Critical Thinking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out critical thinking events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the critical thinking events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find critical thinking events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Critical Thinking Events Today
Join in-person Critical Thinking events happening right now
Daniel Leadership Toastmasters [Silver Spring MD] - Hybrid Options available :)
## Details
Zoom Link : **[https://jesushousedc-org.zoom.us/j/3167877043](https://jesushousedc-org.zoom.us/j/3167877043)**
Register for our guest list/book:
[Forms for Invite](https://forms.gle/Qowi1t4aDbQaJhvG8)
Come join your neighbors in developing your leadership and public speaking skills. We are a group of students, professionals and ambitious individuals interested in personal development. Daniel Leadership provides a fun environment for both working with groups, leading, and speaking in front of an audience. We meet every 2nd and 3rd Monday of the month, in downtown Silver Spring, convenient to the metro. Come join us to develop your professional skills, practice public speaking in front of a supportive group, or to just make friends. We hope to see you there!
Come join your neighbors in developing your leadership and public speaking skills. We are a group of students, professionals and ambitious individuals interested in personal development. Daniel Leadership provides a fun environment for both working with groups, leading, and speaking in front of an audience. We meet every 2nd and 3rd Monday of the month, in downtown Silver Spring, convenient to the metro. Come join us to develop your professional skills, practice public speaking in front of a supportive group, or to just make friends. We hope to see you there!
What to expect:
• Come by and meet the members from 7:00-7:15
• Be wowed by 3-4 speakers practicing their craft
• Practice your own public speaking with table topics
• Learn about evaluating speeches to understand critical thinking
• Make great friends with others interested in personal development
Transportation/Parking:
• We are 1/2 mile from Silver Spring metro
• Located on the F4 bus line & 1 block from 4, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 bus lines
• Convenient street parking
• 2 blocks from Fenton Village Garage 4 Parking Lot (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fenton+Street+Village+(Garage+4)/@38.9896363,-77.0262983,17z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sSilver+Spring+parking!3m4!1s0x0:0xc69eb61284ac2daa!8m2!3d38.9909589!4d-77.025231)
Profs & Pints DC: Wink, Nod, Kill
[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Wink, Nod, Kill,”** a look at implicit calls for violence and other speech that leads to bloodshed and threatens democracy, with Kurt Braddock, assistant professor of communications at American University and expert on terrorism.
[Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-wink-nod-kill](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-wink-nod-kill) .]
Over the last decade, President Donald Trump and many of his allies have used language that implicitly advocates for the use of violence without directing it outright. From telling the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” to suggesting that legal acts of Democratic lawmakers should be “punishable by death,” Trump has consistently suggested that violence is a viable means of addressing political grievances.
Support for political violence—implicit or explicit—goes beyond the sort of spirited debate and disagreement upon which the American experiment was founded. It represents a gray area in the connection between violent language and violent acts, an area that Kurt Braddock has spent years studying.
Learn about research on the connection between real bloodshed and coded language, dogwhistles, and implicit calls for violence with Dr. Braddock, who has conducted research on communication and terrorism for several national and international organizations, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of State, and the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism.
Professor Braddock will give his audience a firm grounding in the concept of “stochastic terrorism,” or political violence spawned by vague calls to violent action. Tapping into decades of research on communication and decision-making and accounts of specific violent acts inspired by implicit orders, he’ll show us that the threat posed by implicit calls to violence is real.
He’ll discuss whether implicit calls for violence represent a “new” form of political communication protected by the First Amendment, and he’ll describe the real-world dangers posed by these kinds of statements.
Among the questions Dr. Braddock will tackle: Why do politicians use this language if they can reasonably assume that someone may be motivated by it to hurt someone else? Perhaps most importantly, what can we do about it, especially given the sacrosanctity of the First Amendment?
His talk promises to give you a much more sophisticated understanding of recent events and a clearer sense of what might lie ahead. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.)
Image: Right-wing pundit and podcaster Steve Bannon routinely uses violent rhetoric. (Photo by Nordiske Mediedager / Creative Commons. )
Old Town Write-In
Join us for another lowkey writing session! Bring your laptop, iPad, or notebook so that you can get some words down! We will start around 6:00 as people filter in. Writing, chatting, and casual introductions will go on until 6:30 as people arrive and grab food and drinks, when we will do a round-table to introduce ourselves, our genres and writing styles, and what we are looking for from the group. After that, we can buckle down to do some writing and make ourselves be productive!
I will try to snag the big community table to the right of the registers at Tatte, or sit against the back wall with a couple of tables pulled together, so you can look for me there. I'll post in the comments when I arrive, so feel free to check there or message me if you are feeling lost or having difficulty finding the group.
I'll look forward to meeting you all! Our next workshop will take place on the Monday following this one, so look forward to that, as well!
Deep Conversations at Bethesda Library -- What is your current self-definition?
(**we might be in Meeting Room 4 today, the one next to Room 3 to the right**)
"Experience is a worthless and transient existence unless the experiencer is known."
