Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Faraway Village--homemade cheese--butter and bread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa-SztLxgOs
I went grocery shopping with 2 Burmese women from RFA.
One did not know what yeast was.
Now I make challah "halla" bread--Jewish bread regularly.
I must try this braid.
Haven't made bread for awhile.
But under shrinkflation loaves and sliced of bread much smaller.
I get hungry more often.
Rep. Thomas Massie's floor speech, impeaching Hegseth--full video and transcript.
Hegseth asked for public executions not so long ago, remember.
https://tommyxtopher.substack.com/p/thomas-massies-hegseth-impeachment?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=5041502&post_id=224239324&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_button&r=cnl71&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Shoes of the Fisherman--very old book I read courtesy of my husband's Christian boss, is also
a good book on the election of a Pope.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
I read both Conclave and watched the film--I usually do that.
AI Overview
Robert Harris does not have a single universally agreed-upon "best" novel, as his work spans multiple subgenres, but several titles consistently rank as his top achievements among readers and critics:
• An Officer and a Spy (2013): A critically acclaimed historical thriller about the Dreyfus Affair in 19th-century France. It won multiple awards, including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.
• Fatherland (1992): Harris's breakout alternative-history debut, which imagines a world where Nazi Germany won World War II. It remains one of most popular and frequently recommended books.
• The Cicero Trilogy (Imperium, Lustrum, and Dictator): Chronicling the rise and fall of the Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero, this series is widely praised by history fans and readers for its deep research and political drama.
• Conclave (2016): A fast-paced modern thriller set behind the closed doors of a papal election, which became a major popular success and film adaptation.
• Pompeii (2003) & Enigma (1995): Both are frequently cited as his most tightly plotted page-turners—one set during the final days before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and the other centered on World War II Bletchley Park codebreakers.
Sunday, November 08, 2026
No--I did not confuse him with the other Ballard, who I had never even heard of--
AI Overview
No, J.G. Ballard was never formally or literally accused of producing "high-end porn." However, his highly controversial literary works frequently courted obscenity charges, censorship, and intense media backlash for their explicit, clinical, and avant-garde depictions of sexuality.
The characterization of his work in relation to pornography generally centers around the following:
• "Moral" or Political Pornography: Ballard explicitly described his 1973 novel Crash—which explores car-crash fetishism—as a "cautionary, political, and pornographic novel" meant to use technology and vehicles as total sexual metaphors for modern society. Literary scholars have since analyzed his style as a form of "moral pornography" or "futurist pornography" that parodies and critiques consumer voyeurism rather than seeking to arouse.
• Obscenity and Censorship: Ballard did face legal and corporate censorship. In 1968, when his short story "Why I Want to Fuck Ronald Reagan" was distributed as a booklet, a bookstore manager was charged with selling obscene materials, though the charges against Ballard's piece were ultimately dropped on a technicality.
• Media Labels: Because of books like Crash and The Atrocity Exhibition, contemporary media and critics occasionally labeled him with hyperbolic titles like the "High Prophet of Contemporary Porn".
Note: You may be conflating the British author J.G. Ballard with Tim Ballard (the former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad and subject of the film Sound of Freedom), who faced highly publicized lawsuits and accusations of sexual misconduct and coercion in the 2020s.
AI Overview
Critical analytical and academic books on J.G. Ballard explore his transition from New Wave science fiction to literary surrealism, urban alienation, and "inner space". Key critical texts include:
• The Angle Between Two Walls: The Fiction of J.G. Ballard by Roger Luckhurst (Liverpool University Press, 1997)
Widely regarded as one of the finest critical monographs on Ballard's work, analyzing the architectural, psychological, and modern landscapes of his fiction.
only if you are a serious writer--On 2nd thought I won't post my deep dive essay on this blog--instead--
AI Overview
Submitting a literature review, deep-dive essay, or cultural critique of fiction—especially for a highly stylized, speculative, and psychological author like J.G. Ballard—requires targeting markets that appreciate "Ballardian" themes: modernity, techno-fetishism, urban alienation, and surrealist dystopias.
The best venues for your work depend on whether your piece is a long-form critical essay (analytical, academic, or thematic deep dives) or a traditional book review (evaluating specific editions, collections, or recent secondary criticism).
Where to Submit Critical Essays & Deep Dives
Publication Best For Word Count & Style Payment & Logistics
Los Angeles Review of Books Best for high-profile public humanities 2,000–5,000 words. Accessible but deeply intellectual cultural critiques. Pitches accepted via email. Pays a modest honorarium.
Strange Horizons Best for speculative fiction analysis Under 5,000 words. Deeply analytical, non-academic tone looking at sci-fi through a sharp social lens. Open windows via Submittable. Pays $60+.
Boston Review Best for political & social context 1,500–4,000 words. Focuses on how fiction intersects with technology, politics, and power. Accepts unsolicited pitches online. Pays varying rates.
The Yale Review Best for prestige literary criticism 2,000–5,000 words. High-caliber, elegant essays that place older fiction in contemporary contexts. Digital pitches accepted via Submittable ($3 fee). Pays $250–$1,000.
Where to Submit Standard Book Reviews
If you are reviewing a specific edition—such as The Complete Stories of J.G. Ballard—or a new biographical/critical text about him, these platforms regularly look for unsolicited reviews or pitches:
• Cleveland Review of Books: Enthusiastic about independent, niche, and highly stylized literature. They actively compensate reviewers, with rates starting around $70+.
• The Los Angeles Review: Accepts standalone book reviews of up to 1,200 words sent directly to their review editor via email.
• The Rumpus: Perfect if your review takes a more conversational or creative nonfiction approach to the text. They use Submittable for submissions.
Niche Academic & Specialized Venues
Because Ballard's work heavily navigates the intersections of science, architecture, and psychology, specialized journals are often a perfect fit:
• The Science Fiction Foundation Journal: A premier UK-based journal dedicated to the critical study of science fiction.
• Science Fiction Studies (SFS): The leading academic journal for the genre, which frequently publishes deep theoretical breakdowns of structural text.
Pro-Tips for Your Pitch
1. Define the Hook: Editors rarely accept reflections on older fiction unless there is a contemporary anchor. Frame your Ballard review around why his work matters today (e.g., how High-Rise or Crash mirrors our modern digital landscape and electronic insulation).
2. Check Submission Portals: Platforms fluctuate rapidly; use tracking engines like Chill Subs or The Submission Grinder to ensure a journal’s portal isn't temporarily capped before you spend time formatting.
If you want to narrow down your options, tell me:
• What is the approximate word count of your piece?
• Is it written for a general intellectual audience or a highly academic/theoretical one?
I can help you tailor your pitch or choose the exact editor to contact.
Try without personalization
Janusz Kaminski --"Yar--nooz Kar min skie" Polish-born star cinematographer
Nov 8, 2026, 8:24 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/janusz-kaminski-thr-visionary-cinematographer-award-1236750373/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
I studied 8 months in Poland in 1968-89.
I loved Saving Private Ryan--esp the landing scene --the bullet flying in as the front of the landing craft--opens, and the last scene--where Ryan is only man left sitting.
The images shape us, as writer J.G. Ballard might have said.
Kyi May Kaung
11-8-2026
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