"Nil by Mouth" - Roger Ebert's blog post

Geli's advised me of Roger Ebert's blog post discusses food and dining from his vantage point as someone who no longer talks, eats or drinks.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/01 ... mouth.html

Thank you for posting that. I'm not a regular reader of his blog but what a nice posting.

That really puts things in perspective. Poignant and well written.

Indelible writing, as always. By the way - the Old-Timers Restaurant and Lounge capsule Ebert quotes was penned by our own whiskeybent, if I'm not mistaken. I've been published in the Little Movie Glossary and I'm still jealous. Congrats!

"Puts things in perspective." And how. Astonishing, poignant, so many words come to mind; so few seem accurate or appropriate. I've long been a fan of his writing and simply do not have the words or ability to say anything of substance. Thanks for posting this.

Santander wrote:Indelible writing, as always. By the way - the Old-Timers Restaurant and Lounge capsule Ebert quotes was penned by our own whiskeybent, if I'm not mistaken. I've been published in the Little Movie Glossary and I'm still jealous. Congrats!

I saw that yesterday afternoon and felt like I won the lottery. A real thrill for a writer.

A wonderful piece of writing. It's incredible that Roger Ebert can still be upbeat with all he's been through.

Inspiring. Thanks for posting that Cathy.

TC

That piece makes me realize Ebert is an even better writer when he's not writing about movies than when he is.

Which is not a backhanded compliment.

Cathy, thanks for sharing this wonderful post. It provided so much food for thought while I ate lunch at my desk today. I'm reminded to taking nothing for granted and to count my blessings.

Hi,

I've had this piece on my mind for the last day, also. Many of us would assume our lives would cease if we could not talk, eat and drink. Yet there is hope such a drastic reversal of fortune can be adapted to. It is the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Rereading recently the thread on making your rice cooker hop, skip and jump, I found there was an entertaining link to an Roger Ebert blog about his love for rice cookers.

chgoeditor wrote:Roger Ebert had an awesome blog post recently about his love of "The Pot." It's a funny, quirky post, and a must read!

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/11 ... .html#more

Regards,

I have recently been wallowing really unecessary self-pity about my weight...well, specifically the weight in my face: the area where Roger Ebert had surgery. Nothing like a short, sharp shock to bring you back to reality.

Roger Ebert wrote:What I miss is the society. Lunch and dinner are the two occasions when we most easily meet with friends and family. They're the first way we experience places far from home. Where we sit to regard the passing parade. How we learn indirectly of other cultures. When we feel good together.

And, whiskeybent - as soon as I read that quote, I was sure it was you, even before I googled. It deserves that spot.

It's worth signing up for Twitter even if the only person you follow is Roger Ebert.

Ann Fisher wrote:It's worth signing up for Twitter even if the only person you follow is Roger Ebert.

Agreed. I love reading his tweets. He's a breath of fresh air & laughter on food, film, & more.

Since we are talking about Roger Ebert and his non-movie writing, let me put in a plug for his wonderful "The Perfect London Walk" (co-authored with Daniel Curley). It describes a walk in North London (from Hampstead to Highgate Cemetary (where Karl Marx is buried - his theories were buried later). I've walked the route twice (tho' not recently), and I imagine that in the past 25 years the scene has changed a lot (although not Highgate Cemetary which is a trip - both sections). I tended to agree with Siskel somewhat more often than Ebert in the glory days of their film reviews, but this is a perfect walk (about 2 or 3 hours) - and it does (or did) pass some interesting pubs, which can stretch out the time of the walk and connects this walk to LTH.

I see that "good" used copies of the book are available from Amazon for $0.01 (and shipping). If you plan an eating tour of London, this is a great resource.

A (peripherally) food-related tangent to this thread -- pretty funny outtakes video of Siskel and Ebert insulting each other through the construct of fast food orders.

Subject: How to make your rice cooker hop, skip and jump!

whiskeybent wrote:Saw this at the very tail end of the new Ebert profile from Esquire

Hi,

Whiskeybent highlighted this wonderful profile on Roger Ebert in another thread. It provides context to the blog post highlighted in this thread.

Regards,

There's a nice piece in today's New York Times: Roger Ebert: No Longer an Eater, Still a Cook (Site may require free registration). The ostensible reason for the article is his new cookbook (on cooking everything other than rice with a rice cooker), but Ebert--as always--makes wonderful copy. And, as this thread testifies, boy, can he write!

I should look into both the book and the Pot...I'm the butt of Mr. Pie's jokes since I'm always burning rice and the bottoms of all our little pots are covered with faint rice-shaped shadows.

Pie Lady wrote:I should look into both the book and the Pot...I'm the butt of Mr. Pie's jokes since I'm always burning rice and the bottoms of all our little pots are covered with faint rice-shaped shadows.

You should let him know that in some cuisines that is a delicacy. [url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Persian-Rice-with-Pistachios-and-Dill-105035]Tah-dig[/].

You just saved my marriage!
But is it still a delicacy when it's black and smoking?

Pie Lady wrote:You just saved my marriage!
But is it still a delicacy when it's black and smoking?

Smoked tah-dig

Hi- Has anybody looked at Ebert's new book "The Pot and How to Use It" yet? I was just on Amazon, and it has an average rating of only 2 stars there. Most of the reviewers complained that he spent most of his time extolling his love for rice cookers, and not nearly enough time on how to use the cooker, and recipes. Thanks, Nancy

I haven't seen the book yet, but both Sun Times and the New York Times featured it on the front page of their respective food sections within the past month.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/09 ... this_.html

"Fear not," he advised me, drawing himself up to his imposing shaggy-haired six-feet-plus height. "I am a member of the Los Angeles Mycological Society. I know what I'm doing."

With affection to all mycofriends here. The whole article on vegetarianism is a good read, as usual.

RIP, Roger.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 2338.story

A courageous man.

An inestimable loss.

In my minority opinion, Roger Ebert will be missed more as a human being than as a writer. As a film critic, he was facile, energetic, and ambitious--all admirable qualities, but did he once write a review that helped me to see a film through eyes different than my own? No. I can't recall learning anything from a Roger Ebert review I didn't already know, and I can't recall being persuaded to see a film that wasn't already on my agenda to see.

(Insightful critics who can tell us things we don't already know, and help us see with new eyes, do live among us. In the realm of film, I'll offer up Dave Kehr.)

However, the courage with which Ebert faced his travails, and his determination to continue his life's work to the fullest despite them, were inspiring. They are his true legacy, along with the way he improved (from all accounts) the lives of those who knew him.

Roger Ebert was one of the FIRST writers on-line. He would actually respond to posts and private messages as early as 1992 on CompuServe.

We had a series of discussions on a Japanese film that I had viewed at Oberlin College in 1995 that stretched out for days.

I give the guy a lot of credit for that although we did not agree a lot of the movies.

I think this will be the best place for this because "Life Itself" isn't a foodie film.

Based on Ebert's memoir of the same name, "Life Itself" takes a look at Ebert's legacy. If you are a fan of his work, you'll want to see this film. It is a joyful tearjerker from Steve James (who directed one of my other favorite documentaries, "Hoop Dreams"). It isn't always easy to watch. The way certain scenes are shot, I felt like I was bedside in the hospital room. But I enjoyed all the details and found Ebert's spirit inspirational.

When I was younger and just beginning to explore movies, I turned to Ebert's guides and was introduced to wonderful films of all kinds, including foreign films and documentaries. So he played a part in my passion for great film. This film reminded me of the gifts we too often take for granted, including life itself.