Feministische Theorie

Get ready to **laugh, cringe, and cheer** at the **Festrogen Festival Open Mic Comedy Night**, your chance to support local comedians trying out new jokes! Whether they've been sharpening their jokes in our workshops or are a first-timer with a killer one-liner, this show has it all. Happening just before the **Gala Show** and, who knows, it might just steal the show before the main event! Let us know you're coming by **[booking your place here.](https://fienta.com/2026-open-mic-comedy)** **🎭 What’s in store:** * A **no-pressure, high-energy** space for comedians to try out new jokes or debut their stand-up persona. * A lovely venue in the gorgeous basement of Le Croque Bedaine. * The chance to **connect with comedians** and festival-goers. **💸 Pay-What-You-Can:** The event is free, but we’ll pass around a collection at the end to support the comedy community and keep the laughs coming. **Want to perform? Drop us a line to info@festrogenfestival.com** This event is organised by [Festrogen Festival](https://festrogenfestival.com/), a platform that aims to inspire and support women in comedy while levelling the playing field for performers from under-represented groups. The festival is organised with the support of the Luxembourg Culture Ministry. Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.

**As the grand finale of Festrogen Festival, this all-star comedy showcase brings together five of the sharpest, funniest feminist voices from across Western Europe.** Expect a night of razor-sharp wit, bold punchlines, and unapologetic hilarity, all wrapped up in the festival’s signature feminist and fun vibe. Taking place in the cosy basement of Le Croque Bedaine, this is the perfect space to spend a memorable Saturday—with a packed house, roaring laughter, and a show you do not want to miss. Tickets cost €20 in advance €25 on the door. **[Book your tickets here.](https://fienta.com/time-of-the-year)** Please note that the venue is not wheelchair accessible. However, if you have other specific needs, we will do our best to accommodate them. Please just drop us a line to let us know how we can help (info@festrogenfestival.com). ## About the artists **HP Loveshaft** is a time-traveling mad-scientist who came eye-to-eye with the Cosmic Anus & comes bearing Bad News: no-one is coming to save us. We must save ourselves & perhaps then we may save each other. HP Loveshaft incarnated in the former Soviet Union & came of age in Hollyweird USA. His studies of sex, sushi, swing dancing, sociology, sadomasochism & astrophysics made him insufferable at parties, so he turned to drag, where he could monologue to a captive audience at leisure. When the Jewish transsexual diaspora brought him to Berlin, he was inspired to minister to his own spiritual needs in a characteristically indecent manner. To reduce reliance on billionare-owned social media platforms, he has a monthly newsletter. You can [sign up here](%5Bhttps://app.keila.io/forms/nfrm_LPRGjqVj%5D(https://app.keila.io/forms/nfrm_LPRGjqVj)) & read the archive at [patreon](%5Bhttps://www.patreon.com/hpLoveshaftDrag%5D(https://www.patreon.com/hpLoveshaftDrag)) **Erin Crouch** Erin Crouch is an American comedian based in Germany. In 2025, she was paid by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tell jokes about Germans. She has been featured in Germany's largest comedy festival, Cologne International Comedy Festival in 2024, Boom Chicago Amsterdam (2021 and July 2024) Utrecht International Comedy Festival (2022) and Summer Comedy Marathon festival in Ohrid, N. Macedonia (2023). [https://www.instagram.com/erin_hahahaboohoo/](https://www.instagram.com/erin_hahahaboohoo/) **Jess Bauldry** is a writer and comedian who claims to have quit being a people pleaser, but let’s be real—she’s still saying “yes” to things she hates. These days, she’s hard at work perfecting her resting bitch face—just kidding, she still smiles at strangers in grocery stores like a weirdo. When not performing around Europe, Jess is the author of Substack The Alternative Expat Guide to Luxembourg and likes to steal other people’s chips. [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bauldryjess/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/jess.bauldry.3/) **Sharon VS** spent many years suppressing her comedic talent inside a full time corporate HR career. Finally realising that she's terrible with people, in 2022, she co-wrote a stand-up show and took it to Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This completely changed her life. She now only works part time in HR. Off-stage you will find Sharon VS gathering more material by raising a teenager in Germany. Sharon VS is a co-producer of Festrogen, the Luxembourg-based comedy festival for feminists of all genders, and a co-founder of Random Things Comedy Cologne, an inclusive open mic. **Mari Volar** is a comedian, MC and event producer from Estonia. She can often be seen on stage in various cities across Europe, where she performs as an independent comedian, or hosting comedy events with her various comedy collectives. Mari proudly brings more feminism into her comedy and more comedy into her feminism, creating a over-the-top mix in both that simply cannot be missed. She is a co-founder of Festrogen. [Website](https://marivolar.com/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/marivolar/?hl=en) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/marivolarcomedy/) This event is organised by [Festrogen Festival](https://festrogenfestival.com/), a platform that aims to inspire and support women in comedy while levelling the playing field for performers from under-represented groups. The festival is organised with the support of the Luxembourg Culture Ministry. Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.

