Truth Seekers

June's Book: What Is Free Speech? The History of a Dangerous Idea by Faramerz Dabhoiwala 'Eye-opening, thought-provoking and deeply enjoyable, What is Free Speech? is a work of great profundity and brilliance’ William Dalrymple A fresh and exciting approach to one of the most controversial subjects of our time ‘Free Speech!’ is a clarion call all over the world, yet what it means today is more contested than ever. Many cultures regard it as dangerous: in China, India, and across the Islamic world, unorthodox views about politics, sex, and religion are repressed and people are often punished for expressing them. Even in the western world, where it is held up as a core value, there is widespread discord and disagreement about what freedom of expression means. Amidst perennial imbalances of power, continually evolving cultural taboos, dramatic new technologies and a fast-changing global media landscape, where free speech comes from – and how we might think about it – are critical questions. Through the lens of history, What Is Free Speech? shows us that freedom of speech is not an absolute from which societies and regimes have drifted or dissented at different times, but something more complicated and interesting. Our modern conceptions of press and speech liberty, Dabhoiwala shows, were invented in Britain around 1700. The real history of freedom of expression is a story of countless fascinating men and women whose lives have shaped its principles and practices over the past 300 years – slaves and imperialists, poets and philosophers, plutocrats and revolutionaries. Ranging across Europe, North America and South Asia, and not neglecting other parts of the world, Dabhoiwala rejects celebratory platitudes about the past and present of free expression. Instead, his book explains how to think more deeply about free speech as a global as well as a local question ― by tracing how we got into our current predicaments, showing that history complicates our contemporary presumptions, and suggesting fresh possibilities for the future. The meeting starts at 7:30. Shortly after 7.30, we will break up into small groups. Those familiar with the CLH Book Group meeting know how this works: in each group we take turns introducing ourselves and giving our 1 minute thoughts on the book. It's important not to go over a minute and not to interrupt other people's minute so that everyone gets a chance to participate. After this first round, each group discusses for another 20 minutes or so. We then shuffle the groups so as to talk to as many different people as possible and in the new groups repeat our introductions and 1 minute thoughts. We'll do this a couple of times before coming all together at the end in one last big group. While we are very social and welcoming, the book group's primary focus is on discussing books. Feel free to turn up if you haven't managed to finish this month's book but note that the group works best when we have all read at least half of the book and are prepared to share our opinions. *** £3 per person to attend. If it's your first time, come and try us out for free! Pay at the event with cash or card. We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information on our site but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any views expressed here are those of the individual posting them and may not reflect those of CLH.

**PLEASE RSVP with first and last name as we** **will need to register you with Building security!** **Timings** Arrival from 18:00 Food from 18:15 Talks from 18:45 **Details** It's been a few months since our last event, but we're back in 2026 for our first organised event. Join us at our new home on the 31st floor of the Walkie Talkie building. We have some amazing speakers with a backdrop of incredible views across the city for a great evening of networking and socialising with fellow tech enthusiasts. It’s the perfect way to celebrate a great start to the year that I hope many of you have had— all in the company of great people who share your passion for data and technology. **Link for Remote** *[Click Me](https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/t-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fmeet%2F37682317939650%3Fp%3DprkmJPImctvAaXPd1g&data=05%7C02%7CJamie.Pullinger%40telefonicatech.uk%7C1d20cda965824d59056208decd2d724f%7C5765d92345c944bf9b119650213bdc84%7C0%7C0%7C639173792239555205%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RvH6miPolL%2BZSeor75KRlcxp636MLWyV5PYFo7GPaqs%3D&reserved=0)* **Speakers** 🗣️[Jack Tracey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacktracey93/) is the Senior Product Manager for AVM (Azure Verified Modules) on the Azure Deployments team in Azure Core. He has worked at Microsoft for over 6 years and continues to directly shape the direction of the Microsoft Catalog, including AVM but previous ALZ and Subscription Vending. Join us as Jack takes us through an interactive deep dive into the evolution of AVM, where we’ll bridge the gap between product management and engineering through AI-driven workflows and practical spec-kit implementation. This session explores how modern engineering shifts are shaping our frameworks and invites you to help shape the future of the upcoming AVM module updates in real-time. 🗓️ Save the date and be part of the first SLM event of 2026 where innovation meets inspiration! Connect with fellow tech enthusiasts, expand your network, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving tech landscape. **Why Attend?** * Hear from experts and leaders in the industry * Network to help yourself grow and help others grow * Free food and drinks * Free spectacular views of the city Everyone is welcome, whether you're a beginner just starting out with Azure or you've been in and around Azure since 2010 we hope getting likeminded people together will help build connections and grow knowledge.

