LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

First Blurb Is In for TYBTF

[ "Ned Sublette is a literary Spirit Master, and The Year Before the Flood is his most personal and astounding work, full of mad knowledge and unorthodox insights about race, crime, history, politics, music and all the other ingredients that flavor the righteous roux that is New Orleans.

-- T.J. English, author of
Havana Nocturne and Paddy Whacked" ]

Note! T.J. is so very informed and classy that he doesn't use that stupid metaphor EVERYBODY uses as soon as New Orleans is mentioned -- gumbo. He goes for the base, which is the roux, without which you don't have gumbo at all, which is why hardly any non-New Orleawnian attempt to create gumbo is a failure, not like the real thing at all. He knows that gumbo is meant to be eaten in a home, not a restaurant. Ha!

Which is why I don't make gumbo. The roux takes hours and hours and hours of constant personal attention.

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