Microsoft Excel

～English description below～ イベント参加費として、日本人の方(日本で生まれ育ち、現在英語を勉強している方)は$2、日本人以外の方(日本語を勉強している方)は$5頂いております。 皆さんから頂いたお金は、こちらのサイトの維持費や将来のランゲージエクスチェンジ施設利用料やソーシャルイベント等のために使われます。ご理解の程、よろしくお願いいたします。 予約受付開始：土曜日5:00PM(前イベント終了後) 予約取消締切：土曜日14:00PM(当日) 予約受付締切：土曜日15:00PM(当日) スケジュール 5.15 PM - 5:30PM - チェックイン、グループ分け 5:30 PM - 6:15PM - 日本語の時間［または英語の時間］ 6:15PM - 7:00 PM - 英語の時間［または日本語の時間］ 【イベント内容】 Language Exchangeへようこそ！このグループでは、皆さんのレベルに応じて、3〜4名のグループにわかれ、同じ席になった人たちで各45分間、それぞれ英語と日本語でフリートークを行なっていただきます。決まったディスカッショントピックなどはございませんので、気軽に質問をしながらそれぞれのセッションを楽しんでいただければと思います。 開催場所：Atrium フードコート TJEXのサインボードを持ったオーガナイザーにお声がけください。(もしサインがなかったり、わからなければメッセージをお願いします！) 予約規約（⚠️重要） ・当日の不参加、もしくは15分以上の遅刻、また予約取消締切後の変更は原則不参加(No-Show)とみなします。不参加(No-show)が3回になりますと会員登録が抹消され、退会となりますのでご注意ください。 ・イベントに遅れそうな場合は必ずオーガナイザーまでメッセージをお願いします。イベント開始時間にいるメンバーでグループを組み直すこともあるので、連絡なしで到着された場合はイベントに参加できない可能性もあります。原則、30分以上遅れての参加はご遠慮いただいております。あらかじめご了承ください。 キャンセル待ち ・満席の場合、”キャンセル待ち”リスト(waiting-list)にご登録いただくことが可能です。“参加予定”リスト（going-list)中に空席が発生した場合は、”キャンセル待ち”への登録が早かった方を優先に、オーガナイザーが”参加予定”へ移動しますので、当日の参加状況の変更がないかご自身でご確認ください。 ※ご注意※ ・空席ができた際は、自動的に”キャンセル待ち”より”参加予定”へ変更されます。この時にMeetupよりお知らせがあるかはわかりません。 ・システムにより自動的に”参加予定”とされ、それに気づかずに参加しなかった場合でも、不参加とみなされますのでご了承ください。 Instagramアカウント @tjex.ca 最新情報やミートアップの様子を掲載しています。 ぜひこちらもフォローお願いします！ *** ***Although our group is a non-profit organization, we collect $ 5 per English Speaker for every event. All the proceeds are used to run this website and for social events*** RSVP: RSVP open: 5:00 PM (Saturday after previous event) RSVP cancel deadline: Saturday, 2:00 PM (day of the event) RSVP close: Saturday, 3:00 PM (day of the event) Day of Event: 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM - Check-in and Group placement 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM - Japanese conversation 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM - English conversation Event Description: This is an in-person language exchange! Members are placed into groups of three or four based on their language level. Each 45 minute session consists of friendly casual conversation, and/or informal study. Optional Dinner : After the Language event, we usually go for Dinner. Dinner is optional, you may or may not join the Dinner, it depends on you. However, Dinner is only for Participants that joined on the day of the event. Event Location: Atrium Food Court The food court is directly connected to the Dundas subway station. Leave the subway station and walk west along Dundas Street. At the intersection of Bay Street and Dundas Street, you will find an entrance. Proceed down the escalator. The food court is on the basement floor. Please talk to the organizer with the signboard showing TJEX. (If you can’t find them, please send a message to the organizer.) ⚠️RSVP & Late Policy: If you are unable to join on the day of the event, please change your status from 'going-list' to 'not going-list'. Failure to Not show up will result in 1 No -Show. Also, in case of arriving 15 mins late to the event will result in 1 No-Show. Members are removed from the group after 3 No-Shows. Waiting List: Members can join the waiting-list even if an event is full. When a spot becomes available, we will move you to the going-list. Going List: Only Members on the going-list can participate on the day of the event. Group Instagram - @tjex.ca Feel free to follow us!

