I'm still here. starts filling punchbowl End of Google Plus party anyone?

I'm still here. starts filling punchbowl End of Google Plus party anyone?

https://www.youme.social/-leece #signalflare

https://www.youme.social/-leece #signalflare

Hmm https://www.youme.social is looking pretty good compared to MeWe.

Hmm https://www.youme.social is looking pretty good compared to MeWe.
Anyone else gone there?
https://www.youme.social

Me just rolling with it.

Me just rolling with it.

Yucata.de is back up!

Disclaimer: I will get more entries in the prize draw if you follow the link and sign up.

Disclaimer: I will get more entries in the prize draw if you follow the link and sign up. But I think there's something really cool about flying around Australia in an ultralight for migratory bird awareness raising.
https://wingthreads.com/lp-win-a-birdlife-prize-pack/?referral=yM7ulZ1&refSource=copy

I don't think we should call it being radicalised any more.

I don't think we should call it being radicalised any more. I think we should call it being turned totally batshit arseholemoronized.

Be safe New Zealand. Love and good wishes to those affected by these despicable acts.

Title

So I'm at my local pool last night, as Kwilena the merperson and there's an older, British lady, salt of the Earth type, doing a kickboard workout sharing the lane and we have a brief exchange as the pool is a little crowded, so we can't have a lane to ourselves.

Kwilena: "So I think if we just stick to our own sides we'll be ok, if you're good with that."
British Lady: "Yes, that'll be fine."
Kwilena: "And if my tail gets in your way, just let me know."
British Lady: "Oh my love, if you'd seen the tails I've had in my way during my life, you wouldn't worry at all!"
Kwilena: pause "They... probably weren't as pretty a tails though." (I'm wearing the new Hawaiian rainbow skin from Suntails)
British Lady: With great emphasis. "No, you're ~absolutely right~ there!"

I did not know this existed.

I did not know this existed. I mean, Bill Oddie's version is the one that resonates...but this tribute is pretty good with the visuals.
https://youtu.be/H7ociMW-_hs

The Astrofest is on again!

The Astrofest is on again! It is such a good time! The science! The stars! The deep sky objects! The astronomers! The telescopes! Build your own lego radio telescope!
http://www.astronomywa.net.au/astrofest.html

We're on tonight.

Notifications has gone. Maybe back up any notifications by email or text as well.

Interesting article about the iconic Cloudbusting video.

Interesting article about the iconic Cloudbusting video.

http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/27217/1/the-story-behind-kate-bush-s-cloudbusting-video

and the video itself...
https://youtu.be/pllRW9wETzw?t=23

https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/27217/1/the-story-behind-kate-bush-s-cloudbusting-video

Ngany djinanginy booron ata-koorliny. Woola kep!

Fine swim with friends at Beatty Park Pool today.

Fine swim with friends at Beatty Park Pool today.

Fortunately for us, Stirling Leisure Centres do allow tails, but with restrictions.

Fortunately for us, Stirling Leisure Centres do allow tails, but with restrictions.
Beatty Park Pool looks like being the best choice out of nearby pools, in neighbouring Vincent.

Bunbury has been home to these merfolk for years, and they're clearly experienced user, so I hope something can be worked out.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-01/mermaids-battle-bureaucracy-to-swim-freely-at-local-pools/10859142

They Might Be Giants only make it to Australia on occasion, and we're always very grateful when they make it to...

They Might Be Giants only make it to Australia on occasion, and we're always very grateful when they make it to Perth. The last time was about 4 years ago. Going strong since their beginnings in the 80's they've continued producing albums of great variety and with their catchy tunes, bold brass and mind tickling lyrics.

This year they were originally going to the Amplifier Bar, but changed the venue to the Rosemount in the wake of the Amplifiers ill conceived statements on their female staff's dress code. This was laudable and they weren't the only band to cancel gigs there.

But while the Rosemount has great staff, and yummy food, (pretty good gf cheeseburgers and awareness to go with it, yay!) and even gave us our tonic and limes for free during the show, it fails in one respect and it's a big one. It failed four years ago and it failed last night.
Airconditioning. When it's a hot muggy night and there's a sellout show and everyone is hyped, standing shoulder to should and wants to dance to those oh so danceable tunes, you really need airconditioning. Why has this not been fixed? The poor band - they're exuberant performers and they just were melting but they were troopers and they didn't stint it.

