Blogging Groups Melbourne

Indian.

Active Sunday’s! (Walking)

Start point: **Truffles Patisserie** **192/194 Carlisle St, St Kilda, 3182** It's at the corner of Carlisle and Chapel St's. End point: Who knows? Distance: Approx 4 to 6km (each way) Estimated time: 60 to 90 minutes (stopping and starting).

All Write!

Melbourne Central Food Hall on Level 2. Far back corner near large windows to outside. Look for the colourful piano! See below for exact instructions on finding us. IMPORTANT: Please turn up if you RSVP. Other writers are counting on you being there with them so no one sits alone!!! Currently we have part-time hosts and regulars who will turn up and sit together. EVERYONE, please keep a look out for newly arriving people in the group and make them feel welcome, especially if they say: Are you with the writing group? If you arrive first and have an A4 piece of paper, it is a good idea to write on the paper: Writing Group. This way everyone will find each other. Bring your writing tools, and anything that you have written recently (optional). Remember your earphones if you like to listen to music while you write. There are no rules :) You can write. Or you can chat and write. You can share your work. Or not share your work. (If you need silence to concentrate then headphones are a good idea considering it is in a public space.) Bring pen and paper as a backup. Melbourne Central wifi available. Who: People who write and/or want to write (more) What: An open group of writers who meetup in a stimulating space to write together, share writing and ideas and support each other’s writing goals Why: Inspiration, motivation and space to write. Where: Melbourne Central - see photo for our location. Red shaded area would be ideal if available when you arrive. Detailed instructions if you do not know the area: 1) Go to the Shot Tower (the old building inside Melbourne Central with the big cone glass roof above it). 2) Go up the the escalators (there’s only one set of up- escalators near the Shot Tower, you can’t miss it). 3) You are now on level 2, Dining Hall (there are signs to the right, just slightly, stating this). 4) Top Juice store is to your right. Turn right so you pass Top Juice and walk toward the food hall. 5) You are now in the food hall near a black piano. Go past this. Go to the seating at the far back corner where there are large windows facing outside. 6) Look for us writers. There should be a sign on the table. Call out your hosts name and ask if this is the writing group. We will say YES, here we are! Additional hosts wanted!!! Please contact Mat Clarke. Please only RSVP if you can make it. And also un-RSVP if you need to cancel. Thank You, Melbourne Writers. Great Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelbWriters What we have written so far: www.worldwriterscollective.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelbCityWriters Blog: http://melbournewriters.wordpress.com **Help us by adding to these social pages and site**

How to Defeat Materialism: Science biases & psi evidence - Avanti Shrikumar PhD

**How has materialism become so baked into the Western worldview?** Why is science and academia so hostile toward psi phenomena, despite the strength of the evidence? **Multiple lines of evidence** make a hard-to-dismiss case for the reality of psi phenomena - veridical near-death experiences, 1000s of cases of children with verified past-life memories, and meta-analyses of lab experiments demonstrating the reality of phenomena like precognition. **In this presentation,** **Avanti Shrikumar** will discuss the strong case that parapsychology belongs in science. And asks: why is it considered controversial? **She will describe the watershed historical moment** that consigned parapsychology to the scientific margins by the heavily biased National Research Council review commissioned by the U.S. Army in 1987. And how it was deeply flawed, despite the official assessment that “using the standards applied to any other area of science, it is concluded that psychic functioning has been well established”. **Avanti will address the current leading objection to parapsychology:** the evidence must be flawed because psi is “impossible”. She will discuss a plausible mechanism for how psi exists **She will also discuss how sceptics think,** the flaws in common lines of attack against psi, and the reasons why it can be so difficult to see those flaws. This will include a little-known secret to clear thinking. Finally, she will discuss how parapsychology communities contribute to their own marginalisation, and what is required to fix this. **About Avanti Shrikumar:** * A career academic and researcher * graduated from MIT in 2013 with a degree in Computational Biology * PhD from Stanford in 2020 * the creator of widely used tools in machine learning for genomics * Recently joined the field of parapsychology after becoming convinced that most societal problems are linked to the denial of psi. * Read more on her Substack: [datadrivenspirituality.substack.com](https://kor01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdatadrivenspirituality.substack.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cf29a6be8d13047ad9e8c08df1ed4981d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639263570614718047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=INTAO5m4h9N8ELd0vtaCatOZ0J4rVSeUslihxXGDndA%3D&reserved=0) **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 2.00pm)** Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Flora Indian Restaurant** (3min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

Free Run Club (Carlton/CBD)

**IMPORTANT!: Registration required!** Without registration, attendance is: $10 per person. For free entry, please register below: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/tdjsh6](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/tdjsh6) **Overview:** We're a friendly, welcoming community of runners in Carlton/CBD, and everyone is welcome - from complete beginners to advanced runners, we all train together. First-timers are always welcome, so if it's your first time, come along and say hi! **Training type:** Our focus is interval training, and we keep it fun and social. **Free stuff for members!** We sometimes line up sponsorships that align with our comunity, someties it's stuff like: free protein drinks and shakes, or discounted meals - and we often head out for dinner together after a run, or for special events. **Exact location:** The exact meeting location will be emailed to you once you register, so be sure to register beforehand. **Training format / structure:** 1: Easy 800m warm-up lap 2: Dynamic stretching and strides (20min) 3: Main workout — this rotates each week (sometimes hills, but most often it invovles intervals) **Length:** The whole session runs for about 50 minutes, followed by around 10 minutes of social talking. **Register for you first attendance:** First timers are required to register: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/tdjsh6](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/tdjsh6) See you there!