'HOW TO FIND YOUR BASIC PURPOSE' A Life Improvement free workshop with Maria Bennett. In this a live in-venue workshop: \- Do you know your basic purpose? \- What makes a person's basic purpose? \- Practical drills to help you define your own basic purpose\. Pen and paper provided,so - let's get stuck in!! Using information taken from the book '*Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health*' by L. Ron Hubbard. *Testimonial:* *"Great seminar. I liked how you took us through step by step and we found our own basic purposes. It is a common basic purpose for all, I believe. I realised that the spiritual is more important to me than anything else. My purpose is to help others and the webinar validated things I do. I liked how the participants feel free to communicate their situations. My win was that I can use your method to help others find their basic purpose too. Thanks!" - VR* Maria: I have worked at the Scientology Life Improvement Centre helping and coaching others for over 20 years. I enjoy this a lot! I have access to tools that anyone can put to use in their life to make the positive improvements that they may be looking for. I look forward to meeting you. What can you do after the workshop? We have various other free services that you could do - such as the free personality test. We also have a lot of Life Improvement Courses. These focus on specific areas of life to help 'unblock' them, put your actual abilities to use!

Join us Thursday evening for a lively bible discussion, fellowship and a tasty meal! All faiths and views are welcome. For more information, contact: Jamie 07557502771 Hilarie 07714217753

What does it take to live a happier life? Discover your path to fulfilment with The Alphabet of Happiness, a real, refreshing, science-backed guide to living a more joyful life. Inspired by Klaudia Mitura’s award-winning podcast, The Happiness Challenge, this invaluable book combines expert insights with hands-on ideas to build happiness in relationships at work and within your own skin. Weaving surprising science with personal anecdotes and topical examples, each of the 26 alphabet-inspired principles offers easy-to-understand psychology with practical solutions, allowing you to explore and apply these insights in any order, step-by-step, to achieve genuine positive transformation in your life. Perfect for self-reflectors and go-getters alike, The Alphabet of Happiness is a must-read for anyone ready to take small but powerful steps toward a happier life.

Live poker tournament game at the Long Room Bar, Tooting Broadway, SW17 9NH **Every Thursday 7 pm - 11.30 pm** This game is for anyone wanting to learn how to play friendly and inexpensive tournament poker in a relaxed atmosphere. We're a bunch of friendly recreational players and are always happy to explain the rules, answer questions and we just want the game to be fun for everyone. If you already know how to play you're more than welcome to test your poker skills, reads and bluffs. Come join us we would love to see you here. £10 single entry for 10K chips. Details about the tournament structure will be explained in person. More info: John 07411 207 234 - please communicate via text or Whatsapp message as I don't answer phonecalls from unknown callers thanks Edit: We only limited spaces and have had to turn people away. If you plan to come down please text/whatsapp me directly as early as possible and I'll try to hold you a seat until 7.40pm. If you only RSVP via Meetup I might not see it in time. Thanks

Hello there! - We'd like to welcome you to Free weekly meetings hosted by Shalini & Manitu which take place at the: Greenwich West Community & Arts Centre, 141 Greenwich High Rd, SE10 8JA, on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.00pm With Sahaja Yoga Meditation we normally sit on chairs to achieve yoga, effortlessly & spontaneously. So there is no need for mats and no special clothing required. All across the globe, many are seeking new sources of energy. Meanwhile, the most transformative energy of all is hiding in plain sight, within us. It's natural, sustainable, and infinitely renewable. It's called inner kundalini energy. And everyone already has it — everyone!. It is often likened to an inner feminine or motherly energy which automatically knows about us and what is needed to help us restore balance and harmony within our subtle being. It works spontaneously, effortlessly, organically and cannot be paid for. Sahaja Yoga Meditation is a simple time-honoured technique that lets you tap into that energy and harness its power to become better balanced and better connected to yourself — emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually If you're having trouble juggling the challenges in your life, Sahaja Yoga Meditation might well help you manage stress, master your emotions and find solutions to your problems . You may enjoy better health, better focus, and a deeper understanding of the universe and your place in it. Meditation is not just for mystics and monks. Sahaja Yoga meditation is for everyone. Anyone can do it. It's that easy. But with the Sahaja Yoga experience, you'll quickly realise, it isn't your typical Meditations 'R Us type class. It's much more than just feeling peaceful and relaxed. Sahaja Yoga Meditation has many layers, varied and deep. Explore at your own pace, in your own way. Our volunteer experts are always available to help. Ready to plug into your inner energy? A Sahaja Yoga Meditation class is a great way to start. A few minutes of your life may be all it takes to connect to your inner energy and light the path to lifelong transformation. Sahaja Yoga is more than a temporary solution or quick relief — it is a journey, rather than a destination. It's all about energy — guaranteed pure and carbon neutral. You can never have too much of it. The best part? All classes are free. No strings, no catch. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend, bring your self — all are welcome. We have a web site here in London too which you can visit for more info about weekly meetings: www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk (http://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/) Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/London.Free.Meditation) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SahajL)

