Critical Thinking

For our second book of 2026, we have a memoir of life on a remote Arctic island. 'In 1934, the painter Christiane Ritter leaves her comfortable life in Austria and travels to the remote Arctic island of Spitsbergen, to spend a year there with her husband. She thinks it will be a relaxing trip, a chance to 'read thick books in the remote quiet and, not least, sleep to my heart's content', but when Christiane arrives she is shocked to realize that they are to live in a tiny ramshackle hut on the shores of a lonely fjord, hundreds of miles from the nearest settlement, battling the elements every day, just to survive. At first, Christiane is horrified by the freezing cold, the bleak landscape the lack of equipment and supplies... But as time passes, after encounters with bears and seals, long treks over the ice and months on end of perpetual night, she finds herself falling in love with the Arctic's harsh, otherworldly beauty, gaining a great sense of inner peace and a new appreciation for the sanctity of life.' This book is available on Kindle. For international delivery you can find it from Blackwells and it may also be available at the library or an English language book store. We are a "real" book club, which means we do read the book before the meet-up and discuss it. New members are always welcome. We need to notify the venue about how many will attend, so please make sure your RSVP status is accurate. Hope to see you there!

Join us every Wednesday evening for an Introduction to Meditation! We meet up to do a guided Buddhist meditation together. Before the meditation starts, there will be a short talk to introduce and explain who we are and how the meditation works. If you are new to Buddhism or meditation, it is an ideal place to start. All are welcome to attend. There is no charge for coming along. Hope to see you there!

Feel free to join if you are interested in low level computer stuff. If you have any cool projects or ideas you wanna share, bring them along

我哋會定期舉辦活動 會同步update Meetup亦都可以喺WhatsApp group約戰 WhatsApp group，可以比大家交流吓呢隻game，又可以傾吓波經，歡迎加入: https://chat.whatsapp.com/D8EoMkubCFNKCS1w5LqEkz p.s. 場地有貓貓，有貓毛敏感嘅朋友要注意哦 不過如果怕貓的朋友可以照樣參加，並通知我，我也可以另覓地方:)

Jazz Fusion Bellydance All levels are welcomed! $100/hr, or LSS Dance Class Membership Jazz/Bellydance Basic & Technique Drill Choreography Enquiry 查詢 : lssdance2012@gmail.com WhatsApp : 65230389 Participants may join LSS performance if learning progress satisfactory. Regular students no need to register here.

social drinks with german foodies in German bar restaurant海德堡现代德國餐廳 networking with interesting topics! cny50-80 per glass of beer or wine or cocktails.. foods/dishes a la carte sausages platter can be shared #social drinks! #networking #professional networking #social life #making friends

**生活中的壓力有時令你喘不過氣？** **身體感覺疲乏，有時覺得連睡眠都解決不了？** **身體有由來已久的痛症，一直無解？** **內心有心結未解，創傷未癒？** * 研究證實，頌缽的共鳴共振，可直達人體細胞深處，促進血液循環，提升自律神經功能，激發人體自癒力 * 運用頌缽音頻和振動調節失衡或淤塞的脈輪，令身心運作回復和諧狀態 * 頌缽的和諧音聲和振動，能直達人體細胞深處，促進血液循環，提升自律神經功能，活化內在能量流動，對身體和心靈進行淨化，從而得到療癒 * 療癒不是消除病症，而是從身、心、靈層面，協助個案找回自己的內在力量，提升其自我修復能力，令其整體狀態變得更好 *療癒開始前，會進行約10-15分鐘的簡短的諮詢，了解客人的具體問題，例如身體哪部份不適，情緒上的困擾等，然後制定個人化的療癒程序。* 首次體驗價：HKD450 (標準價：HKD780) 由於是1對1活動，具體舉行日期和時間以預約為準。 預約請聯絡90356039 (whatsapp)，或RSVP後留下聯絡電話。不設walk-in。

Dear all, Let’s get together and discuss our impressions of the monthly book. Curious to hear the different ways you interpretated the book and how / if you will implement the new thinking into your day to day life.

