Authors

We are writers of all levels – beginners to published. And we meet at STARBUCK at IFC (P2 Shop2097-2098, International Finance Centre), Central for fun writing and sharing sessions! We all write a one-sentence prompt, then each select one at random. We write something based on the prompt for 45 minutes, after which, we share our work with each other and discuss as desired. Of course, sharing is optional but encouraged. (Feedback is always polite and respectful.) Alternatively, you can bring your own project(s) to work on in the company of fellow writers (published and yet-to-be published). You can share your project(s), too, if you want. It's all about creativity and productivity in a supportive environment! Any questions, just reach out to our organizers through Meetup.

Join us for a **casual, low-structure, relaxed** 1.5-hour writing meetup designed for writers who want to connect with others in a supportive, no-pressure environment to come and go as you wish, whenever. Whether you're a poet, novelist, blogger, or write in non-natural languages, we welcome every night owl! **What to Expect:** Nothing structured, this is a casual Schelling point for people who happen to write at night. If you are looking for a large group, high-effort, strongly organised event, this is probably not the one for you. If there are new members joining us, we'll start with some introductions, dive into focused writing time on your personal project, and then, optionally, share a short reflection about our writing at the end. **What to Bring:** * A writing project * Something to write with (notebook and pen, laptop, tablet - whatever you prefer) * A curious mind **Finding Us:** Look for the corner table

**普及禪修課程 柏桑法師主講** **「快樂人的精神習慣」** **每堂課為獨立單元，不需報名，歡迎大家參加。** 快樂無限制，但慣性的思維方式往往阻礙我們變得更快樂。這個實用的佛教禪修課程將會教授快樂人的精神習慣！ 我們將探索幾種能夠提升心靈的禪修和思維方式，並且如何在日常生活上，懷著覺照地加以運用。這樣，無論生活際遇如何，我們都能保持輕鬆快樂的態度。 9/6 感恩 16/6 謙卑 23/6 安忍 30/6 覺知無常 7/7 知足 柏桑法師跟隨尊貴的格西格桑嘉措仁波切修習佛法逾二十年。她平易近人，教學清晰實用，並啟發我們怎樣活用佛法於日常繁忙生活之中。 歡迎大家隨喜功德，建議捐助：每課 $50。所有捐款均用於中心的運作及發展，為大眾提供學習珍貴佛法的機會。 詳情: [https://www.meditation.hk/2021/cwcgp/](https://www.meditation.hk/2021/cwcgp/) #現代佛法 #禪修課程

$20 for 2 hours

**Total beginners** **welcome so come try!** A whole new movement, fitness & self defense cultural activity **outdoors!** Structured progressive practices for **Strength**, **Flexibility, Coordination, Balance** & **Self Defense** skills in a fun friendly group environment! Totally NOT what you expect, **serious cardio**, **whole body movement** & **practical!** You will really be surprised by what WE do but even more by what YOU can do! Nothing like what you imagine about Kung Fu, No screaming, No rigidness, No mysticism & No getting hit… but YES, definitely a fun workout with great people! **Curious?** To get an ideal of what class is like, hear instructor & hear student testimonials go to: [https://www.instagram.com/natural.style.kungfu](instagram.com/natural.style.kungfu) **FEE:** 1st time TRIAL fee only $100 HKD for residents. Please RSVP here or Whatsapp me. Non-Resident $150 HKD. After trial 10 class package is $1500 HKD or $200 HKD single class. **WEAR:** Workout clothing, sports shoes & bring bottle of water! **WHEN:** Tuesday 6:45pm NEW people. Please be on time, warm up very important for your 1st class! **WHERE:** Inside Kowloon Park. Meet at McDonalds across from Indoor Swimming Pool entrance, next to Sports Center. MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, or Austin. Link below: [Kowloon Park Swimming Pool](https://maps.apple.com/?address=22%20Austin%20Rd,%20Tsim%20Sha%20Tsui,%20Kowloon,%20Hong%20Kong%20SAR,%20China&auid=15054175802527892571&ll=22.301815,114.170365&lsp=9902&q=Kowloon%20Park%20Swimming%20Pool&_ext=CjIKBAgEEAUKBAgFEAMKBQgGEKcBCgQIChAACgQIUhADCgQIVRAQCgQIWRADCgUIpAEQARIkKSODum0jNjZAMWByPQiohFxAORGqqD1gZDZAQaw+9nwmkVxA&t=m) **WHY:** Out of shape? Gym BORING? Incredible friendly community? More? You want to exercise & have fun building strength, flexibility, coordination & self-defense skills while cultivating patience, focus, confidence & yes… discipline! **HOW:** To get in touch with me, Whatsapp .9420.0360. or email through Meetup. For more info about my art, please visit NaturalStyleKungfu.com. **\- Book a Private 1\-on\-1 Kungfu Class\!** Learn at your own pace & prepare for later group classes, choose the day & time suitable to you! Private Class in Kowloon Park: 1.5 Hours $500, other locations $900 **-**