Living in Luxembourg can feel intense — pressure, decisions, sometimes a quiet sense of being stuck. More about me: https://lindaburchi.com This is a small, informal coffee meetup to slow down, reflect, and get a bit more clarity on what’s going on in your life right now.

**What we will do together** **1.** Cycle from Luxembourg gare **(front of Police station)** to Echternach lake (about 45km). **2.** Have a meal at Echternach youth hostel. Those who wish to do a shorter ride can take the **bus** from Echternach back to Lux gare. **3.** Cycle from Echternach lake to Diekirch gare (about 26km). If we maintain an average speed of about 18km/hour and have a total stop time of 90 minutes (including 1 hour dining at the lake), we can finish the ride in 5 hours and 30 minutes. **Getting home from finishing point (Diekirch gare)** There are trains from Diekirch to Luxembourg Gare every 30 minutes. Also, there are buses from Diekirch to other directions. **What to bring** 1\. Your bike in tip top condition\. 2\. Energy snacks\. 3\. Lots of fluids to stay hydrated\. 4. **Packed food** for the the meal at Echternach. **ALTERNATIVELY,** you can **order food** at Echternach Youth hostel. **Disclaimer** If you decide to participate in this event, you are responsible for your own property and health. This distance (71km) requires ***high exercise tolerance/endurance/fitness.*** The organizer will **NOT BE RESPONSIBLE** for damages to the property or the health (including cycling injuries) of the participants. The organizer will be responsible for navigating the cycle route from the start point to the finish point. **Weather conditions.** Updated on 14/04/2026 ([https://www.bbc.com/weather/2960316](https://www.bbc.com/weather/2960316)) 21 degree Celsius. Mostly sunny with **22**% chance of rain. Total rain forecast is **0**mm. **If the forecast becomes worse**, the organizer **may** cancel the event 6 hours before the start time or earlier. The **terrain is 99% tarmac** (paved), 56km of which is cycle path. **Komoot route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/2122720628?share_token=a3ldIIqAvshXO07oT2z3IfKFPJWlMwGzMKWDK05LdLxOOOSJwp&ref=wtd** Want to **join our WhatsApp group?** Use this link: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/LmB9eTUkPb918blGeGaqZy?mode=ac_t](https://chat.whatsapp.com/LmB9eTUkPb918blGeGaqZy?mode=ac_t) ###

