About an indulgence: July 7th is World Chocolate Day. Chocolate comes from the seed of the cacao tree; the cacao bean was cultivated thousands of years ago in Mexico, Central and South America. Hot chocolate was the first treat, with leaders of the Aztec civilization reputedly drinking dozens of cups a day. Mesoamericans also used […]
TV THURSDAYS: DAHAAD
Because several readers appreciated the recommendation of Informer last Thursday, I now invite you to turn your attention to a riveting Indian drama, Dahaad, an eight episode series also on Prime. Cowritten by two women, their show studies patriarchy and caste politics through the lead character of Anjali Bhaati, a police inspector proving herself in a […]
TV THURSDAYS: INFORMER
Informer, a little known gem on Prime, is one of the most satisfying dramas we’ve watched in a while. The show opens with an anonymous public shooting in a coffee shop in London, England. Cut to a courtroom with Witness K unable to reveal much about the incident or the accused, given issues of security […]
WORLD MEDITATION DAY
In 1972 I took up transcendental meditation (TM) to combat severe insomnia. And it worked! Repeating my mantra silently (no, Tim, I won’t divulge it to you or anyone else) for twenty minutes once or twice daily enabled me to go from three hours of sleep a night to a healthy seven. This cure — […]
WORLD BOOK DAY 2023
Is there a genre called lite literature? I apply the name to novels that offer escapism while exploring somewhat serious issues. They are well-written, usually historical, always engaging. Novels by Fiona Davis fit the name, examples being The Lions of Fifth Avenue (2020) and The Magnolia Palace (2022), both set in New York City, both […]
FUN FACTS FRIDAYS: NEOLOGISMS
A “neologism” is defined as the introduction or use of new words or new senses of existing words. Neologisms reflect the ability of language to evolve over time. Once a word is fully accepted into everyday use, however, we no longer consider it a neologism. Technology and social media have introduced or redefined words that […]
HOW OLD AM I?
I reached a milestone birthday in 2022 and, coincidentally, attended a high school reunion of friends and acquaintances, many of whom also turned 7-0 last year. The lead-in to the occasion didn’t trouble me — until I noticed birthday greetings mentioned a new descriptor: septuagenarian. No one called me a quinquagenarian (aged between 50 and […]
FEET FIRST
The title of my article is not an idiom. I’m not going to advise jumping feet first into an activity with little or no hesitation. I will discuss the imperative to make our feet a priority when we walk or run for exercise or as a pastime. I learned the sore way that a fitting […]
TOP TV VIEWING OF 2022
Given a fallow year of viewing, both on TV and in cinemas, I did not easily compile a list of recommendations. However, in addition to Undercover 3 and Borgen — Power & Glory that I reviewed on TV Thursdays in 2022, you may appreciate the following: NETFLIX Borderliner (Norwegian) During a visit to his hometown, […]
SOBER CURIOUS
Sober curious is an odd coupling of words, almost an oxymoron when we think of the denotations “quiet or sedate” paired with “eager to learn or know.” The phrase has gained notoriety since Ruby Warrington coined it in the title of her 2018 book on questioning or changing our alcohol consumption habits for reasons of […]