This is a regular Bring-Your-Own-Book session, where participants share and present to the group non-fiction books they have read. New members are welcome to attend to listen to and discuss the presentations of others. Usually a meeting takes around 2.5-3 hours. During this time we discuss 2 different books, roughly 1 hour per book. Any non-fiction material: a book, documentary, or lecture or a part of it - anything with a title and an author and that contains some coherent ideas. Each presentation includes a summary of a book (15-40 min) and discussion (accordingly). The meeting will be either in a park or in a coffee shop, on HK side. The exact place to be confirmed with the attendees **by WhatsApp only**. I will / have sent the link to the WhatsApp group, please use the link. Introvert friendly. We have people from different countries, so while books can be in any language, the language of the meeting is English. There is a fee of 20 HKD for the first timers to help funding the Meetup membership needed to run the group. Do not hit "Attend" if you are not going to attend. If you RSVPed, but there is anything preventing you from going to the meeting, remember to tell the host as soon as possible and/or update the RSVP - before the RSVP is closed, to give other people a chance to take your spot. But if you plan to attend, do hit "Attend", please :))) No-shows are all silently noted with much disapproval and will be removed from the group.

Celebrate our Annual Day at Tung Chung Toastmasters Club - a special day to appreciate the journey of every member who challenged themselves, took on a role, and went beyond their comfort zone this year. 📍 NAAC Touch Centre, G/F, Left Wing, 15 Tung Chung Waterfront Rd, Tung Chung 🕕 Sunday, 14 June at 2:45pm - 4:45pm 🎟️ Open to members, guests, and anyone curious about the world of Toastmasters. Annual Day is more than a ceremony - it is a reminder of why we show up, week after week, to become better communicators and leaders. Come celebrate with us!

