Author: Joshua P

Hey, I'm Josh! A UCLA grad in Psychobiology and Cognitive Science, I write about a myriad of personal interests (e.g. mental health, lifestyle, travel, pop culture).

We Cannot Remain Silent About George Floyd

Examining the historic protests in America over police brutality and racially charged violence.

@LGNWVRPHTO / Instagram – The death of George Floyd, a son, a brother, a father, and a friend, has galvanized a global activist movement against racial injustice and police brutality.

“Please, I can’t breathe.”

Those final, fateful words of George Floyd have echoed across the schisms of a divided America for the past two weeks.

On May 25, Minneapolis Police officers arrested George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, after a store clerk dialed 911, accusing him of buying cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. In seventeen minutes after the first squad car arrived at the scene, Mr. Floyd was unconscious beneath three police officers, with no discernable pulse.

For 8 minutes and 46 seconds, a white police officer named Derek Chauvin dug his knee on Floyd’s neck until the life drained from his body. Implausibly, Chauvin persisted to kneel on George Floyd’s neck for a full minute after paramedics arrived, despite Floyd remaining unresponsive.

Even after mercifully calling out to his late mother and repeating, “I can’t breathe,” George Floyd lost his life. His story an unfinished canvas destined to never be fully realized with elaborative strokes of color and definition.

Of Their Own Accord

@AYY.BEE / Instagram – A portrait of George Floyd from Adrian Brandon’s #StolenSeries. For every year of life lived, a minute of graphite and ink is applied to the portrait (i.e., 46 years lived = 46 minutes of color).

As you may know, this appalling turn of events compelled the nation into a state of caustic self-reckoning; however, let this be clear:

We are not only stunned by the brutal and tragic murder of George Floyd…

We are not only shocked by the undeniable evidence of systematic racism and excessive use of force that were virtually documented before our very eyes…

We are incensed because we heard those familiar, haunting words before.

And yet here we are, caught in an ever-perpetuating cycle of racially charged violence and police brutality.

Another Black person dying at the hands of the police, pleading, “I can’t breathe.”

Therefore, with the looming specter of systemic racial injustice taking center stage once again, let it be known:

We cannot stay silent on George Floyd.

Language of the Unheard

In a campaign for racial justice both years and decades in the making, the man murdered by Minneapolis Police immediately became a national symbol of the need for police accountability.

In other words, the heinous murder of George Floyd has galvanized millions of people to give voice to the grief and anger wrought by corrupted systems of racial injustice and white supremacy onto countless generations of Black Americans.

Demonstrations and protests unprecedented in scale have erupted throughout all fifty US states and even internationally, thereby establishing one of the largest multicultural activist movements in world history.

Video / Twitter – Thousands turn out for peaceful demonstrations in support of #BlackLivesMatter across Los Angeles.

Notably, the George Floyd protests have unfolded into a historical multicultural movement that has mobilized a significant population of non-blacks who have not spoken out before.

People from all races and all walks of life are educating themselves online, signing petitions, and attending protests where they get to listen to first-hand stories of the oppressed who experience racism on a daily basis.

Young and old, black and white, family and friends, Batman and Joker; an entire legion of Americans are beginning to realize that after so many promises to reform the system have come and gone, enough is enough.

Video / Twitter – The George Floyd protests have mobilized the masses to call for law enforcement reform, even drawing the ire of the Dark Knight himself.

From Bad to Worse

Image in "We Cannot Remain Silent About George Floyd" post

Image / Joseph Ngabo – Tensions are discernibly high as the relatively peaceful Los Angeles protestors confront the abrupt escalation manufactured in part by law enforcement.

American society is unfortunately founded on an unforgiving racial hierarchy; in accordance, police departments are called upon to enforce a system of laws that are designed to reinforce and preserve economic and racial inequality.

Therefore, despite efforts to reassure the sanctity and safety of peaceful assembly, to oppose the status quo inevitably means incurring the wrath of those who are asked to protect it.

In the midst of the mass protests that began in Minneapolis and have swelled to dozens of American cities, there have been hundreds of arrests, curfews declared, and National Guard troops summoned.

