Perils of plastic: The physical and mental toll of perfection

Share: In an era where appearance often takes precedence over substance, the rise of plastic surgery has become emblematic of society’s unrelenting pursuit of an unattainable ideal. While the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures is a personal one, the collective consequences of this growing trend are contributing to a distorted societal landscape that is increasingly fixated on outward appearances rather than genuine human connection and self-acceptance. Heidi Montag, who was then 23 years old, underwent 10 procedures within a single day in 2009. Now, the …

Mainstream media must condemn unprecedented reporter deaths in Gaza

Share: As of Dec. 5, 2023, 63 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The sheer amount of deaths is staggering and unacceptable in a profession that must report the truth about war. The international community, along with journalists around the world, needs to condemn it and demand that it stop. Journalists are supposed to be on the front lines of very intensive conflicts and are expected to assess and weed out the truth in the fog of war. …

Is Disneyland’s magic fading away?

Share: As a child, my family and I would take our annual trip to Disneyland. At a young age, the park filled me with pure bliss as I believed it was what it was promoted to be: magical. But with age and years away from the park, I began to grow skeptical of its legend, especially its well-kept secrets.  Many injuries have come out of Disney’s theme park, stemming from ride malfunctions, violence between park-goers, and general accidents like tripping over something. Disney is also …

Teachers: Decorate for all holidays or don’t decorate at all

Share: Although we have moved on from saying “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays” in schools to be more inclusive of all celebrations, some teachers still focus on one holiday more than others. Students are still being excluded in their classrooms if they don’t celebrate Christmas, and then little effort is put into fixing that after. One teacher posted a TikTok, surprising her one Jewish student with a plush latke because she had decorated the entire classroom in Christmas decorations and thought this would make up …

Influencers don’t owe us their opinions

Share: In the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, more and more people are demanding celebrities/influencers to speak out on the issue. Many are even going as far as attempting to cancel influencers who stay silent. Celebrities/influencers each have their own beliefs and opinions, but they shouldn’t be obligated to voice them.  Frankly, some influencers are simply not educated enough on politics to have a stance. If influencers are pressured to speak out on topics they don’t know enough about, there’s potential to seriously misinform their …

Actors don’t need to act like they enjoy their movies

Share: Recently, actor Jacob Elordi, best known for his role as Nate Jacobs in HBO’s Euphoria, has been facing backlash online for his comments regarding “The Kissing Booth” series and his comment from a red-carpet interview.  During the interview with IndieWire, Elordi was asked about what he looks for in roles to which he responded “I mean, I just play what they give me you know. I need a job.” This statement is very similar to one made by Rachel Zegler during a red-carpet interview …

The Grammys continue to be the low note in the music award system

Share: With the Billboards Awards ending earlier this month and the Grammys right around the corner, the conversation of musical snubs and robberies has taken the front seat again on social media. The company and academy just can’t seem to escape the noise, but it’s not like they really care either. The Grammys have long been claimed and respected to be the highest award system possible for anything music-related. But for the past decade, social media as a whole has had endless complaints about their …

Family vloggers put a price tag on childhood

Share: Child exploitation takes on a new face now as more parent-managed social media accounts continue to put a price tag on their children’s privacy. Family vlogging accounts have become more popular than ever in the last half a decade, but it brings up ethical questions around monetizing the life of a child too young to consent to their digital footprint. Since the beginning of YouTube, family vlogging channels have been a cornerstone of the internet, for better or for worse, but have only gained …

Greedy corporations get ahead by reselling their problems to consumers

Share: I love to thrift to find unique pieces for a great deal. Usually, my local Savers is the way to go. Perusing the aisles, I was a little taken aback by the prices. But what I saw hanging on the rack stopped me dead in my tracks. Savers were selling a pair of children’s overalls for $54.99. Not only were they outrageously priced, and a children size 6, but they were zip-tied to the rack so that no one could even look at them without …

Artistic freedom gets run off a cliff as execs ax movies

Share: On Nov 9, Warners Bros Discovery decided not to release the anticipated comedy movie “Coyote vs. Acme,” starring John Cena and featuring Wile E. Coyote. The film was supposed to be released later this year; however, the company shelved the project, preferably taking a $30 million tax write-off instead. This decision not to show the movie caused outrage among artists, animators, and fans alike.  With pressure mounting due to the backlash, the studio has since decided to let the film be shopped around with …