Friday Food for Thought February 4, 2022

Hello Friends, welcome to Friday Food for Thought. Every Friday I’ll help start your weekend by sharing four people, thoughts, or things that are on my mind this week. These may be books or movies, podcast suggestions, interesting people I follow on Twitter, music, products, or, well, anything. I’ll try to stick to the practical and, while these items may include interesting quotes, I’ll generally stay out of meme-lite territory. You may find interesting creativity boosts here, some conversation starters, or just a small dose of entertainment. Click here for last week’s post. Feel free to share this with friends, offer suggestions via the comments, or connect with me on Twitter @bradbravard. Let’s begin!

1) Winter Fashion:

Northerners rightfully make fun of Florida winters, but here in Central Florida we do experience occasional nights of freezing temperatures with cold northerly winds. This past weekend, when much of the U.S. was subject to the effects of a winter storm, was one of those times. To keep my ears warm I wear 180s ear muffs. I’ve owned my pair for over fifteen years. Admittedly, I’ve lived in the southeastern U.S. most of that time, so I don’t need them often, but when I do they’re a genuine source of comfort. Mine are a basic navy blue, but look at all the different styles they offer.

2) Comics and Graphic Novels:

Star Trek fans have become somewhat divided in recent years, often debating the superiority of “new” (post-2009) vs. “old” (pre-2009) Trek. I’m more of an oldie myself, raised on the original series (though lately Deep Space Nine seems like the best-written of the televised series). It was a real blast of nostalgia to read Star Trek: Year Five from IDW Publishing. Originally published as a 25-issue comic book, Year Five is being re-released in four graphic-novel-size publications. The writing is a little inconsistent at times, but Year Five beautifully recreates the vibe of the original series, speculating on what a fifth season of the three-season series might have looked like. Thankfully, they discarded the misogyny that makes the original series seem so dated today. The first three volumes are available now, with volume four due in April.

3) Books:

I finally saw No Time to Die (2021) this week, and my initial impression is that it’s one of the best films in the Bond franchise. NTTD respects the history of the franchise while going in directions that might not have worked in the early films. The movie inspired me to revisit Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films by media historian James Chapman. Using Ian Fleming’s novels as a launching point, Chapman puts each film into a cultural context and examines how the franchise has evolved over time to both follow popular tastes and influence them. Even if you’re not a huge Bond fan, anyone interested in pop culture or film history will find something to appreciate in Chapman’s book. I have the original edition, covering up through Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), but look for the revised edition that continues on through Casino Royale (2006).

4) Podcasts:

I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts; instead I look for the handful of podcasts that always give me something to think about. One of my favorites these days is KCRW’s Bookworm, hosted by Michael Silverblatt. Episodes are a manageable half-hour, each one a conversation with a different author. In recent months, Bookworm guests have included Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Dave Eggers, and Louise Erdrich, plus revisiting a 2011 discussion with the late Joan Didion. Give it a listen and see what you think.

That’s all for this week. Have a good weekend!

This post contains NO affiliate links. All suggestions are based on my own personal experience, your experience may vary. Nothing herein is intended to serve as medical, legal, financial, or any other advice for which you should consult professionals and not some random guy on the Internet.