The show itself was fantastic - there was no opener - TMBG played for an hour in the first set, and then, after a 20 minute break another set of 30 to 40 minutes or so. And with songs ranging from their earliest days like "Hideaway Folk Family" through the classics like "Why does the Sun shine" "Fingertips" "Birdhouse in your Soul" and "Istanbul (not Constantinople)" through to the more modern works like "Damn Good Times" and its compelling chiasmus, and even more recent, "Mrs Bluebeard" and "The Communists Have the Music". It was an excellent tasting plate of the capabilities of the dynamic Johns and their band.

With entertaining and highly proficient solo virtuosity on the various strings and brass, not to mention Marty Beller on the drums a They Might Be Giants concert is huge fun.

It would be huger fun in a more spacious venue with airconditioning.

With 22 albums under their belt they're still going strong.

10 out 10 uplifting and the finest handcrafted gelato icecream sundae (in flavours you can't usually get even though they're your favourite) outside on a wet and cold windy day on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

They're heading across to Melbourne and Adelaide now. Enjoy, and may you have airconditioning.

My head hurts.

Viola Dana, the band that plays live scores to silent movies is fantastic and they're playing in on the 9th of March.

Viola Dana, the band that plays live scores to silent movies is fantastic and they're playing in on the 9th of March. Two Buster Keaton movies! Outdoors! For free!
https://www.facebook.com/events/silent-screen-live-sounds/2093857830906163/

Indirectly, this has to do with Blak Yak and their splendid performances over the years of Terry Pratchett's...

Indirectly, this has to do with Blak Yak and their splendid performances over the years of Terry Pratchett's Discworld works. The link below takes you to Luna' Camelot outdoor theatre, and the Flickerfest film festival's short works.

One of these short works is Troll Bridge, a labour of love short film made by Pratchett fans with Sir Terry's blessings.

The Director states:

"A WORD ON OUR PERTH SCREENING

OMGOMGOMG!
Lemme tell you a story…
In the late 90s I joined the Perth based Blak Yak Theatre, and one of the first shows I got involved with was the Stephen Briggs adaptation of MORT. I had never picked up Terry Pratchett before that point because it all sounded a bit silly. I had no idea. The script was amazing and that was pretty much the start of a very long and strange obsession. I’m very proud to have been involved with five of their Discworld shows. I am in great debt to Jarrod Buttery and the support and encouragement I received from the entire Blak Yak family… without whom there wouldn’t be any of this at all – not a film version of TROLL BRIDGE – not even this film company, I would have traversed down a completely different fork in the Trousers of Time. I fell in love with Terry there, I fell in love with directing there.

Anyway.

TROLL BRIDGE plays in Perth the Saturday after this (March 2) at the gorgeous Camelot: Outdoor Cinema in Mosman Park. I can’t go, I can’t make the finances work. But if you live in Perth, I hope you can make it on my behalf. And if you lived in Perth in the late 90s and saw a production of WYRD SISTERS or SOURCERY, you’ve seen my stuff before. It was with the best theatre company I know of.

Daniel"


http://lunapalace.com.au/tickets?xid=8115&sid=1954

All on for tonight.

Some religious type talking about the Bible knocked on my door just now.

Some religious type talking about the Bible knocked on my door just now. I asked her if she'd heard about the Wargul. She said no, and didn't want to hear about it or the people that'd been living here for 60,000 years and their beliefs. As she left at speed I said that was very close minded and not very ecumenical.

Title

The Baden Street Singers were a huge mob of a cappella talented fun last year in Acapocalpse and this year they showed that they weren't resting on any laurels. With a number of games designed to put the singers to the most stringent tests - at the audience's very whim they came up aces every time.

First up, an audience member is given control of 5 lights - a scale of faster to slower. As the choir sings, the audience member hits the lights, slowing and speeding the choir at will. It's pretty funny to watch and hear.

Other activities involved using the lights to cut the various sections of the choir, nope, no bass wanted, whoops there go the trebles.

Some covers were requested with various singers volunteering to take them on, in various styles.

And my favourite -

A random chorist is selected via spinning the wheel and has 10 words thrown at them from the gleeful and on occassion positively malicious audience - "schadenfreude" "onomatopoeic" "antipodes" amongst the offerings. And, well, these people are skilled!

They also performed a couple of pieces for their opening and closing numbers. Lovely sound and lots of humour!

I must look out for these folks other performances.

10/10 superb and Postmodern Jukebox performing the Pinky and the Brain theme song on the Sid & Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #westernaustralia #perth

This extraordinary dance troupe Djuki Mala, combines ancient traditional dance moves with contemporary nous and...

This extraordinary dance troupe Djuki Mala, combines ancient traditional dance moves with contemporary nous and creates something wonderful. These guys are from a tiny island in the far north, they're Yolngu folks from Elcho island and they became a Youtube sensation 10 years ago when their rendition of Zorba the Greek got a million hits in 2 weeks.

