Spoken Word

( SOLD-OUT ) ## Overview \*\*\*Four of today's most acclaimed writers visit the Salon to explore the nature of ***imagination***. **Join four of today's premiere literary artists as they explore the role of the imagination in contemporary literature.** ***FREE Eventbrite ticket link is below***. Check your calendars. Can you attend? You will need an entry ticket--follow through please. The novels of Patricia Lockwood, Elif Batuman, Sheila Heti and Gwendoline Riley each take a different approach to the relationship between imaginative and real-life elements. Some have been classified as autofiction, while others are products of so-called "pure imagination". What does all this mean? Imagination. **So when does a piece of writing become fiction? What is proper admixture of observation and imagination? What is the imagination, anyway?** **NOTE: In this once-in-a-lifetime gathering of talent, Lockwood, Batuman, Heti, and Riley discuss some of the fundamental questions of art-making, and expose the innermost nature of their creative processes.** **ABOUT THE GUESTS:** **Patricia Lockwood** is the bestselling author of *No One Is Talking About This*, a novel which was a finalist for the Booker Prize, and a memoir, *Priestdaddy*, which won the Thurber Prize and was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2017 by *The New York Times Book Review*. She is a contributing editor at the *London Review of Books*, and her essays and reviews appear regularly in *The New Yorker* and *The New York Times*. **Elif Batuman**'s first novel, *The Idiot*, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and for the Women's Prize. The sequel, *Either/Or*, was published in 2022. She is also the author of *The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them.* She has been a staff writer at *The New Yorker* since 2010, and holds a PhD in comparative literature from Stanford. **Sheila Heti** is the author of eleven books, most recently *Alphabetical Diaries*, a novel which was named a Best Book of the Year by *The New Yorker* and a *New York Times* Critic Top Book of the Year. Her novels include *Pure Colour, Motherhood,* and *How Should a Person Be?,* and her books have been translated into twenty-four languages **Gwendoline Riley** is the author of *My Phantoms*, which was shortlisted for the Folio Prize; *First Love*, which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize; and *Cold Water*, which won the Betty Trask Award. In 2018, the *Times Literary Supplement* named her one of the twenty best British and Irish novelists working today. Her forthcoming novel, *The Palm House*, will be published in April 2026. **FREE ticket link--for ENTRY--** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/what-is-imagination-lockwood-batuman-heti-and-riley-tickets-1974936293618?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

*Games Schedule* Wednesday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll Thursday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Friday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 1 / 3 PLO - $500 Free Roll Saturday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Sunday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 2 / 2 PLO - $500 Free Roll Monday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll

Presentation of the first data visualisation published by the Clay-Gilmore Institute for Philosophy, Technology, and Counterinsurgency The works assembled in this talk emerge from the CG-IPTC's inquiry into the algorithmic management of racialized life — a condition in which the logic of counterinsurgency has migrated from the battlefield to the domestic sphere. Through predictive analytics, biometric surveillance, and spatial policing technologies, contemporary security practices now enact strategies once reserved for the governance of colonized populations. Our central concern is not simply that artificial intelligence and predictive policing reproduce racial bias, but that they embody the very strategic grammar of militarized population control. Miron J. Clay-Gilmore https://philosophy.utoronto.ca/directory/miron-j-clay-gilmore/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Philosophy University of Toronto About the Speaker: Miron J. Clay-Gilmore is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Centre for Ethics and the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society at the University of Toronto. Dr. Clay-Gilmore’s research explores how artificial intelligence, big data, and predictive policing operate within broader regimes of counterinsurgency and state violence. By situating contemporary AI systems within longer genealogies of Western militarism and colonial administration, his scholarship reveals how the management of life and death—what he terms the technologization of counterinsurgency—defines the moral and political boundaries of modern societies. His publications have appeared in *AI and Ethics, Res Philosophica, American Philosophical Quarterly,* and *The Journal of African American Studies.* Across these works, Dr. Clay-Gilmore bridges Africana philosophy, social and political thought, and the philosophy of technology to illuminate how power, race, and computation shape the contemporary human condition. Through the CG-IPTC, Dr. Clay-Gilmore leads a pioneering interdisciplinary initiative that integrates philosophical inquiry, data analysis, and public education to interrogate the ethical and political consequences of emerging technologies. The Institute develops research clusters, public-facing media, and digital infrastructures that expose the interconnections between technological innovation, governance, and racialized violence. **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a talk with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. The talk will also be streamed online with live chat [here](https://youtube.com/live/s2okrHEoiZ0?feature=share). About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