"The path to Truth begins with the self. We cannot properly isolate, identify, or analyze the self, because it is the subject about which we know the least."
"This whole system of spiritual realization depends upon us finding out who we are."
"Nothing can be known for sure until the knower is known."
-- [Richard Rose](https://tatfoundation.org/about-richard-rose/)
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***“I am struck with how rare it is to find a few good friends on the path. It is easy to find people who simply want to sit and be entertained by teachers, or who want to sit and entertain by playing the role of teacher. In other words, the quest for affirmation often outweighs the quest for truth.***
***Yet you may have one or two good friends, and definitely have one or two waiting to be discovered. Find them; be thankful.”***
***— Shawn Nevins***
'What will make me happy in life?' ... 'Am I my thoughts?' ... 'What is Enlightenment?' ... We meet every week to ask questions like these in the pursuit of Self-Knowledge and Truth.
We are interested in topics like: Zen, stoicism, spirituality, psychology, mindfulness, Nisargadatta, non-violent communication, Socrates, existential philosophy, Alan Watts, taoism, Eckhart Tolle, meditation, Ramana Maharshi, etc. But we are not affiliated with any dogma, philosophy, or religion.
Our goal each meeting is to serve as mirrors for one another using question-based inquiry in a safe environment. In a session, every participant takes turns discussing the week's question or topic, and the group asks reflective questions without any agenda besides trying to understand the person's beliefs.
A few other guiding principles of our group:
* No one is obligated to share
* Be honest with yourself and others
* Do not try to convince others to believe or think as you do
* Keep the focus on the person being questioned
We meet at the [Bethesda Library](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWMozF8zpY1m1PY26) every Monday. The library is a 5 minute walk from the Bethesda Metro on the Red Line, approx 25 minute Metro ride from Metro Center and Gallery Place stations. The library has a a parking lot with metered parking for $1/hour.
\*\*\* WE WILL BE IN MEETING ROOM 3 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ----- THE MEETING ROOM IS IN THE BACK OF THE LIBRARY \*\*\*
Please contact us with any questions!
Read & Reflect: A Social Reading Circle.
Shared Pages, Shared Insights.
📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with?
Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café.
Here’s how it works:
First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you.
Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections.
Why join?
Add structure to your reading habit.
Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices.
Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply.
Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.
Critical Thinking Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Aristotle's Café
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.
Shut Up & Write!® in Washington DC
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.
When you show up, 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: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]
Travel / Parking info: [PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS]
Venue Guidelines: Please thank our hosts by purchasing something.
DIY Group Psychoanalysis "Mirror Function vs Projection & Sameness"
*theme:* **DIY Group Psychoanalysis "Mirror Function vs Projection & Sameness"**
Psychoanalysis "unlocks the past, informs the present, and expands the future.
video clips:
**Psychoanalytic SPIDER framework for listening 23min**
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znUgyRsN0nk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znUgyRsN0nk)
**Psychoanalytic theory in 3 minutes**
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucB1b6f750k](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucB1b6f750k)
**Psychoanalysis A Curiosity about the mind 6min**
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcmVjQBF4MQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcmVjQBF4MQ)
Psychoanalysis = a theory and practice treating symptoms and personality as **disguised compromises** around unconscious conflicts, using a structured relationship (transference) to make those patterns visible so you can **repeat less blindly** and **choose a bit more freely**.
"Until you ***make the unconscious conscious***, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." Carl Jung
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**Interpersonal Process Group**
**Psychodynamic shared exploration, learning and growth**
Interpersonal process groups focus on the interactions and dynamics between group members to facilitate personal growth and learning. These groups provide a courageous space for individuals to explore their interpersonal patterns, receive feedback, and develop more effective social skills.
**The core principle is that the group itself becomes a microcosm of a member's real-life relationships, allowing for insights and behavioral changes.**
Key aspects of interpersonal process groups:
* **Exploration of Interpersonal Dynamics:**
Members examine their communication styles, relationship patterns, and how they relate to others within the group.
* **Feedback and Self-Awareness:**
The group provides a platform for members to receive feedback on their behaviors and develop greater self-awareness.
* **Development of Social Skills:**
Members practice new ways of relating, communicating, and collaborating within the group, leading to improved social skills.
* **Microcosm of Relationships:**
The group mirrors real-life relationships, allowing members to observe and analyze their patterns in a safe and controlled setting.
* **Personal Growth and Well-being:**
Through these processes, individuals can experience significant personal growth and enhanced well-being.
Benefits of participating in an interpersonal process group:
* **Increased self-awareness:** Understanding one's own behavior and its impact on others.
* **Improved communication skills:** Learning to communicate more effectively and assertively.
* **Stronger relationships:** Developing more fulfilling and meaningful relationships.
* **Reduced anxiety and stress:** Finding support and coping mechanisms for social challenges.
* **Enhanced empathy and understanding:** Learning to see situations from others' perspectives.
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
Join us for an exciting meeting of personal growth as we delve deep into the realm of self-development. This meetup is designed for personal growth addicts like you who are eager to unlock their hidden potential and take charge of their lives.