They're very charismatic, passionate, engaging, energetic and just full of wit and it's hard to watch all of them at once as each one is committing his own kind of mischief! Interspersed with footage of the history of the people and influencers of the group, sad stories and poignant, funny stories and sweet we are brought into the arms of Arnham Land's furthermost reaches.

These fellows are a fine thing to watch and learn and especially laugh with. Wonderful sense of comic timing.

Unreservedly recommended.

10 out of 10 still laughing and Jackie Chan meets Fred Astaire at the disco on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

After you watch this one, hunt up Zorba.

#indigenous #fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #dance
https://vimeo.com/119091909

Dreamtime on the Derbarl Yerrigan is a very scenic voyage around the important waters of the area.

Dreamtime on the Derbarl Yerrigan is a very scenic voyage around the important waters of the area. Surrounded with an astonishing view of water and the city lights you are drawn into the charismatic storyteller's (elder Walter McGuire) description of the area before the British invaded.

It's a very interesting cruise, and informative too, looking at the various artifacts Elder McGuire had brought, particularly the 200 year old message stick. I was really taken with the two songs which Mr McGuire performed - I could have listened to them for much longer, they were so skillfully performed and very moving.

The one koora koora story he related belongs to his family to tell, but if you want to know one version of it, it's written on the wall of the Chevron Gardens facing the Derbarl Yerrigan. (Swan River)

The Crystal Swan was an excellent venue for this experience, and a very interesting experience all around.

8/10 Fascinating and a good tray of thali when you're peckish on the Sid & Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #nyungar #indigenous #nyoongar #noongar
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/dreamtime-on-the-derbarl-yerrigan-fw2019

Boorna Waanginy was a very impressive display!

Boorna Waanginy was a very impressive display! Taking the koodjal djinang (looking both ways - both the indigenous knowledge and modern science) it interweaves the nature of this region, the history of the movement of the Nyungar people on their boodjar and the serious concerns of environmental scientists, with a how you can help at the end. This is quite an immersive display, being projected on to great trees that are some of the tallest in the area. It's very impressive to walk amongst giant creatures and fish, as the 6 seasons flow around you. Very impressive, truly breathtaking, and should this event be repeated, a must see. 10/10 Moorditj! and Royal De Lux by night on the Sid and Nancy Scale.
https://www.perthfestival.com.au/experience/boorna-waanginy

My post about tonight keeps seeming to disappear for me, so if you could just give me a +1 to let me know you're...

My post about tonight keeps seeming to disappear for me, so if you could just give me a +1 to let me know you're aware that it's all on for tonight, that'd be great.

Elaine Walker Enteleky M Rob Masters Stephen Gunnell Garry Winterton

All on tonight.

All on tonight.

Two more shows left - and if you want a good laugh I highly recommend this energetic and polished show.

Two more shows left - and if you want a good laugh I highly recommend this energetic and polished show. Watch as just 4 highly skilled performers enact the entire Roman Senate, as well as the engaging Cardenio, William Shakespeare, Detectivus and the entire lot!

Very witty and you may even get a chance to stab Julius Caesar himself, with critique from the cast.

There's a lot of action in this show, and the love of the bard shines through. And the love of Dr Who - it's a time travel piece after all. With rapid costume changes and constant witty dialogue it's a very impressive performance.

The meals at the Brisbane hotel are also very nice, sit by the the goldfish pond for a pleasant surround.

9/10 Hilarity ensues and Tim Curry's butler from Clue had a funny thing happen to him on his way to the Forum on the Sid and Nancy scale. #fringeworld #fringeworld2019
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/the-ides-of-march-fw2019

Last night for Boorna Waanginy!

Last night for Boorna Waanginy!

There's gonna be shuttle buses from Yagan Square every five minutes from 6:30, according to Transperth. We're gonna have curry at the Urban Orchard - opposite the Art Gallery and see how we're going. It's probably going to be most crowded when the gates open up at Kara Kada (Kings Park) at 7:30/8:00 so perhaps we'll not rush up there. The last people are let through at 10:00pm but we'll probably aim for earlier than that.

Anyone else interested see you at the Urban Orchard.

We caught Flame Oz on our way back from our Fringe night, and we're glad we stopped!

We caught Flame Oz on our way back from our Fringe night, and we're glad we stopped! https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/flameoz-delux-fw2019 This dynamic pair with an array of LED tricks and genuine wash-of-heat-in-your-face flaming torches and hoops awe you with their mastery of fire poi dances and impressive gymnastics.

This is really impressive street theatre, so pay what you want, even if it's just a thank you - and it's on for the next couple of nights.

