Hangout chai talk at the e-quad

Today’s “chai at the e-quad’ Hangout (2 pm Eastern Time Sunday) was like most others before it – with surprises and unexpectedly interesting topics – rain, water, books, cameras, photography, etc.

More details below – a narration and requested information.

It started out badly at 2, as I could not get my Mac to work to connect me, so I tried my PC laptop which didn’t work also, so I asked Deej where the red IPad 2 was, and that eventually connected me to Nadeem – who had been wondering patiently what the hell was going on with Philip – where was he.  We both knew that Bill K and Helen A had written that they were involved with other activities and could be at this week’s Hangout.

Weather, rain, and water was the first topic – Deej and I had just come from working for an hour in

Azalea garden plot 14 June 2015

99.1 F degree heat in our Azalea garden plot planting squash, okra, and flowers, picking up tacos for lunch on our way home. Cooling wind and threatening thunder outside was in the background, while Nadeem commented on seeing me on the screen for the first time, asked “are you feeling okay?” (sweat still running down my red face)

Here's a little rain for Nadeem.

 

He still was hoping for some 100ths of an inch of rain in southern California.  Deej asked him about water use with the swimming pools there – Nadeem said northern California was handling water restrictions better than in the south – and Deej said she had heard of the California water survey which Nadeem described – 100s of gallons of water use per person per day in many places. I agreed with David’s dire predictions and that the water crisis might be the one thing that eventually would doom the planet or almost destroy it.  Somehow we mentioned that David had just put up his Manteo, NC house for sale, as he has a much harder time using it since he’s moved from the east coast (NJ) to the west coast (SF).  $179,000 for 3 bedrooms and 2 baths is not a bad price, though.

We tried to get away from such a sad climate topics – mentioning some books. One book Nadeem had mentioned long before, and another non-academic one he had just finished (see below), and neither of them had I read as yet. He also mentioned how some books published in India were not available for purchase outside India – an increasingly strange trend, maybe because of the huge US / India book price difference.  I mentioned that our UVa Library normally used an India book vendor for books that were hard to find in the US, and he wanted to know who that was, see below DK Agencies.

We also discussed photography and cameras – I said I admired Nadeem’s wonderful photographs of flowers which he keeps putting up on Facebook – and he described how he carefully planned his flower photographs – framing, colors, angel, etc. I said I also really liked the flower photographs of a 1964 Woodstock graduate Jessie L, who has a blog and also flower photos on Facebook. And we both said we admired Mary C. L’s fantastic photography, often up on Facebook, such as her 20 or so photographs of her recent 10-weeks’ Spring 2015 journey from Ocracoke to Louisiana to Arizona to Wyoming through the mid-west and home. Nadeem described how he still had some wonderful non-digital cameras, lenses, and even film – and we speculated if their value would continue to increase as those non-digital devices became rarer.

For vastly improving the quality of photos, everyone recommends shooting only in RAW.  Most photographers now spend 20 or so minutes on each photograph, AFTER shooting, using Photoshop or Lightroom or some similar software. Ahhh, if only.

And there were other topics – but the hour-long Hangout ended around 3:15 as we went off to do our other Sunday afternoon activities. 

A surprisingly nice Hangout again at “chai at the e-quad.”

---------------------------------------------------------------

Now, my responses to some requests. I hope I've remembered most of what you (Nadeem) asked me (during today's Hangout) to send to you (and I've added to them too)

Photographer - Jessie L (Class of 1965) some good photos - she's also on Facebook
http://decisivemoments-jll.blogspot.com/

Deej’s years’ of service awards ceremony - Deej and her fellow librarians at the 2015 Awards for Service ceremony at John Paul Jones Arena, Monday June 8th.
*Video (62 seconds)
http://bit.ly/2015awardsv
*Photo album (Picasa)
http://bit.ly/2015awardsp

You asked for the India book vender D. K Agencies, which our library often times uses
http://www.dkagencies.com/

Telegraph (Kolkata newspaper) -

**2015 May 22 Fri p. 16 Politics of naming (South  Asia vs India. Swapan Dasgupta)

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150522/jsp/opinion/story_21334.jsp#.VX3cFTjbJ-

**--------------- p. 17 Cast ashore “Sleeping with Jupiter" by Anuradha Roy

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150522/jsp/opinion/story_21329.jsp#.VX3chjjbJ-U

