NFTs.
If you have ever seen this-
Then you probably know what we are talking about.
Recently I, (Saoussan) have been incredibly drawn towards NFTs, crypto bros and the drama that surrounds it all — but what exactly are NFTs?
In a world of ever increasing digitisation, it is safe to say that a new era of cultural transmission has dawned upon us, with this era mostly being known for the continual expansion of memes as an Internet commodity. The 21st century’s version of the ‘Cultural Revolution’ has taken the Internet by storm, and people across the globe of all ages have found themselves subconsciously (or consciously?) infected by this cultural insurgency.
Welcome, dear readers, aspiring entrepreneurs and fellow shopaholics. Undoubtedly this pandemic has opened a multiverse of online platforms to catch up with favourite brands and hottest trends. Outlets at one’s fingertips is an understatement for what entrepreneurs have to offer is far more greater than what meets the eye. The same could be said for the instant spur of Malaysian online brands that are garnering attention for both quality and singularity.
For many families, citizenship for their newly born children is hardly a matter that requires much cause for concern. However, in recent years, many Malaysian families have spoken up about the institutional barrier that they face in attaining what is considered as their children’s birthright: Malaysian citizenship. These barriers that exist in the form of policies have existed for 64 years, and have mainly affected Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses, including those who reside overseas. With most facing injustices like family separation and difficulties accessing residence, education and healthcare for their children, this issue has been largely considered as one of gender discrimination, with Malaysian women’s children being denied citizenship rights that their male counterparts are provided with. Nevertheless, recent events have provided these affected families with the hope that institutional changes will be implemented.
Near the beginning of August, Wu Yi Fan, also known professionally as Kris Wu, a Chinese-Canadian actor, singer, record producer, rapper, and model, was arrested by the Beijing Police on suspicion of sexual misconduct against young women. The news expeditiously circulated on social media, even overshadowing coverage of the Tokyo Olympic Games, prompting a debate over sexual consent.
For years the excuses of humour and sensibilities have been thrust around as a means of justifying inappropriate remarks regarding sexual harassment and assault. These harsh statements masked behind attempts at comicality become even more complex to disassemble when they are employed by authoritative figures such as educators, making its recipients inclined to remain silent due to the imbalance in the power dynamics as well as the risk of severe consequences. Nevertheless, recent revelations have proven that many actions can be taken in order to combat these injustices and silence is no longer an option in the face of rights transgressions, especially once solidarity is achieved.
Here’s the thing about High School — it means the most once it’s over. You go 5 years dreading the 6.00 am alarm, or 5.00 am for the Geng Bas Sekolah, hoping to hear, “Esok cuti.” Yet, all it takes is to get up one morning post-graduation and realise that our group of friends is neither getting together for another gossip session during perhimpunan (assembly), nor piling around the same table during recess, and all of a sudden we wish we could go back. It is no secret that those of us adulting miss hanging out with the gang. From the rebels to the prefects, all of us belonged to at least one infamous clique. Here’s a SMK student’s guide to High School Stereotypes.
Malaysia was once one of the top 20 countries that best managed the Covid-19 pandemic. However, after the Sabah election in September 2020, mass gatherings had triggered a third wave of COVID-19 spike. Furthermore, the highly contagious Delta variant landed in Malaysia recently. According to Dr Noor Hisham, this variant is far more contagious whereby an infected person could spread the virus to 5 to 8 people as compared to the original SARS-CoV2 that only spread to 2 to 4 individuals. As screening continues, more asymptomatic carriers are identified which reached 8000 confirmed cases for the first time and cases even exceeded 10,000 since 13th July. This uprise signalled that the war with the virus would not end soon.
In the past few decades, we have seen how the world has changed with the exponential growth of technology and the ways in which we use it. Social media is one contribution of this growth that has become crucial to the typical “21st century life”. Even if you do not have it, chances are, you are not immune to its impact on the world. One of the most important effects social media has had on the world is its contribution to activism. From MySpace to TikTok and everything in between, the use of social media has unequivocally evolved. From a site meant to stay better connected to friends, social media has since turned into a platform of endless possibilities. Take Instagram for example: what started out as a photo-sharing app has today become a platform for so much more; such as business and social change. However, some would argue that it has created a flurry of problems for users, mainly relating to mental health, but its contribution to forming a well-informed and well connected society remains indisputable.
In celebration of Starbucks’ 25th anniversary in Japan, they have released a limited-edition series of 47 Frappuccinos, each representing a prefecture. Frappuccinos are Starbucks’ trademarked name for sweetened, ice-blended drinks topped with whipped cream. This line-up is titled ‘47 JIMOTO Frappuccino’, jimoto meaning local.
