Social Development

Hi everyone, Let's meet for tomorrow, Saturday 20th June 3pm for afternoon social drinks and networking. See ya then Joe,

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.

**Welcome to Badminton Social (羽球匯友) Meetup!** Join us for regular badminton, social meetups, and a great time on the court around Caulfield. Let's build a welcoming badminton community and make some amazing memories together! Whether you are a beginner or a pro, this event is perfect for anyone looking to stay active, make new friends, and enjoy some friendly plays. Our group is made up of both local and international members, creating a diverse and welcoming atmosphere for everyone to join in. Not only will you have the chance to improve your Badminton skills and stay fit, but you'll also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for healthy living and staying active. Come and be a part of our community in Melbourne, where friendships are made on and off the court. **Details as below:** When: 20 June, this Saturday Time: 5pm - 6.30pm Where: Monash Sport Caulfield (1-min walk from Caulfield Station / free parking around the Station) Fee: $12 per head (PayID to the organizer) *#Limited spots - first come first served (RSVP)* *#Please bring your own racket(s); or you can rent it from the Centre (if needed)* ***#Please kindly update your RSVP as soon as possible if you need to cancel, so hopefully others can still get a spot to join. Cancellations within 24 hours or no-shows will be charged the full rate - Many thanks for your understanding and cooperation.*** *#Please let the organizer know after the first play, if you'd like to play regularly with the group ongoing and enjoy exclusive offer - Organizer will add you to our Whatsapp group for the regulars :)* *DISCLAIMER:* *By* *attending any event hosted by this Meetup group, you acknowledge and accept that participation involves inherent risks, including injury or loss of property, and you assume full responsibility for your safety. The organizers are not liable for any damages, injuries, or losses that occur, regardless of cause. You agree to follow any event guidelines, act responsibly, and understand that you are responsible for your own well-being. By attending, you accept these terms. 3*

**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.

3 Teams. 3 Goals. Hexagonal Pitch. A game of alliance and betrayal in equal measure. We are looking for new players and returning players alike to come play a match. Players of any ability, fitness level or background are welcomed - the game is intended to be fun for a Sunday morning rather than super competitive. If you've never played before, that's okay - the rules are as simple as this: * There's no offside - roam where you will * Defend your goal at all costs * No hands (this is soccer-style football after all) Come down for 9:00am, we make some balanced teams and warm up for the match starting at 9:15. Three thirds are played of 25 minutes each so we're usually done by about 11:00am. All fitness and soccer skill levels more than welcome and encouraged! A note regarding junior players: We very much enjoy and encourage junior players to come along and play however please be aware of the following: * As most attendees are adults, all players must be a minimum of 1.5m tall and 13 years of age. Soccer may have incidental contact when contesting a ball, and we would hate for someone small to be injured as a result of running into someone larger than them. * Any players under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a playing parent or guardian. How to find us - We meet on the astroturf pitch near the Baselball and Hockey clubs in Albert Park. The main location we use is called "Dorothy Coleman Field". If we aren't there then there may be a couple of other locations, [as noted on this dynamic map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1JdDwV4AOV5e-xP5d56m16-eu29GlnZQ&usp=sharing) \- generally we will follow in number order\.

Join us for “Real Talk Night” a deeper, more meaningful kind of meetup built around prompt-based conversations. Each session features thoughtful questions designed to spark honest discussions, fresh perspectives, and genuine connection. This is a space to go beyond small talk, share experiences, and be heard in a supportive, respectful environment. You can participate as much or as little as you like — whether you’re opening up or simply listening, you’re welcome here. **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.**

