tech, culture wars & soup with lime.
a deep dive into cultural phenomena, while a storm rages outside
Right now I am getting obsessed with fresh healthy-ish foods (probably because my fridge is so small that it barely fits any veg, and I have been eating awfully, especially lots of pot noodle). So I have been fulfilling all millennial stereotypes and eating a bunch of avocado toast every time I go out, mostly at this place called TINK which is OK, but when I can, I go and get the avocado pancakes at EK Bistro.
And I know I am late to it, but I had my first ‘Tom Yum’ soup yesterday (although I am not convinced I had a ‘real’ one). The one I had resembled something like this. I loved the lime and broth and veg - all good stuff.
Photo by Max Griss on Unsplash - I am aware this is not the exact soup I was talking about, but crucially, it features lime.
This is all in the context of trying to do some self care, as I have been - although Instagram might look otherwise - a bit low recently. My life must look mad cool, but honestly I have been rather disassociated from things, and doing a lot of thinking about the Big Stuff.
Ljubljana is slowly getting more sunny though, and I just love that when I leave my door in the morning, and when the sun is shining, I can see the mountains. It always makes me feel so lucky. I hope to have some drinks in the sun along the river or the market square as it gets warmer. Maybe even try to get back into running.
Except that this evening, while I write, there is an apocalyptic-sounding thunder and lightning storm outside, so all that will just have to wait for another day. I’ll just go and put the kettle on for another cup of tea then.
Here are some bits I’ve been enjoying:
Podcasts
Unlocking Us with Brene Brown - Ester Perel on the New AI - Artificial Intimacy
“I have 1000 friends online and nobody to feed my cat”
“the phone is a vulnerability shield”
These are just some of the gems that came out of this podcast. If you can handle maybe just a touch of over-the-top, a sprinkle of American-ness, this is actually a very good conversation. It touches on all the things I’ve been thinking about recently, about connection, and technology, and being human. I would have listened to them talk for hours more.
I have properly binge-listened to this. It’s on the idea of culture wars, and each episode is really well made. For a BBC production, it’s a touch US centric (but to be fair, the presenter Jon Ronson does live there), and I kind of wish they used slightly different music? I think it has touched on something extremely important, about how we are all getting a bit caught up in extremes, half truths, misinformation, general internet rabbit holes. I like that each episode tends to take a more historical and personal approach, rather than just using a big sensational culture war headline. You’ll understand what I mean if you listen. Sometimes it’s a little heavy going, so I am not sure I would recommend bingeing in the way I have been - I had to listen to a bit of Elevenses to pull myself up after! But this is important stuff.
Books
The Price of Life by Jenny Kleeman
(This one is ‘cheating’ a bit, as I actually have not read the whole book, but listened to excerpts on BBC Radio 4)
It was the kind of radio which made me stop what I was doing. I heard the one on biological parenthood and the one on ransoms. It’s really well written, and makes a very good point. Again, this is a bit of a heavy one (sorry, I think I’m in a bit of a heavy news-y mood these days).
Weirdly, I’ve actually met, or, well, really been taught by Jenny. I think it was a One World Media thing? I don’t remember exactly. Anyway, I thought she was cool then (with great hair). I didn’t realise it was her who wrote this book /made this series when I was listening, I only realised it after. So I guess that means I still think she’s cool now.
TV
On a lighter note - I am desperate to watch The Regime which looks absolutely hilarious and well-observed. Going to try to see if I can get hold of it over the next days.
Until next time!
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