Presentations and Social Gatherings

A couple of weeks ago I presented at the Melbourne Linux Users Group on the The Importance of Community in Linux which primarily emphasised sociological concerns, although with the issue of greater coordination of activities between MLUG and LUV. Given that TLUG and SLUG has dissolved into Linux Australia, the question has to be raised concerning federative vs unitary structures. Last Sunday week spoke at the Philosophy Forum on Pragmatic Philosophy, Verification, and Research Quality; this was preceded by conducting the service for Dr. Hans Baer, on eco-socialism at the Unitarians; I do admit being somewhat interested in the collapse of attendence at said body. In two week's time I'll be addressing said body on "Successes and Failures of Modern Unitarian-Universalism"; we'll see if having an on-topic address makes a difference. This weekend I was be presenting briefly at the Melbourne Sunday Assembly (FB link) on The Love of Philosophy, a group appears to have somewhat greater vigour, humour, and intellectual stimulation. I also have plans for a submission to the ISPM Symposium on the relationship between innovation and political economy, in particularl looking for an opportunity to critique Michael Porter's notion of 'Competitive Advantage' - but that is more than some time away.

Socially, it's been a very busy week. On Friday evening went to the annual dinner for Friends of Suai at the St. Kilda Town Hall, and had the pleasure of chatting to several former mayors and members of parliament etc, who have been in East Timorese solidarity. On Saturday had a wine, cheese, and boardgames day with Damien, Jacqui, Dylan, and Rei visiting. We're now over half way through the cheese shop sketch. The games were a variety from Cheap Ass games; my favourite was Trailer Park Gods, for its clever scoring and strategy, although the production quality is quite poor and some object to the subject matter. On Monday night Dean E., visited and we discussed our proposals to abolish criminal law (yes, really), particularly in the context of Ronal Dworkin's notion of Justice for Hedgehogs; on further animal-related subjects he asked about my interest in the rattus genus. I took the opportunity to lend him Firmin; of which I have been doing some editing on Wikipedia. Wednesday night was a group movie special to see a special screening of Wolf Children, a charming Japanese anime of parenting, shape-shifting, and the nature-civilisation tension, with director Mamoru Hosoda present and taking questions. In gaming related news, ran a session of Twilight 2000 on Sunday, as the PCs enter the ruins of Warsaw, and last night ran a session of Pendragon with one fatality among the player knights as they mistook a lake serpent as the Questing Beast. Tonight, caseopaya are off to see Midge Ure of Ultravox fame. As a fan from the mispent days of my youth, I'm really looking foward to this.