Humor

**Soirée débat — Cuba : l’échec du communisme ? Aux radical-chic européens ne reste-t-il que la Corée du Nord ?** Cette semaine, notre discussion porte sur Cuba. Depuis la révolution de 1959, l’île est gouvernée par une dictature communiste. Pendant des décennies, Cuba a survécu grâce au soutien économique de puissances alliées, d’abord l’Union soviétique, puis le Venezuela, l'Iran, la Chine. Aujourd’hui, l’économie cubaine traverse une crise profonde : pénuries alimentaires, coupures d’électricité, inflation, migration massive et dépendance énergétique. La fin du soutien pétrolier vénézuélien ont accentué une situation déjà dramatique. Dans le débat public occidental, Cuba est souvent présentée à travers des récits simplifiés : – soit comme un symbole romantique de résistance révolutionnaire – soit comme un exemple caricatural d’échec politique Notre objectif n’est pas de répéter ces récits. Notre objectif est de comprendre. *** ### **Topics We Cover** Nous analyserons la situation cubaine à travers plusieurs angles : **1\. Le système politique cubain** Comment un régime communiste à parti unique a-t-il maintenu le pouvoir pendant plus de six décennies ? **2\. L’économie cubaine et ses limites** Pourquoi l’économie planifiée cubaine produit-elle pénuries chroniques, dépendance énergétique et faible croissance ? **3\. Les sanctions américaines** Quel est l’impact réel de l’embargo américain ? Affaiblit-il le régime ou renforce-t-il sa légitimité politique ? **4\. La fin du soutien vénézuélien** Quel rôle le pétrole subventionné du Venezuela a-t-il joué dans la survie du modèle cubain — et que se passe-t-il lorsque ce soutien disparaît ? **5\. L’avenir de Cuba** Transition politique, réforme économique progressive ou stagnation durable ? *** ### **What Makes This Different** – Nous privilégions les témoignages de personnes originaires ou connaissant directement la région – Nous examinons ce que les médias simplifient ou ignorent – Nous encourageons les désaccords argumentés et les perspectives contradictoires – Nous analysons les intérêts, les rapports de force et les réalités économiques — pas les slogans Ce n’est pas un espace de propagande. C’est un espace de réflexion. *** ### **Why This Forum Exists** À Bruxelles, plusieurs initiatives proposent des débats structurés. Trop souvent, cependant, un petit cercle détermine les propositions et limite la diversité réelle des conclusions possibles. Il existe aussi des espaces où la géopolitique se réduit à des slogans anti-américains ou à des indignations partisanes. Ce forum n’est ni l’un ni l’autre. Nous accueillons une véritable diversité d’opinions et d’expériences. Personne ici ne sera exclu pour avoir remis en question un récit dominant. Les idées se confrontent librement. Les attaques personnelles ne sont pas tolérées. *** ### **Motions & Proposals Welcome** Nous encourageons les participants à proposer des motions de débat. Une motion doit être formulée avec sérieux : – une thèse claire – un minimum de contexte historique ou juridique – une compréhension des enjeux géopolitiques Les propositions destinées à stimuler la réflexion sont bienvenues. Les slogans et provocations faciles ne le sont pas. *** ### **Languages** La langue dépendra des participants présents. Les débats se déroulent généralement en anglais et en français, mais nous pouvons accueillir d’autres langues lorsque cela est possible. Langues actuellement possibles : – English – Français – Nederlands – Español – Italiano – Русский – Farsi L’objectif est la compréhension, pas la pureté linguistique. *** ### **What We Ask of Participants** – Venez pour comprendre, pas pour “gagner” un débat – Soyez ouverts à des perspectives qui contredisent les vôtres – Parlez avec des faits, du contexte et de l’histoire – Si vous proposez un sujet, venez préparé – Critiquez les idées, jamais les personnes – Pas de censure des opinions – Pas d’attaques personnelles – Pas de diffamation Le désaccord est normal. La paresse intellectuelle ne l’est pas. *** ### **This is not a dating meetup** Tous les espaces sociaux ne sont pas destinés à flirter ou à chercher des opportunités romantiques. Si vous considérez ce forum comme un terrain de drague ou que vous faites des avances non désirées, vous n’avez pas compris le but de ce groupe. La conversation vient d’abord. Les idées viennent d’abord. Le respect vient d’abord. *** ### **Location & RSVP** L’événement aura lieu à Ixelles, dans un bar public. Pour préserver la qualité et la sécurité de la discussion, le lieu exact est communiqué uniquement aux participants confirmés via notre groupe WhatsApp. 👉 Pour RSVP et recevoir le lieu : https://chat.whatsapp.com/LX7UkWGZ3UdLQWLBvNdezN L’objectif n’est pas l’exclusivité. L’objectif est une discussion sérieuse entre personnes capables de réfléchir librement. The goal is not exclusivity, but accountability and quality of discussion. If this format doesn’t suit you, this event may not be the right fit.