Would you like to enhance your creativity, confidence and increase your awareness? We’d love you to join us to Thoughtstorm® the topic International Day of Play in the warm, friendly environment of the Yarraville Community Centre. How Thoughtstorm came about Thoughtstorm is a technique developed from a seed of speculation: are there more effective (rational, cooperative, compassionate) ways of thinking? Methods whose long-term consequences will not lead to oblivion. This is the genesis of Thoughtstorm. What is it? For anyone with an interest in leadership, deeper conversations or creative problem solving, something much more than a group discussion occurs. What is experienced in Thoughtstorm is a forgotten sensory ability - mind-linking. An evolution in human thinking and learning. The direction moves from a narrow range of possibility into discovering corecepts, when individual minds merge into a much more powerful collective awareness and experience a deeper, more compassionate comprehension of reality. Corecepts trigger intuitive recognition and agreement by the group, a ‘Why, of course!’ reaction. New insights guaranteed! Because this process taps into abilities already present in the human mind and into aggregates of consciousness straining to express themselves, very little practice is required. Would you like to see and understand things in a way that is new for all of us? Would you like to develop your consciousness and your creative intelligence? Would you like to be inspired to create positive change? Then come and join us to Thoughtstorm together. If it’s your first time to Thoughtstorm, please RSVP early to give plenty of time to arrange a brief prep call on Zoom to go over the Thoughtstorm procedures so we can all get started on time together. **Agenda:** 2pm - Arrive, meet and greet, read over Thoughtstorm instructions 2.15pm - Begin the Thoughtstorm 3.15pm - Finish When you RSVP we will be in touch with the details. We look forward to seeing you there! Thoughtstorm® is a registered trademark of Star's Edge, Inc. All rights reserved.

Join us for a relaxed boardgames day designed to help you meet new people in a fun, low-pressure way. We’ll play easy, social boardgames that make conversation feel natural — no awkward networking, no pressure, just a casual night of games, laughs, and meeting new people. Whether you come alone, with a friend, or you’re new to the area, this is a simple way to connect with others and enjoy a social day out. **What to expect:** A casual boardgames session, friendly conversations, and the chance to meet new people through BeSocial. **Who it’s for:** Anyone looking to make new friends, try something social, and connect in a relaxed environment. **Bring:** Yourself, a friendly attitude, and any favourite boardgame you’d like to share. No boardgame experience needed. **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.**

**Announcing our next Sunday afternoon social event!** We are heading back to the cosy and welcoming Bar Nearby in Box Hill. We love this venue for its friendly team and relaxed vibe *(but don't worry, if you enjoyed the Kilburn last month, we plan on heading back there in July!)* These socials are growing with new friendly faces every month. It is so much fun to host these events and watch ***incredible women from across Melbourne coming together to share food, stories, laughter and also the occasional tear.*** So, if you are in search of fun, connection and lots of relaxed chats with amazing women you've just met, we'd love you to join us! There's no agenda or pressure to impress, ***just come as you are***. *Drinks optional, fun guaranteed!* **What to bring:** Food to share. Yep, that's right! You can BYO food but don't feel you have to! ***RSVP: Please let us know if you're coming by 16th June, and we will save you a seat!*** These events happen once a month, alternating between Sunday afternoons and Friday nights, and will be held in different venues across Melbourne. If we don't connect this month, hopefully we'll see you soon! As always, if you have any questions or want to discover more about who we are, I'm here for it all! Fi x

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/ 👩‍💻

Artificial intelligence and data centres are reshaping how we live, work, and use energy. Right now, the Federal Government is asking for input to influence how this important technology shapes our future. This is a real opportunity for community voices to reach the people making decisions about our collective future. The problem is that formal consultation processes can feel inaccessible; full of technical jargon, unclear on process, and easy to scroll past. That's exactly why we're running this community assembly. Rather than feeling overwhelmed or just venting into the void, come and do something about it. This is a free, volunteer-run, in-person session designed to give you: * Context — a plain-English overview of the inquiry and what's at stake for our communities, environment, and economy * Space — a safe, welcoming environment for open discussion, whatever your background or level of expertise * Support — practical guidance to help you formulate and submit your own perspective directly to the inquiry.
No technical expertise required. Just curiosity and a willingness to have your say. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to richer outcomes, and on something as consequential as AI and data centres, we need as many of them as possible! Come and help shape a future we can all look forward to. Register here for a free ticket: https://events.humanitix.com/community-assembly-ai-and-data-centres

