“The solution has to start with the real story” Raoul Peck
Program for January 16, 2022
Overview of Artificial Intelligence: “In the Age of AI,” (a Frontline documentary)
Robert Gaines, technical instructor, research technician, engineer, programmer, analyst, manager and consultant in electronics, computer networks and systems
Robert will facilitate discussion of the documentary. The documentary “investigates the promise and perils of artificial intelligence, from fears about work and privacy to rivalry between the U.S. and China. The documentary traces a new industrial revolution that will reshape and disrupt our lives, our jobs and our world, and allow for the emergence of the surveillance society.” It is a good starting point for discussion of the subject
Program for January 9, 2022
Is Common Sense Common?
Kenneth A Schmitz, Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Studies, UMKC.
Typical trivia contests are about knowledge that one knows about a variety of topics. In contrast, problems that are directed to common sense involves reasoning. Those present will be given 22 puzzles that are solved by the application of common sense (as defined on the Internet). Solutions, along with a discussion and the reasoning, follow.
Program for January 2, 2022
Heading into 2022: What does the New Year bring?
Program for December 19, 2021
“The Safe Side of the Fence” a documentary about our nuclear legacy
Tony West, filmmaker/television videographer, editor
Tony will discuss the documentary about how massive number of workers were exposed to lethal amounts of radiation brought about by the need for uranium, https://vimeo.com/136970024 (pw: thesafeside15)
Program for December 12, 2021
Discussion: What the Hell is Going On?
Program for November 14, 2021
The November Mystery Celebration
Kenneth A Schmitz, Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Studies, UMKC.
What November is dedicated to but not generally celebrated.
Program for November 7, 2021
More about China and Other Concerns?
Open discussion
Program for October 31, 2021
Where are we with China?
Ian Munro, Professor emeritus at William Jewell College. He was among the first group of Americans to teach in China after the Cultural Revolution, from 1979-1981 at Wuhan University. He returned to China from 2010-2011, for a reunion with his students.
Dr. Munro will talk about how attitudes towards China have changed from the 18th century, but mainly over the last 50 years. Dr. Munro will address how the media has manipulated “popular opinion” in the U.S. about China. Dr. Munro’s talk is based on a paper, “American Attitudes Towards China,” and on a talk given at Wuhan University in 2011.
Program for October 24, 2021
Remembering Harlan Bonar (1950-2021), “The Michelangelo of Missouriâ€
Fred Whitehead, freethought historian, poet, writer
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Program for October 17, 2021
Random Distributions and Probabilities: Visualizing Solutions to Problems with Constraints by Means of Images and Diagrams
Dr. Kenneth S Schmitz, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Studies, UMKC
______________________________________________________
This presentation was inspired by the 3-Couple Seating Problem presented by Quintin Welsh. Also included are casino games, the three-door Monte Hall Problem, the distribution of siblings of the Smith and Jones families; and, also bar seating, and competition of oxygen and carbon monoxide to hemoglobin sites (a popular method of writers is the closed garage door with a running car engine)
Program for October 10, 2021
“Economics as Scientific Inquiry: An Antidote and Alternative to Neo-Liberalism,” (continuing discussion of September 5, 2021)
James Webb, UMKC Economist
______________________________________________________
There is a tradition of institutional economics going back to the late nineteenth century which critiques neoliberalism and provides an alternative analysis that incorporates C. S. Peirce”s views on scientific method and includes T. Veblen, John R Commons, J. M. Keynes, J. Robinson, Lester C. Thurow, J. Stiglitz, Randy Wray, Stephanie Kelton as examples of institutional economists
Program for October 3, 2021
Book Review: Phobias (2021) by Michael Young
Michael Young, renown Kansas Artist, notably known for “Brown vs. the Board of Education, that hangs in the Capitol Building at Topeka. Go to www.michaelyoungfineart.com for more of his work. Fred Whitehead, freethought historian, will interview Michael about his life and work.
Program for September 26, 2021
Can U.S. Foreign Policy Ever Get It Right? What Afghanistan Teaches Us About Honduras
Judy Ancel, Cross Border Network, (www.crossbordernetwork.org)
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Program for September 19, 2021
Redistricting: The Most Influential — Yet Overlooked — Undertaking in Missouri Politics
Mary Lindsay, League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Redistricting Committee (lwvkc.org)
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Program for August 29, 2021
Golf is a Four-Letter Word
An Informative and Entertaining Discourse on Golf-Play
Dr. Kenneth S Schmitz, Ph. D., Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Studies, UMKC.
