Do you have some things you like to change or make progress with over the next 3 months?  That's September, October, November. Please join us for a goal-setting session where we will go through a process of setting personal goals using a semi-structured, flexible process. It is designed for those who have never done goal-setting before, as well as those who have. 

Here's how it will look: 

Before the session, I will send you some reflective questions to help you prepare. This will include questions like what you want to change, what your vision of success is, etc. This pre-session work is to help you gain more clarity about what you want for yourself over the next 12 weeks. It will be in the form of a Word document that you keep for yourself. You'll refer to this document (privately) during our online session. There is no expectation that you share your answers.

In our online session, I will:
- Review the questions in the pre-session document and share examples to help them be clear. 
-Support you to make goals that are for a relatively short duration (3 months) even if they are linked to a bigger goal. 
- Give you time to review and modify the answers you wrote in the pre-session document.  

By the end of the session, you will have a draft of your goals, including why they are important, how they align with your bigger goals or hopes, what success looks like, and activities to make progress. 
 
If you wish you join an accountability group that meets roughly every 4 weeks on a Monday evening or a weekday at 10am (both Vancouver time), you can. These accountability sessions are to share how you are doing with your goals and get group support.  The intention is a judgement-free session where we share tips, encouragement and support. 

I will use Zoom, so please check back for the Zoom link in the comments.
 
Please add any questions in the comments below and hope to see you there!

Make Progress on Personal Goals in the Next 3 Months

Set Personal Goals for the next 3 Months

Videos:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t44-uHyzvCw&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;t=161s   (11:04)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BAYWCXgSrE  (6:52)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BcqE-Ez1Lg   (2:37)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDeMzg31T2I&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;t=61s  (5:36)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyHLLzmNje0  (5:54)

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouDdiJ0ey00 (18:29)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2au0B5j6ji8 (11:31)

8. https://www.pbs.org/video/high-tech-dystopia-and-utopia-d5nvyg/ (27:11)


Reading: 

1. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/08/when-utopia-looked-real/373460/

2. https://www.economist.com/prospero/2016/12/29/500-years-on-are-we-living-in-thomas-mores-utopia

3. https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/07/21/latin-american-politicians-yearn-for-utopia


Spanish (Optional):

1. https://elpais.com/eps/2022-06-25/ubicacion-exacta-de-la-utopia.html

2. https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-11-05/steven-pinker-entender-que-la-utopia-es-imposible-es-lo-que-permite-que-haya-tolerancia-y-democracia.html


Italian (Optional):

1. https://www.internazionale.it/notizie/h-g-wells/2024/01/22/wells-intervista-lenin

2. https://www.internazionale.it/reportage/drago-jancar/2021/08/30/fine-jugoslavia-slovenia



Questions:


1. How can we balance individual freedom with the need for social welfare and economic security?

2. How can we create a more inclusive and equitable society for marginalized communities?

3. How can we transition to a more sustainable and renewable energy-based economy?

4. What role can individual actions and collective movements play in promoting environmental sustainability.

5.  How can we ensure that technological advancements serve the public interest and promote social good?

6.  What would a Utopian society look like in practice, and how can we work towards achieving it?


In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)

Achieving Utopia

Amazingly, we are at the end of August.  Yes, another summer has flown by while we were all having fun.  Is it time to get serious again, time to have deep, dark talks of philosophy and import?  Did we ever stop?

We examined behavior and manners last time, and that always has more to give, but maybe another angle.  We could take refuge in the arts, a profile in literature or music.  We could wallow in terror with whatever mess is unfolding in the news.  We could wander the cold halls of science.  Options are practically endless.

Whatever we decide, we'll have good drink and possibly snacks before us, opening the doors to our best decisions.  Or at least the most entertaining ones.

See you at Taproom!

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybSTzcX0BFM (12:53) Rebecca Watson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV5Su2Mc5io (7:57) Mr Deity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeIxHqtB_B8 (3:27) Leo Susskind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Zz4hYuGdw&t  (10:20) Leo Igwe

https://youtu.be/oQ1TJ7oUMHg (15:35) Atheist no longer humanist

https://youtu.be/aIscGATGnJc (7:54) Atheist vs Humanist

https://youtu.be/jnBGeoJsFOk (13:48) Atheism plus

https://youtu.be/Ai_1Dx8E0l0 (14:41) Richard Carrier (fragment)

Questions:
1. How do you define these terms: agnostic; atheist; humanist.

