ESCOM

Lifelong Learning - Lifelong Doing - Lifelong Friends

WELCOME TO ESCOM NEWS & CLUB NOTES

November/December 2022

Editor: Ellen Breazeale....breazeales@comcast.net

CAMPUS NEWS

.........................................................................................................

CLUB NOTES

......................................................................................................... 



No matter what your interest, there’s an ESCOM club that’s ‘right’ for you. 

Review the list below. See what’s being offered and

contact a club leader to join the group!

Most of the ESCOM clubs are continuing to meet via ZOOM but some

meet in person. Please access the ESCOM Club List for complete details.

Arlene Stark 

Philosophy of the Mind Club – Zoom

1st, 3rd & 5th Monday

10:00 am - noon

This club continues as a tribute to its esteemed late leader, Arlene Stark.

Discussions focus on Science and Philosophy.

We are currently viewing: 'The Learning Brain', a Great Courses 24-lecture series

taught by Thad A. Polk, Ph.D.

The course overview: In-depth and surprising lessons on how the brain learns and remembers. You begin your journey by focusing on which parts of the brain are responsible for different kinds of memory, from long-term memory for personal experiences and memorized facts to short-term memory, and how these

memory systems work on a psychological and biological level.

All interested are invited to participate and contribute.



Contact: Jay Conner greatferm@email.com

Photo Caption: Brain disease affects one in six people worldwide and includes a wide spectrum of diseases and disorders—from stroke and Alzheimer's to multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, traumatic

brain injury, and more.

Astronomy Club

2nd Monday

10:00 am - Noon

IVC ESCOM Center

The ESCOM Astronomy Club is engaged in learning about and discussing the (non-mathematical) current knowledge of the structure of the universe and its components.

This includes the different kinds and lives of stars, planets and planetary systems, asteroids and comets, galaxies and galaxy clusters, to name a few. 

We follow the contemporary discoveries of numerous active spacecraft

and earth-based and space-based telescopes which use the range of

the electro-magnetic spectrum. 

We learn and discuss about the hunt for exo-planets and the conditions for and

against the possibility of life existing elsewhere. 

Our format is roughly an hour of discussion and presentations of book reviews, contemporary space exploration events, and what

to look for in the current night sky. 

We are now engaged in the lecture series from the Great Courses

titled “A Field Guide to the Planets”, after which we discuss the material

covered and any contemporary discoveries that provide insights to the lecture.

Contact: Michael Patrick mdpatric@pacbell.net 415-456-2778

Photo Caption: What: Earth’s 23.5° tilt of its rotation axis, relative to its orbital plane of

the Sun, produces our seasons.  

When & Where: December Solstice - 21 December 2022 is the shortest day of the year in

the Northern Hemisphere and longest in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun shines

directly on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Distance: Earth is closest to the Sun, Perihelion, on 4 January 2023 at 91,404,034 miles.

Book Banter Book Club – Zoom

2nd Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Biographies, autobiographies and

semi-fictional biographies of lives

before and after WWI.

Nov. 9: 'The Six, The Mitford Sisters' -

Laura Thompson

     Dec. 14: Book Selection meeting for 2023

 Contact: Diana Davis: 

calekdiana@yahoo.com 415-897-4844 

Photo Caption: Jessica, Nancy, Diana, Unity, and Pamela Mitford in 1935. (The youngest of the six sisters, Deborah, is absent.) The sisters gained widespread attention for their stylish and controversial lives as young people, and for their public political divisions between communism and fascism.

Book Club Forum



4th Monday 1:00 - 3:00 pm

IVC ESCOM Center

Nov. 28: 'A pilgrimage to Eternity' - Timothy Egan

Dec. 26: 'Silent Patience' - Alex Michaelides

Contact: Louise Kerr 

lrkerr210@gmail.com  415-883-2823 

Photo Caption: from a review on Amazon.com...(the book) feels like it could be the big psychological thriller debut of 2019. The novel takes a few chapters to clear its throat and set the plot in motion, but once the tracks are laid it’s full steam ahead. Alicia Berenson is one-half of a glamorous couple—she’s an artist married to her fashion photographer husband, Gabriel. But when Gabriel returns home late one night, she shoots him five times in the face and refuses to speak again.

Book Club Marin County – Zoom



4th Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Note: While all meetings are scheduled to

end at 3:00 pm, the ending time is flexible.

Planned reading - always subject to change!

If anyone wishes to attend and purchase any of the selected books, they should feel free to contact Julio Burroughs to obtain book(s) via Book Passage

(to avoid shipping cost). 

Of course, if you prefer not to purchase, try the Marin Library (they have curbside service).

 If you are a library member, you also have access to Hoopla which has audio books. As in the past, we welcome suggestions for future readings!

Nov. 22: Three short stories (1) 'Nawabdin, Electrician', Daniyal Mueenuddin; (2) 'A Country Doctor' Franz Kafka; (3) 'A Worn Path', Eudora Welty; and one poem: 'A Ball is for Throwing', Adrienne Rich- all to be emailed.

