Battlestar Galactica

**Please note:** We meet at 11am and start walking towards Elwood soon after. Please be on time or message us. Thanks! :) Walk and talk with us. Meet on St Kilda Beach in front of Republica near the Rhinocerous statue, Walk to Ormond Point Elwood 🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🏃🏻‍➡️ We practice English conversation plus our first and second languages on the way. Bring a friend, dog and perhaps a ✍🏽 and notepad to remember new words and phrases. Meet new people. We look forward to chatting with you!🤗 ***Please note:*** *For attendance at this beach walk read the disclaimer below:* *By signing up and participating in this **Language Practice and Walking on the Beach** today I agree to do so at my own risk. I know that my attendance and this agreement operates to exclude any liability in negligence for harm that I may suffer. I have been warned that this recreational activity may cause physical harm to me or to someone under my control or accompanying me, and I confirm that I do not have a condition, medical or physical, that could prevent me from, or be aggravated by, participating in this activity. Examples of the risks I have been warned about include: Tripping, slipping and falling • Collision with someone or something • Something giving way unexpectedly • Back injury, strains • Spillage and burns • Trip hazard• Bites and stings • Sun • Injury from falling branches*

A social run following a mystery trail of chalk and flour from beer back to beer. Runners and walkers welcome. Run: 7-9Km. Walk: 3-4Km. Hare: Klingon Location: Exford Hotel

TO MAINTAIN A GENDER BALANCE ALL MALES MUST ATTEND WITH A FEMALE FRIEND, NO EXCEPTIONS. All females are welcome to attend alone but encouraged to attend with a female friend too for free drinks and food! MUST TAP “ATTEND” and include all guests. UNLIKE other meetups which are overwhelmingly male dominant, we provide ONLY gender balanced events where females also have a chance to meet other females, not only men. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EQUAL GENDER REPRESENTATION IN THE IT INDUSTRY. 8PM EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY (LAST ENTRY STRICTLY 8.30PM) AT 215 QUEEN’S

**Beginner Dungeons & Dragons Night (No Experience Needed)** Play a fantasy story with a small group. Make choices. Solve problems. Work together. It’s fun, social, and easy to get into. **What is this Event** This is a beginner-friendly D&D game. You don’t need to know anything. Most people are new. We teach as we play. **Small groups (limited spots**) Tables of 5–6 players, we wont take anymore than this at a time. Usually 12–18 total spots in total. If you see a spot you can make, take it. They fill. **What happens when you arrive** You don’t need to bring anything You’ll be seated shortly after you arrive Most people come alone You will not be the only one. **What you’ll do** Play a character in a fantasy story Make choices with your group Talk, explore, and solve problems Roll dice and see what happens Expect funny and memorable moments. **What you don’t need to worry about** You don't need to know rules new people won't slow the group down Don't need to bring anything We guide you the whole way. **Who this is for** You work a 9–5 and want to meet new people after work or on weekends. You enjoy fantasy stories, books or games You want to try dungeons and dragons You want a curated story games night with tactics and roleplay. If you like Baldur’s Gate or Divinity, you’ll have a strong idea about what your getting into. **Sessions** 3-hour games Run by experienced Dungeon Masters 2–3 tables each night This week’s games may include: *Cordelia* – Dark fantasy adventure *Isle of the Grave* – Mystery and survival *The Cost of Ascension* – Power, trust, and betrayal Before the event You may get a message from the organiser. Please reply to keep your spot. **Attendance policy** Cancel early if you can’t make it No-shows or late cancels may lose future spots **Donations** We take small donations to support the event and our hosts.

