This Spring I went to China for this first time. After hearing stories about mobile apps not working and the inescapable government eye, I went expecting austerity and timidity. When I got to Shanghai, I was met with a glittering, frenetic metropolis - incredibly clean and surprisingly ostentatious. There were tall buildings with fast food restaurants on the tenth floor. There was a subway system spanning the city with frequent trains that always ran on time. There were waves of people walking dogs, chatting, and pushing their way into malls to come out with bags of luxury brands or surprise toys.
More …
Ji-hoon sipped orange juice through a straw and stared out the cafe window. It wasn’t unusual for Sung-min to be late, but the fact that he insisted they meet that afternoon without providing a reason irked Ji-hoon. Just a text message: “Need to talk. French Croissant at 5 p.m.” But it was almost 5:25 and Sung-min’s layered bowl cut was nowhere to be seen.
More …
Mexican Twitter (aka “X”) is a special place. It’s marked by a self-deprecating, sometimes scathing humor. Users post photos of local businesses whose signage incorporates popular cartoon characters in blatant acts of infringement. Memes about “Whitexicans”, privileged Mexicans who exist in ignorance of the struggles of their less fortunate compatriots, circulate regularly. Equally popular are the memes about “Shrexicans”, Mexicans who embrace the “buchon” style of dress, characterized by tight jeans, prominent designer logos, and silk shirts with garrish patterns, a mimicry of the opulence associated with narcotraffickers. Other common subjects include their affinity for Dragon Ball Z, sketchy street food, and chat logs memorializing failed attempts at seduction.
More …
Recent presidential election coverage depicts the candidates as being in a literal race. Headlines like “Harris Triples Trump’s Fundraising” and “Harris Rattled Trump and Dominated Debate” are common. But the neck-in-neck narrative obfuscates the reality of the competition - Harris doesn’t need to convince voters that she’s better than Trump; she needs to convince them that she’s better than whatever else they could be doing on election night.
More …
If you are one of the many people who is traveling to Japan this year, take advantage of these tips I acquired on my trip this month.
More …