Micah's Read of the Week, Vol. 68
Tom Brady's modest secret to greatness, how the wellness community spreads vaccine misinformation, Texas football at rock bottom, harmful holiday diet talk, Recipe Corner, and more.
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Lede of the Week
The great Sally Jenkins writes in WaPo, Beneath the mystery of Tom Brady’s greatness is a modest secret: Self-discipline:
If you’re offered $400 now but you can have $550 by waiting three months, which do you take: the quick cash or more money later? The answer to that question says something about your ability to compete with Tom Brady. Because he will wait. And then he will wait some more. He will give up today’s fun for tomorrow’s reward, and eventually he will bury you with all the loose change that is the difference between his self-discipline and your itch for immediate gratification.
At 44, with most of his peers retired, limping or clutching at the disks in their backs, Brady is on a blitzing pace to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns this season as he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers approach Sunday’s game with the Washington Football Team. This is a feat worthy of gaping incredulity, and it raises the question of what makes Brady’s clock tick. It would be sooooo convenient to think Brady came preloaded with some unattainable, far-fetched genetic gift not relevant to you. The simple truth may be more banal — and exposing — than that. His longevity may just be the product of better habits than yours and mine.
The rest of the piece is really good too. Here’s a great story about Brady’s year-round focus:
In the spring of 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, Brady participated in the Match II, the made-for-TV golf exhibition with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in Florida. It was hot and raining. Nevertheless, a couple of hours before tee-off, Charles Barkley saw Brady in the parking lot of the golf club. He was running sprints. “What the hell are you doing?” Barkley said.
“I’m trying to win a Super Bowl,” Brady replied.
Of course, since it’s a Sally editorial, there’s a lot more excellent writing. And there’s also a lesson to be learned from Brady: get better every day by 1 or 2 percent.
Brady’s performances have become so regular — and technically proficient — that he has passed into a state of perpetual taken-for-grantedness — and fundamental misunderstanding. He has to constantly remind us, “I wasn’t born a prodigy, like a 3-year-old the world bestowed greatness on,” as he observed last spring. This is not false modesty. It’s indisputable, evidenced by one glance at his attenuated limbs and slow feet. He’s the product of a will to work over the long term, and his current form, as Sofis suggests, is the result of years of compounding interest on small choices.
“The more good behaviors you have, the better things turn out,” Brady has remarked. “It’s just, do people have the discipline to repeat those behaviors? That’s the tricky part.”
It’s not the most electrifying explanation for why Brady keeps winning — and maybe that’s why more people don’t copy him. To work the way he does is tedious, monotonous. “It can make people feel sort of expired,” Cavalea observes. Maybe the hardest thing about it is that the daily reward is so small — it’s about incremental improvements over time. Brady’s throwing coach Tom House has observed, “What separates these elite athletes, the Hall of Famers, is that they try to get better every day not by 20 percent but just 1 or 2 percent.”
Is this rock bottom for Texas Football?
Maybe? Texas has lost five games in a row for the first time since 1956. It’s bad. There’s a lot happening on the 40 Acres.
I discussed everything with my friend and UT blogger Curry on my podcast, Mind of Micah.
Subscribe and listen here on Apple Podcasts.
Five tactics used to spread vaccine misinformation in the wellness community, and why they work
It’s obviously a shame that the COVID crisis and vaccine issue have become politicized. But, our nation’s resistance to the vaccine comes from other sources in addition to political and lunatic fringe figures. So-called “wellness communities” are also hotbeds for misinformation.
Experts say the content shared in some wellness communities has powerful emotional and psychological foundations that can cause even science-minded people to question the public health consensus on the ability of vaccines to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Some voices within the wellness space are adept at building connection, gaining trust and sowing doubt — all while appealing to widely held beliefs about healthy living.
“This is what makes some in the wellness community so dangerous,” said Stephanie Alice Baker, a sociologist at City, University of London, who is careful to add that not everyone in the wellness space is trying to cast doubt on vaccines. “It’s not that the wellness community per se is conspiratorial, or that everyone has these kinds of nefarious interests where they intend to manipulate and deceive,” she said. “It’s that once you trust leaders and influencers in this space, then when they become more conspiratorial and extreme, you are susceptible to go down that path with them because you already trust them.”
So what are the 5 techniques?