**Music Soothes the Savage Beast** How do we measure the affect of a person and their work on people? How did Mozart affect his generation and future generations? What is Elvis’ affect? Why is Taylor Swift so popular? **1\. Music and affect** Read part of the article by Reimer. “When I was sixteen, a junior in high school in Brooklyn, I auditioned for the City High School Band of New York and was placed as first chair clarinet. First rehearsal, a piece we played (I don't remember what it was except that it was new to me) had a long, melodic clarinet solo, with accompaniment. When we finished playing it the director stopped the band and said, "Very nice, first clarinet. Let's do it again, this time with more feeling." Reimer, B. (2004). Once More with Feeling: Reconciling Discrepant Accounts of Musical Affect. In Source: *Philosophy of Music Education Review* (Vol. 12, Issue 1). [https://about.jstor.org/terms](https://about.jstor.org/terms) 1. What does it mean to “Play with Feeling”? 2. Which music has moved you? Was it how it was played, the person playing it or the music itself? 3. What sort of emotion did you feel when moved by music, can you label the emotion? **2\. Mozart and Affect** Clip from Amadeus Film [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKRened1Fik](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKRened1Fik) 0:00- 3:00 - 7:20- end 1. What were your impressions of the person of Mozart versus the music of Mozart? 2. What emotions were present in the room? 3. What context did knowing that Salieri was the court composer and the king himself playing the music have on the affect/feeling in the room? **3\. Theories of The “Mozart Effect” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLASrOujkGw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLASrOujkGw)** a) Why do you think people thought Mozart made people smarter? b) Has music ever contributed to better study or cognitive effects for you? c) Why do we feel that classical music is more “virtuous” than pop or rock music? **4\. Elvis \- clip from a Ed Sullivan** Video 1: Ed Sullivan Performance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYWl13IWhY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYWl13IWhY) Video 2: Cultural impact of Elvis’ performance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLISRukZc10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLISRukZc10) 1. What is the initial response to Elvis’ presence and performance? 2. What is the audience response to his introduction to the song? 3. What moral and cultural rules did Elvis break? **5.a Cardigan Music video** **[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-a8s8OLBSE ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-a8s8OLBSE)** **5.b Article** “We’re in a log cabin replete with open fire, the kind of warm Romantic environment where one imagines Thoreau writing into the evening. On the wall hangs a faded portrait beside an oil painting of a rustic country cottage. It’s early in the morning, or late at night, and a singer, wearing what appears to be an antebellum nightdress, is serenading us on a battered old piano, before suddenly she opens the top of the instrument and climbs in, all the time enveloped in an enchanted golden powder. She reappears in a mythic forest imbued with vivid green hues and vibrant, saturated moss. We’re watching the music video for Taylor Swift’s first single “cardigan,” from her 2020 album folklore.1 Like Lewis Carrol’s Alice or the children in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, Swift opens the piano lid and enters another world (Figure 1). The fantastical folkloric quality of this setting in the Arcadian woods, what Vernallis would call the “implied geography of the video” (258), is rein­forced by emotive lighting and majestic waterfalls (Figure 2). Next, the piano stool acts as a portal, transporting Swift to sea, the instrument itself acting as life raft in a scene not unlike one from James Cameron’s Titanic (1997), before finally taking her home. The drenched protagonist comforts herself with the eponymous cardigan upon her return, in a significant teleological moment of audio-visual synchronization (Figure 3). What is being mediated here? Why this turn to folklore and indie-folk esthetics in Swift’s work? I suggest that this single and, indeed, the album folklore provide a peak example of a societal search for foundations during the pandemic”. McGrath, J. (2023). The Return to Craft: Taylor Swift, Nostalgia, and Covid-19. *Popular Music and Society*, 46(1), 70–84. [https://doi.org/10.1080/03007766.2022.2156761](https://doi.org/10.1080/03007766.2022.2156761) 1. What is Swift evoking in her video? Do you agree with McGrath that she's evoking a sense of a more magical world? 2. Why do you think this song had such an impact during the pandemic? 3. Does Swift remind you of other artists or evoke another time that's nostalgic to you? **Afterparty** What is your favourite music? Do you use music to soothe yourself or psyche yourself up to anything? Think of powerful songs that have stayed with you for a long time. Why do you think they have stayed with you?

Hi all! Welcome to the Melbourne Sci-Fi/Fantasy Social Catch-up. Come along and talk to like-minded people and catch up on all the things you love about this genre. Be it the latest movies, TV shows, or a book you love; or maybe, you have played this fabulous board or computer game that you just want to share with others. Geeky t-shirts or quirky badges welcome! What a great chance to chat with new people or old friends about so many diverse topics. You never know, you might find a whole new sub-genre to delve into. New and old members are welcome to attend. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the tavern. If your plans change (even if it is at the last moment), please change your RSVP to a NO, so your event host knows who to expect on the day and so I can manage the booking at the Mitre Tavern! See you soon 🤓🤓🤓🤓

