2019 | Korean | Romance

I believe there’s a right time to read a book and until the time has arrived, you will either not enjoy reading the book or will set it aside for later. I’ve noticed the same is applicable to movies and series. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode or two because it didn’t appeal to me. Romance is a Bonus Book is one such drama. RIABB was recommended by the friend who introduced me to Korean dramas in 2019. Back then, I’d given up on the series after episode 4/5, for reasons I don’t really remember. But my 2022 viewing of RIABB has been a smooth sailing. Here’s the good and the bad of this series…

The plot of Romance is a Bonus Book

Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a 37-year-old is scrambling to upgrade her life. The former advertising copywriter has separated from her husband who cheated on her and is now an unemployed single mother. Adding to the struggle of finding suitable employment after the long career gap is the fact that her house is being razed. So, to make ends meet, she is working as a housekeeper… at her best friend Cha Eun-ho’s (Lee Jong-suk) home and he doesn’t know it!

Eun-ho, 32, is a successful author, chief editor and one of the founding members of Gyeoroo publishing. He has been in love with Dan-i since he was a teenager but obviously, the latter is clueless. In the present (of the show) Eun-ho is unaware about Dan-i’s struggles. Eventually, Dan-i finds a job at Eun-ho’s publishing house, the latter finds out about her state of affairs and drags her to live with him until she finds her footing.

The story progresses in tandem with Dan-i’s professional and personal growth. She impresses her colleagues with her hard work and creative flair, makes new chingus and love comes knocking. Of course, the journey isn’t smooth as the duo navigate through personal and professional highs and lows but then, what’s a series without some drama, right? 

The Good…

A very generic and mundane description of this series would be that it is a mature friends-to-lovers romance, the story of a divorced woman fighting against the odds and winning. But just as life isn’t as simple, the series isn’t as generic.

Although branded a romantic comedy, Romance is a Bonus Book may not be a series that viewers in their 20s may relate with because honestly, most of the issues that the protagonist faces are the 30s problem – especially the ‘age discrimination’ and the various societal pressures that ‘aging’ women have to face. And when I say ‘age’ here, I mean women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s subtle but evident in the way Dan-i has to fudge her resume to land a menial job, the way she is berated for trying to take a job that ‘belongs’ to someone younger and her thoughts about exploring a romantic relationship with someone younger.

The highlight of this series is Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk’s acting. The former slays as Dan-i, effortlessly showing the character’s inner struggles and determination to survive, her presence of mind and her self-belief. She adds to the existing layers of the character and in doing so, she becomes a heroine viewers will relate to and empathise with – because trust me when I say, we’ve all been there at least once in life.

And please, I simple cannot not mention Lee Jong-suk. The man with the cute face can make your heart flutter and how! Jong-suk’s broad shoulders carry the role of Eun-ho with as much ease as they carry off those amazing long coats and sweaters (a little swoon here please). His admiration, love and support for his noona is evident in every single frame and is like that warm comforter that you want to snuggle into after a hard day. There are several emotional moments and the duo do a brilliant job with these without going overboard.

A key point of attraction here is the setting – Gyeoroo publishing. It makes me want to apply for a job there right away because that’s what a dream job would be, right? Your work is an extension of a genuine love, you get to live in the world of books day in and day out, your bestie works at the office and your love interest does too! And not to forget the colleagues that range from scary and tyrannical to weird and adorable. All the supporting characters – including the potential love interests Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) and Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) – are well etched, each with backstories that justify their behaviour and add to the storyline.

One of the best moments of the series are in the last episode, when a letter drawing comparison between life-relationships-books is read out. Its poignant, its heartwarming and the reason why the title of the series makes absolute sense.

… and The Bad

If you are the kind that needs drama and speed and a cliffhanging end to every episode then Romance Is A Bonus Book isn’t something you want to want. The series, albeit interesting, is a bit scattered and for non-Koreans, the references to books and authors can be a little confusing since we aren’t aware of them.

There is no shock value in the series, not even the unravelling of the mystery creates conflict. Moreover, with a lot of the information dropped in the first half of the series, the remaining episodes are more to tie up the knots and feel dragged out. I’d say chop off an episode and a half!