Let’s do some coding together at a cafe! No more working alone in the weekend. Here, we write code together. And I mean together together. Not occupying-the-same-space-but-separate together. Here’s how it works: Jennifer brings her mobile app project, tells everyone that it is like Pinterest for recipes and she’d like to work on the nav bar. Paul and Chloe think Jennifer's project is fascinating, and they join the group. They gather around Jennifer’s laptop and work on the nav bar for 2 hours. Jennifer is the one typing out the code while Paul and Chloe research, brainstorm, and offer suggestions. If you’re feeling stuck on your own project or need a motivation boost, bring it to mob programming! Want to learn by watching how others code and solve problems? Join someone else’s project at this event! Oh and we love your half-done projects that you are a bit embarrassed to share. Absolutely bring those to the event! **Discord**: We use Discord to share screen & code snippets during the event. Also feel free to share your projects here before the event! https://discord.gg/Da9fZFxPfs **Event policy**: * We have 0 tolerance for harassment. * We don’t allow the projects that are not meant to be shared in public such as school assignments, interview tasks, or trade secrets. * The goal is to write code. We discourage you from pitching business ideas here, doing code reviews, or spending the whole event on planning what to do. * Please buy a drink, and tip the barista well.

Hello Everybody! 【College Park food court is closed again, so we change the location to the food court in Brookfield Place（181 Bay St., Toronto, ON）, near the Union Station.】 I am helping organize a mandarin-english language exchange downtown. If you want to improve your Mandarin/English, feel free to come by downtown and meet others to practise your language. There will be native Mandarin and English speakers to help you! Or you can share your language skills with others! Every Saturday 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court（181 Bay St., Toronto, ON） [ Please find a table with "meetup" label (like the Featured photo).] [ Usually in front of the Longo's supermarket] —————————————— 大家好： 【College Park的food court又给封了，所以我们把活动地点换到了 Brookfield Place的food court （181 Bay St., Toronto, ON），靠近Union Station。】 我正在组织一场中英文交流活动。如果你想提高你的普通话或者英语，那就快来参加吧！你可以在这里认识很多母语为普通话或者英语的新朋友！他们都非常乐于帮你提高你的中英文表达能力！也欢迎你同我们一起分享你的语言技巧! 谢谢! 每周六 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court（181 Bay St., Toronto, ON） 【请找到一张桌子，桌上有张纸，写着“Meetup”。】 【位置通常会在longo's超市前面】 ———————————————— 大家好： 【College Park的food court又給封了，所以我們把活動地點換到了Brookfield Place的food court （181 Bay St., Toronto, ON），靠近Union Station。】 我正在組織一場中英文交流活動。如果你想提高你的國語或者英語，那就快來參加吧！你可以在這裡認識很多母語為國語或者英語的新朋友！他們都非常樂於幫你提高你的中英文表達能力！也歡迎你同我們一起分享你的語言技巧！ 謝謝! 每週六 3:00pm-5:00pm Brookfield Place Food Court（181 Bay St., Toronto, ON） 【請找到一張桌子，桌上有張紙，寫著“Meetup”】 【位置通常會在longo's超市前面】

Each week there is some recommended readings to be done before we meet. **Please see the attached schedule for this week's readings.** The Bible Timeline® study program takes you on a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins will show you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and will give you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven throughout Scripture. The Bible Timeline will teach you how to read and understand the entire Bible and introduce you to the wonderful narrative of Scripture in a way that will transform your life. The online material can be bought online through the link below (optional). However, each session we can share copies for you to have discussion questions in class and reading guideline for the next session. https://ascensionpress.com/products/the-bible-timeline-the-story-of-salvation-online-video-access

