Academics

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

ALL LEVELS Technique Class * Techniques training: Knees, Elbows etc * Conditioning to get strong mentally as well as physically * Core workout * Plyometric Drills * Light Sparring (if there's time) Bring FULL KIT!

**🏛️ WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 13:45-14:00 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 14:00-14:05 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 14:05-14:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 14:45 - We do a group conclusion of the things we discussed, and then we typically take a photo and go on our way :) If you don't want to be in the group photo, there's no pressure, it's just a way to close out the meeting. We occasionally have an unofficial social so the different groups can mingle afterwards too! **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend, and we operate on donations. If you'd like to donate to support our running costs, that helps keep our group self-sustaining. Donations are 100% voluntary, but your contribution is appreciated! QR codes to donate will be present. Tea’s and coffees and are paid by the individual should they wish to have them. **💛 WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * What will we talk about? What's the topic? The topic for the week is shared every week in the Whatsapp group before the session. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). 🤝**POLICY** To respect our members privacy, we ask that no one privately message a member without first getting explicit consent. (This looks like speaking in person and being asked to message privately.) Contacting or texting other participants without prior consent is not permitted and may result in removal from the group. Practical Philosophy reserves the right to enforce this policy at its discretion to maintain a safe and respectful environment. **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in 25+ countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/B6fqS6HGujq8gb3a0kl5pS) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/?hl=en) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club) 👈

Morning Kickboxing

**London Bridge – poor health, bad debts but a Grade I pub at the end** This walk is presented by Central London Humanists and led by volunteer Robert Hall. Humanists believe we have just one life to be lived rationally and well, with compassion for others. This event is a guided walk of +/- 2.25 hours pointing out places of interest. We will be walking 3.5 Km / 2.2 miles. This walk is a companion to the walk we did from Borough station almost exactly a year ago and there is a slight overlap. Amongst highlights we see a former church that is now being put to better use, view a building containing an operating theatre dating from 1822, a rather more modern hospital, the site of a debtors prison and a rather puzzling statue of Alfred the Great. We’ll also meet Henry (no – not the vacuum cleaner!). **Date:** Saturday 16th May 2026 **Time:** 2 pm with a prompt departure at 2.15 pm **Place:** Toilets at London Bridge Mainline station. The toilets are not well signposted so leave plenty of time to find them! **Finishes:** About 4.30 pm at The George, 75 Borough High St, Southwark SE1 1NH The walk is led by Robert – 07981963681. He can be contacted for further information but please note he won’t be able to respond to messages or calls after the walk has started. **The formal bit:** These walks are not suitable for dogs, sorry. CLH events are 18+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The maximum group size is 40 people. If you have signed up but find you can't attend, **please change your RSVP** on Meetup (it’s very easy to do) as soon as possible so others can join. You are responsible for your own actions and safety; there is no liability on the walk leader or CLH for anything that may happen on the walk. You must be able to keep up with the walk leader at 4 Km/h (2.5 mph) for 5 Km (3 miles). It is participants' responsibility to safely cross roads. Where appropriate, pedestrian controlled lights will be used and obeyed unless it is obvious that the whole group can cross safely. When the group stops at a point of interest, please be mindful not to block pavements so members of the public can pass by safely. Don’t forget this is the UK and it may rain at any time! The walk will go ahead whatever the weather unless conditions are dangerous so please bring clothing for all seasons. **A donation of £3 to Central London Humanists would be appreciated.** The majority of Central London Humanists events are free, but we welcome a £3 contribution per head. This helps towards the running and organising of events, as well as various admin expenses. If you can't attend and would still like to contribute, or would prefer to pay online, please **[click here](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML71XMH66FX5E/checkout/ALWCDLQ3S7AVPLFZ62PZGXLU)**. We encourage anyone who is interested in Humanism and Central London Humanists to consider becoming a member: * If you wish to register as a full member of CLH (no membership fee) please register on our website: [https://centrallondonhumanists.org.uk/signup](https://centrallondonhumanists.org.uk/signup) * If you wish to join Humanists UK and support its work to promote humanism in British life, please go to: [Humanists UK – Think for yourself, act for everyone](https://humanists.uk/) We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information, but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any individual's views expressed (most definitely including the walk leader!) do not necessarily reflect the views of the group at large.

