Russian
Meet other local people interested in Russian: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Russian group.
1,602
members
3
groups
Largest Russian groups
Newest Russian groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out russian events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the russian events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find russian events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Russian Events Today
Join in-person Russian events happening right now
Progressibu Japanese English Language Exchange
## 🇯🇵 Progressi部: Japanese-English Language & Culture Exchange 🇦🇺
**"Serious Study, Authentic Community" — 本気で学び、本気で交流する。**
Join us for our weekly exchange designed for those dedicated to practicing Japanese and English. This is a space to improve your language skills, share cultural insights, and make new, like-minded friends in a respectful environment.
### 🎯 Who This Group Is For
We welcome individuals who are here to **actively practice their Japanese or English**. Whether you are looking for a study partner or want to learn more about culture, this is a community for focused and meaningful interaction.
**✅ 受付方法 / Event Check-in (Strictly Required)** 到着の際、必ず主催者に以下の提示をお願いします / Upon arrival, please present the following to the organizer:
* **Meetupの参加申し込み(RSVP)画面をご提示ください。** / Show your Meetup RSVP confirmation screen.
* **予約なし(No RSVP)での参加はお断りしております。** / No walk-ins permitted without a confirmed RSVP.
* **Participation Fee: $3 CASH** Non-Japanese citizens.
### 🚫 Conduct & Safety Policy
To ensure a high-quality experience for all members, we maintain a strict standard of behavior:
* **Immediate Ban:** Any individual found guilty of misconduct or creating "trouble" will be banned from the group immediately.**.**
* **Organizer Authority:** The Organizer reserves the right to remove any member at their sole discretion to maintain the safety and integrity of the community.
* **Respectful Interaction:** All members are expected to be polite and mindful of others. Do not make fellow participants feel uncomfortable or pressured.
* **Privacy:** Please respect the personal boundaries of others. Do not pressure members for private contact information.
**If any member makes you feel uncomfortable, please report it immediately to the organizers: Shin, David, or Ray.**
***
### 📝 Event Details
* **Time:** Saturday, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
* **Arrival:** Please arrive **10–15 minutes early** due to limited seating.
* **Entry Fee:** **$3 CASH** (Non-Japanese citizens). This contribution covers monthly meetup hosting fees.
* **Photography:** Photos will be taken during the event for our community archives.
### 🇯🇵 日本語でのご案内
メルボルン市内のカフェで、本気で学べる日英言語文化交流会を主催しています。
* **目的:** 日本語・英語の練習、そして同じ目標を持つ友人作りを目的としています。
* **参加費:** 日本国籍以外の方は $3ドル(現金のみ)。
* **ルール:** 迷惑行為やトラブルを起こす方の参加は一切禁止です。主催者の判断により、即座に退会・出入り禁止の措置を取らせていただきます。
* 困ったことがあれば、すぐにオーガナイザー(Shin, David, Ray)までお知らせください。
### 🔗 Connect With Us
* **Facebook:** [facebook.com/groups/progressibu](https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.facebook.com/groups/progressibu)
* **X (Twitter):** [twitter.com/progressibu](https://www.google.com/search?q=http://twitter.com/progressibu)
Sunday Morning Chill Run
How about we kick off the best day with a jog and coffee together?
Trust me, you won't want to miss out!
🏃♂️Training menu🏃♂️
Every Sunday 8:00~
Fed Square Assembly
【https://maps.app.goo.gl/zmPQ6U533pUDcNSA9?g_st=ic】
If you have luggage, please consider using the lockers at the station.
💥40~60 min Jog+Walk
Pace: Easy pace, suitable for beginners. If you got tired, let's walk together.
【schedule】
8:00 Gathering
8:10 Start
9:00 End of training
Challengers we are waiting for you 😊
FREE GENDER BALANCED Asian Social & introverts meetup LAST ENTRY 4.30PM
Attend with a female friend 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.
LAST ENTRY 4.30pm. ALL WELCOME!
Come make new friends from Asia and other countries! This event takes place in a DEDICATED AREA of the venue.
Unhurried Fitzroy: Coffee, Culture, Creativity
**F IS FOR FITZROY**
(Some context if you're new. At the start of 2026, I floated the idea of using A-Z as inspiration for our monthly activities, and members have been enthusiastic and supportive.)
**ITINERARY**
11am - Meet outside Blackcat Fitzroy (252 Brunswick St). Say hi, grab your caffeine fix.