Encouraging skepticism of institutions
In a “low trust society,” Baker said, “you look for other sources to trust and where to place your trust because we can’t be experts on everything. We need other authorities and influential people to guide us.” In the wellness world, those authorities might include nutritionists, physical trainers, lifestyle bloggers, spiritual coaches, naturopaths, yoga teachers and holistic health experts. Among them are online influencers with large and small followings. Sometimes, in fact, a more modest following can lead to more trust; marketers say that micro-influencers (10,000 to 50,000 followers) and nanoinfluencers (fewer than 10,000 followers) may be seen as more truthful and authentic.
Promoting distrust can be especially effective when it plays into a person’s existing doubts about traditional institutions — doubts that often stem from legitimate concerns about health and safety or poor experiences with the health care system.
Framing themselves as truth-seekers
Many people in the wellness community present themselves as truth-seekers at constant risk of being silenced by mainstream authorities or online moderators.
When these people’s posts are flagged online, Greene said, they often claim the platform’s moderators are just “trying to get the sheep to take the vaccine.”
Experts said it’s also important to recognize potential financial motives behind the truth-seeker framing: It can help influencers promote and sell alternative therapies, such as herbal tinctures and essential oils, which undergo far less regulation than vaccines and drugs approved by the FDA.
Taking science out of context
“The size of the following and the certainty of a voice have substituted for getting in there and understanding if this is peer reviewed or if there’s any science behind it,” said Doreen Dodgen-Magee, psychologist and author of “Deviced!: Balancing Life and Technology in a Digital World.”
“Do your own research” is a common refrain in anti-vaccination spaces, said DiResta. But, she added, it’s often said by people “sharing links to sites that are very aligned in a particular way, usually an anti-vaccine way.”
Another tactic is cherry-picking data. For example, some will point to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, known as VAERS, as evidence of widespread deaths and injuries from vaccines, while ignoring the broadly acknowledged limitation of its data. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, which co-sponsors the database with the CDC and FDA, a report alone cannot be used to determine if a vaccine caused or contributed to an adverse event. Furthermore, anyone can file a report to the database with “incomplete, inaccurate, coincidental and unverified information.”
Appealing to natural and holistic health interests
An interest in natural remedies and holistic health can be a gateway into the vaccine-hesitant community, experts said.
In some Instagram accounts featuring natural and holistic living content, vaccine misinformation is slipped in between general posts about well-being and designed to blend in with a profile’s overall visually pleasing aesthetics: vibrant photographs of food, flowers and landscapes as well as serene palettes and attractive fonts.
“This content is ‘prettified’ for Instagram and often couched in the fairly ambiguous language of personal choice and self-realization that is characteristic of these communities,” said Simmons, of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. “Subtle anti-vaccine messaging appears alongside pictures of sunsets and yoga poses and posts about meditation and raw food, making it look seemingly innocuous.”
Of course, whenever gullible people are involved, there’s always a grift.
Anti-vaccine messaging also tends to emphasize strengthening the immune system through natural foods and fitness, rather than relying on man-made interventions, experts said.
The common argument: “You don’t need this. Here is an alternative thing for you. If you only boost your immune system and wash your hands, then you’re not going to catch disease X,” DiResta said.
Building community
Online wellness spaces also can feel welcoming, validating and intimate, in contrast to institutions, which often deliver dry and fact-based information.
Many people in these spaces create a perception of openness by documenting daily activities such as meals, workout routines and self-care regimens. Members of groups also share personal stories that are often relatable and compelling. The perceived intimacy and authenticity of these online interactions can create what experts call parasocial relationships, or a sense of closeness to a person you don’t actually know.
“Western medicine kind of goes, ‘Here’s a fact, believe it,’” said psychologist Dodgen-Magee, whereas the wellness community “appeals to something very unique and shiny and missed for many people in daily life, which is this sense of being known and being seen and feeling felt.”
Video that made me laugh the hardest this week
How about a quick palate cleanser?
Thanksgiving means family, food — and plenty of harmful diet talk. Here’s how to deal with it.
The holiday season means holiday gatherings. Gatherings, of course, mean food, and food — especially the treats that make an appearance at only certain times of the year — often leads to talk about the effect on our waistlines.
I love Thanksgiving. And I love the over-the-top food that goes with the holiday. But this piece really spoke to me, because it’s not something I’ve ever thought about, although it makes perfect sense. It’s important that we all realize for people with a fraught relationship with food and their bodies, conversations about food can be stressful, draining, and sometimes toxic.
No one wants to hurt a family member, especially during the holidays. So, let’s be cognizant of the feelings of our loved ones this season, ok?
No matter how well-intentioned diet talk is, the assumption that thinner is better can be “incredibly hurtful,” Mercedes says. Comments such as, “You look great. Have you lost weight?” can be painful reminders, particularly for women, that you’re “being constantly looked at, judged, objectified,” says Jessi Kneeland, an online body-image coach based in North Carolina.