Our **Sat Pop-in Adult Coaching sessions** are suitable for * **Beginner** (1.0) level players * **Improver** (1.5) level players/ \***lower level Intermediate** (2.0) players, developing some of the basic areas of their game **HOW TO BOOK** * **RSVP on Meetup** **and follow options below** (if not your booking is void even if you have paid, but not RSVP'd) **HOW TO PAY** * **Click Link >>> [COLLCTIV](https://pay.collctiv.com/sat-pop-in-session-53382) to Pay (lower rate) until 10am on Sat\*** * Please Note: Contributions toward the Collctiv App is optional (untick it to pay £22.50 only) * * **\*Book Early to Save Money!** After 10am on Saturday, **AutoPay** payments only, via Meetup/PayPal (fees inc) * **[Click Here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pMsg6dATGes2pM59YuuzQBXabl882VvvXeDby0Y2usc/edit?usp=sharing)** to see full details regarding Collctiv Once you have completed your RSVP & payment, your Meetup status will be (manually) updated to 'Paid'. This may take a few hours! **SESSION DETAILS** * 10 players Max, 2 Courts used (sometime 5players and 1 court) * Feather Shuttles Provided. Bring your own racket * **(New) Time** \- 3\.30pm till 5\.00pm * **Cost** \- from £22\.50 per person \(book early to avoid a booking fee\) * Cancellation, No Show & Refund Policy! (see T&C's Below) **What is involved** Footwork drills, shot practice, technically & tactically development of your game, isolated and group drills. The activities involved can challenge you to be consistent, have better understanding, better control , or perhaps push yourself physically, as we do our best to adapt the session to suit your needs individually and as part of a group. We finish the session with match play for the last 30min **VENUE DETAILS** * Harris Girls Academy, Homestall Road, London, SE22 0NR * Pedestrian - Enter to the far right corner of the main/blue building (right of the main reception) via the gate. * **Parking** is available outside in the street. * **Bicycles** can use the bicycle rack near the sports hall entry **TERMS & CONDITIONS** **[Click Here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12WmILk6X9dwgf_W0Cm6kgswKeW4ovHDTN8TBvN4Gq10/edit?usp=sharing)** to view details for Full Details By RSVPing for this event you confirm you have read and agree to our T&C's **Dress Code, Well Being, Conduct & Equal Opportunity:** * Wear suitable clothing and footwear for indoor sporting activity. * Ensure than your jewellery is also kept to a minimal, and avoid wearing large ear rings, chains or bracelets/bangles. * If the above is not suitable, you might not be able to participate within the session. No refund, exchange or credit will be given! * If needed please seek advice from your doctor before playing any sports. * You are responsible for warming up/cooling down stretches to reduce the risk of strains/ injuries. * Play at your own risk as Crossfire Badminton Club will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred. * We welcome players of all backgrounds, and treat everyone equally with respect. This is also expected from our participants. If you fail to do this, you may be asked to leave the session, or even banned from future sessions **Further Details** Email - wayne.crossfire@gmail.com Phone - 07956 285246 Spaces are limited, so don't delay!

We love a good chat. Come and join us at Table 45

The session is aimed at beginners and intermediate level players who have either never played tennis previously or would like to improve on their game. Join our 2 hours session which will consist of warm up followed by drills focusing on technical skill coaching and will include Forehand / Backhand / Volley and Serve. Finally you get to play each other refining your skills and techniques and ultimately having fun. Rackets can be borrowed please let me know if you need a racket in advance. You need to make a payment 48 hours before the session. If you cannot attend the session please provide 48 hours notice. Should you wish to cancel. This will allow other players on the waiting list the chance to attend the session. If severe weather conditions prevent the session you will have credit for your next session. If there is less than 6 players unfortunately the session will not go ahead. If you have any questions contact me by either through this email. hmasoudi@email.com or call/text me on 07901662457 £ 30 per player per session. H. Masoudi Sort code 40-03-33 Account number 31344609 The session is with less than 12 players is run by one main qualified coach.