**SUNDAY FIESTA LATINA!** **SALSA BACHATA LATIN PARTY & SOCIAL** ***with* LIVE LATIN MUSIC!** *on* **SUNDAY 17th MAY 2026** *Let the rhythm ignite your passion!* *Enjoy an unforgettable night* *of live Latin music and dancing!* at **INNER NORTH BREWING COMPANY** **10A RUSSELL STREET** **BRUNSWICK** *Experience the passion and flavour of live Latin music!* *Join us for a memorable, sizzling night of LATIN FEVER!* *featuring* **‘DIRTY LOPEZ’** \- live at **7.45PM**! *One of Melbourne’s favourite LATIN BANDS* *playing their signature energetic and exciting* *Latin rhythms to keep you dancing all night long.* Bring your family, friends and colleagues and put on your dancing shoes! Join us for an unforgettable night of live Latin music and salsa, bachata and the best Latin mix played throughout the night! **NEW TO SALSA & BACHATA?** **Never danced Salsa or Bachata before?** No problem! Join us and learn how to dance with our fun, relaxed classes. We will have you dancing in no time! Our experienced instructor will kick off the night with a complimentary all level Bachata and Salsa class to get you dancing! ***See you on the dancefloor!*** **INNER NORTH BREWING COMPANY & BAR** *is a micro brewery, specialising in making their signature* *quality freshly made beers on site, infused with good vibes!* *Give the beers a try. Let’s support the art of beer craftmanship.* **5.15PM** **PRE-PARTY MEETUP!** Come early and try a freshly made beer with us! Practice your moves, meet and make new friends before classes start! \| \* Join us on your own or come with friends \* Absolute beginners welcomed \* No dance experience required! \| **6.30PM** **BACHATA CLASS** (All levels) *\* 10 minute Bachata dance practice* \| **7.10PM** **CUBAN SALSA CLASS** (All levels) \| **7.45PM** **‘DIRTY LOPEZ’** *Playing Live!* \| **DJ MC** *Playing the best mix of Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha & more!* \| **– SOCIAL DANCING ’til 10.30PM –** **\*\*** **BEGINNER & IMPROVER DANCERS** *A special slower section will be added in soon after the first band set,* *especially for Beginner to Improver level dancers to get onto the floor* *to dance to a slower, more comfortable tempo!* **\*\* EVENTBRITE EARLYBIRD SPECIAL OFFER! \*\*** **BOOK EARLY & RECEIVE $5 OFF YOUR ENTRY!** **\*(Only $20 with Eventbrite + Eventbrite booking fee)** **See Eventbrite Earlybird Offer at:** [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fiesta-latina-sunday-latin-social-with-live-latin-band-sun-17th-may-26-tickets-1989094597486?](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fiesta-latina-sunday-latin-social-with-live-latin-band-sun-17th-may-26-tickets-1989094597486?) **\* Please note:** Eventbrite has a booking fee of $2.49 **\* This Earlybird offer expires on Friday 15th MAY 2026** \* **To avoid a booking fee**, payment can also be made by direct bank transfer or PAYID - please contact me through Meetup to arrange this. Or pay at the venue on the night. \* Please note: Venue room entry is at full price **PARTY ROOM ENTRY: $25** **\* Entry includes:** *Live Latin Band and complimentary* *free Bachata and Salsa Classes* Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to dance the night away! ***Look forward to having you join us on the dancefloor!***

