Pilots

**X is an illusion** There are a large number of philosophy views that hold that major features of what we think is real, is instead an illusion. Examples: Solipsism. The ultimate of “illusion” movements is the belief that oneself, and one’s mind, is the only thing that is real in the world, and that everything else, including everyone one supposedly knows, is an artifact of one’s own mind. Great Deceiver or Long Dream. Similar to solipsism, but with an added wrinkle of a Trickster God, or a Trickster Dreamer leading to everything being illusion. Buddhism. Similar to Long Dream, but the illusion is shared between all of us, with the added wrinkle that our own selfhood and identity is also part of the illusion. Delusionism. We are not actually conscious, and do not have experiences, or a self. We are instead a meat machine computer, which creates and backdates all of our supposed internal experiences when our neural net computer’s choices are written into long term memory. Consciousness is an accidental byproduct of that memory writing process. (This is Daniel Dennett’s model of Consciousness, spelled out in Consciousness Explained). Eliminative Materialism – We are fundamentally confused about consciousness and selfhood, and all of our “folk psychology” is simply wrong. Explicitly our views that we are: self-conscious, hold beliefs, have emotions, and have the power of reason – are wrong. Instead, we are a neural net, and all of our wrong beliefs simply reduce to neural net functions (this is very similar to Delusionism, but with a different version of theory -- this time Paul Churchland’s). Free Will Illusionism – we think we have free will, but are deluded about this. See The Illusion of Conscious Will, by Daniel Wegner for an example. Time passing illusionism. In Einstein’s 4-D Block time, the passage of time is only apparent – and is very location and travel direction dependent. One can plot graphs in all sorts of axes in the 4-D space, and there is nothing special about the ones that appear to create the passage of time. Idealism – The universe is fundamentally mind, or abstractions (there are two significantly different versions of idealism), and all appearances of matter (and sometimes of selfhood) are just illusions of the fundamental mental or logic/math reality. "Illusion" is a common enough claim that I think it is important to have a method to evaluate Illusion claims. I have a method I use, that is based on my approach to epistemology. I don’t think there is a general method across philosophy, and I welcome suggested alternative to mine. **My Epistemology** I start with empiricism, assisted with reasoning, as my base method. We have data inputs to empiricism, they are intuitions. They include our perceptions of the world, perceptions of selfhood and mental state, and intuitive knowledge and reasoning’s. I use the 2-system model of our minds from thinking Fast and Slow – that we have a fast intuitive neural net and a slow rational reasoning process, and the 2nd of these is conscious and the first unconscious. I also use the “trick the CEO by using a few props” model from David Eagleman’s Incognito, that system 1 misleads System 2 into thinking it came up with system 1’s ideas, and fully understands the world. The ideas and props of our intuitions are themselves generally highly processed hypotheses about the world, which are presented to our consciousness as unsupported intuitions. SOME of our intuitions are therefore raw data, and basically fundamental. These include that we have two systems, that we can perceive, emote, and act, that we experience time, and that we can reason. Much of the rest is – probably true. We have tuned our system 1 neural net pretty well after all – but it can be mistaken. That is why System 2 needs to check it. As an empiricist, who treats data as king, and theories as what gives way to data, the “illusion” theories that claim our base data is an “illusion” – I am strongly suspicious of. Illusion claims about more complex processing – are more intrinsically believable. However, I am a falliblist. I maintain an open mind that we could be mistaken about everything. Including this apparent base data. The criteria for rejecting basic data, however, comes with a very high Burden of Justification. My criteria: Is there a massive increase in the accuracy of our models and ability to understand the world, by adopting a philosophy that treats basic data as an illusion? If not, then dismiss the theory. **Applying my standard:** Solipsism, Long Dream, and Buddhism hypotheses do not seem to carry a significant life advantage over treating the world, others and one’s self as real. Interestingly, Susan Blackmore actually wrote a book, her “Very Short Introduction to Consciousness”, that tried to meet my criteria for delusionism. She claimed that physicalism was so well established it must be true, and all physicalist theories of consciousness failed one test or another, therefore consciousness must be an illusion. I disagree that physicalism is unquestionably true, which left her book unable to meet my criteria. I have not encountered a free Will, time passage, or material world illusionist who has come even as close as Blackmore to meeting my criteria. So for all of the above Illusion theories – I tend to respond – “your philosophy is simply not complex enough to capture our world. Simpler theories, that are wrong, are pretty common. And we don’t throw out our data, but the theories, when we find they are wrong.” This is me. **Questions:** What do you folks think of my approach? I am a skeptic of illusion claims, do others find them more useful/insightful than I do? I went down the pragmatic empiricist path early in my philosophic career, and sometimes have difficulty Groking how other philosophic traditions will address some fundamental issues. Analytic philosophy, phenomenologists, existentialists, Thomists – all could take a very different approach. Any other methods to address these claims anyone would like to share? There are lots of other possible “illusion” claims. Other examples anyone wants to share? We meet in person and online. In person will be at the cafeteria of the applied physics lab. Snack and drinks are available for online purchase. Pizza will be provided as well at a price of $2/slice. Online will be: https://teams.live.com/meet/93583191724730?p=hY3jxVvnOciVl2aRn5 \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

