{"id":489,"date":"2018-01-28T22:08:26","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T02:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aligncenter.org\/?p=489"},"modified":"2018-02-21T02:48:53","modified_gmt":"2018-02-21T06:48:53","slug":"newsletter-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aligncenter.org\/newsletter-22\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter #22"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"movement\"Welcome to the\u00a0second issue of the year, and I\u00a0have some great picks for you. Starting\u00a0with a map and explanation on why most of the world uses two words for tea, Reddit as a sanctuary for civil conversations, a new nature series from the BBC, and a grassroots project from the U.K. to combat plastic water bottle use. Our podcast recommendation is the story of CLIF Bar, worth a listen if you’re a fan or not, and a long read on the growing popularity of astrology amongst millennials. Plus five things I’ve been digging lately, including art in many forms and a Spanish language album. We wrap it up with my theme word for the year. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

\u25e6 selected words<\/h1>\n

Thanks to the Sea, the World Only Has Two Words for Tea<\/a><\/h2>\n

In both Mandarin and Cantonese, the word for tea is “cha”. As the first explorers of Asia, the Portuguese brought back the word “ch\u00e1”, or “chay” as used in much of Indian, Russia, Persia, and Turkey. But the “tea” pronunciations of the word also came from China, although the character is the same. How could this be? The Spanish and Italians say “t\u00e9”, while Germans and Afrikaans say “Tee\u201d. A short history lesson and an effective map telling the story of global trade and the influence of Asian culture via land and sea routes on language over the past 400 years. (Fun fact: when you order a chai tea latte, you’re actually saying “tea” twice).
\nQuartz (3min read)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Our Best Hope for Civil Discourse Online is on… Reddit<\/a><\/h2>\n

Do you hold a controversial view or opinion? Maybe it’s something you might be keeping to yourself, and you may even feel guilty to think it, but logically it makes sense to you. You’re open to changing your mind, but where can you share these thoughts without judgment and internet shaming? Since 2013, the “Change My View” reddit provides a space for exactly this \u2014 a moderated forum with unique mechanisms built-in to keep conversations civil and rewarding those who can contribute sound arguments. In this Wired article, the author shares his controversial position on Reddit, the 4th most popular site in the U.S.
\nWired Magazine (15min read)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The Massive Success of Blue Planet 2 Leads to New BBC Series<\/a><\/h2>\n

The BBC and David Attenborough keep hitting it out of the park. With the huge popularity of Blue Planet II which finished last month, the British network and producers of Planet Earth have given the green light to four new series. Ready? First, a six-part series on the legacy of Charles Darwin. Next is “Dynasty”, where animal groups are filmed for two years. Then BBC talks environment in the series The Truth About What You Wear, focusing on the textile industry. The fourth new series is Drowning in Plastic, a documentary on the ongoing damage to the oceans. Like we need more things to watch, but there are worse things.
\nThe Guardian (5min read)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To Combat Plastic Bottles, Get a Sticker<\/a><\/h2>\n

In an effort to reduce the number of plastic water bottles used in the U.K. (38.5 million every day), a grassroots project called The Refill Initiative was created. Their vision is simple \u2014 participating cafes and bars put a bright blue sticker on the window with the words “free tap water”, and passerby\u2019s can top up their refillable bottles. In the first two months of the program, 200 businesses in Bristol signed up, and there are now over 1,600 in the U.K.
\nFast Company (3min read)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u25e6 listen in<\/h1>\n

The Story of CLIF Bar<\/a><\/h2>\n

On day one of a 175-mile (280km) cycling trip, Gary Erickson packed a half dozen Power Bars, back when that was the only bar on the market, and began riding. Halfway through the day, after his fifth bar and needing fuel, he was hungry but couldn’t stomach a sixth \u2014 he’d rather struggle through than taste the chalky bars. That’s when it clicked \u2014 there has to be a way to make a better tasting, nutrient-rich bar to sustain energy. Gary, himself a baker, turned to the best baker he knew \u2014 his mom \u2014 and experimented with recipes with the goal of making a bar that tasted like a cookie, but with no oil, butter or added sugar. I don’t normally eat them, with their slightly odd “made with 70% organic ingredients” on the box, but I bought a bulk box to fuel me through a teacher training and it’s done its job. Listen to the story of the former baker and mountain guide who worked on the recipe with his mom for two years, named the company after his father, would almost lose the company, then gave 20% of it back to his employees.
\nHow I Built This by NPR (33min podcast)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u25e6 eat well<\/h1>\n

Chia Seed Pudding<\/a><\/h2>\n

Chia’s a regular in my pantry, but I’m definitely a bit late to the chia pudding party. Best done the night before for a quick and healthy breakfast. Try putting some pudding instead of yogurt in the middle of your papaya boat (recipe in the last issue of Align Center<\/a>).
\nWellness Mama<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u25e6 read slow<\/h1>\n

The New Age of Astrology<\/a><\/h2>\n

“In a stressful, data-driven era, many young people find comfort and insight in the zodiac\u2014even if they don\u2019t exactly believe in it.”
\nIn the last five years, traffic for horoscope sites has grown exponentially, with some astrologers having follower counts in the hundreds of thousands. Search social media for “mercury retrograde” and you’ll get a glimpse at its newfound popularity. People are increasingly turning to astrology during times of stress as a coping mechanism, even if they don’t fully believe in it. And in our most stressed generation, with the endless availability of information and penchant for digestible snippets, astrology fits right in.
\nThe Atlantic (17min read)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u25e6 current read<\/h1>\n

Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life<\/a><\/h2>\n

Sometimes, certain books keep showing up in your life. You see a quote in an article, or a friend recommends it, or maybe you see it on the shelf at a dinner party. This was one of them for me, and it’s taken me years to get to it. First published in 1999, Non-Violent Communication (abbreviated NVC, also called Compassionate Communication or Collaborative Communication), is an approach to life based on the idea that all humans have the capacity for compassion, and only resort to harmful behavior when they feel exhausted of all other methods. Generally accepted by the scientific community, the book presents a model on using consciousness and vocabulary to improve the quality of your relationships, prevent conflicts, heal pain, and create more peace in your life.
\nNon-Violent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. (220p book)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u25e6 dig this<\/h1>\n

What I’m digging lately:<\/p>\n