2. Do the terms agnostic and atheist deserve to have any moral value, or should they be limited to the amount of certainly one has regarding lack of deities?

3. Do you agree that the secular society offers more protection of religious freedom than a religious society?

4. What is your opinion of "Movement Atheism" - the Four Horsemen (Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett, Harris), Atheism Plus, etc.?  Do nonbelievers need an organization akin to a church or house of worship?

5. Is it possible for believers to be humanists?  How can they reconcile their faith with the admission that one can be good without gods?

6. What has been your experience with agnostics vs. atheists vs. believers in terms of open-mindedness?  Have you noticed differences in civic engagement?

7. Where do you put yourself on the diagram of belief?

Agnostic Atheist Secular Humanist

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/the-art-of-letting-go

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

The Art of Letting Go

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/fear-confidence

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

Fear & Confidence

You better like metros, they're the best!  Ok, some are less useful than others, but Metro de Madrid is supremely useful, and full of weirdnesses.  You might expect a certain number of ghost stories or tales of mismanagement, but the details are always shocking and surprising.

This is also a slideshow and storytime, and I defy you to make another metro look better than this one!

You can eat and drink on the metro (although it's a little rude), but no smoking!  There are good reasons for this that you will hear about.

The bus might be more scenic, but the metro is an experience you can't miss!

Hey! Do You Like Metros/Subways?

How clear are you on your personal values? Are you living in alignment with your values? 

This session is designed to help you become more clear on your personal values and to explore the degree to which you are living in alignment with them. After signing up, participants will receive some pre-session work with three reflective exercises to complete individually prior to the session. In the Buddytree session, we will review and discuss the exercises as a group and also in pairs, sharing some of our answers (to the degree that you are comfortable). We will spend time reflecting and noting how we are living in a way that is aligned with our personal values, and how we can each increase our alignment. At the end of the session, participants will have greater clarity on their personal values and some ideas on how to increase their alignment further. The session will be between 90-120 minutes long. 

We will use Zoom for the session, so please see the comments for the Zoom link a day or two prior to the session. If any questions, please post them in the comments, or reach out to me privately through the Buddytree app.  I hope to see you there! 


Clarify and Align with your Personal Values

It's still the season for hiding from the sun in a (hopefully) cooled environment.  Bee Beer has its good points, but it does let a little bit of stabby sun come a certain hour.  Taproom, in the other hand, has a protected atmosphere, unless you sit outside, and then it's more a matter of pigeons than solar radiation.  

So, in our comfortable space, we can have a relaxing conversation and many open points of inquiry.  There are lots of serious things to consider, and lots of distractions from excess seriousness.  Plus, a good drink to cool you off after almost melting in the street.

Do you feel scientific, artistic, moralistic?  Let's decide where to go next Sunday!

See you at Taproom!

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/meaning-purpose-passion

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

Meaning, Purpose & Passion

Can't make it to Madrid any time soon?  Not sure if you want to go?  Sure, you want to go!  But we don't always have to opportunity to do everything we want whenever we want.

Let me take you on a tour!  A cultural and gastronomic tour!  Of course, this is online so it's BYOB.  Sorry, but again, we make the best of what we have.

You get a slideshow and more information than you ever knew existed about beer in Madrid, and if you're still thirsty  - for knowledge! - at the end, ask whatever questions might remain.  Go on, just try and stump Dr. Beer!

Hey! Do you like (Beer) Tourism? 

What would you like to achieve over the next 12 weeks? That's early November. 
 
This session is to walk you through a process to create goals for yourself for the next 12 weeks. This is done through a semi-structured, flexible process. It is designed for everyone: those who have never done goal-setting before, as well as those who have. 

