British History

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available. You must have an advance ticket to attend**. [Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Happiness Workshop,”** a look at what recent research and centuries of wisdom tell us about bringing more joy and contentment to our lives, with Eric Zillmer, professor of psychology and the director of the Happiness Lab at Drexel University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-happiness-workshop](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-happiness-workshop) .] Are you happy? If not, how do you get there? Gain insights into happiness with Eric Zillmer, an award-winning teacher who leads a creative think tank that investigates the ingredients for happiness among individual people and communities. You’ll learn how the study of happiness is a growing, evidence-based field known as positive psychology, which aims to find solutions to happiness challenges that can bring positive change to our lives and environments. Dr. Zillmer will discuss the meaning of happiness and its place in our lives and society. He’ll draw from recent science and great thinkers in discussing how we can increase our own happiness and well-being, throwing out a few practical tips as well. He’ll talk about whether happiness can be measured and where in our brain happiness is located. We’ll look at the influence of socializing and social media on our happiness and about the roles that music, humor, adversity, and regret have in happiness research. Dr. Zillmer will discuss what we learn about happiness from competitive sports, and he’ll suggest ten actions that you can engage in that will make you happier. Among the questions he’ll tackle: What is the happiest day of the week? Can a specific place make you happy? What can we learn about happiness from travelling the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Happiness in the face of a Tibetan Buddhist monk. (Photo by Wonderlane / Wikimedia Commons.)

Toastmasters currently has more than 332,000 members in 135 countries. Our club is just one of the more than 15,400 clubs located around the world. You join a community of learners, and in Toastmasters meetings we learn by doing. Whether you're an executive or a stay-at-home parent, a college student or a retiree, you will improve yourself; building skills to express yourself in a variety of situations. You'll open up a world of new possibilities: giving better work presentations; leading meetings - and participating in them - more confidently; speaking more smoothly off the cuff; even handling one-on-one interactions with family, friends and colleagues more positively. The environment in a Toastmasters club is friendly and supportive. Everyone at a Toastmasters meeting feels welcome and valued - from complete beginners to advanced speakers. Become the speaker and leader you want to be. Confident, charismatic leaders weren't born that way. Toastmasters members learn to tell their story. They listen and answer. Through our community of learners, they find their path to leadership. Why Kritikos? Distinguished award winner club. 51 years history serving Odenton and the surrounding area. Broad professional background of members. Friendly environment to encourage new skill growth. Monday night meeting time with dinner break to fit your busy schedules. Easy access from MD-32 and I-97. Meeting time: 6:15 pm on 1st, 2nd and 3rd Monday of each month. Call us at 410.305.9190 for more information.

We will meet in person and gather afterwards to grab a bite to eat/drinks. The story is narrated by **Ivan Flyagin**, a wandering monk who recounts the extraordinary events of his life to fellow travelers on a boat journey. His life has taken him across Russia through a series of almost unbelievable episodes: * serving a noble family * killing a monk accidentally as a child * surviving captivity among Tatars * working as a horse trainer * wandering as a pilgrim Each episode feels like a self-contained adventure, yet together they form the story of a man gradually moving toward **spiritual understanding and repentance**. Many critics consider this Leskov’s **most representative and profound work** because it captures several elements that define his writing: * Russian **oral storytelling traditions** * deep **Orthodox spiritual themes** * colorful **folk characters** * the sense of Russia as a vast moral and cultural landscape The protagonist resembles the Russian archetype of the **“holy wanderer”**—a flawed but spiritually searching figure.

Hit the pause button for an hour and reduce your stress. You will be compassionately guided through an exploration of intentionally linking your breath with the movement of both dynamic and static stretching and its impact on your (P)hysical, (I)ntellectual, (E)motional, and (S)piritual layers. Then experience the calming practice of restorative yoga which was designed specifically to move you from the fight, flight, or freeze state of the nervous system into the rest and digest state. Leave this all levels, accessible class feeling restored, renewed, and ready for what life has in store for you next. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com.** The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