We all want 2 things from justice. We want the guilty caught and held, so the rest of us are safe. We also want to be sure we never crush someone who did nothing wrong. But we can't have both. Lean toward catching every criminal, and innocent people get swept up. Lean toward protecting the innocent, and some dangerous people slip through. Benjamin Franklin landed on one side: better a hundred guilty go free than one innocent suffer. The trouble starts when those hundred are real, and they're out. What is prison actually for? to punish, to protect us, or to fix people? When a sentence is short, is that mercy or is that punishment of the victim? Which mistake can you live with: jailing the innocent, or freeing the guilty? Can a court really say "innocent until proven guilty" after the public already decided? *Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comments below.* —————————————————————————————— **💛 Support The Examined Life** Enjoying the discussions? Please consider donating, it keeps us running. 👉 Donate here: [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) —————————————————————————————— **Join our Telegram group chat** Stay connected between sessions: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) —————————————————————————————— **About the session** The Examined Life "Let's Discuss…" session is an open, welcoming discussion, no prior reading or expertise required. Format: * **13:15** Free-flowing group discussion on the topic * **14:00 (ish)** We split into smaller groups for deeper conversation on what interests you most * **16:00** Official end of the meetup. Most attendees stay on and keep chatting until around 18:00 —————————————————————————————— **Please RSVP accurately** Please update your RSVP if plans change, it helps us plan and frees up spots for others. —————————————————————————————— **Artwork:** Interrogations in Jail 1720 by Alessandro Magnasco.

**Here's the truth.** *You are brilliant at making yourself smaller.* *Changing the subject when it gets too real.* *Asking about other people's lives that nobody ever thinks to ask about yours.* *You've been doing it so long it feels like just.., who you are.* *But it isn't.* **Imagine a day feeling like this:** *You shared what you thought and the world didn't end.* *Someone smiled at you and you smiled back.* *You walk into a room, knowing you always belong...to yourself.* **What will happen on the day:** *We get into exploring ourselves. Honestly, gently, and with a lot of good humour.* *You'll move (nothing scary), notice things about yourself you probably already half-know, practise being a little more you in real time - and share a lunch with a room full of people doing the same brave thing.* **Who's this for?** *Anyone who's ever said "I'm fine" when they really weren't. Anyone who gives a lot and let's people in very little.* *Anyone who suspects they might be more loveable than they're currently letting on.* *(That last one. That's you.)* This is a National Lottery funded event £25 for the day FREE places available if you are a job seeker - email social@powertolive.uk [Book here](https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/stop-playing-peekaboo-letting-myself-be-seen) Veggie Lunch included **You'll leave with:** * Real skills you'll actually use * A body that knows the difference between hiding and showing up * A much shorter gap between who you are and who you let people see [Power to Live Foundation](http://www.powertoloive.uk/) is a mental health charity offering relational behavioural therapy for adults who want more than coping strategies. We help you understand the patterns that shape your life, your relationships, and your sense of self, then practise new ways of responding in real time. Every session we fund brings someone closer to a life lived fully, freely, and in connection with others.

