Tea O'Clock - Brew #2
“The most important step a man can take. It's not the first one, is it?
It's the next one. Always the next step.”
So writes Sanderson in Oathbringer. It’s the time of the year when most of us abandon our resolutions. I made a mixed bag of resolutions this year–ambitious ones(like learning a new language) and ridiculously easy ones(like brushing twice a day). So I will be able to salvage at least some of them this year. Hopefully!
From the shelf:
Fantasy and escapism usually go hand in hand. It is nice to disappear into a world that is appealing mainly because it is alien. The Poppy War series by R.F.Kuang will shatter all your long-held notions about the genre. It follows Fang Runin’s journey from an underdog to the most feared warrior on the Nikara empire. But it is not your typical ‘the underdog survives to emerge victorious in the end’ story. It raises difficult questions and paints its characters in shades of grey with brutal honesty. What happens when your definition of victory is different from that of those who you fight for? The book is much closer to reality despite the magic and gods that occupy it.
From the kitchen:
When I get excited over a recipe, it is usually for a snack or something that goes along with a snack. Snacks can just make any day better. And I have a special place in my heart for dips and condiments. They are easy to make in batches and extremely versatile. Use it as a side of dosai, mix with roti dough, use it as a sandwich spread, make a salad dressing, or just use it as a dip with crackers or veggie sticks. Make a batch, stash it in the fridge and you are all set for at least a week. Here are my three favorite dips with tried-and-tested recipes - Chimichurri, Creamy honey mustard, and Labneh. Play around with the herbs and spices you have, the recipes aren’t set in stone.
From the playlist:
Have you read Kane and Abel? The Business War episodes that cover Hearst vs Pulitzer, the newspaper tycoons in the 1890s, plays out along similar lines. It gives you a glimpse into how the newspaper industry evolved over the years, the power of the fourth estate, and how far the repercussions created by news reporting can go. Maybe more so relevant considering the state of our media. It is interesting to note how Hearst went into decline right about when his competition with Pulitzer fizzled out. Maybe you need a worthy opponent to be someone worthy. Maybe!
And if you haven’t seen Death by 2020, you should. It is nice to laugh at the madness that was 2020.
If this week has taught us anything, it is that a draw is sometimes as good as a victory. I am going a little easy on my resolutions. I am okay if I can’t make a habit out of some of them immediately or make mistakes that take me back to square one. All that matters is to take the next step.
Ciao