ALL LEVELS Technique Class Team Shark Dojo, Battersea Sports Centre, SW11 2DA Best time to train is in the morning! Here are a few benefits: * Gets that morning workout out of the way * More productive rest of the weekend * Kickstarts your metabolism * More energy & focus for the day * Develops positive sports/fitness mindset What's involved: * Drill & Hone K1 Techniques * Flexibility exercises * Light controlled Touch-Contact (if time permits) What to bring: * All your equipment * Bottle of water * Muay Thai Kickboxing Shorts are compulsory as they are sports specific! Can be worn over leggings. Please do not wear unsuitable clothing such as track & field shorts, surf or board shorts, tracksuit bottoms etc. MMA Shorts are acceptable as they have enough stretch for flexibility & splits training *Note: If you arrive late, please dress in and join the class straight away. Do not keep the class or your training partner waiting. If you need to leave early just slide out and let your training partner or Instructor know*

FIGHT CLUB SUNDAY SPARRING Team Shark Dojo, Battersea Sports Centre, SW11 2DA For Intermediate/Advanced 💪 Mixture of Boxing, Kickboxing & Muay Thai Sparring 🤜🤛 No beginners please 🙏 Bring Full Kit

* **read event description before signing up** * **register on Meetup to attend** * **update RSVP if plans change** * **arrive at 2.50pm** * **read the Book before session** * **review the Questions** [Book 4 - Part 2 - verses 25-51](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus/Book_IV) *Reading Time - 16 minutes* *Prior knowledge is not required* [Gregory Hays translation used in session](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meditations-Translation-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/0812968255/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DYZJGWO42PUG&keywords=meditations+gregory+hays&qid=1656706450&s=books&sprefix=Meditations+Gregory%2Cstripbooks%2C91&sr=1-1) Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others. Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries. **Questions we'll explore** 1\. A philosopher without clothes and one without books\. “I have nothing to eat,” says he, as he stands there half-naked, “but I subsist on the logos.” And with nothing to read, I subsist on it too. (30) *What do you make of this?* 2\. Then what should we work for? Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring. (33) *What are the implications?* 3\. To pass through this brief life as nature demands\. To give it up without complaint. Like an olive that ripens and falls. Praising its mother, thanking the tree it grew on. (48) *How do you feel about this?* 4\. So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune. (49a) *Do you agree or disagree?* 5\. Take the shortest route\, the one that nature planned—to speak and act in the healthiest way\. Do that, and be free of pain and stress, free of all calculation and pretension. (51) *How would you go about this?* **To fund the costs of** [room hire](https://bunhillquakers.org.uk/files/2025_bunhill_booking_info_trifold.pdf) **and** [Meetup subscription](https://www.meetup.com/blog/new-organizer-pricing-key-improvements/) **£15 is payable** To minimise admin there are no refunds/credits unless the meeting is cancelled. Refunds exclude Meetup/PayPal fees. **If you sign up and can no longer attend, please Edit RSVP asap to "Not going" so someone else can take your spot.** There is no waiting list if the event is full. Please check this Meetup page on the day of the event, as a spot may become available if there is a late cancellation. **If you sign up, and do not Edit RSVP to "Not going", and are a no show, you will be removed from the Group and can rejoin after 3 months.**

