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?
One actor, one director, one cinematographer, one editor—rendering a one-man American special vaudeville Inside by Bo Burnham. Is it a documentary? Is it a show? What is it? Well folks, expect bass comedy, vivid drama, pandemic burn, poppy music, noteworthy theater and the hard truth of how the world works today. On May 30 2021, releasing this special on Netflix, American comedian Bo Burnham is back at it again as he snatches everyone’s attention head on. Praised left and right, Inside has become a relatable special that depicts the pandemic and online transition in its most authentic form. Open to interpretation, this ‘call it what you want’ special is an almost heart-warming yet hostile escape from reality that is centered on reality itself.
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.
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.
Picture this: a strong woman who has all the traits to take on the world with her own prowess and seemingly infinite courage. She is the epitome of what an empowered woman should be: she can shatter the demarcated bounds of achievements, she can nonchalantly seize the attention of a room so that her voice is heard, and she can fight, and she does so effortlessly. Odds are that the first image you conjured up is the carbon copy of the ones we have all seen or read about in the media; the woman who rejects all that is deemed feminine and carries herself with the confidence of a man, whilst discarding all her “feminine-like” characteristics. But why do so many of us look up to and aspire to be women like these?
Trigger warning: The following article contains discussions regarding suicide, which some readers may find disturbing or traumatizing. Viewer discretion is advised.
The role of language is fascinating, yet overlooked and understated. Language can be a barrier, or a bridge. Even grudgingly, it is used as a measure of intelligence or sophistication. English speakers are seen as being more sophisticated and intelligent as knowing this language is like the opening of doors across the world; yet, not knowing other languages potentially closes us off from exploring the literature or shows produced in those languages. Would we be able to fully understand and enjoy anime without subtitles, for example? Surely we can understand universal non-verbal communication or guess the story based on context, but subtitles allow us to immerse ourselves in the river of experience. Even so, translations are quite limited—we’re missing the intricacies of the original version; we can only bathe in a river, but not the sea.
Since the Famous Order Program first started, McDonald’s has successfully launched multiple successful partnerships with household names such as J Balvin and Travis Scott. Most recently, McDonald’s recently joined forces with the Korean boyband, BTS to launch another edition of their celebrity collaboration meals. While the fans of BTS which are collectively known as ARMYs rejoiced, one is then left with the question as to what led to the collaboration? In an interview with Sirius XM, it was revealed that the boys have had a long history with McDonald’s ever since they were trainees. In a statement, Jungkook described McDonald’s as the friend who has always been there for him with burgers, fries and soft drinks providing the perfect definition of happiness for him.