11.15am - 12.30pm - Meander along Brunswick St.
This is the unhurried part: we will stop in on bookstores, an art gallery, an artists' market, take photos of interesting street art (there are quite a few side streets notable for street art).
**Stops (in no particular order):**
The Brunswick Street Bookstore (305 Brunswick St)
Through the Looking Glass (341 Fitzroy St)
Brunswick Street Gallery (Level 1 and 2/322 Fitzroy St)
Rose Street Artists' Market (60 Rose St)
If your social battery is still holding up, we'll have lunch nearby. Otherwise, feel free to say you've had enough for the day. Always listen to your body!
**Lunch Suggestions:**
Tora Dumplings
[Our Menu - Tora Dumplings](https://toradumplings.com/menu/)
Naked for Satan (very popular and has a great rooftop space with views of Fitzroy and surrounds - if we can get a table!).
[Naked For Satan - Naked Upstairs](https://nakedforsatan.com.au/upstairs)
Mario's
[Menu | Marios Cafe](https://marioscafe.com.au/menu/)
P.S. There is an organizer fee of $10 for this event.
Feel free to bring cash on the day or PayID to 0403 413 056 (Serena Low).
Food and drinks are at your own expense.
Italian-Australian Social Drinks & Networking
Hi everyone,
Let's meet for tomorrow, Saturday 20th June 3pm for afternoon social drinks and networking.
See ya then
Joe,
Jun 20th | Kismetrix Elegant Singles Night @ Valhalla Bar - Melbourne CBD
## ✨ KISMETRIX \| The Valhalla Experience
[Ticketed Event](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/june-20-kismetrix-elegant-singles-night-valhalla-bar-melbourne-cbd-tickets-1989538049864)
### Elegant Singles Night — Back by Popular Demand
📍 **Valhalla Bar (Basement, Olderfleet Building)**
477 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC
📅 **Saturday, 20 June 2026**
🕖 **7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Hosted)**
🥂 **Welcome Drink Included on Arrival**
### AN ELEGANT NIGHT FOR PEOPLE WHO STILL BELIEVE IN REAL CONNECTION
Some nights feel different the moment you walk in.
The lighting.
The energy.
The conversations that don’t feel forced.
After an incredible response and a sold-out March event, KISMETRIX returns to Valhalla — one of Melbourne’s most beautifully hidden underground cocktail bars — for another refined evening designed for genuine connection.
No interviews across tiny tables.
No chaotic nightclub energy.
No pressure to perform.
Just attractive, grounded people meeting naturally in a space designed for conversation, chemistry, and presence.
This is for those who miss the feeling of meeting someone properly.
### WHY PEOPLE LOVED VALHALLA
Hidden beneath Melbourne’s iconic Olderfleet Building, Valhalla offers a completely different atmosphere to most singles events.
Warm lighting.
Scandinavian-inspired interiors.
Beautiful cocktails.
A room that encourages conversation instead of competing with it.
It feels intimate without being awkward.
Elegant without being pretentious.
Social without feeling exhausting.
And that’s exactly why people asked us to bring it back.
### WHAT TO EXPECT
🥂 A complimentary welcome drink on arrival
✨ A carefully hosted evening with warm introductions
🖤 A sophisticated crowd focused on genuine connection
🎶 Ambient atmosphere where you can actually hear each other speak
🍸 Additional cocktails, wine and bar snacks available throughout the night
🤝 Natural mingling — no forced speed dating rotations
Our hosts will be there throughout the evening to help create a relaxed, welcoming flow and help ease introductions where appropriate.
### WHO THIS EVENT IS FOR
KISMETRIX events are designed for people who value:
• Real-life connection over endless swiping
• Emotional maturity and good conversation
• Intentional social experiences
• Quality energy and respectful interaction
• Meeting people in a more natural environment
You do not need to be extroverted to enjoy this night.
Many guests come solo.
### AGE GROUPS
To help create a balanced social atmosphere, tickets are released across two overlapping age groups:
• **30–48**
• **38–60**
Guests receive colour-coded name tags on arrival to help facilitate smoother introductions throughout the evening.
(Please note: age ranges are guidelines only. We prioritise overall crowd balance and energy.)
