Praise for Blue Velvet, Timor Trajectories, Religious Ponderings, Gaming Update

[tcpip]

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.

Comments

[horngirl.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Blue Velvet on the Saturday? Or did you go again?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Right you are ... as you would know being on of those old friends :)

I'll fix that up.

So used to going on Fridays, it's ingrained in the brain. That's my excuse.

Re: Nano-Wrimo

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

I guess we're both up for it then. :)

Re: Nano-Wrimo

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I still have to finish the novel I started two years ago as well :)

I was stumped when I needed a Sundanese - English dictionary.

[djayha.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to figure out how Uniting Church differs from Unitarian Universalism. The only main difference I see is that it has a much more negative view of Christianity and of the Bible than UUism, but the skepticism, the Biblical criticism, the willingness to draw inspiration from many different religious traditions and the rejection of dogma are... not particularly innovative.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Well the Uniting Church in Australia was a union of a number of Presbyterian, Congregational Union and Methodist churches decided to band together. They have conservative and liberal congregations, whereas the approach taken by Dr. McNabb is actually quite radical and, indeed, a lot closer to the UU standard.

More than a couple of people in our local congregation have actually remarked that McNabb represents what our church should be.

[trayce.livejournal.com]

Actually I hate to say this, but Blue Velvet *isn't* an alternative club any more. That night was a once-off.

They usually run the kind of techno nights full of ladies with orange tans and straw hair, nowadays.

And they do pole dancing classes.

Check out their website. Its kind of... ugly :(

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I was talking to Cameron on the night about this and he was saying he gets quite good attendance from the GLBT and fetish scene... So maybe a different alternative :) But I hope they do have more nights for the old crowd. I quite enjoyed being back there again.

I have a plan :)

Agreed about the website. Heck, they've never done a good website - which is annoyingly typical for bars, I've noticed.

[trayce.livejournal.com]

Yeah youre right on that count, I realised that as soon as I re-checked the site.

Is it true they have an outdoor/smoking area now? They didnt last time I was there but I missed the goth do the other week :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

It is indeed true. At the moment it's pretty spartan, a cobblestone courtyard, a couple of tables and chairs. But I could see the potential, especially with a some large potted plants etc.

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

interesting article here on wsj on stolen elections in the usa over the years.
assuming its factual..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122550597058490345.html

They wouldn't dare. Not again. Would they?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

There's another security expert predicting this one will be rigged too... (yes, I know, I'm begging the question)

http://www.securitypronews.com/insiderreports/insider/spn-49-20080930SecurityExpertWarnsOfRiggedElection.html

BTW, completely off-topic can you send me Scott's email address..

[tempusfrangit.livejournal.com]

Good luck on NaNo. <3

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Doing reasonably well so far - writing about a topic I already know makes it a lot easier!

[vannak.livejournal.com]

hey thanks for adding me, I have added you back.
I'm really overwhelmed by how 'full' your life is. You have a lot of interests (diverse as well) that you are passionate about!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yeah, *nods* it's a busy life.

I've been pondering your first post... I have some ideas, but will need a day or so to mull over them.

[phoebe82.livejournal.com]

oh! someone's going to be writing a novel!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Actually... You might be able to help me with the 2006 NaNaWriMo novel which I never finished... How's your Sundanese?

[phoebe82.livejournal.com]

I'm Javanese! But I think I have Sundanese friends all over the place. It's set in Indonesia/involves Indonesian characters? How awesome is that?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Early 16th century CE, just as the old Hindu Empires are falling apart and the Muslim sultanates are rising and the Europeans are taking a colonial interest in the place...

Email me at lev@levlafayette.com and I'll send you a copy of what I've written so far.