Dec. 27: Magda Szabo's novel, 'The Door'  (New York Review of Books Publishing, 1987; Translation and Introduction 2005 copyright). 

Contact: Norman Nayfach normansn@hotmail.com 415-499-3173

Julio Burroughs Julioburroughs@gmail.com 415-927-1488

Photo Caption:  Eudora Welty was an American short story writer, novelist and photographer who wrote about the American South. Her novel 'The Optimist's Daughter' won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973.

Chess Club



Every Friday - 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Deedy Lounge - Kentfield

Newcomers -- at all levels -- are welcome but you must know how to play the game!

Contact: Bob Phillips 

bob.phillips3@gmail.com 415-301-1906



Photo Caption:  The story continues....from the 'Wall Street Journal' October 22nd edition ''Chess Scandal with 'Ticking Time Bomb' ". Click here to read the whole article.

Current Events and Issues – Zoom

2nd & 4th Thursday

10:00 am - noon



After more than 20 years, we are still actively engaged in discussing current events.

Through participation, ESCOM club members experience teaching

and learning opportunities.



We welcome new participants and topics that interest you.

Come, join us. Sit in on one session, no obligation - you may like the experience.

Many have! Hope to see you soon.

Contact: Jay Conner greatferm@email.com

Photo Caption: The global chip shortage is an ongoing global crisis in which the demand for integrated circuits (commonly known as semiconductor chips) exceeds the supply, affecting more than 169 industries. The crisis has led to major price increases, shortages, queues and scalping among consumers for automobiles, graphics cards, video game consoles, computers, and other products that require semiconductors.

Digital Camera Club

1st Monday - Field Outing  

3rd Monday Club Meeting

1:00 - 3:00 pm

IVC ESCOM Center

Open to anyone who would like to expand their photographic capabilities by learning from others on how to capture images.

Our monthly camera club photo outings are currently scheduled outdoors and our virtual meetings are held in-person at the IVC Campus in the ESCOM Meeting room

at Building 10.

Contact: Harvey Abernathey

ndimages6@gmail.com 415-385-0054

Photo Caption: Participants in the Oct. 3, 2022 outing to Marin Art & Garden Center, with

the shooting theme of "Warm Colors".  

The next outing is Monday, Nov. 1st to Point San Pablo Harbor with the shooting theme of "Depth of Field". Feel free to reach out if you would like to join in adventures with other photographers for our outings and monthly meetings.

The Encouragement Writing Club – Zoom

Every Other Wednesday

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

The objective of this club is to share what you've written -- short story, essay, poem -- with the group which will review and critique your work...

honestly but gently.

Contact: Bernie Cookson

cooksonlaw@comcast.net 508-864-6367

Photo Caption: Charles Lamb, essayist, poet, and antiquarian, best known for his 'Essays of Elia' and for the children's book, 'Tales from Shakespeare', co-authored with his sister, Mary. 

His life was filled with tribulations. After an argument , his sister stabbed their mother in the heart with a table knife. Charles ran into the house soon after the murder and took the knife out of Mary's hand.

 Here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote in September 1796 to his friend, Samuel Coleridge: 

My dearest friend – Some of my friends or the public papers by this time may have informed you of the terrible calamities that have fallen on our family. I will only give you the outlines. My poor dear dearest sister in a fit of insanity has been the death of her own mother. I was at hand only time enough to snatch the knife out of her grasp. She is at present in a mad house, from whence I fear she must be moved to an hospital. God has preserved to me my senses. I eat and drink and sleep, and have my judgment I believe very sound. My poor father was slightly wounded, and I am left to take care of him and my aunt. Thank God I am very calm and composed, and able to do the best that remains to do. Write, —as religious a letter as possible— but no mention of what is gone and done with. —With me "the former

things are passed away." 

Food Glorious Food! – Zoom

4th Tuesday 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Nov. 22: 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat' - Samin Nosrat

Dec. 27: Sharing Recipes for New Year's Treats

 Contact: Jackie Dagg

  jkd123@hotmail.com 

Diana Davis

  calekdiana@yahoo.com 

Photo Caption: Samin Nosrat is a cook, teacher, and author of the award winning book of the James Beard Award-winning New York Times Bestseller 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat'. She is an 'Eat' columnist at The New York Times Magazine and the host and an executive producer of the Netflix original documentary series based on her book. She lives, cooks, gardens, and laughs in Berkeley, California.  

Friday Film Night - Zoom



4th and sometimes last Friday - 5:30 pm

Club members will watch a favorite film every month and discuss it afterwards.

Running time for films will be approximately 90 minutes allowing for plenty of time for everyone

to mimic Roger Ebert.

Nov. 28: 'A Town Like Alice - Part 2

Dec. 30: 'A Town Like Alice' - Part 3

Contact: Ellen Breazeale - breazeales@comcast.net

Note: If don't have an opportunity to contact the club leader, you can join the group and watch the movie by using this Zoom link:

https://marin-edu.zoom.us/j/97652600292?pwd=UDNxSldrRlc1dlY4RWhQbmJKSmNiQT09

Photo Caption:  Part 3 of 'A Town Like Alice' takes place at Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Very romantic and beautiful.  

