Theory U

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation as we discuss ***Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World* by Naomi Klein** Here's the summary: What if you woke up one morning and found you’d acquired another self―a double who was almost you and yet not you at all? What if that double shared many of your preoccupations but, in a twisted, upside-down way, furthered the very causes you’d devoted your life to fighting against? Not long ago, the celebrated activist and public intellectual Naomi Klein had just such an experience―she was confronted with a doppelganger whose views she found abhorrent but whose name and public persona were sufficiently similar to her own that many people got confused about who was who. Destabilized, she lost her bearings, until she began to understand the experience as one manifestation of a strangeness many of us have come to know but struggle to define: AI-generated text is blurring the line between genuine and spurious communication; New Age wellness entrepreneurs turned anti-vaxxers are scrambling familiar political allegiances of left and right; and liberal democracies are teetering on the edge of absurdist authoritarianism, even as the oceans rise. Under such conditions, reality itself seems to have become unmoored. Is there a cure for our moment of collective vertigo? Naomi Klein is one of our most trenchant and influential social critics, an essential analyst of what branding, austerity, and climate profiteering have done to our societies and souls. Here she turns her gaze inward to our psychic landscapes, and outward to the possibilities for building hope amid intersecting economic, medical, and political crises. With the assistance of Sigmund Freud, Jordan Peele, Alfred Hitchcock, and bell hooks, among other accomplices, Klein uses wry humor and a keen sense of the ridiculous to face the strange doubles that haunt us―and that have come to feel as intimate and proximate as a warped reflection in the mirror. Combining comic memoir with chilling reportage and cobweb-clearing analysis, Klein seeks to smash that mirror and chart a path beyond despair. Doppelganger What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now―and an intellectual adventure story for our times. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**

This book club will be hosted at Teaism (Penn quarter location; 400 8th St NW). However if 4 or fewer people RSVP it will be moved to virtual (https://meet.google.com/bux-wtkw-qdp?hs=224). Please check up on meetup for updates before coming. **Summary** As flying boomed in the 1960s, women from across America applied for jobs as stewardesses. They were drawn to the promise of glamour, the chance to travel, and an alternative to traditional occupations like homemaking, nursing, and teaching. But as the number of “stews” grew, so did their suspicion that the job was not as picture-perfect as the ads would have them believe. “Sky girls” had to adhere to strict weight limits at all times; gain a few extra pounds and they’d be suspended from work. They couldn’t marry or have children; their makeup, hair, and teeth had to be just so. Girdles were mandatory on the clock. And, most important, stewardesses had to resign at 32. Eventually the stewardesses began to push back and it’s thanks in part to their trailblazing efforts that working women have gotten closer to workplace equality today. Nell McShane Wulfhart crafts a rousing narrative of female empowerment, the paradigm-shifting ’60s and ’70s, the labor movement, and the cadre of gutsy women who fought for their rights—and won. \-\-\-\-\- DCNOW is the [DC chapter ](http://www.dc-now.org/)of the [national organization for women](http://www.now.org/).

Our second Oddball Adventure follows a teenage boy’s unexpected experience over the course of two days in the London borough of Croydon. He’s a fan of punk music, and after a good old head-banging session at a local club, he and his two buddies wander around until they happen upon a house where a party is in progress. They knock, and to their surprise they’re invited inside where strange characters are dancing to strange music. Despite the weird atmosphere, the protagonist is attracted to a girl who’s never heard of punk rock and wants to learn about it. The pair run off into the night for an escapade of cosmic proportions. ■ Title — *How to Talk to Girls at Parties* ■ Director — John Cameron Mitchell ■ Cast — Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman ■ Rating — R ■ ©2017 \| 1h 42m \| Comedy\, Music\, Romance\, Sci\-Fi

**To confirm attendance, please also register on Luma: [https://luma.com/fwvre5x3](https://luma.com/fwvre5x3)** Let's discuss this classic movie Groundhog Day on the day before the Groundhog Day of 2026. **Please watch this movie before joining the discussion:** [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/) If more than 6 people join the discussion, we will break out into smaller groups. **(max 6 people per group)** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 1. **Phil's character changed through accumulated daily choices over time. How do our repeated small decisions shape who we ultimately become?** 2. **Phil's pursuit of pleasure without consequence left him feeling empty. Why might selfish gratification fail to provide lasting fulfillment?** 3. **Phil's lowest moments became the catalyst for his genuine transformation. How can a crisis serve as a turning point toward growth?** 4. **Phil found meaning through learning skills like piano and ice sculpting. What makes skill-building fulfilling even when external rewards are absent?** 5. **Phil's calculated attempts to win Rita failed until he became genuinely good. What distinguishes authentic connection from performed affection?** 6. **Phil transformed by memorizing the town's needs and serving others daily. How do small acts of service shape both individuals and communities?** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events: 1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question) 2. Listen to understand, not to respond. 3. Be open-minded and value differences.

Hang out with us as we start our BGFC film screening series with Love Jones (1997) by Theodore Witcher. Bring a friend or join us solo! Non-alcoholic drinks provided on a first come first served basis! / **How to get here:** Use the stairs or elevator at the left or right of the entrance to find us on the **4th floor in Room 401-A** of the MLK Library. A library card is not required. / Closest metro stations: Gallery Place-Chinatown - Green/Red/Yellow Line - 3min walk Metro Center Station - Blue/Orange/Red/Silver Line - 5 min walk / 🎥**Movie Synopsis:** *Get Together. Fall Apart. Start Over.* Darius Lovehall is a young black poet in Chicago who starts dating Nina Moseley, a beautiful and talented photographer. While trying to figure out if they've got a "love thing" or are just "kicking it," they hang out with their friends, talking about love and sex. Then Nina tests the strength of Darius' feelings and sets a chain of romantic complications into motion. / We hope to see you there!

