The official kick-off of the Melbourne Global Atheist convention is tonight, but we’re starting without the the officials.
I met Bride of Shrek (who is not green) and Rorschach (who wasn’t wearing the cool shifting pattern mask) for dinner last night. I can’t say I was exactly lively company — I was coming off something like 25 hours of total travel time with no sleep at all, and was feeling like I was staggering towards a brick wall of total unconsciousness — but I survived, mostly. Got a very good night’s sleep last night, too.
It’s now morning in Australia. I’m heading off to an atheist blogger/podcaster breakfast meetup, just to get my day started. If I can find the place. If not, I’ll be wandering the streets of Melbourne, somewhere down by the river.
At noon, I’m off to the Freethought University Alliance for a free lunch. I have to say a few words, too, but I aim to brief, because I am an old geezer and these are the Youth of Australia Who Will Change the Future. They should be doing most of the talking. They can run circles around me, too, which is why there is a rumor that I may have to fortify myself with some Jesus during the talk, just to keep up.
Then around 3ish, we’re having a Pharyngufest with a mob of foaming-at-the-mouth, militant, crude, rude, angry internet atheists and Pharyngulators at the Young and Jackson Hotel. Bride of Shrek tells me that we have the privilege of sharing the pub with Chloe, which, with the prospects of my first Australian beer, will probably help soothe the horrifying horde. A little bit.
Finally, at 6, after we’ve already had a full day to work ourselves up to a shrieking fever pitch, the official events begin. It should be fabulous. I’ll be looking for you all.
… We’re gonna need a lot more Jesus.
pix or it never happened
Take pictures!
I did take pictures! But I’m not outing anyone here, especially not anyone who has been careful to be pseudonymous.
You know, that’s the first time I’ve looked at the program. Sounds great. Have a wonderful time, everyone!
Wheee! See you at Chloe’s!
You could probably include them in crowd shots where nobody is identified. If they wish to out themselves, it is up to them.
Well, it didn’t take 25hrs travel time for me, but I have made it to Melbourne.
I only managed to get a ticket for Sunday, so I may also be wandering the streets around the river – foaming-at-the-mouth and being generally militant.
I’m in a hotel not far from the conference centre and I see no promo stuff around – very disappointing. The morning show on TV is talking about several events in town (and the Food and Wine should get top billing on numbers), but not the Global Atheist Conference. Shame.
We should make our mark at the pub this arvo though. Heheheh (mu-hahahaha)
Just about to jump on a plane down to Melbourne. Hope I don’t miss out on too much fun :)
Beware. Ray Comfort is down there handing out hand made leather jackets…. that he made.
I think Dawkins got one.
oh…right…that
So you’ve gone to Healesville with a bunch of uni students. Out to dinner with a few pharyngulites. What I’d like to know is what did both groups have to do to get a private audience with PZ? Did it involve cephalopods and hamsters?
Have fun in town PZ. I can’t even make it to see you at Y&J’s now. Still, sounds like there would be so many of the godless horde that there wouldn’t be time for more than a ‘Hi’. So, Hi! *waves* I’m about 10km north of your right now.
Hmm, I’m going to have to try to get down to Y&J for a bit after work, before you guys all go down-river for offical stuffs.
Hope I catch you, hopefully I might even have time for a quick beer :)
Bjarni
You’re going to eat some of poor ol’ Jebus?
Seems he could escape the teeth of at least atheists.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Is Jesus homeopathic?
Watch out for crocodiles! Or so I’ve heard.
Its a great vibe to soak up in Melbourne at the moment.
It’s also nice to be surrounded by a community of like-minded people, so comforting and reassuring to have my opinions echoed back to me from people with whom I identify and share a purpose.
If I was to jettison 70 IQ points right now, I’ll bet I could pass for a churchgoer.
Something to discuss at your meeting:
This link is so hip it even makes mention of bacon. FWIW, I think Jesus looks stoned.
I give you today’s miracle: Jesus in the frying pan:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1257171/Holy-smoke-Bank-worker-saved-divine-intervention-finds-Jesus-frying-pan.html
Enjoy.
