U.S. Civil War

Let’s visit Melbourne Museum after dark for Nocturnal, an adults-only evening where the museum stays open late with talks, performances, exhibitions, music, and a more relaxed evening atmosphere. We’ll meet outside the museum gate at 5:45pm, say hello, and head in together before the program starts at 6:00pm. The plan is to catch a few highlights from the evening, including a live harp performance by Genevieve Fry, the Antarctica talk with Dr Joanna Sumner, and ROME: Empire, Power, People spot talks. After that, we’ll keep the last part of the evening flexible and explore the exhibition/galleries at an easy pace. This is a relaxed, low-pressure event. Solo attendees are very welcome, and it’s completely fine if you only want to stay for part of the evening. **Who this is for:** People who enjoy museums, science, history, exhibitions, after-dark cultural events, and relaxed social evenings. **Links:** Event/tickets: [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/nocturnal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Meetup start point: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/yQG71XTvTR2CVeuM8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/yQG71XTvTR2CVeuM8) **Timeline:** * 5:45pm — Meet outside the Museum gate and say hello * 6:00pm — Special performance by Harpist Genevieve Fry * 6:30pm — Antarctica with Dr Joanna Sumner * 7:30pm — ROME: Empire, Power, People spot talk * 8:30pm–9:30pm — Explore the exhibition/galleries at a relaxed pace * 9:30pm — Meetup ends **Tickets/cost:** Please buy your own ticket in advance through the official event link. Meetup RSVP does not include entry to the museum event. Tickets may sell out or details may change, so please check the official page before booking. **Transport:** Melbourne Museum is in Carlton Gardens, opposite the Royal Exhibition Building. Please plan your own transport and allow enough time to arrive before 5:45pm. **Expect:** * Distance: Mostly indoor walking around the museum * Difficulty: Easy * Pace: Relaxed and flexible * Vibe: Friendly, curious, social, and low-pressure * Group style: We’ll attend some program highlights together, but people can also explore at their own pace **Important notes:** * Please buy your own ticket before attending. * Meetup RSVP does not include entry to the museum. * If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear.

You've built the POC. Leadership loved it. Now what? The gap between a working AI demo and a production system is where most projects quietly die. This event tackles the hard part, the decisions that come after the proof of concept gets the green light. Hosted by Zendesk! **What we're covering:** 🏗️ Architecture decisions that don't show up in tutorials when to build, when to buy, when to stitch things together 💰 Cost and efficiency trade-offs, what it actually costs to run AI at scale, and how teams are managing it 🔒 Governance and guardrails, who owns the model in production, and what happens when it breaks 🎤 Talks, panel, and Q&A from practitioners who've shipped AI into production, not just theorised about it **Our panel of experts:** * Darragh Kennedy, Director - Software Engineering, Zendesk * Fernando Mourão, Head of Responsible AI, Seek * Brad Ryan, Chief AI Officer, i-screen, Ex AI Lead - AWS * Romina Sharifpour, AI Engineering Lead, CBA **Details:** 📅 Thursday 4 June 2026 🕕 6:00 – 8:30pm 📍 Zendesk Office Level 13/550 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 **Format:** Talks + Panel + Q&A (6:00–7:30pm) → Networking & drinks (7:30–8:30pm) This event is part of AI Week Melbourne (June 1–7) and is run in partnership with Web Directions / AI Engineer Melbourne. Whether you're an engineer wrestling with inference costs, a leader trying to get your AI strategy past the pilot stage, or just curious about what production AI actually looks like, this one's for you. Spots are limited. RSVP to secure yours.

Music Bingo for singles. Comedian host. Win prizes and free drinks. Board games after. Come solo, leave with plans. Yeah, we said it. A singles night that you'll actually want to attend. No awkward name tags. No cringe icebreakers. Just fast-paced, hilarious Music Bingo hosted by stand-up comedian Brady — plus free drinks, loads of prizes, and enough laughs to make meeting new people feel completely effortless. Here's the deal: 🎤 Brady brings the chaos — think rapid-fire rounds, cheeky commentary and a room full of strangers who won't be strangers for long 🍹 Free drinks to get the night started 🏆 Plenty of prizes up for grabs 🎲 Board games after the main event — so if you hit it off with someone, you've got a reason to stick around It's part game night, part social experiment, part best Thursday you've had in a while. Come solo. Leave with plans. 📍 The Kilburn, Hawthorn 📅 Thursday 21 May 2026 ⏰ 7:30pm Spots are limited — grab yours before someone else does.

We invite you to come and practise your English with people from all over the world in a friendly environment. We are open to all levels from beginner to advanced. We have classes in small groups and you will be placed in one of these groups according to your level of English. Our free conversational English classes are every Thursday evening (except term breaks). If you are coming for the first time, please come on time for registration. Please note: English Corner is for non-native speakers. Our team of facilitators is really looking forward to having a wonderful time speaking English with you! **Please scan the QR code upon arrival to register your attendance.** If this is your first time, we recommend arriving a bit earlier to complete your initial registration. In case you aren't able to join us face to face we have an Online Alternate English Conversation Thursday class option too! Sign up for this on Meetup.

Smashing! Try something new Thursday Interactive workshop - Add power to your presentation. Why and how to activate the mind of an audience! Serious about improving your leadership - **Why mess, come to the best** Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs? Just one member's thoughts, "The fun/laughs factor is definitely a point of difference. We keep it moving with high standards so it’s a nice balance. Too strict makes it tense and boring, too loose and we can lose the energy/commercial feel. SmashSpeak's vibe's in the sweet spot." **Free parking** close: O'Connell and Cobden streets **IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close when the show starts** “Proudly Australian" – Free-flowing teamwork, greater good focus, sharing the stage, etc Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, Purple Room (End of corridor) More to come...

