Critical Thinking

## **Stop Living the Typical Expat Life! Meet Real Local Friends at Culcom** 🍻✨ Are you tired of the "Home → Work → Home" routine? Finding Korean friends who actually vibe with you in English isn't always easy. That’s why we’re here. At **Culcom Daejeon**, we’re not about boring textbooks. We’re about **real connections.** Since 2004, we’ve been the go-to spot for expats and locals to hang out, share stories, and build a "second family" in Korea. 🌉🤝 *** ### **What’s Waiting for You?** 📋 * **Real Talk:** Skip the "How are you?" and dive into dating, culture, and life with 40\~70 people every night. * **Small Groups:** You'll be placed in a cozy team (5-7 people) so everyone gets a chance to speak. * **Free Perks:** Enjoy **unlimited self-service beer**, snacks, and a super chill vibe. 🍺🥨 * **Beyond the Cafe:** We don’t just sit and talk. We do ski trips, kimchi making, casino nights, and wine parties! 🎿🍷 ### **When & Where?** 📍 * **Time:**11:00 AM – 13:00 PM (Every Weekend) * **Place:** 5F, 487, Daejong-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon (Right in the heart of the city!) * **Inquiry:** 010-8268-1638 ### **What Happens When You Arrive?** 🕒 1. **Welcome:** Chat with our friendly staff and get to know the Culcom vibe. (Don't forget to say you came through **Meetup**! 😉) 2. **1:1 Matching:** If you want, sign up for a personal language exchange partner. 3. **The Main Event (2 hours):** Meet a bunch of new Korean friends and chat away in English! ### **FAQ** 💬 * **Is there any hidden charge?** Nope, not at all. * **What if I’m late?** No worries! You're always welcome, but coming on time is more fun for everyone. 🏃‍♂️💨 * **Can I bring a friend?** Please do! We’ll give you a big hug if you bring your crew. XD 🤗 ### **Check Our Vibe!** 🎥 Curious what we actually do? Check out these clips: * [Beerpong Night 🍺](http://vimeo.com/101484635) * [Kimchi Making 🥬](http://vimeo.com/57131651) * [Casino Night 🃏](http://vimeo.com/136714567) **"Come for the English. Stay for the people."** See you at the 5th floor! 👋✨

Sunday Tea Club was founded in Daejeon in 2023. Created as a quiet alternative to Korea’s typical drinking and nightlife culture, the club offers a calm, meaningful way to spend your Sunday afternoons. If you’ve ever wished for a slower, more mindful space to enjoy afternoon tea and gentle conversation — you’re more than welcome to join us! Participant fee 15,000won+order 1drink(The participation fee is only paid once — at your first visit. All fees are collected and reinvested into the club to purchase new teaware, high-quality teas, or ingredients for future gatherings.)

**What to Expect** Weekly in-person language exchange meetups in a relaxed café setting. Meet locals and internationals, practice languages, and make new friends. Every round, groups rotate so you can talk to different people. **Who Comes** A mix of locals and internationals learning each other's languages. Most conversations are Korean–English, but everyone is welcome. **How It Works** 1. Join our open chat: [https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai](https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai) 2. Book your spot 3. Show up and start talking You can come alone or with friends. \-\-\-\-\- 편안한 카페 분위기에서 진행되는 주 1회 오프라인 언어 교환 모임입니다. 한국인과 외국인이 함께 만나 언어를 연습하고 새로운 사람들을 만날 수 있습니다. 매 라운드마다 그룹이 바뀌어 여러 사람과 대화할 수 있습니다. **참여 방법** 1\. 오픈채팅 참여 https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai 2\. 모임 신청 3\. 모임 참여하고 언어교환 시작 혼자 오셔도 좋고 친구와 함께 오셔도 됩니다.

