Things I Discovered This Week #42
Martyr!, whimsical wizard memes, a chilling horror series, Paddington’s Peru adventures, an unforgettable Persian song, what does it mean to be “on top of your work,” the Big Mac Index, and more!
Khauf - This is a fantastic horror series on Prime. I binged it in one night and would 10/10 recommend it! The real horror in Khauf doesn’t come from its cheap jumpscares or supernatural stuff (though trust me, some of them will haunt you). It comes from something far more sinister and familiar: being a woman simply trying to live in Delhi. The everyday realities of navigating public transport, walking back to your dingy, isolated hostel at night, coping with your past traumas… If you’ve ever lived in Delhi, you’ll know the fear is all too real. And Khauf nails it with chilling accuracy.
Martyr! - This 2024 debut novel by Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar offers a fresh, urgent perspective. It tells the story of a queer Iranian man living in the US, grappling with his mother’s death and searching for meaning and purpose. I’m just 100 pages in, and I’m already hooked.
Paddington in Peru - As delightful, funny, and heartwarming as the first two films, this one sees our favorite bear don his red hat and journey deep into the forests of Peru. What begins as a simple family visit quickly turns into an unexpected adventure - complete with marmalade mishaps (obviously), and Paddington uncovering long-buried secrets about his past… and about who he bearly remembered he was. As Aunt Lucy wisely said, “If we’re kind and polite, the world will be right.” And honestly, this film is proof that she was right all along!
What does it really mean to be “on top” of your work? (some thoughts):
It’s such a common phrase, isn’t it? “Are you on top of this?” But it carries a certain sharpness, a kind of veiled aggression. On the surface, it simply means: can you handle this? But underneath, it often seems to ask something more: Can you be ruthless if needed? Can you push, pressure, bulldoze your way through? Can you be the person who gets things done, even if it means becoming someone you don’t like?
Watching Gaitok in The White Lotus S3 brought this home for me. As a hotel security guard, he takes his job seriously. But as a Buddhist, he’s not comfortable wielding a gun or hurting others (a prerequisite for the job). And suddenly, he’s in a bind. Is being good at his job tied to being violent? Does he have to quit, or worse, prove he’s “man enough” by becoming someone he’s not?
There’s an unspoken script at many workplaces that equates leadership with dominance, control, even intimidation. You’re expected to chase, follow up, escalate. You’re applauded not just for doing the work, but for cracking the whip when others fall short.
But what if you want to do the work with dignity? What if you're here because you like the work, but you don’t want to become someone you're not—harsh, impatient, loud, unkind? Why is there so much casual violence baked into our ideas of effectiveness and professionalism? Is the deadline really more important than being humane?
Golden Frog Inn - The best insta meme account ever! Love their whimsical and funny wizard memes.
The Big Mac Index - A price index created by The Economist magazine in 1986 to measure purchasing power parity (PPP) between nations, using the price of a McDonald's Big Mac as the benchmark.
Fast food isn’t cheap anymore, and that says a lot about our economy. In this sharp piece, the author uses the humble McChicken to explore rising food costs, the hidden value of fast food as a workspace, and why eating out now feels like a luxury.Surmai - Growing up in Calcutta, I thought I knew my fish well. Bhetki, rui, katla, ilish, pomfret - always plenty of those around. But recently, I tried surmai rava fry for the first time and… oh well, I might’ve just found my favourite fish yet!
Khooneye Ma by Marjan Farsad - A hauntingly tender song about memory, home, and longing. Beautifully sung in Persian, it feels like tracing the silhouette of a house that no longer exists, except in the heart.
Yuko Shimizu – Not to be confused with the creator of Hello Kitty (different Yuko!), this badass illustrator is known for her bold, haunting New Yorker covers and stunning visual storytelling. Her work fuses traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern, often surreal, themes, making it quite unforgettable!
Word of the Week: Taarof (تعارف): A Persian word that literally means “to become acquainted,” but taarof is so much more than just a polite gesture! Think of it as a delicate social dance, where offers are made not to be accepted, and refusals might secretly mean yes. Iranians think of it as etiquette, and once you spot it, it’s everywhere - in cafes, in cabs, at dinner tables. Here’s some examples:
“He insisted on paying the bill, but I wasn’t sure if it was real or taarof.”
“She kept saying I shouldn’t trouble myself, but I knew it was just taarof - so I brought the cake anyway.”
“I offered to drive him home out of taarof, but he actually said yes. Now I’m stuck in traffic.”
Paddington's the best