Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Highly recommended--New Yorker interview of Colson Whitehead.
Highly recommended--New Yorker interview of writer Colson Whitehead.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/06/29/colson-whitehead-profile
I really must read Underground Railroad.
The is a good e.g. of how real writers fictionalize their family and themselves.
Incidentally, 2 writerly friends of mine
1. a poet--is writing about his father
and 2. a village expert--is attempting to write about her mother.
Also,oddly enough, 2 sightings of 1987 stock market crash--
1. in Alan Greenspan obit
2, in this article--where interviewer learns Colson's father was affected by stock market crash and "never recovered.
--about alcoholism, my novella Black Rice touches on my Kamayut extended family, "drunkard father and over-eating mother"
--about stock market crashes, I never had any stock and so was not affected.
affected by other things, --
--about Harlem Renaissance--my Boulder Friend knew Langston Hughes.
Kaung
6-23-2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Neil Diamond--
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=NeilDiamond+Be+you+tube&&mid=1415F82E2946AAA9D18E1415F82E2946AAA9D18E&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUCQh2Gh5NaHaiZvHnf58ZYhg&FORM=VAMGZC
Video by Jan Hammer. Neil Diamond—Be!
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Be%20Neil%20Dimaond&mid=4450681557B5F14BA91D4450681557B5F14BA91D&ajaxhist=0
lyrics:
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Be+Neil+DimaondLyrics--I+amI+sadi&&mid=0E2A34C00AA169013D8B0E2A34C00AA169013D8B&churl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fchannel%2fUC7dcQTNxkYteKOax3iLIobA&FORM=VRDGAR
Neil Diamond—I am I said.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
What is maida?
Maida is a finely milled, refined white wheat flour commonly used in Indian cuisine for breads, pastries, and snacks.
Maida is made from the starchy endosperm of wheat grains, with the bran and germ removed, resulting in a soft, white, and ultra-fine flour NDTV.comNDTV.com+1. The production process involves cleaning and conditioning the wheat, grinding and milling to separate the endosperm, sifting to achieve a fine texture, and often bleaching to enhance whiteness and smoothness NDTV.comNDTV.com. This refining process strips away most of the fiber and nutrients, making maida less nutritious than whole wheat flour NDTV.comNDTV.com+1.
Culinary Uses
Maida is highly versatile and widely used in Indian cooking and baking. It is a key ingredient in:
Leavened breads like naan, tandoori roti, and bhatura
Bakery items such as cakes, biscuits, and pastries
Indian sweets including jalebi, gulab jamun, and barfi
Street foods and snacks like samosas, kachoris, and papdi Tarla DalalTarla Dalal+1
Its low protein and gluten content give baked goods a soft, airy, and tender texture, while its fine texture allows for delicate dough handling in fried and baked preparations Conscious EatingConscious Eating+1.
Nutritional Considerations
Because maida is refined and bleached, it lacks fiber and many nutrients found in whole wheat flour. Consuming it in large amounts can lead to blood sugar spikes and digestive issues NDTV.comNDTV.com. People with gluten intolerance or wheat allergies should avoid maida Conscious EatingConscious Eating. Despite these concerns, it remains a staple in many traditional and modern recipes due to its texture and versatility.
In summary, maida is a refined white wheat flour prized for its smooth texture and ability to create soft, fluffy, and crispy foods, but it should be consumed in moderation for health reasons NDTV.comNDTV.com+1.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
John Irving--only one year older than I am--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Irving
Irving never met his biological father, who was a pilot in the Army Air Forces during World War II. In July 1943,[8] John Blunt Sr. was shot down over Burma but survived. The incident was incorporated into The Cider House Rules. Irving did not find out about his father's heroism until 1981, when he was almost 40 years old.[9]
Copilot search results--David Reiff's book on his mother Susan Sontag's cancer and death--
Copilot Search Branding
David Rieff’s Memoir on His Mother’s Cancer
David Rieff’s Swimming in a Sea of Death: A Son’s Memoir (Simon & Schuster, 2008) is both a deeply personal account and an investigation into his mother, the writer Susan Sontag, and her final battle with cancer Google Books+1.
Overview
The book chronicles the last nine months of Sontag’s life, from her initial diagnosis to her death in 2004. Rieff, her only child, documents their relationship, her determination to live despite a devastating illness, and his own complex emotions — guilt, self-questioning, and a sense of not having done enough Google Books+1. It blends memoir with medical reporting, offering a rare inside look at experimental oncology and the human side of illness.
Themes and Approach
Intimate Portrait: Rieff presents a more vulnerable side of Sontag, contrasting with her public persona, and draws on her journals, letters, and favorite quotations Oprah.com.
Medical and Emotional Journey: He pays tribute to her doctors’ ingenuity and faithfulness, while also confronting the limits of treatment and the inevitability of death Google Books+1.
Cultural Reflection: The memoir becomes a meditation on confronting death in modern culture, exploring what it means to desire life even in the face of overwhelming odds Amazon+1.
No Easy Answers: Rieff avoids simplistic conclusions, instead offering a nuanced exploration of love, loss, and the will to live Google Books+1.
Style and Tone
The prose is tender yet unsparing, blending literary reflection with journalistic detail. Rieff’s voice is both confessional and analytical, making the book accessible to readers interested in memoir, illness narratives, and cultural commentary on mortality Amazon+1.
Reception
Critics have praised it as a “courageous and darkly beautiful” work, highlighting Sontag’s fierce determination to survive and live creatively despite unproven treatments Amazon+1. It is considered one of Rieff’s most profound works, offering lessons that resonate beyond the personal context Google Books+1.
If you’re interested in a blend of personal memoir, medical history, and philosophical reflection on death, Swimming in a Sea of Death is a significant and moving read.
Google Books
Google Books
Swimming in a Sea of Death: A Son's Memoir - David Rieff - Google Books
https://books.google.com/books/about/Swimming_in_a_Sea_of_Death.html?id=w9hlAAAAMAAJ
Amazon
Amazon
Swimming in a Sea of Death: A Son's Memoir - Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Swimming-Sea-Death-Sons-Memoir/dp/0743299477
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Amazon
https://www.amazon.com › Swimming-Sea-Death-Sons...
Swimming in a Sea of Death: A Son's Memoir - Amazon
Dec 30, 2008 · Both a memoir and an investigation, Swimming in a Sea of Death …
3.7/5(85)
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