Page 20 - Pakistan Link - June 25, 2021

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – JUNE 25, 2021 COMMENTARY
n By Ben Mims Your Earthquake Kit Isn’t Complete chocolate bars. A jar of nut butter may seem a

cient food you can keep around. And the film
f we’ve learned anything from zombie luxury, but it’s probably the most energy-effi-
apocalypse movies over the years, it’s without These Foods and Supplies of oil on top will keep it fresher than whole
Ithat the real threat to your life is run- nuts, which, unless vacuum-packed, would go
ning out of food. You need food so you have rancid in your kit quickly. Pair it with a jar of
the energy to build a shelter jam and you’ve got a carbless PB&J on your
or the mental clarity to run spoon whenever you need it. Or, you know,
from the brain chompers. spread it on a rice cake.
Or, in the case of an earth- Now, here’s where things get a little bou-
quake, the fortitude to sit gie. While these items might not be essential,
without utilities and water if you have the means and the space in your
for a few days. kit, I recommend keeping them around to,
So while it may seem a little silly to pack a again, keep your spirits up while you eat: a
kit full of foods that aim to keep you not mere- small bottle of olive oil, your favorite vinegar,
ly alive but happy while eating, I think it goes some hot sauce, a squeeze bear of honey, soy
a long way in the optimism department to sauce, a small bag of flaky sea salt or Tajín
trick yourself into feeling slightly better when — even a spice blend like togarashi or duk-
forced to eat amid a disaster [insert crying- kah. Drizzle a bit of oil and vinegar on those
while-smiling emoji]. canned beans. Dip the dried date in Tajín.
It’s with that assignment that I share with Dash some vinegar on that salmon jerky.
you what you should pack in your “cook’s kit.” Come day three or four of eating the same
These are items that fit all the guidelines for thing, trust me, you’ll be glad you have these
safe eating during an earthquake, and they things.
include a few things that will help all that Lastly, give yourself permission to eat all
canned, cold food go down a little better. the junk food you want. It’s not ideal, but
First up, let’s talk about canned goods — also, you’re trying to survive a natural disas-
which should be the largest part of your food ter so cut yourself some slack (now’s the time
supply because the food is already cooked and to stay alive, not worry about gaining weight).
has moisture, which will be important when We’ve all had those days in airports when the
trying to conserve drinking water. Canned only thing to eat for 24 hours was unsalted
vegetables of all kinds are good here, but pick trail mix, dry cookies and sports drinks, so
things you know you’ll eat — if you’ve never you know you can get through this.
tried canned asparagus, now is not the time chovies. You want your canned protein to be have lots of dried fruit on hand, especially Restock your kit every expiration date
to experiment. somewhat fatty, which all these options are, so dried dates, apricots, cranberries, raisins, cycle with that “fun pack” of your favorite
I can eat black beans, creamed corn, that you don’t run out of fuel. Stay away from prunes, mangoes and figs — the richer and chips, a tray of Oreos or that box of Chicken
canned peaches and candied yams straight crab or clams though — something about eat- chewier, the better. in a Biskit crackers (real ones know) and for
out of the can — cold — on any regular day of ing those at room temperature just doesn’t feel once in your life, eat the things that bring
the week and be happy, so I know that’s what right, even in a natural-disaster scenario. But How much water should you you pure joy. Once the lights and water come
will be in mine. But instead of plain beans, if you can snag some good smoked mussels, back on, you can pull yourself back together
maybe I’ll grab the ones with aromatics and you won’t be sorry. have on hand for a quake? If and experience the joys of eating a fresh veg-
spices added since I won’t be able to add my you smell gas, do you know etable again.
own fresh ones. There are also canned soups, How ready are you?
of course, but for no logical reason, it seems How much water should you have on how to shut off your gas meter? Don’t forget:
extra depressing to me to eat those cold from hand for a quake? If you smell gas, do you • A can opener (your new most valu-
the can rather than mix something up myself. know how to shut off your gas meter? Do you Do you have an early warning able tool)
Instead, grab baked beans, chili and refried have an early warning app on your phone? app on your phone? What • A fork, spoon and bowl for each
beans — all staples available in a variety of fla- What would a seismologist do? Want to learn member of your household
vors — to take the opportunity to indulge that more? would a seismologist do? Want • A knife and small cutting board
part of you that was always curious about how After canned goods, the next priority is to learn more? (just in case)
they tasted. dried foods because they’re shelf-stable and • Instant coffee or tea, evaporated
And you can’t talk cans without mention- will keep in virtually any condition. I’m a milk or dry milk and packets of sugar (you’ll
ing Spam. Yes, if you like it, you should put it jerky-head so I already have lots of different And even though you may be thinking still want caffeine, even in the end times)
in your kit. I do not, however, so I’ll replace it styles — venison with black pepper, salmon only about meals post-earthquake, as any hik- • Crunchy things to dip into all that
with lots of canned fish and seafood like oil- with brown sugar, bison with cranberry sauce er will tell you, you’ll still want snacks. Include soft canned food, like crackers or pita chips -
packed tuna, sardines, mackerel and white an- — at the ready. I’ll also want to make sure I your favorite crackers, granola and even some Los Angeles Times
Under the Radar No More, New Zealand Trump India to Become Test World Champions