### [YOUR TICKET INCLUDES](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/june-20-kismetrix-elegant-singles-night-valhalla-bar-melbourne-cbd-tickets-1989538049864)
Get your ticket [here ](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/june-20-kismetrix-elegant-singles-night-valhalla-bar-melbourne-cbd-tickets-1989538049864)
✔ Entry to KISMETRIX \| Elegant Singles Night at Valhalla
✔ Complimentary welcome drink on arrival
✔ Hosted experience throughout the evening
✔ Access to one of Melbourne’s most unique hidden venues
✔ A thoughtfully curated social atmosphere designed for connection
### A NOTE ABOUT KISMETRIX
KISMETRIX is not built around pressure, games, or superficial interaction.
We create experiences for people seeking something more meaningful — whether that becomes friendship, romance, community, or simply a memorable night surrounded by good people.
Our events are intentionally designed to feel welcoming, safe, and human.
Because genuine connection still matters.
### SAFE SPACE & RESPECT POLICY
KISMETRIX is committed to creating emotionally safe, respectful environments for everyone attending.
By attending, guests agree to:
• Treat others with kindness and respect
• Honour personal boundaries
• Engage authentically and respectfully
• Contribute to a positive atmosphere free from harassment or inappropriate behaviour
Our hosts are available throughout the evening should any guest require support.
KISMETRIX reserves the right to refuse entry or remove attendees to protect the safety and comfort of our community.
Full Code of Conduct:
[www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct](http://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct "http://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct")
### LAST EVENT SOLD OUT
If this event speaks to you, don’t wait too long.
Some of the best moments in life begin with simply deciding to show up.
🎟 Secure your ticket now.
\-\-\-
Hosted by KISMETRIX \| True Connection
🌐 **[www.kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")**
[📧 ](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")**[social@kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")**
📱 Follow us on **[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/ "https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/"), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523 "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523") & [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/kismetrix-singles-events-84848288353 "https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/kismetrix-singles-events-84848288353")**
📄 **Important Notice:**By registering for this event\, you confirm that you have read and agree to Kismetrix \| True Connection’s[ Terms & Conditions](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/terms-and-conditions-2/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/terms-and-conditions-2/"),[ Privacy Policy](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/privacy-policy/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/privacy-policy/"),[ Disclaimer](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/disclaimer/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/disclaimer/") and [Code of Conduct](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct/").Some events may be non-refundable as stated in their individual descriptions.🤝 Collaborations: **collabs@kismetrix.com.au**
Kudos 2 Friends . Expand Your Social Circle Around the Lake Stroll
We will meet at the starting point and take a round trip around the Albert Park lake. BYO a water bottle. Dress for comfort and outdoor walk. Come along & simply say, "Hi, it's my first time joining the group event." or ask the host(s) to introduce you. You can take it slow and start from there.
If you enjoyed the conversation, you're welcome to continue on afterwards. The South Melbourne market is just one tram stop away.
**\-\-\- Running Late \-\-\-**
If you are running late, please message at least 30mins in advance. We will wait up to 15mins before heading off. We won't be able to keep track of messages once we start.
**\-\-\- RSVP / Change of Plan \-\-\-**
If you change your plan or decide not to attend. Please update your RSVP.
**\-\-\- Intro \-\-\-**
Kudos to Friends….Expand Your Social Circle Meetup group is a community of individuals who prefer to take it slow to get to know people overtime in Melbourne. Join us on a fun journey as we explore cafes, restaurants and bars, including drinks, meals, outings, chilling, cultural exchange, etc. Above all, we’d like to celebrate the importance of friendships. So if you are looking to expand your social circle and explore new adventures and venues in Melbourne, come join us!
**\-\-\- Heylo App \-\-\-**
We use Heylo App for more fluid communication, including ideas, interest groups, questions etc. Please download the Heylo app from the App store and let the organizer know if you would like to be added to the Heylo Group at the event. We will send an invite to attendees to the group. (give us some time)
**\-\-\- Follow Us On Instagram \-\-\-**
www.instagram.com/kudos2friends
**\-\-\- Rules \-\-\-**
Admin will only add members to the group with a clear profile picture.
(No hidden behind sunglasses, masks, drawings)
**You might be removed from the group in the case of…**
* no show
* without a clear profile picture
* anti-social behaviour (i.e. acts rude / disrespectful regularly)
* take advantage of individuals for personal gain(s)
**\-\-\- Privacy \-\-\-**
Do not disclose your contact number in this post comment. We will delete your comment/info as soon as we see it to protect your privacy.
