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Saturday week I went to Blue Velvet, once quite a favourite haunt of mine many years ago and engaged in excellent conversation with a score or so old friends over the hours. Cameron's done an excellent job on expanding the place and it was a most enjoyable eve (with some damn fine music) and indeed BV deserves much praise for keeping an alternative club going for so long, especially considering that the financial return on the place must be quite modest. It is clear that the organisers are friends of the scene, rather than another operator seeking to make a quick buck.
Also in that week I went to see Mari Alkitari, former Prime Minister of Timor Leste (whom I had not seen since 2003 when he held that role), speak to a small crowd at VUT. Pleased to see some familiar faces there, including Clinton, Deb, Jean etc, and other long-standing activists for the East Timor cause, although another appointment meant that I couldn't stay for a chat afterwards. Mari's speech was mainly about being disappointed that FRETILIN is no longer in power which I was somewhat uninterested in. Of greater concern is the recent announcement by Ramos-Horta to seek a 'konkordata'with the Catholic Church which includes the most risible claims of supposed religious percentages as an excuse to implement misogynistic policies.
Sunday was spent at the Unitarian Philosophy Forum where Rick Barker did an excellent presentation on the extinction of Australian megafauna as an example of the distinction between formal science and popular science. The Philosophy Forum is probably the most interesting event in an organisation which is largely obsessed with social justice matters to the exclusion of everything else and even without religious grounding. I've noticed significant numbers of the congregation looking at brochures from St Michael's Uniting Church, especially given recent comments from its current minister Dr. Francis McNabb.
Later on Sunday continued with my RuneQuest Prax game (with a new player - that makes eight of us) which involved a plague throughout the lands and some hunting of broo believed to be responsible (little do they know..). I posted a summary, in story form, of the last few sessions which has moments of amusement. On a related note, I've decided to sign up to NaNaWriMo (like many other people on my flist) albeit starting a couple of days late. My task will be to complete an RPG I started sketching notes for a years ago which is heavily derived from Swordbearer and DragonQuest. Finally, my review of Dragon Warriors has been published.
Also in that week I went to see Mari Alkitari, former Prime Minister of Timor Leste (whom I had not seen since 2003 when he held that role), speak to a small crowd at VUT. Pleased to see some familiar faces there, including Clinton, Deb, Jean etc, and other long-standing activists for the East Timor cause, although another appointment meant that I couldn't stay for a chat afterwards. Mari's speech was mainly about being disappointed that FRETILIN is no longer in power which I was somewhat uninterested in. Of greater concern is the recent announcement by Ramos-Horta to seek a 'konkordata'with the Catholic Church which includes the most risible claims of supposed religious percentages as an excuse to implement misogynistic policies.
Sunday was spent at the Unitarian Philosophy Forum where Rick Barker did an excellent presentation on the extinction of Australian megafauna as an example of the distinction between formal science and popular science. The Philosophy Forum is probably the most interesting event in an organisation which is largely obsessed with social justice matters to the exclusion of everything else and even without religious grounding. I've noticed significant numbers of the congregation looking at brochures from St Michael's Uniting Church, especially given recent comments from its current minister Dr. Francis McNabb.
Later on Sunday continued with my RuneQuest Prax game (with a new player - that makes eight of us) which involved a plague throughout the lands and some hunting of broo believed to be responsible (little do they know..). I posted a summary, in story form, of the last few sessions which has moments of amusement. On a related note, I've decided to sign up to NaNaWriMo (like many other people on my flist) albeit starting a couple of days late. My task will be to complete an RPG I started sketching notes for a years ago which is heavily derived from Swordbearer and DragonQuest. Finally, my review of Dragon Warriors has been published.