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is our most experiential social yet and tickets are officially live! We have partnered with a former Detective of 24 years to bring you a **[guided interactive day](https://www.thisisdumo.com/16-05)** where you will step inside the case from the moment the 999 call drops - evaluating evidence, taking on roles as detectives, CSIs, pathologists, barristers and jury members - all the way to a live crown court trial where one of your group stands accused. Part live investigation. Part courtroom drama. Except you're not in the audience, you're the cast. **Could you solve a real murder case?** **[Find out more here and grab your spot](https://www.thisisdumo.com/16-05)**

## \*\*👉 Please Direct Message the host, Rob, to join our WhatsApp group if you intend to join this event\*\*\*\* What To Expect & Important Event Info: We’re heading out for a relaxed walk around Hall Place Gardens! Expect a variety of different gardens, a bird hide to bird watch, The Queen’s hedge beasts, art gallery and more! There are 31 places on the map to see and we shall see as many as reasonable. We will not be going to the house on this visit. A farmer market is also on and you can visit the stalls for cheeses, jams & chutneys, sausages, bread, honey and cake. You can also pay for the butterfly gardens and hold an owl if they are available on the day. 🕛 Date & Time 16th May 12:00 start – approx. 15:00 finish 📍 Meeting Point Bexley Train Station (exact location will be shared closer to the time) 🚶‍♀️ Pace & Flexibility We’ll keep a relaxed pace around the gardens and have no particular route or path during this visit. You’re very welcome to leave early if needed, just let the host know so we don’t lose you! 🍻 After the walk We’ll be heading to a pub in Bexley afterwards for a well-earned drink and a chance to socialise more. 👟 What to bring • Comfortable walking shoes • Water & snacks • Weather-appropriate clothing Whether you’re coming solo or with a friend, you’ll be very welcome, it’s all about enjoying the walk and good company 😊 👥 Capacity: 20 people 📏Distance: 9.6km - 11.2km depending on breaks ⏰Time: 2-3 hours 👣 Pace: Gentle walk, plenty of pauses. 🧺 What to bring: Water, snacks, weather-appropriate clothes, anything else for your comfort (walking shoes, water bottles... ) Expect relaxed vibes, beautiful surroundings, and fun conversations! This event is especially mindful of neurodivergent needs, so there’s no pressure to talk or "perform." Come as you are! 🎟 RSVP essential – limited spaces 🟢 Regulars will get priority. DM hosts Rob or Krysia to join our WhatsApp group if you'd like to attend regularly. \\\* Tags : Autistic Adults Social Meetup \| Asperger's Social Group for Professionals \| Autism Spectrum Adults Social Gathering \| Autism Meetup Low Support Needs \| Low Support Needs Autism Meetup \| Autistic Adults Social Events \| Neurodiverse Adults Social Events \| Social Group for High\-Functioning Autism Adults \| Meetup for Autistic Adults in Full\-Time Employment \| Networking for Autistic Adults in Full\-Time Work \| Autistic Professional Networking \| Autistic Adults in Work Community \| Autistic Community \| Socializing for Adults on the Autism Spectrum \| Meetup for Autistic Adults \| Meetup for Autism \| Autism Meetup \| Social Events for Autistic Adults \| Mental Health & Development Conversations for Autistic Adults \| Autistic Professionals Building Community \| Autism Spectrum Social Group for Professionals Autistic Adults Socials and Networking \| Autism and Asperger's Social Group for Adults in the Workplace \| Autism Spectrum Social for Career\-Oriented Adults \| Autistic Adults Socials and Networking \| Group for Socialising with Autistic Professionals \| Low Support Needs Autism Social \| Autism Meetup for Employed Adults \| Professionals with Autism Social Group \| Adults with Autism Social Group \| Autistic Social Connection Events \| Adult Autism Spectrum Social \| Low Support Needs Autism Social \| Meetup for Neurodiverse Adults with Autism \| Late Diagnosed Adults Social Group \| Meetup for Neurodiverse Adults \| Meetup for Neurodiverse Adults \| Meetup for Late Diagnosed Autistic Adults in London \| Neurodivergent Adults Socialising Meetup \| Late Diagnosed Autistic Adults Meetup \| Neurodiversity Social Meetup \| Neurodiversity Social Events \| Social Meetup for Neurodiverse and Late Diagnosed Adults