[Summary] This meetup is for those who are interested in code, web development, design, cloud, or AI. All levels are welcome, so feel free to bring your laptop and discuss what you are working on or what you are learning. You can share your projects and ideas with other participants freely. There are outlets and WiFi, drinks are about $5 for tea, they take card only. [Price] Attendance is FREE. But you need to buy something from the venue. [Policies] \- We do not tolerate harassment of our members \- We remind users that that this meetup is intended for networking and hobby development\, and any attempts at using this meetup event as a dating platform will not be not be tolerated Further information: https://torontostack.exchange/

Hi everyone! We host a Language Exchange (Japanese × English) every Saturday from 2–4pm. The participation fee is $5, which helps cover event expenses. Come improve your English, meet new people, and enjoy great conversations! We look forward to seeing you! Practice Japanese with native speakers! Friendly & relaxed atmosphere. All levels welcome! ○Time: Every Saturday 2:00–4:00 PM ○Location: The food court in front of the Hockey Hall of Fame(30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8) It’s a 3-minute walk from King Station ○Fee : $5 per person(Cash only) ○Ages: 19- years old and over ○About: 30 min English → 30 min Japanese → switch seats ×2 ○How to join: Please RSVP on Meetup ○Instagram : @LANGUAGE_EXCHANGE510 Feel free to ask if you have any questions! The participation fee will be used to cover the event’s operating costs. ※This event is not for dating or pick-up purposes.

💼**周六财商小课堂 \| Financial Education Seminar** 想更好地了解加拿大的理财体系？ 想知道如何科学规划家庭财富、掌握投资节奏？ 这场讲座将带你从零理清思路，掌握实用的理财逻辑。 🧭 **主要内容** ✅ 如何科学地做家庭财务规划 ✅ 加拿大退休福利与税务策略 ✅ 房地产与市场趋势分析 ✅ 北美常见投资产品介绍 ✅ 如何判断风险、选择合适的投资标的 📍 **活动信息** **多伦多场** 🏢 675 Cochrane Dr, Markham 🕐 下午 1:15 – 3:00 （EST） **同时还有温哥华场举办！** 👥 **适合人群** * 新移民 / 国际留学生 * 职场人士 / 家庭 / 创业者 * 中小企业主 ☕ **活动亮点** * 实用干货分享，无推销、无门槛 * 轻松氛围、现场答疑互动 * 提供茶饮与小点心，方便大家边听边聊

# 🚊✨ FIRST RIDE: The Eglinton Crosstown Adventure + Brunch! 🥂🥞 We’ve waited YEARS for this moment… and now it’s finally here. So let’s do something a little different. A little unique. A little “only our group would do this.” 😄 We’re riding the **first stretch of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT** from **Kennedy Station to Eglinton Station** — about a 40-minute ride (fingers crossed 🤞). And we’re not rushing. We’re not commuting. We’re not stressed about missing our stop. We’re just… riding. 🚊💛 Sitting back. Taking it all in. Watching the city glide by. Chatting. Laughing. People-watching. Experiencing a brand-new piece of Toronto history together. Because honestly? There’s something kind of magical about riding transit with no agenda — just connection and curiosity. And when we arrive? We reward ourselves with **brunch at The Pickle Barrel**. 🍳🥓☕ 👉 **Pickle Barrel** **Menu:** [Click Here!](https://www.picklebarrel.ca/en/menu.html?s=3558) New train. Great company. Brunch. Tell me that’s not a perfect weekend plan. 👉 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) *** ## ⚠️ Important Notes ### 🍽️ Restaurant Reservations Reservations will be made in advance. Members who change their RSVP on the day of or do not show up will be removed from the group — no exceptions. We want to stay in good standing with the restaurant and respect their time. Thank you for understanding! 💛 *** ### ❄️ Weather Policy Please don’t sign up unless you’re comfortable coming out in all types of weather. This event will happen **unless the LRT can’t run.** 🚊 *** ## 📍 Meetup Details 📌 **Meetup Location:** Inside **Kennedy Subway Station** at the **BUS PLATFORM AREA by the Gateway on the GO**....We will only wait 10mins We will ALL walk over to the LRT together. It’s easy to find — just look for **Mathew in his famous Moose Hat!** 🫎🎩 💰 **Meetup Fee:** $5 cash in person or e-transfer to **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** 📍 **End Spot:** Yonge & Eglinton *** ## 🚪 Can I Leave Early? Absolutely! Stay for the ride, stay for brunch, or stay for both. If you’re not joining for lunch, just let us know — no pressure. 💛 👉 You’re also welcome to just show up on the day if you’re not 100% sure you can make it. ⚠️ Occasionally things happen and events may need to be cancelled — please keep an eye out for updates. *** 👤 **Organizer:** Mathew Questions? Post on the event wall or email **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com** *** 🚊✨ Come be part of Toronto history. Let’s ride the Crosstown together — and brunch like champions after. 🥂🍳