Russian Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Sunday Gaming Meetup & Social by Respawn
Welcome to Respawn’s Gamers Citadel! 🛡️
Come hang out, meet fellow gamers, and enjoy a chill vibe with great food and drinks. 🥤
Entry is $3.5 or buy yourself a drink or food. 🍲
At the “Gamers Citadel”, we provide the consoles for you and have two multiplayer (2-4 player) game stations (A, B, C and D). For our board games area you are allowed to BYO! 😯 ♟️
Currently available are: Switch, PS1, PS2, SNES, N64, Cardfight!! Vanguard, Yu-Gi-Oh! and more! If you’re bringing anything, please DM us so we can accommodate. ❤️
Conditions of entry are to either purchase any food or drink of your choice and we will provide you a reusable badge to show that you’re one of us! ✌️
Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore fan, this is the place to be. Don’t miss out on the fun! 🤩
Our games list is below! 👇
Game Station A - PS3 - Taran:
1st Game: WWE 2K15
2nd Game: Injustice
Game Station B - PS2 Emulator - Dean:
1st Game: Crash Nitro Kart - 4 Player
2nd Game: Shrek Super Slam
Game Station C - Switch - Michael
1st Game: Super Smash Bros Ultimate
2nd Game: Super Mario Kart 8
Game Station D - TCG + Board Games:
Pokémon TCG
YU-Gi-OH! TCG
UNO
JENGA
BYO available!
You can bring your own board games, controllers, equipment etc. 👍
Follow us on Instagram: @respawn.social 📱
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/phscMtBqpW 🎧
Find Respawn on Facebook: https://facebook.com/events/s/respawn-gaming-social-club-lau/940165205164472/ 🔗
Visit our website for all info: https://intermingle.au/respawn/ 👩💻
Réunion, dimanche 21 juin, KereKere cafe, Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne,
We will get-together at the KereKere cafe - at the community table just inside the cafe entrance.
*This is a group for people with intermediate and advanced level French who are able to engage in a conversation en français. It is not suitable for beginners.*
The cafe is close to the corner of Wellington Parade and Lansdowne St, East Melbourne in the Fitzroy Gardens. It takes about 5 minutes on Tram 75 from Flinders St Station, or 15 minute walk.
Car parking around Fitzroy Gardens on Sundays now is $2 per hour with a 4 hour limit, Some parking is limited to 1 hour even on Sunday. And occasionally, if there is a game at the MCG for example there might not be much parking at all.
Price: The event fee is $4.00 - cash necessary! . and please be sure you are a member of MyFrenchLife.org before attending reunion - merci
https://www.MyFrenchLife.org. The event fees are transferred to MyFrenchLife contributing to the meetup platform - thank you.
À bientôt !
Veronica and Daniel
Réunion Hosts
MyFrenchLife.org
What is Art For? On Emotion, Aesthetics and Creativity
A painting that brings a person to tears. A banana worth 6.4 million dollars. A photograph ending a war. What is behind these phenomena? Please join us this Sunday to discuss the Philosophy of Art, where it comes from, what makes it powerful and why it is a universal across time and cultures.
We will meet at the Captain Melville at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp. **Please note the new $5 mandatory donation entry fee** (cash or transfer on day) to help with MeetUp subscription costs, venue costs, etc.
There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged.
This event is also posted to the Philosophy Circle group.
We will explore the topic through a range of questions, including:
**What is Art?**
* What comes to mind when we use the word ‘Art’? What are the categories of objects or activities that you would consider to be art?
* Which of these are art?: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1_1nl2_GKbGzzSbXsRRsnAZlkmNVqWPjm
**Emotion**
* Is art a luxury or necessity in life? Is it essential to happiness?
* Why is art so effective at making us feel powerful emotions, even when we know it doesn’t represent reality? Are these ‘true’ emotions, or somehow different / simulated?
* Why do we sometimes seek our art that makes us feel sad?
**Objectivity**
* Is there such a thing as objectively bad art?
* Are there intrinsic properties that make something aesthetic (beautiful)? Are they universal?
* Are there objective standards of ‘taste’? Can one person be said to have better taste than another? If so, on what basis or criteria?
**Value**
* What gives art its value? Why do we consider replicas differently? Is naturally occurring beauty different to art?
* What compels humans towards art? Is there an evolutionary / biological explanation for the seemingly wasteful expenditure of resources on outputs that have no practical function?
**Creativity**
* Are only humans able to appreciate art?
* Are only humans creative?
* Is there such a thing as something truly new, or is every idea or expression a recombination of existing inputs into a different configuration of outputs?