**Join esteemed jokester Erin Crouch for a workshop that will take you from HUH to HA.** Whether you're starting from zero or you have a few open mics under your belt, this workshop will provide you with the prompts, structure and motivation to start making people laugh. With over a decade of comedy experience, Erin will walk you through everything you need to know and inspire you to get out there on stage. Participation in this workshop is by advance registration only. Limited places are available. [Book your spot here](https://fienta.com/starting-stand-up-comedy-2026) About the instructor Erin Crouch is an American comedian based in Germany. In 2025, she was paid by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tell jokes about Germans. She has been featured in Germany's largest comedy festival, Cologne International Comedy Festival in 2024, Boom Chicago Amsterdam (2021 and July 2024) Utrecht International Comedy Festival (2022) and Summer Comedy Marathon festival in Ohrid, N. Macedonia (2023). She teaches stand-up comedy for teens at the KMC Onstage summer camp in Kaiserslautern, Germany as well as starting stand up and roasting classes for adults with Festrogen for the last five years. Her comedy is neither dirty nor clean but a secret third thing. This workshop is suitable for those completely new to comedy and those who have tried comedy a few times and need to write more material. It is taught in English. This is a Festrogen Festival event. It is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Rainbow Center! Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.

**You’re already getting up on stage. You’re writing. You’re performing. You’re grinding it out at mics.** But if you’re honest… some of those jokes could hit harder. Welcome to **The Tag Lab**, an accelerated, punch-up intensive designed specifically for comics who are past the “how do I hold a mic?” phase and ready to level up their material. This workshop zeroes in on the two things that separate solid jokes from killer bits: **1\. Finding the true kernel of your joke** We’ll strip your material down to its comedic engine, the sharpest, funniest core idea, and rebuild from there. **2\. Writing tags that stack laughs** Because one punchline is nice. Three punchlines? That’s applause breaks. You’ll learn how to: * Identify where your joke is ending too early * Add tags that feel organic, not bolted on * Heighten patterns without losing clarity * Tighten wording so every syllable earns its place This is not a beginner class. It’s for comics who are already performing regularly and want their existing material to punch above its weight. Bring jokes that are “pretty good.” Leave with jokes that consistently hit. If you’re ready to stop hoping for laughs and start engineering them, this workshop is for you. Participation is by advanced registration. Places are limited. [Book your spot here.](https://fienta.com/taglabfestrogen) **Your instructor** Erin Crouch is an American comedian based in Germany. In 2025, she was paid by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tell jokes about Germans. She has been featured in Germany's largest comedy festival, Cologne International Comedy Festival in 2024, Boom Chicago Amsterdam (2021 and July 2024) Utrecht International Comedy Festival (2022) and Summer Comedy Marathon festival in Ohrid, N. Macedonia (2023). She teaches stand-up comedy for teens at the KMC Onstage summer camp in Kaiserslautern, Germany as well as starting stand up and roasting classes for adults with Festrogen for the last five years. Her comedy is neither dirty nor clean but a secret third thing. This event is organised by [Festrogen Festival.](https://festrogenfestival.com/) Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.

⚡ **AI & Coffee — Luxembourg's In-Person AI Community** AI is moving faster than any of us can keep up with alone. The best way to make sense of it — and stay ahead of it — is by getting in the same room as people who are just as obsessed with it as you are. That is exactly what AI & Coffee is about. We are bringing together Luxembourg's most curious, creative and driven minds for an afternoon of open, honest and energising conversations about artificial intelligence — not in theory, but in practice. No slides. No pitches. No pressure. Just real people, real ideas and real connections over great coffee. ☕🤖 *** 📅 **Sunday 19 April \| 15:00 – 17:00** 📍 Updown Bar (Downstairs), [28 Mnt du Grund, 1645 Ville-Haute Luxembourg](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x479548cd7e0b9b45:0x5081bbff1793354b?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111) *** ☕ **What we will talk about** AI & Coffee is an open conversation — guided by curiosity and driven by the people in the room. Expect discussions around: * What is actually happening in AI right now — the real breakthroughs, the real hype * Tools, projects and experiments people are building and testing * Practical AI use cases across industries — finance, marketing, tech, healthcare and more * Ideas, feedback and fresh perspectives from people at different stages of their AI journey Feel free to bring your laptop if you want to show something you are working on. Some of the best conversations at our last event started with someone sharing their screen. 💡 *** 👥 **Who is this for?** Developers and engineers building with AI Founders and entrepreneurs exploring AI for their business Investors and mentors looking to understand what is coming Researchers and students at the forefront of AI Creatives experimenting with AI tools Corporate professionals curious about AI's impact on their industry And anyone who simply cannot stop thinking about where AI is heading If AI excites, challenges or intrigues you — you belong here. *** ✨ **What to expect** A warm, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere where everyone has a seat at the table. Our host will kick things off with a few conversation sparks and the latest AI highlights — then the rest is yours. Meet, talk, connect and exchange freely. No commitment. No agenda. No pressure. Just the kind of afternoon that leaves you energised, inspired and already looking forward to the next one. *** 🎉 **The only cost is your own coffee or drink.** Bring your curiosity, your ideas and an open mind — and let's keep building one of the most exciting AI communities in Luxembourg. 🇱🇺 👉 Register now — spots are limited and they go fast!