Vous voulez (re)découvrir le yoga Kundalini et ses effets positifs sur votre corps et votre esprit ? Rejoignez-nous ! Défi du matin Yoga Kundalini : **Mardi et jeudi 7h30** 60mn de mantra, pranayama, kriya, et méditation, pour commencer la journée dans d'excellentes conditions, bien centré et prêt à affronter la journée. Inscriptions : **miraclemorningyoga@gmail.com** Où: **La Hulpe, Rue des combattants 125 et/ou via zoom** Apportez votre tapis de yoga et une couverture pour la méditation. **10€/session**, total = 10€ x nombre de semaines Au plaisir de pratiquer avec vous :)

🚀Forget your job title, forget your powerpoints, and forget your elevator pitch: come join us at Chateau Moderne in Brussels on March 26th, 2026 for the Spring Edition of the Data Drinks! 📍The Data Drinks is an informal get-together for Belgium-based Data Professionals from all parts of the datasphere: strategy, leadership, data science, analytics, governance, security, architecture, ... It's a great opportunity to expand your professional network and connect with other data enthusiasts. Plus, you'll be able to get drinks and food to fuel the conversation. ✅Add the event to your work calendar, consider inviting a (data) friend, and if you want to connect with other professionals, you can join the data professionals group: https://lnkd.in/eqkpubKk #DataProfessionals #NetworkingEvent #Belgium #data

Welcome to our card games night. We will play on Wednesday from 19h-21h at CHEZWaWa Châtelain, a small restaurant. The address is Rue Américaine 91, 1050 Brussels. (Be careful, there also is another CHEZWaWa restaurant.) Please arrive on time. Feel free to call Bruno if you need directions or have questions at +32 485 298 713. We'll bring a selection of games, and you are welcome to bring any of your own. The restaurant serves delicious Mexican-Californian food you might wanna try. It will be available until 20h30. Our group gets a 10% discount on food. We encourage you to have at least a drink, it helps to keep the business running ;) If you like, you can also come a bit earlier for a chat or a snack. We'll be there from 18h30. Katja and Bruno

***SETI: Space Agencies***, an expansion for *SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence*, introduces powerful asymmetric organizations — each with unique abilities, strategic advantages, and starting conditions that redefine how you approach the search for alien life. As the leader of one of these institutions — ranging from private tech companies to global research networks — you'll bring a distinct perspective and specialized tools to the mission, unlocking bold new strategies and rewarding long-term planning. In addition to these organizations, the expansion adds three new alien species, each with their own unique twists, and over forty new project cards inspired by real-world initiatives. These integrate seamlessly into the main deck, providing even greater variety and strategic options. "Quick Start" cards, designed for use with the organizations, let you skip the slower opening round and dive straight into the action. They introduce an extra layer of asymmetry during set-up and can be used to further accelerate games in lower player counts. Finally, the expansion introduces signal tokens, a subtle but meaningful new mechanism that enhances scanning efficiency. Whether you're adapting to your organization's strengths or navigating fresh interstellar challenges, *SETI: Space Agencies* deepens the strategic landscape of your mission to discover life beyond Earth. **The game will be called at 22:30, no matter the state of it.**

Socializing and Networking 🛜🆕 at PLUX on Thursday. Making new friends and drinking 🚰🎈🎉🚿🌊. Everybody Welocme, locals, expats or new 🆕 in town.