* Can a machine be creative? If not, what is the constraint?
* Could we ever regard AI-creativity in the same way as that of a human?
Hope to see you there!
Philosopher's Walk - Royal Botanic Gardens
Weather looks reasonable on Sunday. Participants are invited to join us for a walk and talk about science, philosophy, AI and emerging technology.
**Schedule**
* **10.30** am – Meet outside the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre (near the Observatory House, and a walk away from the Shrine of Remembrance)
* **11.00** am – Venture into the gardens and walk the outer path anticlockwise, spiralling inwards towards the lake
* \~1.00 pm – (optional) Lunch by the lake, (BYO or there are Terrace Café options)
**Getting there:** If coming by **tram**, get off at Stop 19 - Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd
**Parking** is free on Anderson St far side of the Botanic Gardens ([near eastern gate B and Tecoma gate C](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/interactive-map/)) subject to time limits in some stretches (mostly 3 hrs) - which is the only free parking area near the gardens that I can find. Check signage on the day. See this [PDF for more detail](https://athsvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Tan-Parking-Map.pdf).
**Possible discussion topics**
* Latest AI models - Anthropic's Mythos and Fable blocked after US bans foreign use
* AI Pause / Stop - will it work? (Regulatory catch-up, xrisk, global-coordination & geopolitical arms races, enforcement & logistics, existing capability overhang)
* Technical AI safety - Mechanistic interpretability, linear probes, RLHF, behavioural evals
* General AI alignment approaches: control vs motivation:
\- control \(External Constraints\) focuses on building walls *around* the AI to restrict what it can do, trip wires etc.
\- motivation \(Internal Alignment\) focuses on changing the AI’s inner desires so it *wants* to be ethical/help humans/act in accordance with the well-being of all sentience
* AI ethics: how is it related to AI safety? What should be the target for AI alignment? Should the target be aggregate human preferences, religious doctrine, moral naturalism or something else?
* Metaethics and ethics
* Moral realism: a stance-independent moral ontology, useful for capturing non-arbitrary moral choice
* Moral anti-realism: error theory, non-cognitivism, moral relativism etc
* Can AI be fault-tolerantly aligned to moral realism or anti-realism?
* Is sentience required for moral reasoning or moral deliberation? Can it be a hindrance?
* Moral progress and indirect normativity
* AI safety, automated persuasion, the orthogonality thesis
* How epistemics (including science) makes progress
* Health, wellness, and how to live a good life
* Latest trends in AI: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude
* Economic impacts of AGI, automation, and unbounded inequality
* UBI and universal wealth redistribution
* The likelihood of future doom or utopia
* Human augmentation and hacking human potential
* Plato's cave
* Fun theory and value theory
"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." - Nietzsche, *Twilight of the Idols*
Philosophy discussions can feel quite sedentary - hence our experiment in cross-pollinating exercise with engaging discussion. Exerting mind and body together may produce a fascinating dynamic. A sedentary lifestyle (and, by association, philosophy) has been linked to depression, anxiety and chronic stress.
Ease the anxieties of the armchair philosopher engaging in mental gymnastics with minimal muscle movement - join our raggle-taggle crew of aspiring philosophers walking the talk. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Bring elemental protection (umbrellas, sunscreen, etc).
The 36 Questions Experiment – Singles (Melbourne) *bookings essential*
What happens when two strangers sit down and ask each other the right questions?
Most people come for the experience.
Some leave with something unexpected.
Join us for a relaxed, thoughtfully designed evening for **singles** who want to meet new people beyond the usual small talk.
.
**✨ What to expect:**
* A welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere
* Light mingling and easy icebreakers
* A guided experience based on the famous “36 Questions”
* Time to settle into one meaningful conversation
Unlike traditional speed dating, this isn’t about quick rotations.
It’s about giving a conversation the space to unfold naturally.
You’re free to choose your own partner (or join a small group), or opt for a curated match if you’d prefer a more intentional starting point.
.
**🕯 Winter Solstice Edition**
Taking place on the shortest day of the year — a perfect moment to slow down and connect.
.
📍 Melbourne
🕒 3:30pm – 5:30pm
📅 Sunday 21 June 2026
🎟 Tickets are limited and released in stages — early booking recommended.
👉 Book here: [https://events.humanitix.com/36-qs-experiment](https://events.humanitix.com/36-qs-experiment)
.
