they not like us + the riviera of the middle east

🎤 Culture

Black superstars chosen to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show are often viewed by right-wing individuals as unworthy and unrepresentative of American values, so while their reaction to Kendrick Lamar’s performance is disgusting, it shouldn’t really be surprising. Still, it’s sort of hilarious to see those who typically jab the opposition for being sensitive ‘snowflakes’ becoming bothered about Kendrick’s performance, which was undeniably more focused on dragging Drake to his rap grave than it was about confronting US politics. Let’s just say, anyone calling Kendrick a ‘DEI hire’ literally knows nothing about the entertainment industry.

The artist vs person debate at the heart of the Emilia Perez scandal – thred.
Will we ever be able to separate art from the artist? It’s a question worth asking ahead of the Oscars, as it looks like the multi-nominated actress Karla Sofia Gascón is on the brink of being ‘cancelled’. A series of Gascón’s tweets from 2021 containing Islamophobic and racist sentiments have been dug up just weeks before the awards ceremony is set to take place. This is big news, as she was expected to scoop up most of the awards she was nominated for. So what happens now? Should Gascón be erased from this moment of artistic recognition, as some offended netizens suggest? Flo Bellinger explores all sides of this tricky situation, one that we should be better at handling by now, due to it being extremely commonplace in the age of social media.

😴 Wellness

No, this article isn’t suggesting you put your phone on DND and ignore everyone you know for the entire year. Instead, it suggests intentionally carving out time for you and you only. That means no screens, no music, no podcasts, not even a guided meditation. Just you, existing in a quiet room. This kind of silence, serenity, and solitude is becoming exceptionally rare in our bustling, modern world. All around us, noise – rail, traffic, construction sounds – have become the soundtrack to our lives. Incessant noise pollution results in poor sleep, stress, anxiety, and more, making it the leading cause of cause of ill health in western Europe behind air pollution. Prioritising moments to shut off entirely could be a way to protect your health and prevent mental overload.

Spending ourselves to sleep: how rest became beauty’s latest luxury – high snobiety
Some people hit their pillow and fall asleep instantly. For those who don’t… well, there’s a million products on the market aimed at helping that, from lotions and potions to sleepy girl mock-tails, as well as tech-fitted sleep accessories like smart mattress covers and ‘grounding sheets’. But which ones actually work? And why are they so expensive? Optimised bedtime routines are the latest wellness trend, joining fitness and skincare on the list of things we’re being told we need to improve upon in order to boost our productivity and overall sense of wellbeing. While sleep is no doubt important, is such an intense focus on optimising every aspect of our lives not a bit… exhausting? Perhaps that’s the point.

🤖 Tech

People all over the world are turning to AI chatbots for mental health support, with one AI chatbot app named Woebot downloaded by a whopping 1.5 million users. While these trends are likely a reflection of the high cost of getting professional help, turning to AI bots for guidance doesn’t come without risks, such as emotional reliance, addiction, or receiving inappropriate or dangerous advice. Legislation in California could soon ban companies from developing and deploying an AI systems that pretend to be a human certified as a health provider, and give regulators the authority to fine them. While it sounds like a no-brainer – those with low digital literacy, especially children, can be easily tricked into thinking they’re receiving real professional advice – industry kingpins such as OpenAI and Meta are opposing the bill, claiming the need to protect innovation.

Roblox is being investigated by the US government – nme
In 2021, a documentary made by People Make Games accused the Roblox Corporation of taking advantage of young gamers by selling them the idea that they could become entrepreneurs in the game and earn ‘serious cash’. The documentary went on to claim that Roblox is designed to ‘turn its young users into workers,’ because the company takes a 7.5 percent cut of their earnings. Roblox is now being subjected to an ongoing investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which is responsible for cracking down on the manipulation of financial markets.

🌍 World

Trump is rolling with his plan to turn Gaza into the ‘Riviera of Middle East’. But first, he must permanently expel Palestinians from the area. He’s facing some pushback, though, because both neighbouring Egypt and Jordan are refusing to accept a fresh influx of refugees from Gaza. If you don’t understand why other Arab nations aren’t welcoming displaced Palestinians with open arms, you should watch Bassem Youssef explain it to Piers Morgan in this short video. While it seems unlikely that Palestinians will leave their land, Trump has threatened to resume ‘unleashing all hell’ on Gaza while withholding aid from Jordan and Egypt if their leaders don’t bend to his wishes. Is this democracy?

Trump, Putin, Xi, and the new age of empire – financial times
This newsletter has been so US heavy I feel a little sick about it, but this opinion piece from Gideon Rachman explores a scarily prominent, but important theme emerging in global politics today. Trump has made no secret of his desire to go on a land grabbing rampage – no matter how implausible – boasting plans to take Greenland, Panama, Canada, and Gaza (for Israel’s sake, obviously). Meanwhile, Putin has been on a violent mission to reclaim all of Ukraine for almost 3 solid years. In China, Xi Jinping’s new campaign to regain sovereign control over Taiwan has garnered a rush of support from at least 119 nations. Gideon says Trump’s lack of strategic diplomacy exposes his true motivations, which are largely based in ‘personal grandeur,’ but that doesn’t change the fact that the world’s most power leaders seem to be more fixated on ‘expanding their empires’ than ever. Let’s call it what is it is shall we? It’s giving imperialism.

💭 Recommendation

This piece by Emilie Mendham was so relatable as someone who’s lived in London long enough to start to take it for granted. Contrasting her current life to the one she was living two years ago, she remembers how much she yearned for times like these.

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Until next time,