Every Thursday from 12/03 to 23/04, different sets of Brussels museums exceptionally open between 6PM-10PM. At 40+ unique museums, enjoy activities for only €5 (-26y) or €8 (+26y) per visit! (Free with Museum Pass) [Tickets](https://nocturnes.brussels/fr/museum/palais-du-coudenberg/) This Thursday we visit: The **Coudenberg Palace** is located beneath the Place Royale in the heart of Brussels. It is the former palace of Charles V, rediscovered during archaeological excavations. An underground tour awaits you, exploring the palace of Charles V. During your visit, you will discover the main buildings of the palace and stroll along the now-underground Rue Isabelle. Guided tour: Travel back in time to uncover the history and secrets of the palace. Let yourself be transported by the atmosphere of the era, punctuated by captivating tales. A vibrant journey awaits you! Languages: FR, NL Hours: Continuous from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

We have the exceptional opportunity to have our Saturday Coffee Morning Event at this amazing venue **TALK C.E.C**. in Ixelles. Saturday, 28 March 2026 9:00-12:00 **Sara Del Bene**, one of the coffee group members & Italian artist, is having her exhibition "**CREATIVE ENERGY** - **An offline space to play, recharge and connect"** at TALK C.E.C. that weekend. She has invited the coffee group for our Saturday morning coffee to this beautiful venue and offers a **free** optional **tour** of her exhibition. Please see the poster and description attached about her exhibition. **THE EXHIBITION** It’s possible to visit the venue’s exhibition that evening. The venue offers tickets for it at a reduced price of 5 Euro. You need to register for that before and have made the payment until THREE DAYS before the event. (Tuesday, 17 September). Please, get in touch with me about this, so that I can add you to the list. **TALK CEC - THE VENUE** This welcoming space offers, through a multi-disciplinary approach, unique activities and experiences, such as exhibitions, guided tours, concerts, lectures, artisan workshops, an art gallery, and much more. With 190 years of history, Maison Demeuldre-Coché a former ceramic factory, is one of those treasures hidden in the most unexpected places in the capital! After major restorations and enhancements of this historical, architectural and artistic heritage, the venue opened its doors about a year ago. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8wjM-Q3uA&feature=youtu.be https://talk-cec.com/

How are the dynamics of freedom, safety, risk and reward all interrelated? Is it simply a question of how we can always maximize both freedom and reward? What roles do risk and safety/security play in this system? Can freedom and security be considered simply both as rewards, each with its own values and merits? Are freedom and safety (not) nevertheless zero-sum related, more of one entailing less of the other? How are freedom and risk-taking related? Does risk-taking (not) by definition always mean less security? The concept of risk can mean: 1)the probability of something bad occurring ("frequency") and/or 2)how bad that bad thing can be ("amplitude") What implications do each of these two different types of risk carry regarding both freedom and security? How are freedom, risk and recklessness interrelated? What does the concept "freedom to make the best choices" mean? Is individual freedom at the expense of safety (not) over-prioritized in our current world culture (possibly in some regional cultures more than in others)? Or, seemingly contrarily, is our culture/society in fact overly-obsessed about safety? Is it true (or not) that risk-taking always leads to greater potential reward? Is risk-taking nowadays - possibly as a result of (and/or to promote) capitalist culture? - (not) _ethically_ overvalued? Are some regional cultures in today's world more reward-driven (for example, to become rich, glamorous, famous and powerful) than others? What should be our ideal culture/attitudes regarding rewards and the earning of rewards? What values should we give to freedom, risk, reward and safety in a _war_ situation? In our society/world, should there be _fewer_ or _more_ rules with regards to risk-taking, security and reward? Photo of free solo climber Alex Honnold (practising an activity that should - or should not? - be illegalized?)