Not sure if it’s for you?
Message us on WhatsApp: 0406 259 041
[FREE] Weekly English Class & Community Meetup
Join us for a friendly and relaxed English meetup in South Melbourne! This gathering is perfect for anyone who wants to practise English, meet new friends, and feel part of a welcoming community. Whether you’re an international student, new to Melbourne, or simply looking to connect with others, you’ll find a supportive space to learn and grow.
Each week, we run **two simple sessions**: **Daily English**, where you learn useful everyday vocabulary, and **Learning English from the Bible**, where we explore short passages in clear, beginner-friendly English. You’ll also meet people from different cultures and enjoy meaningful conversations in a warm, inclusive environment.
Come along, make new friends, and enjoy learning English in a place where everyone is welcome. We’d love to meet you!
Russian Events Near You
Connect with your local Russian community
Drunken Philosophy: Where Is Everybody? The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter
Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle.
**Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?**
In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox.
One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread.
Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for.
**Questions to wrestle with:**
* Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving?
* Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why?
* If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming?
* Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection?
* And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species?
* Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now?
As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.
Rise and Shine with Atlassian - Reynoldsburg
Come chat about Atlassian tools and best practices at the Reynoldsburg Sunny Street Cafe and Breakfast is on Atlassian!
Let's get the day started off with breakfast with your ACE Leaders! We're always excited to talk about Atlassian Products, share our knowledge and hand out swag! Come chat with us about new product news and anything you are working on within the Atlassian product stack. This is a great opportunity to come see what we are all about, hear new business news and share with other Atlassian users your questions and experiences. We'd love to see new and old friends come out to chat and learn about Atlassian!
Agenda
---
Moderators
Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader
Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader
Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader
Hosted By
Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader
Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything
Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead
---
Global Partner
Atlassian (http://atlassian.com)
Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality.
Partner
Atlassian
---
For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries.
---
Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-rise-and-shine-with-atlassian-reynoldsburg-5/.
St. Petersburg Virtual Speed Dating on Zoom
**🌙 St. Petersburg Singles Night — Speed Dating Over Zoom**
Hosted Zoom rounds, St. Petersburg singles your speed, and matches sent the next day. Easy as that.
**Here's how the night runs:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Pick the age range that fits you:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0)
> Important: RSVP is not the same as registering. Use your age link below and complete the quiz to secure a place. Limited capacity.
Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 🥂
Italian Conversation Hour
Ciao a tutt\*!
Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (Tremont Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour.
Stalker
Based on the novel Roadside Picnic, it is NO picnic, but rather one of the masterpieces of world cinema. Andrei Tarkovsky's 1979 Soviet sci-fi classic, recounts the expedition of a writer and professor led by a mysterious guide called "The Stalker." to a futuristic wasteland called "The Zone." Dripping with existential dread, it continually presents strange occurrences that will have us debating the meaning of what we've just viewed right through the ending.
*Stalker* (1979) can be streamed for free on HBOMax, the Criterion Channel or Kanopy. It's also available for rent on Amazon Prime and AppleTV. The Columbus Library has two copies on disc.
Christians in Tech - Meetup #38 @ Improving
Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you.
Our Website
[https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus)
Sponsors and Partners
* Improving (Venue Sponsor)
* Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor)
* Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)
St. Petersburg Zoom Online Speed Dating
**🌹 Speed Dating Night for St. Petersburg Singles — On Zoom**
Spend an evening meeting St. Petersburg singles face to face on Zoom, matched by age and personality before you arrive.
**What to expect:**
- Register and take a short personality quiz
- Jump on Zoom when the event starts
- Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds
- Get your mutual matches by email afterward
**Find your bracket and grab a seat:**
→ **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=local-singles-seeking-genuine-connection-brunch-club&ar=18-32&face_v=6.0)
→ **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=local-singles-seeking-genuine-connection-brunch-club&ar=30-46&face_v=6.0)
→ **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=local-singles-seeking-genuine-connection-brunch-club&ar=40-58&face_v=6.0)
→ **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Petersburg&groupurlname=local-singles-seeking-genuine-connection-brunch-club&ar=55+&face_v=6.0)
> Note: clicking RSVP alone won't get you in. Register via your age group and take the quiz. Places fill up.
See you on Zoom, St. Petersburg. 🌷
















![[FREE] Weekly English Class & Community Meetup](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/b/0/2/highres_532736066.webp?w=640)