🌍 ***The world stands for sure on the brink of revelation unveiling the darkness lurking within technology.*** 👋 **Hello everyone**, it’s definitely intriguing and exciting when a director like **Steven Spielberg** steps into the sci fi- horror realm. This intriguing new thriller explores the global reaction when humanity learns aliens exist. It follows a whistleblower trying to expose the truth, a meteorologist with strange psychic links, and a shadowy figure suppressing vital information. **Meetup:** The Meet & Greet is at **3:15 pm** at the **Oscars Bar Leicester Square** which is inside the cinema on the fist floor. The film will be at **3:45pm** to be presented in **70 mm format**. At **6:30 pm** we'll regroup once again for our commentary & [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse/) review, before heading to our social at the **W Bar Leicester Square** on the first floor. **You are also welcome to join us there** if you can't make the screening. **Full schedule breakdown, ticket information and addresses are below**, so you don't get lost. This eerie, suspenseful blend of tech and classic Spielberg horror should be a lot of fun. **See you guys there.** **Tom & Sam** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 👉 **HEADS UP** * If you **sign up** and later can’t make it, please 🙏 drop us a message (**or change your RSVP**) — You can also follow me **[@jonnyhideout](https://www.instagram.com/jonnyhideout/)** or our club **[@thehideoutmax](https://www.instagram.com/thehideoutmax/)** on instagram for fun updates. 🗓 **SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN** * **3:15 PM**: Meet & Greet (Oscars Bar) * **3:45 PM:** Movie (Odeon Leicester Square) * **6:30 PM:** Review & Social (W Bar Leicester Square) 📱**STAY CONNECTED** * Join our WhatsApp or Telegram groups (available by request), or hop onto our **[WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDvGuK0AgW8KPxOnG2V)** or **[Telegram Channel](https://t.me/thehideoutuk)** for quiet updates without the chat. Whatever you prefer! 🎬 **PLOT DETAILS** * If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? [Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFe6NRgoXCM) 🎟️ **TICKET INFO & PRICES** * **Price:** From £27.00 * **Tickets:** [Odeon Leicester Square](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=153-38030) 📍**VENUE ADDRESS** * **Odeon Luxe Leicester Square**: 22-24 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LQ * **W Bar Leicester Square**: 10 Wardour St, London W1D 6QF 🔊 **HOW WE ROLL** * Have fun, be respectful, and no abuse of any kind * Three-time no-show limit (applies after your first attended event), please update your RSVP if your plans change * This group is for over-18s only 🌐 **FOLLOW US ONLINE** * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thehideoutmax/) * [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse/) * [WhatsApp News Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDvGuK0AgW8KPxOnG2V) * [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/thehideoutuk) * [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8lKPsVlDHcEnh3N6G6MQsw) * [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/hideoutmax) * [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehideoutlondon) * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jonnyhideout/) (Jonny) * [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@jonnyhideout) 🫂**RELATED HANGOUTS** * [Movie Roadhouse London](https://www.meetup.com/movieroadhouse) * [London Hot100: Music Comedy & Sport](https://www.meetup.com/londonhot100/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize) * [Cosmic Nightmares Book Club London](https://www.meetup.com/cosmicnightmareslondon) * [Ani-Mates: London Animation & Art Group](https://www.meetup.com/london-motion-design-and-animation-group/?eventOrigin=your_groups) * [Film & TV Review (London)](https://www.meetup.com/film-chat/?eventOrigin=your_groups) * [Metroline Cinema Club (North Virginia)](https://www.meetup.com/metrolinecinemaclub/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize) * [Event Horizon Film Club (North Virginia)](https://www.meetup.com/event-horizon-film-club/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize)

**🎤 FREE COMEDY SHOW + SATURDAY SOCIAL MIXER 🍻** Looking for a Laugh & to meet new people in London? Join us Saturday for a **FREE comedy show** & social mixer at Big Belly! 🕔 **Arrive from 5:00pm** \- Meet your fellow comedy goers and chat about the show during the 2 intervals\. **[COP A LIMITED FREE TICKET HERE](https://www.universe.com/events/sat-20th-jun-5-30pm-doors-6pm-stand-up-comedy-show-bigbelly-comedy-tickets-G80FMR?unii-trigger-open=G80FMR&unii-access-key=MEETUP)** 🎭 **FREE Comedy Show: 6:00pm–8:00pm** (Show starts 6pm SHARP) **🤝 Social Mixer: From 8:00pm onwards** Laugh together, break the ice naturally, and then stick around to meet even more people at our Saturday Social Mixer. Whether you're **new to London**, looking to **expand your social circle**, or just **fancy a laugh** on a Saturday night, this is the **perfect way to do it.** 🎟️ Free entry, but spaces are limited. **[COP A LIMITED FREE TICKET HERE](https://www.universe.com/events/sat-20th-jun-5-30pm-doors-6pm-stand-up-comedy-show-bigbelly-comedy-tickets-G80FMR?unii-trigger-open=G80FMR&unii-access-key=MEETUP)** **JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY HERE:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpmuQWTBGJ12dVNCfXdJdQ?mode=gi_t](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpmuQWTBGJ12dVNCfXdJdQ?mode=gi_t)

📢 A special community screening: The People’s Emergency Briefing #PEBuk What’s happening with climate and nature, and what does it mean for everyday life in the UK? Join us for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing - an eye-opening 50-minute film bringing together nine leading UK scientists and experts with the latest evidence and why it matters for things like: 🌧️ Extreme weather 🍞 Food security 🏥 Health 💷 Cost of living The film is based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, and a range of voices from across the UK. After the film there will be light refreshments and an open discussion about what it means for our community and what we can do locally. Seats are free but limited so please book in advance. If after booking you are unable to attend, we’d be very grateful if you could let us know so that we can re-allocate your ticket to someone else. Bring a friend, neighbour or family member: everyone is welcome. [Reserve your free ticket for the People's Emergency Briefing](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lewishamunity/2268532)

