Category: Habits
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How Does Toxicity by System of a Down Reflect Society’s Illusions?
Read more: How Does Toxicity by System of a Down Reflect Society’s Illusions?Can listening to politically charged music lead to real change? I first began listening to System of a Down when their second album, Toxicity, was released in 2001. Produced in part by Rick Rubin, the album solidified the band’s unique sound—an intense fusion of metal, punk, and traditional Armenian influences. Though an American band, all…
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Fight Club: How Does Mental Health Shape Our Reality?
Read more: Fight Club: How Does Mental Health Shape Our Reality?What Does Fight Club Teach Us About the Invisible Struggles of Mental Health? Fight Club is a 1999 American film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. It is based on the 1996 novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. I have watched it multiple times—not only because of…
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How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?
Read more: How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, profiling rock climber Alex Honnold’s quest to achieve the first-ever free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in June 2017. Watching it a few years ago, I still remember the sweat on my hands and feet—I…
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How Does Suzume Reflect Our Reality and the Power of Awareness?
Read more: How Does Suzume Reflect Our Reality and the Power of Awareness?Can disasters shape our collective memory? Suzume is a 2022 Japanese animated coming-of-age fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The story follows 17-year-old Suzume Iwato and a young stranger, Souta Munakata, as they team up to prevent a series of disasters across Japan. Their mission is to seal doors that release a…
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How Did Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt Become a Gypsy Jazz Classic?
Read more: How Did Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt Become a Gypsy Jazz Classic?I recently reheard Minor Swing, composed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, while watching the movie Julie & Julia. The tune had already been on my list of songs I wanted to discuss, so this felt like the perfect occasion to write about it. Composed in 1937, Minor Swing has since become a cornerstone of…
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How Does Kiki’s Delivery Service Teach Us About Growth and Resilience?
Read more: How Does Kiki’s Delivery Service Teach Us About Growth and Resilience?Kiki’s Delivery Service is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film written, produced, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, based on Eiko Kadono’s 1985 novel of the same name and animated by Studio Ghibli. Recently, my wife and I cooked a pie inspired by the anime. We found numerous YouTube tutorials showing the recipe—not just from this…
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Garou: Mark of the Wolves – Can We Break Free from the Chains of the Past?
Read more: Garou: Mark of the Wolves – Can We Break Free from the Chains of the Past?What made Mark of the Wolves a legendary fighting game? Garou: Mark of the Wolves is a 1999 fighting game produced by SNK, originally released for the Neo Geo arcade system. Recently, I learned that the a-cho arcade in Kyoto had permanently closed on January 31, 2025. This arcade had been a cornerstone of the…
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C’est Pas Sorcier: How Can We Keep Learning Like Jamy?
Read more: C’est Pas Sorcier: How Can We Keep Learning Like Jamy?Why should lifelong learning be the norm? C’est pas sorcier (literally It’s Not Sorcery, the French equivalent of “it’s not rocket science”) was a popular French live-action, science education television program that aired in the 90s. In the show, “Sabine” (Sabine Quindou) and “Fred” (Frédéric Courant) explored the world, interviewing specialists and posing questions to…
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Is Kuroko’s Basketball More Than Just a Sports Anime?
Read more: Is Kuroko’s Basketball More Than Just a Sports Anime?A few days ago marked the fifth anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing. As one of the greatest basketball players of all time, his legacy continues to inspire countless athletes and fans. Reflecting on this, I was reminded of Kuroko’s Basketball, a manga series that ran from 2008 to 2014 and was later adapted into…