Yeah, yeah, it's a US-centric topic.  But let's be honest, how many countries can afford to ignore the outcome of this election?

No set questions, just some visual prompts:

Harris-Trump highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wN8e1kJ6_g

Walz-Vance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0glxar3U0U

Editorial cartoons:
https://www.gocomics.com/jeffdanziger/2024/10/11

https://www.gocomics.com/robert-ariail/2024/10/10

https://www.gocomics.com/lisabenson/2024/10/11

https://www.gocomics.com/stevebreen/2024/10/11

https://www.gocomics.com/m2bulls/2024/09/21

https://www.gocomics.com/mike-beckom/2024/10/10

https://www.gocomics.com/ted-rall/2024/10/11

https://www.gocomics.com/scottstantis/2024/10/12

https://www.gocomics.com/tomtoles/2020/11/01 (old but still relevant)

https://www.arcamax.com/politics/editorialcartoons/davidhorsey/

https://www.arcamax.com/politics/editorialcartoons/edgamble/

https://www.arcamax.com/politics/editorialcartoons/peterkuper/s-3435488

The kind of stuff I read, in case you couldn't guess:
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/10/11/i-am-burdened-by-pessimism/




Pre-Election Jitters

Halloween is near and the pumpkin ales are flowing!  Of course, there are other drinks to wet your whistle and comfort you in your fears, or give you courage to share.

What terrors lie ahead?  And what glories?

Let's make a plan at Taproom!

Sunday Drinks

Videos:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8muoTXnnFXc (7:31)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-1Y6IbAxdM (5:01)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0DMYs4b2Yw (2:23)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmkPeVowdo0 (11:17)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6T02g5hnT4 (2:43)

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcRANlaqf9c (6:52)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpoR6buvZYw (1:16)

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7yFvd7_KVw (6:56)

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTA0j8FfCvs (6:35)

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBfCW67xT8 (17:52)


Reading (Optional):

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/magazine/the-muddied-meaning-of-mindfulness.html

2. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/21/well/mind/meditation-morning-practice.html

3. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/08/mindfulness-all-very-well-don-t-give-your-right-get-angry

4. https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/11/27/mindfulness-is-useless-in-a-pandemic


Spanish (Optional):

1. https://elpais.com/elpais/2014/12/05/eps/1417796395_262217.html

2. https://elpais.com/elpais/2016/07/26/buenavida/1469525162_096090.html

3. https://elpais.com/elpais/2015/06/16/buenavida/1434480172_001091.html#?rel=mas


Questions:

1. What does mindfulness mean to you?

2. How do you currently  practice mindfulness in your daily life?

3. What are the benefits of mindfulness that interest you the most?

4. How can mindfulness improve your relationship?

5. Can mindfulness help with stress management? Share personal experience.

6. How does mindfulness influence your work or productivity?

7. Can mindfulness help with anxiety or depression? Share personal stories.

8. What challenges do you face when trying to practice mindfulness?

9. How does technology impact mindfulness (e.g., apps, social media)?



In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Buddytree Member)



Mindfulness for the Average Joe/Jane

The voting is over, but (I'm guessing) the election is not as quick to finish.  The set-up for contesting the results is already out there, and we know there is plenty of will to use it.

Will we be dancing for joy in the streets or packing a bunker full of supplies?

Maybe we'll be wishing we were in the world of The Machine...

Post-Election Relief/Horror

Videos:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5fgOmzyhH8&t=1s (1:28)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NprWF3h6YVo (3:54)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZM9Z4vM-iM (1:16)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckoy5kgkHs (8:24)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPYHNPf5XpA (5:12)

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1invnTgDgY (16:51)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o_Q3RJyV3M (5:36)

8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCjYaatMJuY (1:46)


Reading (Optional):

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/opinion/social-skills-connection.html

2. https://compasscounseling.org/personal-values-important-success/



Spanish (Optional):

1. https://elpais.com/diario/2006/09/05/catalunya/1157418441_850215.html

2. https://zinquo.com/como-identificar-valores-personales/


Questions:

1. What are your core values, and how do they guide your decisions?

2. Can personal values change over time? Why or why not?

3. What role do education and socialization play in shaping social values?

4. Can social values conflict with personal values? How do you navigate this?

5. Can laws and policies reflect conflicting values?

6. How do you handle disagreements with others over values?

7. Can we find common grounds among diverse values?

8. What is the connection between morality, ethics and a value system?




In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)

Understanding Social & Personal Values

This book can be found online, either for purchase or free PDF reading, and probably in that venerable institution of your local library.

