Raven Montmorency

A Short History of Japan’s Favorite 7-Flavor Shichimi Spice

“Variety is the spice of life.” You must have heard this expression many times. Turns out, it is truly more than just a catchphrase. It can also be applied to the foods we eat. Research shows that people who incorporate a variety of food in their diets are healthier, happier, and also live longer. Japanese ...

Raven Montmorency

A bowl of the Japanese seven-flavor Shichimi Togarashi spice.

The Hummingbird Flower

Nature has a way of tricking us with its illusory visuals. If you love these pleasing extra-species resemblances, then check out this hummingbird flower in Australia. There are some unique plants that look just like animals. For example, the giant leaf insect, Indian oakleaf butterfly, and Malayan leaf frog to name a few. In Northern ...

Raven Montmorency

The regal birdflower.

The Okinawan Secret to Longevity

Known for having higher longevity compared to the rest of the world, Okinawans might have discovered the holy grail of living a healthy life. Ever wonder about what exactly they have for lunch and dinner that is the secret to their longevity? “Eat your greens,” our moms used to say. Some people neglect the importance ...

Raven Montmorency

Fish at a fish market.

Post Lockdown: Getting Back to Work

As countries relax their COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, businesses are starting to resume operations and employees are going back to work. However, how do the workers feel about this? Are they happy to be working again as usual or are they unhappy about how things are shaping up? Going back to work How employees feel about ...

Raven Montmorency

Co-workers wearing masks.

Art Review: The Lady of Shalott

A boat traveling from afar comes to a halt on the shore. Cradled within it is a lifeless woman’s body. A group of knights discovers a boat that drifted from the river and finds a paper on her chest: “The web was woven curiously, the charm is broken utterly, draw near and fear not, — ...

Raven Montmorency

'The Lady of Shalott'

Sunscreen: 7 Sun-Protecting Foods for Your Skin

The sun is starting to feel a bit hotter every year, right? You have to be careful because long-term exposure can damage your immune system, accelerate skin aging, and cause skin cancer. All of these are not good. Thus, it is important to use sunscreen. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2 million ...

Raven Montmorency

A mound of blueberries.

Finding Your Path Through Unschooling

Have you ever heard of unschooling? We’re all led to believe that to succeed in life we must go to school, study hard all the way to college, and get a degree. It’s understandable. Truth be told, the world is geared toward a kind of grading system that we’re all made to compete in. And ...

Raven Montmorency

A child looking at a giant globe.

Aristotle and the Unrelenting Question About Happiness

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said that “happiness depends upon ourselves.” To fully comprehend the essence of man’s happiness, he believed that we must seek to understand a human being’s distinctive function. Fame, money, recognition, love, and other things that have put a smile on our faces — think of them as droplets of water, fleeting ...

Raven Montmorency

Aristotle.

Frustration: The Silent Killer

Feeling frustrated, as everyone knows, is a horrible feeling. Most people have experienced it at some point in their lives. Frustration is not an easy emotion to cope with, and it might even stem from your youth. If you have not learned to cope with the emotion by adulthood, you’ll find living within a society ...

Raven Montmorency

A man yelling in frustration.

How COVID-19 Is Changing the Way We Live

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted our lives in a way that will have long-term implications. While people are already talking about a future dominated by remote work rather than the traditional 9 to 5 office jobs, other areas of life will also undergo profound changes. Online education during COVID-19 Up till now, students have been ...

Raven Montmorency

A person wearing a metal helmet against Covid-19.