**Saturday Badminton 1-3pm @ Science Centre (Afternoon Session)** **£11 for 2 hours \*24H ADVANCE PAYMENT REQUIRED\*** **6 courts in the Science Centre.** Feather shuttlecocks will be supplied. Please bring your own racquets. **Payment details:** **\*\*\*Please pay in advance upon booking or at least 24h in advance before the session. Unpaid bookings will be removed from the list.\*\*\*** \*\*NEW REVOLUT BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS\*\* **Name: LM BADMINTON LTD** **Account Number: 19226405** **Sort Code: 23-01-20** **Reference: \*YOUR MEETUP NAME & DATE ie 270126\*** \*No cash\* Please use your profile name and date of session as payment reference, so that it can be identified. To ensure fair access to the session, anyone who signs up but does not make payment 24h in advance will have their places cancelled and offered to other players. **Waiting List Update:** When the event is full, there will be a waiting list for players to put their names on. Once a spot becomes available, i.e. another member cancels, the first person on the waiting list will be added to RSVP automatically. As such, the person will be sent an automated email confirming so. For those who do not wish to be added automatically, please remove your name from the waiting list. Please cancel waitlist 24 hours before the event if made other plans, as meetup will push you to attending list if spot opens up. We charge on spot basis. **Late Cancellations Penalty:** If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice it is your responsibility to liaise with those on the waiting list and find a replacement. If you do then no penalty but if you don’t find a replacement you pay 50% of the session fee, raising to 100% on the second late cancellation. You MUST also inform the organisers who your replacement is. **No Show Fees:** Full fee will be added to the profile on the next visit. **Team training:** On this session, 1 or 2 courts, will be reserved for team training for the up and coming season. The court ratio has not changed, still a max of 6 per court, some players might be invited to play on the team training courts. **Contacts:** The best way to get in touch is through meetup as your message will get picked up by the designated organiser for the chosen event. Otherwise please use WhatsApp to message us. Email: badmclub@gmail.com uni_badm1nton@yahoo.co.uk Primary: Vinh 07974 177707 Secondary: Nikita 07585 954797 **Disclaimer:** Organisers or LondonMet University can accept no liability for any loss or injury, however sustained, while taking part in club activities. If you want to cover yourself against injury to yourself or others, please make sure you have the appropriate insurance. In the interest of health and safety, proper footwear is a must in this club which means no casual footwear and no barefoot on the court.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Physics of Baseball,”** with Scott Paulson, professor of physics and interdisciplinary liberal studies at James Madison University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball) .] Profs and Pints is offering baseball fans an even bigger treat than Cracker Jack, an exploration of the physics underlying their beloved sport. Professor Scott Paulson, who regularly teaches introductory physics classes that make the physics behind real-world phenomena accessible to all, will discuss the forces and phenomena that come into play in baseball during pitching, batting, and fielding. He’ll toss you basic physics concepts that help explain how baseball’s routine plays got to be that way, and he’ll explain what’s going on in some situations where the laws of physics seem to be violated by what’s happening on the field. Ever wondered why curveballs curve or knuckleballs behave so strangely? You’ll learn how Newton’s laws and the Magnus force explain how pitchers get drastically different results from subtle differences in their releases. Curious about what exactly the “sweet spot” of the bat is? Ever wondered how big an advantage batters get from the thin air of Mile High Stadium? We’ll explore the physics of the batted ball, examining the phenomena of waves and analyzing the interaction of ball, bat and batter with the help of high-speed video. During one of the more exciting scenarios in a baseball game—the close play at the plate—fans often see outfielders throw to an infielder rather than directly to home. We’ll look at the pros and cons of this relay play, known as a “cut-off,” in the context of the physics of projectile motion. Finally, we will also look into high-profile cheating scandals involving corked bats and doctored balls. Dr. Paulson will present models to explain how these alterations to the equipment can benefit the batter and pitcher respectively, and he’ll discuss how much these models are backed up by data. These few hours in a brewpub will forever enhance your enjoyment of time at the ballpark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Photo by Tage Olsin / Wikimedia Commons