**Are you in the DMV and interested in the Banjo?** Join the [Black Banjo Reclamation Project](https://www.blackbanjoreclamationproject.org/) (BBRP) in celebrating the BLACK roots of the Banjo at our monthly meet-up! Learn about Black artists and musicians in the folk and old-time music space and get connected with other resources about the banjo and traditional Folk music…also don’t be shy– jam with us! **(All skill levels welcome!** ***If you have a banjo, bring it! If not, no worries–we can share!)*** We host meet ups in Baltimore but we are excited to expand our meet-ups to PG County! Huge shoutout to the the **[Archie Edwards](https://www.acousticblues.com/)** \*\*[Blues Heritage Foundation ](https://www.acousticblues.com/)\*\*for hosting our group in their amazing space. We meet EVERY 1st MONDAY from 6:30PM- 8PM!! **About the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation:** A volunteer-run Foundation in Hyattsville, Maryland dedicated to preserving the memory of Washington D.C. blues artist and barbershop owner Archie Edwards. Continuing his mission to keep acoustic Piedmont Blues music alive, the foundation hosts: * [Saturday blues jams](https://www.acousticblues.com/saturday-blues-jams) * Instrument and vocal workshops (they have done banjo workshops!) * Monthly Open Mics * Concerts AND MORE! As a thank you for offering their space for BBRP banjo meet ups, feel free to make a donation to the Archie Edwards Foundation, follow them, and attend their events!

No sign\-ups required \| All levels welcome \| 21\+ If you're looking for a casual game of chess in a fun atmosphere, this event is for you! Members range from beginner to master level, and games are played both with and without time controls. There are dozens of players each week, with only a fraction of the participants registering on meetup. This event is held at a bar, the Board Room, in Washington, DC, and is intended for 21+ players. We meet upstairs, on the mezzanine. Upon arrival, fill out a name tag and indicate your relative skill, to facilitate match-ups. Chess sets and boards are provided. We don't have club clocks, but most people use the Chess Clock app from Chess.com to play timed games.

Artistic Artifacts hosts **Open Stitch sessions EVERY Thursday evenings** from 5:30 - 7:30 pm — join us! This is a drop-in, bring your own hand stitching project and the necessary supplies (or you can knit, crochet... whatever needle arts you like). There’s no fee to attend, no instruction nor agenda — just a time to spend with other creatives! Visit our website for all our class & event information: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk](https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk)**

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Torture in the Middle Ages,”** with Larissa “Kat” Tracy, visiting assistant teaching professor of English at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and author or editor of ten books on medieval violence. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-torture-middle-ages](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-torture-middle-ages) .] When *Pulp Fiction*’s Marsellus Wallace vows to “get medieval” on someone we assume that they’re in for some serious pain. Torture—that most notorious aspect of medieval culture and society—more recently has been portrayed in popular culture in series like G*ame of Thrones* and *Vikings*, through lurid scenes depicting torture and gruesome punishment as standard medieval practice. In many modern European cities one can find popular museums displaying such gruesome implements as the rack, the strappado, the gridiron, the wheel, and the iron maiden. The dominant mythology suggests that the Middle Ages was a period during which sadistic torment was inflicted on citizens with impunity and without provocation. The truth, however, is a lot more complicated. Join Professor Larissa “Kat” Tracy, who has extensively researched torture, punishment, and social justice in medieval society, for a talk challenging preconceived ideas that popular historians, films, and media have promoted about the prevalence of torture and judicial brutality in medieval society. She’ll discuss medieval Europe’s actual use of torture—the instruments, the laws, the cultural norms, and the victims—and make clear that the act of punishment was actually a very different legal event. She’ll argue that the portrayals of medieval torture in literature represent satire, critique and dissent; they have didactic and political functions in opposing the status quo. The books that Professor Tracy has written or edited include *Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature*; *Castration and Culture in the Middle Ages*; *Medieval and Early Modern Murder*; *Flaying in the Premodern World*, and most recently *End Game: Exile and Execution in Medieval and Early Modern Society*. When she gets medieval on you it means you are going to learn. The experience, however, won’t be painful at all. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Torture instruments on display at Prague Castle. Photo by Clayton Tang / Wikimedia Commons.

