Its time to chill out

In today's email:

• Unmissable Series, Movies, and Books.

• Best pizza in Chicago?

• Bittersweet Reality: Coca-Cola's Role in Chiapas' Diabetes Surge.

• Shower thoughts

CULTURE:
Unmissables

Series:

• Black Sails: (2014 - 2017) Set in 1715 during the Golden Age of piracy, "Black Sails" follows the cunning Captain Flint's quest for survival on New Providence Island. Amid threats from British and Spanish forces, Flint allies with Eleanor Guthrie to secure his people's future. However, obstacles arise in the form of rival captains, Eleanor's father, and the charismatic sailor John Silver. Beyond its thrilling pirate narrative, "Black Sails" explores themes of love, passion, the challenges of life in the British Empire, democracy, and more. A must-watch for those seeking a rich, colorful, and fast-paced pirate series with unexpected twists and turns.
  81% IN RT and 8’3 IMDb

Movies:

• The Shawshank Redemption:  ( 1994 ) Is a cinematic masterpiece set against the backdrop of Shawshank State Penitentiary in the 1940s. This gripping tale traces the journey of Andy Dufresne, a banker wrongly convicted and sentenced to life. The narrative unfolds with poignant themes of hope, resilience, and the transformative power of friendship, as Andy forms a deep bond with fellow inmate Red. The film goes beyond the prison setting, delivering a powerful exploration of the human spirit's triumph over adversity. A must-watch for those seeking a profound and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. 91% on RT and 9’3 IMDb

Books:

• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams spins a hilarious cosmic tale. Arthur Dent, an unsuspecting Earthling, and Ford Prefect, his alien pal, embark on a space jaunt filled with laughs and absurdity. Adams keeps it light, infusing wit and satire into their intergalactic hitchhiking adventures. This book is a fun escape, offering a mix of humor and quirky reflections on life's big questions.

TO DO:
Best pizza in Chicago:

• Pequod's: In Chicago, Pequod's is the go-to for deep-dish pizza. Operating since 1970, this Lincoln Park spot is a local gem, often with weekend waits stretching for hours. The crispy caramelized crust of their pan pizza is a game-changer, especially with the delectable sausage adding a delightful fennel kick. Unlike some hyped-up places, Pequod's consistently lives up to its reputation, earning its spot as one of Chicago's best and even making waves nationally. Consider making a reservation or using Yelp's waitlist for a taste of their transcendent pizza.

• Spacca Napoli: Tucked away in Ravenswood, Spacca Napoli is a hidden gem for Neapolitan-style pizza enthusiasts. With a Naples-built oven and owner Jon Goldsmith's certified pizzaiuolo expertise, the pizzas are crafted with care and feature quality ingredients sourced from specialized vendors. Their seasonal specials and appetizers like burrata and polenta cakes add to the culinary delight. No pizza disappoints, but Yelpers favor the white, margherita, and prosciutto and arugula options. While reservations are wise, occasional walk-up spots and lunch availability offer last-minute chances to savor their delectable pizzas

  

• Vito & Nick's: Vito & Nick's, a neighborhood gem in Chicago's Ashburn area for over a century, has been dishing out delicious pizzas since 1946. Co-owner Nick Barraco's mother played a key role in creating the original Sicilian recipe, focusing on quality ingredients, expertly seasoned sausage, and a closely guarded family dough formula. Despite its simple interior and unremarkable exterior, this cash-only joint has won the hearts of Southsiders and received accolades from food celebrities like Guy Fieri and Dave Portnoy. While they offer various toppings, locals swear by Vito & Nick's classic cheese, sausage, and half cheese/half sausage pizzas.

•  Piece Brewery and Pizzeria: In the heart of Wicker Park, Piece is a lively brewery and pizzeria co-owned by local icon Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick's guitarist. The establishment stands out in Chicago for its New Haven-style pies, known for their crispiness and unique toppings. Fired in a coal oven, Piece offers traditional options and excels in specialty pizzas, collaborating with legendary restaurants like Hot Doug's. Whether indulging in the imaginative creations or customizing your own pizza with premium toppings like clams and house-made meatballs, Piece delivers a flavor-packed experience.

Interesting:
Shower thoughts:

• Randomly hearing your favorite song on the radio is more satisfying than playing it directly. 

• Maybe plants are really farming us, giving us oxygen until we eventually expire and turn into mulch which they can consume

• Lawyers hope you get sued, doctors hope you get sick, cops hope you're criminal, mechanics hope you have car trouble, but only a thief wishes prosperity for you.

• When you say 'Forward' or 'Back', your lips move in those directions.

• Instead of colorizing photos, in 50 years we will be removing filters.

• I've woken up over 10,000 times and I'm still not used to it

Bittersweet Reality: Coca-Cola's Role in Chiapas' Diabetes Surge

In the scenic highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, Coca-Cola has become more than just a drink – it's deeply ingrained in the daily life of the locals, contributing to both cultural traditions and serious health issues.

In this region, residents are facing a double whammy – a diabetes epidemic and a chronic water shortage. The blame falls squarely on the massive Coca-Cola factory located on the town's edge, permitted to extract over 300,000 gallons of water daily. This decades-old arrangement with the government is raising eyebrows for favoring the factory owners at the expense of the community.

The impact on public health is alarming, with the diabetes mortality rate in Chiapas jumping 30% between 2013 and 2016. Diabetes is now the second-leading cause of death in the state, claiming over 3,000 lives each year. Soft drinks like Coca-Cola are widespread, worsening the health crisis, especially for those who are dealing with obesity and diabetes.

Coca-Cola’s penetration of the market  has also been aided by a strategy of charging less in remote rural areas where a Coke in a returnable glass bottle is often scarcely more expensive than bottled water. As in most of Mexico, clean drinking water is not generally available even to those who can count on running water in their homes, which means many turn to soft drinks for basic hydration.

The irony of this is clear in an area known for its constant downpours and abundant springs, such as the one that attracted the Coca-Cola bottling company. Local activists say the company has so overexploited the spring that the city of San Cristóbal is now facing water shortages.

Entering the highlands of Chiapas means entering a world where Coca-Cola is more than a beverage – it's part of religious and healing ceremonies. Indigenous communities, known as Los Altos, have embraced Coke as a symbol of social status and good hospitality. This relationship has unintentionally fueled a health emergency that activists argue the authorities are not taking seriously.

The story dates back to the 1960s when indigenous leaders, backed by the state, gained influence. They took control of Coca-Cola and Pepsi distribution, coinciding with evangelical churches pressuring communities to stop drinking alcohol. Coca-Cola replaced local firewater in rituals, believed to have healing properties and celestial approval.

Coca-Cola’s colonisation of Los Altos was also accelerated by the construction of a bottling plant just outside San Cristóbal de las Casas, the area’s main city, in the 1990s. The plant today supplies much of the south of Mexico, and it has always paid particular attention to the local market.
Marketing strategies have included huge billboards with smiling indigenous models, religious references and slogans written in indigenous languages, as well as the proliferation of points of sale no matter how small the volumes shifted.

A recent study in an indigenous community found that 15% of children aged one or two regularly drank soft drinks, as did 3% of babies under six months.

As residents grapple with health issues, water shortages, and environmental concerns, the story of Coca-Cola in Chiapas unfolds as a complex narrative where tradition clashes with economic interests, and the community pays the price.