momentum in each other’s lives.. Be willing to challenge each other. Be willing to hold each other accountable. 6. Participation - what you receive from this community will be a reflection of what you put into it. Period. We ask that you share your perspectives, reflect on others, and give/receive support when and where it’s needed.