## **Stop Living the Typical Expat Life! Meet Real Local Friends at Culcom** 🍻✨ Are you tired of the "Home → Work → Home" routine? Finding Korean friends who actually vibe with you in English isn't always easy. That’s why we’re here. At **Culcom Daejeon**, we’re not about boring textbooks. We’re about **real connections.** Since 2004, we’ve been the go-to spot for expats and locals to hang out, share stories, and build a "second family" in Korea. 🌉🤝 *** ### **What’s Waiting for You?** 📋 * **Real Talk:** Skip the "How are you?" and dive into dating, culture, and life with 40\~70 people every night. * **Small Groups:** You'll be placed in a cozy team (5-7 people) so everyone gets a chance to speak. * **Free Perks:** Enjoy **unlimited self-service beer**, snacks, and a super chill vibe. 🍺🥨 * **Beyond the Cafe:** We don’t just sit and talk. We do ski trips, kimchi making, casino nights, and wine parties! 🎿🍷 ### **When & Where?** 📍 * **Time:**11:00 AM – 13:00 PM (Every Weekend) * **Place:** 5F, 487, Daejong-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon (Right in the heart of the city!) * **Inquiry:** 010-8268-1638 ### **What Happens When You Arrive?** 🕒 1. **Welcome:** Chat with our friendly staff and get to know the Culcom vibe. (Don't forget to say you came through **Meetup**! 😉) 2. **1:1 Matching:** If you want, sign up for a personal language exchange partner. 3. **The Main Event (2 hours):** Meet a bunch of new Korean friends and chat away in English! ### **FAQ** 💬 * **Is there any hidden charge?** Nope, not at all. * **What if I’m late?** No worries! You're always welcome, but coming on time is more fun for everyone. 🏃‍♂️💨 * **Can I bring a friend?** Please do! We’ll give you a big hug if you bring your crew. XD 🤗 ### **Check Our Vibe!** 🎥 Curious what we actually do? Check out these clips: * [Beerpong Night 🍺](http://vimeo.com/101484635) * [Kimchi Making 🥬](http://vimeo.com/57131651) * [Casino Night 🃏](http://vimeo.com/136714567) **"Come for the English. Stay for the people."** See you at the 5th floor! 👋✨

Sunday Tea Club was founded in Daejeon in 2023. Created as a quiet alternative to Korea’s typical drinking and nightlife culture, the club offers a calm, meaningful way to spend your Sunday afternoons. If you’ve ever wished for a slower, more mindful space to enjoy afternoon tea and gentle conversation — you’re more than welcome to join us! Participant fee 15,000won+order 1drink(The participation fee is only paid once — at your first visit. All fees are collected and reinvested into the club to purchase new teaware, high-quality teas, or ingredients for future gatherings.)

**What to Expect** Weekly in-person language exchange meetups in a relaxed café setting. Meet locals and internationals, practice languages, and make new friends. Every round, groups rotate so you can talk to different people. **Who Comes** A mix of locals and internationals learning each other's languages. Most conversations are Korean–English, but everyone is welcome. **How It Works** 1. Join our open chat: [https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai](https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai) 2. Book your spot 3. Show up and start talking You can come alone or with friends. \-\-\-\-\- 편안한 카페 분위기에서 진행되는 주 1회 오프라인 언어 교환 모임입니다. 한국인과 외국인이 함께 만나 언어를 연습하고 새로운 사람들을 만날 수 있습니다. 매 라운드마다 그룹이 바뀌어 여러 사람과 대화할 수 있습니다. **참여 방법** 1\. 오픈채팅 참여 https://open.kakao.com/o/gLvLBEai 2\. 모임 신청 3\. 모임 참여하고 언어교환 시작 혼자 오셔도 좋고 친구와 함께 오셔도 됩니다.

Another writing session. Look for the guy with the laptop from the photo! (We'll be in the room with the big tables) New members very welcome!

[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

Come join us for in-depth discussions on topics relating to moral and political philosophy. This is a group for members who are comfortable discussing topics that are often anxiety producing and controversial. *"Aristotle was a realist who believed that reality and knowledge are found in the physical world, accessible through sensory experience and logic. This led to contrasting views on ethics, politics, and the nature of reality itself. Plato emphasized abstract, ideal concepts, while Aristotle prioritized empirical observation and the study of the natural world."* \- Google Gemini Following Aristotle's lead, this group will lean heavily on empirical data to make arguments. The Socratic method is still the preferred way to engage in conversation, and Platonic Idealism is still relevant to the conversation as points of reference.