**J'ai la joie de vous inviter à l'atelier "Créez la magie dans votre vie "** 🪄✨: Dans ce nouvel atelier : ✅ Vous vivez une véritable **expérience, un voyage intérieur** pour reconnecter à votre magie personnelle puis la transposer dans la matière, grâce à votre intuition naturelle. ✅ Vous **connectez à votre part créatrice** \- souvent bridée dans un quotidien ronronnant ou calibré pour tenir toutes les obligations \- et vous autorisez à activer la magie dans votre vie ✅ Vous repartez avec l**a joie au coeur, les yeux qui brillent**, et surtout... avec votre création ! ✨Votre enfant intérieur sera aux anges, et votre adulte aura senti pousser ses ailes ! 📍**Lieu** : House of Coaching 19 rue des Capucins L1313 Luxembourg Ville 3e etage 🕤 **Déroulé** : 9h30 : Accueil, thé, café 10h : Atelier 12h : Fin de l'atelier 🖍Tout le matériel est fourni. Tarif : 40€, à payer par Payconic, virement (ou cash) Votre moment de créativité, rien que pour vous ! 🥳 **Ce sont les participants qui en parlent le mieux :** 🌟 "Je ressens un mélange d'émotions en moi, et en même temps la joie d'avoir pu créer quelque chose. C'est comme un petit bébé. On part de rien, et puis au final il y a une création, c'est merveilleux !" 🌟 "Je me sens plus légère et joyeuse 😊" 🌟 "Ca faisait longtemps que je n'avais pas pris de temps pour moi. Pendant l'atelier, on ne pense qu'à ce qu'on crée, on est pleinement présent, ça fait du bien" ❗️Inscriptions jusqu’au 16/04 car je dois anticiper le matériel. **Pour vous inscrire** : envoyez moi un Message Privé ici, ou au +352 661 175 598 Au plaisir de vous guider dans la (re)connexion à votre magie intérieure 😊 **Amélie Leguay** *Coach en Épanouissement personnel et professionnel* ➡️ Soyez les Créateurs de votre vie !