Some might recognize the title, some might recognize the author.  When you read the story, you will recognize the story!  After more than a hundred years, it seems closer than ever to our present, and probably our future.  What can we say about "The Machine Stops"?

These questions are not essential to the discussion, they're just a starting point.  They came off the top of my head.  Participants can bring up their own questions in-hangout.

1. Why do you think humans can no longer live on the surface of the Earth?  What disaster changed the environment that a pre-nuclear writer would have been thinking about?

2. Why have people become so adverse to first-person experiences?

3. Is there a significance to the beds always being uncomfortable?

4. What is your impression of Vashti's trip?

5. Is the Machine sentient, like HAL or Skynet?  Is it merely following its programming like some other sci-fi mechanical monsters?

6. It turns out there are still surface people!  How did they survive the disaster that sent the rest underground?

7. What do you understand about society and humanity after reading this story?  What are our greatest challenges?  Have we avoided the pitfalls Forster thought might exist, or have we run right into them (like some say we have with Orwell's and Huxley's visions of the future)? 

The Machine Stops

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer-prize winning author, an alarming account of how autocracies work together to undermine the democratic world, and how we should organize to defeat them

"A masterful guide to the new age of authoritarianism... clear-sighted and fearless… a masterclass in the marriage of dodgy government to international criminality… (both) deeply disturbing.”—John Simpson, The Guardian • "Especially timely."—The Washington Post


Videos

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNBtkiBmAqY&amp;amp;amp;t=103s (7:18)

2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3L4aoRK31c (56:58)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ0SuEflGR8 (18:32)


Questions:

1. What factors contribute to the rise of autocratic regimes?

2. What role do technology and social media play in enabling autocratic control?

3. What are the implications of corporate-state collaborations for democracy?

4. What strategies can citizens use to resist autocratic encroachment?

5. What role do civil society organizations play in promoting democracy?

6. How does autocracy in one country impact global politics and economies?

7. What are the consequences of autocratic expansion for international relations? What are the social costs of living under autocratic rule?

8. Can international institutions effectively counter autocratic influence?


In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)

Book club hangout - Autocracy, Inc.

Book club hangout - Autocracy, Inc

Although it isn't considered the most artful genre of film, horror has always been one of the most popular.  The very earliest ghost movies aren't particularly scary to us today, what with their clunky and obvious effects, but the appeal of seeing the supernatural or unexplainable onscreen is with us just as strongly as with our great-great-etc-grandparents.  We all have our personal favorites; I've talked quite a lot about mine (hello, 1920s Murnau!), and what attracts us to a particular film is interesting from psychological and sociological perspectives.  And sometimes, just because we're nosy about each other.

What are the greatest horror films of all time?  What makes them memorable and keeps the audience coming back to them?  Are the horror films based on novels at an advantage because of a more developed or more familiar story?  Or is that more of a disadvantage, as many people prefer the book to the movie in any genre?  What cycle of monster are you waiting for to come back - vampires, mummies/zombies, werewolves?  Is supernatural horror more powerful than realistic horror or vice versa?

Just because we've come to expect it, here are some short videos.  They are versions of the same story, and you shouldn't be surprised which one!

1922:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ww7rdvDaCk

1931:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqr3yzr64V4

1992:
https://youtu.be/MOMNfN8Igq8?si=5r0UKMRpbpwlikOB&amp;t=27

Sunday Discussion - Horror On Screen

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/the-scarcity-of-wisdom

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 Scarcity of Wisdom

After-holiday, pre-working week drinks anyone?

Let's throw out some discussion topics too, it's the Planning Session after all!

Art, politics, history, nothing is really off limits, but remember we're all real human beings.

See you at Taproom!



I originally thought I could put up videos that were only on platforms other than Youtube, but what can I say?  It's the deposit of most internet media, like it or not.  Videos are ordered chronologically.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-S-oeWZLWM (9:27)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48ObNiT_hpM (9:05)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BruZDX4HNqY (5:47)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4SrTFyOL6M (3:09)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uma8Sf6rhTY (11:40) 4:38-5:36 is relevant, but enjoy the whole thing if you need a laugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN5hNzVqkOk (8:07)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGxbaxviRVw (6:09)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4JqkvU734A (10:31)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtjLA1AIaGQ (37:19)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxrC0diGnUA (4:49)

Questions:

1. Do you use Youtube with any regularity?  What do you use it for (education, research, work, etc.)?

2. How do you think Youtube has changed since it began?

3. Are you familiar with any competitors to Youtube?  Do they constitute real competition?  Why (not)?

4. Do you agree with Youtube's censorship of sexual images and profane language?  If not, how should they deal with such things to avoid the wrath of parents (and/or advertisers)?