Great Courses Group – Zoom

Every Thursday 1:00 - 2:30 pm

'The High Middle Ages', a new 24-lecture Great Courses series, is beginning. November 3. 

The lecturer is Philip Daileader, PhD., a Professor of History at William & Mary. He earned his BA in History from Johns Hopkins University and his MA and PhD in History from Harvard University.

You can 'drop in' and join us for these sessions.

Our meetings are fun and filled with lively discussions. 

Contact:

Ellen Breazeale breazeales@comcast.net

 415-892-6546

Walt Campbell walterlcampbell@aol.com



Photo Caption: The Cologne Cathedral, a World Heritage site, is considered a Gothic masterpiece, Construction began in 1248 and took place in several stages and

was not completed until 1880.

Over seven centuries, successive builders were inspired by the same faith and  a spirit of absolute fidelity

to the original plans.

Humanities Club

1st & 3rd & 5th Saturday

1:00 - 3:00 pm

IVC ESCOM Center

This club continues to study the history and cultures of Western and Eastern civilization.

Currently, the club is watching a Great Courses series, ''Long 19th Century European History from 1787 to 1917" -- which marks the beginning of the

modern history of Europe.

Contact:Ruth King

ruthjjking@yahoo.com 415-898-5845

Moral and Ethical,

Legal Roundtable – Zoom

1st and 3rd Tuesday 

10:00 am – noon

 

The Roundtable is a long running ESCOM Club for discussions, explorations, and issues in our contemporary world. 

Stimulating discussions among and between the attendees and the facilitator are the primary mode of participation.

Currently, the club is watching two Great Courses series --

'Democracy and Its Alternatives' and 'Social Media, Disinformation,

and Democracy'. 

Join us with your ideas and opinions.

 Contact: Kevin Colgate 

kevincolgate@hotmail.com 415-624-4362 

Opera and Beyond Club - Zoom

'On Hiatus until January'

Contact: Michael Sachs

 michahsachs@gmail.com 

415-298-1939 

Photo Caption: The poster for the premiere of Guiseppe Verdi's Opera In Venice March 6 1853. The Opera Was Followed By A Five-Act Ballet The Magic Lantern.

The San Francisco Opera is staging this glorious opera -- with very familiar arias -- from November 11 to December 3. You can buy tickets at this website...https://www.sfopera.com/operas/la-traviata/

Spanish Club – Zoom



Every Friday 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Intermediate level conversation

in Spanish on various topics.



This club is looking for a leader! 

Call or e-mail Roberta or Paula for the details.

Contacts:

Roberta Schwarz, 

reschwarz@sbcglobal.net 

949-922-3291

Paula Hammons paulahammons@yahoo.com 

415-948-8451



Photo Caption:  The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2. The biggest DOTD parade takes place in Mexico City and lasts for five hours. This year's parade will feature 10 autonomous parade floats, four monumental balloons, 344 marching band musicians, and many dancers! 

Table Games Club

2nd and 4th Wednesday

11:00 am - 12:30 pm

IVC ESCOM Center

Games such as Scrabble, RummiKube, Mexican Train (Dominoes), and card games! 

We encourage fun and participation. Game rules are followed but there maybe some 'wiggle-room' (so keep your rule-books at home!)

Contact: Sue Derana 

sderana@yahoo.com

415-987-1719

Photo caption: 221B Baker Street is the London address of the world's most celebrated fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his dedicated companion, Dr. Watson. In this game you start at 221B and travel through the streets and alleys of London picking up clues and attempting to solve the most intriguing cases Holmes and Watson have ever faced. Each player assumes the role of Holmes and matches wits with the other players to determine who possesses the most skillful powers of deduction. 

"The Wednesday Detection Club" – Zoom

1st Wednesday

1:00 - 3:00 pm

Nov. 2: 'Murder at Chateau Bremont'

M.L. Longworth

 Dec. 7: 'Murder at Astor Place'

Victoria Thompson

           Contact: Diana Davis 

calekdiana@yahoo.com  415-897-4844 



Photo Caption: The first novel in the national bestselling Gaslight Mystery series introduces Sarah Brandt, a midwife in the turn-of-the-century tenements of Manhattan who refuses to turn a blind eye to the injustices of the crime-ridden city.

"Who Done It?" Book Club – Zoom

3rd Wednesday

1:00 - 3:00 pm

 We’re a Mystery Book Club

Nov. 16: 'Chalk Circle Man'

Fred Vargas

 Dec. 21: 'A Rising Man'

Abir Mukherjee

Contact: Diana Davis

 calekdiana@yahoo.com  415-897-4844 

Photo Caption: In the days of the Raj, a newly arrived Scotland Yard detective is confronted with the murder of a British official—in his mouth a note warning the British to leave India, or else . . .

For the complete ESCOM Club List, click here.

Help us get the word out about ESCOM! To learn more, click here!

Unsubscribe by scrolling down to the very end of this e-mail --

right above the Constant Contact Logo.