PicoBlog

June 15, 2022 5:30 am.  A cool 60 degrees F. this morning but the heat is on with the blazing sunrise.  Typical June.  Hot, dry, and stupefying.  I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Mountainaire near Flagstaff, visiting the kids and grandkids and finishing up a remodeling project.  Four days away from the yard and I’m eager to check out the new arrivals, if any.  One thing I’ve discovered about this yard—you never know.

If I had to define what Wabi-sabi means in my own words, I’d say it is the act of cherishing the beauty found in natural imperfection. In Japan, where this concept originates, it’s not just an aesthetic (like, say, shabby-chic is): it is a whole philosophy – an attitude towards life, even. An integral part of the Japanese culture that has its roots in Zen Buddhism. As Leonard Koren explains in his book “Wabi-sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers”, even Japanese people struggle when trying to define this concept.

Mother to Son BY LANGSTON HUGHES Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. So boy, don’t yo… ncG1vNJzZmirpa%2Bur7rErKeepJyau2%2B%2F1JuqrZmToHuku8xop2imn6mytHnFq6amZaSdsm6v0bKqrZmcYsC1rcir

Most weeks in this space I try to look into the world, find some small notion to latch onto, and then see if I can’t pull out some insights that other people might like to think on for themselves after reading the newsletter. This results in long-ish essays that are great fun to write, and hopefully at least moderately interesting to read, while also being pretty time-consuming to produce. This week, I just want to tell you about a book I recently read that I think is really terrific.

In other catch-up news: Norman Jewison passed away last Saturday at the age of 97. There is a lot that could be said about his career, and it certainly has been said by far more knowledgeable writers than I. But I did want to acknowledge his passing, by linking to a few things I’ve written about his films in the past. In order of their release dates: Jewison never won an Oscar for Best Director, but this was probably the closest he ever got.

The best way for me to really understand whatever it is I read is to take notes. Currently these notes are just sitting in my Notion, so I thought I might as well share it. Hopefully you learn something new and maybe even buy the book. P.S These are my raw notes. I have tried to tidy up my typos but I probably won’t catch them all. I make no apologies.

This holiday (yes, my kids were on holiday, again, 10 day half-term) we went to visit Granny and Pappou in Cape Town. My mother has endless capacity for educational games and outings and my father has endless capacity for preparing meals and snacks, so it worked out well for all involved. One evening we rented Tár. My mom is a great film watcher and it was on her list, and had been lauded from all quarters which always makes for an appealing film (in the same way that the extreme Left and Right hating on JK Rowling is interesting.

Welcome to NOW YOU KNOW, a 6-week series where, for our mid-week email, we’re going to discuss fundamental cooking knowledge that you might not know, totally understand, or even be aware of! My hope is that these tidbits will make you a more confident cook. Inevitably, anytime we cook something in a pot here at What To Cook, I get several DMs that go something like this: “Hi!!! I’m cooking the one-pot rice and beans right now, should I put the lid on while it’s simmering?

I will be honest with you: I was in the archives yesterday and decided to watch the video of the Thursday hearings over the weekend. But that gives me some time to discuss the significance of a new story about GOP criming. This is for subscribers only, but please: Share And if you are a non-paying subscriber? Subscribe, and tear down that paywall! Do you recall David B. Wheeler and Colonel Moe Davis, the founders of American Muckrakers PAC?