DKAgencies does not have it, but Amazon does http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/907554760

**----------------------- Then there was light Angaaray (banned Urdu short stories translated)

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150522/jsp/opinion/story_21330.jsp

DK Agencies does have this http://www.dkagencies.com/doc/from/1063/to/1123/bkId/DK46452334424672401825731371/details.html

And it is at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Angaaray-Snehal-Shingavi-Ed-Tr/dp/0670087173/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434313847&sr=1-1&keywords=Angaaray

and Worldcat http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/880831323

** 2015 May 17 Sun. p. 10 Cloud covered stars (Bengalis remember their artists only selectively, Ruchir Joshi

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150517/jsp/opinion/story_20470.jsp#.VX3dgTjbJ-U

Have a look at these 5 short videos from almost the End Of Voyage to arrival home in Ch'ville.

1.     https://youtu.be/A3w8YQafSuE Semester at Sea 2015 Truro trip from the Explorer 29th April

2.     https://youtu.be/351lagHG0Dw Happy May Day 2015 [Flowers, flowers, flowers]

3.     https://youtu.be/iFD-ibcy628 St Ives Sails

4.     https://youtu.be/PvhSwTEteO4 Queen Mary 2. A week in May (2015)

5.     https://youtu.be/VtALFq-NPXs  Semester at Sea Spring 2015 Heading home to Virginia in May

--Philip McEldowney

Yes, I really enjoy Mary C L's beautiful, unique photos and her subjects she carefully selects and composes great images.

I still haven't read “Deer Hunting with Jesus;” and you enjoyed recently reading the non-academic book "Crazy Rich Asians" Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Deer-Hunting-Jesus-Dispatches-Americas/dp/0307339378/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434314253&sr=1-1&keywords=Deer+Hunting+with+Jesus 
Worldcat: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/79002718

Worldcat: http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/808628122
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Rich-Asians-Kevin-Kwan/dp/0345803787/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434314420&sr=1-3&keywords=Crazy+Rich+Asians
 

In addition, here is the Worldcat list of books which we have received from South Asia, but not all are catalog as yet at the University of Virginia.
The bibliographic list is here on the Internet http://people.virginia.edu/~pm9k/area-studies/SouthAsia/new/20150528SouthAsiaBooks.html
and its title list and individual titles can be found at https://www.worldcat.org/profiles/uvalibrary/lists/3556705

That's it for now. --PMc

Everyday Home / Work, June 2015

2015 06 29 Monday
* Back to work.  Computer scan day as Peter comes down and starts scanning for malware on my office computer.  Takes most of the day until 4:30 pm. 
* Walk with Sandy and Deej talking bout posture, home access to media (cable, Amazon, computer to TV wire, Sling, HD antenna, etc.)
* Susan Heams  of HR calls about 2:30, are you retired, then why getting Va Retirement program monthly chcck? She'll look into it further
* To Yoga for oatmeal, Rebecca's for no fiber also, then CVS has it, over  to get mangos from Chinese store, and strawberry juice at Mexican store
* Made new anti-fungal copper mix, figuring a 1 to 4 ratio, spray grapes as two balloons fly over head
* Make garbonzo spicey stew, which Deej thinks too hot, to eat with her tonduri chicken
* Find it impossible to do sugar strawberries under her hyper critical tight control

2015 06 28 Sunday
*Usual breakfast
* I've reconnected with Dan and other SAS librarians on Facebook
* Help her vaccum by moving the blue couch
* Mohammed selects none of the 4 new Cairo lists which I send out
* Hangout starting with Nadeem, then Bill on and off, then Suzanne T H who's barely on there about 2:35 for 5 minutes as Bill leaves.  Nadeem fubles around for topics - but gay marriage and Obamace work, then monsoon and leeches, and rain on tin roofs. The landslide outside Parker Hall in ? 1949?
* Walk heading south and around old and new Zion Church area

2015 06 27 Saturday 
* Try Facetming with Julie but doesn't work - so do about a half hour over Facebook video
* Walk at 4 pm to the north with Deej - go up for Belmont Park block party around 6:15, but it's canceled. I stick around at part and take videos of scooter girl and the mother complains. I go back and talk to her to assure her that I'm local and live at 501 Druid, other large woman butts in and asks me to delete all - I agree, but I don't know how to do it on my new camera like she wants me to. Go home, upload files, and delete the videos and then copies from the Trash.  Soon McFarlan? comes by and talks with me and Deej; hope everything's settled, okay
* Go to garden, weeding more of last quarter, spraying cucmcumbers, and loading / bringing 4 wheelbarrow loads for mulch, as Emerald next door works on her garden, wanting water for her new seedlings.

