Ethics

## **Making Smart Money Decisions in Relationships** *Live expert discussion + facilitated breakout circles on 'Love & Money'* RSVP (**https://luma.com/b3dphgts)** Money is rarely just about numbers. It’s about who decides. Who carries responsibility. Who plans ahead — and who assumes things will work out. This Valentine’s FinFit Circle session is ***for women who want to build relationships — new or ongoing — that are loving, fair, and financially secure***, without being naïve, pessimistic, or afraid to ask real questions. Whether you’re dating, in a long-term commitment, separating, or starting again, this conversation helps you think clearly about money before emotions or circumstances decide for you. *** ## **What this session is really about** This live FinFit Circle session explores how money shapes relationships in practice — through everyday decisions and conversations. Together, we’ll look at: * **Where money decisions actually get made** (often earlier than we think) * **Which assumptions tend to create tension or imbalance over time** * **Which questions, financial and legal arrangements, and boundaries matter most across different stages of relationships**, while you still have room to choose differently *** ## **Three expert lenses, one grounded conversation** Money in relationships doesn’t sit in one domain — which is why this session brings together emotional, financial, and legal perspectives: * **[Stephanie Clifford-Kroon](https://clifford-kroon-coaching.lovable.app/about)**, Certified Relationship Coach * **[Nadam Schmidt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadamschmidt/)**, Certified Financial Planner * **[Siham Maachi](https://silkadvocaten.nl/en/team/siham-maachi/)**, International Family Lawyer & Solicitor *** ## **What you’ll walk away with** * **Clarity on your money patterns** and how they show up in relationships * Key questions and **practical tips** **to discuss money constructively** with a (future) partner * ​Ways to think about **shared vs individual finances**, including what’s smart, why, and tradeoffs * **Legal realities** worth knowing early (agreements, rights, timing) * **Perspective and connection** from women navigating similar questions *** ## **How the session works** * **60-minute live fireside conversation** * **30-minute interactive breakout circles** (4–6 women) **Location:** FinFit Circle · Online *** ## **Contribution** This session is **€30**. If you’re able, you can **pay it forward** by sponsoring another woman’s place at the same introductory rate, helping keep these conversations accessible in the FinFit community. *** 👉 **Reserve your spot: https://luma.com/b3dphgts**

Come and join us for an evening of Buddhist meditation with like-minded people. The doors open at 7:00 PM, and meditation begins promptly at 7:15 PM. The meditation will last between 30 to 40 minutes, followed by tea and biscuits for anyone who would like to stay and chat. On some evenings, there will also be a short Dharma talk to provide some Buddhist context. The meditation space is down at the canal. To get there, you can take the stairs down. The meditation is offered on a donation basis. See our [website](https://utrechtbuddhistcentre.nl/) for more information.

Join in for a morning of crafting & chatting over a drink. Just bring your own project and payment for drinks. Meet fellow crafting enthusiasts, whether it's knitting, crocheting, stitching, origami, or something more unique! We talk about our projects, exchange tipps, but also just get to know each other and enjoy a relaxed Sunday morning in good company. All ages, levels and crafts welcome! And don't be shy, we have newcomers most weeks! **We have limited space at the café, so if you've RSVPd and can't make it, please cancel as early as possible so another person can join!** We now also have a WhatsApp group, where we want to organise get-togethers and other events. Ask one of the organisers at the next Meetup you join for more information and access.

**☃️ Weekly Anime Night - Winter Season ☃️** Your friendly neighbourhood anime club is there to get you through those cold days. We are starting this season with **Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2**! 📅 **Event Series Details** **Dates: February 15th** **Time: 19:00–21:00** **Location:** Buurtcentrum De Speler, Thorbeckelaan 18, 3551 BR, Utrecht 🎬 **What’s the Plan This Week?** 1. Before we start watching, enjoy chats with other joiners, meet new people and get comfortable to start the show! 2. **Frieren: Beyond Journey's End S2 - episode 1** 3. Break – Grab a drink, chat, and stretch those legs. 4. **Frieren: Beyond Journey's End S2 - episode 2** 5. Short break 6. **Frieren: Beyond Journey's End S2 - episode 3** 7. Closing & Hangout – Let’s talk reactions, highlights, opinions, hot takes, and everything in between! **🎒 What Should You Bring?** Your favorite snacks and drinks (not provided) Your love for anime Friends, or just your awesome self – all are welcome! 🎟️ **Free & Open to All!** This is a non-commercial, community-driven event created by fans, for fans. Whether you’re new to anime or a seasoned otaku, there’s a seat on the couch for you. 🎌 **About Utrecht Anime Club** U.A.C. is an ever-growing group of collaborative and diverse people. Our goal is to bring people together from all across Utrecht (and beyond!), to create cozy and inclusive events in which we share our love of anime. 🔍 **Questions?** Drop them in the event chat – we’re happy to help! Come for the anime, stay for the laughs, finale vibes, and great people. See you there! ✨🎥🍿

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]

Event planned for Sunday near the Diemen Station.

