Share: Is Snowden a traitor, a thief, or a treasonous goon? The public has been convinced by the press, government and others to believe Edward Snowden is a threat to national security. Have we ever considered that whistleblowers, and those who leak the secrets, are important to what we want to believe is a functioning democracy? The most basic tenet of a democratic government is transparency, which is paramount in keeping the population informed. In 2013, as a contractor for the National Security Agency, Edward …
Forget shareholders, Patagonia makes earth its beneficiary
Share: Capitalism prioritizes growth in capital. By definition, it cares about nothing else. So how are we going to go green in an economy that is beholden to accelerating its exploitation of resources? The answer lies partly in more businesses prioritizing environmental sustainability while also remaining profitable. This may sound optimistic, but if we are to thrive in the future this kind of business needs to become more common. Patagonia is a company that specializes in outdoor recreational clothing. The company’s founder, Yvan Chouinard, is …
Legacy of misogyny persists in gaming despite exiling high profile creeps
Share: On the weekend of Sept. 17, G2, a popular esports group, placed second at the summer European League of Legends championship. What would seem like an amazing victory for the participating players would soon be overshadowed by a post from G2 CEO Carlos Rodriguez. In the video Rodriguez is seen celebrating with recently banned content creator Andrew Tate. The post sparked fury across social media, with several Twitter users noting that the notorious misogynist Tate’s presence alienated female players from the industry. Some also …
Stiffer water laws needed to hold irresponsible Californians accountable
Share: Los Angeles is one of the most popular destinations in the world. But how do attractions from Hollywood Boulevard to Disneyland impact water usage and waste? In 2014, Disneyland spent 3.35 million dollars on water alone. The exact amount of water being used is unknown because water usage figures are largely private in the state. California is wasting trillions of gallons of water every year. In a dangerous drought exacerbated by global warming, we need to enact tougher water restriction laws. Governor Gavin Newsom …
A colonialist legacy and the oxymoron of a monarchy in the modern world
Share: On Sep 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor died. At 70 years and 214 days, her rule is the longest in British history. She took the throne at the age of 25 and presided over 32 sovereign states in her lifetime including 15 at the time of her death. She is survived by 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 corgis. The world was alerted of the Queen’s passing within minutes. I found out about the Queen’s death via …
Serena Williams will always be the GOAT
Share: For over two decades, Serena Williams has been hailed as the unofficial “Queen of the court” and has garnered the admiration of millions of fans. From her humble beginning as a child tennis prodigy to a golden career which includes 23 grand slam titles, one can almost forget that Williams is just as human as the rest of us. Upon announcing her departure from tennis in August 2022, it should come as no surprise that the 40 year old wife and mother of one …
Biden’s student debt relief plan: What are you really mad about?
Share: President Biden’s student debt relief plan has been met with cheers and jeers, and no one is cheering and jeering more than those Americans who will be untouched by it. Critics have called this plan a glorified government bailout targeted at able-bodied, affluent Americans. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has called the plan “a slap in the face to every family who sacrificed to save for college and every graduate who paid their debt.” The validity of such arguments relies on an iteration of …
Would Johnny Depp sue me for this headline?
Share: The verdict for the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial is as ridiculous as the public jokes made at Heard’s expense, which have proven to be an unfortunate and grotesque display of social insensitivity. Essentially the jury ruled that Heard lied about her abuse allegations but Depp’s camp also lied about her lying. Sound confusing and asinine? That’s because it is. The mismanagement of this trial began the moment it was filed in Virginia. Heard’s op-ed was published by the Washington Post and …
We need to talk about Jared Leto
Share: The curtain that shielded the predatory men in Hollywood has been inching its way open, yet Hollywood has been radio silent when it comes to Jared Leto, unless you’re Dylan Sprouse and James Gunn. This sunday Leto presented Olivia Rodrigo with her grammy, which then incited a twitter frenzy of fans hoping to protect Rodrigo from the alleged predator. This leads the question, Leto’s sexual misconduct has been circulating for years, why has Leto never formally addressed it or rather, why has no one …
Chris Rock’s bad joke gives Will Smith a bad attitude
Share: Comedian Chris Rock was one of the announcers for this year’s Oscars awards ceremony, it was expected that he would make a few jokes, though one of his jokes fell flat when he made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which incited Will Smith to impulsively slap Rock. Which shouldn’t come from a public figure that is supposed to be a role model to many. “Jada, I love you, GI Jane 2 can’t wait to see ya”, Chris Rock joked. Jada has a …