Endings and the Weekend

[tcpip]

Three staff from our systems team are leaving work; two, previously on secondment, are taking at roles at the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Institute, and the other has decided to run off to Europe for pure fun. We had a farewell gathering on Friday night, eventually turning our training room (that is a very old 'photo) into quite an impressive video-and-music lounge, courtesy of Youtube and the very large projection wall, three ceiling-mounted projectors, and a reasonable sound system. Several drinks later some of us were playing laser skirmish.

The other end-of-an-era is the closure of Xanghai Restaurant (google maps link) in St. Kilda. Apparently the owners of the building have decided the location is better to convert into apartments. Proprietor Jin Wu Xu has been there for 28 years, and we've been attending about once a month for the past 8. On Sunday a small number of her most loyal customers were invited to come along to a final feast. On leaving we were given momento chopsticks.

Spent Saturday with Chris and Donna, in their delightful home in the Dandenongs, although alas both are having a couple of health-related issues. Attended a review of the Global Atheist Convention by Dr. John Perkins, leader of the Secular Party of Australia, at the Unitarians on Sunday. This was followed by an enjoyable session of Planescape Pathfinder (beautiful SRD) where my wererat monk ended up arguing with modron about an alliance with an imp.

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[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Adding the "set list" that I've found in my pocket from Friday night, many of which were picked for their visual quality.

Orbital - Halycon
Trentmoller - Moan
Severed Heads - Dead Eyes Opened
Jonathan Coulton - re: Your Brains
Hawkwind - Spirit of the Age
Stardust - Music's Better With You
Kraftwerk - We Are The Robots
Blue Man Group - I Feel Love
Shins - Simple Song
Modest Mouse - Float On
Gary Numan - Music for Chameleons
Leftfield - Afro-Left
Sheep on Drugs - Uberman
Etienne de Crecy - Am I Wrong?
Love, Inc - You're A Superstar
KLF - 3AM Eternal
Utah Saints - Something Good
Guided By Voices - Tractor Rape Chain
Cuz It's Hot - My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
Dream Frequency - Take Me To The Top
TISM - Whatareya?

I refuse to admit to playing Europe's Final Countdown, even if it was a request. That must have been a shared hallucination.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

Orbital and Hawkwind, in close proximity. Yes, this is drifting toward the kind of setlist I would make.

You might be curious to know that there's a church from 1906 up the street--except it's been converted into apartments. As in, the exterior which is no doubt an example of Heritage Architecture has been preserved (except for windows and balconies installed) but the interior completely changed. There's a second church along the road which is about to get the same treatment, unless I read the advertisement wrong. So while condos and things continue to go up in Toronto, some of the developers are keen on preserving the look of the neighbourhood.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Orbital and Hawkwind, in close proximity. Yes, this is drifting toward the kind of setlist I would make.

Hawkwind invented trance as far as I'm concerned :)

So while condos and things continue to go up in Toronto, some of the developers are keen on preserving the look of the neighbourhood.

A very sensible approach. Poor ol' Detroit could do with this kind of thinking.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Oh, and do check out the Trentmoller clip. It has everything one wants :)

[fluffyblanket.livejournal.com]

I know you´ll want to sign this -
http://www.avaaz.org/en/syria_will_the_world_look_away_d/?cl=1829947826&v=14695

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Indeed. And with a wry and macabre humour...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/alien-world-to-help-out-syria-since-this-one-refus,27620/

[laptop006.livejournal.com]

Must be an old photo, it's missing the racks of Itanics

Did you manage to see Orbital on their last tour? Was an awesome show.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Did you manage to see Orbital on their last tour? Was an awesome show.

Alas no, noticed it and would have really liked to have attended. Would have reviewed it on Rocknerd if I did.

[seedy-girl.livejournal.com]

Xanghai is closing? That's terrible news! Thorf and I used to go there very regularly when we lived in Windsor - on the nights when we couldn't be bothered cooking but still wanted home cooking. We hadn't had a chance to go back since moving to Reservoir, sad to hear we won't get to now!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I know, it really is the end of an era. Although part of me thinks that Jin could do with a break as well.... I wonder where people are going to go now?