Join us for some focused writing time. All writers and all experience levels are welcome and don’t worry, no one will see what you've written. This session is about getting your writing done and meeting other writers in your area. Bring your writing materials (such as a notebook or a charged laptop - outlets are limited.) And if you'd like to tune out other patrons at Sonny's or any overhead music, we recommend bringing headphones or earplugs. BEING LATE IS OKAY: Just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! When you show up, I will be sitting at a table with folded "Shut Up & Write" table cards. Say hello to everyone, grab a drink, and get your writing tools ready. Once you’re all settled, take some time to chat with your fellow writers. Once everyone’s arrived, I will lead quick introductions and then set the timer for our quiet and focused writing session. Afterward, we’ll have time to chat and get to know each other. We often talk about our successes and challenges as writers. If you don’t have time to stick around, no worries! **A note about the format** We don’t host critiques or readings. These events are a safe space for writers of all skill levels and genres to work on their craft, so no one will read or critique your writing. For our full event schedule, visit [https://shutupwrite.com](https://www.shutupwrite.com). **Other Important Details:** **WiFi name/password:** Name - Sonny's/Doubles Guest; Password - pingpong **Travel / Parking info:** Sonny's is on the D40/D4X bus line and about a 15 minute walk from either the Columbia Heights or Georgia Ave/Petworth metro lines. There is limited on-street parking. **Venue Guidelines:** Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.

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?

The 44.4-mile Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD), one of suburban Washington, D.C.’s most popular rail-­trails, is a fantastic link between the state’s rural and historical past and the nation’s capital. The trail is paved and exceptionally well marked, with mileposts every 0.5 mile and interpretive signs telling the story of the people and places along the rail line. The first 10 miles of the W&OD trail, stretching from Purcellville (western endpoint) to the historic town of Leesburg, travel through the rolling hills of Virginia Piedmont farmland. Horses graze, cornfields flourish, and trail crowds thin out somewhat. As the trail continues, it passes through Sterling and Ashburn, which features a year-round trailside barbecue restaurant. The town of Herndon features an old caboose, as well as a trailside train depot, used as a visitor center. The wooded trail surroundings feel a bit more suburban as the path continues through to the communities of Reston and Vienna. In Vienna, there is yet another caboose and train depot. From west to east, the elevation gradually declines. The leafier suburbs quickly become more urban, as the W&OD Trail makes its way towards its eastern terminus in the unincorporated community of Shirlington in Arlington. This will be a two-day ride. On Wednesday (5/27), we'll ride west from Sterling to Purcellville for 21 miles, have lunch along the way, and ride back to Sterling. Total distance of 42 miles. On Thursday (5/28), we'll ride east from Sterling to Shirlington for 23 miles, have lunch along the way, and ride back to Sterling. Total distance of 46 miles. These two rides are optional. You can choose to do just one or both. Disclaimer: GetHiking Charlottesville Organizers are not professional guides. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were riding alone. With your RSVP, you agree with this disclaimer. Weather: TBD Notes: 1\. This is a no drop ride\. Pace is 10\-14 mph\. At each crossing on the trail that's controlled by a stop sign or light\, we will stop and consolidate the group on the other side of the trail\. 2\. Reference guide: https://www\.traillink\.com/trail/washington\-and\-old\-dominion\-railroad\-regional\-park\-\(wod\)/\. 2\. Mandatory equipment: helmet\, repair kit/spare tube/pump\. 3\. Suggested trip equipment: warm\-weather gear\, cash\, cell phone\, ID/car keys\, sunglasses\, snack/drink\, cable lock\. Leave change of clothes and water \(for rinsing\) in your vehicle\. 4\. A tentative itinerary or cancellation notice will be posted 3\-5 days before the ride\.

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 :)