Join us to discuss queer books! For our next book, we will be reading **“Sisters of the Forsaken Stars”,** the second book of the series *Our Lady of Endless Worlds* by **Lina Rather**. **Blurb:** **The sisters of the Order of Saint Rita navigate the far reaches of space and challenges of faith in *Sisters of the Forsaken Stars*, the follow-up to Lina Rather's *Sisters of the Vast Black*, winner of the Golden Crown Literary Society Award.** *“We lit the spark, maybe we should be here for the flames.”* Not long ago, Earth’s colonies and space stations threw off the yoke of planet Earth’s tyrannical rule. Decades later, trouble is brewing in the Four Systems, and Old Earth is flexing its power in a bid to regain control over its lost territories. The Order of Saint Rita―whose mission is to provide aid and mercy to those in need―bore witness to and defied Central Governance’s atrocities on the remote planet Phyosonga III. The sisters have been running ever since, staying under the radar while still trying to honor their calling. Despite the sisters’ secrecy, the story of their defiance is spreading like wildfire, spearheaded by a growing anti-Earth religious movement calling for revolution. Faced with staying silent or speaking up, the Order of Saint Rita must decide the role they will play―and what hand they will have―in reshaping the galaxy. **The Plan** 19:00 Meeting @ the venue 19:15 Discussion 20:45 Choosing a book for August 21:00 End **Dinner** The venue will be announced in the WhatsApp group chat. **What to do** 1\. RSVP on this event page\. 2\. Read the book :\) and think about your suggestion for the discussion in August\! 3\. Come to the event and share your thoughts about the book with us\. 4\. Please enable DMs from other members and turn on notifications so that our team can communicate with you\. Hope to see you there! Amy (she/they) & Izabella (she/her) Please note… 1\. Tandem is a community of volunteers; everything you see is created by our members giving up their time and labour\. None of our organisers profit from events; any charges listed are those from other parties and we never add a mark\-up\. In this context\, we need attendees to do their best to reduce the workload of our volunteer team by reading the event description and these notes carefully; and follow the instructions in order to register a place on the event\. Please be considerate and helpful with our team – we are all volunteers\. 2\. We run all our event communication through WhatsApp\. Please keep track of event related messages in the Whatsapp event group and respond to requests and instructions from organisers within 24hrs\. Please don’t put the chat on mute\. If our team don’t receive your response within 24hrs\, we will move you to “Not Going”\. 3\. If you require special accessibility accommodations for the event \(i\.e\.\, accessible venue\, accessible restrooms\, noise levels\, lighting conditions\, etc\) and are unsure whether they can be met\, please reach out to the organiser/host\. 4\. We encourage language inclusivity at all our events\. If you aren't confident in English\, please let our team know\. We will try to provide bilingual support where possible and/or will try and introduce you to other language speakers you're more comfortable with\. Please be mindful that we might not be able to accommodate all languages at all events\, but we will do our best to make everyone feel welcome and heard\. 5\. If you sign up\, but can no longer make it\, please update your RSVP as soon as possible and tell the organiser\. Updating your RSVP well ahead of the event allows us to manage the waitlist; allow other people to attend; know who to look out for at the start of the event; and manage any relevant bookings\, such as table reservations\. 6\. If you don’t have a clear face pic on your profile and/or your username doesn’t match the name you normally use\, we can’t identify your payments nor match your RSVP with who you are in real life\. If this is you\, please ensure the organiser knows who you are\. If we can’t work out who you are within 24hrs of your RSVP\, we will move you to “Not Going”\. Only group members and their guests with an RSVP may attend events; people who aren’t signed up will be refused entry to events. 7\. If you don’t follow the conditions above\, we will move you to “Not Going” for future events until you message us to confirm you will follow these conditions\.

**Let’s start our conversation with books.** Bring a work you love, whether physical or digital, and join us for an evening of shared ideas and thoughtful dialogue. * **No preparation is required:** Your sharing can be a brief 3 to 10-minute introduction to your chosen book. * **First-time guests:** You are very welcome to simply show up, listen, and immerse yourself in the environment at your own pace. We are a community of readers, thinkers, and curious minds looking to connect, examine new perspectives, and grow together in a post-AI world. Whether you are local or international, your voice (or your presence) is welcomed here. **Registration Details:** * **Event Fee:** HKD 65 * **Payment:** FPS 53731775 (Please send a screenshot of your successful transfer to the host to confirm your spot) We look forward to an evening of brilliant minds and inspiring conversations. See you there!

大家好, 我們誠摯地邀請大家來參加我們的聚會。請大家各自帶一本最近閱讀的書 (中英文也可以, 我們建議文學)，分享您對這本書的想法和感受。這將是一個輕鬆愉快的環境，讓我們一起交流和啟發。 費用: 免費 聚會地址是：上環文咸西街44-46號903室 Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Website: https://midnightbliss-studio.com/ IG: midnight_bliss_studio 期待與大家見面。 祝好, Cultural Hub We sincerely invite you to our book club. Please bring a book you've recently read (in Chinese or English, it's fine but we prefer literature), and share your thoughts and feelings about it. This will be a relaxed and enjoyable environment for us to exchange ideas and inspire each other. Fee: Free RSVP Whatsapp booking: 4449 0049 Location: Suite 903, 44-46 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan

Reading is important because it develops your mind and gives you excessive knowledge and lessons of life. 開卷有益！大家最近有冇讀到一啲好書呢？不如出黎分享下讀書心得呀？參加呢個讀書活動，分享好書，分享喜悅。😊 有興趣參加可以WhatsApp我：95182994

