Oliver Sacks died on August 30. Many of us have read his books and articles. His last book, “On The Move” gives insight into Sacks, the man. We have followed his oeuvre for decades, yet the most touching piece he wrote, (in our humble opinion) was published posthumously in the New Yorker on September 14th.
See: Filter Fish.
Darra Goldstein alerted us to this fine YouTube video on Gefilte Fish that is a fitting companion to Filter Fish.
It must have been a slow news day. Today, the NY Times had an elegiac article extolling the virtues of the Mango: The King of Fruit. Any of you from Southeast Asia, the subcontinent, Africa, the Caribbean, or Hawaii (as well as those interested in mango-mania) will enjoy this essay. See: 100 Days of Madness as the King of Fruits is Celebratred Again.
We've all heard of, and many of us have experienced, the "mairjuana munchies." In her recent article in the the NY Times, When Fatty Feasts are Driven by Automatic Pilot, Tara Parker-Pope discusses recent research that shows fatty foods can induce the release of natural marijuanalike chemicals (endocannabinoids) in the gut that induce cravings for more...
Something to think about at this weekend's picnic.
Occasionally, the Times has an outrageously snobby article -- this one about the ultimate sushi joint is over the top. Readers comments: "A ridiculously expensive restaurant for the super wealthy to savor fish on the brink of extincton" and "[M}ost of us can't dream of going to Masa... a clubhouse for hedge funders."
Stlll, if you are a fan of sushi, read the review of Masa in the Dining Section of the June 15, 2011 NY Times. Before you rush out to make a reservation, "A meal for two at Masas can easily run to $1,500 — an amount that is a little more than 35 percent of the Census Bureau’s most recent calculation of the median monthly household income in the United States."
As you sit down tonight at Sunday Dinner, reflect for a moment on the stats from the U.S.
The lead article in May 2010’s The Atlantic is called “FAT NATION:
It’s worse than you think. How to beat obesity.“ This is a long,
dense, well-written and important essay. Here’s the intro:
“BEATING
OBESITY: After years of dieting, the author finally resorted to
bariatric surgery. It worked—but he realized that it’s too expensive to
stem our obesity epidemic. So what to do? Michelle Obama’s
anti-obesity plan, he argues, is a major first step. Developed largely
in secret, and with startling comprehensiveness, it has thrilled
advocates— and made the food industry anxious to cooperate.”
The article actually covers much more. You can read it here: FAT NATION, THE ATLANTIC. .
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"Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite." Kessler, David A. M.D., 336 pp. Rodale Press ISBN-1605297852. 2009
This is a wonderful book detailing some of the reasons behind overeating and giving some very real and practical tools for combating that behavior. Sympathetic and generous, this book approaches the topic with clarity and compassion. It doesn't talk down but offers reasonable and utilitarian alternatives and methods for coming to grips with a major problem facing Americans today.
Reviewed by Dave Crowley, Bennington, VT. (Writer and retired actor)
This book is available from Amazon and also in Audio Format from Audible.com.