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Food 101: Chili – The Fiery Journey of A Culinary Delight

Chili Red Spices Food Indian Vegetables Cooking Health

Chili peppers (also spelled chili or chile) are the fiery, pungent fruits of plants in the genus *Capsicum*, belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Native to the Americas—likely first domesticated in Mexico—they were spread worldwide after Christopher Columbus brought them to Europe in the late 15th century, quickly becoming essential in cuisines across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. Their signature heat comes from **capsaicin** and related compounds concentrated in the inner membranes, measured on the Scoville scale from mild bell peppers at 0 SHU to ultra-hot varieties like Pepper X exceeding 2.6 million SHU. Image source: Bharath N/Pexel

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Farming 101: Durians – Fascinating History and Diverse Varieties

Durian Nature Fruit King Torn

Durian, often called the “king of fruits,” is a large, spiny tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Famous for its powerful, pungent odour—described as a mix of rotten onions, turpentine, and sewage—it has a creamy, custard-like flesh that ranges from pale yellow to deep orange, with a complex flavour blending sweet, savoury, nutty, and slightly alcoholic notes. Image source: Wikimedia

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History 101: The Rich History of American Indians

Dances with Wolves Kevin Costner American Indian People History

Dances with Wolves (1990) depicts the American Indian Lakota Sioux during the 1860s, a time when Native American tribes faced displacement due to U.S. expansion, broken treaties, and violence like the Sand Creek Massacre (1864). The Lakota were nomadic, relying on buffalo hunts, with a rich spiritual and communal life. However, the movie’s portrayal is idealized, often criticized for the “white savior” trope, where Dunbar becomes a central figure in the tribe’s story. Image source: Reddit

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History 101: The Incredible Silk Road: Bridging East and West

Silk Road History China Europe Map

The Silk Road wasn’t a single, precisely measured road with a definitive length, but rather a network of interconnected trade routes across Asia, connecting the East and West. Its length varied depending on the specific routes taken, but it’s generally estimated to be around 4,000 miles (over 6,400 kilometers). Some estimates even suggest it could have been as long as 7,000 miles (over 11,000 kilometers) if all the branches and connecting paths are considered. Image source: Kelvin / Wikipedia

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Tamil Movie Review: Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 – Rushed & Not Engaging

Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 Mani Ratnam Tamil Movie

Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated Tamil movies of recent times. As a sequel to the first part, this film continues the epic saga based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical novel. Image source: IMDB

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Economy 101: Seriously, Is Malaysia’s External Debt As Bad As Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka Riot External Debt

COVID-19 pandemic, public funds mismanagement and corruption have driven some countries into severe external debts that they were unable to recover from and this saw massive public riots that had driven the politicians involved out of their country. One such example is Sri Lanka where the President of the country had fled the country and the country is in a major riot. Image source: BBC

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Malaysia 101: Twisted One Sided History In Malaysia?

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters. ~African Proverb

history sejarah malaysia

(I still remember this – the history book that I used when I was young and in school. The content was more balanced then than now where it is structured to show one side of race and religion. Image source: Blues Riders)

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