Popcorn, orcas and new podcasts

Quote of the week

Must-watch

Two orcas, Port and Starboard, have been enjoying a reign of terror along the Overberg coast for years by hunting great white sharks. They have caused great damage to the shark cage industry. They have a preference for the liver of the sharks and leave the rest of the meat behind. Here is incredible footage of such an attack by a single orca on a great white (they usually hunt in schools). It's all over in seconds and the shark doesn't stand a chance, even though they are considered apex marine predators. The video contains a lot of information about orcas and beautiful visuals.

What you want to know

First, some cafés allowed pets, then came cat cafés, and the latest craze in Japan is cafés where you can cuddle pigs.

The miniature pigs trot about the room looking for a cosy lap to cuddle up on. Pig lovers say they are clever, toilet trained, make great pets and can be bought for $1,300 (about R24,500).

There are ten such pig cafés around Japan. Look out for Mipig.

Finds

Blue teeth for your old hi-fi

Do you still have a great old sound system from the 1970s or 80s that you can't bring yourself to take to the hospice store, even though you can't use it for almost anything? Just because you can't play your smart television or your music streaming services' sound through an old Bang & Olufsen or Technics doesn't mean the great speakers and amplifiers are now worthless.

For less than R300 you can connect a Bluetooth receiver to such a system and enjoy listening to your Deep Purple and Jethro Tull playlists again in the lapa or the bedroom, where an old hi-fi will do nicely.

It's not exactly news that such devices are available, but until recently you had to fork out R800 for a Logitech Bluetooth Receiver, which was the only one available. Now you can pick up the DW NFC Desktop Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Receiver for R299 at Takealot.

Several devices on the market work well. The most important thing is that you should not buy one that can only be connected to your amplifier with a stereo cable. Get one that works with those red-and-white hi-fi cables, also known as RCA cables. It gives the best sound.

Popcorn popper

Popcorn is one of our favourite low-calorie healthy snacks. But the key is to pop it with as little oil as possible. Movie popcorn or microwave popcorn can be laced with unhealthy fats and flavourings high in sodium and chemical additives — not to mention the ridiculous price of bagged microwave popcorn. You can, of course, use a pot, but we fancy the old-fashioned Whirley Pop (R1,149) from Yuppiechef. They also sell a silicone microwave popper for R439. If you like the ease of microwave popcorn, you will make back the money you spend in the first few batches.

Watch

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War

Documentary series (9 episodes)
Director: Brian Knappenberger

This delightful series basically picks up where the Oscar-winning movie Oppenheimer left off: the course of world history after World War 2 was ended by the nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But cause and effect are traced far back, among other things to Lenin and Stalin's reign of terror in Russia.

It is about the drastic increase in nuclear weapons after the war, the history of the Cold War up to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the rise of Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. It outlines the run-up to a new Cold War (which we are experiencing today) which is much hotter and more dangerous than the one before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

It is a must-watch and contains more than 100 interviews, with subjects ranging from survivors of the nuclear bombs to past and present world leaders.

We give it 10/10.

Big little recipe

Doesn't this look yummy?

Listen

Performance coach, corporate speaker, writer and social media buff Gielie Hoffmann shares his five favourite podcasts with the Fomolistas this week. Follow him on Instagram @gieliehoffmann.

Every Outfit

What started as two girlfriends discussing every episode of Sex in the City is now a weekly peek into pop culture, with a strong dose of humour and fashion opinions.

Las Culturistas

Two friends have their say about all that is culture. Both were unknown but the podcast has made them stars. Sometimes hysterical, always relevant.

Monocle: Meet the Writers

Georgina Godwin is a respected book journalist and talks to an author every week. She ends with their latest book but takes a quick look at their past — and that's where the gems lie.

Monocle: The Briefing

A daily look at what's going on in the world. Deeper than digital news stories, better than dial-in radio and devoid of unnecessary media politics.

The New Yorker: Critics at Large

Three respected reviewers from The New Yorker tackle topics in a casual vein. They give more background on what they have written and thus deepen your understanding of the magazine's content.

Wonderfood: nutritional yeast

Want to add savoury, cheesy and nutty flavours to your diet while improving your health? Look no further: nutritional yeast is the answer. It is delicious, dairy- and gluten-free, boosts energy, supports the immune system, and contains vitamins, minerals, potassium, calcium, iron and protein.

One-quarter of a cup contains 60 calories, promotes skin, hair and nail health, improves glucose sensitivity and supports healthy pregnancy.

Nutritional yeast is similar to the yeast used in baking but it undergoes a heating and drying process that renders it inactive.

How to use:

• It comes in flakes or a powder.
• As an alternative to cheese sauce for a vegan option in risotto, macaroni.
• Sprinkle it on popcorn instead of butter and salt, or use it in soups.
• Add it to scrambled eggs or mix it into a nut roast or stuffing.

Video of the week:

♦ VWB ♦

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