Hi all, us at NeuroSparks are having another fortnightly meeting and we'd love to see you there! When: Sunday 21st of June from 12:30-3:30PM. Where: we will be meeting at the Majorca Room at the City Library. Access to the room is via a lift or steps in the foyer. The City Library is located at 253 Flinders Lane, right next to Flinders Street/Town Hall Station. This social gathering will be for those looking to connect with others in the community. It'll be a very casual setting, where everyone can be themselves and can and go when they feel like it. There will be limited structure, as this event is intended to be like the casual free form mingling of our picnic events. For anyone wanting to continue socialising after the room booking ends, we encourage you to get out and hit the town together! People are welcome to bring food/drinks to the event. Conveniently for us, there is a cafe on the library's ground floor and there are many cafes also nearby! But for the sake of continuing to use the venue, please tidy up after yourself. This event is open to all neurodivergent people and anyone who values a friendly, inclusive space. Many attendees come on their own, so if you’re feeling a bit hesitant, know you’ll be in good company and warmly welcomed. If the group/noise feels too overwhelming at any point, there is a silent study room next door to decompress in. If you struggling to interact with the group, just let one of friendly organisers know and we will be able to help you out! If at any point you have concerns or feel uncomfortable about any group member, please notify one of the organisers. For the purposes of not overwhelming attendees, we will be capping RSVPs at 50 people maximum. If you have RSVP’d and can no longer attend, please cancel your booking, to allow others to attend. If you sign up for the waitlist and Meetup prompts you to pay, please ignore this, as this event is not intended to be paid for. Looking forward to seeing all of you there! Disclaimer & Safety Notice By attending this Meetup, you agree: • Participation is voluntary and at your own risk. • Organisers are community volunteers, not medical or professional providers. • You are responsible for your own safety, choices, and belongings. • Organisers are not liable for injury, loss, or damage at any time. • If you have health or access needs, please make your own arrangements. • In an emergency, call 000 immediately. By joining, you accept full responsibility for your actions and well-being.

Freya India - Dating, Loneliness and Faith in Gen Z Women **1\. Is the internet creating a new battle of the sexes?** Watch the following sections of the video: **[https://youtu.be/VDsihdJGiq0?si=xh3yHRhkQkvXlV8l&t=4454](https://youtu.be/VDsihdJGiq0?si=xh3yHRhkQkvXlV8l&t=4454)** \*\*[01:14:15 ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDsihdJGiq0&t=4455s)\*\*Is the Internet Teaching Women to Hate Men? \*\*[01:17:40 ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDsihdJGiq0&t=4660s)\*\*How Social Media Is Straining Relationships \*\*[01:23:27 ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDsihdJGiq0&t=5007s)\*\*Are Women Actually Empathetic to Global Conflicts? 1. Why do you think internet “wisdom” “advice” and “sharing” is creating distrust between men and women? 2. How much of today’s dating morals and norms are influencing this movement? 3. Look at the Reddit Relationship Advice Graph (Unable to post here due to Meetup formating, but we'll include it on the paper sheet.) Why do you think so much has changes over the last 15 years? Is it Reddit in general, or does Reddit reflect the changes in people's opinions about relationship values? **2: Freya India’s Book “Girls” - Loneliness, the Internet and Culture** Read the Book Review by Rebecca McLaughlin **- [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/freya-indias-girls/](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/freya-indias-girls/)** As girls spent more time online and less time with friends, they were driven to depression and anxiety. At the same time, they were used to market mental health products. “Opening up about our mental health was not only good for us,” India recalls, “but some sort of moral duty” Girls shared their struggles to fight stigma and were told to stay online for the solutions. “As my generation opened up, algorithms were advancing, learning about us, logging our vulnerabilities, dragging us deeper into them,” India observes. “We were funneled further into our own insecurities, served more signs, symptoms, advice, and—of course—ads” **(62).** 1. How has being encouraged to share their insecurities online been like “arson” for young women? 2. Has social media or the internet accelerated your own anxieties or fears? 3. How would society claw its way back from this crisis? **3: Faith and God for Gen Z Women in an Automated Age** **Justin Briarly and Freya India** **[https://youtu.be/3vKFCQfevb4?si=Pa_c-Khke-iOAb7W&t=313](https://youtu.be/3vKFCQfevb4?si=Pa_c-Khke-iOAb7W&t=313)** 1. Do you think Christian Morality would help women who are affected by hookup culture? Why? Why not? 2. Is the therapy culture and wellbeing language we see daily a kind of worldview? 3. Do you think faith in God is enough to resolve the myriad social and relationship issues between men and women?