<<这不是活动，这是一个超过100人的港漂活动群组>> 🌆 你是否也在寻找这样的连接？ • 想认识真诚的香港朋友，而不只是职场上的点头之交 • 对香港文化好奇，却找不到人带你体验地道的港式生活 • 希望有人为你解读本地人才懂的生活智慧 • 想要一个既懂内地情怀，又熟悉香港脉络的交流圈子 🌉 当港漂遇见香港本地人 这里聚集了热心友善的香港成员与新港漂朋友，我们相信： • 最好的融入，从一杯奶茶的闲聊开始 • 最深的了解，来自本地人带你行街食饭的体验 • 最暖的支持，是当你困惑时有过来人指点 📌 我们拒绝什么？ ❌ 不接受传销/直销 ❌ 不接受保险推销 ❌ 不是抱怨大会 ✅ 而是一个让你能真正 「放下过客心态，找到留港意义」的支援网 🎯 在这里你能获得 ✅ 本地朋友带你玩 ✅ 生活实用支援 • 在地生活秘籍：从街市砍价到生活资源 • 粤语实战教学：学最地道的用语，听懂港式幽默 ✅ 双向交流平台 • 香港朋友想了解内地文化，新港漂想认识本地生活 • 我们在这里互相学习，彼此丰富 🤝 我们的独特价值 ❌ 不是单向的“帮助”，而是双向的交流 ❌ 不是表面的“欢迎”，而是真诚的接纳 ✅ 是新老朋友一起建构的温暖社群 “真正的融入，从交到第一个本地朋友开始” 👉 [立即加入](https://forms.gle/TSWwAMQqQ72qvqKy8)充满温度的跨文化社群： https://forms.gle/TSWwAMQqQ72qvqKy8

**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, June 13th from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab your coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 10 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write, but please bring your own charging tools. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

**Looking for a group you can write with *whilst sipping your fave coffee*?** ☕✍️ Then come join **Shut Up & Write!** on **Saturday, July 18th from 1:30pm to 4:00pm** at **Ridgetop Coffee & Tea**! Whether you're cranking out a novel, journaling, looking for new friends, or just trying to get that stubborn paragraph right—we’ve got a cozy seat and a supportive group waiting for you! **No critiques, no peer review, no pressure—just a chill space to get words on the page.** 📝 **What to expect:** 1:30–2:00pm – Grab coffee or tea, find your seat, and meet your fellow writers. 2:00pm–3:30pm – Silent, focused writing time 3:30–4:00pm – Debrief, celebrate any writing wins, commiserate on any obstacles, and head out feeling accomplished. **RSVP Info:** The room seats only 10 people comfortably! RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot!! If you are unable to attend, please cancel your reservation **ASAP** so those on the wait list are able to RSVP and attend!!! **Meeting Room:** Enter the coffee shop, walk straight towards the play area and on your left you will see a meeting room just past the bathrooms. The room has a TV, white board, and walls are painted green. Can't find us? Ask one of the baristas and they'll gladly help point you in the right direction. **What to Bring:** Whatever helps you focus, and be productive. There is a wall outlet at each end of the room, so you're able to bring your laptop to write, but please bring your own charging tools. You're welcome to bring headphones if you enjoy listening to music while working. **Parking & Accessibility:** there is a large parking lot out front and it is free! There are no stair cases when entering the coffee shop or when inside. This coffee shop is incredibly spacious with many seating options. If you have any questions, please message me through MeetUp. I'm happy to help. **Dietary Information:** many GF, Vegan, and SF options. Just ask your barista when ordering for specifics! Can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

**Saturday • May 16 • 2–5 PM • Ashburn, VA** Many people say they want to write a book someday — **this session helps you start.** Your life experiences already contain stories, lessons, and insights that could become books. The real challenge is **how to organize those experiences and actually turn them into writing.** In this interactive session, I’ll share the approach I’m using to build a **multi-book journey based on lived experience.** So far I have: 📚 **3 books published on Amazon** 📖 **1 more books releasing this year** (end of the year) 📝 **16 additional books planned** — and likely many more. This session is not about writing **just one book**. We’ll explore how your experiences can evolve into **multiple books over time**, and how to **use AI the right way to speed up your writing while keeping your voice authentic.** *** ### What We’ll Explore • Turning life experience into book ideas • How one journey can become multiple books • Simple ways to structure stories and lessons • Using **AI to organize ideas and speed up writing** • Practical strategies to actually finish a book **Everyone will leave with the outline of their first book idea.** **You don’t need writing experience — just curiosity about how your life experiences might turn into ideas worth sharing.** *** ### Event Details 💵 **$25 RSVP — includes coffee + snacks** 📍 **Ashburn, VA** (exact address shared after RSVP) 🕑 **2:00 PM – 5:00 PM** 👥 **Max 10 people** for a small, interactive conversation. Most attendees are professionals, entrepreneurs, and people navigating reinvention or new chapters in life. *** # Background — Writing & Reinvention Journey Writing has been one of the most powerful tools in my own reinvention journey. What began as reflections during a difficult life transition gradually evolved into published books and a growing body of work focused on reinvention, personal growth, and life transitions. My goal is not just to write books — but to help others realize that their experiences may also hold stories worth sharing. *** # 🔗 Midlife Reinvention Ecosystem 🌐 Website [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) ▶ YouTube (400K+ views) [https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness](https://www.youtube.com/@midlife_mindfulness) 💼 LinkedIn (4K+ followers) [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anju-debnath-0061524/) 🤝 Meetup Community (300+ Members) [https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/](https://www.meetup.com/ashburn-transition-meetup-group/) 📚 Amazon Author Page [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Anju-Debnath/author/B0FFNBVZLQ)