2015 06 26 Fri
* No work - Home sick - also Deej

2015 06 25 Thurs
* Academic Engagement AE meets about Scholars Lab and scholars' digital research productions
* First look at the long range of shelves to decide which ones to keep and which discard - bit task
* Went by long line of Cavalier fans going to welcome heroes of the College Baseball Championship win - held at John Paul Jones arena
* bought and cooked 2 lbs of shrimp for supper
* Made June Win Week 2015 little video on garden, Fred's retirement, and the Win for UTube and Facebook
* Deej likes the Belmont Park cloud

2015 06 24 Wed
* Went and worked in the garden about an hour after work, mainly weeding with scuffle hoe, picked one cucumber.  Also weeded SSE flowers.  Deej planted zucchini in two hills
* Watched Cavalier's win College Baseball Championship until 11:45 pm

2015 06 23 Tuesday
* Meetings. First with supervisor Chris R in her office, some on my changing role, report on my monthly re-entry.  Second with Global Studies languages - Nawang reported on his Tibetan work and I wrote 4-page report and reported on my work with Middle East and South Asian languages and the Anthro, Rel St, and History department language needs and management.

2015 06 22 Monday
* First blossoms of Rose of Sharon
* Wrote draft of monthly work and met with supervisor Chris R for 1/2 hour
* Started writing report on my job and languages in the library for the Global Studies meeting tomorrow
* Did four washes
* Lisa's brother Victor died of liver problems
* Walked with Sandy and Deej
* Sprinkled but no rain - could not mow

2015 06 21 Sunday, Summer Solstice, Father's Day, Terri's birthday
* Hangout with Nadeem, Gil, David, and eventually audio with Betty - 5 of us on! Discussed weather, water, books (Moby Dick of 6 months study at Woodstock and Carl Sandburg paper), and Sandburg's songs (my and David son's 'my name is yon yonson'), memories of good Woodstock teachers, David teaching his two roomates Solid Geometry, monsoon in Florida, the Charleston tragedy (David posted David Niose's article about anti-intellecturalism in America on Facebook), the destruction of good architectural buildings in India and Delhi (including some of Charles Correa, who died just recently in the middle of June 2015, and who was a close associate of David's father), and how Internet communication is not just providing content but also changing our brains (see Shallows by Nicolas Carr http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/) Again an interesting hour long conversation.
* Fix kitchen faucet, getting repair kit at Lowe's
* Do some more weeding at garden, and forked some in back yard and planted marigolds
* Tim called about the computer and Father's Day; Julie posted 3 old and one recent photo of me and the kids

2015 06 20 Saturday
* Worked in the garden, planting flower seeds (marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos) along the south east corner; carted in two wheel barrels of mulch which Deej use to mulch corn, etc. She sprayed cucumber for bugs also, and planted two new hills of cucumber seeds
* Deej made bbq chicken breasts for the next two / three days
* UVa baseball won game putting them in the final College World Series against Vanderbilt
* I created a video 'Color' with 45 seconds on recent flower photos and put it on UTube, Facebook
* Anand is in Rome for a month teaching, also traveling around Europe

2015 06 19 Friday
* Got Arabic ordered books to Judy in Acquisition and Lok Subha directory to annual serials
* Reviewed 4 issues of library magazines
* Mailed in 2015 Fed taxes and tried working on Virginia taxes
* Calvin Hsu has left the building
* Cavs lost to Florida the World Baseball series
* Planted moon flowers while Deej mowed front yard
* Cooked the last 2 pork chops

2015 06 17 Thursday
* Completed donated book title, worked on new books for public display
* Worked on trying to do electronic Fed taxes
* Talked to Dell guy for almost an hour, arranged for new $1330 XPS 8700 iCore 7 Windows 7 12GB and 2TB, but won't come until June 29.  Got Aqueel to start at their $799 base price
* Ate the last of Deej's kale / bean / sausage soup with one of the pork chops

2015 06 16 Wed
* Worked on and produced an image poem with the dragonfly on catmint