5. What is your opinion of Youtube's treatment of creators?  Do you know about any scandals?

6. If Youtube becomes a paid service exclusively, will you subscribe?  

7. Does Youtube have a future as a product/service?

Youtube, Censorship, And Monopoly

As usual, please watch a few of these videos prior to your arrival:
https://www.buddytree.org/topic/understanding-spirituality

Chris and I would like to host a Meaningful Discussions event with this group since these events were running for many years prior to the pandemic and they were very helpful at creating new friendships for us.

Please make sure to arrive on time (6:30pm), or even a bit early to allow time for parking, since latecomers are disruptive to the discussion. Things always go much more smoothly when we all order our food at once and then start the discussion.

Depending on how many people sign up, we will have multiple tables of 6 people. After 90 minutes, people can move around to other tables to mix and mingle.

I look forward to seeing you there! :)

Glen Brauer
Founder, Meaningful Discussions
https://www.meaningfuldiscussions.org

Understanding Spirituality (dinner & discussion)

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdFz6FiZ2bs (4:14)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDDKz_NVCes (1:11)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIE6pDroLrM (5:50)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQGEK4ZpiuA (15:54)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99DK3-m1gUw (13:15)

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYRyWKTPzvw (4:37)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR5wj6otwJI (9:21)

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LondxQaiDZk (11:31)



Reading (optional): 

1. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/03/what-is-bodily-autonomy-and-why-does-it-matter-for-women/

2. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/11/16/some-progressives-are-arguing-for-a-religious-right-to-abortion

3. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/26/opinion/dobbs-roe-autonomy.html

4. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/opinion/abortion-rights.html


Spanish (optional):

1. https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2021-07-10/cuidemos-la-autonomia-del-cuerpo-femenino.html

2. https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2021-04-14/casi-la-mitad-de-las-mujeres-no-decide-plenamente-sobre-su-cuerpo.html



Questions: 

Warm-up question: 

Which of the videos/articles was the most interesting to you and why?


1. What does bodily autonomy mean to you? Should individuals have control over their own bodies?

2. How does societal pressure impact bodily autonomy?

3. What role do governments play in regulating bodily autonomy? Can you think of examples where bodily autonomy is restricted?

4.What are the implications of denying someone bodily autonomy?

5. How does technology impact bodily autonomy?

6. Can you think of ways to balance individual autonomy with collective well-being?

7. What are the consequences of prioritizing bodily autonomy?

8. Can you think of ways to address conflicts between individual autonomy and public health?


In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)



















Bodily Autonomy

Let's meet up to see A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things!

A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things, director Mark Cousins' 2024 documentary on the Scottish modernist painter Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, premiered in the main competition at the Karlovy Vary international film festival in July, where it won the top prize, and is now showing in its Canadian premiere as part of Vancouver's own international film festival. 
https://viff.org/whats-on/viff24-sudden-glimpse-deeper-things/ 

To join:
1. Purchase a ticket for the VIFF Saturday September 28 4:00 pm screening at Fifth Avenue Cinemas
https://viff.org/whats-on/viff24-sudden-glimpse-deeper-things/book/mRHPepBEYV/ 
2. Meet with the group at 3:45 in the theatre foyer, grab some popcorn or a drink, or find us in our seats closer to 4:00.
3. After the screening, we'll find a spot nearby to get something to drink/eat and chat about the film.

Looking forward to good conversation and sharing the big screen!

Reviews:
- Variety
https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/a-sudden-glimpse-to-deeper-things-review-1236061676/ 
- Roger Ebert / Robert Daniels
https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/kviff-a-sudden-glimpse-to-deeper-things-stranger-rude-to-love
- Letterboxd
https://letterboxd.com/film/a-sudden-glimpse-to-deeper-things/ 

Video:
In lieu of a trailer, here's director Mark Cousins talking about the film and the artist:
- Cineuropa
https://cineuropa.org/en/video/464352/ 

More on Wilhelmina Barns-Graham:
- Barns-Graham Trust
https://www.barns-grahamtrust.org.uk/wilhelmina-barns-graham/the-artist/ 
- Country Life
https://www.countrylife.co.uk/luxury/art-and-antiques/in-focus-wilhelmina-barns-graham-the-scottish-artist-whose-work-spanned-the-20th-century-216689 
- Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_Barns-Graham 