**Important Note:** the venue requires a guest list in advance. To lock in your spot, please connect with me on LinkedIn and I will send you a private booking link. **Once you've doen both of these, you’re in.** LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstuckings/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstuckings/) If you’re building something and wouldn’t mind doing it around other switched-on humans, come join us for a relaxed co-working day at **Edinburgh Villiage Studio.** **Location:** [https://edinburghvillagestudio.com.au/contact/](https://edinburghvillagestudio.com.au/contact/) No formal agenda. No awkward icebreakers. Just good people, decent coffee, and focused work. ☕ **Loose plans on the day** *10:00–11:00am* Coffee, chat, and a quick “what are you working on?” round. After that, everyone settles in and gets on with their own work. *12:30–1:30pm* Optional tag-along lunch nearby if you feel like stretching your legs. **What to expect** • A mix of founders, consultants, marketers, and side-project builders • Light conversation, real work • Space to focus without being isolated You can network as much or as little as you like. **Who this is for** • People actively building something • Those who enjoy thoughtful conversation • Anyone who prefers productive days over scrolling at home Please RSVP only if you genuinely intend to attend. Spots are limited. Bring your laptop, your to-do list, and something meaningful to move forward.

Do you live in the Southern suburbs? Want to explore what the Southern suburbs has to offer? Or are you just interested to catch-up with like-minded people? Once a month Steph hosts our Southern socials. It is a great opportunity to meet others. Our emphasis is on fun whilst helping and supporting each other. The socials include drinks and chats, casual coffees, dinners and other activities suggested by members from time to time. Our socials are informal and open to all. We pay for own food and drinks individually and there is no charge for the organisation of the events. We hope to see you!

**Online Speed Dating for Mature North Melbourne Singles** Live on Zoom. Real conversations. Local people who value genuine connection and traditional dating. **Pick your age group to register:** - Ages 18-32: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0) - Ages 30-46: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0) - Ages 40-58: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0) - Ages 55+: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=55+&face_v=2.0) RSVP alone does not hold your spot. Register through the link above and complete the quick personality quiz. For mature singles who appreciate meaningful connections and are serious about finding the right person. Host-guided. All ages welcome. Mutual matches shared after the event.

**Atheists' Pub Evening.** Please join with us at the pub for drinks, informal conversation and fun. If you can't make it by 6pm, don't worry - we'll be there for a good 3 hours or more (sometimes to midnight), so turn up whenever you can make it. Children are welcome. From 6:00 pm on the first Friday of every month. For information contact: Andrew - 0438 043 050 or John - 0411 143 744

**Online Speed Dating for Mature Melbourne Singles** Live on Zoom. Real conversations. Local people who value genuine connection and traditional dating. **Pick your age group to register:** - Ages 18-32: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0) - Ages 30-46: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0) - Ages 40-58: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0) - Ages 55+: [Click to Register](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=society-of-lively-retirees-socializing-together&ar=55+&face_v=2.0) RSVP alone does not hold your spot. Register through the link above and complete the quick personality quiz. For mature singles who appreciate meaningful connections and are serious about finding the right person. Host-guided. All ages welcome. Mutual matches shared after the event.

Take part in our “Strangers to Friends Challenge” a fun and interactive meetup designed to turn new faces into genuine connections. Through a series of light challenges, conversation prompts, and group activities, you’ll get to know others in a natural and engaging way. It’s all about stepping a little outside your comfort zone, sharing a few laughs, and building real connections along the way. Come solo, leave with new friends. **Event photography and videography may take place at this event. Images and footage captured may be used in future BeSocial promotional materials.** **If you do not wish to appear in promotional materials, please notify Nexaro Group Pty Ltd before the event by emailing support@besocialapp.co, or let the event hosts know on the day.**

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

Westerville Pride Festival Sat\. June 6\, 2026 \| 5 PM \- 8 PM If you're thinking of attending, or being a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, visit our website at https://www.westervillequeercollective.org/pride for more information! Location and other info will be announced soon :)

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Join Guest Host Jeff and the group as we get together to see the historical drama, PRESSURE! Brendan Frasier, Andrew Scott and Kerry Condon star in this film about the tense and dramatic days leading up to the D-Day invasion! Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: The film follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg n the tense 72 hours before D-Day. With the fate of the free world in the balance, they face an impossible choice: launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether. It is directed by Anthony Maras and based on David Haig’s 2014 stage play. The film stars Brendan Fraser, Andrew Scott, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina and Damian Lewis. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcPgrKoXe_c BUZZ & ACCLAIM: Critic and audience reviews have been outstanding for a pressure-packed film that earns its name – but also provides superb performances! Reviews call the film a “smart,” “gripping,” “tense,” and “thrilling!” It’s “quality acting” and “fascinating true story” make this one you won’t want to miss! PLAN: Details have been confirmed for this event! Please purchase your ticket for the 6:10pm showing and meet Jeff and the group in the bar area starting at 5:45pm! Advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below. Join Marcus Rewards (FREE) and purchase via the app and tickets are just $6 with no ticketing fee! Plus a free popcorn at the show! Look forward to seeing you there, Jeff P.S. from Dan: THANK YOU to Jeff for hosting this event!

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