2015 06 15 Monday
* Back to work - new Middle East and Pakistan books
* Finished blog on yesterdays hangout with rain and recent garden videos attaching garden plot plans
* Exchanged my TV box hoping to get the DVR program to work
* Walked to Corner, but even CVS did not have good local postcards

2015 06 14 Sunday
* Loafed around until about 11:45 am
* Garden - scuffle hoed weeds among corn sprouts, dug 7 squash/zucchini holes and Deej planted each, planted two okra rows, while Deej planted flowers (cosmos, marigolds, and zenias) along the south west fence.
* Hangout at 2 didn't start as the Mac wouldn't configure for video conferencing, finally got on around 2:20 on the red I-Pad 2 with Nadeem and hanged out with him for about an hour - rain, water,  books, and cameras.
* Went to the downtown mall and saw the insect photos hung in the trees - a colleague of Kathy H's in Mosambique.  Walked home to get my 10,000 steps.

2015 06 13 Saturday
*No UVa work
* Facebook - took a photo of my two ship ids and put up a post - Please don't use my ids, China, US, etc
* Tried to get DVR to work on my TV. Argued with Comcast about refund for no DVD; technician said box is broken and I told him I take the Scientific Am box in and exchange for a Cisco one
* Swept the kitchen floor as Deej asked
* Too hot to mow or garden (it showed 99.5 at 1 pm); watched UVa beat Arkansas in World baseball, bought cards and HD antenna and selfie stick. 
* Cut up and ate mango for afternoon snack
* Walked late evening and then night - about 3500 steps each so over 10,00 today again
* Trying to figure out Dell past and future computers
* Found address to send the Panasonic DMC-ZS40K to in McAllen Tx

2015 06 12 Friday
* Work 1)- Persian (10?) books, looked through, made 2 copy Xeroxes, located in Alderman ; Pakistan, about 10 English books, also located in Alderman with green circled slips
* Work 2) - emailed and put on Facebook my video and photos of the Monday 8 June 2015 Awards ceremony, which Suzanne B asked if she could link to - yes.
* Walked without Deej, who did not show up by 3:30 pm, it had rained some. Went to Corner, but even CVS did not have good postcards, and Mincers had none
*Home  - did not get out 2-week recycling bin in time, neither did Ned, though both of us rushed out at 7:20 am but missed the pickup
*Finance - paid for medical, house taxes, and Principal insurance online through Credit Union

2015 06 11 Thursday
*Work.  Put in a fund request (adjusted) for Pakistan / Iran Overseas operations, reduced from about $10,000 monographs to $3,000, in order to use AL-APV-SA fund of $4,206 at the end of the year
*Work 2) moved PL480 books for review or 'decision' from end of  wall to side wall with Jean C's help; but she's designated books as anti-PC as 'problem' books such as "Arabic problem books" whereas French books are not designated as 'problem books' !
*Walked with Sandy and Deej at 2:15 to 2:45 between my 1 pm AE Team meeting over at Clemons learning for an hour about 3rd floor digital, video, sound offerings, and 3 pm re-location of shelfing
*Home Made a lentil, chicken curry supper, had to run out and get ginger (and hot pepper) so I also got large dark Bacardi run and 2 smaller mango rums.  Cut up a mango for the curry desert.

Hangout - 26th October 2014

Today's Hangout (see banner) was only with Nadeem S - from about 2:12 - 2:42 pm Sunday afternoon. As he said, we seem to easily find plenty to talk about, any session. So we discusssed Weather, tulsi leaves and neem sticks, Simone Porter's debut at the Nashville symphony this weekend, books (Kansas), medicines (malarone), fruits, and Nainsukh Pahari painter.

(Skip these crazy photos and see the post below) Goofing off while waiting for others to join - https://picasaweb.google.com/104313877083935493139/20141030#6075984071233906050

Still dry in southern Calif - and a mild fall here, with no freezes yet, with lots of people putting up great fall leave color photos. Talk of ginko trees who shed all their leaves in one evening each year, as different from other trees.  Which led Nadeem to mention another very ancient plant (Ginko) / animal, the 'silver fish' which eat books and paper.  Which led me to mention that some donated books from a Bihar Legislator had tulsi leaves to keep out silver fish. So, Nadeem asked if I had ever brushed my teeth with neem twigs, which all his friends in India insisted he try at least once - he said it was very bitter (like Tulsi leaves).  But I never have yet tried it, though people are seen brushing their teeth in the morning at Indian railway stations, and the sticks are always sold at the stations.

