Hollywood has done us a great disservice by perpetuating the idea that once the big boss battle is done, all is right with the world. That trope is so common that we can easily start to believe that the real world works that way too. J.R.R. Tolkien gave us a much better sense of the challenges that can remain even when you think the worst is over.
Now is the time for series finales. The last episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Lost share space in my May 23 memories, but my thoughts are on the recent Late Show Finale and the tumultuous changes we’re seeing in the world right now. There are lessons to be learned from each of these shows, whether or not we’re ready to accept them.
It can be frustrating and discouraging to think about voting when you have a small number of uncontested races on your ballot. Turnout during primary elections is historically very low, but there are reasons to vote, even when one vote is unlikely to change the outcome. Politicians serve at the pleasure of their constituents – and they need to know when their constituents are not pleased.
The end of this series is not the end of this exploration. Looking into the historical influences of religion on cuisine has made me more curious about what modern influences shape the choices we make today in an increasingly global society. It also feels, to me, that in an increasingly chaotic world, the small decisions we make for ourselves are even more important.
I discovered an unexpected vegetarian paradise in China when I traveled there in the summer of 2008. With vegetable-heavy cuisine influenced by ingredient availability and long tradition of religious practices that encourage a plant-based diet, I rarely had to worry about what I could eat. While there I learned about China’s long and skillful tradition of mock meat dishes, of which I took full advantage.
One region in the Mediterranean, called the Levant, is made up of a set of small countries that demand a lot of attention on the world stage. Located at the intersection point of Africa and Asia, this region has been host to many wars over several millennia. Despite religious and political conflicts between them, these countries share a lot of the same foods.
For this Seventh Anniversary post, we will be looking at a very important piece of copper equipment. Approximately 10% of American women of childbearing age use “long-acting reversible contraceptives,” including IUDs. While the copper (non-hormonal) kind is less common, it’s the kind I’ve had for almost a decade. I even participated in a clinical study to test a smaller “more comfortable” model for FDA approval.
Circadian rhythm can be disrupted by seasonal changes and travel across time zones. I often have trouble sleeping on a plane when my body thinks it’s the middle of the day, but several new technologies incorporated into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner help with those transitions. It was cool to see my body respond to subtle clues from the plane’s lighting and windows.
“Good vs. evil” stories may be fun and comforting to watch, but they aren’t representative of reality and therefore don’t prepare us to navigate reality effectively. Historical fiction, especially, is full of embellishments and details that have been changed for a reason. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy art, but it does mean we should consume it with our brains turned on.
Countries I have called home (and that my ancestors called home) have problematic aspects to their histories, and I worry that celebrating the good can seem like I’m ignoring the bad. After wrestling with history, optics, intention, and impact as a tourist in Germany, I think there’s an effective way to elevate what we’ve learned from darker days and celebrate efforts to do better.