The newsletter's back (maybe) and there's a lot to scroll
Weekly Recommendations and Weekly Learnings, a few of my Blog Posts and a few movie reviews
It’s been almost a year since I sent the last newsletter - a medium to bring together -
i. the week’s blog posts (which I write daily),
ii. the weekly Saturday edition of My Weekly Learnings (a highlight of the best content pieces that caught my eye during the week)
iii. the weekly Sunday edition of The Last 7 days (weekly recommendations of what to read + listen + watch)
For various reasons, which also include a change of opinion towards content (creation), the newsletter stopped, along with most of my other social media creations. My daily blog’s going on well, and I get to riff out on various topics breaking down everything about life - breaking down what we have been taught and perspectives on various topics that we sometimes don’t get to think about, so I’m glad about that part.
But, this particular newsletter, call it a comeback, is just me experimenting with it once again. Here we go…
Edition 140 of The Last 7 Days (07.11 - 13.11)
my weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen to, and What To Watch.
What To Read:
The Best Inventions of 2022 - TIME || 200 innovations changing how we live. Check it out here.
Crypto's Lehman moment: Here's how Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX compares to the biggest collapse of the Global Financial Crisis. Read here.
A five-step approach to avoid food cravings at night. Read it here.
How to know if breathwork is right for you? Check it out here.
A brain expert shares his 7 ‘hard rules’ for boosting memory and fighting off dementia. Read it here.
What To Listen:
On Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew Huberman discusses the biological mechanisms of the state changes that occur during different types of meditation, key meditation principles, how meditation practices lead to long-term trait changes and neuroplasticity, and much more. Listen to it here.
In this conversation with Kara Swisher, Brian Chesky (founder of Airbnb) discusses the challenge of being professionally successful and, sometimes, personally lonely. They talk about how the pandemic may have permanently changed how we work, travel and live. Listen here.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kelly McGonigal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to channel stress toward more effective communication and a deeper connection to our own purpose and meaning. Check it out here.
On Storytellers & Story Sellers, Vineet talks to Neha Sharma (Neha Doodles), whose passion for doodling paved her path to becoming a full-time illustrator and cartoonist. Neha shares her journey, from the early days of Perusing Chartered Accountancy to getting desired doodling projects. Listen here.
On the Empire Film podcast, Hans Zimmer talks about his live shows, creating the best setlist imaginable, and synths. Check it out here.
What To Watch:
Selena Gomez opens up about her battle with mental health, her mission to help spread mental health awareness, dealing with the pressure of being a celebrity and the gossip that comes with it, finding self-healing, embracing change, and more on the On Purpose podcast. Watch it here.
Daniel Radcliffe breaks down a few of the most iconic characters, including the infamous Harry Potter Saga, 'Swiss Army Man,' 'Horns,' 'Kill Your Darlings,' 'Guns Akimbo,' 'The Lost City,' 'Miracle Workers' and 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.' Check it out here.
Why athletes are the biggest influencers? Watch here.
TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Bad Sisters (The Garvey sisters are bound together by the premature deaths of their parents and the promises they made to always protect one another.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
Movie Recommendation of the Week: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death.) Now running in theatres.
You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.
My Weekly Learnings (Edition 85)
The concept of ‘My Weekly Learnings’ is to share highlights and/or content pieces that caught my eye this week and provided more value than I could imagine.
1. Approximately 15% of our gut lining is composed of enteric endocrine cells, which produce 90% of the serotonin and over 50% of the dopamine that our bodies use.
In light of this data, it is not surprising that damage to the microbiome and intestinal lining is commonly associated with neurologic conditions such as autism, depression, and anxiety.
The gut barrier is the first line of defense against intestinal pathogens and toxins. It is responsible for the carefully regulated passage of water, electrolytes, macro-, and micronutrients from our diet. For our bodies and minds to function properly, our gut must do so first. [Neurohacker]
2. The learning process isn’t finished when you acquire knowledge. It’s complete when you consistently apply that knowledge.
Many people accumulate information. Far fewer use it to evolve and improve.
The ultimate test of growth is closing the gap between awareness and action. [Adam Grant]
3. Most people probably criticize others in the same tonality and often the same words they were criticized as a child.
Often taunts or bitter comments made on social media are a good reflection of what someone faced growing up. [Kunal Shah]
4. “Your personal experiences make up maybe 0.00000001% of what’s happened in the world but maybe 80% of how you think the world works… We’re all biased to our own personal history.” – Morgan HouselSource: Ideas That Changed My Life
5. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, often considered one of the greatest writers in history, explains the importance of habits:“It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a person’s life is made up of nothing but the habits they accumulated during the first half.”
