Friday Food for Thought: March 25, 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. 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) The Films Don’t Die:

I got curious this week if Jim Jarmusch had a new film in progress. My search showed that while he is working on a script, he most recently released a collection of his collage work along with a New York gallery exhibit. Even when I don’t fully enjoy Jarmusch’s films – which is rare – his work always leaves me thinking, and that’s more than I can say about most filmmakers. Whether it’s Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Paterson (2016), Mystery Train (1989), or Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), the writer/director’s deliberate pacing, a willingness to give characters (and viewers) time to breathe and reflect, becomes more profound as our real world becomes more hyper-digitized.

2) Behind Bars:

Store-bought protein bars are often loaded with sugar and very expensive. I make my own, starting with this 4-ingredient recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie, then modify it with: only 1 tablespoon of sweetener, 1/4-cup chopped walnuts, 1/4-cup oats, 1/4-cup fruit (usually cherries), and 1/4-cup oat milk. And if you really want the full protein bar experience, you’ll find no better reference than my sister-in-law Camilla Saulsbury’s book Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook. I’ve sampled many of the book’s recipes, and they are all outstanding.

3) Blowing Really Sucks:

I can’t prove it, but I have a theory that Americans’ love of leaf blowers is destroying the world. I was reminded of this while my wife and I were raking up winter leaves (this is Florida) last weekend. It’s well-documented that gas-powered lawn equipment is more damaging to the atmosphere than gas-powered cars. (This regional article about landscapers’ fuel costs doesn’t even address the possibilities of electric-powered lawn equipment or sustainable landscaping. Such is the state of journalism in America, but that’s a topic for another day.) Never mind the futility of blowing leaves and other debris across the landscape. But the years during which leaf blowers have become widespread are approximately the same years in which Americans’ physical, mental, and emotional health has declined. Save your money on the gym membership and the landscaping service – pick up a rake and get some exercise. You’ll feel better and live longer.

4) Solo Without Han:

I don’t travel often, and when I do I’m lucky enough to have a life-long traveling companion. But the fascinating Youtube channel Solo Solo Travel demonstrates that, not only does Japan have an excellent and affordable rail and ferry network, but that transit system is also well-suited to individuals traveling alone. And Japan’s snack-food market looks to be far superior to my own country’s.

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.