n By Sidharth Monga
play at balls they have become expert at leaving.
ew Zealand 249 (Conway 54, Wil- The first-innings lbw would have been fresh on
liamson 49, Shami 4-76) and 140 for Kohli’s mind when one more inswinger from Ja-
N2 (Williamson 52*, Taylor 47, Ashwin mieson hit him on the pad, but a touch too high
2-17) beat India 217 (Rahane 49, Kohli 44, Ja- this time. That was perhaps why Kohli pushed
mieson 5-31) and 170 (Pant 41, Southee 4-48) at a short-of-length ball well outside off, edging
by eight wickets him through. Immediately after, Pujara chased a
Even the England weather couldn’t summon length ball just outside off, getting out caught at
enough cruelty to break New Zealand hearts slip off a fast bowler for the first time since De-
once again. Two years after they lost out on the cember 2019.
ODI World Cup without actually losing the final, With his tail up, Jamieson nearly made it
glorious late-evening sunshine saw New Zealand three in a quick time with a near replay of Pant’s
through to their first world title, the inaugural dismissal of the first innings but Tim Southee
World Test Championship. It was well past regu- spilled it at second slip. Southee, who had an
lation closing time on the reserve day, the sixth of ordinary first spell on day two, had kept New
the match, which featured only three-and-a-half Zealand ahead on day five with an attacking 30
days of actual cricket because of bad weather. to get them the lead and then two skillful lbws off
But what cricket it was. Two absolutely high- inswingers to send back the Indian openers in
quality sides in extremely difficult conditions for flat conditions in the evening. Now with the time
batting combined to produce a thrilling contest of running out, a catch was dropped and Pant was
cricket in such little time. New Zealand needed to took out both the openers, they had managed just to cricketing gods, having lost yet another knock- tormenting New Zealand with streaky runs.
be highly efficient, consistent and skillful if they 44 in 17.2 overs. A lesser batting unit might even out match in an ICC tournament, now their sixth However, cricket gods gave New Zealand
were to have a chance of winning this, and they have taken a risk here and given India a window, without a title since the Champions Trophy in one back when Ajinkya Rahane gloved an innoc-
managed it just in time. but the old firm of Ross Taylor and Kane Wil- 2013. The uneven bounce on practically a fourth- uous Trent Boult delivery down the leg-side half
New Zealand began the final day - on which liamson took them home with a calm yet urgent day track will serve as a teaser of what might have an hour before lunch, making it 109 for 5, a lead
the ICC guaranteed 98 overs weather permit- and unbeaten partnership of 96 in 28.3 overs. been had Southampton remained dry for the du- of 77. It was about this time that India decided
ting, never mind the over rates - needing eight It was so tight there was no room for any ration of the final. Then they lost the toss after a it was going to be a matter of runs and not time
wickets before they could get to bat and knock off mistake or further weather disruption. As things whole day of rain and got the worst of the condi- with the forecast good for the rest of the match.
the runs conceded plus the 32 India were in the got tight, New Zealand’s minds might have gone tions. Pant and Ravindra Jadeja took their chances
clear at the end of day five. They managed to take to the cricketing gods. To the boundary count- There might be some criticism of India’s as Boult and Southee attacked leading into lunch.
a wicket every five-and-a-half overs with precise back, to all the near misses, to the one hour of batting, which lasted just 73 overs in the second By lunch it became practically 98 for 5. Now New
planning and execution of those plans by a relent- rain on the fifth morning out of nowhere (it didn’t innings, but they were up against a relentless five- Zealand could not afford another cameo. Now
less attack. rain in many other neighborhoods in Southamp- man seam attack. That attack knew it would have the pitch looked flat. Now the batters looked
A target of 139 in 53 overs wasn’t exactly a ton), to the dropped catch of Rishabh Pant on the to prise the wickets out. comfortable. Now was the time for Neil Wag-
cake walk: the previous three innings had gone at sixth day, which made it too close for comfort as Not for the first time, Kyle Jamieson raised ner. He launched a short-ball barrage that not
2.35, 2.5 and 2.32 an over, and India were not lay- New Zealand strove to get the final wickets. his hand in the first session. His height and only shut down the scoring but eventually - in
ing anything on the platter. By the time R Ashwin In the end, India were the side left looking skills made Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara NEWZEALAND, P24
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