Let’s spend Saturday exploring Scienceworks together. The plan is to meet at Scienceworks in the morning, then move through a full lineup of activities: the Pumping Station Guided Walk, The Glow Show in the Lightning Theatre, several Melbourne Planetarium sessions, and the 4:30pm Fulldome Flicks screening of One Step Beyond. This will be a fairly full day, but the vibe will be relaxed and low-pressure. There will be breaks between sessions, and we can chat, explore the museum, grab food/coffee, or just take it easy between shows. After the final session, anyone who wants to continue hanging out can join for optional dinner at Grazeland Melbourne nearby. Solo attendees are very welcome. **Who this is for** This is good for anyone interested in science, astronomy, space, engineering, museums, planetarium shows, or just doing something a bit different on a Saturday. You do not need to know anyone beforehand. I’ll be there from 10:30am and will help people find the group. **Links** * Meetup start point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/XogEGEFLkeYryFmB7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XogEGEFLkeYryFmB7) * Scienceworks Map: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/plan-your-visit/visitor-map/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/plan-your-visit/visitor-map/) Pumping Station Guided Walk: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/pumping-station-tour/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/pumping-station-tour/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * The Glow Show: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/the-glow-show/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/the-glow-show/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Starlight: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/starlight/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/starlight/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Black Holes: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/black-holes/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/black-holes/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * "Ticket to the Universe" show: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/ticket-to-the-universe/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/ticket-to-the-universe/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Fulldome Flicks: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/fulldome-flicks/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/whats-on/fulldome-flicks/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) * Optional dinner — Grazeland Melbourne: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUD9ZTGT41NioKbMA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/NUD9ZTGT41NioKbMA) **Timeline** * 10:30am — Meet at Scienceworks * 11:00am — Pumping Station Guided Walk * 12:00pm — The Glow Show * 1:00pm — Starlight * 2:00pm — Black Holes * 3:00pm — Ticket to the Universe * 4:30pm — Fulldome Flicks: *One Step Beyond* * 5:30pm — Meetup ends * Afterwards — Optional dinner at Grazeland Melbourne food court The timeline is based on the current Scienceworks session schedule, but attendees should still check the official booking page before purchasing tickets. **Tickets / cost** Please buy your own tickets for the sessions you want to attend. Meetup RSVP does not include museum entry or session tickets. Scienceworks museum entry and individual show/session pricing can vary depending on what you book, so please check the official booking page carefully before purchasing. I recently purchased a Museums Victoria Membership, as it should work out cheaper for me in the long run with multiple museum / Scienceworks visits. If you think you may visit Scienceworks, Melbourne Museum, IMAX, or other Museums Victoria events more often, you may want to check whether membership is worth it for you too. Recommended sessions to book if you want to follow the full meetup plan: * 12:00pm — The Glow Show * 1:00pm — Starlight * 2:00pm — Black Holes * 3:00pm — Ticket to the Universe * 4:30pm — Fulldome Flicks: *One Step Beyond* The Pumping Station Guided Walk is currently listed as included with museum entry, but it is “book on arrival” and may depend on guide availability and weather conditions. Fulldome Flicks may have separate entry conditions, so please check the official ticket page when booking. **Transport** Scienceworks is in Spotswood. Public transport options include train to Spotswood Station, followed by about a 10-minute walk. Please check PTV before travelling in case of disruptions. **Food** There maybe be a café option at Scienceworks during the day, but we may have limited time between some sessions. You may want to bring water and some snacks. After the final session, we can optionally head to Grazeland Melbourne for dinner. Grazeland is next to Scienceworks and is currently listed as open on Saturdays from 12 noon to 10pm, with a $4 entry fee. **Bring** * Your booked tickets / booking confirmation * Water bottle * Snacks or lunch if you prefer not to rely only on café food * Comfortable shoes * Phone charger or power bank * A light jacket **What to expect** This is a full-day museum and planetarium meetup. Most of the day will be indoors, with some walking around Scienceworks and between session spaces. The group may move fairly quickly between sessions, so please arrive on time if you want to stay with the main group. You are also welcome to join only part of the day or leave early. The vibe will be relaxed, friendly, and social. **Weather / backup** Most of the meetup is indoors, so normal rain should not be an issue. The Pumping Station Guided Walk may be affected by guide availability or weather, so if that changes on the day, we can use that time to explore Scienceworks instead. **Important notes** Please book your own tickets in advance if you want to attend the timed shows. Some sessions may sell out. Please try to book the same session times listed in the timeline so we can stay together as a group. If your plans change, please update your RSVP to “Not Going” so numbers stay clear.

**With 1000s of spontaneous cases with children** investigated and documented over the past 60+ years, the team at DOPS has accumulated a formidable body of evidence suggestive of reincarnation. The types of evidence include detailed memories of verified past lives, personal traits, skills, interests and phobias, etc. and among these the most compelling aspect is cases of birthmarks and birth defects that align with injuries sustained in the previous life, often at the time of death. **In this session, Russ Townsend** will lead a discussion around spontaneous past-life memories in children, how they are investigated and verified, common objections and refutations, and then a number of detailed case studies related to birthmarks and birth defects. At the conclusion, he will walk through the interpretations and theories about this phenomenon. **About Russ:** * Meetup Organiser * Lifelong enthusiast for science, philosophy, and spirituality * Member of AIPR * Trainer / Facilitator * radio show host * Author **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** NOTE: TRYING OUT NEW LUNCH VENUE... Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Gopal's Restaurant** (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

Join us as we kick off Summer Movie Season with a Happy Hour & a movie event to see the sci-fi action-adventure, THE MANDOLARIAN AND GROGU! The sci-fi action-adventure follows a lone bounty hunter and his apprentice Grogu (Baby Yoda) embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure. Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In the film, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic during a period where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the galaxy. The film is written/directed by Jon Favreau (the mastermind behind the early MCU films) and stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwild1rw7Aw HAPPY HOUR PLAN: For Happy Hour food and drinks before the show we’ll meet in the bar area at nearby Bravo at 5:15pm! We’ll have a section reserved for the group, so keep an eye out for us and we’ll keep one out for you! CMG Pro Tip: If you can, bring cash as it helps make for a quicker exit from the restaurant. MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and meet in the lobby area at 6:30pm! Tickets on sale now and advance purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list you seat number in the Comments section of this event. Happy Summer and See You Soon, Dan

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “create a better world” by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:20am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking is available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to all of YOU for volunteering at this (and any of our previous) CMG Gives Back events! Should be another good/fun/meaningful time together, Dan