2018.07.05 13:00 - Baking with Gilgamesh

The Guardian for this meeting was Eliza Madrigal. The comments are by Eliza Madrigal.

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Riddle :) Happy Thursday
Riddle Sideways: hi Eliza
Riddle Sideways: it is a pretty happy Thursday
Eliza Madrigal: Is it? :)
Riddle Sideways: eating lunch, wondering if a book is being read-discussed
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Storm :)
Eliza Madrigal: Wow!! Hi Tura @@
Riddle Sideways: Hey Storm and Tura
Storm Nordwind: Hi Eliza!
Riddle Sideways: Wonderful Av
Storm Nordwind: Hi... thing Tura
Storm Nordwind: Well that was quite an entrance :)
Riddle Sideways: oh, you could have stayed that avi
Eliza Madrigal: somehow charming and friendly
Tura Brezoianu: A free av from Cica Ghost's latest installation
Storm Nordwind: And not so slimy we couldn't have cleared it up
Eliza Madrigal: Oooh, that's great
Eliza Madrigal grins

Which Book? When?

Eliza Madrigal: You asked about books before, Riddle, and I don't think we have one currently
Eliza Madrigal: though some ideas bantered
Eliza Madrigal: I'm not able to organize something week by week, but maybe 2019
Eliza Madrigal: Really interested in reading the Path book. Storm do you think that's conducive to group study?
Storm Nordwind: Hmm... I think so. But I'm biased perhaps because I liked it!
Storm Nordwind: I gained a lot from it, but YMMV
Eliza Madrigal: Can you give a fresh run through, for consideration of those who don't know much about it?
Storm Nordwind: Oh my word... be patient then!
Eliza Madrigal: If not, don't worry :) But I think it would be helpful

Will 'The Path' be our goal?

Storm Nordwind: The Path is by Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh
Storm Nordwind: Its subtitle is What Chinese Philsophers can teach us about the good life
Storm Nordwind: And it's based on a course that Prof Puett gives at Havard,
Storm Nordwind: very popular by all accounts
Storm Nordwind: It considers a bunch of ancient philosophers though some have religions that came out of them
Storm Nordwind: And debunks quite a few misunderstandings.
Riddle Sideways: Hey Bleu
Storm Nordwind: But above all, it is extremely practical
Bleu Oleander: hi all :)
Tura Brezoianu: hi Bleu
Eliza Madrigal: Seems right up our alley! That is, if you and Bleu are not already tired of it
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Bleu :)
Storm Nordwind: And I've applied several lessons from it to my daily life.
Storm Nordwind: And it even made me understand what role-playing via avatars was all about in Second Life!

Storm Nordwind: There are 9 chapters
Storm Nordwind: (I have it in front of me)
Eliza Madrigal: (Bleu, Storm is telling about The Path, in possible consideration for book reading)
Storm Nordwind: Chapter titles are:
Bleu Oleander: ah ok ... really liked that book
Storm Nordwind: The Age of Complacency
Storm Nordwind: The Age of Philosophy
Storm Nordwind: On relationships: Confucius and As-If rituals
Bleu Oleander: would be happy to re-read if we decide to do it as a group :)
Eliza Madrigal: yay
Storm Nordwind: On Decisions: Mencius and the capricious world
Storm Nordwind: On Influence, Laozi and generating worlds
Storm Nordwind: On vitality: the inward training and Being like a spirit
Storm Nordwind: On spontaneity: Zhuangzhu and a World of Transformation
Storm Nordwind: On Humanity: Xinzi and putting pattern on the world
Storm Nordwind: The Age of Possibility
Storm Nordwind: Done

Riddle Sideways: thank you
Eliza Madrigal: thanks so much!
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: BTW Each chapter is 20-30 small pages long
Eliza Madrigal: "practical" seems perfect too... something for us to carry around and work with
Riddle Sideways: so small chapters would be pretty group for group

Storm Nordwind: Bleu would you say that some things in the book are practical and can be applied to modern day living?
Bleu Oleander: yes for sure
Eliza Madrigal: the avatarness angle is intriguing too
Storm Nordwind: That comes early, Eliza, in the Confucius chapter
Riddle Sideways: and understanding role playing stuff
Bleu Oleander: if how one thinks is considered practical and can be applied to modern living ... yes for sure :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: like the idea of small, workable chapters too
Storm Nordwind: There's still a fair amount of reading. And I think we'd have to see whether chapter a week is too much or not.
Eliza Madrigal: I think that I will still be able to attend sessions every Thursday

Storm Nordwind: Around 190 8'x5' pages
Storm Nordwind: No
Storm Nordwind: wait!
Storm Nordwind: 8"x5"
Eliza Madrigal waits
Eliza Madrigal: hha
Storm Nordwind: Damned imperial system
Riddle Sideways: 8 foot book
Eliza Madrigal: SL proportions
Storm Nordwind: hehe
Bleu Oleander: book is 225 pages ... 2 hours 46 minutes to read approx.
Bleu Oleander: according to kindle :)
Eliza Madrigal: Kindle is surprisingly accurate I find
Bleu Oleander: yes
Storm Nordwind: Surprisingly accurate for "approx" ;)
Riddle Sideways: study time is longer
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Eliza Madrigal: true
Storm Nordwind: Application time could be permanent ;)
Bleu Oleander: indeed
Eliza Madrigal: that's the best selling point

Other Contenders?