WE WILL SOON BE LIMITING SPACES DUE TO DEMAND **Social Saturday Sessions** is a **FREE** indoor & outdoor social designed to help people meet new mates, have a few drinks, play some games and enjoy a low-pressure night with genuinely good vibes. **Come solo. Leave social. JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY HERE:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpmuQWTBGJ12dVNCfXdJdQ?mode=gi_t](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpmuQWTBGJ12dVNCfXdJdQ?mode=gi_t) PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANT KARAOKE OR DJ's TILL LATE **What's the Plan?? 👀** * **Start time: 7PM 🍹** Head to the front-of-house desk and say you're here for the Meet Up! Try to arrive before 7:30 so we can make sure everyone finds each other :) * **Early evening – Games & icebreakers 🎮** Fun, low-key ways to get chatting (zero cringe, promise). * **Mid-evening – Mingle mode 💬** More chats, more drinks, more “how did we all end up here?” moments. * **Later on – Anything goes 🔥** Karaoke? Dancing? Bit of both? We’ll see where the night takes us. * **All night – Good people, good energy ✨** No pressure, no expectations—just show up and see what happens. Need help finding us? Our entrance can be found at what3words: https://w3w.co/putty.camera.roof **JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY HERE:** https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpmuQWTBGJ12dVNCfXdJdQ?mode=gi_t **Come solo. Leave social.** Just head to the main entrance (the food hall side), and you’ll find our friendly hosts waiting for you behind the front desk!

**GO TO EVENTBRITE FOR LINK TO MEETING:** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/recovering-from-religion-virtual-support-group-meeting-registration-159506756001?aff=oddtdtcreator This is an RfR-wide event, not tied to any particular local chapter. The Virtual Chapter Recovering From Religion support group will meet the the 1st Sunday of each month at 6 PM Central Time AS WELL AS at the 3rd Saturday of each month at 9 AM. This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Attendees are welcome to share, but may also decide to remain anonymous if they so choose. The primary focus of a Recovering From Religion support group is to provide ongoing and personal support to individuals as they let go of their religious beliefs. This transitional period is an ongoing process that can result in a range of emotions, as well as a ripple effect of consequences throughout an individual’s life. As such, the support meetings are safe and anonymous places to express these doubts, fears, and experiences without biased feedback or proselytizing. We are here to help each other through this journey. There is no cost to attend this support group but, if you feel so inclined, donations can be made at www.recoveringfromreligion.org/donate If you find you need to talk with someone before the meeting date, RfR has a hotline and online chat for that express purpose. Call (844) 368-2848 to speak with someone. Go to www.recoveringfromreligion.org and click on the green chat bubble in the lower left corner of the site to chat online. If you are in need of professional help, we can offer the Secular Therapy Project to provide options to connect with a professional therapist. All therapists have been thoroughly vetted by our organization and offer only evidence-based and non-religious treatment. Connect with them at www.seculartherapy.org. Like what RfR does? Why not volunteer! There are quite a few options. Head over to www.recoveringfromreligion.org/volunteer for more info.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection? * And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.

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

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/

"Do as I say, not as I do." Children tend to have a built-in ability to recognize hypocrisy quicker than many adults, and there are few children who will respect an adult whose actions do not match his or her words. John the Baptizer wanted to make it clear that God himself is in NO way pleased by people who claim to follow Him and whose lives in NO way reflect His character. In fact, the Greek word for "actor" that people used in the first century is *"hypokrites"*. John called out the truth to any and all who would listen--from peasants to the king, even at peril of his own life and freedom--and insisted God does not judge by words alone, but by actions and in truth. Luke Chapter 3 concludes with making it clear to the Jewish and Greek readers of the day that Jesus was not only the rightful King of Israel, but also the true Son of Man--the Son of Adam, Who came to provide a way for those who had followed Adam into sin to return to fellowship with God. Take a look at Luke Chapter 3 and join us at **10 am,** **Sunday, June 28,** at **True Food Kitchen at Easton Town Center.** We'd love to see you there! Get your tickets on [EventBrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/columbus-luke-3-tickets-1989802924110)! Check us out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1657939185252324)! Connect with us at our new website for [LocalCA](http://%5Bwww.localca.org%5D(www.localca.org)/ "\[www.localca.org\](www.localca.org)")!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.