🤩♠️🤩 Join us for Wednesday Spades in Delaware - Sponsored by the 302 & More Spades Meetup Group! 🥗🥤♠️ 🎲 GAME NIGHT AT WEGMAN'S. Spades, games, food & socializing! *One hour from White Marsh* All skill levels are welcome *Find a partner onsite* Free parking RSVP today! 📍Wegman's 371 Buckley Ml Road Wilmington, DE 19807 🗓 Every Other Wednesday 🕑 6:30pm to 9:30pm 🌟 Keep in mind, this event is posted in multiple groups. So expect a nice crowd. Look for Ross, the host. The group usually sits at the tables on the right, when you enter the eating area. Spades/Game Play begins at 6:30 Look for the lit "Market Cafe" sign outside, on the side of the Wegman's. Where you see patio furniture outside, you'll see the entrance. We'll have a Meetup sign on our table. We hope to see you there! God bless. 😊❤️🙏

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Popes and Politics,”** on the history of clashes between pontiffs and world leaders, with Vanessa Corcoran, medieval historian at Georgetown University and scholar of the history of the Roman Catholic church. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics) .] President Trump recently shocked many by unleashing personal attacks on Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, in a post on the Truth Social platform. Trump has been widely criticized by religious leaders for these remarks, made in response to the pontiff’s advocacy of peace with the U.S and Israel at war with Iran, and for his separate posts of AI-generated images depicting himself as a pope and as Jesus. For his part, Pope Leo has told journalists, “I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” and has found himself at the center of a heated debate over the proper role of any pope when it comes to commenting on global politics. As unsettling as such developments might be to Roman Catholics, they’re hardly unprecedented. Disagreements between popes and world leaders go back to the Middle Ages, and have played a significant role in shaping the Church and its role in the world. Explore the long history of popes’ conflicts with politicians with Vanessa Corcoran, a historian of the Roman Catholic Church who previously has given excellent talks on papal conclaves and the evolution of nativity scenes. She’ll discuss fascinating developments such as the fourteenth century Avignon Papacy, when Philip IV of France got the upper hand in a feud with the Church by pressuring a papal conclave to select a French pope and then getting the church’s leadership relocated from Rome to Avignon for nearly 70 years. In drawing parallels between recent events and medieval attacks on the Church’s authority she’ll describe how today’s anti-Church memes echo the anti-pope and anti-Catholic images that Martin Luther disseminated in large numbers with the help of woodcut printing. We’ll look at tensions between past presidents and past popes over not just wars, but issues such as abortion, stem-cell research, and abortion access. The talk will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the inherent tensions between politics and matters of faith. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From an 1866 Nicolò Barabino painting of the death of Pope Boniface VIII after he was kidnapped and held captive for three days at the behest of King Philip IV of France (Usher Gallery / Wikimedia Commons).

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.

Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions

1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?

Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles

4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?

Optional Questions: AI & Being Human

7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?

Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning

10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?

Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche

13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?

Optional Questions: Work & Purpose

16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?

Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection

19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?

Optional Questions: Time & Mortality

22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?

Optional Questions: Society & Culture

25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?

Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy

28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

This **no-gi class** focuses on **advanced [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) concepts**, including takedowns, positional drilling, submissions, transitions, situational sparring, strategy development, and live training. While the class is scheduled for **90 minutes**, it may run longer depending on content and participation. This class includes both instruction as well as [rolling](https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/7/29/how-rolling-works-in-bjj) (sparring) as well as a question-and-answer section. The **drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20**, payable on-site, or [sign up for a trial week for free](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/). **Note:** We are located in **Suite #130**.

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)