Game starts at 6pm! Friendly group of young guys and gals just out for some fun! New players that come for start receive a free 50 in chips! Beautiful Venue! Free Parking

Do you want to improve your Public Speaking skills, your Impromptu Speaking skills, learn how to present Feedback with Evaluations, and build your Leadership skills? If the answer is YES to any, attend SUN LIFE SPEAKERS CORNER online for an informative and fun filled session each Tuesday at Noon EST/EDT (except following a Holiday Monday). Guests/Visitors are welcome to participate in the Table Topics (impromptu) session. Join and become a Member to have access to all roles and Pathways, the education system. Please email info.sunlifespeakerscorner@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

**Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking with Toastmasters!** Join the Ajax Outspoken Speakers for an empowering session designed to help you build confidence and enhance your public speaking skills. Whether you prefer to attend in-person or online, Toastmasters offers a supportive and friendly environment to tackle your fears and unlock your potential. **What to Expect:** * Practical exercises to improve communication skills. * Opportunities to speak in a no-pressure setting. * Encouragement from like-minded individuals. Meeting details can be found at https://1651924.toastmastersclubs.org/directions.html. Take the first step toward becoming a more confident you—we can't wait to see you there!

Visit our Royal Lunch'n'Learn Toastmasters Hybrid meeting, meet people and develop your communication and leadership skills. At today's meeting we will be discussing how "The Gift of Failure" can contribute to improving your life and the lives of others. This is a HYBRID event and so you can choose to join us in person, or online. We would like to encourage you to join us at noon! Reach out to us to receive the WebEx link or to reserve your seat. **What to expect:** Find out first-hand what it means to participate in a club meeting. * Watch as one of our members delivers a Prepared Speech. * Learn and practice how to think fast on your feet with an impromptu Table Topics session. * Witness how to give and receive constructive feedback to help encourage and build confidence with our members. Practice the skills you need to communicate with confidence and excellence. Experience a club meeting with Royal Lunch'n'Learn Toastmasters. It all starts with a fun club environment where you will learn and practice together—to grow individually. Contact us to get the Webex link. Get yourself back in gear this January and we can help you get started in moving forward. We also meet in person (Hybrid meetings) so you have the option of in person or online. Normally we are at RBC Wellington Square on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (check for variations in our schedule) - this week we are meeting at RBC Centre, in the Executive Conference Centre at 155 Wellington St West (diagonally across from our normal location) on the 11th floor, in the "Australia Room". Plus, all our meetings are online which is super accessible! Guests are **free** to join us for their first three regular meetings - **contact us** to schedule your visit or ask us anything! contact-3648173@toastmastersclubs.org

Bring any piece of music in any form. We'll deconstruct it's musical elements and share with each other what the music evokes and what insights arise. Then, consider how this musical work fits into the broader world of music and sound. After a break well do a musical exercise together and end with a short slent meditation. Advance registration with pay pal $20. Please call Gary to confirm your registration. 647 292 5415 Generosity policy: limited spots available for no or low charge fir those who need it.

*Games Schedule* Wednesday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll Thursday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Friday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 1 / 3 PLO - $500 Free Roll Saturday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Sunday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 2 / 2 PLO - $500 Free Roll Monday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll

Welcome ! OM Chanting is a group practice that uses the transformational power of OM to activate the self-healing potential of participants, promote inner peace and purify the environment. OM Chanting is a free practice, however, donations are welcome to help cover the rent of the studio. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- EVENT DETAILS: address: 283 Spadina Avenue; 3rd floor. ( SE corner of Spadina and Dundas). We will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes earlier. We will be sitting on chairs; you can also sit on the floor if you prefer. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water. Looking forward to seeing you ! For more information about Om Chanting, please visit: [https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) Much Love, Veda Cell: 416-845-9375