Eliza Madrigal: Are there some other contenders? This is just the one that has stuck to my mind
Storm Nordwind: Yes, do we have other candidate books?
Storm Nordwind: btw the paperback of The Path is currently $9.48 on Amazon Prime
Bleu Oleander: I have many I could recommend but am happy to let others suggest
Eliza Madrigal: I'll read this eventually either way, so anything okay by me too :)

Eliza Madrigal: No need to keep just to this topic today either! :)
Riddle Sideways: you have another topic?
Eliza Madrigal shakes head, just wanted to hang out ^.^
Riddle Sideways: yep, lunch is eaten

Riddle Sideways: there was a list of books before the last one was selected
Eliza Madrigal: recall that too
Eliza Madrigal: but not the books :)
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: That was before I returned to SL and PaB. So I'd be interested to hear what was on it. :)
Eliza Madrigal: I did start reading a book on creativity today, but the kind of book you can put down and pick up here and there
Eliza Madrigal: Big Magic. I've wanted to read it since I liked Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Genius te
Eliza Madrigal: TED talk (oops hit by mistake)
Storm Nordwind: I have to be careful reading books on creativity, as for me they can easily turn into creativity procrastination!

Gilgamesh 
(Kindle version less than $10 as well)

Bleu Oleander: I think I had suggested the Epic of Gilgamesh
Eliza Madrigal: Yes, Bleu! That was another strong contender
Eliza Madrigal: can definitely understand the sentiment about creativity books too - it is just that the one talk so inspired me that I go back to it like a ritual now and then :)
Bleu Oleander: the book, the Buried Book about Gilgamesh is very good, for those that are interested
Eliza Madrigal: "The Buried Book" is the title?
Bleu Oleander: yes
Storm Nordwind: Oh! I'll put my shovel away then.
Eliza Madrigal grins
Eliza Madrigal: I think Mick really liked the idea of reading Gilgamesh
Bleu Oleander: a very good translation of Gilgamesh is the norton critical edition translated by Benjamin R. Foster (for those interested, not necessarily for the PaB sessions)
Tura Brezoianu: My shovel brought up two books of that title, but the one is "The Buried Book: The Loss and Rediscovery of the Great Epic of Gilgamesh"
Bleu Oleander: yes that's it
Eliza Madrigal: ty!
Bleu Oleander: by Damrosch
Storm Nordwind: Still a little sand on the cover I see ;)
 

Must Ask Mick and Aggers

Bleu Oleander: a thought for whatever title we choose, is that we could coordinate an art gallery show with it?
Eliza Madrigal: seems a nice idea
Eliza Madrigal: nice when the projects have different expressions of appreciation
Bleu Oleander: yes!
Eliza Madrigal: Wonder what might be the best time line for everyone... guess I can send a link to email and ask for feedback?
Eliza Madrigal: both on book and the when
Eliza Madrigal: I can't take on much until November/December, but it shouldn't be much to attend a session if required reading portions are not too long
Bleu Oleander: are we thinking to have sessions on thursdays only?
Eliza Madrigal: hopefully the Monday/Thursday pattern could continue... but would have to see with Mick and Aggers
Bleu Oleander: it seemed a little too much to me, but will go with the flow :)
Eliza Madrigal: :) the main benefit is people who can't make one might make the other
Bleu Oleander: should probably ask Mick and Aggers?
Riddle Sideways: the Monday/Thursday did help with those busy Thursday
Eliza Madrigal nods

Eliza Madrigal: brb pizza
Riddle Sideways: ooooo pizza
Storm Nordwind: yum
Bleu Oleander: what toppings?
Bleu Oleander: anchovies I hope LOL
Riddle Sideways: feta and olives

--BELL--

Storm Nordwind: Hopefully not that Canadian abomination they for some reason call Hawaiian
Bleu Oleander: ewww
Bleu Oleander: pineapple?
Riddle Sideways: and dead pig
Bleu Oleander: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_pizza
Storm Nordwind: Yes, the Canadians added the pineapple but it was only when they called it something more exotic that it took off.
Storm Nordwind: Home-made pizza is the best. But I have to leave about 3 hours to do it properly.