Perhaps a trusted individual with a bit of basic photoshopping skills could paste pseudonomically appropriate faces on the photos prior to distribution? :)
It may even be vaguely amusing… ;)
My travel time to Melbourne is only 3 hours and yet I won’t be able to make it. Sigh.
Now a word to the wise from another North American now in Auz: I know us godless, liberal types are used to looking to the left in all things but when you step into the street look right! I haven’t seen a snake, my encounters with kangaroos and platypuses have been entirely benign and I’ve got every spider before they’ve got me. But it’s only been luck that I haven’t been mowed down yet, after a year and a half I still have to remind myself that the cars are coming from the other direction.
FossilFishy, where do you find yourself? 3 hours could be Warrnambool, Echuca, Sale perhaps?
This is all that the Melbourne newspaper The Age (Online) has about the conference today.
I would have hoped for better, personally. Maybe it’s just a style thing.
Welcome to Melbourne, I’ll buy the first Chardonney if I get to Chloes bar early enough. x
I second that comment from FossilFishy. I’ve been in NZ 4 years now, and I still forget to look right before I step off the curb… be careful! Have a great time, all ;)
Talking about Australia, some guys were talking loudly at work here about all the bad things that have happened to Australia recently.
They were listing them – Drought, Floods, Fire, Pestilence.
But they totally cracked up when I added “…and Australians!”
FYI – I am a Kiwi. :-)
Hopefully I get to meet you PZ. Dunno what I’d say, but maybe HI or something?
Looks like a few of us are coming from Canberra. It’ll be good to see Chloe again.
There will also be a couple of evens on while PZ is in Canberra, including a Skeptics in the Pub on Saturday 20th from midday. There is also a rumour that PZ may drop into the Wig and Pen on Friday evening 19th from about 5 pm. But that’s a rumour put about by people who know. I’m trying to get Ray Comfort to attend, but no luck yet!
Brian: I’m in Myrtleford, it might be closer to 4 hours.
In New Zealand you have to look both ways, even when you’re on the footpath.
I think God meant this (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3441447/Wild-weather-blasts-central-New-Zealand) for Melbourne.
Actually it’s the same system that hit Melbourne last weekend.
Will that be fortified jesus, red or white jesus?
@Cyberguy: for a continent the size of Australia, most years it’s safe to bet that there will be droughts, floods, pestilence, fire, kiwis, etc.
At least something good then ;-)
It’s probably late now, but with regards to beer: don’t let my fellow Melbournians get away with slipping you the cheap, nasty swill such as VB, MB or Foster’s. If you care about trying our beer, ask for James Squire, or ask about stuff from micro breweries (there are quite a few).
I hope that you enjoy your stay!
@Pikemann: The micro breweries charge too much and are hit-and-miss unless you have some to recommend (I’ve spit out a few while doing the rounds of Melbourne); I’d go for a case of Carlton Draught (better still if it’s on tap) or else stick with the Guinness (but only on tap). If I were feeling cruel I’d offer a case of XXXX.
Isn’t VB just for export to NSW? I don’t know what MB is used for – maybe to keep the pong in the Yarra. I don’t think it can be easily exported due to its classification as a hazardous substance.
I am able to report that after tasting the delicious beers on offer at Chloé’s Bar (it looked like he was drinking “the Chief”, or maybe the “Growler”), and being given an intimate introduction to the eponymous lady, PZ was sent off down Flinders Street in the general direction of the Convention Centre at about quarter past six p.m.
Many of the godless horde gathered for the GAC were in attendance, and I am sure photographic evidence will surface in due course!
Philip (aka Pope Maledict DCLXVI before the advent of compulsory signing-in)
I am surprised that no Pharyngulaites have made reference to the lovely Chloe, who was a victim of rampant Presbyterianism. It was in the National Gallery of Victoria for only three weeks before religous outrage saw the painting removed. It is good that is has ended up before a more appreciative audience in a pub:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_&_Jackson#Chlo.C3.A9
Feck!
Yet another reason to avoid convictland.