Esoteric Astrology Book Reading Group

Join Theosophist Margaret Harris, PhD, in her continuing series of discussions, digging deeper into Astrology every Friday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm WHO AM I? It is not the fear of God' which is 'the beginning of wisdom' but the knowledge of SELF which is Wisdom Itself .. MAN KNOW THYSELF" (Blavatsky,1901, p.15, Studies in Occultism) KNOW THYSELF In this supportive weekly group, through an Astrological lens and connecting with our own birth maps, we explore books that can help us explore paths towards our spiritual unfoldment. Through a variety of texts, from both Theosophists and Astrologers, we look at the energetic connections we have with the heavens and how they can assist us as we journey from our personality selves to our spiritual selves. Various knowledges from participants are also welcomed and encouraged as we continue to work with the 3rd object of the Theosophical Society: "To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in the human being" The Society is a registered charity and these events are free, but donations are welcome.

A tour on truth, reality and AI with Cory Alpert - Free

Walk with Purpose: Walk, Coffee and One AI Tip

FREE Bachata & salsa lesson! (plus: social dancing)

**IMPORTANT: Registration required!** Registration for free the free class is required! Without a registration, it's $20 per person. To register, please use the link below: Register here: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/g9f1ro](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/g9f1ro) **Overview:** Join us for **Tromba Latin Fiesta at Ms Collins**, one of Melbourne's most popular weekly Latin dance nights. Everyone is welcome — whether you're completely new to Latin dancing or an experienced dancer. No partner is required, and the atmosphere is friendly, social, and beginner-friendly - it's also a great way to met new people. Enjoy an exciting night of **Cuban Salsa, Bachata, Salsa, Reggaeton, Merengue, and Latin party music** in the heart of Melbourne CBD. FREE **Dance Classes!:** All dance classes are FREE (if you have regsitered). **Class Schedule:** 🕗 **8:00 PM – FREE Beginner Bachata Class** 🕗 **8:00 PM – FREE Intermediate Cuban Salsa Class** 🕘 **9:00 PM – FREE Beginner Salsa Class** 🕘 **9:00 PM – FREE Intermediate Bachata Class** After the classes, stay for social dancing and meet new people while enjoying Latin music throughout the night. ⏰ **Classes start from:** 8:00 PM 💃 **Social dancing:** After classes until late **What to Expect** • Friendly and welcoming community • Beginner-friendly environment • No partner needed • Multiple dance styles and music throughout the night • Great way to meet new people and experience Melbourne's Latin dance scene **Dress Code:** Smart casual. **You will be refused entry if wearing:** • Gym wear • Singlets • Thongs • Athletic clothing Valid photo ID is required for entry. **Registration:** Registration is required for first-time attendees in order to get get a free class: [https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/g9f1ro](https://justeasiertogether.com/shorty/g9f1ro)

posit::conf(2026) %>% glimpse()

**posit::conf(2026) %>% glimpse()** **Date:** 29th October, 2026 **Time:** 5:30 PM (networking and refreshments from 5:30 PM; talk begins at 6:00 PM) **Where:** DiUS, Level 3/31 Queen St, Melbourne Curious about how involvement in open source, community building, mentoring, advocacy, or volunteering can open unexpected doors in your career? Wondering how people find their way into international conferences, scholarship opportunities, and global professional networks, and what role community participation plays along the way? Join us for a conversation with Dionne and Mansi, who attended **posit::conf(2026)** in Houston, Texas as **Opportunity Scholars**. This session is not just about the conference itself. It is about the communities, relationships, and contributions that helped make the opportunity possible. They will share their journeys through open source and community involvement, and the value of networking, building meaningful professional connections, and contributing to communities in ways that create impact for both oneself and others. Along the way, they will share some of their favourite moments from the conference, lessons from meeting people across the global data science ecosystem, and insights that stayed with them long after the conference ended. Whether you're new to the R community, considering your first conference application, interested in open source, or simply curious about building a more connected and community-focused career, we'd love to see you there!

Shut Up & Write!® @ Brunswick

**IMPORTANT NOTICE:** This event is listed on the Shut Up & Write! website. Please visit the group page to see full event details and RSVP to sessions. Join the group here: https://www.shutupwrite.com/series/id2w43gpaC00

Socialise and discuss a book over coffee.

Everyone’s talking about Yesteryear, a novel by Caro Claire Burke, about a trad wife influencer who wakes up in 1855 to find herself a housewife in a farming family. Is the novel deserving of all the fuss?