A relaxed walk. No pressure: you can chat, stay quiet, or simply enjoy the walk. Une balade tranquille. Pas de pression : tu peux parler, rester silencieux·se ou juste profiter de la marche.

**Once a month** (on the last Saturday), **we meet to paint/draw together in pleasant company ☺️✏️🎨** Your skill level is not important, only your desire. **Please note that *this is not a lesson*, it is a meeting where everyone paints what they want, how they want, with what materials they want.** If you want a lesson, we have many different ones, you can find them on our website: https://lu.ma/malinamore.studio 🌷 **Participation fee for this event is minimum 5 euros** **(we strive to make this event affordable for everyone ☺️** but if you’d like to support the project, you’re always welcome to donate more) ❤️ **Please pay here:** https://luma.com/c1ba65z6 **Bring your own materials if you have them, and if not, no worries at all!** **You can borrow studio materials for an extra 5 euros.** We have paper, acrylics, gouache, pencils, colored pencils, and markers. How does it work? * 15min - Introduction * 15min - Tour de Table * 1,5 h - Let's draw and paint ​**Please note: the event will start at 14:00.** **Please, don't be late!** **VERY IMPORTANT:** ✨ Please, move to "Not going" as soon as you know that you can't come anymore! **✨** Follow the Malina More Studio on INSTAGRAM ☺️ [https://www.instagram.com/malinamore.studio/](https://www.instagram.com/malinamore.studio/) 🌷 See you there 💫

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

Let's continue the tradition and play UNO, everybody is welcome :) If you're on the waitlist please check your messages, especially on Sunday. If people drop off last minute I tend to message people on the waitlist to see who can come. We'll be playing at the lobby of Radisson RED, Brussels. The address of the hotel is: Rue d'Idalie 35, 1050 Bruxelles My number is 0471 45 55 02. Feel free to call if you cannot solve a physics question, cannot find the place or simply need a hug. I have quickly written a set of rules on how we play. It is assumed that the reader has a basic concept of the game. *** Setup: * Each player starts with 6 or 7 cards each (depending on total number of players) * A card is shown in play in the middle of everyone, this is known as the top card. Goal: * The goal of the game for each player is to get rid of all cards in your hand Rules: * Whenever you go from two cards to one card, you have to say "UNO". * Each player takes his turn one by one, initially going in the clock-wise direction * A card may be played if it matches the same colour or same number or same type as the top card in play * The two black cards (Draw 4 and Wild) can be played regardless of the top card in play. * Interruption rule: You may interrupt the general flow of the game (clockwise or counter-clockwise) if you have the EXACT same card as the top card in play. If you manage to play the card prior to the person whose turn it's supposed to be, then the game continues on from you in the same direction it was previously. (Unless the reverse card was interrupted, then the direction changes). * Draw2 or Draw4 cards can be played in accordance to the interruption rule. The following person after the interrupt has to take the accumulated number of cards. If however, cards have already been drawn AND seen by the person who was supposed to take the cards, then only the remainder of cards has to be drawn. * Once someone has no cards remaining in his hand, play stops and we start counting points. Points: * Number cards have the face value as the number of points. i.e. number 6 is worth 6 points, number 0 is worth 0 points, number 4 is worth 4 points. * Skip, reverse and Draw2 are worth 20 points each * Wild and draw4 are worth 50 points each