Nadeem said he was scheduled to go to a concert in the afternoon there, which led me to mention that

Simone Porter had a great review of her debut with the Nashville symphony, Friday and Saturday. Uncharacteristic of classical concerts, one fan yelled out "Yeah" in the middle of Simone's performance. See http://artsnash.com/classicalmusic/violinist-simone-porter/

I again told Nadeem I had not read the "Deer Hunter's" book. and he asked me to look into the book "What's the matter with Kansas" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003J4VEM2?btkr=1

This last week Deej and I went for our medical review - what we need to do to prepare for the Semester at Sea round the world voyage Spring 2015 - typhoid, Japanese encepilitis, polio, malaria pills, rabies, etc. I said I was taking Malarone, and am presently taking the 4 oral typoid pills which will protect me for 5 years.

Nadeen asked if I could see the tree over his left shoulder which is in his neighbor's yard, which is a sita phul or custard apple tree (Annona squamosa) - which I could see. He says the fruiting season is in late November or such and his neighbor shares the fruit. He also mentioned a purple berry which he loves and is Syzygium cuminic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syzygium_cumini), and whose Indian name is jaman as is gulab jaman. I mentioned that I love ber in India, but have never seen it outside of India - he says it is Bair, but that looks round compared to my memories of oblong fruit, but maybe there are different versions.  http://www.urdumania.net/health-tips/fruits-and-vegetables/bair-fruit-jujube-fruit-health-benefits.php

This last Thursday John Seyller (U of Vermont) gave a lecture on Indian art, titled the "Mughal Influence in the early works of Nainsukh" which was very interesting.  I could not locate the lecture but it should be findable with Google using "nainsukh UVa"  Nadeem found this site http://vinaaef.mihanblog.com/extrapage/articleioro And I append a description at the very bottom of this post of this painting from the lecture

And other things - but it was getting late (2:40) and Nadeem needed to get ready for his concert; and Deej wanted me to climb up the ladder and clear off the leaves of the south roof and gutters; similar to how we had climbed up the ladder and sprayed the moss clumps all over the north roof yesterday in order to kill it all.

19th Oct. 2014 Hangout (generic banner above) from Madison, Wi. I have made efforts to keep these "chai at the e-Quad" Hangouts going weekly at 2 pm (eastern), and I even succeeded in hosting it and getting it going under difficult circumstances last week (19 Oct 2014) though I was in Madison, Wi at the South Asia Conference, and had to reserve a special room at the Hotel.  It was  a very private small room with a little bathroom on the 3rd floor and called Mother's room.  Gil and Nadeem joined me at 1 pm (mid-west time) and we talk of hiking, accidents, deaths at Woodstock, But also of several other things.  So the Hangouts continue.








Description of the Nainsukh painting desplayed above:
"Rani on a Terrace is Presented with Falcons. Attributed to Nainsukh, Guler, ca. 1746-48. Courtesy of the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art Hyderabad, India.

Falcons as a painting subject were introduced into Indian painting by the Mughal tribe. Nainsukh of Guler was the son of the renowned Pahari painter Pandit Seu, and himself a central figure in the development of Pahari painting in the middle of the 18th century. New readings of previously undeciphered inscriptions on a series of paintings of individual falcons now attribute them to Pandit Seu and his sons, Manaku and Nainsukh. In this talk, Seyller will discuss how this series of falcon paintings—now established to be among the earliest works in Nainsukh's long and illustrious career—set the stage for his profound absorption of Mughal compositions, figure types, and surface effects in the 1740s."

Here's the banner for the 12th Oct 2014 Hangout (hang gliding at the hangout - don't get stuck in the world wide web!)

Hangout - 21 September 2014

     Sunday, 21st Sept 2014, our Hangout mainly talked around topics of various books, see below.  The week before (14 Sept 2014) we were nicely surprised to see and talk with Robert B., besides others.  At least for a few minutes, before he had to go off and practice for his concert or soiree the coming Sunday.


     Our friend Jim R. wrote about the concert at Robert's house  "Louise and I were among the special invitees to a musical soiree at the lovely home of Robert B. and his wife Suzanne J.  Robert on piano (my he is good!) and equally gifted musician friends on two violins, a viola and a cello, treated us to amazing renditions of Beethoven’s Piano Trio Op. 1, No. 3, and Dvorak’s Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81.  Wow!  I don’t think I’ve ever heard such difficult music played with such professional acumen."