8/10 Smokin' and front row seats at the phoenix burlesque on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #review

We saw Hands some Feet last year, and enthusiastically saw it again this year.

We saw Hands some Feet last year, and enthusiastically saw it again this year. This young couple are the very epitome of sweetness on stage and off - take one elfin Finnish woman ( I think she's from Tampere?) and one sturdy Perth man, but watch as together they fight gravity in their unique way.

Actually it's not so much that they fight gravity in that they seem to have gotten a light dispensation - Jeromy Zwick with his extraordinary utilisation of juggling balls, at times far too many to count how many were in the air - and Liisa Naykki with her grace, dancing, running and jumping on the tight wire as though magnetized. Combining their arts in a charming and thoughtful love story - use the backs of your partner's knees on the wire to pass juggling balls to as she dances on it while you're below - juggling with your partner's unresponsive limbs - and other moves that made me feel I was watching intimate moments as Pygmalion - like a response is finally forthcoming.

There's huge frenetic energy, and then sudden, intimate stops - realisations and the facial expressions lead us through the characters' journey. With some new embellishment this year!

The skipping finale' is something to behold.

What is extraordinary is that this rigorous physical combination of wire, music on unusual instruments, singing, juggling, clowning, acrobatics and skipping is not that it's combined so well, although that's true, but that to a viewer in the middle of the heat of Perth feels the whole performance is a refreshing and uplifting cool breeze, a spritzer for the soul.

Hands some Feet have 9 more shows over the next 10 days.

10/10 refreshing and drinking cloudberry fizzy watching the butterflies in the summer forest in Finland on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #review
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/hands-some-feet-fw2019

Last night we saw The Adventures of The Improvised Sherlock Holmes.

Last night we saw The Adventures of The Improvised Sherlock Holmes. Suggestions from the audience are put into a hat, and the actors draw upon these and their improvisational skills to bring the story to life.

It was held at the Circus Theatro, whose airconditioning was not quite up to the hot East wind night, but paddle fans were supplied to stave off the worst of the temperature.

The Holmes and Watson duo were enjoying trying to trip each other up perhaps a shade more than was helpful to the coherency of the story - which I think was something like Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Greyhound Wolf - they only read it out once, and it was never repeated.

This was a fiendish plot involving Terry and his boss Bob Dog-Racer,(well there's nominative determinism for you, mused Holmes) and Madame Astor (formerly Astorover, losing the 0ver on the way from Russia) and the swapping of a greyhound, suddenly missing a paw.

"The game's a foot" opportunity was missed I'm sorry to say.

The actors were energetic and enthusiastic, and as they were dressed in full Victorian three piece suits for the most part, in this heat most commendable!

It was a funny show, and worth seeing. I would have liked to have seen a deeper knowledge of the original material displayed and more adherence to Sherlock's mannerisms, (you can do that and still be funny improvisation) but I've been spoiled by Jeremy Irons's er Brett's, sorry, Sherlock and reading the stories over and over from a young age.

7/10 amusing. Sid & Nancy Scale: Sam Eagle doing soliloquies from Hamlet with Crazy Harry in the background, doing the punctuation with help from Gonzo's chickens.


https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/adventures-of-the-improvised-sherlock-holmes-fw2019

Alrighty, we'll take a break tonight. Should be back on track next week.

Alrighty, we'll take a break tonight. Should be back on track next week.

We're down Elaine tonight. Given Rob and I have a very full weekend it'll be a pretty early night. We can talk about what people have in mind for the next adventure, work on administrivia, character creation or non lengthy board game or such, or we can have the night completely off.

It's WABA Mt Claremont tomorrow.

On Thursday night we saw the opening of A National Park.

On Thursday night we saw the opening of A National Park. Black Sapphire productions has produced a little gem - a one hour play invested with humour, wisdom and sensitivity. The two performers, Jessie Ward & Killian Harty as respectively Akasha the knowledgeable park ranger on her own boodjar, and Kasey, the Irish ecologist with something of a flaky outlook on things are very well attuned to their roles.

Harty's lovely voice and guitar strumming set the scene in the National Park as he awaits the arrival of Akasha the Park Ranger.

We're somewhere in the South-West of Western Australia 10 years from now - frakking is suspected of destroying the biodiversity of the National Park that Akasha is employed to care for. It being her mob's ancestral boodjar, or heartland, she would have been caring for it anyway I bet, but no harm in being paid, unna?

If you come to this play without any knowledge of Noongar protocols, it's a good first step into awareness of their approach to their relationship with the land and the life on it, and with their interaction with the modern world. Step inside the life of a woman who balances her work, her moort (extended tribe and family), with international travel and rock concerts very successfully.