Art film hangout "A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things"

Videos
Some entry-level info (and other options)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2Q6TBLlV0A (9:13)

Some history
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzAxny6es74 (9:30)

Wages for restaurant workers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLB4Fp6L9J0 (1:21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NUBs2qjjNw (2:43)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LdpEvaiD7k (4:40)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ABBcG846MY (11:06)

Tipping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJxgS0JMjg4 (5:21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fMkXHYh6c (12:15)

Minimum wage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H4yp8Fbi-Y (9:31)

Questions:

1. What purpose do restaurants have in society?

2. Do servers get enough respect from customers?  How much respect do they deserve?

3. How can fast food in particular balance its (theoretically) cheap prices with worker pay?

4. Is the outsourcing of delivery good for restaurants, drivers, customers...or apps?

5. Do you always tip your servers?  How much?  Do you tip in situations that are not food related (hotels, hairdressers, etc.)?

6. Do you feel that tipping is an expression of gratitude for a job well done, or a forced subsidy that your shouldn't be responsible for in a fair economic society?

7. How would you feel about living in a society that required its members to eat only professionally prepared food (no home kitchens, only restaurants or community diners, and take-out)?

8. How would you feel if the restaurant industry was banned and all food had to be prepared in the home?  This includes ready-to-eat meals and take-out from supermarkets.


Food Service, Wages, and Tips

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

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 Conversation

It's a long book to read in a couple of weeks (or less, depending on when you decide to sign up), but at least you can give it a quick look: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45502/45502-h/45502-h.htm

Videos:
An introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbxZGCBRHJ0 (3:06)

A sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3NwFB9zuF8 (10:20)

An attempt at a solution:
https://youtu.be/nvitvKmY4cw (10m)

A continuing situation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlyrNof9SgU (1:49)

In China:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEwIHNNJZvo (3:26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W11o_4keAwA (3:16)

And in Europe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn6KlSdcem8 (12:28)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0iZhERM3AQ (7:06) - Spanish

The world over:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBQv41YbdCk (13:27)

Questions:

1. What does the title say to you?  What "half" did you imagine at first?

2. Why were/are so many people living in such terrible conditions, without any efforts being made to change the situation?

3. What was/is the most important factor in clearing urban slums?

4. How can we prevent these slums from reappearing?  How can we prevent new housing developments from becoming slums?

5. Is mixed income development the best solution to give everyone an interest in maintaining the quality of a neighborhood?  Or would the presence of much wealthier neighbors only provoke envy in the poorest residents?

6. Ghettoization and gentrification might be thought of as two sides of the same coin.  How can they be controlled so as to provide a dignified living environment for all?

"How the Other Half Lives"

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL2Zo8tHzUc (5:21)
    - Hosting International Sporting Events: What Are The Benefits?

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXJGZgR1BU (5:27)
   - Why Hosting The Olympics Isn't Worth It Anymore

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyta8HjvW_U (7:53)
  - How Do the Olympics Make Money? The Olympics Business Model, Explained | WSJ The Economics Of

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsQWsMIhXiM (2:06)
 - World Cup 2018: What impact do mega sporting events have on their host nation?

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNJrwT8vqAk (6:41)
 - The Olympics, Explained

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1x5JaC37E (3:19)
 - The cost of hosting the Olympics - BBC News

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgr5blmnE8o (5:02)
 - Hosting the Olympics: are the economic benefits worth the spending?

8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E35jdy2ZsH8&t=142s (7:34)
 - Hosting the Olympic Games: Is it Worth the Hassle?


Reading: (Optional)

1. https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2024/08/why-the-olympics-are-important/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Olympics%20are%20unlike%20any,sporting%20events%20like%20the%20Olympics.

2. https://olympics.com/ioc/beyond-the-games

3. https://www.procon.org/headlines/hosting-the-olympic-games-top-3-pros-and-cons/#:~:text=The%20Olympics%20increase%20a%20host,to%20economics%20professors%20Robert%20A.

4. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/09/opinion/paris-olympics-gold-excellence.html

5. https://www.economist.com/business/2024/08/08/what-can-olympians-teach-executives

Questions:

1. Have you had a chance to attend any international sports event(s)?

2. What role do International sports play in breaking down cultural barriers?

3. What are the economic benefits of hosting international sports events?

4. What impact do international sports have on promoting gender equality and empowerment?

5. How do international sports inspire innovation and technological advancements?

6. How do the Olympics bring people together and create a sense of community?

7. How do the Olympics promote national pride and identity?

8. What are the long-term legacies of the Olympics for host cities and countries?

9. How do the Olympics inspire us to strive for excellence and push beyond our limits?

In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Longtime Member of Buddytree)








What Do the Olympics Do for Us? 

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

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.

Emotional Intelligence

Video:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZwIavcB4Ck (3:21)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWLSUrlNpTk  (8:13)

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR1kVRpIZG0  (17:46)

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rUU-QO6leE  (9:29)

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ugYcnKx5bo (5:15)

6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74CnCdgQPp4 (6:43)

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdUmwX7CGzQ (44:39)


Reading (optional):

1. https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2022/08/26/is-america-entering-a-new-era-of-political-violence

2. https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/07/14/the-attempt-on-trumps-life-is-shocking-but-not-surprising

3. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/opinion/trump-rally-shooting-reagan.html

4. https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/07/14/fortunately-donald-trumps-would-be-killer-failed-what-next

5. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/13/opinion/editorials/donald-trump-rally-shooting.html


Spanish (optional):

1. https://elpais.com/opinion/2024-07-15/en-que-fallamos-como-democracia.html

2. https://elpais.com/opinion/2024-07-15/violencia-contra-la-democracia.html

3. https://elpais.com/opinion/2024-07-18/ninguna-sorpresa-en-el-atentado-contra-trump.html


Questions:

1. Have you ever witnessed any political violence in your life?

2. What drives individuals or groups to resort to political violence, and how can we address these underlying factors?

3. How does the media's coverage of political violence influence public opinion and political discourse?

4. How can governments balance security concerns with individual rights and freedoms when responding to political violence?

5. What is the impact of political violence on marginalized communities and vulnerable populations?

6. What responsibility do governments bear for preventing political violence and protecting their citizens?

7. How can technology and social media be leveraged to both perpetuate and prevent political violence?

8. What lessons can we draw from historical examples of political violence and assassination attempts to inform our responses today?

9. Do you have any further questions or feedback on this topic?



In Collaboration with Ceit Hustedde (Member of Buddytree)

Understanding Political Violence

There are artists who get elevated to representatives of entire countries and cultures, appropriately or not.  I only know a very few names, since I only know a very few countries, and even those not so much.  More ideas are welcome.

American idealist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37y9svho4tc (5:21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE9s1SrCYsw (4:56)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pnfrlANyuY (11:16)

Slavic brother:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eyn_-Cp59E (4:55)

(maybe excessive adulation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cQmuCDPiio (23min)

The most Spanish and most Catalan painter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3FAy0teMNo

(who was a terrible person, representing a terrible country, and could actually represent many countries in that respect)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiWrfDYtuoc (12:05) -in Spanish, auto-translate is not absolutely awful

Questions:
1. Which national vision most appeals to you?  Which one best represents your country?

2. Rockwell's most famous works can be called sentimental, playing to the nostalgia of most modern Americans.  Does this limit them to commercial art?  Could they achieve a "higher" meaning in the future?

3. Mucha believed very much in the idea of Slavic Brotherhood and looked to Russia as an example to follow culturally.  Does this affect how you see his works, even outside of the Slav Epic?  Given his Czech nationalism, would he be so pro-Russian today?

4. Does Dalí's work represent Spain in a positive way?  Does it represent Spain at all?  How does his work compare to e.g. Goya or Velázquez as identifiably Spanish?

5. What other visual artists are great transmitters of their nations' identity?  Was that their goal, or have their works been adopted/coopted for the purpose?


Art Of A Nation

Here are the videos and discussion questions for this hangout:
https://buddytree.org/topic/Having-More-Fun

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.

Having More Fun

Join us for a free evening of jazz in the park. 

We had such a great time tonight, we decided to do it all over again!

I thought we could gather around 6:00 to save our spot and if anyone wishes, we can have a shared picnic dinner. 

Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. 

It's not a huge area so we will be easy to find.

Jazz in Coal Harbour Park

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

Join us for a free evening of jazz in the park. We had a great time last year!

I thought we could gather around 6:00 to save our spot and if anyone wishes, we can have a picnic dinner. 

Bring a blanket or chair to sit on. 

It's not a huge area so we will be easy to find.