Source: Demons
A quick look at what I wrote this week:
When life throws signals at you, heed them
Call it a religious sign, a spiritual message, a divine intervention, an intuition, or maybe just an observation, but now and again, if you’re aware at the time, life throws these signals at you.
Sometimes these signals are opportunity signals – ones, when taken on time, are later on called lucky moments of life (that usually provide an upturn on the path you’re on).
Sometimes such signals are one of warning, that you shouldn’t proceed with what you’re doing, that you should be cautious, and that you might not be making the right call.
Either of such signals falls on the opposite ends of the spectrum, but what remains common is what happens when you don’t pay attention to these signals.(Read the rest of it here: https://rth24blog.wordpress.com/2022/11/08/when-life-throws-signals-at-you-heed-them/)
Converting your Emotions into Words
The commonality between any of the emotions one could be experiencing is, that there’s always a reason behind every emotion.
The reasons could vary from internal to external, either with respect to an experience that involves you personally, or even an experience that you’re only observing from afar.
The most clarity one could derive from any or all of one’s emotions is when those emotions are converted into words.
(Read more here: https://rth24blog.wordpress.com/2022/11/10/converting-your-emotions-into-words/)
RTHReviews
1. Monica O My Darling
There’s something about this film, that you’re hooked on to it right from the first frame of the film. It has kind of a retro vibe to it, and add to it the mysterious storyline, and Achint’s songs make this film an unexpected jackpot.
The film shifts its spotlight from time to time on every character, and each member of the cast has done a fabulous job at it. There could be an individual appreciation for each of them, and that’s the beauty of the film too, right from Sikandar Kher (the tonality and the vibe of his character), Huma Qureshi (stuns you with her performance), Rajkummar Rao (does what he does best), Sukant Goel (ensures that you’ll remember his performance at the end of it), and a special shout-out to Radhika Apte who, when on-screen, just steals the frame with her role).
Vasan Bala has quite a unique way of making his films, and Monica O My Darling is no different, and what makes it stand out is also what makes it good. Whether it’s the framing or the flow of the shots, or the editing, the film keeps you on your toes which is another of the positives of the film. If you want to watch something Bollywood and something quirky, then go for it.
2. Thiruchitrambalam
Thiruchitrambalam is such a sweet film that takes you across a wide range of emotions, scenes that will make you smile and sometimes make you cry. The most special aspect of the film is the connection and bond of (the different types of) relationships that it touches upon and how the beauty of the storyline brings out such a well-rounded film that will make you glad that you watched it.
There’s something about Dhanush’s films that whether they work or not, and while this one works fantastically, you always remember his performance for sure. Nithya Menen and Prakash Raj, specifically, and in their respective and important roles, bring out an equally powerful performance that gives a boost to the film. Bharathiraja was a delight to watch as Pazham’s grandfather, touched the heart with his performance.
Everything, from the story, to the casting and their performances, the emotions, the impact of the message, to just how fun the film is to watch, it checks all the boxes. Add to that the songs of it, that are great to listen and you have got a complete package right here. You will be extremely glad you chose to watch this film if you do so, highly recommend it.
3. Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu
What seems like a simple film slowly starts unravelling into something more, the storyline grips you pretty early and you’re hooked until the end, not knowing what’s going to happen the next second… that’s the beauty of Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu.
Its simplicity is its greatness, and it has been been a while since a good gangster film came on the screen, both top points for the film. While the duration of the film seems long on paper, the film’s emotional depth is captured in its scenes which you’re already hooked on to and you’re not even going to worry about the time once it starts to unravel.
Silambarasan Rajendar is playing the central character of the film and has done such a remarkable job with his role, pretty much in awe of what he has accomplished here, throughout the progress of the story.
If the story, or how it has been captured, or the performance of the actor isn’t enough, what gives the film an extra boost is AR Rahman’s songs and background music, which adds quite a bit of complexity to the scenes.
While I’m not one for spoilers, how this film ends is quite fantastic, and truth be told, I did not expect that. Two hours and forty-seven minutes later, and now such a fan of this film, clapping behind the screen.