     The Hangout on the 21st Sept centered around talk of different topics of books. In some ways it was a continuation of some of the discussions we had at the central Virginia Curry Club chai the day before (20th Sept 2014 in Crozet at Betsy's). During the Hangout, Nadeem offered up several he has read and liked. Betty C. told about her on-going project to write a children's book about Rajasaurus, a dinosaur discovered in Jabalpur (where we lived in central India). I mentioned several 'new' books written by people connected with Woodstock.  And Bill described and gave his review of "The End of Chet" - a book we had discussed earlier and was / is available on Amazon for 99 cents, Kindle edition.


     Otheriwise - Gordon and Marguerite showed us photos of the recent celebration of the wedding annivarsary - including one photo of cake's icing - an amazing real B&W photo icing on the cake. Had to see it to believe it.  Marguerite asked "whatever happened to the ghost book Stephen Alter was writing?' Nadeem said, not Stephen, but Ruskin Bond has written or collected writings on ghosts.  See a reference to it in the list below.


     David S was briefly on one of the recent Hangouts, just at the beginning, and mentioned his and Achva's trip, visit, and attending a "glorious Bach cantata performance by Avi's group at St. Paul's chapel" on the other side (from California) of the US in mid-September. (Avi is their son).


Books and other stuff with some sort of connection to Woodstock (India) On 21 September 2014 (P. McEldowney) Random order.


1. Small wild goose pagoda (IA Sealy) 2. Mountainous sound spaces (A Alter) 3. Out of Line )R. Memon) 4. A House Called Askival (M Glover) 5. Hill vale and many a tale (N. Venkatraman) 6. Motor cycling 7. There and back (M Hackney) 8. Becoming a mountain (S Alter) 9. Season of Ghosts (R Bond) 10. Deer Hunting with Jesus (J Bageant) 11. A Lind's Blog 12. Rajasaurus


1. The Small wild goose pagoda : an almanac. Author: Irwin Allan Sealy.
Publisher: New Delhi : Aleph Book Company, 2014.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/889577850
OCLC Number: 889577850. Description: 289 pages.
Responsibility: Irwin Allan Sealy.
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/09/08/the-small-wild-goose-pagoda-by-irwin-allan-sealy/


2. Mountainous sound spaces : listening to history and music in the Uttarakhand Himalayas
Author: Andrew Alter. Publisher: New Delhi, India Foundation Books, 2014.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/885147772
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/09/08/mountainous-sound-spaces-by-andrew-alter/


3. Out of Line. Author: Ritu Menon.
Publishers: Harper Collins India (not available in the US as yet)
http://www.harpercollins.co.in/Miniwebsite/BookDetail.asp?Book_Code=4741&TB_iframe=true&width=570&height=390
Extent:    312  pages. Category: Biography
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/09/08/out-of-line-by-ritu-menon/


4. A House Called Askival
Author: Merryn Glover. Publisher: Glasgow : Freight Books, 2014.
Edition/Format:  eBook : Document : Fiction :     
An elegant, moving and heartfelt love letter to the sights, sounds and tastes of northern India told through the enthralling story of the troubled relationship between a father and daughter stretching from Partition to the present day. James Connor is a man who, burdened with guilt following a tragic event in his youth, has dedicated his life to serving India. Ruth Connor is his estranged daughter who, as a teenager, always knew she came second to her parents' missionary vocation and rebelled, with equally tragic consequences. After 24 years away, Ruth finally returns to Askival, the fam.
ISBN:  9781908754608 1908754605. OCLC Number: 881570849
Notes: Description based upon print version of record. Description: 1 online resource (490 p.)    
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/06/04/a-house-called-askival-by-merryn-glover/
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/881570849


5. Film - "Hill vale and many a tale" Director: Neela Venkatraman
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/06/04/hill-vale-and-many-a-tale/


6. motor cycling (web site)
From : MOTORCYCLE TOURS, DOMA'S INN, LANDOUR, MUSSOORIE
http://www.mussooriewriters.com/2014/09/08/built2ride/


7. There and back again: A memoir of 20 years in India. Author: Mark Hackney.
Publisher: Tate Publishing, 2014. 192 p. Also as eBook
https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781627467339
ISBN 9781627467339.  "A memoir of 20 years in India" Coming Oct 28th, 2014


