Lip filler. Plumping gloss. Lip flip. Injectables. Everyone is obsessed with securing a lush, new pout. Lip filler has officially reached a global market value of $1.45 billion, and is expected to continue rising over the next five years. This is fueled by social media and influencer trends, promising a quick fix for your self-esteem. […]
Tag: OpEd
Trump Gives 50 Day Warning to Russia: Enough With the Tariffs
It seems President Donald Trump can’t get enough with his beloved tariffs. On Monday, Trump laid out plans for supplying new weapons to Ukraine through NATO in further attempts to pressure Russia into ending its war efforts in Ukraine. According to NBC News, Trump has stated that “We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if […]
When Anti-Establishment Tropes In Games Become Corporate Strategy
In today’s gaming landscape, anti-establishment narratives are no longer just an edgy storytelling device — they’re a marketing strategy. From punk-fueled dystopias to glitch-ridden corporate hellscapes, game studios are cashing in on rebellion. But the irony is hard to ignore: how can multi-billion-dollar companies sell dissent while controlling the very systems players are supposedly resisting? […]
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” Is About More Than Just a Love Triangle
Conrad or Jeremiah? Who do you think Belly will end up with? This is the discourse that surrounds a fan favorite show titled “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novels, this show follows teenager Belly Conklin as she spends her summers at Cousins Beach with family friends Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. […]
Celebrating Global Taste Vs. Local Gatekeeping
In a city where tacos are topped with kimchi and ramen comes spiked with truffle oil, the American palate revels in global mashups. International flavors are everywhere — from upscale food halls to fast-casual chains. But as culinary borders blur so do the lines between celebration and appropriation. What’s being served often differs wildly from […]
James Gunn Is Reportedly Thinking of Two Superman TV Spinoffs
James Gunn’s “Superman,” began showing in theaters today on July 11, 2025 and according to Variety, “The latest take on ‘Superman,’ starring David Corenswet, has made a huge $22.5 million in box office previews, which is the biggest of the year so far. It beats the preview grosses for this year’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ ($14.5 […]
Will Hollywood Ever Get Female Characters Right?
Why is Hollywood still struggling to create female characters that aren’t so one dimensional? Although there have been decades of progress, too many women characters are left as almost underdeveloped ideas. We’re often presented with the overly competent “strong” woman who lacks emotional depth, or the romantic interest whose only function is to support the […]
The Deconstruction of Smartphones As A Status Symbol
Every Spring and Fall season, like clockwork, phone manufacturers roll out the newest model. People race to buy it, even if their current phone still works fine. It’s not always about better features — it’s often about feeling like you fit in. Having the newest phone tells the world you’ve got money, taste and status. […]
One Size Fits… No One? How Brandy Melville Capitalizes On Exclusion
Anybody who has been inside a Brandy Melville knows the experience of finding the cutest top, looking through the racks for your size, only to find that they all say “one size.” One size fits who? You ask yourself in the dressing room when this top is clearly pinching your sides. That’s Brandy Melville for […]
How Dribbling Became Art, Protest, and Persona
In today’s era of hypervisibility and cultural expression, the act of dribbling — once a technical necessity — has evolved into something far richer: art, protest and persona. It is no longer just a means to advance the ball. It’s a form of personal choreography, a message and for some, a manifesto. From Allen Iverson’s […]
Why Ranked-Choice Voting Could Save Democracy
Today’s political landscape faces a dangerous crisis – worsening division and lower voter satisfaction. Polarization is the main enemy. Americans are forced to back one of two candidates, who are often on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Being moderate seems to have no place in politics anymore, and, with that, comes an increase in […]
Why Do Youtubers Keep Going Into Music?
Online content creation is a very lucrative business, especially on YouTube. Due to the platform’s sheer versatility, it allows for a wide variety of different forms of content to be made and music is often one of these. While YouTube already has a wide variety of music channels already in existence, it isn’t rare to […]
