Latest Stories from Flo
Why Elon Musk’s trillionaire status is unsettling
His exorbitant wealth reflects a broken economic system both funded and relied on by everyday people. There are milestones that tell us something profound about society. Like the first person to walk on the moon, or the invention of the internet. And then there’s the world’s first trillionaire – a title won by tech entrepreneur and far-right commentator Elon Musk. A trillion dollars is a figure so obscenely large that it defies...
Do we really need all these brand trips?
Influencers and celebrities are being shipped off on elaborate holidays, ostensibly to promote products. But are these lavish stunts a marketing tool or a wasteful display of wealth? Markers of extreme wealth become more normalised as the 1% grow exorbitantly richer. Take private jets, once revered as an exclusive mode of transport for royals and political leaders, now a daily staple for celebrities and influencers. The more we’re exposed to these...
A Gen Z love letter to the tiny ‘tini
A diminishing appetite for booze has ushered in a new, downsized, era for the cocktail. It’s been reported for some time now that young people are drinking less. Our parent’s generation were privy to the 80s cocktail goldrush, whetted with Piña Coladas and Blue Lagoons. And millennials have held up national drinking standards having come of age in the alcopop era. But for many people my age (I sit on the...
New study finds arts engagement to slow biological ageing
Research from UCL suggests engaging with arts and culture improves overall health outcomes. These days, the fountain of youth is marketed as some kind of AI-backed, biohacked offshoot of the billionaire class. Health and wellness has crept further into a digital landscape – one often shaped by far-right thinking – and traditional concepts of longevity have been replaced with elitist alternatives. So you’d be surprised to learn that arts and culture (yes,...
Hundreds were arrested following the Champions League final
French authorities arrested over 400 people due to clashes between football fans following the Champions League final. More than 400 arrests were made across France following Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)'s victory over Arsenal on Saturday evening, with clashes erupting between fans and police in Paris and other cities. Vehicles were damaged and businesses vandalised, officers injured and tear gas deployed. As is often the case after major league games, by...
Opinion – The Odyssey casting meltdown misses the whole point
Actor Lupita Nyong’o has faced backlash over her role as Helen of Troy in the upcoming film. But fury surrounding her casting says more about our narrow understanding of identity than our interest in historical accuracy. When Christopher Nolan, purveyor of the epic thriller and sprawling cinematic project, announced he would be working on an adaptation of Homer’s famous poem The Odyssey, lovers of antiquity knew they were in for...
What the rise of UK shoplifting says about the nation’s economy
New reports show rural areas and independent businesses across the country are being targeted. Britain’s shoplifting crisis is no longer limited to city-centre supermarkets or high street convenience stores. Increasingly, it has spread into rural areas, affecting farm shops, independent retailers and small family-run businesses. New research from commercial insurer NFU Mutual suggests that the kind of crime once associated with urban decline is no longer confined to these areas. Nine...
The UK’s smoking ban already feels out of date
Britain’s ‘smoke-free generation’ law may save lives, but it also reveals a government legislating for habits young people have largely grown out of. The British government has hailed its generational smoking ban as a landmark public health intervention. Anyone born after 1st January 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes in the UK, theoretically creating a ‘smoke-free generation’ that will phase tobacco out of British life forever. It’s...
Should delivery apps impose alcohol limits?
The death of a young woman has sparked debate over the access afforded by instant delivery services. For people with alcohol dependency, food delivery platforms have transformed drinking into a private and frictionless ritual. The limits imposed on physical retails, such as opening hours and – in some cases – units per spend, are bypassed on apps like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. They also make access to alcohol almost instant. This loophole is...
Opinion – The outrage over Olivia Rodrigo’s dress is disturbing
Criticism over the singer’s babydoll-style dress is a projection of misogynist and perverted hypersexualisation. But the women targeted by this kind of backlash are still framed as the villains. When Olivia Rodrigo stepped out on stage in a sweet babydoll dress, I’d never have guessed it would start an internet controversy. But alas, the limits of internet outrage continue to surprise. The popstar has quickly become the target of disturbing scrutiny...