The way organizations build teams and the way professionals build careers is changing. Fractional, part-time, and project-based work is no longer a stopgap. It's becoming a deliberate strategy on both sides of the work equation; the "Portfolio Career" of the future is happening now. In this session, Stephanie Ranno draws on her work connecting experienced professionals with employers who are rethinking how they access talent. Whether you're a content strategist navigating a tough market and piecing together flexible engagements or an organization weighing whether a fractional hire could move the needle for a specific project, this session offers practical perspectives for both. We'll explore what's driving the shift toward flexible work arrangements, how to position yourself or structure your team to make the most of it, and what it actually takes to make fractional and part-time roles work well for everyone involved. **About Stephanie** Stephanie brings more than 20 years of experience in staffing and recruiting, helping organizations of all sizes and in all industries build high-performing teams. She has worked with clients in financial services, associations and nonprofits, government consulting, and professional services to connect them with exceptional talent. As Director of Growth, Stephanie partners with FlexProfessionals DC and Boston teams to expand the firm’s mid-market presence and bring our services to new metro areas. She focuses on opening new pathways for businesses to access flexible, top-tier talent in accounting, finance, HR, administration, operations, and marketing. Stephanie is committed to showing employers how flexible work models can give organizations a competitive edge while creating meaningful career opportunities for professionals. Beyond her client work, Stephanie is a frequent speaker and writer on topics including workforce trends, talent acquisition, neurodiversity, and inclusion. Inspired by her own family, she has a special interest in advancing neurodiversity in the workplace and creating a future of meaningful work for all.

Is rock climbing on your bucket list? Its time to check off with this amazing rock climbing experience via Ferrata, it is a one of a kind adventure experience, offering a mile of fixed-anchor, professionally-guided rock climbing in West Virginia. Camp near Seneca rock along with scenic hike, drive to Spruce knob – the highest point in the state of West Virginia and the summit of Spruce Mountain, the highest peak in the Allegheny Mountains. Enjoy scenic skyline drive and fall foliage at Shenandoah National park. A perfect action-packed getaway. Tour Start DULLES, VA Tour End DULLES, VA Destination USA Itinerary Day01 DULLES - SENECA ROCKS Day02 NROCKS VIA FERRATA - SPRUCE KNOB Day03 BLACKWATER FALLS STATE PARK Day04 SHENANDOAH NP Day05 SKYLINE DRIVE - DULLES Price: $2590 Inclusions Price Includes * 4-nights camping * Event host * All ground transportation (SUV / VAN) * Fabulous National & State Parks * Entrance to all parks * NRocks Via Ferrata adventure * Guided walking/hiking Price Excludes * Flights (If you are flying) * Meals * Personal Expenses * Insurance * Tips \*\*\* For detailed itinerary & to reserve your seat, follow the link: [https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/usa-5-days-shenandoah-west-virginia-adventure-with-rock-climbing-via-ferrata/](https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/usa-5-days-shenandoah-west-virginia-adventure-with-rock-climbing-via-ferrata/) Questions? Text / Call / Whatsapp: 2023787696

**For some of our Northern Virginia riders our cycling family from District Cycling Collective & Zephyrus Bikes LLC present Wednesday Night Rydes!!** **This weekly ride will be led by our own Jeff Walden, owner of Zephyrus bikes. We will be Meeting in the parking lot of the Giant Foods at 5pm and rolling at 5:30 pm.

This will be a no drop ride, but is NOT a ride for beginners. Steady pace and climbs in spots.** **Riders should be comfortable with group and street riding . The pace for this ride will be a minimum of 18 mph. There is a considerable amount of climbing. All riders will be riding at their own risk, there will be NO SAG.

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36205543**

Get in on the culture! Swing Prime is in DC 😀go deeper into the culture of Bahia both members will talk about the cultural significance of the music and the movement Learn about the drums, the distinct techniques of playing and more. $25

Join us for a special showcase of the Max Fleischer '*Superman' cartoons on the big screen!* The 1941-42 Fleischer Studios shorts were Superman's first animated theatrical adventures that not only created a definitive style but went on to influence animated portrayals of other comic book characters such as Batman: The Animated Series. Long revered as among the best of the superhero cartoons, these films are presented in newly restored 4K resolution from 35MM archival prints spearheaded by Max's granddaughter, Jane Fleischer Reid.

A small team of AWS Solutions Architects not traditional software engineers, built AIRE Traffic Control (ATC), a production agentic AI platform now serving thousands of builders. We used AI at every stage: spec-driven development, AI-generated code, automated testing, and agentic workflows. In this talk, we'll share the real story, the architecture, the failures, the breakthroughs, and what we learned about driving adoption from 32% to 92% in 10 weeks. You'll walk away with practical patterns for building multi-agent systems, using AI-DLC methodology, and empowering non-traditional dev teams to ship production-grade applications.

