life, travel, stories – Join the journey, Love Raven
Dear Reader, Have you ever heard of the book “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin? Me neither, but a few powerful reviews of the book made me curious to check it out: “A moving, painful story, so vividly human and so obviously based on reality that it strikes us as timeless.” –Joyce Carol... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Is the coronavirus pandemic a bigger threat to your physical or mental health? I find this to be an interesting question as many articles have cropped up recently on the lasting psychological damage that prolonged lockdown could cause. How the pandemic is affecting you likely has a lot to do with the current... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Once in a blue moon, the stars will align and the ingredients in your pantry will exactly match up with the recipe you endeavor to make. Whenever this happens, take it as a sign that the kitchen gods have blessed the dish that you aim to prepare and have at it! I was... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, We (in the United States) have a complex and convoluted relationship with alcohol. At the dawn of our nation, alcohol was seen as a far more sanitary alternative to water and a healthy digestive aid. In 1830, drinking-aged Americans consumed an average of 7.1 gallons of pure alcohol a year, which is extraordinary... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, “What do Al Gore and Mount Pinatubo have in common?” This is one of the many questions that economist Steven D. Levitt and writer Stephen J. Dubner answer in their hit book SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance. SuperFreakonomics like its predecessor Freakonomics explores how the... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Overconfidence in one’s abilities is the surest way to make a mistake. Over these past few weeks, I have been baking as a way to entertain myself in my self-isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. In the span of about a month, I have made banana bread (more here), flat bread (more here), and... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Are you working 100% online now because of the pandemic? I am, and I have been for about a month now (jeez!). If I might ask, how are you doing? While I am working the exact same number of hours at work, I sometimes feel more fatigued after a virtual day than an... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, Aren’t we all life-long learners? Well, I am at least when it comes to baking. I often experiment when I am in the kitchen, not because I’m advanced, but because I often do not have all of the required ingredients. Sometimes when I experiment in this way, I am pleasantly surprised (more here),... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, How long have you been self-isolating? I have been limiting my movement to essential trips (only two to the grocery store) and exercise outside. At the time of this writing, most U.S. states are under shelter-in-place orders (meaning that all non-essential businesses are closed) and stay-at-home orders (meaning that people are advised to... Continue Reading →
Dear Reader, How are you doing on groceries nowadays? With the ongoing pandemic, I have not been shopping in over three weeks. Needless to say, my supplies are dwindling. Regardless, I have been craving sugar and was wondering whether I could bake something with my meager collection of ingredients. I found plenty of recipes for... Continue Reading →
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