Here's how it will look: 

Before the session, I will send you some reflective questions to help you prepare. This will include questions about your values, what's important to you, etc. This pre-session work is to help you gain more clarity about what's important to you and what you want for yourself over the next 12 weeks. It will be in the form of a Word document that you keep for yourself. You'll likely want to refer to this document (privately) during our online session. There is no expectation that you share your answers.

In our online session, I will:
- ask some questions related to what you want, why you want it, what's important about it, etc.  
- I'll share some examples to help the questions be clear. 
- After each question, you'll have some time to type or journal your answers privately for yourself. 
- At certain intervals, I may put the larger group into small breakout groups of 2 or 3 so you can share if you wish and/or have a sounding board as you think something through. 

By the end of the session, you will have a draft of your goals, how they link to bigger goals or hopes, and activities to make progress. 
 
If you wish you join an accountability group that meets roughly every 4 weeks on a Monday evening or a weekday at 10am (both Vancouver time), you can. These accountability sessions are to share how you are doing with your goals and get group support.  The intention is a judgement-free session where we share tips, encouragement and support. 

I will use Zoom, so please check back for the Zoom link in the comments.
 
Please add any questions in the comments below and hope to see you there!


Goal-Setting Session: Setting goals for the next 12 weeks

Well, I think everybody got some feelings off their chest yesterday, with honesty and feeling.  It seems that we are fundamentally good people.  No revenge here.  Or maybe we're cowards?  Nah, let's be positive, there's plenty of opportunity for negativity in the future.

Speaking of the future, there are topics pending to decide on.  Euphemisms from the right wing?  Euphemisms in general, that's always fun for language nerds!  Should we indulge our human need to judge?  Discuss the future of sex (assuming there is one)?  The future of political candidacy, in terms of what promises they better make to drum up the votes they need?  There is always another possibility to consider, so we need to organize our priorities.  Come have a drink and sit down to organize!

See you at Taproom!

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/The-Wealth-Gap

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

The Wealth Gap

2-part podcast:
https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/lexicat1

https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/lexicat2

Videos:
Animal grammar playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc4s09N3L2h2lYeVD6pmax3f7qiHxyq3k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1FY5kL_zXU (4:54)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYWSXRUGxDQ (7:42)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8LepYR8v9A (3:37)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIgM1qN4Lo (3:51)

Theory of Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTt-8QpWfJ4 (6:22)

Questions:
1. How would you define animal communication?  What distinguishes it from human communication?

2. How complex does a form of communication need to be before we can consider it a language?

3. Can animals understand human words with nuance and feeling?

4. Should it be easier for humans to learn simpler animal communication strategies than for animals to learn human vocabulary and, we imagine, syntax?  Is the use of sign language, word boards and speech human centered privilege that actually prevents us from understanding animals better?

5. Is Theory of Mind necessary for language?

6. Do you think the experiments with apes were useful, or do they seem unethical to you?  If they are unethical, are there any ways to ethically do experiments with animals?

7. Are there any animals, individuals or species, that you wish you could communicate with?  What kind of conversations do you wish you could have? 

Animal Communication

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/what-is-your-worldview

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

What is Your Worldview?

This is for those who have attended a Goal-Setting Session* in Buddytree and would like to join an accountability group that meets at intervals during the year (the frequency is whatever the group wants but so far it's approximately every 4 weeks). The intention for these sessions is to support each other with making progress with our goals. 

These sessions will include:

1- some time to review your goals, adjust if needed, and ask any questions on the goal-setting process
2- sharing/exchanging tips for success on achieving goals throughout the session 
3- sharing how we are doing with our goals with the group   

Discussion topics may include:
a) where you've made progress and what helped you progress
b) where you hoped to make progress (but didn't) and what got in the way 
c) support if you wish to share/explore what's getting in your way and how to work around that
d) sharing what you want to commit to achieve by the next meeting

These sessions are open to anyone who has done a Buddytree goal-setting session. First-timers are welcome! 
*If you would like to do (or re-do) a goal-setting session, please indicate in the comments. I can schedule another one if a few people are interested. 

It will be held on Zoom so we have a chat feature and can share our screens if we wish. Please check the comments before the session to get the Zoom link. 

Hope to see you there! 