She makes an extraordinary discovery in the National Park, and things suddenly get complicated - the political and conservation consequences have to be weighed carefully and Kasey the ecologist is very excited about the whole thing. Materialism wars with concern for the land and trust is a very fragile thing. When the very elements seem to be against them while waiting for Auntie some difficult decisions have to be made. You'll laugh a lot, there's some very funny writing there, and you'll think some too.

There's really not a lot I can say further without there being serious spoilers. I'd urge anyone to go and see it, but they're sold out, so perhaps if they extend the season or run it again you might get to enjoy it.

There were a couple of sections that I felt were a bit odd. They go to sleep, with still some way to go to the cave, but when they wake up, after some conversation, they're suddenly there? I'm not sure that for me that there was enough indication that some time had passed in travel. But then time is not the same for wadjela as it is for Nyoongar.

I really liked the soundscape of the birds and the insects, some very familiar southwest sounds there. Nice to have a few Noongar words too, being used and explained.

Andrea Fernandez, the writer heading up Black Sapphire productions has done a great job with these characters and with the story and I look forward to seeing more of her work! The next one will be a musical!

8/10 Boola moorditj and The Real Inspector Hound goes bushwalking with Napoleon Bonaparte on the Sid & Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #review #indigenous #noongar
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/a-national-park-fw2019

On Thursday night we went to see Jon Gracey's Werewolf: Live.

On Thursday night we went to see Jon Gracey's Werewolf: Live. This is a variation on the card game Mafia, done as a panel game. Now that sounds pretty mild, but no no no. If you have played Werewolf or any of its variants you will understand the psychological thrill of the game, and the intrinsic black humour of the situation of trying to get a lynch mob to hang anyone but you. But to be an observer of the unfolding drama adds a voyeuristic cheerfulness all its own. Like watching the opener of a Columbo episode, you will know whodunnit after the second night - unless you're a volunteer from the audience yourself. What you won't know until the end is whether the Werewolf/ves will get away with it at the end of the session.

So how it goes - Jon, our energetic, enthusiastic and well directing narrator in his Cloak of Foreshadowing Doom +2 narrates to a bunch of finely selected comedians and one (lucky) audience member - all of whom are wearing fabulous hats. The villagers sleep, the werewolves are directed to slay someone, the Seer has a vision, and the villagers wake to find that someone/s amongst them must be a murderer, as someone doesn't wake. The roles are dealt randomly, and as far as everyone knows, anyone could be a werewolf, a seer or a villager. But there is only one seer, and there might be one or two werewolves.

If you are killed, you lose your hat. But if you're the first killed, you get a special hat, so it's not so bad. No, wait...

All fairly straightforward and a game we've seen many times played at clubs, conventions and game nights. Add a bunch of highly diverse comedians who are keen not to get killed by the mob and the laughs come thick and fast. "I'm an emergency nurse, I haven't killed anyone for ages!" "I haven't killed anyone. Except for that dwarf, years ago." "If you're an astronomer, you should KNOW whether the moon is full!" (The audience member that time was Gemma, the astronomer. And she did.)

It's quite funny when the people aren't familiar with the nuances of the game. Some comedians just can't help making faces or gestures when they're supposed to be silently agreeing on who to kill, so even people with their eyes closed will sense that the person next to them might be nefarious if they're moving. But they just can't help themselves!

It was a star lineup - and this is my favourite way to see comedy - when the comedians are out of their element and under unusual pressures.
Also, you're getting very good bang for your buck, not only is it being shown at the prestigious State Theatre Centre, (go out on the balcony before the show and take in the city view, it's astonishing!), you get to see 8 really good comedians at once, and the interactions are glorious.

On Thursday night we had Milo McCabe, Georgie Carroll, Dirk Darrow, Louisa Fitzhardinge (Comma Sutra), John Robles, Rose Callaghan and Michael Shafar - as well as our dynamic Narrator of Doom Jon Gracey.

Tonight's guests are Yianni Agisilaou, Kate Smurthwaite, Michael Shafar, Sharon Mahoney, John Robles, Mary Bourke, and Milo McCabe.

There are shows tonight and tomorrow.

Thoroughly recommended for gamers, for gamers to take their non-gaming friends and family to, for non-gaming people who want to give their gaming friends and family a treat, people who just want a laugh and studiers of mob psychology.

10/10 hilarious and The Marx Brothers on the Orient Express on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/werewolf-live-fw2019

Boorna Waanginy (Trees speaking) is a nocturnal excursion through Karda Katta (Kings Park) - a trek through the 6...