8. Becoming a Mountain: Himalayan Journeys in Search of the Sacred and the Sublime
Author: Stephen Alter. Hardcover: 320 pages. Publisher: Arcade Publishing (March 3, 2015)
Language: English. ISBN-10: 1628725109. ISBN-13: 978-1628725100
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/884815042
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Mountain-Himalayan-Journeys-Sublime/dp/1628725109/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411336816&sr=8-1&keywords=Stephen+Alter+mountain


9. Season of Ghosts. Author: Ruskin Bond
Publisher: New Delhi ; New York, NY : Viking, 1999. OCLC: 44564086    
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44564086
http://www.amazon.com/Season-Ghosts-Ruskin-Bond/dp/0140287841/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1411337478&sr=8-1
Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Motilal UK Books of India; 1 edition (June 1, 2000)
Language: English ISBN-10: 0140287841 ISBN-13: 978-0140287844
Kindle ($9.99) and Hardbound editions available.
Note: Nine short stories of the supernatural and one mystery novella.
See also http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/59986841
Ruskin Bond's Penguin book of Indian ghost stories (1993)


10. Deer Hunting with Jesus. Author: Joe Bageant. Publisher: London : Portobello Books, 2008.
Print Length: 290 pages Page Numbers Source ISBN: 030733936X Publisher: Broadway Books; Reprint edition (June 24, 2008)
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/228581470
http://www.amazon.com/Deer-Hunting-Jesus-Delusion-Redneck-ebook/dp/B0015DWNMY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411337754&sr=8-1&keywords=deer+hunting+with+jesus
Summary:  After thirty years spent scratching together a middle-class life out of a dirt-poor childhood, Joe Bageant moved back to his hometown of Winchester, Virginia, where he realized that his family and neighbors were the very people who carried George W. Bush to victory. That was ironic, because Winchester, like countless American small towns, is fast becoming the bedrock of a permanent underclass. Two in five of the people in his old neighborhood do not have high school diplomas. Nearly everyone over fifty has serious health problems, and many have no health care. Credit ratings are low or nonexistent, and alcohol, overeating, and Jesus are the preferred avenues of escape


11. Anne Lind's blog (back at Woodstock September 2014)
http://anne-india.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-morning-in-delhi.html
http://anne-india.blogspot.com/


12. Rajasaurus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasaurus
Dinosaurs of India. author: Ashok Sahni. Paperback - January 1, 2001
Publisher: New Delhi : National Book Trust, India, 2001. Print: ix, 110 p., [12] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 22 cm.
ISBN: 8123731094 : 9788123731094. OCLC: 743693885
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/743693885
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-India-Ashok-Sahni/dp/8123731094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411357035&sr=8-1&keywords=dinosaurs+india+sahni  $.80
See this 110 page book, which says British Captain and local administrator William Sleeman discovered the Bara Simla, Jabalpur dinosaur in 1828. But the author Ashok Sahni does not as yet (in 2001) identify those bones, eggs as Rajasaurus. He would in about 7 more years along with other scientists.

Hangout - chai at the e-Quad Sunday 31 August 2014

On the "chai at the e-Quad" Hangout (yesterday, Sunday 31 August 2014) we discussed computers and printers, PCs vs Apple.  Software for switching between Apple and Microsoft (Word and other) programs. Simon Porter, child prodigy now turned 17, playing violin at her debut at the Hollywood Bowl (daughter of a good friend of Philip's - he is Anand Yang, history professor at University of Washington.) Books and movies read or to read, seen or to see.  Communists - old and new, bad or okay. And other things.

HP printer 600 series with blue tooth - which Bill K loves and uses with his devices, including his I-Mac
This might be Bill's new 27" iMac ?
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ME089LL-27-Inch-Desktop-VERSION/dp/B00746WPXI/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409513542&sr=1-3&keywords=apple+computers

Nadeen might recommend? these Apple laptops for Helen to use with Microsoft Word and her other software, instead of another PC
**13 inch MacBook Air
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MD760LL-13-3-Inch-VERSION/dp/B00746Z6RK/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409513614&sr=1-7&keywords=apple+computers
**13 inch MacBook Pro
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MacBook-MGX72LL-13-3-Inch-Display/dp/B0096VDM8G/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409513744&sr=1-1&keywords=apple+computers

Nadeem's $29 software to go back and forth between systems?

