Picture of Emanuel Hughes

Emanuel Hughes

Bio: Emanuel Hughes is a recent graduate of the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, having transferred from The Art Institute of Houston to earn his bachelor's degree in Game Art & Design. His passion for literature and creative writing was sparked by his love for video games, movies, and a wide range of books and magazines. Throughout high school and college, writing became a central focus in his life. Emanuel aims to further develop his creative writing skills and gain valuable experience through his internship at NYC Tastemakers, with the ultimate goal of applying his talents in a professional role at a major magazine publishing company or news media outlet.
Sports

Who’s Representing Their Roots?: Neutral Flag, Loaded History

The athlete stands on the podium. A medal is placed around their neck. The cameras flash but no national flag rises, no anthem plays. This is the new reality of the “Individual Neutral Athlete,” a designation that has become a defining and divisive feature of international competition. While born from ...

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Politics

The Cracks are Showing: A Flawed System of Justice

The tragic death of the Ukrainian refugee whose life was cut short by a violent act, is a stark and painful reminder of a pervasive failure within the United States (US) justice system. While the news headlines focus on the immediate tragedy, the full story reveals a deeper systemic problem: ...

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Video Games

Why We Buy More Games Than We Play

The digital mountain of unplayed video games sits dormant for many players, a monument to ambition and impulse. On platforms like Steam, PlayStation and Xbox, millions of gamers have accumulated massive backlogs — vast libraries of titles purchased during sales or at launch, only to be left untouched. This phenomenon ...

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Sports

Tokyo Drifting in the USA: The Influence of Street Racing

The roar of an engine, the scent of burning rubber, a car flashing by. For decades that is what defined a powerful subculture on both sides of the Pacific. American and Japanese street racers had different cars, roads and rules but they shared a common spirit: a desire for community, ...

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Politics

A Helping Hand for Country: The Ethics of Intervention

The principle of national sovereignty is a cornerstone of the modern world. It is the bedrock of the United Nations Charter, and it dictates that a nation’s internal affairs are its own. But what happens when a government turns its might against its own people, perpetrating mass atrocities? At what ...

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Health and Wellness

Winning A Gold Medal In The Burnout Olympics

We’re obsessed with wellness. Influencers preach morning meditation, companies push mindfulness apps and the spa industry is booming. We celebrate physical and mental health as key to a good life. So why in an age of self-care does hustle culture still dominate? The simple truth is we haven’t replaced the ...

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Sports

Aspects of What Makes Lucha Libre Unique

The booming sound of mariachi music fills the arena as a masked wrestler or luchador, somersaults into the ring with his cape being blurred by sequins and color. It’s a spectacle unlike any other, a symphony of athleticism and storytelling that sets Lucha Libre apart from its Western counterparts. While ...

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Politics

Not So Civil War: When Political Attacks Turn Fatal

The shocking assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk serves as a grim and immediate reminder of the perilous state of our political discourse. While the motive is still under investigation, the act itself forces a difficult but necessary conversation about how political differences are increasingly used as rationale to do ...

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Food

Lab-Grown Meat: A Moral Imperative or a Dystopian Delusion?

The future of food is a petri dish. Or at least, that’s what proponents of lab-grown meat would have us believe. Proponents tout cellular agriculture as a solution to a host of global problems, from climate change and animal welfare to food security. But as we stand at the precipice ...

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Latest News

Great Resignation: The Real Story of Today’s Labor Market

For years, the American workforce was defined by “job-hopping,” a relentless pursuit of the next raise, the next title and the next opportunity. Today, a new anxious trend has taken hold: “job-hugging.” Workers are clinging to their current positions, not out of loyalty or satisfaction but out of fear. This ...

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Sports

Is the US Soccer Market Big Enough for Two Division I Leagues?

The American soccer scene is changing fast. For the first time since the old North American Soccer League (NASL), the United States (US) might have two top-tier men’s leagues. The United Soccer League (USL) wants its best division to be on the same level as Major League Soccer (MLS). This ...

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Politics

The Optics of Progress: When Diversity Becomes a Campaign Strategy

When political parties champion a diverse slate of candidates or appoint individuals from marginalized communities to high-profile positions, it is often heralded as a sign of progress. These moments are shared across social media and celebrated in press releases as historic victories. But a closer look at this strategy reveals ...

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