**Welcome to Flourish Collective meetup!** Join us for a time of **inspiration, connection, and empowerment** with Christian businesswomen who are ready to grow in both their faith and their businesses. We’ll start with a brief introduction and **icebreaker activities** to help you connect with others in the group. Then, we’ll dive into a **motivational session** on **combining faith with business**—how to lead with purpose, integrity, and impact in today’s world. Whether you’re just starting your business journey or are a seasoned entrepreneur, you’ll leave feeling encouraged and equipped to take your next steps! We'll also spend time in **prayer** and discussing how we can support each other’s businesses and walk together in faith. *** ### **Agenda:** * **10:00 AM - 10:30 AM** – Welcome & Introductions * **10:30 AM - 11:00 AM** – Icebreaker Activities (get to know each other) * **11:00 AM - 11:30 AM** – **Inspiring Talk** on Integrating Faith and Business * **11:30 AM - 12:00 PM** – Prayer & Business Support Circle (share your challenges & successes) *** ### **Why You Should Attend:** * **Connect** with like-minded Christian businesswomen who share your passion for success and purpose. * **Learn** how to integrate your faith into your business for greater impact and fulfillment. * **Grow** spiritually and professionally as we build a supportive community together. *** ### **What to Bring:** * An **open heart** and willingness to connect. * Your **business ideas, questions, or challenges** you want to discuss with the group. * A **positive attitude** ready to grow and inspire others! ### **Blessings!** **Helen Ogbu, CPA**

Join us to discuss The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow! We will be meeting at the Ballston Quarter food court, look for the table sign with iur group logo. The discussion will start promptly at 3, please arrive early to find us and make any food purchases.

**NOTE: Meetup is SATURDAY this month! (And apologies - April got away from us a bit!)** In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate but equally important groups - the Doctor who investigates crime and the Time Lords who keep putting the Doctor on trial for investigating crime. These are their stories. Rank your preference for the following - two of which are about investigations, two of which are about trials. *The Gunfighters* \- The First Doctor\, Steven\, and Dodo arrive in Tombstone where they become embroiled in events leading up to the gunfight at the OK Corral\. The Doctor is reluctantly deputized into helping Sheriff Wyatt Earp\. \[Warning: This episode contains a ballad that is repeated throughout the story and will take up a permanent place in your brain once you hear it\.\] *Smith and Jones/The Snowmen -* The 10th Doctor meets Martha Jones and a platoon of Judoon on the moon as they hunt a dangerous fugitive. Then the 11th Doctor meets Clara (sort of for the 2nd time) as he takes on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes and helps Madame Vastra investigate the mystery of the living snow. *The War Games (edited) -* The 2nd Doctor, Jamie, and Zoe stop the machinations of the War Lord but at the cost of the 2nd Doctor being captured and tried (for the first time) by the Time Lords. [Note: We are not going to power through the full 10 episodes - this will be the 90-minute colorized edit put out by the BBC a few years ago.] *The Deadly Assassin* \- The 4th Doctor \(and sadly\, not a head of talking cabbage \- IYKYK\) returns to Gallifrey where he is immediately framed and tried for the assassination of the president\. In a desperate effort to evade punishment for his alleged crimes\, the Doctor runs for president \- I mean\, how far\-fetched is that?\! When you RSVP, please rank the four options above in the comments in the order of preference (1 being "Yes! I am dying to see it!" and 4 being "Meh."), and we will abide by the choice of the attendees. For the Meetup itself, we ask everyone to bring something to drink and something to eat (snacks/munchies - you don't need to bring a whole ham or something!) to share with the group. We'll have food and drink as well and maybe a themed cocktail if the inspiration strikes... We are a couple blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro (15th and Harvard NW). We'll provide the full address ahead of the event. Note also that we are a walk-up - two flights of stairs. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

The topic for May is "Ink" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches. * **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason. * **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes. ## Discussion Questions 1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie. 2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?** 3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome? 4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend? 5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles? 6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way? 7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time? 8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

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

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. 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: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. 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, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) 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 to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Join us as we get together to see your choice of two VERY different movies – one sweet and wholesome – the other a terrifying folklore horror! Option 1 is the fun whodunnit-action-comedy-mystery led by Hugh Jackman, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES! Option 2 is the top-reviewed supernatural-horror-thriller starring Adam Scott, HOKUM! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES: Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The film is directed by Kyle Balda and take a look at this ensemble cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau and Emma Thompson and the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein and Rhys Darby. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyZI5oM6hWk HOKUM: In this film, a horror writer visits an Irish inn to scatter his parents' ashes, unaware the property is said to be haunted by a witch. It is written/directed by Damian McCarthy stars Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh and Austin Amelio. Hokum premiered to rave reviews at this year’s SXSW Festival and is being release by Neon. It is earning a stellar 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which calls it, “A classic haunted house story enriched with atmospheric folklore and perfectly-timed shocks!” TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVCIK_MPyhc PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing of both films and will meet inside the theater lobby about 20 minutes before showtime. If the showtimes work out, we’ll try to get both groups together for a bite before the shows! Complete details and showtime will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan