War, Readers, and the Fate of the Book Trade Lecture at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago hosted a lecture on War, Readers, and the Fate of the Book Trade with detailed discussion of these topics during World War II and what is currently happening in Ukraine on May 13, 2026.  

The role of libraries during these periods was also a part of this yearly lecture.

A write-up of this lecture and access to the full lecture can be found on the University of Chicago link below:

https://humanities.uchicago.edu/articles/2026/05/war-readers-and-fate-book-trade-andrew-pettegree-delivers-2026-paleography-and-book

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Theater’s Civic Role in a time of Transformation - UChicago Dean’s Salon Recap reposted by Ruth Paget

Theater’s Civic Role During a Time of Transformation was the topic of a Dean’s Salon held at the University of Chicago on April 16, 2026.

The write-up of this timely and thought-provoking session follows:

https://humanities.uchicago.edu/articles/2026/05/deans-salon-explores-theaters-civic-role-time-transformation

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Pinocchio Deconstructed and Much Elaborated Upon published by UChicago Press reposted by Ruth Paget

Pinocchio: Doubly Commented Upon and Triply Illustrated by Giorgio Agamben  is on sale now by the University of Chicago Press book sale till June 15, 2026.

Like Winnie the Pooh, the philosophical dilemma posed by Pinocchio takes Carlo Collodi’s story beyond the realm of children and into that of adults.

For more information about Agamben’s Pinocchio Doubly Commented Upon and Triply Illustrated and purchase details, click on the University of Chicago Press link below:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19e929eea2fec0c4

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopdticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Monterey Bonsai Festival on June 7, 2026 in Seaside, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The Monterey County Weekly Online Community Calendar announces the 63rd Annual Monterey Bonsai Club Festival at the Monterey Buddhist Temple in Seaside, California.

Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and trimming miniature trees that resemble fully grown ones.

Bonsai Master Teacher Katsumi Kinoshita will do a demonstration.  There will be a raffle and trees for sale at this enchanting multicultural event as well.

More information about the bonsai exhibition follows on the Monterey County Weekly website:

https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/monterey-bonsai-club-63rd-annual-exhibit/19008881/2026-06-07T12

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Curry Shrimp at Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Curry Shrimp with Rice from Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

I learned to love curry vegetables from my family’s Japanese exchange student Yumiko. She made curry with potatoes, carrots, and frozen peas, which Michigan had in abundance when I was in high school in Detroit.

Now that I live in Salinas (California), I can easily add shrimp from nearby Moss Landing fishing boats to seasonal vegetables at Golden Star Chinese Restaurant for a delicious dinner with an ingredient that has become a pan-Asian staple. 

Curry in India is really a spice blend made from whole roasted spices that are ground. This spice blend is called a garam masala. The English called garam masala curry. 

The curry name stuck and is used in Southeast for curry pastes. East Asia tends to use curry pastes even though they know how to make curry from spice blends with a corn starch slurry, if needed. 

Golden Star Chinese Restaurant has its own approach to the curry shrimp I love so well, especially since they have access to a cornucopia of seasonal vegetables. For a recent delivery order in spring, the curry shrimp came with the following vegetables: 

-onions 

-green peppers 

-broccoli 

-cauliflower 

-carrots

-mushrooms 

I referred to the Spruce Easts website for general information on how to put Chinese curry shrimp together, which describes the dish and should give home cooks a better idea of how to put curry shrimp together in a step-by-step fashion: 

1-soak shrimp with water, rinse, and dry 

2-blanch hardier vegetables in boiling water till tender crisp. The vegetable colors should remain bright. Place vegetables in cold water to stop their cooking and drain. 

3-heat oil a wok and add ginger as the aromatic for this dish and stir-fry. Add shrimp and stir-fry till pink. Remove the shrimp from the wok. 

4-Add more oil to the wok and heat. Add curry paste. Add onions and green peppers as your seasoning vegetables first. Follow with the rest of your vegetables in order of those with a longer cooking time first. 

5-when the vegetables are tender, add the shrimp back into the wok and heat till blazing hot. 

6-splash in rice wine or sherry and serve hot with rice on the side. 

For more detailed cooking instructions, refer to The Spruce Eats website below:

https://www.thespruceeats.com/chinese-curry-shrimp-695171

Curry shrimp at Golden Star in Salinas, California is delicious and promotes gut health thanks to the organic, seasonal vegetables and spices used to make the dish. 

Shrimp lovers might enjoy this spicy without being hot dish from Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

College Educated Mothers Spend 300 More Hours a Year Raising Children but Enjoy it Less - Chicago Booth Teview Podcast and Audio transcript reposted by Ruth Paget

College educated mothers spend 300 more hours per year raising children than less educated parents, but enjoy it less according to Ariel Kalil of the University of Chicago’s Harris Schoo of Public Policy on the Chicago Booth Review Podcast with audio transcript below:

The podcast is entitled: Who Has Time to be a Good Parent?

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/podcast/who-has-time-be-good-parent

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Solvang Viking Museum - 2 Replica Viking Ships on View reposted by Ruth Paget

Vacationers looking for an overnight recharge trip with a cultural outing to write about might be interested in the Solvang Viking Museum on California’s Central Coast.

One of the current exhibitions is about Viking ships.  Two reproduction ships the Snorri and Godfried are on view.

There is a weapons exhibit for lovers of Norse myths as well.

Minecraft players would probably find the whole town interesting and the Viking restaurants.

For more information, check out the Solvang Viking Museum website below:

https://solvangvikingmuseum.com/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games