welcome to our Chinese training class. Email: szacicenter@sina.com Tel: +86 755 83286996 Mobil: 13823729545 Web: www.szmandarin.org (http://www.szmandarin.org/)

Welcome back to Codeaholics! We will kickstart our 2026 collaborating with ExpressVPN! **Talk#1: The Pain of Processing PDFs** by **Angus Cheng** Reading PDFs is very difficult, here's what I've learnt over the last five years running a SaaS that processes PDFs **Talk#2: Why does ExpressVPN switch from C to Rust for Lightway’s code?** by **Thomas Leong** We built Lightway from scratch in a quest to offer a VPN protocol that serves the needs of VPN users in a modern, mobile world—one that’s fast, secure, and reliable. Since launching Lightway five years ago, we’ve had it open-sourced and audited, as well as implementing key upgrades. We have just rolled out a new version of Lightway to users—one that sees our pioneering VPN protocol rewritten in Rust programming language. For this technical talk, we wanted to take a moment to discuss some of the more technical reasons behind the changes we’ve made and dive into the benefits of Rust over C, the language we originally used for Lightway code.

️ **A Relaxing Practice of Chinese Calligraphy** Hosted by: LSS Dance Group Location: LSS Study Room, Lee Garden One, Causeway Bay Date & Time: Friday, September 19, 2025 · 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (GMT+8) Cost: $100/hour Availability: Thursday/Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM What to Expect: ☕ Complimentary coffee or tea and all calligraphy materials provided Learn Chinese poetry and idioms through the art of writing ✍️ Practice basic stroke order in a fun, engaging way ‍♀️ Discover a meditative approach to calm your mind Improve focus and attention span ‍♂️ Strengthen both fine motor skills (finger control) and gross motor posture (sitting technique) RSVP & Contact: To reserve your spot, message via WhatsApp: 6523 0389 This weekly Friday session blends tradition, mindfulness, and creativity—perfect for anyone seeking a peaceful yet enriching experience.

Dear Toastmasters & guests, *Theme of the meeting: “Creativity” Please note that our **venue** is at: **20/F, Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong** (Causeway stn exit F1 Jardine's Crescent 渣甸坊, 5-10 minutes walk to Cubus which is opposite to Lee Garden 3) Do you want to **improve your communication skills (both speaking and listening) in English** in your daily life? We have *prepared and impromptu speeches* in English during the meeting. **Evaluation** of the speeches will be given so that the speakers can *improve* their speeches continuously. Do come and enjoy the warm atmosphere and have a wonderful learning experience together with us! **All are welcome. *No guest fee is required.*** **See you then!**

Welcome to Write Night in HK! Welcome to an evening writing group with an after-work drink! We'll meet at Yardley Taproom in Central (62 Peel Street), as they typically have a pretty good and chilled out vibe in the week-day evenings. We write and we share writing - please bring 6-8 printed copies of your work (max 2 pages). We'll do some writing and give each other feedback on our own prior work. So, the evening will go in two parts: 1. We start with a 20 min writing exercise, based on a prompt - bring something to write or type on! Then we'll share and give feedback. 2. We go over any written material you've done before and care to share with us: 2 x full printed pages at most (maybe a bit more if spaced out, such as with poetry). Please bring around 6-8 print-outs. Remember that the place may be a bit noisy - so may be hard for people to hear you if you read your work out loud to others on the night. A note on feedback - please be prepared to offer constructive, nice and supportive feedback. No 'brutal honesty' please. Most people are just getting started, and positive support is the order of the night for this group. The official finish time is 9pm, but feel free to hang around for a bit of mid-week socialising with fellow creatives if you like. Many thanks, and have a great night! Cheers, Roger

用另類角度看香港及世界新聞，一按即入，歡迎分享給親友加入 https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cpc6EqzJYn7LaMZtlYXIaB?mode=gi_t

This meeting will be an open discussion about the book "an Immense World" by Ed Yong

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association: They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 12:00 - quick intros. 12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Sunday!

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads**®**, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.