【College Park food court is closed again, so we change the location to the food court in Aura Concourse（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON）, near the College Station.】 I am helping organize a mandarin-english language exchange downtown. If you want to improve your Mandarin/English, feel free to come by downtown and meet others to practise your language. There will be native Mandarin and English speakers to help you! Or you can share your language skills with others! Every Sunday 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON) [ Please find a table with "meetup" label (like the Featured photo).] [ Usually in front of the pharmacy ] —————————————— 大家好： 【College Park的food court又给封了，所以我们把活动地点换到了 Aura Concourse的food court（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON），靠近College Station。】 我正在组织一场中英文交流活动。如果你想提高你的普通话或者英语，那就快来参加吧！你可以在这里认识很多母语为普通话或者英语的新朋友！他们都非常乐于帮你提高你的中英文表达能力！也欢迎你同我们一起分享你的语言技巧! 谢谢! 每周日 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse food court（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON） 【请找到一张桌子，桌上有张纸，写着“Meetup”。】 【位置通常在药房前面】 ———————————————— 大家好： 【College Park的food court又給封了，所以我們把活動地點換到了Aura Concourse的food court（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON），靠近College 】 我正在組織一場中英文交流活動。如果你想提高你的國語或者英語，那就快來參加吧！你可以在這裡認識很多母語為國語或者英語的新朋友！他們都非常樂於幫你提高你的中英文表達能力！也歡迎你同我們一起分享你的語言技巧！ 謝謝! 每週日 3:00pm-5:00pm Aura Concourse food court（384 Yonge St., Toronto, ON） 【請找到一張桌子，桌上有張紙，寫著“Meetup”】 【位置通常會在藥房前面】

This group is for badminton enthusiasts who are passionate about exploring the connections between metabolism, energy, and exercise. We are welcome beginner plus, intermediate and advance level players looking to improve your skill or a seasoned player seeking to optimize your performance on the court, this group is for you! Join us for friendly games. This badminton session is a weekly event and it is followed with dinner together but it is optional. Since we have 3 courts and allowed the maximum of 24 players so that everyone signs up for this event will be placed on waiting list FIRST then will be moved to the joining list. Court fee: It will be informed at the comment section by 4pm. Cost per person is $162 divided by the number of players attended. My email address will be provided at that time for etransfer.

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Toronto City Brunch Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! Instead of our usual show-and-tell, this will be a **work session!** If you're looking for some motivation to tinker on a creative project, now's your chance! **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** Impact Kitchen on Queens Quay (88 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 0B6) **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

Hi Lovely Ladies, Come join us for Brunch on **\*\*\*Sunday**, February 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Bumpkins. The menu showcases a great selection of homemade brunch options offering delicious homemade soups, fried potatoes, crepes and many other choices. The restaurant owners are always on-hand ensuring an exceptional dining experience. Come enjoy a wonderful brunch where attention to detail is paramount. Click [here](https://www.bumpkins.ca/copy-of-brunch-lunch) for a link to the menu. Meet friends and make some new ones while enjoying a lovely Brunch. Each participant will cover their own food and drink costs. **There is a non-refundable / non-transferable $5.00 cover fee** to attend this group event. This charge will reserve your spot, help with group costs and hopefully minimize no shows. **Payment of the $5 cover charge is due by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13th, 2026.** After this date, non payment of the cover fee will result in the Member's name being moved to the "not going" list so that those "waitlisted" have an opportunity to attend the Brunch. In consideration of others, if you are not able to attend, please advise 48 hours prior to the event to allow other people on the waitlist to have your spot. No shows and less than 48 hours notice of non-attendance will be noted. 2 or more such occurrences will unfortunately lead to removal from the group. Thank you all for your understanding and consideration. Looking forward to connecting soon! Here are the details for the $5.00 e-transfer - E-mail - [weekendbrunchover50@hotmail.com](http://weekendbrunchover50@hotmail.com/), Security Question - What is the time of the event? **Eleven** Hope to see you there!