**Description**: Join me to knit or crochet in the warm, friendly environment of Kindred Studios where we can share our skills and ideas. Knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities are welcome. The conversation is relaxed as we work on our projects together and it's a great way to make new friends. The Bass Note Cafe is within the studios and will bring great coffee and delicious snacks to our table. **Agenda**: I'll meet you at 10.00am inside Kindred Studios at the large table near the tiered seating. We have the space available until 12.00pm. **Location**: Kindred Studios 3 Harris St Yarraville Street parking is available nearby in Harris, Cowper, Hyde and Whitehall Streets. There are large red signs on the footpath to guide you to Kindred Studios. If you are coming by train take the Williamstown/Werribee line to Seddon Station. It's then about 10 minutes to walk to the Studios. When you RSVP please click attend on the Event Page and I will be in touch via direct message. I will also be available on the Events Comments page on the day. .

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Customize the IDE: Building Extensions for Visual Studio Code* Visual Studio Code is one of the most widely used development environments today, and much of its flexibility comes from its extension ecosystem. Extensions allow developers to customize the editor with new features, integrations, and workflow improvements tailored to their needs. In this session, we’ll cover what extensions are and the different types available, including full extensions written in TypeScript or JavaScript, along with lighter-weight extensions such as color themes, language packs, language support, code snippets, and keymaps. We’ll also look at practical reasons a developer might create an extension, from automating repetitive tasks to adding custom tooling. The session includes a hands-on walkthrough of creating a new extension, testing it locally, and understanding the basic project structure. We’ll close with a brief overview of how extensions are packaged and published to the Visual Studio Marketplace and other distribution options. **YouTube Link** TBD

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates for this series are simply placeholders at the moment. We are working on our 2026 schedule, and adjustments are forthcoming. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee. 3. Each class from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective is a separate entity. **Introduction:** Our Page Building with Bricks web development class provides detailed instruction for using Bricks Builder, a visual site builder for WordPress, to create and manage websites. Widely considered by many of the world's leading web developers to be the most complete page builder on the market today, Bricks Builder offers a wide range of features and comprehensive tools. Our Bricks Builder web development class provides detailed instructions on utilizing the toolset. The series of courses covers the core features of Bricks Builder, enabling users to design and develop responsive, visually appealing websites. Moreover, the courses are oriented to reinforce a focus on professional, scalable web development. Throughout the series, we focus our page-building instruction on the semantic and structural integrity of the pages in a responsive world. By the end of the 10-class series, participants will have a fundamental understanding of proper web page and website development. **The breakdown of the 10-class series is as follows:** * Class 01 - Survey of Page Builders / What Bricksbuilder Does For You * Class 02 - Boxes, Boxes, Boxes / Sections / Containers * Class 03 - Static Units / Relative Units / Responsive Development And Math Functions * Class 04 - CSS Variables And DRY Development / Classes And Global Styling * Class 05 - CSS Grid And CSS Flexbox * Class 06 - Responsive Development / Breakpoints And Media Queries * Class 07 - Effective Use Of Color / Effective Use Of Images * Class 08 - Beginning To Think Dynamically / Using Templates And Components * Class 09 - Dynamic Styling / Data Attributes And Attribute Selectors * Class 10 - Pseudo Elements / Programmatically Styling With Pseudo Classes Throughout the class sessions listed above, we cover the following key areas of web development with Bricks Builder: * **Introduction to Bricks Builder Interface:** * Familiarization with the builder's layout, including the toolbar, panel, and canvas, and understanding how to navigate and interact with its various components. * **Visual Site Building:** * Techniques for creating layouts using Bricks' drag-and-drop interface, incorporating sections, rows, columns, and elements to build page structures. * **Styling and Design:** * Utilizing Bricks' styling options to customize elements, apply global CSS classes for consistent design, and leverage features like Flexbox and CSS Grid for responsive layouts. * **Dynamic Content and Custom Fields:** * Integrating dynamic content from custom post types and custom field plugins (like ACF, Meta Box) to build data-driven websites. * **Template Building:** * Creating and managing reusable templates for headers, footers, post type layouts, and other site-wide elements. * **Performance Optimization:** * Understanding how Bricks Builder contributes to fast-loading websites and implementing performance best practices. * **Advanced Features:** * Depending on the class level, it might delve into advanced topics such as conditional logic, interactions, and custom code integration to enable more complex functionality. The series aims to equip participants with the skills to efficiently build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites using Bricks Builder, catering to both beginners and experienced web developers.