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Program for July 11, 2021
Program for July 4, 2021
Program for June 27, 2021
Program for May 23, 2021
Speaker: Dr. Barbara J. K. Johnson
Program for May 16, 2021
Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade: A Curriculum for the Future
HOST: Quintin Welch
Program for March 28, 2021
In 2019 the Cross Border Network organized a delegation of solidarity activists from across the U.S. and Canada to tour Honduras and inquire why thousands of Hondurans were leaving either alone or joining with others in “caravans.†What they found was published in a report released just before COVID shut us all down. Even during COVID, caravans attempted to make it to the US border, but, of course, Trump’s “Safe Third Country†and “Remain in Mexico†policies made it very difficult to enter the US. Now that Trump is gone and Biden has announced the end to those two policies, Hondurans are coming again, with two hurricanes and COVID pushing them out as new reasons to flee. Why does the Cross Border Network take the position that the surge in Hondurans seeking asylum in the U.S. will not stop until the U.S. changes its foreign policy?
SPEAKER: Judy Ancel, Cross Border Network | Click here for the Zoom link
Program for March 21, 2021
SPEAKER: Fred Whitehead, freethought historian | Click here for the Zoom link See Vive la Commune? The working-class insurrection that shook the world
PAST PROGRAMS:
Program for March 14, 2021
SPEAKER: Dr. Barbara Johnson | Click here for the Zoom link
Program for March 7, 2021
Bill Tammeus, Columnist (The Presbyterian Outlook, Flatlandkc.org), Former columnist (National Catholic Reporter), KC Star Faith Matters blog: http://billtammeus.typepad.com , http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/my-flatlandkc-columns.html , Twitter: @BillTammeus, Latest book: https://amzn.to/3ltRBn5 , My Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/billtammeusames
Program for February 14, 2021
SPEAKER: Quintin Welch
Program for February 7, 2021
(Part 2 of Jan 24 Program) SPEAKER: Greg Hodes, Ph.D., Philosophy
Program for January 31, 2021
SPEAKER: Darnell Hunt
Program for January 24, 2021
SPEAKER: Greg Hodes, Ph.D., Philosophy
Program for January 3 and 10, 2021
Please read this book in advance.
Program for December 20, 2020
Program for December 6, 2020
Everyone is welcome. Join us with passion and reason
Program for November 1, 2020
The choice of words and organization of phrases can sway opinions and beliefs. Discussed in this presentation is how science deniers in politics use the little lie to mask the big lie on two important issues in the forthcoming election: climate change and the coronavirus pandemic.
Program for October 18, 2020
Program for October 11, 2020
SPEAKER: Max J Skidmore, Ph.D., University of Missouri: Curators’ Professor of Political Science and Thomas Jefferson Fellow
Program for Sept 27, 2020
Time: 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Program for Sept 20, 2020
Time: 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Program for Sept 13, 2020
CorKC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Time: Sep 13, 2020, 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Program for Sept 6, 2020
Mike Hoey, (grassroots activist), will discuss the book and show a video interview with the author about his book
Program for Aug 30, 2020
You are invited to a live ZOOM planning/organizational meeting.
We hope to discuss and decide our meetings for the next 4 to 8 weeks.
Please come, help and participate.
Program for Aug 23, 2020
Gordon Elliott, physicist, electrical engineer, mathematician
How the suppression of scientific information and an audience lacking scientific understanding has led to the politicization and subsequent spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States
Kenneth S. Schmitz, Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies
How capitalism, globalism, and climate change are responsible for humans’ contracting novel viruses, and what we can do to reverse this trend (summary of a presentation by Dr. Shiva can be found here.
Darnell Hunt, retired Navy Nurse Corps officer, community activist/organizer, and occasional political candidate.
An open discussion will follow the above presentations – everyone is encouraged to join
Program for Aug 16, 2020
You are invited to a live informal virtual gathering to visit, reconnect, and just talk
amongst ourselves (formal dress optional). How have we been? What do we want?
Where do we wish to go? If you can’t join us and even if you can please let us know
what you think COR ought and could do.