…Transform Our Lives, Work, and World (2024) by Jamie Metzl, 432 pages [Genetics] • Paperback • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: [https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=615082](https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=615082) Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review “In Superconvergence, Jamie Metzl takes readers on a magical journey through the science of the intersecting genetics, biotech, and AI revolutions, deeply explores the implications, and challenges us to think creatively and proactively about what comes next. Very few books are absolute must-reads. This is one.”―Siddhartha Mukherjee, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and author of The Gene: An Intimate History "During the 25 years I have known Jamie Metzl, he has always been ahead of the curve. There is no one better to help us understand and prepare for the fast-approaching technological revolutions. Superconvergence is brilliant. I can't recommend it more strongly."―Sanjay Gupta MD, bestseller author, neurosurgeon, and Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent (CNN) "Our world is defined by our science and technology—whether we like it or not. The question now is not whether to use these powers, but how best to use them. In Superconvergence, Jamie Metzl takes us on a journey through the new capabilities that are radically transforming ecosystems inside us and around us, challenging each of us to get personally involved with building the future we want."―Beth Shapiro, University of California Santa Cruz evolutionary biologist and author of Life as We Made It: How 50,000 Years of Human Innovation Refined―and Redefined―Nature "In a fine counter-blast to the pessimism of today, Jamie Metzl lays out just how spectacular the future of humanity and planet can be if we harness innovation responsibly and imaginatively to create what he calls the 'spiral of progress.'"―Matt Ridley, author of How Innovation Works, and co-author of Viral: The search for the Origin of Covid-19 “A page-turning journey through space and time that shows us how our lives will be changed by imminent technological advances we once only dreamed of.”―David Sinclair, Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, and author of Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To “The superconvergence of the genetics, biotechnology, and AI revolutions provides spectacular opportunities for building a better world. It also represents an almost limitless investment opportunity. We were excited to collaborate with Jamie Metzl, one of the world's great experts on how these aspirations can best be realized, including in capital markets. Superconvergence is a master class for imagining, investing in, and building a future we'd like to inhabit."―Jeremy Schwartz, Global Chief Investment Officer, WisdomTree “A clear examination of a transitional moment in the story of life on Earth…. Metzl capably describes recent developments in genetics and biotech and looks at how AI is providing an analytical engine of unprecedented power…. An important book in which the author sets out a path for the future based on his experience and expertise.”―Kirkus “Erudite, optimistic, and timely.”―Science Magazine "[In Superconvergence] Mr. Metzl has identified an important truth: that the convergence of new technologies is galvanizing us to reimagine how to meet urgent challenges in medicine and the environment. It’s a compelling opportunity—provided we manage to sidestep self-induced catastrophes along the way."―The Wall Street Journal ### About the Author Jamie Metzl is a leading technology and healthcare futurist and the founder and chair of OneShared.World. He is the author of Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity and four other books and was a member of the World Health Organization expert advisory committee on human genome editing. Jamie previously served in the U.S. National Security Council, State Department, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with the United Nations in Cambodia. His work has been featured by most major media organizations around the world, including 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Times of London, Le Monde, and Paris Match, and his podcast interviews with Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, and others have reached tens of millions of listeners. He lives in New York City. Visit Jamiemetzl.com.

We will meet in the Janney Parlor.

Join Stormy and the ladies for a Pride Drag show this month!!!