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3143. Lavender Kitea

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And then there’s bananas, from Papua New Guinea:

They contain alkaloid toxins. They still do, in smaller amounts! They are produced when potatoes are exposed to the sun, to protect the tuber from being eaten. That’s why you shouldn’t eat green potatoes. It’s also proof that 18th century French peasants weren’t simply being silly or superstitious when they refused to eat potatoes: potatoes did at one point contain toxins, just like other nightshades! They were making a logical assumption. It was wrong, but it was logical!

I’m not sure if this research is still “up to date” since I did it close to ten years ago now, but the belief was that ancient Incans saw alpaca and other animals licking clay while eating toxic tubers. The animals were fine. So the people followed their lead.

Turns out, certain kinds of clay are really good at absorbing certain plant toxins (specifically negative charge toxins). So the clay rendered the proto-potatoes edible and non-deadly! It is believed that by observing and following their lead, ancient Incans gained access to a valuable crop. To this day, there is a traditional potato dish that involves dipping potato in a sauce made of chaco clay, water, and salt. This dish is likely thousands of years old, and may be why we are able to eat potatoes today. (Oh - one of the two alkaloid toxins produced by potatoes is called chaconine!)

Over time, ancient farmers bred less toxic potatoes, until we arrived at the current starchy miracle food we all know and love!

And the reason potatoes in places like Europe and North America seem to lack such beautiful diversity, as seen in the photo above, is because potatoes are often grown from “seed potatoes” rather than from seed. This means that most potatoes you eat are actually clones propagated from a plant possibly hundreds of years old. It also means there is very little to no genetic diversity in a field of potatoes.

But then also the show is really good (albeit a bit subtler) about the value in men embracing traditionally feminine traits and activities.  Our main character is pacifist vegetarian soft-boi who wears flower crowns and makes jewelry and spends a lot of time talking about his feelings and he is by and far the most morally sound character in the series who is completely at ease with who he is. 

Then you have Sokka who a lot of people have pointed out has an arc that’s basically “chug respect women juice,” and part of that arc includes him wearing the Kiyoshi uniform, something he feels emasculates him, (and which the show makes a joke about tbf) but then they turn it around and make the ensemble genuinely badass. 

And then sweet Zuko who is absolutely someone who is portrayed as caring and sensitive in his childhood (by no small part due to his mother’s influence) who is raised in probably the most toxically masculine environment in the show. The Fire Nation might have women in its ranks, but feminine traits like compassion, mercy, and basically any emotion that isn’t a desire for destruction are seen as disgraceful. It’s notable what gets Zuko banished is his refusal to fight his own father, and how that is labeled disrespectful. 

It’s also notable that the people and places that change Zuko are more feminine in nature. He works in a shop, cleaning and preparing tea. He meets two young women who drastically change his view on Earth Kingdom civilians. He spends time helping a family with children. And through all this he’s there with Iroh, a guy who enjoys music, culture, and natural beauty, who’s sensitive and dedicated to humble acts of kindness for others, and who Ozai dismisses as an embarassing failure. 

And the show ends with Zuko ditching all this toxicity and just being the guy he wants to be. He even hugs Aang at the end, something Season 1 Zuko would never do with anybody. Our boy hugs!

Like the show doesn’t just empower women by letting them fight, it also shows the power and value in emotional vulnerability and compassion that is usually only reserved for women. It empowers women to fight and kick ass while also deconstructing toxic masculinity. 

I HAVE FOUND MY FAVOURITE POST ON THE INTERNET

It’s easy to learn how to make brownie cookies. They are loaded with rich chocolate flavor and have a luscious, soft interior along with a crispy exterior.

For example, you set up a kettle of water to boil for your tea. Quick! Wipe down the whole counter before it’s done boiling, for the love of god you’re running out of time! Wipe it down! The water is almost boiling.

The water is boiling and your counter is clean. Now set your timer for your tea for three minutes and of my god there’s cups in your room! Quick! Get all the cups from everywhere in the house! Run! You’ve only got three minutes! Get all the dishes into the kitchen!

Oh would you look at that. You got all the dishes in the sink and now your tea is ready. Nice. Now you can chill with your tea.