## (Lesson 2) ## What to expect Project Equilibrium is an in-person introduction to disciplined, rule-based trading automation. This first event is designed to be clear, practical, and approachable no hype, no pressure, and no prior technical background required. ### Why we meet (two-session structure) This meetup is structured as **two lessons**: **Lesson 1 — The “Why” (mindset + framework)** * What Project Equilibrium is (and what it is not) * Why we focus on process, rules, and execution discipline * What “24/7 execution” means in practice * Q&A and open discussion **Lesson 2 — The “How” (step-by-step setup)** * A simple walkthrough of the basic tools you need * Step-by-step guidance to install and prepare the required exchange apps/accounts * A clear checklist to be ready for future sessions (You won’t be left alone—everything is explained calmly and in order.) ### What to bring To make the second lesson smooth, please bring: * **A smartphone** (for authentication and exchange app setup) * **A laptop** (for the setup steps and configuration) If you only have one device, you can still join Lesson 1. The setup lesson is simply easier with both. ### Who this is for * People curious about algorithmic execution and portfolio discipline * Beginners who want a structured approach * Experienced traders who want more consistency and less stress ### Agenda * Welcome + introductions * Lesson focus of the day (Why / How) * Guided walkthrough (where applicable) * Q&A + next steps ### How to find the group * Arrive a few minutes early and look for the **Project Equilibrium** group. * I will be there to welcome attendees if you’re unsure, simply ask the venue staff for the Meetup group name.

This is the first of several meetings on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I hope to see you there! Fred

**Come Join to Celebrate Charles Darwin's Birthday! Banana Splits will be served! Our Talk is** **Beyond the Bare Bones: What Human Evolution Means to You** The study of human evolution isn't merely an academic exercise in looking backward. It tells us who we are and the kinds of things we do. Hence, it can inform us about our impact on the environment and our future as a species. This presentation will be illustrated with revealing images from the Smithsonian's Hall of Human Origins. Our speaker, Fred Edwords served eleven years as the founding editor of the American Humanist Association’s *Creation/Evolution* journal, refuting creationism in print and on the debate platform. He also served fifteen years as the American Humanist Association's executive director and twelve years as editor of the *Humanist* magazine. This is an in-person meeting only. We serve coffee starting at 10:45. Come then and chat!

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

Come join me to try some Ethiopian food! I’ve heard great things about Sheba—friends say it’s fantastic. Please keep your RSVP up to date so we know how many to expect. I’ll make the reservation under my name and will have a table sign so you can spot us easily. \*\* Appetizer : $7 Entrees/Combos : $18-$22 \*\* They serve wine and beer. \*\* Individual Checks. \*\* Free Parking in front of the restaurant. Here's the menu: https://www.ordershebarockville.com/

**Is it unrealistic or even naive to think that we should try to live a virtuous life in today’s world?** **As children we’re taught to be good, to be kind, to be honest. Yet as we get older, some of these virtues get lost or sacrificed for the sake of expediency or convenience, or a sense that they’re just not compatible with the world today. Even worse, some might think it could allow others who don’t hold to these values to take advantage of us. But what is the impact on a society that no longer values these ideals? What is the impact on us as individuals? Can a spiritual perspective help us to recognize the inherent value of these qualities?** **Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the importance of nurturing – and valuing! – good people. Join us for a lively discussion as together we explore how developing qualities like truthfulness, integrity, and kindness can enable the progress and improvement of society as a whole.** **“Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* The event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

We hiked this trail before and everyone loved it. **Lake Needwood–Gude–Blue Heron Loop in Rock Creek Regional Park**. • Distance: 3.6 miles • Difficulty: Easy, gentle elevation (337 ft) • Time: 1.5–2 hours at a relaxed pace • Scenery: Lake views, wetlands, lots of birds (herons, ducks, geese) • Perfect if you want something calm, scenic, and not exhausting • Wide, well-marked trails — good for conversation I recommend hiking boots because it can be muddy. Remember to bring your creature comforts (water, snacks, and tissues come to mind). If you're bringing your dog, let us know in the comments in case anyone is allergic. We'll meet at the parking lot near the boat house. Lunch at Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant at 1:30 (Must RSVP on that event to participate)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics2) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.