**Do you want to step up to the stage with more confidence, and less self-doubt? Are you looking to be in charge of your** **thoughts, emotions and behaviours? This workshop has just the answer.** Going up on stage and exposing yourself (pun intended) can be very scary. But also very empowering. And also triggering. But also liberating. And can for sure bring on some self-doubt: Am I good enough? Why should anyone listen to me? Doesn't everyone else know more than me? Isn’t everyone else funnier? And when you get of the stage, the questions keep popping in your head: “was it good?”, “I should have said it differently”, “what was I thinking?”, “were those pity laughs?” Your inner critic is always hard at work… A lot of emotions come up when doing stand-up. No matter if you are a beginner or a more experienced comedian, it can still bring about the dread of not being good enough, making a fool of yourself, and confirming your worst fears. But, it can also be a brilliant and almost therapeutic way to overcome self-doubt, self-sabotage, gain confidence and find that sweet spot where masks come off and you find yourself flying! In this workshop, psychologist Alexandra Neves will guide you through the following: * Impostor syndrome: the pattern in which a person doubts their skills, talents and achievements * and is afraid of being unmasked as fraud, an imposter. * Identify and bring into awareness your limiting beliefs and develop practical tools for * overcoming and releasing them. * How you can tame your inner critic, and use it to your advantage, in comedy and in life. * The masks we wear, and why we wear them. * And ultimately how to develop more self-confidence. These are all transferable skills that can positively impact your stage presence, but also your professional and personal life. Participation in this workshop is by advanced registration. Places are limited. [Book your spot here. ](https://fienta.com/mental-health-in-comedy-2026) **About the instructor:** Alexandra is a psychologist and has over 20 years of experience in training, personal development, and coaching. Alexandra specializes on mental health coaching, imposter syndrome, overcoming self- sabotage, and gender equity. A newcomer to the comedy world, she has been doing stand-up for over a year, and discovering the positive effects comedy can have on mental health – and the positive effects mental health can have in comedy! Find out more about [Alexandra here](https://academy-mind-tree-coaching.lu/) **This workshop is part of [Festrogen](http://festrogenfestival.com/), a women-centric, multi-part comedy festival hosted in Luxembourg.** **Have specific needs or questions? We'd love to help make this place as welcoming as possible. Drop an email to [info@festrogenfestival.com](mailto:info@festrogenfestival.com) and tell us how we can do that.**

Meet like-minded ladies and gentlemen, enjoy easy conversations, and make genuine new connections at our Fast Friending social! **You will need to buy a ticket for attending -** [https://lux18thapril.eventbrite.co.uk](https://lux18thapril.eventbrite.co.uk) \*You can use any debit or credit card to purchase your ticket at PayPal checkout. It will ask you for your email address but that is only to send you a receipt. You do not need a PayPal account. TICKETS:- Early Bird - €5 / person Regular Ticket - €10 / person Cash at meetup: If you do not purchase a ticket in advance then you can pay Shye cash of €15 when you attend. **Here’s how your evening will flow:-** **7:00 PM – Welcome** Arrive at 7:00 PM and be welcomed by your host, Shye, who will guide the evening and help with introductions. Feeling shy? Come a little early and she’ll ease you into small-group conversations. You’re also welcome to bring a lady friend along for free. **7:30 – 8:30 PM \| Fast Friending** Chat with a new attendee every 3 minutes, ensuring you meet a variety of like-minded ladies and gentlemen. **After 8:30 PM \| Open Mingling** Reconnect with those you enjoyed speaking to and continue meaningful conversations at your own pace \- We are not a close knit tight group\. Our evenings are warm and comfortable for members attending for the first time and those coming alone\. You will not feel alone\! \- We have many groups in this city\. Members of our other groups who RSVP are included as guests of the organisers in order to give you an indication of expected people\. \- This evening is for ladies and gents in the 21 to 40 age group\. While some will be at the younger end of this range there will also be others at the other end of the range and lots in\-between\! You will naturally gel with others of your own age range and so you will always find many attendees who fit your range\. \- We are not a dating group\. Our events are not organised to manage your dating life\. Our group is created to help ladies and gents meet other like minded ladies and gents\. Please do not attend our event if a perfect gender balance is important for your enjoyment of our meet\-up\. Why do we have tickets? 1. Cover our costs - Our host is compensated for their time and work. We also pay meetup and have dedicated staff to manage our events, hosts, venues and communication. 2. Group Safety - By securing your ticket we have a record and you contribute to a well organized evening where everyone is more committed and better behaved. 3. Management - Tickets help us better manage attendee group size, book suitable space and activity. ABOUT [fastfriends.co.uk ](https://fastfriends.co.uk/)- We have connected members successfully for the past 10 years in over 30 cities (operating as Expatsclub, MeetConnectDevelop and fastfriends.co.uk). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- You can contact our founder Dan on +447715705005 with any questions or ideas. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Here are some videos which will give you some guidance and comfort to make your attendance more productive.** Secrets of socializing at our meetups - [http://bit.ly/secrets-socializing ](http://bit.ly/secrets-socializing) How to make new friends - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GB0Hc_bSs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GB0Hc_bSs)