Full event details: [https://www.annkite.com/sundays](https://www.annkite.com/sundays) Join our Practice 11-1pm, bring a dish to share and stay if you can for the potluck after! The 5Rhythms® of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness form ‘The Wave’, a simple movement meditation practice that encourages us to find our own movement into presence and embodiment, discovering ourselves at our most fluid and creative level. The Rhythms are different ways of moving that are related to different ways of being in the world. As we practice them, we bring more of ourselves –body, heart, mind & soul- into movement, on the dance floor & out in the world. There are no steps to learn and it can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age, fitness, ability, or experience. Our dance is an individual and collective experience. How much you choose to interact with other dancers is up to you. We ask only that you come with a heartful respect for yourself and every other person on the floor. The 5Rhythms teacher is here to help take you deeper into the experience, when you’re ready. There are no steps to learn. 5Rhythms can be practiced by anyone regardless of age, fitness, ability, or experience. For more information about what to expect in your first 5Rhythms class, see https://www.annkite.com/about.

* **Explore or examine how we treat God’s creatures, other people, and ourselves** * **Learn new actions we can take, such as a new way of thinking or being** * **Open the heart to love and understanding** **Join us as we explore this topic at our next ECK Light and Sound Service. You will have the opportunity to share your insights with like-hearted individuals. We gladly welcome people of all faiths; feel free to invite friends and family. We look forward to seeing you in person or on Zoom.** **Attend in person at:** **The Maryland Eckankar Center** **1738 Elton Rd., Suite 104** **Silver Spring, MD 20903** **Join Zoom Meeting:** **[The ECK Light and Sound Service](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83425712995?pwd=GoEk28Hlj95P5PPbmoCem6GP7tHqlm.1)** **Meeting ID: 834 2571 2995** **Passcode: 403417** **Dial-In: 301-715-8592** **For more information:** **Call or text: (301) 439-2120** **[MEC@eckankarmaryland.org](mailto:MEC@eckankarmaryland.org)** **“The law of life known as the Law of Karma is the great teacher. As you sow, so shall ye reap. It’s not a vindictive law; it’s a law designed to open the heart to love and understanding.”** **—Harold Klemp, The Awakened Heart, p 89.** **Presented by the Maryland & D.C. Satsang Societies, Inc., chartered affiliates of ECKANKAR.** **Copyright © 2026 ECKANKAR. Terms ECKANKAR, ECK, EK, MAHANTA, SOULTRAVEL, and VARAIGI, among others, are trademarks of ECKANKAR, PO Box 2000, Chanhassen, MN 55317-2000 USA.**

This meeting will be dedicated to talking about the entirety of “No Longer Human” by Osamu Dazai We will be meeting in the National Portrait Gallery Atrium. To stay up to date with events and discuss meetings or books, you can join our Whatsapp group. Please message me to get added.

A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st- through 2nd-level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. When a nascent godling called the Newborn was birthed from the planet Aucturn, chunks of its planetary womb and embryonic fluids were cast across the Pact Worlds, showering the nearby planets of Apostae and Bretheda, and careening through open space. Most of this debris—called aucturnite—collected in a haunted ice field at outer rim of the system called the Gelid Edge. For all its dangers, the Gelid Edge is a frontier of new discoveries and forbidden knowledge, and many Newborn evangelists, anomaly hunters, and occult researchers have flocked to the region to learn its secrets. Among them is Dreamlink Laboratories, a research facility that used aucturnite to create a dreamscape purportedly born from the thoughts of the Newborn. Using this dreamscape, Dreamlink Labs has pinpointed the location of a site they believe is important to the Newborn, though they lack the experience to perform an on-site exploration alone. It’s up to the Starfinder Society to escort an enthusiastic scientist from Dreamlink Labs to investigate this “holy” site! **Content note**: This scenario contains themes related to graphic depictions of disease and surreal settings intended to invoke disgust. Before you begin, understand that player consent (including that of the Game Master) is vital to a safe and fun play experience for everyone. You should talk with your players before beginning the adventure and modify descriptions of the narrative as appropriate. Written by Rue Dickey.

● Explore or examine how we treat God’s creatures, other people, and ourselves ● Learn new actions we can take, such as a new way of thinking or being ● Open the heart to love and understanding Join us as we explore this topic at our next ECK Light and Sound Service. You will have the opportunity to share your insights with like-hearted individuals. We gladly welcome people of all faiths; feel free to invite friends and family. We look forward to seeing you in person or on Zoom. Attend in person at: The Maryland Eckankar Center 1738 Elton Rd., Suite 104 Silver Spring, MD 20903 Join Zoom Meeting: The ECK Light and Sound Service Meeting ID: 834 2571 2995 Passcode: 403417 Dial-In: 301-715-8592 For more information: Call or text: (301) 439-2120 MEC@eckankarmaryland.org “The law of life known as the Law of Karma is the great teacher. As you sow, so shall ye reap. It’s not a vindictive law; it’s a law designed to open the heart to love and understanding.” —Harold Klemp, The Awakened Heart, p 89. Presented by the Maryland & D.C. Satsang Societies, Inc., chartered affiliates of ECKANKAR. Copyright © 2026 ECKANKAR. Terms ECKANKAR, ECK, EK, MAHANTA, SOULTRAVEL, and VARAIGI, among others, are trademarks of ECKANKAR, PO Box 2000, Chanhassen, MN 55317-2000 USA.

Let's see Mercy at the 2:30pm show at Regal Gallery Place. Not entirely a Chris Pratt fan but Rebecca Ferguson is a draw. Your host will be in seat E5.

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! 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

Private Group. Closed to the Public Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy. In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected. The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve. I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!