A soft afternoon of movement, creativity, strategy, and connection. Join us for a wellness centered gathering designed to help women slow down, recharge, and meet new people in a low pressure, intentional space. This DC fair will have: 🧘🏽‍♀️ Pilates & gentle movement ♟️ Casual chess + beginner-friendly tables 🎨 Art & creative stations ☕ Light bites, conversation, and community Whether you want to stretch, paint, learn chess, or simply exist around good energy for a few hours, you’re welcome here. For some reason the address wasn’t popping up in meetup but it’s 670 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002. Send me a direct message on Meetup if you’re having an issue joining the WhatsApp group.

Having secured a secret entrance to the Wreck of the Returned, the Starfinder Society is finally ready to launch a rescue mission into the Wreck, to liberate the lost Starfinder Zizenzi and the countless other citizens of Akiton who’ve been abducted by the Functionary’s forces and await forced conversion into mindless servitors of the Wreck. While numerous teams prepare to enter the conversion facility, First Seeker Sarmak has tasked one special team with breaching the conversion facility’s central control room and dispatching the cure to conversion through the ventilation system. If successful, all the converted innocents within the Wreck will regain their autonomy and break free from the Wreck’s control. Unfortunately, the central control is sure to be heavily guarded… Prepare for battle, Starfinders! A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for 3rd through 4th-level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. This is an adventure in the ongoing Invasion's Edge metaplot. Written by Matt Morris.

**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET At** [https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix) (Multiple Meetup groups are co-organizing so the RSVP's shown are just a very small portion attending. We'll have at least 20 registered.) Our last online Bingo Night Party was such a BIG hit, we're doing it again! Do you like to play BINGO or want to just do something different?! Then you will LOVE this event! Here is your opportunity to have some fun playing our Live "Bingo" game. You will also get to socialize and make other friends from the comfort of your home. Prizes included Amazon gift cards, free future events and more! This completely online event will be LIVE and you will be able to see and hear the other participants while playing. You will either need to print or draw out your bingo cards. We will email you with how to get it after registering. You can have more than 1 person on your team as long as they're from your house and use same device. Friends/family around the country can also play. They would just need to also register for a ticket. This event will be held on Zoom which you would access through your computer/webcam, or via your phone/tablet. On day of the event, you will get a secured Zoom link and link to print out Bingo cards. \*RSVPS ON HERE ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF ACTUAL ATTENDANCE as this is a multi group event. Cost: $15-$20 depending on how early you register. **\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET AT -** [https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix)

June 12-14 is Sails on the Potomac in Alexandria. ([https://www.va250.org/event-detail/?id=24316](https://www.va250.org/event-detail/?id=24316)). Fireworks at the Alexandria Waterfront at 9:00 PM on Saturday, June 13th. From the website: As a Sail 250 Virginia 2026 Affiliate Harbor, Alexandria will be hosting the largest tall ship event in the DC Metro region - Sails on the Potomac! This three-day event June 12-14, 2026 will highlight Alexandria's unique role in the birth of our new nation and its impact on today. Join us as we commemorate America's Story with music, family activities, exhibits, tours, public art, educational programs, and more! Share only your very best, most interesting shots after the field trip, and keep it down to between 5 and 10 photos. By sending in an RSVP and joining this meetup event hosted by the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I am also agreeing to the terms of the following release and waiver of liability, which shall be binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. In consideration of my (and my child’s) participation in the Virginia Beltway Photography Meetup, I do hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Organizer, its members, officers, directors, employees, and the leader(s) of this event from any and all liability by reason of any damage, loss, expenses, or injury arising from my (and my child’s) participation in this event, including that caused solely or in part by the fault of any and all of the above-named parties.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

Join us for our Sunday Meditation Service - !' Or join us on Facebook Live! Our Facebook Page is Golden Lotus Yoga for Spiritual Awareness

We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio! The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us! And yes, there will be free food. Please RSVP via [Microsoft Build //localhost:columbus | Microsoft Reactor](https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/reactor/events/27247/).

All levels of Meditators or welcome. In person or on Facebook Live! There will be instructions and inspiration for new inexperienced meditators. The hosts, meditators and Kriya Yoga initiates for over 50 years, are direct disciples of Yogacharya J. Oliver Black one of Paramahansa Yogananda's most advanced male disciples. He is the founder of Golden Lotus, Inc., which owns & operates 'Song of the Morning' an 800 acre Yoga Retreat Northest of Gaylord, MI on the Pigeon River. Paramahansa Yogananda founded Self Realization Fellowship, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and is the author of the Spritual Classic, 'Autobiography of a Yogi.'

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Discover Inner Engineering in Columbus! Saturday June 13th Choose a location & Time: Holiday Inn Express : 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rangoli -The Indian Mall: 7:00 PM -8:00 PM [RSVP](https://innerengineering.sadhguru.org/columbus?fbclid=IwdGRzaASVdldjbGNrBJV2TmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmTH5dVmwyksT8x39dKxCZZPJm96hYF7q4m6CmzfjsgJ14o3X4jux71er_mq_aem_W51vRnuLMzlDtxYJWPuqKg&sfnsn=wa)