Publishing Contract, Gaming Updates, Unitarian Elections

[tcpip]

Now that the contract has been signed it can be publically announced that I have a contract with Packt Publishing for a book entitled "Learning OpenFOAM", a continuum mechanics solver. We have a fairly laid-back schedule which has given me plenty of opportunity to get quite advanced into the material already. Hopefully this will be the beginning of several other books of a similar nature with the same or other publishers where I can combine my backgrounds in scientific computing and adult education; I have especially noted a gap on their line for PBS/MPI. On a related note, registration for the EResearch Australia conference is complete; hopefully I'll have some time to catch up with Sydney-siders.

Last night was another exceptionally good session of Call of Cthulhu at the asylum. Playing Horror on the Orient Express, the party started and completed the "Lausanne" chapter, which included murder, madness, sex, drugs, and a parallel reality. Quite a good session really. On a related topic, the next issue of RPG Review is well under way with a feature interview from dr_kromm, a designer's article from stephen_dedman, another from bobquasit plus a slate of other GURPS and RuneQuest related articles. HeroQuest Glorantha game continues, now into its sixth year, with entry to the famous walking castle of Harajallenburg. I've decided I'll write an article about my particular take on on Harajallenburg for Rule One magazine.

This coming Sunday is the Unitarian church committee elections; I have nominated for treasurer and have expressed a desire to introduce a deductible gift beneficiary charity for the church, a building trust, and annual evaluation of assets, along with my long-standing policies for preferential voting and proportional representation, term limits, formalised procedures, better Internet communications, and some strategic management concerns. Despite strong support from regular congregation members, I suspect on "resurrection day", as it has been nicknamed, I will not have the necessary numbers for election and those who follow this organisation closely know exactly why..

Comments

[fwuffydragon.livejournal.com]

Woo congratulations on the book contract! :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly!

I now have the challenge of writing about computational fluid dynamics in a manner which isn't completely boring...

[carlowe.livejournal.com]

It sounds like the place needs to be turned upside down and shaken, from your to-do list. Is that why? :)
And congrats on the contract too.

I haven't been in any RPG's for decades, sadly, but the Cthulu one sounds like fun. Don't suppose you know anyone who does that up my way who is open to newcomers?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It sounds like the place needs to be turned upside down and shaken, from your to-do list. Is that why? :)

Yes, and more so. The results were as expected, a small army of people who are never seen but have as much of a say as people who turn up every week. The place has "governance issues", to put it mildly.

And congrats on the contract too.

Thanks! It's going to be challenging, as I'm going to have to brush up on some of the science myself - not being anything close to an expert on continuum mechanics - but hopefully my writing, teaching, and software knowledge will see me through..

Don't suppose you know anyone who does that up my way who is open to newcomers?

Hmmm.. You could try posting on the relevant meetup group:

http://www.meetup.com/The-Melbourne-Boardgamer-and-RPG-Group/

[carlowe.livejournal.com]

Ooooh...thanks. I didn't know that existed. I have a fistful of German strategy boardgames that I lack players for, so this could be good. I can get to Melbourne easily enough on weekends, but when I'm working in Bendigo its a bit harder. Hopefully I can make a connection.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

We must invite you over for a lazy Saturday afternoon of boardgames etc at our house then :)

[carlowe.livejournal.com]

That sounds like fun :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

And the wheels are in motion!