Please email these ideas to Commofreasonkc@gmail.com
For more detailed instructions on how to join the zoom virtual meeting, click here.
Program for March 22, 2020
Program for March 15, 2020
Program for March 8, 2020
Cristian Wade (discussant), member of the Greater Kansas City Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)
Program for March 1, 2020
Alissia Canady, Managing Attorney, Canady Law Firm, (former Kansas City councilwoman)
Program for Feb 23, 2020
Kenneth S. Schmitz, (discussant), Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies
This documentary is relevant at a time when treaties are meaningless and rollbacks on environmental protections are not slowing down by an administration that believes human-induced climate change is a hoax.
Program for Feb 16, 2020
Jamie Jackson, an activist for Palestinian human rights with “Citizens for Justice in the Middle East†(CJME). CJME and CoR KC are co-sponsors of this event.
This documentary follows the story of four young Palestinians who have been detained and imprisoned in the military system, providing us a lens into a key structure of oppression in the occupied territories. On average 500 Palestinian children are detained every year.
Program for Feb 9, 2020
David Burnham, Paleontologist, University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, returning from celebrated recent discoveries (e.g., New Yorker Magazine, CBS Morning Television, KC Star newspaper)
Program for Feb 2, 2020
Rick Randolph, M.D. retired U.S. Army Colonel, Chief Medical Officer, Heart to Heart International (hearttoheart.org), worked with WHO (World Health organization), tracked epidemics: cholera and Ebola in Africa (Liberia)
Program for Jan 19, 2020
Program for Jan 26, 2020
Robert will read selections from his latest book of poems, Working Class (2018, Stephen Austin State University Press)â€
Program for December 1
Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies.
It is suggested the audience take notes on the material in the documentary
Program for December 8
Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies.
It is suggested the audience take notes on the material in the documentary, to compare the effectiveness of the two documentaries: “An Inconvenient Truth,†and “An Inconvenient Sequel.â€
Program for December 15
Using art and activism as tools for teaching self-actualization, Cecilia uses artivism to create the just and open world in which she wishes to live in.
DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER THIS PROGRAM IS CANCELLED FOR TODAY AND MOVED TO JANUARY
Program for December 22
Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies.
After 30 years of crystal-clear science on global heating, the general public seems unconcerned about the real consequences, positive as well as negative, of the failure to act. Confusion is not only fed by climate deniers and special interest groups, but also by the focus of scientists solving the problems associated with effects rather than causes.
Program for December 29
SPEAKER: Fred Whitehead (convener), poet, author, and freethought historian
What are the lessons of the recent past; and, prospects for 2020. All are welcome to participate
Program for November 22
SPEAKER: Harvey Williams, KC Melting Pot founder and executive director (kcmeltingpot.com)
Program for November 10
SPEAKER: Michael Caddell, Radio Free Kansas
(call-in talk show, noon to 2 pm daily, CST: 6:45 &:16 8652)
Program for November 17: A documentary film showing
Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies
Program for November 24
Max J Skidmore, Ph.D., University of Missouri: Curators’ Professor of Political Science and
Thomas Jefferson Fellow
Program for October 27
James Webb, Economist
Kuhn’s theory of scientific change has been very influential. What can we say about scientific inquiry in
light of the tectonic revolution in geology (and other episodes)?
Program for October 20
Jim Haas, Ed.D., is a retired public school teacher, principal, and university director, a Milken Family Foundation National Educator, and a National Scholar in the Humanities.
We’ll take a trip back in time that paints our culture’s roots in the European Middle Ages using
a humanities palette and a broad brush helpful in understanding contemporary issues
from the Middle East to Constitutional government.
Program for October 13: Film Showing
How did we get here and how do we get out?
Open discussion: everyone is invited to participate
Program for October 6
Layla, BADIL Worker and Jaime Jackson, member of
Citizens for Justice in the Middle East
(KC group advocating for peace and justice for Israel and Palestine)
BADIL’s Vimeo Page: https://vimeo.com/badilresourcecenter
Here are links to the two films:
“The Sun is Due to Rise”: https://vimeo.com/231350633 [duration 16:43]
“Forcible Transfer in the Old City of Hebron”: https://vimeo.com/193368711 [duration 5:48]
Program for September 29
Fred Whitehead, poet, author, grassroots historian.