**Ideas Worth Saying Out Loud — Practice Session** Do you get nervous before speaking in meetings, presentations, or on stage? You’re not alone — and you don’t have to let fear hold you back. In this session, our gentle focus is: **Feeling Less Nervous on Stage**. Using **improv-inspired exercises** and small group activities, we’ll explore ways to: * Reduce stage anxiety and nervous energy * Speak with more confidence and presence * Express your ideas clearly, even when you feel nervous * Practice breathing, pausing, and grounding yourself before speaking No experience with public speaking or improv is needed. You can participate at your own pace and speak as much or as little as you want. This is a **safe, low-pressure environment** designed to help you feel calmer, more present, and more yourself on stage. **Come join us, practice speaking out loud, and take the first step toward speaking with confidence.**

No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Cash Games!

Hello everyone, Please join us for our a great afternoon with **IMPROV and ACTING in the PUB.** \*Joined by my other groups too; so we can anticipate a great afternoon \*\*Stick around after as well for our weekly traditional Sunday Dinner Party-no extra charge- others will be joining us to for dinner (optional) Event details below: Sincerely Steve Flemming (Organizer/Host) Event Details: **IMPROV and ACTING in the PUB (with Optional Dinner Party After)** This is a well organized event filled with Improv games, skits and of course lots of hilarious scenes that we will create. -A fun afternoon for all Improv enthusiasts and newbies of Improv! \*No experience required; just an open mind and a desire to meet some wonderful people, laugh and have fun! \*Joined by my other groups too so we can anticipate a fabulous turn out \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Event Fee:** 10 dollars (Cash only) (HST is included) or e transfer in advance to [[steveflemming11@gmail.com](http://steveflemming11@gmail.com)] \*Includes Dinner Party after at no extra charge :) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Friendly Reminders:** **Date:** **Sunday, February 25th** **Arrival Time:** Arrive between 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm **Where to Meet us?** **Location: La Carnita - Good Fortune Bar (Main Floor)** **Address:** 130 Eglinton Ave. Toronto, ON M4P 2X9 \-\-\-\-\- **Parking Available:** \***Plenty of free street parking on Eglinton** and (Residential area south/east of venue for free) **Close to Subway Station:** \*Also just a three minute walk east from the Yonge/Eglinton subway station

*“A searing tale of a Mother’s devotion, defiance, and survival.”* Two decades after **Anusree Roy** wrote her hit play *Pyaasa*, she returns to **Theatre Passe Muraille** with a powerful sequel — *Through the Eyes of God*. Tickets are **$40 each**. *Reserve your own* at the link below. Venue only has 40 seats!! Chaya, the protagonist at the centre of the original play, is now a spirited young woman and mother, who is arrested for the desperate act of stealing rice to feed her young daughter. But soon she faces a far greater horror: her child, Krishna, has been trafficked to Delhi. Driven by primal love, she embarks on a gut-wrenching journey through the underbelly of a broken system, where every lead is a gamble and every choice is impossible. ***Through the Eyes of God*** is a piercingly emotional and sharply critical journey that asks: How far will a mother go to protect her child? A reminder on who **Anusree Roy** is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anusree_Roy **Ticket link here: (for Sunday February 15th @ 2pm)** https://www.passemuraille.ca/through-the-eyes-of-god/ NOTE: this performance is taking place in the new smaller/intimate 'Back Space" at Theatre Passe Muraille. *Theatre Passe Muraille* is Canada's alternative theatre company for Independent and experimental theatrical work since 1968. Also--this Play has just been recommended as 'Not to be missed' by a local theatre reviewer! **Seating for 40 people only!** Plan ahead. Don't delay. I found this review from 2008--**PYAASA** (her original play about the outlawed caste system) https://www.stage-door.com/Theatre/2008/Entries/2008/10/27_Pyaasa.html