[For those very curious, spinach and goat cheese for mine, and the kids had a basic NY style with garlic rolls, HOWEVER, my daughters *lloooovveee* pinapple on their pizza. JUST pineapple :P]

Storm Nordwind: Obviously Eliza is munching through a 14" pizza by herself.
Bleu Oleander: LOL
Riddle Sideways: bread machine does the dough part
Riddle Sideways: not wanting pizza sauce into the keyboard
Storm Nordwind uses an almost identical recipe for pizza that he uses for naan bread
Riddle Sideways: oh that would be good
Eliza Madrigal: Hi :) Back... did take one bite, not gonna lie

Storm Nordwind: In general and sadly, Americans have never had good naan bread. Or rather I've never found authentic naan anywhere on my travels here.
Riddle Sideways: and you have the will power to let it set getting cold?
Eliza Madrigal: :) so far
Storm Nordwind: I think we all pile round Eliza's place before it does go cold
Eliza Madrigal: the simple recipe I have for naan works well with just lots of garlic
Eliza Madrigal: but I've not had that many types so am not a great judge
Riddle Sideways: garlic makes anything better
Eliza Madrigal: this is true
Storm Nordwind: True. Including walks through graveyards

There is a festival for everything :)

Bleu Oleander: what makes good naan bread? other than it tastes great?
Riddle Sideways: The Gilroy Garlic festival here even has garlic ice cream
Eliza Madrigal: @@
Eliza Madrigal: I must try that
Storm Nordwind: The ingredients Bleu mostly
Riddle Sideways: special flour?
Bleu Oleander: some ingredients tied to specific locations, like the water etc?
Storm Nordwind: You can use bread flour (I use King Arthurs). And Ideally you should cook in a Tandoor. But those are hard to comeby ;)
Eliza Madrigal: (just scrolled and no Bleu I didn't order anchovies but I keep my own to add!)
Bleu Oleander: phew!
Eliza Madrigal: ah, the cooking teacher insisted on King Arthur too, and a friend who tried to help me with proofing after I destroyed a challah
Storm Nordwind: You'll need some egg and some yogurt at the start. Some Kalonji seeds and cilantro at the end.
Bleu Oleander: even yogurt and eggs vary quite a bit for taste
Riddle Sideways: you destroyed a challah? how?
Eliza Madrigal: kalonji seeds?
Storm Nordwind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigella_sativa
Eliza Madrigal: I proofed it way too long, Riddle
Eliza Madrigal: either on the first or second rise, not sure... she gave me a guide for the next attempt
Eliza Madrigal: it *looked* pretty though
Storm Nordwind: Bulgarian yogurt works if you can't get authentic Indian
Eliza Madrigal: ::mind spinning with idea of new yogurts:::
Bleu Oleander: we do have an Indian source here and will look for that
Riddle Sideways: hmmm, Cilantro
Storm Nordwind: You'll get the Kalonji seeds from them too
Eliza Madrigal: this is a funny turn today, considering I was watching British baking last night ^.^
Storm Nordwind: hehe!
Eliza Madrigal: didn't realize nigella was the same
Storm Nordwind: And the British national dish has for the last 20-30 years is now an Indian dish ;)

Bleu Oleander: perhaps there was a segue a bit back from Gilgamesh :)
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Eliza Madrigal: "baking with gilgamesh"
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: ha!
Bleu Oleander: LOL
Bleu Oleander: I'd watch that :)
Tura Brezoianu: Write the book and you'll have a bestseller
Eliza Madrigal: who needs a thesis topic
Storm Nordwind: Bury your bread in the sand for two hours while it bakes
Bleu Oleander: while you go out and kill a monster LOL
Eliza Madrigal still giggling
Storm Nordwind: I have to depart I'm afraid. Thank you to whoever is hosting! And good to see you all :))
Tura Brezoianu: Make some clay pots to barter with your local camel herder for camel milk
Eliza Madrigal: bye Storm, have a nice evening
Bleu Oleander: bye Storm
Tura Brezoianu: bye Storm
Riddle Sideways: by friend
Bleu Oleander: should get going too
Bleu Oleander: nice to visit with you all
Eliza Madrigal grins at Tura and imagines the illustrations for our book
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Bleu, good to see you
Eliza Madrigal: cute :)
Bleu Oleander: bye bye
Tura Brezoianu: Do not leave the flower of immortality unguarded!
Eliza Madrigal: !!
Eliza Madrigal: bye for now <3
Riddle Sideways: by by
Tura Brezoianu: goodnight folks
Eliza Madrigal: night Tura :)