Program for September 22: Film Showing (Documentary)
Kenneth S. Schmitz, Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies
That art and science are manifestations of the same thing is the theme of the documentary in which four prominent scientists explore their views from their scientific fields of expertise on the “Circus de Soleil†production of “Mystere.†A discussion follows the documentary.
Program for September 15
Lewis Diuguid, Author, Journalist, Editor, formerly with Kansas City Star, Harvard University’s
Lois M. Lyons award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism; and,
Bette Tate-Beaver, Executive Director National Association for Multicultural Education ( www.nameorg.org ), a 100% Volunteer Driven Organization
This paper was presented at Seoul National University at the Korean Association for
Multicultural Education Conference (see NAME website for details)
Program for September 8
Judy Ancel, President of crossbordernetwork.org
and other delegation members
This summer, a delegation of Americans sponsored by “Cross Border Network†visited Honduras to investigate why so many families with children were leaving and making the long trek to Trump’s border.
We’ll discuss the results of this investigation.
Program for September 1
Luis Flores, Cognitive Psychologist,
Ken Schmidt, UMKC Professor Emeritus of Biophysical Chemistry
and Environmental Studies Faculty,
James Webb, Economist
Program for Aug 4:
Program for Aug 11:
Program for Aug 18:
Gordon Elliott, Consultant
(background in Physics, Engineering and Computer Science)
Program for Aug 25: Film Showing
CJME and CoR KC are co-sponsors of this event.
This documentary was the last chance for many Israelis and Palestinians who lived the event to share their riveting and moving personal recollections. The film reveals the shocking events surrounding the creation of one state and the expulsion of a nation. (go to www.1948movie.com/guide.html for a discussion guide)
July 7:
July 14:
July 21:
There are two main parts that comprise the presentation. The first part is a Trivia section on the history of Bridge. Participation is optional. The second part deals with Audrey Grants “Bridge at a Glance” which summarizes the criteria for opening bids at designated levels. It is shown that all of the elements can be faithfully generated by a natural system based on the understanding of two general concepts: 1) the distribution of cards, and 2) the philosophical view that “above average quantities” play a central role in Bridge.
July 28:
Fred Whitehead, Writer, Freethought Historian
Mike Hoey, Grassroots Historian
June 16:
The Problem is False: Religion is the Issue
SPEAKER: Don Bell, former Presbyterian Minister, Biblical scholar
June 23: Open discussion
Mike Hoey, (Discussant)
June 30: Open discussion
Mike Hoey, (Discussant)
May 2019
May 5: “Heading For Extinction and What To Do About It”
Lee Gum, Local Facilitator for Extinction Rebellion
May 12: “Pets Helping Those in Need: Pet Therapy”
Sharon Woodrum, Program Director, Pets for Life.
May 19: “Cooperatives: Democracy At Work”
Darnell Hunt, community activist/ organizer
Comparing cooperatives to the current capitol-driven workplace.
May 26: “American Educational Reform: Ill Effects of High-Stakes Testing”
Argun Saatcioglu, Associate Professor of Education and Sociology, K.U.
April 2019
April 7: “A Look at the Green New Deal – It’s Beginning and Futureâ€
SPEAKER: Mehdi Shariati, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Sociology, and Geography
April 14: “Medical Marijuana/Hemp and Tilapia – What Ties Them Together? … Dre Taylorâ€
SPEAKER: Dre Taylor, Sustainable Agriculture
April 21: “Organizing for Housing Justice: Eviction, Homelessness and Public Policy in Kansas City – A Community Discussionâ€
DISCUSSANTS: Tara Raghuveer (www.evictionkc.org), organizer of KC Tenants, a grass roots group dedicated to empowering renters: Tiana Caldwell is a leader in KC Tenants Union: Jordan Young, is health director of MO Jobs with Justice – a panel discussion led by Ian Munro, William Jewell College emeritus professor of English
Tara’s research on eviction and poverty in Kansas City was featured in the New York Times, New Yorker, Guardian, among others, and was cited in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Evicted by Mathew Desmond, (Penguin Random House, N.Y., 2016). In November 2017, she spoke on eviction before the City Council of Kansas City, MO (https://vimeo.com/244567154).
April 28: “In Conjunction with the Greater Kansas City IWW Labor Film Series: Norma Rae (1987)â€
DISCUSSANT: Christian Wade, member of the Greater Kansas City Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).