What's up Friends! 👋 
Ready for some bouldering fun? Boulder-what? 🤔 It’s climbing (FR: escalade, le bloc) up to 4.5m high without ropes—and in my case, without much hope! 😂✨ It’s a super fun indoor activity, but be warned: it does require a certain level of physical fitness and/or skill. Most importantly, though, it requires awesome company—which we’ve got! 😎
 The Idea: 📍 Meeting Point: For those arriving at 14:00, we’ll meet at the cafeteria (next to the billiards table). Feel free to start earlier or later—just drop me a message or write in the group chat so we can meet up. 💪 Stay & climb as long as you want - venue closes at midnight! 🥤 Recharge: If you’ve had enough climbing for the day (we usually do this after 2 hours of climbing), we may head back to the cafeteria (or to the rooftop if it's sunny🌤️) for snacks, drinks & games. Cafeteria closes at 22:00. Where: 📍Arkose: (Brussels Canal) Rue Willy de Bruyn Straat 52, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique 🔗 https://arkose.com/

Fees: 🤑Entry fee without shoes: - 18 eur (first-timers 10€ with online promo activated) - reduced rates: students, minors, job seekers, firefighters, military (proof required) 👟 Shoe Rental: 5€ (if you don’t have your own) 🎫 10-session pass: 150€
 Good to Know: ✍️ First-timers need to create an account (takes 5min) - do it in advance and pay online to pay less and avoid wasting time onsite 💦 Hydration is key! Bring a water bottle. 🔐 Lockers available, but bring your own padlock. 🚿 Changing rooms & showers on-site. 👕 Wear comfy sports clothes—it gets intense! 🧴 Only liquid magnesium is allowed (for grip) - in reality most people use powder🤫 👟 Thinking of going regularly? Bouldering shoes are a great investment! (Decathlon: ~45-65€ per pair.)

⚠️ Safety First! Bouldering is fun, but safety comes first! Stay alert, know your limits, and don’t take unnecessary risks. Enjoy responsibly! 💪 
📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check your messages 👀 at least on the day before the event to avoid missing critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊
👉Can’t make it? Cancel or drop a message in the chat - helps running things smoothly! 👉 Don't show up if you are on the waiting list or show up at your own risk. 
See you at the walls folks😉

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. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. 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

Over 50 Happy Hour – Liberty Tavern Polaris Join us for a fun and relaxed Over 50 Happy Hour on Friday, April 10th from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Liberty Tavern Polaris. This is a great opportunity to meet new people in our age group in a casual, comfortable setting. Whether you’re in your fifties, sixties, or seventies, everyone is welcome. Some people who attend are retired, while others are still working, but we all share one thing in common — enjoying good conversation and good company. If you’re new to the group, don’t worry. Many people attend solo and quickly find it easy to strike up conversations. The goal of this happy hour is simple: meet people, socialize, laugh, and enjoy the evening. We’ll be gathering at Liberty Tavern Polaris, a welcoming tavern with a warm atmosphere, great food, and a bar perfect for relaxed conversation. Feel free to come when you can and leave when you want. Some members arrive right at 4:00 PM, while others stop by later after work. There’s no formal agenda — just friendly people getting together to enjoy a Friday evening. Location: Liberty Tavern Polaris 2170 Polaris Parkway Columbus, Ohio Time: Friday, April 10 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Come join us for a drink, good conversation, and the chance to meet some great people in the 50+ community.

We thought of one of the interesting things that can be enjoyed at this time of the year. We will be meeting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for a "Fish Fry" in Marian Hall on Friday, March 27th at 5:00 PM. It might be fun for you to experience what has become a tradition on the Fridays before Easter. They will have fried fish or baked fish, French fries and Cole slaw, as well as beverages, all for $16.00 for adults. They will have other beverages and desserts available for sale, as well. We have never tried this, and sometimes there are quite a few people at these events so we hope that we will be able to find each other easily. I'll try to have signs outside Marian Hall that Identify our group. We hope to have you join us!

Welcome, readers! Our March read is **_The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver._** The story follows Taylor Greer, a young woman from rural Kentucky who leaves home for the West, only to find herself unexpectedly becoming the guardian of an abused Native American toddler named Turtle. In Tucson, Arizona, they form a makeshift family with a diverse group of people, including Guatemalan refugees and a single mother, exploring themes of motherhood, community, belonging, and finding hope in hardship. The story blends humor with serious issues, creating a story about finding family in unexpected places. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!