\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm. Additionally, space is limited to the first 35 attendees. Your RSVP here does not guarantee you a spot and tickets are available first come, first served.\*\*\* Donations are appreciated, and the average donation is generally $20, but all are welcome regardless of means! A portion of all proceeds will help fund the Crystal Ashram non-profit project where the Human Activation School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. A unique musical experience called a "Sound Bath" Sound bath! What's that? According to sonic specialist Monte Hansen from Annapolis MD, "A sound bath is an immersion in sound frequency that cleans your soul." Leave your rubber ducky at home. Bring your blankey instead, for this super relaxing immersion! According to cutting-edge doctors from Harvard, some of the deepest most profound healing in the body are accomplished with sound frequency. That's old news though. A 2nd century stone relief in the Himalayan mountains shows us that Buddha and his entourage knew this before Christ walked the earth. The stone relief depicts the Buddha and his buddies playing ancient Tibetan singing bowls. A sound frequency specialist from the [Human Activation School](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=d6674b4603&e=465ba11f44), will be playing several of these rare Singing Bowls, some of which are over 200 years old. A magical alchemy of 7-12 different metals rings in the past, present, and future for our relaxing enchantment. Even modern doctors are using these old metal bowls for healing, and they are not practicing Buddhists! As a matter of fact, modern Buddhists no longer use the bowls in their practice. Come experience these gifts from the past in this NON-religious practice of our present. Come be rejuvenated or just captivated by this unique musical performance. Bring your pillows, blankeys, and yoga mats and snuggle into the comfort of the tranquil sounds. Feel free to sit, lay, or even stand! ***Did You Know?*** Singing bowls invite the mind and body into a tranquil state of being in which remarkable healing can occur, events that are unexplainable from a conventional biomedical perspective” *Music and the Meditative Mind: Toward the Science of the Ineffable*[Source](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=9222616fc4&e=465ba11f44) "The sound bath meditation provides a nurturing space to connect and grow spiritually. The group atmosphere is welcoming and fun, and the meditation work is soothing and enriching. Loved it!"**-Cara** 7:00 pm - Meditation Reception\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm.\*\*\* 7:15 - Doors Close & Meditation Begins 8:15 - Meditation Ends, Followed by Community Reflection \*Please be respectful of Sticks and Stones employees and their instructions upon entering and exiting the space for the meditation\* A portion of all proceeds will help fund the [Crystal Ashram](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=11664c3011&e=465ba11f44) non-profit project where the [Human Activation](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=41699e76d8&e=465ba11f44) School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. Community sharing and engagement following after the meditation Questions? Please email [robert@humanactivation.com](http://mailto:robert@humanactivation.com/) or visit [crystalashram.com](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=7d92f9b8f7&e=465ba11f44).

Sunday Texas Hold-Em Tournament Cost: No cost Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Starting Stack: 30,000 chips Bonuses: 5,000 for arriving early, 5,000 for new players, 5,000 for registering online Blind structure Level 1: 100 chips / 200 chips Level 2: 200 chips / 400 chips Level 3: 300 chips / 600 chips Level 4: 400 chips / 800 chips Level 5: 500 chips / 1,000 chips 10 minute break / chip up Level 6: 1,000 chips / 2,000 chips Level 7: 2,000 chips / 4,000 chips Level 8: 3,000 chips / 6,000 chips chip up Level 9: 5,000 chips / 10,000 chips Level 10: 10,000 chips / 20,000 chips Level 11: 15,000 chips / 30,000 chips Level 12: 25,000 chips / 50,000 chips chip up Level 13: 50,000 chips / 100,000 chips Level 14: 100,000 chips / 200,000 chips Level 15: 200,000 chips / 4000,000 chips