Boorna Waanginy (Trees speaking) is a nocturnal excursion through Karda Katta (Kings Park) - a trek through the 6 indigenous seasons of the South West of Western Australia and one I look forward to seeing. It runs

Fri 8 Feb, 8pm-11pm

Sat 9 Feb, 8pm-11pm

Sun 10 Feb, 8pm-11pm

Mon 11 Feb, 8pm-11pm

Last entry at 10.30pm.

I really want to get to this. #nyungar #noongar #westernaustralia #indigenous
https://www.perthfestival.com.au/experience/boorna-waanginy

In case you didn' t see it. Take action to save your stuff now.

In case you didn' t see it. Take action to save your stuff now.

Originally shared by Edward Morbius

Frequently asked questions about the Google+ shutdown - Google+ Help

Carefully buried in Google's announcement today of an April 2, 2019 shutdown date, was a link to a FAQ addressing at least some of the questions many of us have had over the shutdown, effects, timing, and more. This is Google's official FAQ on the G+ shutdown and may be useful.

Key takeaways:

Your data will not be available after April 2. Data export must occur before the shutdown.

Google will begin deleting most user data associated with G+ immediately following the April 2 shutdown. There are a few exceptions (some categories of photos, legal mandates), and some surprising inclusions. It appears Google want this data gone, gone, gone. If you don't, you're going to have to do something about it now.

The actual deletion may take some months. I suspect this has to do with how data were stored and addressed in different versions of G+, and it's likely that most data will be deleted fairly quickly. Expect little or no grace period. Though there may be the odd relics remaining.

There will be additional Community export capability at some point in "early March", including content, but only for public communities. If you're running a private community, Google Data Takeout will not offer you the ability to archive content from it. And this ability applies to Community Owners and Moderators only.

Google photos previously retained after deleting G+ accounts will now be deleted. See the FAQ for more.

There are no provisions offered for remaining in contact via Google/Google+ itself. You will have to establish external contact methods, much as we've been encouraging here for months.

Google+ content (mostly comments) on Blogger will be removed after the shutdown: "All your Google+ comments on all sites will be deleted starting April 2, 2019."

*There are some interesting edge cases for G Suite users. Including products, service, and/or content which won't work or will be deleted. See the FAQ and its references.

Use of other Google services, we're assured, will not be affected.

https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723
https://support.google.com/plus/answer/9217723

Imagine a goldstone building of Neoclassical Art Deco design - built for the education of girls, later as a bastion...

Imagine a goldstone building of Neoclassical Art Deco design - built for the education of girls, later as a bastion of the Law and left deserted and reimagined as a cinema space, all of this left behind and dropped into a montage of themes and drapery from the Gothic world of Edgar Allen Poe. Night starts to fall.

Hydrate first. Take your reading glasses, if you need them, in a padded pocket, the lights will be dim, and there are messages to be read.

Talking is not permitted. We sink into the suspension of disbelief and it takes quite a bit to be pulled out of it at the end.

Smoke rises from gravestones and figures charge through the twilight - a bell rings. A row of infirmary beds. Deserted prams. A loud, accusatory heartbeat - what's that glow under the floorboards? An untidy nest of clutter behind a stage. A black tunnel of feathers opening out into somewhere unexpected.

Helpful signs - The Pit, The House, The Heights show the way. Tunnels and passages are hidden in plain view. Messages are to be found - voices cry out in fear or supplication or invitation, in the distance or near. It depends where you are in the School.

This is an intense and surprisingly intimate experience. There can be lots of stairs, and crawling through tunnels. It's disorienting and surreal, and very, very dreamlike. Doors seem to open onto new rooms, acts spring up out of nowhere, dark figures move around, ushering. You might be urged to go with some of the main characters, larger than life. The Actress to help her, a Detective might whisk you away for what - a little girl might demand to be read to in a lake of pink bubbles...

It all seems to go on forever.

This is not jump out of the cupboard and scare you boo! horror. It's the slow forbidding horror of unfolding suspense and a fever dream cycling around. The entire setup is ingenious, and huge amount of props and transformation material has been used, and the performers amazing.

I'm still not sure whether I should be pleased or sorry I didn't try to map the place.

There are stairs and tunnels and passages. They can do access friendly tours but they are limited and you need to check with them first. Edit: no longer accessible available.

A big thank you to all the Veiled Ushers who have the most thankless task in this performance.

All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.

Highly recommended to people after an immersive experience, who like Gothic horror, surrealistic surroundings and the passion of performers so immersed in their roles that it was quite the a relief to see them emerging into reality after the show.

10/10 Enthralling and on the Sid and Nancy scale: a fun night for all the kids at the H P Lovecraft holiday fun camp with a visit from Dark's Carnival.

There's several more performances. We had an 8:30 one, which was pretty good, as it gave us the option of staying longer to see bits we'd seen the the end of, but not the start of, once we heard the cues and understood what they meant.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #perth #westernaustralia



https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/a-midnight-visit-fw2019

Make a note if you want to find me after Google Plus is no more.

Make a note if you want to find me after Google Plus is no more. https://leecetheartist.dreamwidth.org/ is the best place for my extended ramblings and reviews. Sometimes both at once.

leeece is me if you're looking for me through Google's email system.

We regretfully are cancelling gaming for tomorrow night, we are caught between Fringe and Wadjemup, and are going to...

We regretfully are cancelling gaming for tomorrow night, we are caught between Fringe and Wadjemup, and are going to need the time.

The producer of Werewolf: Live contacted The West Australian Boardgame Association which resulted the producer...

The producer of Werewolf: Live contacted The West Australian Boardgame Association which resulted the producer Vivienne and performer Jon rocking up to WABA Thornlie on Saturday. Despite this being one of the quieter meets due to the Australia Day Long Weekend we were able to garner enough interest to have Jon run several sessions. In this game - based on the original card game Mafia, villagers sleep each night, but a werewolf or werewolves are amongst them, so each night someone wakes up dead. It's the villagers, and their hidden Seer that must find and lynch the werewolves (or use traditional werewolf killing methods) before it's too late and the werewolves outnumber the villagers and they run wild.

A mixture of suspense, horror and black humour is made even more atmospheric by props and enthusiasm. Jon, in his cloak (brave fellow, it was a hot Australia Day outside) and surrounded by trappings of mystery and black silk table coverings led us through the story with flair and humour. With his energy and funny patter we were all soon cheerfully either dead or trying not to be so.

There were props galore, and we all got to wear splendid hats. We're going to see the full effect on Thursday night - with the music and lighting, as I am joining the audience at the State Theatre Centre on Thursday night - details here if you want to come join me and Rob.

So what will happen there is that Jon will lead a bunch of professional comedians through the game, joined by one audience member, which should be most amusing to watch! I'll bring back a review of the actual performance, so until Thursday! (or most probably Friday as it's gonna be a late night)

It should certainly be a contrast to A National Park, which we're also seeing that night. There's 4 performances only - the 31st January, and the 1,2, and 3rd of February so check it out.

#fringeworld #fringeworld2019 #boardgames
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/werewolf-live-fw2019

Came up in my feed...

Came up in my feed...
https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/06/marvin-the-martian-and-the-martian-manhunter-cant-agree-whether-humanity-deserves-to-exist/

All on for tonight.

Last night was the first Wet Sounds concert for the 2019 Perth Fringe.

Last night was the first Wet Sounds concert for the 2019 Perth Fringe.

We turned up at the HBF Stadium fairly early and just chilled as the support people arrived from Perth Dive. They sold and hired out masks and snorkels for those that didn't have them, and were also providing saftey support in the dive pool where the concert was being held, so during the concert it wasn't unusual to be showered in rising bubbles as a diver released them from their respirator.

This breathtaking concert is a fully immersive experience. You enter the water with the other audience members but they become shapes in the water in the dim and coloured gentle lightshow, moving on the surface and below it, diving deep to get the best sound. The sound track at the surface is harsh and vital, but as you dive it vanishes into a smoother, clearer crystal sound - changing as you rise and descend.

It reminded me of Jarre's Concerts in China, and throw in some Alan Lauris, Mike Oldfield and maybe some 4AD stuff. It is its own unique sound and while certainly novel and original is not a gimmick - there's a real craftsmanship in making your audience part of the medium, and the weaving of the tracks is masterful.

Float on the surface with your ears underwater, float with one ear under and one ear above for a really unique stereo experience, and dive, dive, dive! It's a unique invitation to become a composer yourself, you are effectively doing your own mixing - combining the tracks as you ascend and swim down.

Unfortunately for us, when I enquired I was told that the HBF Stadium doesn't permit mertails, which would have added to the surreal and magical experience for the diving part, but small fins would be fine. There are quite a few people in the water, of all skills, so be aware of other patrons entranced by the novelty and look before you dive.

Goggles and snorkel a necessity - you can hire them. Don't forget the trick with the baby shampoo for the defogging of your goggles before you go.

Highly recommended.

9 out of 10 breathtaking and The Abyss jamming with humpbacks at a laser light show on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

#fringeworld2019 #fringe #underwater #music #perth #fringeworld
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/wet-sounds-fw2019

For those in Perth who may be affected by the road closures for the Australia Day Skyworks 2019.