Goal-Setters Accountability Group

Ok, so I said "danger", and the first thing you might think of is misinformation or even fake news, but it's not really that.  I'm referring to the perceived danger felt by authority, and the real danger a cartoonist who offends authority might be in.  We might remember some unpleasantness a few years ago when a certain religious figure was put on paper.  We might not be aware of government silencing of cartoonists, particularly in Asia.  Most American cartoonists have only had to worry about losing their jobs, e.g. Ann Telnaes, although these days they probably receive death threats on the regular.  I have quite a few articles to share this time, so make some time in your schedule:
https://www.toonsmag.com/the-role-of-editorial-cartoons-in-shaping-history/

https://www.toonsmag.com/how-editorial-cartoons-have-evolved-over-time/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-s-so-funny/201712/political-humor-gone-wrong

https://thewire.in/world/when-cartoonists-are-censored-we-all-need-to-be-concerned

https://blog.cartoonmovement.com/2023/10/the-steve-bell-case-political-cartoons-versus-censorship-and-propaganda-a-lost-battle-.html

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/red-lines-political-cartoons-and-the-struggle-against-censorship/

And the story that reminded me of this whole messy topic:
https://san.com/cc/turkey-arrests-cartoonist-over-alleged-depiction-of-muhammad-amid-protests/

There are many angles to look at: we have the censorship angle, of course; there's a respect and propriety angle; humor and its strengths and weaknesses; satire and caricature.  How far should comedy be allowed to go?  This applies not only to editorial cartoons, but stand-up, sitcoms, parodies, etc.  We all know that guy who says something offensive and tries to get away with it by claiming it's just a "joke".  There's no obligation to be tickled by everything, but are there topics that are simply not in the realm of acceptable jokes?  Are there figures that are simply to sacred or revered for a takedown?  What punishments, if any, are acceptable for cartoonists that break any of these rules (assuming we've established rules)?

The Danger Of Political Cartoons

(Not only does Fotor AI not know what the back seat of a car looks like, that's the least standard-looking knife I've ever seen)

Videos:
Performed explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVzbsNR-pJU (4:44)

Serious explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk9gQ7Wj18g (9:04)

Examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NniVSfFDoRA (19:02)

Examples...that are TRUE???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Qq1htzd_0 (19:34)

(Sorry, that was a little click-baity)

Explanation and purpose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1X99UtXdbQ (8:46)


Questions:
1. What urban legends were popular when you were a child?  What urban legends are popular around you now?

2. How do you think urban legends get started?

3. What is the difference between an urban legend and a fairy tale/fable/conspiracy theory?

4. Why are urban legends popular even when debunked?  What psychological or social use do they have as stories that nobody really believes?

5. Do you believe any of the "true" urban legends from the video?  Do you know of any urban legends that you think must be true?  Can you name any that are too ridiculous for "normal" people (like, ahem, ourselves) to believe?

6. Can urban legends be dangerous?  Should they be challenged, especially when told by or to children, or should we let a child hold onto some fantasy while they can, and figure things out later for themselves?

Urban Legends

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07edOohIaA  (3:57)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DCGGVU9KK0 (8:27)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnsFGDhT9ek (7:57)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFr8X8Bc2S8 (13:24)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlr4iniMDV8(7:57)

6. https://www.youtube.com/live/56fMDWT-32Y (20:09)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzJg19Z8nlg (12:43)

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYzE6VWupAU  (17:15)



Reading (Optional):

1. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/06/13/israel-has-taken-an-audacious-but-terrifying-gamble

2. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/06/13/israel-launches-waves-of-devastating-strikes-on-iran

3. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/06/13/irans-regime-has-a-huge-problem-how-to-retaliate

4. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/06/13/was-iran-really-racing-for-nukes

5. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/06/14/trump-is-urged-to-go-all-in-on-crushing-iran

6. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/israel-iran-attacks.html


Spanish (Optional): 

1. https://elpais.com/opinion/2025-06-14/contener-la-escalada.html

2. https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-06-12/el-organismo-de-la-energia-atomica-aprueba-por-primera-vez-una-resolucion-contra-iran.html