What does love really look like—not in theory, but in lived experience? For this gathering of **Taproom Theology**, we’re doing something intentionally different. Rather than a single speaker or teaching, **individuals and couples have been invited to share their own stories**; stories of romantic love, deep friendship, commitment, loss, singleness, and the relationships that have shaped who they are. Love is often simplified or sentimentalized, yet most of us know it’s far more complex. As Taylor Swift puts it simply and honestly, **“The best people in life are free.”** This evening invites us to explore how love grows across its many forms: * *Agape* — self‑giving love that chooses presence over perfection * *Philia* — the love of friendship, loyalty, and shared life * And the evolving ways love shows up in partnerships, seasons of singleness, and chosen communities in the 21st century Some stories will come marriages or committed relationships. Others from friendships and yet others from the courage to be single without being alone. As C.S. Lewis reminds us, **“Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too?’”** This gathering is not about offering advice, fixing relationships, or presenting “ideal” stories. It’s about **witnessing real love** as it actually unfolds: flawed, faithful, hopeful, and human. Leo Buscaglia once wrote, **“Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life.”** Whether you come with a partner, a friend, or on your own, you belong here. Because love isn’t something we master, it’s something we practice, in relationship and in community. Love is a journey. And tonight, we’ll travel it together.

Sunday Texas Hold-Em Tournament Cost: No cost Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Starting Stack: 30,000 chips Bonuses: 5,000 for arriving early, 5,000 for new players, 5,000 for registering online this will be the 1st game of the new season Blind structure Level 1: 100 chips / 200 chips Level 2: 200 chips / 400 chips Level 3: 300 chips / 600 chips Level 4: 400 chips / 800 chips Level 5: 500 chips / 1,000 chips 10 minute break / chip up Level 6: 1,000 chips / 2,000 chips Level 7: 2,000 chips / 4,000 chips Level 8: 3,000 chips / 6,000 chips chip up Level 9: 5,000 chips / 10,000 chips Level 10: 10,000 chips / 20,000 chips Level 11: 15,000 chips / 30,000 chips Level 12: 25,000 chips / 50,000 chips chip up Level 13: 50,000 chips / 100,000 chips Level 14: 100,000 chips / 200,000 chips Level 15: 200,000 chips / 4000,000 chips

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Some great optional questions for discussion are below.
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Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Suggested Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

Sunday Texas Hold-Em Tournament Cost: No cost Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Starting Stack: 30,000 chips Bonuses: 5,000 for arriving early, 5,000 for new players, 5,000 for registering online Blind structure Level 1: 100 chips / 200 chips Level 2: 200 chips / 400 chips Level 3: 300 chips / 600 chips Level 4: 400 chips / 800 chips Level 5: 500 chips / 1,000 chips 10 minute break / chip up Level 6: 1,000 chips / 2,000 chips Level 7: 2,000 chips / 4,000 chips Level 8: 3,000 chips / 6,000 chips chip up Level 9: 5,000 chips / 10,000 chips Level 10: 10,000 chips / 20,000 chips Level 11: 15,000 chips / 30,000 chips Level 12: 25,000 chips / 50,000 chips chip up Level 13: 50,000 chips / 100,000 chips Level 14: 100,000 chips / 200,000 chips Level 15: 200,000 chips / 4000,000 chips

**In a time of division and isolation, come be part of the community that's rebuilding the town square, one table at a time.** In BreadBreakers, we use the common space of the dining table to have conversations where neighbors can **hear, be heard, and know one another.** If you're hungry for good discourse and deeper community, join us for a Community Dinner in Reston and help blaze the trail to a healthier, more connected society and democracy. Here’s how it works: For just two hours, multiple tables of people set aside the need to "win" and instead focus on sharing, listening, and connecting. Guided by experienced table hosts, we'll tell our stories, try to understand each other, and practice being in community with those with different views or backgrounds. **At this dinner, participants will get to choose between three different topics, including some current events.** Topics range from the political, to the spiritual, to the philosophical, to the off-the-wall - but no matter which table you choose to sit at, you can be sure it'll be like no dinner conversation you've had before! You can also **suggest a topic** by emailing us at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com. Food will be provided for free. For those who wish to provide a donation to help fund BreadBreakers, you can [give here](https://pushpay.com/g/restorationrestonumc?fnd=pO6G-N7oO7FH7Mp1u-x6mA&fndv=Lock&r=No&lang=en&src=pcgl) or at the event. We'll have vegetarian and gluten-free options available. If you have any additional dietary restrictions (Celiac Disease, vegan, etc.) please let us know at BreadBreakersInfo@gmail.com so that we can implement the appropriate food handling procedures. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of talking with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by [Restoration United Methodist Church](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers) in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.