🌟 Introducing **AI Innovation Vanguard** — Our **Free**, **Exclusive Co-Create AI Community** Feeling behind in the AI wave? Want to stay updated with the latest AI developments? Torpedo Rapid Studio is excited to launch our new AI community — AI Innovation Vanguard — bringing together early adopters, professionals, and innovators who want to explore and play with our new AI solutions before public release. Members of the AI Innovation Vanguard will receive: ✅ Exclusive early access to our new AI tools ✅ Voice your challenges and influence how our AI products are developed ✅ Opportunity to incorporate our AI solutions into your work to boost efficiency and simplify daily tasks And it’s completely **free**! We’re excited to **release multiple upcoming AI tool prototypes** across multiple industries, built by diverse AI engineers very soon. **Vanguard members from all backgrounds** will get **exclusive early access**! ✨ Join AI Innovation Vanguard today: forms.gle/xLGebMTyAAJegdoJ7 ✨ Torpedo's Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/torpedo-rapid-studio/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/torpedo-rapid-studio/ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/torpedo-rapid-studio/") Be part of the innovation journey and help shape the future of AI solutions! [#AI](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23ai&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23ai&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED") [#Innovation](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23innovation&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23innovation&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED") [#AITools](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23aitools&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23aitools&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED") [#TechCommunity](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23techcommunity&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23techcommunity&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED") [#EarlyAccess](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23earlyaccess&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23earlyaccess&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED") [#Productivity](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23productivity&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED "https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23productivity&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED")

We will show a variety of methods for building agents that run in Microsoft Foundry. This covers the different types of agents: Prompt, Multi, and Hosted, as well as the development lifecycle using evals and traces.

**NEW LOCATION: Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: * 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. * 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). See the handy Parking Map - we recommend street parking. [Street Parking Map](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1u2A4fLNlxwLJn0KA_hKc8bnFlFHLvsHBDh-_8wzX_tk/edit?usp=sharing) We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact centralohpython@gmail.com

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Spec-Driven Development with GitHub Spec-Kit: From Intent to Implementation* Spec-driven development flips the traditional workflow on its head: instead of code being the source of truth, the specification becomes the backbone of design, collaboration, and delivery. In this session, we’ll explore how GitHub Spec-Kit enables teams to treat specifications as first-class artifacts—living documents that drive architecture, implementation, and verification. You’ll learn how Spec-Kit helps teams clearly express intent using structured, version-controlled specs that live alongside code. We’ll walk through a practical workflow that starts with defining system behavior and constraints, then progressively refines those specs into testable, automatable outcomes. Along the way, we’ll show how specs can reduce ambiguity, improve cross-functional collaboration, and make design decisions explicit before a single line of production code is written. This talk will cover: --What spec-driven development is (and what it isn’t) --How GitHub Spec-Kit fits into modern developer workflows --Using specs to align product, engineering, and AI-assisted development --Real-world examples of turning specs into implementations with confidence Whether you’re building greenfield systems, integrating AI into your stack, or trying to reduce costly rework, spec-driven development offers a scalable way to move faster without sacrificing clarity. Attendees will leave with concrete patterns and a clear mental model for adopting GitHub Spec-Kit in their own projects. **YouTube Link** TBA

Join Neurospicy Columbus at the Stauff's for coffee and then a stroll through the Book Loft nearby! This will be a friendly chat for like minded individuals with Autism and/or ADHD (or somewhere on the Neurodiverse Spectra).

Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message **Chris (the organizer)** with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/