Don't miss this chance to meet fellow personal growth enthusiasts, share experiences, and learn from one another. Step into a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and transformation. Come prepared to engage in provocative conversations, share your opinions, wrestle with challenging ideas, and leave with a renewed sense of deeper meaning and learning.
**Tentative Agenda:**
1:00pm Social, Setup & Introductions, guidelines, terminology;
1:15pm Interactive open dialogue conversation & sharing;
2:45pm debrief, summary, debrief
3:00pm finish
Light snacks, water & hot tea provided.
Tysons-Pimmit Library is on Leesburg Pike (Rt 7) in Falls Church, VA off I-495 beltway exit 47.
**Meeting room #2** is down 1st left hallway, on left side across from the bathrooms.
Vibe Coding: A Skeptic's Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in AI-Assisted Development
DC iOS returns to the Capital One campus for another meetup! Come and meet with fellow Apple developers in the DC Area, enjoy some food, networking, and a great tech talk!
PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING IN PERSON OR OVER ZOOM.
**Agenda:**
• 5:40 PM - Doors Open (in-person attendees). **Don't forget your ID!**
• 6:10 PM - Welcome (in-person and Zoom attendees)
• 6:15 PM - **Talk: *Vibe Coding: A Skeptic's Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in AI-Assisted Development***
• 7:05 PM - Community Announcements & Networking
• 8:00 PM - Doors close
**Talk Description:**
**Vibe Coding: A Skeptic's Guide to Finding Your Rhythm in AI-Assisted Development**
Leo Dion
I didn't trust AI hype. But building thousands lines of production Swift taught me: AI can get you 70% there but expertise is still required. From skeptic to pragmatic builder, I'll share when AI shines, where it fails, and how to thrive in the AI era. No hype, no doomerism—just reality.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83088929804?pwd=NinZzqyxxo8Cw1KSU1rMrPey8cxr2M.1
**Location:**
Capital One, C2 Building
1680 Capital One Drive, Mclean VA, 22102
100A
Visitor parking is either in the garage attached to 1680 Capital One Drive, or the open lot next to 1600 Capital One Drive. After that you will walk over to the main entrance of 1680 Capital One drive, and then walk around the right to the corner to room 100A
For the metro, take the Silver Line to the McLean metro stop, then walk into main campus (about a 5 minute walk). From there, walk to the main entrance of 1680 and then go to room 100A
**What you need to bring:**
ID
**When to arrive:**
Doors open at 5:50pm ET
Event will start at 6:10 pm ET
**Will food and drinks be provided?**
Yep!
**Will there be rapid testing provided?**
No
**Will masks be required?**
No
Washington DC Global Socializing
Greetings from the capital!
Every Saturday at 7:30 PM, people from all walks of life — students, diplomats, travelers, locals — gather to unwind and connect.
[[Click this whatsapp groupchat link to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GNKKoBtgiU73RYeypZoN6y)]
Our age range is mostly 20s to 30s. If you enjoy discussing culture, politics, travel, or just want to practice a new language, this group is for you.
A perfect blend of diversity and dialogue, right in the heart of D.C.
Understand the subconscious mind.
At this event you'll discover how to better understand and control your subconscious mind, helping you overcome doubts and fears. If you have anger issues, depressions and anxieties. this event will show you how to overcome them.
Critical Thinking Events Near You
Connect with your local Critical Thinking community
Using Philosophy to Cope with Current Events
So this month's prompt is more general. I think we can all agree that we are living in "unique" times that require coping skills. I think that one role and/or purpose of philosophy is to help us deal with our daily lives and our "unique" times. So, let's share our feelings and thoughts about which philosopher/philosophy we turn to in order to deal with our crazy events. Who/what helps you stay focused in your daily life and helps you sleep at night. I find that Stoicism with a little philosophical pessimism mixed in goes a long way in helping me deal with what I see as very destructive, fearful and mean spirited public policies at both the state and federal levels. Hope to see you on March 28th!
Humanist Program: Fighting the Efforts to Insert Religion into Public Education
The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event.
Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk.
Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association:
They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved.
Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online
Join Zoom Meeting
[https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1)
Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953
Passcode: 760812
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York)
+13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC)
The formal presentation will start at noon
Sunday Brunch
Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!
Shut Up & Write!® Easton Town Center
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 Sunday 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 noon on Sundays.
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:
12:00 - quick intros.
12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour.
1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing.
OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. 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. 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 Sunday!
CBusData - Discover the Power of Window Functions
Window functions have nothing to do with the Windows operating system but provide a “window” to a result set when used in SQL queries. They are powerful, set-based methods to view data in unexpected ways. Window functions provide easy, set-based solutions to solve some common problems:
* Using running totals
* Performing operations in intervals
* Identifying data gaps and islands
* Performing aggregates without losing detail
Many people are confused by window functions and do not know how to use them properly. This session will explore window functions, how they work, and how to use them. Demonstrations with several examples will solidify how window functions can simplify queries and make them more powerful.










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