Simon Porter at the LA Hollywood Bowl - debut. (daughter of my close friend Anand Yang)
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-ca-simone-porter-20140831-story.html
She's also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simone.porter.73?fref=ts and sends out posts
For her father see either http://jsis.washington.edu/faculty/aay.shtml
or History Department with bibliography http://depts.washington.edu/history/people/54

Books -
End of Chet, (99 cents on Kindle) recommended by Vance G. Vance's blub for his nephew's book below
http://www.amazon.com/End-Chet-Indian-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00L83GOZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409508598&sr=1-1&keywords=end+of+chet

"Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A novel" by Haruki Murakami
http://www.amazon.com/Colorless-Tsukuru-Tazaki-Years-Pilgrimage-ebook/dp/B00IHMEAYK/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1409513027&sr=1-1&keywords=colorless+tsukuru+tazaki+and+his+years+of+pilgrimage

Nadem recommended these movies -
A Most Wanted Man
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1972571/

Guardians of the Gallaxy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/

Helen raised the issue in an email after the Hangout - what will happen when Phil's on the Semester at Sea Spring 2015 voyage (click), can we continue this during Jan-May 2015?  I think it's highly unlikely because the ship has very poor Internet access, with a stipulation not to use Skype or Hangout or such while we are at sea.  The suggestion to have a Hangout when we are in port at different places, will depend on if we can easily and freely use the Internet in the ports (Japan - maybe yes. China - probably no). There will also be the time factor, eg if I'm in India, 2 pm Sunday eastern time will likely be about 12:30 am on Monday morning for me, etc. But it will be fun to try nonetheless.  I plan to have a blog which will let you know what's happening on the voyage.  What do you think of a Blog title of "twoseaTheworld" ?  

By the way, there is a good possibility we will not be going to the last two ports - in Ghana and Senegal because of the Ebola outbreak. #disappointed

Timeline of the Hangout - Bill K joined the Hangout about 2:15, Helen A beat Nadeem S by a minute coming on at 2:24 or so.  We had some problems with Helen's access fading in and out or freezing and going silent.  But not bad.  Helen left about 2:55 after wonderful contributions; and the 3 of us guys ended the Hangout about 3:05.
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Vance said -
"here is a short review i wrote for amazon

"The End of Chet is an exciting novel which will take you on a trip from
Chet's native Idaho to exotic India where his family story begins to unfold with some surprising twists and turns. The authors experiences and knowledge of Varanasi, Mumbai and Delhi are accurately written as though you were there. But, it is his trek into the foothills of the Himalayas to the hill town of Landour, Musssoorie and Woodstock School where he discovers some family secrets that will hook the reader. When he returns to Delhi he confronts these mysteries head on.

 

"Forgiveness brings him back to Idaho and his mother. The story, the book is gripping and heartfelt taking the reader on the author's journey with first hand knowledge of India and the heart. A love element with a beautiful Indian girl is woven throughout. You will not want to put the book down. At the end you may find your copy a bit tear stained. I lived in the hill town he describes for three years. The author is authentic in his understanding of the people, the country, the languages and the vibrant colors of the India we both love."

Garden 2014 Azalea Park plot Plan

Here's a plan of our garden, which we develooped in the Spring 2014, for our garden plot in Azalea Park, Charlottesville, Va

Garden Spring 2013

Here's a plan of our garden for the present in Azalea Park, Charlottesville, Va.

[Apologies for the misspelling of Zinnia in the above graphic!]

We planted zucchini, cuke, melon, and okra seeds yesterday (Wed, 29 May 2013), and watered the tomato and pepper plants.  Also cleared out the north middle edge for some more flower seeds.

This Spring has had its ups and downs.  In April we tilled the entire garden (except some onion and garlic subplots), and planted some lettuce and radishes, and late May two pea rows.  But then it rained and rained for most of May. 

Finally went to the garden around the 20th of May, - mowed down weeds and did more tilling of un-planted areas.  Then planted tomatoes, peppers (in the NW quadrant), and two rows of beans in the SW quadrant.  Also planted double rows of flowers along the edges, except in the NE corner along the fence where cosmos, zinnia, and marigolds had been planted.  Weeded by hand the cosmos and marigolds, though the zinnia did not come up or were overwhelmed by weeds.

That's where we are at the end of May, just before our week long trip to the beach.  Deej says we should tell Anne to pick peas while we are gone.