Its soothing, but sometimes, soothing can put you to sleep too.

For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.

2019 | Korean | Romance

I believe there’s a right time to read a book and until the time has arrived, you will either not enjoy reading the book or will set it aside for later. I’ve noticed the same is applicable to movies and series. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode or two because it didn’t appeal to me. Romance is a Bonus Book is one such drama. RIABB was recommended by the friend who introduced me to Korean dramas in 2019. Back then, I’d given up on the series after episode 4/5, for reasons I don’t really remember. But my 2022 viewing of RIABB has been a smooth sailing. Here’s the good and the bad of this series…

The plot of Romance is a Bonus Book

Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a 37-year-old is scrambling to upgrade her life. The former advertising copywriter has separated from her husband who cheated on her and is now an unemployed single mother. Adding to the struggle of finding suitable employment after the long career gap is the fact that her house is being razed. So, to make ends meet, she is working as a housekeeper… at her best friend Cha Eun-ho’s (Lee Jong-suk) home and he doesn’t know it!

Eun-ho, 32, is a successful author, chief editor and one of the founding members of Gyeoroo publishing. He has been in love with Dan-i since he was a teenager but obviously, the latter is clueless. In the present (of the show) Eun-ho is unaware about Dan-i’s struggles. Eventually, Dan-i finds a job at Eun-ho’s publishing house, the latter finds out about her state of affairs and drags her to live with him until she finds her footing.

The story progresses in tandem with Dan-i’s professional and personal growth. She impresses her colleagues with her hard work and creative flair, makes new chingus and love comes knocking. Of course, the journey isn’t smooth as the duo navigate through personal and professional highs and lows but then, what’s a series without some drama, right? 

The Good…

A very generic and mundane description of this series would be that it is a mature friends-to-lovers romance, the story of a divorced woman fighting against the odds and winning. But just as life isn’t as simple, the series isn’t as generic.

Although branded a romantic comedy, Romance is a Bonus Book may not be a series that viewers in their 20s may relate with because honestly, most of the issues that the protagonist faces are the 30s problem – especially the ‘age discrimination’ and the various societal pressures that ‘aging’ women have to face. And when I say ‘age’ here, I mean women in their late 30s and 40s. It’s subtle but evident in the way Dan-i has to fudge her resume to land a menial job, the way she is berated for trying to take a job that ‘belongs’ to someone younger and her thoughts about exploring a romantic relationship with someone younger.

The highlight of this series is Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk’s acting. The former slays as Dan-i, effortlessly showing the character’s inner struggles and determination to survive, her presence of mind and her self-belief. She adds to the existing layers of the character and in doing so, she becomes a heroine viewers will relate to and empathise with – because trust me when I say, we’ve all been there at least once in life.

And please, I simple cannot not mention Lee Jong-suk. The man with the cute face can make your heart flutter and how! Jong-suk’s broad shoulders carry the role of Eun-ho with as much ease as they carry off those amazing long coats and sweaters (a little swoon here please). His admiration, love and support for his noona is evident in every single frame and is like that warm comforter that you want to snuggle into after a hard day. There are several emotional moments and the duo do a brilliant job with these without going overboard.

A key point of attraction here is the setting – Gyeoroo publishing. It makes me want to apply for a job there right away because that’s what a dream job would be, right? Your work is an extension of a genuine love, you get to live in the world of books day in and day out, your bestie works at the office and your love interest does too! And not to forget the colleagues that range from scary and tyrannical to weird and adorable. All the supporting characters – including the potential love interests Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon) and Song Hae-rin (Jung Yoo-jin) – are well etched, each with backstories that justify their behaviour and add to the storyline.

One of the best moments of the series are in the last episode, when a letter drawing comparison between life-relationships-books is read out. Its poignant, its heartwarming and the reason why the title of the series makes absolute sense.

… and The Bad

If you are the kind that needs drama and speed and a cliffhanging end to every episode then Romance Is A Bonus Book isn’t something you want to want. The series, albeit interesting, is a bit scattered and for non-Koreans, the references to books and authors can be a little confusing since we aren’t aware of them.