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.

**PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTES:** 1. The dates for this series are simply placeholders at the moment. We are working on our 2026 schedule, and adjustments are forthcoming. 2. Each class in this series has an attendance fee. 3. Each class, from BOTH a sign-up and fee perspective, is a separate entity. 4. As the Etch toolset evolves, so too will the class outline below. **Introduction:** Our Site Building with Etch class provides detailed instructions on the philosophy of the Etch development framework, as well as in-depth, hands-on instruction on using the Etch environment and associated tools. Anyone familiar with Kevin Geary and the Digital Gravy set of products will tell you that they offer ground-breaking approaches to professional WordPress site development. As we write this, the Etch toolset and environment are rapidly taking shape, with weekly quantum leaps forward in WordPress development methodologies. As early investors in the Etch product offering and its development process, we are actively testing and evaluating the toolset as it takes shape. We are beyond excited to see how WordPress site development is being modernized, and can't wait to bring this course set to you. It will be a paradigm shift in page and site development within WordPress, as well as moving your development mindset light-years forward. Join us as we explore Etch and dive deep into development approaches that will genuinely elevate your craft as a website developer and agency provider. Scalable, responsive, compliant websites are now within easy reach, and Etch provides both the platform and toolset to take you there. **The breakdown of the 10-class series is as follows:** * Class 01 - TBD * Class 02 - TBD * Class 03 - TBD * Class 04 - TBD * Class 05 - TBD * Class 06 - TBD * Class 07 - TBD * Class 08 - TBD * Class 09 - TBD * Class 10 - TBD Throughout the class sessions listed above, we cover the following key areas of web development with Etch: * **Introduction to Etch Interface:** * Familiarization with the toolset's layout and understanding how to navigate and interact with its various components. * **Visual Site Building:** * Techniques for creating layouts using Etch's interface, incorporating sections, divs, containers, and elements to build semantically correct page structures. * **Styling and Design:** * Utilizing Etch's styling approach to customize elements, apply global CSS classes for consistent design, and leverage features like Flexbox and CSS Grid for responsive layouts. * **Dynamic Content and Custom Fields:** * Integrating dynamic content from custom post types and custom field plugins (like ACF, Meta Box, and even built-in fields) to build data-driven websites. * **Component Building:** * Creating and managing reusable components for headers, footers, post type layouts, and other site-wide elements. * **Performance Optimization:** * Understanding how Etch contributes to fast-loading websites and implementing performance best practices. * **Advanced Features:** * Depending on the class level, it might delve into advanced topics such as conditional logic, interactions, and custom code integration to enable more complex functionality. The series aims to equip participants with the skills to efficiently build, customize, and maintain WordPress websites using Etch, catering to both beginners and experienced web developers alike.

Who else is ready to sit outside? Join us for a casual chat over coffee & tea at Grandview Grind! Come out and meet some new people, enjoy your favorite drink, and make some new friends!