Man vs Machine

Thursday, June 1, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Humankind has suffered another defeat in its battle against machines. Today, Google's AlphaGo swept a three games series against the world's best Go player, Ke Jie. AlphaGo also beat a team of 5 top ranked Go players in an exhibition match. Google has retired AlphaGo from matches with humans, since there is no challenge. HERE is a video which provides historical background, from Chess to Jeopardy to Go. For our next meeting, we will discuss if people are needed anymore. Here are the videos:

• Google's Deep Mind Explained! - Self Learning A.I.
• Watson, Jeopardy and me, the obsolete know-it-all
• The rise of human-computer cooperation
• The Future of Your Job in the Age of AI

Trump Update

Thursday, May 25, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Having avoided Trump for the last two meetings, we now need to take a quick peek in his latest self-generated crisis. Since our last meeting on Trump, he fired FBI director Comey, came close to admitting to obstruction of justice, revealed classified information to the Russians and complained to graduates on how unfairly he was being treated. A special counsel was appointed to oversee the Russia investigation and impeachment seems possible. Here are the videos for the meeting:

• Our Weekly Constitutional Crisis
• Trump Connects Comey Firing to Russia 
• Stupid Watergate

------------------------------------------------- Updated 5/25/17 --------------------------------------------------

Here is the other video shown at the meeting:

• Removal of a President under the 25th Amendment

The Good and Bad News of Clean Energy

Thursday, May 18, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Two weeks ago we talked about how the Trump administration seems to be at war with science, particularly in their denial of climate change. However, it seems that many climate activists are in a denial of their own, that nuclear power is not needed as part of the solution for climate change. While most climate activists are against nuclear power, some activists have changed their mind about nuclear power. 

For our next meeting, we will look at public attitudes toward nuclear power. Here are the videos:

• How fear of nuclear power is hurting the environment
• Robert Stone: "Pandora's Promise"
• Nuclear power for the future?
• We Need A Mix
• Advance Nuclear Power
• Closing Existing Nuclear Plants
• Maryland Renewable Energy Bill

The Coming Marijuana Battle

Thursday, May 11, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

The 2016 election continued the trend of marijuana legalization, but the new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has threatened a federal crackdown on marijuana in spite of state law. Here are the videos for the meeting:

• John Oliver's Take on Marijuana
• Obama on Marijuana Legalization and Criminalization
• Elizabeth Warren on using marijuana to tackle the opioid crisis
• Maryland's attempt to legalize recreational marijuana
• Marijuana could be legalized in Canada by 2018
• Future Legal Marijuana Business

------------------------------------------ Updated 5/11/17 ---------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Is Legal Marijuana Threatening Mexican Drug Cartels?
• John Stossel: Legalize All Drugs
• Support for marijuana at an all-time high
• DEA does not reclassify marijuana
• DEA Trolls Us All By Approving Synthetic-Pot

Trump's First 100 Days

Thursday, May 4, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For our next meeting, we will review Trump's first 100 days. Here are the videos:

• Tapper compares Trump's plans to his actions
• A brief look at Donald Trump's first 100 days in office
• President Trump's first 100 days met by praise and protests
• Hasan Minhaj at the WHCD

------------------------------------------- Updated 5/4/17 -------------------------------------------------

Here are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• This Monologue Goes Out To You, Mr. President
• The Fyre Festival

Trump's First Earth Day

Thursday, April 27, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

From the moment Trump was elected, all of Obama's work on the environment was put into jeopardy. Trump's new policies dismissed the science of Climate Change, so scientists came out in force on Saturday, Earth Day, to march for science.

For our next meeting, we will explore Trump's battle with the environment. Here are the videos for the meeting:

• Paris climate accord is signed on Earth Day 2016
• Trump's budget cuts climate science research
• Science in America - Neil deGrasse Tyson
• 'March for Science' rallies held around the world
• Scientists: Why We March
• New research links human activity to extreme weather
• What Trump's Climate Policies Mean For Global Warming
• Trump Vows to End the Nonexistent War on Coal
• Rick Perry orders review of US power grid
• California to shutter its only remaining nuclear power plant

Trump's Other Nuclear Option

Thursday, April 20, 2017, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Has the nuclear situation in North Korea finally come to ahead or is it just business as usual? In spite of all the threats over the weekend, it all culminated with a failed missile launch. Yet tensions continue to build and three carrier groups are expected to arrive next week. For our meeting, we will talk about the the never-ending crisis with North Korea.

I am still collecting video about the North Korean, but here is a start:

• Nuclear North Korea: What Are Trump's Options?
• North Korea could kill 90 percent of Americans
• US Considers Possible Strike To Stop North Korea Nuke Test
• Trump 'I don't know' if ISIS strike sends message to North Korea
• North Korea showcases new missiles at military parade
• Mike Pence in South Korea reassure allies
• 5 facts you need to know about North Korea

----------------------------------------- Updated 4/21/17 --------------------------------------

These are the other videos shown at the meeting:

• Pence warns North Korea 'era of strategic patience is over'
• Why tension between the US and N. Korea will only get worse
• Easter at the Trump White House
• North Korea: Missiles Sabotaged?
• What made North Korea so bizarre