There is no shock value in the series, not even the unravelling of the mystery creates conflict. Moreover, with a lot of the information dropped in the first half of the series, the remaining episodes are more to tie up the knots and feel dragged out. I’d say chop off an episode and a half!

Its soothing, but sometimes, soothing can put you to sleep too.

For regular updates on recipes, recommendations on things to read and watch and ramblings that make sense, subscribe to the newsletter – you’ll find the form in the sidebar if viewing on a screen and at the bottom if viewing on the phone. Since spamming or flooding your inbox is a huge no for me, these newsletters go out only when I’ve put up a new post or sometimes, once in a month only.

As useful as it is beautiful, Higher: The Lore, Legends and Legacy of Cannabis is your visual companion for exploring the magic and facts of marijuana. Featuring a timeline on “the history of getting high,” exquisite plant anatomy illustrations, telling stories of the rise and spread of modern cannabis, and over 100 full-page strain photographs all worthy of a spot on the wall, Higher is one book you won’t want to let your friends borrow.

As author Dan Michaels so candidly puts it, the modern era of legalization is “a pothead’s dream.” Even so, the choices in this rapidly evolving market are often overwhelming—even for the longtime consumer. In his 2023 release of Higher: The Lore, Legends and Legacy of Cannabis, Michaels addresses the chaos by clearly and pragmatically organizing scientific facts with stories about cannabis culture. It cuts through the confusion, educating and reminding cannabis enthusiasts about the true magic of this plant. Armed with both facts and beauty, this important book engages the senses, asking readers to appreciate, respect and learn.

Some might describe Higher as a coffee table book due to photographer Erik Christiansen’s stunning imagery. Christiansen is a pioneer of focus-stacked cannabis photography. Others may call it a handy field guide, as they aim to identify varying cultivars and their genetic makeups. Still, others will consider Higher a historical text covering cannabis’ modern-day evolution. It’s easy to thumb through the publication and gain snippets of information on different strains—from growing techniques to historical origins. At a not insignificant heft of 313-pages, Higher might be most aptly described as a textbook, well-deserving of a spot on a college 101 cannabis course syllabus.

While not unlike a field guide in its purpose, Higher is much more. Not only does the book cover cultivars and plant anatomy, but it also dives into origin stories, prohibition, breeding and consumption methods. Readers will learn how to judge the quality of their bud and how to store flower for the utmost freshness. With Michaels’ comprehensive cannabis overview and Christiansen’s inspiring photos, Higher is one book you’re sure to return time and time again.

The post Higher: The Lore, Legends and Legacy of Cannabis appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Of course you know Meathead—founder of Amazingribs.com and author of the bestselling book that bears his name. I have great respect for him, but we don’t always seen eye to eye.

Who Is Meathead?

Meathead champions sous vide (cooking foods in a plastic bag at low temperature in a water bath). I consider it cheating. I love caveman T-bone (grilled directly on the embers). He dismisses it as a party trick. Meathead distains beer can chicken. I wrote a whole book on it—not necessarily because it’s a superior cooking method (although it does produce a great roast chicken), but because it’s so much fun.

But there’s one thing we agree on and that’s that live fire makes just about every food taste better. And humankind and the world would be immeasurably impoverished without it.

His first book, Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecuing and Grilling (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016), became an award-winning bestseller. Now he’s back with a hefty new hardcover: The Meathead Method (Harvest, 2025).

Meathead (like Sting and Madonna, he goes by first name only) was a seasoned journalist (Washington Post and Chicago Tribune) before he came to barbecue. He writes with wit, style, and grace. Above all, he’s a scientist, and the first half of The Meathead Method is filled with discourses on myoglobin, viscosity, lipids, the Maillard reaction, infrared radiant energy, and so on.

And even on how we taste. Depressing fact: a young person has 8000 to 10000 tastebuds. As we age, that number dwindles by half. (Please pass the salt.)

In fact, if you thought you were buying a cookbook, you’ll have to make your way through 164 pages of science and technology before you get to the first recipe.

Science First, Recipes Later

Believe me it’s worth it. No one knows more about barbecue science than Meathead. If my chemistry textbooks in college were written with half has much verve, I might have gone to medical school.