The Create! Eastside Arts Festival is hosting a Creative Moth and Butterfly Painting Workshop led by Cara Guri at Strange Fellows Brewery on the 23rd. Buddytree member Joanne Probyn is assisting.

Thought it sounded like fun so I've signed up! Wondered if anyone might like to join me? :)
We can sit together and chat about the experience, our learnings, and creativity in general!

" In this vibrant workshop suitable for all skill levels, you'll venture into the world of acrylic painting to create your very own stunning moth or butterfly masterpiece! Led by professional artist Cara Guri, you'll learn the essentials of paint handling, blending, shading, and some exciting techniques for adding expressive textures to your artwork. Get ready to unleash your creativity and bring your unique vision to life with expert guidance and support! "

TIME: 7:00PM - 8:30 PM PST

LENGTH: 1.5 hours

LOCATION: Strange Fellows Brewery, 1345 Clark Dr, Vancouver, BC

AGES: Adults (ages 19 and up), beginner & up

PRICE: $35 per person per workshop + fee + GST = $40.54

ACCESSIBILITY: Strange Fellows Brewery is wheelchair accessible. We will communicate verbally with members of the public using listening and spoken language in English. Seating in the brewery is varied, some may have chairs or stools at short height, counter, or bar height seating. Weight capacities of seating is unknown. Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs.

WHAT TO BRING: Participants are welcome to bring their own reference image or special brushes if they wish.

WHAT TO WEAR: Wear something you don't mind getting messy or bring a smock!

For more on Cara Guri, see https://www.caraguri.com/

For more on Joanne Probyn, see https://www.probynart.com/

For more on the Create! Eastside Arts Festival, see https://createartsfestival.ca/


Beer and butterflies! - Painting workshop hangout

We like to think that language, with its grammar and lexicon, is a truly human trait, innate to us, separating us from other animals.  It's such a deeply rooted part of us that most of us never think about it at all.  Not here, not today!

1.  Do you use an app or website to learn or improve a foreign language?  Which one?  Would you like to share an exercise or lesson with the group?

2.  What is the best way to learn a language?

3.  What are the most common problems in language learning today?

4.  Are some languages more sophisticated, or simple, than others?

5.  Can constructed languages be used to avoid cultural influence on international communication?

6.  How would you define "knowing" a language?  Being "bilingual"?

7.  How many languages should well-educated people be expected to speak?

Podcasts (about 40 minutes each)

One view on language learning:
https://lexiconvalley.substack.com/p/what-a-young-brain-can-do

One view on language differences:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5zf5EALlGMPxw3ewMDBjT4

Videos (much shorter, you're welcome)
AI and language learning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYwG8LmjmI8

On rating the importance of languages:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mHBmsoPRtg

Join An Upcoming Hangout

Pre-Election Jitters

Sunday Drinks

Mindfulness for the Average Joe/Jane

Post-Election Relief/Horror

Understanding Social & Personal Values

The Machine Stops

Book club hangout - Autocracy, Inc.

Recent Hangouts

Sunday Discussion - Horror On Screen

The Scarcity of Wisdom

Sunday Drinks

Youtube, Censorship, And Monopoly

Understanding Spirituality (dinner & discussion)

Bodily Autonomy

Art film hangout "A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things"

Food Service, Wages, and Tips

The Art of Conversation

"How the Other Half Lives"

What Do the Olympics Do for Us?

Emotional Intelligence

Understanding Political Violence

Art Of A Nation

Having More Fun

Jazz in Coal Harbour Park

Fear & Confidence

Jazz in Coal Harbour Park

Beer and butterflies! - Painting workshop hangout

Let's Talk Language!

Some of our members

Join An Upcoming Hangout

Pre-Election Jitters

Sunday Drinks

Mindfulness for the Average Joe/Jane

Post-Election Relief/Horror

Understanding Social & Personal Values

The Machine Stops

Book club hangout - Autocracy, Inc.

Recent Hangouts

Sunday Discussion - Horror On Screen

The Scarcity of Wisdom

Sunday Drinks

Youtube, Censorship, And Monopoly

Understanding Spirituality (dinner & discussion)

Bodily Autonomy

Art film hangout "A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things"

Food Service, Wages, and Tips

The Art of Conversation

"How the Other Half Lives"

What Do the Olympics Do for Us?

Emotional Intelligence

Understanding Political Violence

Art Of A Nation

Having More Fun

Jazz in Coal Harbour Park

Fear & Confidence

Jazz in Coal Harbour Park

Beer and butterflies! - Painting workshop hangout

Let's Talk Language!

Some of our members