3. https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-06-14/el-potente-golpe-de-israel-a-iran-y-la-respuesta-de-teheran-amenazan-con-incendiar-la-region.html


Italian (Optional): 

1.https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie/2025/06/13/iran-nuovi-raid-israeliani

2. https://www.internazionale.it/opinione/pierre-haski/2025/06/13/israele-bombarda-iran

3. https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie/2025/06/13/israele-bombarda-iran-nucleare



Questions:

1. What are the underlying reasons for the Israel-Iran Conflict?

2. How does Iran's nuclear program impact the conflict? 

3. How might the conflict affect regional stability in the Middle East? 

4. What role is the international community playing in attempting to resolve the conflict?

5. How might the conflict impact US-Israel relations?

6. What are the potential outcomes of the conflict?

7. What are the implications of the conflict for global non-proliferation efforts?


In collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)


The Israel-Iran Conflict

This is a word that gets flung around as an insult and a diagnosis, with long tales of degradation and rehabilitation behind it.  Normally, there's a connection with sex or sexuality, but perversion can simply be the corruption or bending of rules that are commonly followed in society.  Like other facets of our morals and ethics, things considered perverse have changed over time, although maybe the amount of perversions remains the same.  The window of acceptance shifts but is always the same size.

In some respects, we don't like to think about things being perversions, especially sexually, because we imagine we are forming an open and tolerant society.  There's no need to be judgmental about the majority of things people like to do in their private lives.  We feel justified in looking down on the moralists of the past - Victorians, religious nuts, Ancient Spartans to name a few - because they held opinions and performed acts that we might consider unnecessarily cruel.  We still have our hang-ups of course, but we have science to back us up, or at least that's what we tell ourselves.

How should we look at "perversions" of the past?  How should we judge the perversions of our current lives?  Should we be ashamed of our personal perversions, or proud of them?

Perversion

Videos:

Ethics towards animals:
https://youtu.be/307gysA18_E?si=mwqNFYVwfJJPyW99&amp;t=272

Weigh the arguments (potentially disturbing images):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS0F4WeG0eo

Marketing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcyPbgO21SQ

Human and environmental health:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwoL6hWd4l0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0GKu-PM58

Some caveats, but light ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdnEbJZoNg8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSBz7kVDMNI

Questions:

1. Does a vegan diet attract you?  Why (not)?  If you already follow a vegan diet, what made you choose to do so?

2. What are the difficulties for vegans in our society?  Do you know if they are greater or lesser in other societies?

3. Is synthetic meat acceptable in a vegan diet?

4.  The Agriculture Industry is by far the greatest consumer of water in the modern world.  More vegans/vegetarians would necessarily mean more crops.  Although reducing the use of water for animal feed goes a long way, will new farming methods be able to balance food and water needs in the future?

5. Thought experiment: The pig that wants to be eaten - https://www.evphil.com/blog/thought-experiment-5-the-pig-that-wants-to-be-eaten

What is your answer to this hypothetical situation?

6. If it were proven that plants also suffer when harvested or damaged (e.g. by picking fruit or leaves), how would an ethical vegan reconcile this with their own survival?

Working Towards Veganism

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/loneliness-friendship-community

Please remember to watch at least a few videos before you arrive since we’ll be discussing them when we begin.

Once the hangout begins, everyone will introduce each other and then take turns asking the provided questions in order to keep the discussion on topic.

Hangouts typically last 90 minutes, and once the hangout is over you will have the opportunity to add people to your buddytree to organize private hangouts and develop friendships.

As always, these hangouts provide the opportunity for a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion in a safe space where disrespectful behaviour is not tolerated.

Loneliness, Friendship & Community

Boy oh boy, are things ever happening in the world!  Mostly shitty things, let's not lie to ourselves, but there are certainly differently levels of shittiness around.  We happen to have the dullest and most unoriginal corruption here, but Spain has had assassinations and political violence in the past.  Most people are not nostalgic for it.  

We could talk current events, get some nerves to settle down, but we could also dive into great distraction.  Sure, distraction doesn't solve anything, but we aren't going to solve the world's problems from Taproom anyway.  At best, we can solve some of our own.