As in his first book, Meathead does a lot of myth busting. Like that melting fat penetrates the meat when you baste, say, a chicken or turkey. It doesn’t, says Meathead. (But it sure makes the skin taste good.)

Or that brisket and other meats stop absorbing smoke flavor after they reach an internal temperature of 150 degrees. On the contrary, they continue to take on smoke until you wrap them, which Meathead likes to do with aluminum foil (the so-called Texas crutch).

Meathead is against resting grilled meats before serving, seeing no appreciable increase in juiciness or tenderness. (Legions of French chefs would disagree.)

In fact, a lot of what Meathead writes flies in the face of tradition and conventional wisdom. He doesn’t like cooking whole animals. The various cuts and muscles (ham, shoulder, ribs, tenderloin, etc.), he argues, taste better when cooked by different methods and to different temperatures. (I wonder what Rodney Scott would say about that.).

He recommends dividing a whole packer brisket into point and flat and cooking them separately, for example. (I wonder what Aaron Franklin would say about that.)

He doesn’t like marinades, favoring dry brines and spice ribs. (I wonder what grill jockeys from Jaipur to Jakarta would say about that.)

A lot of what he writes makes sense:

He suggests oiling the food, not the grill grate.

He likes grilling shish kebab without the shish (Turkish for “skewer”). The chunks of meat brown better cooked separately, he reasons, and they do. (Of course, a large part of the attraction of shish kebab, shashlik, and other kebabs is how inviting they look on the skewer.)

He advocates flipping steaks numerous times (better browning and more even cooking) and he doesn’t give a fig about grill marks. Thanks to Meathead, that’s now how I grill my steaks.

He’s a strong partisan of board sauces—scattering your cutting board with fresh herbs, chopped alliums, olive oil, lemon juice, etc., then slicing the meat right on top of them. That mixes the flavorings right with the meat juices—a technique pioneered by Adam Perry Lang.

So, What Is the Meathead Method?

So what exactly is the Meathead Method? For most foods, he uses what he calls a “2-zone setup”: rake the embers to one side (or light one burner on your gas grill). Do most of your cooking at a low temperature (225 degrees) away from the heat. Then sear the food over the hot zone at the end to lay on flavor and crust. He does this not only for the obvious large foods, like chickens, turkeys, and pork shoulders. But even for foods that most of us direct grill, like steaks, chops, and chicken breasts.

According to Meathead, his method produces moister, tenderer food and reduces the need for (and anxiety associated with) split-second timing.

Another Meathead method I like is what he what he calls the “afterburner”—direct grilling over a lit chimney starter, which produces a volcanic blast of heat ideal for searing fajitas and other thin steaks. (He also uses a chimney starter to heat a wok for stir-frys.)

But to my mind, the most valuable Meathead method is his refusal to accept conventional wisdom and tradition—to keep tweaking and experimenting until he finds the appropriate set of cooking techniques to bring out the best texture and flavor in every cut of meat, seafood, or vegetable.

Meathead devotes the second half of his book to recipes, and I must say they make my mouth water. Like his Vigneron Method Flank Steak Subs, grilled as they do in Bordeaux—over grape vine trimmings—or his championship chicken, inspired by Todd Johns of Plowboys BBQ. (To get there, you layer the flavors with a rub, barbecue sauce, apple juice, and butter.) Or his Mussels with Smoked Fettucine, for which he actually smokes the water used for boiling the pasta. Brilliant! Or his Torched Figs—grilled with a blowtorch.

The Meathead Method makes an indispensable addition to any serious griller’s library. Come to think of it, I wish I had written it myself.

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The post Barbecue by the Book: A Closer Look at The Meathead Method appeared first on Barbecuebible.com.

2019 | Korean | Romance I believe there’s a right time to read a book and until the time has arrived, you will either not enjoy reading the book or will set it aside for later. I’ve noticed the same is applicable to movies and series. There have been times I’ve started a series and stopped it after an episode…

One of the most popular and most asked questions since I’ve started this blog is if I can recommend some good hacking books to read for beginners and more experienced hackers and penetration testers. In this article I want to highlight some hacking books and InfoSec books that I personally liked that cover subjects such as ethical hacking, [...]

The post The Best Hacking Books 2018 appeared first on Hacking Tutorials.