^{April 11, 2025 - Topic 119}

^{The more we read and watch online, the harder it becomes to tell the difference between what's real and what's fake.  It's as if we know more but understand less, says philosopher Michael Patrick Lynch.  In the talk, he dares us to take active steps to burst our filter bubbles and participate in the common reality that actually underpins everything.}  

^{How to see past your own perspective & find truth.}

^{March 28, 2025 - Topic 117}

^{Climate Change - A couple acronyms}

IPCC  - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Sponsored by United Nations & American Geophysical Union)

CMIP6 - Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (The most recent climate science model recommended by IPCC.)

^{The videos above come from a much longer list of climate-related videos from a YouTube channel created by Space Weather News.}

^{March 14, 2025 - Topic 117}

^{Information in attached documents was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).  The AI bot used is called Grok 3.  This bot is available for subscribers on X.  Multiple questions for each document were consolidated by AI into what became the first paragraph of each document.}

^{February 28, 2025 - Topic 116}

^{February 14, 2025 - Topic 115}

^{Friends, We Have Lost} 

I would like to discuss the friends we've lost from this group, who have died. 

I miss them: John, Robin, Rodney, Woody.  I want to talk about them and how much they meant to us.  A friend should not just be gone and that's it. 

^{January 24, 2025 - Topic 114}

^{Those Who Lose Everything - Jo}

^{January 18, 2025 - Topic 113}

^{The Scent of History} 

NPR article about our sense of smell.  Do smells, tastes, and other sensory feelings transport you to the past? The article date is February 8, 2024.

Click here ----> NPR - The Scent of History

The OMC meeting for January 10th has been postponed due to snow. The next meeting will be January 17th. 

^{December 13, 2024 - Topics 111 & 112}

How to Prevent War & Non-Agression Principle

The Non-Aggression Principle - A Synthesis of Two Ethical Statements:

(1) It is illegitimate for a human being to use aggressive violence against the person and property of another human being, and

(2) it is legitimate for a human being to use defensive violence to protect a person and property.  

Wes ---> Do you agree?  If so, shouldn't governments be held to this principle?

^{November 8, 2024 - Topic 110}

What's the difference between an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert?  

^{October 25, 2024 - Topc 107}

Individuals on YouTube have recorded near-death experiences (NDE). Have you or someone you know had an NDE?  Here are multiple examples and links from myself, Dan, Penny, and Roger. October 25, 2024, continues the same topic as our last meeting on October 11.

^{October 11, 2024 - Topc 107}

Individuals on YouTube have recorded near-death experiences (NDE).  Have you or someone you know had an NDE?  Here are several examples. 

Example 1    Example 2     Example 3     Example 4     Example 5    Ref #1 TED Talk.   Ref #2 Audio Book Chapters 4&8    Ref #3 Audio Book Pg 27-28

Wes & Dan

Our September 25, 2024, meeting was canceled due to Hurricane Helene. 

^{September 13, 2024  - Topic 109}

What does 'Open Minds' mean to you?  

Link to PDF copy of quotes by Dan. 

Ron & Dan 

^{August 23, 2024 - Topic 103}

What does prejudice mean, and is there such a thing as a good prejudice?  Can a prejudice toward an idea or concept be a positive rather than a negative thing?  How does that affect our lives? 

^{August 9, 2024 - Topic 102}

Should we object when we see or hear something offensive?  Are all things offensive evil?

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

^{July 26, 2024 - Topic 101}

Why do humans have house pets, such as dogs, cats, and sometimes ducks, chickens, goats, and birds? What need do they fill, and do both humans and animals benefit? Can livestock be pets?