**⚡ AI & Coffee – In-Person Meetup in Metz** Since the community has been growing very fast in Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Vienna 🇦🇹, Bucharest 🇷🇴 and Belgrade 🇷🇸 we’re hosting now also events in Metz 🇫🇷! Join our in-person event on Saturday, 18 April from 15h00-17h00 in Les 3 lumières [65 Place St Louis, 57000 Metz, France](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4794ddfb97809c5f:0xa3fbaf4da6636c4d?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111). During the first part of the event, we will all gather in a circle/square format and introduce ourselves for 1–2 minutes. This gives everyone the opportunity to share who they are, what they do, and what they are looking for, while also getting to know the entire room by listening to others do the same. This has proven to be the most effective way to network with 15–30 people within one hour, and afterwards it allows you to connect more easily with those who sparked your interest. The introduction round is the most exciting part of the event, so please try to arrive a bit early to avoid missing the start 😊👆 Based on the great feedbacks, feel free to bring also your laptops if you’d like to show your work. People were very open to sharing approaches and projects, which sparked some truly deep conversations. AI is moving so fast that it’s hard to keep up alone. The best way to make sense of it is by meeting others, exchanging ideas, and hearing fresh perspectives. That’s what this meetup is about. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ☕ We’ll gather in a local café for open conversations about: * AI news and trends (what’s real, what’s hype) * Sharing projects, ideas, and feedback * Supporting each other and creating new stories * Building connections with like-minded people 👥 **Who’s welcome?** Developers, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, students, researchers, creatives — and anyone simply curious about AI. 💡 **What to expect** * Casual atmosphere, no commitment, no pressure * The host will share small icebreakers and sparks of AI news * The rest is up to you: meet, talk, connect, and exchange 🎉 The only cost is your own coffee or drink. Bring your curiosity and an open mind — and let’s build one of the most exciting AI communities in the area. Looking forward to meeting you all and building the AI&Coffee Metz community together.

Want to practise French 🇫🇷 German 🇩🇪 English 🇬🇧 Luxembourgish 🇱🇺 — or ANY language you can find a partner for? Then join our crew of friendly expats & locals for a night of chats, laughs & global energy 🎉 In Luxembourg, speaking multiple languages is basically a superpower 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ — but this meetup is all about connection, not perfection. Beginners, pros & “I understand but can’t speak” people — all welcome 😄 Don’t feel like practising a language? 😎 No worries — you’re STILL totally welcome! come hang out, meet people & enjoy the international vibes anyway 🥂✨ Come for the languages — stay for the laughter, friendships & drinks 🍹 ✨ What You’ll Find ✔ Super chill atmosphere 😌 ✔ Expats from everywhere 🌍 ✔ Zero pressure — just vibes ✨ ✔ “How do you say…?” moments 🤔😂 ✔ Old friends & new — ❤️ 🍹 AFTER-EXCHANGE APÉRO 🤩 Languages warm-up… Drinks cool-down… Balance restored 😌🍺 Most weeks we wander to another bar afterwards for beer, bites & bonus socialising. Just follow the organisers — they know the 🔥 hotspots 😉 🪧 HOW IT WORKS ➡️ Sit with the group for the language you want to practise ➡️ Look for the table signs 📍 ➡️ Switch groups anytime — totally chill ➡️ Rare language? Post in the group & find your match 💫 ➡️ Luxembourgish shows up too 🇱🇺 ⚠️ By attending, you agree organisers can’t be held liable for regulation violations (or accidental grammar crimes 😜)

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!

