THE ZIZ FILES VOL. 6

August 2020

The Ziz Files is a monthly series featuring snippets of thoughts, ideas, and education from the visual landscape of everyday life, the kitchen, lectures from the greats, a plant of the month, and some of the globes finest tunes. 

Sharing a slice of what inspires me, from my kitchen to late-night YouTube'n.

xo,

Abbe

_______________

SEE

Cao Fei

Whose Utopia  

2006 / video / 20mins 

Read more about this piece from the artist here.

A TALK

Jaron Lanier chats on social media use, early behaviorism, computer science, and cybernetics.

"You might have trouble imagining life without your social media accounts, but virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier insists that we’re better off without them. In Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, Lanier, who participates in no social media, offers powerful and personal reasons for all of us to leave these dangerous online platforms."

DOC

Manufactured Landscapes, directed by Jennifer Baichwal, 2006

"Edward Burtynsky is internationally acclaimed for his large-scale photographs of nature transformed by industry. Manufactured Landscapes -- a stunning documentary by award-winning director Jennifer Baichwal -- follows Burtynsky to China, as he captures the effects of the country's massive industrial revolution. This remarkable film leads us to meditate on human endeavor and its impact on the planet."

READ 

 

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert Sapolsky

WATCH

The Florida Project, directed by Sean Baker, 2017

TASTE

Grandma's Fridge Pickles* 

2.5 cups water

3/4-1 cup of vinegar (I like using ACV)

2-3 Tbsp. sugar 

1 Tbsp. salt

2 cucumbers

1 sweet onion or bundle of spring onions

Chop the veggies and add all ingredients together in one bowl. Stick in the fridge for several hours to overnight, the longer the better. I usually keep them in the fridge uncovered in the bowl, or you can add them to a quart jar with a lid. A perfect snack for hot days.

*I grew up on a farm in MO, my grandma Lois would always have these on the kitchen table for lunch and dinner throughout the spring and summer. Eat them as is, with a snack or as a side dish to your lunch or dinner. Great with fried potatoes, a mess of green beans, fried chicken, or cheese and crackers. Follow with fresh cantaloupe with cracked pepper and/or watermelon with a pinch of salt.

TOUCH 

 

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis, Malvaceae)

Marshmallow is a soothing and nourishing demulcent herb that's multipurpose both internally and externally. Demulcents are a category of herbs that soothe and moisten tissues of the body. Think skin, digestive tract, lungs, and throat, to name a few. The root is commonly used medicinally, but you can also use the leaves, and often these are an option to purchase in commerce. Marshmallow is one of my favorites for the summertime as it soothes heat and inflammation in the body. It makes a moistening and refreshing tea, add it to cool water and stick it in the fridge, drink throughout the day. Toss a little in your water bottle before a hike or post-workout. In my herbal practice, I use marshmallow and other demulcents for urinary tract health, respiratory system support, dryness, constipation, skin conditions, and the list goes on.  It's my go-to for sore throats and any kind of respiratory infection. For a dry cough and or sore throat I like to add equal parts marshmallow root and licorice to hot water with honey and lemon. To ease dryness from the heat in the summertime, try cool marshmallow tea.

A recipe for staying cool and hydrated using marshmallow root.

Add 1 tsp. of Cactus Hibiscus Hydrating Powder (contains marshmallow root powder) to a glass with ice and coconut water, or use sparkling or plain. Turn it into a slushie, blend with ice and fresh watermelon and/or pineapple.

Find Marshmallow in other Ziz products. Mushroom Mesquite Powder, Skin Tincture, Lungs Tincture & Cleansing Toner

A SPLASH OF ZIZ

Ziz has two new lollie flavors, guarana & rhodiola. Guarana contains caffeine and offers an energizing and euphoric buzz while working throughout the day, I think it helps with focus too, and especially for any kind of long car ride. This formula includes the adaptogen ashwagandha and mood-lifting raw cacao.

Rhodiola is a stimulating adaptogen that improves focus, eases stress, and lifts the mood. This formula includes stress soothing schisandra berry and heart and mood-lifting rose petals.

There's also kava kava, if you're looking to do the opposite of feeling stimulated, this is a major relaxer. I recommend having one in the evening after a long day but if you're getting restless during the day and mental chatter is feeling overwhelming, this is a gentle aid in quieting and soothing the mind. 

HEAR

Feeling so hot you can hardly think, turn this on. Duppy Gun Productions album Miro Tape. My friend Cameron Stallones & M. Geddes Gengras created this project/label, made in collaboration with L.A. & Jamaican artists. Learn more here.

Stay cool out there.