For those in Perth who may be affected by the road closures for the Australia Day Skyworks 2019. Be prepared! More info https://www.visitperth.com.au/events/skyworks I would have liked to get to the Birak concert but I'll be running around a bit that day so hopefully another time. Have a moorditj kedala everyone!

With the opening up of The Perth Girls School as a Fringe venue they've put it to an interesting use.

With the opening up of The Perth Girls School as a Fringe venue they've put it to an interesting use. We'll be going to this one - might be a bit scary but very, very cool. Explore the castle like grounds and experience the mystery. I'll let you know what it's like!
https://fringeworld.com.au/whats_on/a-midnight-visit-fw2019

What with this being the last few months of Google Plus, this will be the last Fringe talking aboutness here.

What with this being the last few months of Google Plus, this will be the last Fringe talking aboutness here. After this is all shut down look on https://leecetheartist.dreamwidth.org/ until I decide where best to take the entirety of this Australian Theatre and Live Performance Reviews community.

We had a very relaxed day on Monday to recover from Genghiscon over the weekend.

We had a very relaxed day on Monday to recover from Genghiscon over the weekend. Genghiscon was held at St. Georges Residential College, which is one of the oldest buildings you can stay in, in Perth.

Redbrick and creeper growing across the window panes, and lush inner courtyard of grass and a fountain, a chapel. A very pleasant stay. I was suffering from painful unpleasantness from the monthly annoyance for a lot of the convention, unfortunately, which curtailed my activities a good deal. rattfan kept me good company for some of it, and with a view out to UWA and the river and the old fashioned paned glass and roomy student accomodation was at least a pleasant surround! I did get a couple of games of Fireball Island: The Curse of Vulkar, a game of Dinosaur Island with the expansion and water creatures, and a good game of Tzolk'n and what amounted to a speed run of Mysterium where we apparently Could Do No Wrong. So I wasn't exactly cloistered.

The food at St George's is gorgeous. If we're there again I recommend the Sunday dinner especially.

On Tuesday we caught the train to Fremantle, and the ferry to Wadjemup for a wander for a few hours. This was the first of a bunch of research trips for rdm to set up his three days of team building exercises for his work. The new ferry service from Sealink is excellent and far better at secure baggage handling than Rottnest Express, who lost our luggage, and failed to contact us when it turned up. Not a good look.

The sea was calm - almost flat on the way and we had a good crossing - a big change from the winter crossings which are our usual mode.
Then we walked down to the water at Thompson Bay, and paid our respects to mambakoort, Warkal, and jenang in language they would be more familiar with. The djeringkara looked approving, which is good, as they're particulary needed for the special service they perform for wirrun on their way to the sky, and would be very much needed in this spot.

Then we grabbed some lunch, had it on the beach and walked to Bathurst Lighthouse, gathering data for Rob's three sets of quiz questions along the way. On the way back we stopped at the outskirts of the Wadjemup Burial Ground and paid our respects and said sorry about the whole business to the wirrun there. We used Whadjuk wangkaniny - not ideal, as people from all over W.A are buried there and wouldn't have spoken any Noongar at their own boodjar but it's a lot more polite than using English in this circumstance.

Then we walked and walked until we'd walked about 10 km, gathering data. After that, we sat with some icecreams and coffee in the shade at Thompson Bay and rested our feet, and watched the goings on and lovely scenery until it was time to get back on the boat. In Fremantle we visited the Hemp Shop and got [personal profile] rdm some more work shirts, and visited Kakulas Sister on the way back to the train station. We had delicious fondue for dinner and then did our hour's merswimming. It was certainly a full day!

Yesterday was mostly housework and recovery for me, rdm went back to work.

But today we've been invited to the Fringe opening party, as we're Fringe Friends, so it's off to Northbridge for us tonight. Perhaps stopping by Guz Y Gomez first up.

Should be all on for tomorrow by my reckoning.

With Google Plus winding down, I'm moving this group over to https://mewe.com/join/merfolkandmonofins unless there's...

With Google Plus winding down, I'm moving this group over to https://mewe.com/join/merfolkandmonofins unless there's brilliant ideas forthcoming.


https://mewe.com/join/merfolkandmonofins

Warning no onsite parking at St George's for those thinking of visiting this evening - street parking on Park Ave.

Hope everyone is having a mertastic time!

Hope everyone is having a mertastic time! In Perth, it was the first really warm evening for swimming last night. Warm southern currents to our Northern Hemisphere mers!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tJGbEM6Wa324b75V8

All on for tonight.