Semi in honor of March being International Women's Month Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3454709) Location: SOW Plated Menu: [https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/](https://www.sowplated.com/menu-brunch/) Book summary: In 2006 Julia Lerner is living in Moscow, a recent university graduate in computer science, when she's recruited by Russia's largest intelligence agency. By 2018 she's in Silicon Valley as COO of Tangerine, one of America's most famous technology companies. In between her executive management (make offers to promising startups, crush them and copy their features if they refuse); self promotion (check out her latest op-ed in the WSJ, on Work/Life Balance 2.0); and work in gender equality (transfer the most annoying females from her team), she funnels intelligence back to the motherland. But now Russia's asking for more, and Julia's getting nervous. Alice Lu is a first generation Chinese American whose parents are delighted she's working at Tangerine (such a successful company!). Too bad she's slogging away in the lower echelons, recently dumped, and now sharing her expensive two-bedroom apartment with her cousin Cheri, a perennial "founder's girlfriend". One afternoon, while performing a server check, Alice discovers some unusual activity, and now she's burdened with two powerful but distressing suspicions: Tangerine's privacy settings aren't as rigorous as the company claims they are, and the person abusing this loophole might be Julia Lerner herself. The closer Alice gets to Julia, the more Julia questions her own loyalties. Russia may have placed her in the Valley, but she's the one who built her career; isn't she entitled to protect the lifestyle she's earned?

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.

A WiA Collective Wisdom Exchange At the start of this year, we gathered to look back, set intentions, and imagine the next chapter. This is the follow-up. Not a check-in. Not a progress report. A small, facilitated circle to reconnect with what you said mattered — and honestly explore what’s actually happening now. Together, we’ll explore: • What you intended at the start of this year - and what that looks like three months in • What’s surprised you, supported you, or shifted • What the next chapter needs now that you know what you know If you were at our January gathering, bring whatever you made or wrote — your word, your artifact, your intention. We’ll look at it with fresh eyes. If this is your first time, you belong here too. You’ll start where we all started: with what’s true right now. Optional art materials will be available for anyone who wants to reflect creatively alongside conversation. If you brought something home from January, you’re warmly invited to bring it back. The intention is the same as always: everyone leaves feeling more clear, more connected, and a little lighter. Space is intentionally limited to keep the experience intimate. What to Expect • A small, welcoming circle (not a large meetup) • Structured conversation so everyone has space to speak • Reflection, listening, and lived experience — not advice-giving • Optional creative reflection alongside conversation • A calm, supportive environment Who This Is For Women and underrepresented folks working in or around agile, product, technology, leadership, or organizational change — especially those looking for honest conversation and community beyond frameworks and buzzwords. Good to Know • No preparation required • If you attended in January, we invite you to bring anything you created or wrote (or something that represents your intention at the start of the year) - it’s optional but invited • Participation is invitational; listening is always welcome • Creative activities are optional

Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. We meet in the bar in the room on the right (the cigar shop). You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room. This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us. COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant. *** Did you know that there are atheists everywhere?!?! You may not know it, but we are! We're in your schools, diners, police force, military, government, and some are even still in your churches! So come and join us and meet other local atheists, along with agnostics, heathens, humanists, skeptics, and anyone else who's 'hell bound'! Vision: a Central Ohio that accepts atheism as a viable alternative in all areas of public and private life. Mission: grow, support, and provide community for atheists in Central Ohio. Social meetings held most Tuesdays at a local pub/restaurant at 7:00 PM (and often into the wee hours). Attendees call themselves agnostics, skeptics, humanists, non-theists, deists or even theists. All attendees are welcome but should support our vision. Atheists of Columbus (AoC) is part of Omnipresent Atheists (OA). AoC members are invited to join this OA meetup and/or OA Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/omnipresentatheists/ ) but are free to continue conversations on the AoC Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/columbusatheists/ ). AoC was founded in 2012 as a networking, social group for Central Ohio area humanists, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, nonbelievers, freethinkers, and the curious. It was a member of Columbus CoR and held weekly meetings, mostly on Fridays, for several years but then operated as an online only group for some time. In November 2018, Omnipresent Atheists (OA), a group that routinely meets on Tuesdays, invited AoC to merge. Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason (ColumbusCoR.org). Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason ( http://www.ColumbusCoR.org ). Omnipresent Atheists endorses the mission of the Secular Coalition for America ( http://secular.org ).

Let’s walk the gardens and enjoy what has spring has on display.