See you at Taproom, for discussions profound and not-so-much-so!

Video:

1.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/national-guard-troops-arrive-in-los-angeles-on-trumps-orders-to-calm-protests  (5:00)

2. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/california-sues-trump-calling-national-guard-deployment-unconstitutional-and-immoral  (5:28)

3. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trumps-deployment-in-california-sparks-debate-over-state-and-federal-authority  (6:01)

4. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/southern-california-officials-react-to-immigration-demonstrations-federal-response  (9:27)

5. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/troops-deployed-in-la-as-immigration-raids-stir-fear-and-protests
    (8:41)

6. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/retired-military-leaders-analyze-trumps-deployment-of-marines-and-national-guard-in-la  (8:20)

7. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/immigration-raid-protests-spread-to-more-cities-as-trump-threatens-additional-deployments  (7:33)

8. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-gop-lawmakers-are-reacting-to-immigration-raid-protests-and-trumps-response  (4:10)

9. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/la-mayor-says-military-national-guard-presence-provoke-the-population  (7:10)


Reading: (Optional)

1. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/06/stephen-miller-los-angeles-ice-protests/683138/

2. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/california-protests-ice-trump/683102/


3. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/06/la-protests-ice-immigration-trump/683105/

4. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/trump-california-national-guard/683093/


5. https://www.economist.com/interactive/united-states/2025/06/11/donald-trump-can-call-in-the-troops


Spanish: (Optional)

1. https://elpais.com/opinion/2025-06-11/militares-contra-manifestantes.html

2. https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-06-10/trump-intensifica-la-presencia-militar-en-los-angeles-con-el-despliegue-de-marines-y-mas-guardias-nacionales.html

3. https://elpais.com/us/migracion/2025-06-10/cinco-claves-de-las-protestas-en-los-angeles-contra-las-redadas-migratorias-de-ice.html




Questions:

​​
1. Do you support President Trump´s decision to deploy the National Guard? Why or why not?


2. How do you think Governor Newsom's response to the protests compares to Trump's?  Should he have 
 handled it differently?


3. What are your thoughts on the potential lawsuit between Newsom and the Trump administration? Will it have any impact on the protests?


4. How do you think the protests are affecting the local community in LA?  Are there any unintended consequences?


5. How do you think the protests will impact national conversation around immigration?


6. How do you think the media is portraying the protests? Is the coverage biased?


7. How do you think the protests will impact the relationship between law enforcement and the community in LA? Are there any potential long-term consequences?


Join An Upcoming Hangout

Make Progress on Personal Goals in the Next 3 Months

Achieving Utopia

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Agnostic Atheist Secular Humanist

The Art of Letting Go

Fear & Confidence

Recent Hangouts

Hey! Do You Like Metros/Subways?

Clarify and Align with your Personal Values

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Meaning, Purpose & Passion

Hey! Do you like (Beer) Tourism?

Goal-Setting Session: Setting goals for the next 12 weeks

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

The Wealth Gap

Animal Communication

What is Your Worldview?

Goal-Setters Accountability Group

The Danger Of Political Cartoons

Urban Legends

The Israel-Iran Conflict

Perversion

Working Towards Veganism

Loneliness, Friendship & Community

Goal-Setters Accountability Group

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Battle of Los Angeles

Some of our members

Join An Upcoming Hangout

Make Progress on Personal Goals in the Next 3 Months

Achieving Utopia

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Agnostic Atheist Secular Humanist

The Art of Letting Go

Fear & Confidence

Recent Hangouts

Hey! Do You Like Metros/Subways?

Clarify and Align with your Personal Values

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Meaning, Purpose & Passion

Hey! Do you like (Beer) Tourism?

Goal-Setting Session: Setting goals for the next 12 weeks

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

The Wealth Gap

Animal Communication

What is Your Worldview?

Goal-Setters Accountability Group

The Danger Of Political Cartoons

Urban Legends

The Israel-Iran Conflict

Perversion

Working Towards Veganism

Loneliness, Friendship & Community

Goal-Setters Accountability Group

Sunday Drinks - Planning Session

Battle of Los Angeles

Some of our members