“Anything that moralizes weight or food behaviors or body shape or size has a way of causing harm,” Kneeland says. Family members might mention their own choices, such as, “I’m being good, so I’m skipping the pie.” But that sends a powerful message: “Morality is attached to body shape, size, and food and eating behaviors.” If your mom thinks she’s “good” for avoiding dessert, Kneeland says, it’s only natural that you would ask yourself whether you’re “bad” for enjoying your meal, including all the sides and sweets, without worrying about it. And talking about food and weight in terms of “good” and “bad” — even if it’s just your own — tells people in larger bodies, “I don’t want to look like you.”
So what should someone do if they feel uncomfortable in these moments?
Although many people are open to new ideas, some just aren’t. “Some people are committed to not understanding, disagreeing,” Kneeland says, “and they’re going to be defensive.” If you’re uncomfortable being direct and the situation feels too intense to ignore, consider shifting your focus.
Looking at the bigger picture and thinking about what you’re grateful for can help, Muhlheim says. “Appreciating being with family sometimes can take the focus off the minutiae of the comments.”
To avoid coming off as preachy (and to up your chances that the person will actually listen), talk about what’s working for you as opposed to what’s right for everyone. To keep nerves from interfering with your message, plan what you’ll say in advance. One example: I learned a lot from Christy Harrison’s book, “Anti-Diet,” and now I’m trying to avoid thinking of food in terms of “good” and “bad.”
Muhlheim suggests responding to diet talk with, I’m choosing to focus on gratitude this holiday and not depriving myself, or, I’m here to enjoy this wonderful meal with people I care about. I’m trying to step away from diet and body talk.
Ditching diet talk gives everyone a chance to enjoy a holiday gathering without shame — which leaves more room for connection.
“If we decide to put aside this endless parade of bad things to say about our body, our eating habits, especially for something like Thanksgiving,” Mercedes says, “we can actually enjoy that moment with our loved ones and with ourselves more.”
Recipe Corner
NOTE: next week will be the Thanksgiving Recipe Extravaganza. Get excited.
Sach Ko Ang
The weather is nice here this week. It’s time to do a little Fall grilling before it gets too cold to be outside. Although there’s a lot of ingredients here, the recipe is pretty simple and could be hammered out on a weeknight.
PICKLED VEGETABLES
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely chopped
3 cups shredded crunchy vegetables and/or fruit (such as carrots, cucumbers, and/or young green papaya)
1 cup unseasoned rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 cup grated palm sugar, coconut sugar, or (packed) light brown sugar
2 Tbsp Diamond Crystal salt
MARINADE AND ASSEMBLY
Lemongrass stalks, tough outer layers removed, thinly sliced
3 long red chiles (such as cayenne or serrano), thinly sliced
2 medium shallots, thinly sliced, divided
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, divided
5 makrut (Thai) lime leaves, thinly sliced, or zest of 2 limes
1 2" piece galangal or ginger, peeled, thinly sliced, or 1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. very finely chopped galangal paste
1 1 ½” piece fresh turmeric, thinly sliced (or 1 tsp ground turmeric)
3 Tbsp. oyster sauce
1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. grated palm sugar, coconut sugar, or light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for grill
1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal salt
2 lb. trimmed boneless sirloin or rib-eye steaks, cut into 1" pieces
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: Sixteen 8"–10" metal or bamboo skewers, soaked 30 minutes
Toss shallot, garlic, ginger, and vegetables in a medium bowl to combine, then add vinegar, palm sugar, and salt. Cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes for a quick-pickle, or chill up to 12 hours.
Pulse lemongrass, chiles, shallots, garlic, lime leaves, galangal, turmeric, oyster sauce, palm sugar, fish sauce, garlic powder, 2 Tbsp. oil, and 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a food processor to a finely textured paste.
Transfer paste to a large bowl and add beef. Using your hands, massage paste into meat until completely coated. Cover and let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes, or chill up to 12 hours. If chilling, let beef sit out at room temperature 1 hour before grilling.
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Thread beef onto skewers. (Alternatively, you can cook these in a cast-iron skillet lightly coated with oil.) Grill, turning about every minute or so, until browned and lightly charred in spots, 6–8 minutes for medium, or done to your liking. (The beef should be firm to the touch with a little bounce when pressed and slightly pink in the center.)
Transfer skewers to plates and very lightly season with salt. Drain pickles and serve on the side.
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