Ironically, the very same public demonstrations aimed at protesting unrelenting police violence have faced daunting bouts of police brutality themselves, making an already heartbreaking situation even worse.

A fever of social media regrettably documents officers beating unarmed protestors, ramming squad cars into demonstrators, indiscriminately using pepper spray on bystanders, and causing life-threatening injuries with “less lethal” bean-bag rounds.

City officials attempted to justify the abrupt escalation perpetuated by law enforcement by asserting that the officers were merely responding to suspected cases of looting which has become prevalent amidst some rioting. However, even law enforcement leadership understood that the use of excessive force is “never acceptable,” and police departments have made sure to discipline officers for any misconduct.

Nonetheless, we still have a President who is not shy in invoking a loaded, racist threat by tweeting, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

In the face of coping with a President whose very existence is composed of rhetoric that is deliberately divisive, as well as grappling with the wrenching uncertainty of the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic, a long road ahead is certainly assured for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Rose that Grew From Concrete

In the haze of civil unrest, the political and social ramifications of the George Floyd protests are beginning to emerge from allegorical obscurity.

A myriad of countries and states such as New York, Florida, and California are passing legislation restricting police use of force (e.g., banning the usage of neck restraints). In addition, many city officials are embracing proposed budget cuts to their respective police departments.

Remarkably, Minneapolis city council officials pledged to defund and dismantle the city’s police department. As a result, a new model of public safety will soon be implemented to keep communities safe following the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.

Although it remains to be seen how such a novel approach to public safety and emergency response would function, there appears to be a consensus that the role of police would ultimately be diminished. For instance, these plans may permit social workers, mental health providers, and other community members to potentially handle many of the nonviolent situations that police currently deal with.

Back on Capitol Hill, Democrats have unveiled a sweeping police reform bill targeting police misconduct and racial bias, a measure that figures to be the most expansive intervention into policing in recent memory. Senate Republicans are now also working on legislation to address police reform, a reconciliation that would have been unheard of merely a few weeks ago.

Even ‘Cops,’ a TV show that has remained on the air for a whopping 33 seasons, has been canceled for its glorification of police officers.

As for the George Floyd case itself, the public outcry has caused all four officers to be charged to the fullest extent of the law, setting forth a powerful precedent for police accountability.

Black Lives Matter, a campaign that has long endeavored to establish a world free of anti-Blackness by highlighting the depth of injustice and unaccountability that American society harbors toward people of color, is absolutely generating an indispensable statement.

Make no mistake, Black Lives Matter has fundamentally transformed from a hashtag-powered rallying cry to a national mantra that cannot nor will not be ignored in every facet of modern American life.

For all the pain and loss incurred, the wake of George Floyd’s death has cultivated a powerful catalyst that can pave the way for meaningful, expansive change.

Tip of the Spear

Graphic / Campaign Zero – A visual presentation of a list of policy solutions that aims to reduce the frequency and severity of police violence in our communities.

For the aforementioned ‘meaningful, expansive change’ to materialize, the George Floyd protests have concentrated their efforts into bringing about systemic transformation. A transformation that will hold law enforcement accountable for the violence they inflict, a transformation that will eradicate a racist system that breeds corruption, and a call for radical, sustainable solutions that affirm the prosperity of Black lives.

It is time to rethink qualified immunity. The legal doctrine of qualified immunity protects police officers from civil lawsuits (i.e., provides immunity from having to go through the costs of trial) by shielding officers from liability for all actions taken on the job except for those that violate ‘clearly established’ law.

Permitting police to freely perform their duties without fear of being held accountable has enabled a culture of violence and abuse responsible for the deaths of victims like George Floyd.

To illustrate, a database from Mapping Police Violence detailed a whopping 99% of police killings from 2013-2019 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime, grossly showcasing the existing disparity in police accountability.

Thusly, an antiquated get-out-of-jail-free card for murdering people of color makes a mockery of the criminal justice system and it will NOT stand.

On the other hand, a plethora of research has indicated how police practices and training also have to be re-evaluated to foster significant police reform.

For example, the Police Use of Force Project found that those police departments with policies that place clear restrictions on when and how officers use force had significantly fewer killings than those that did not have these restrictions in place. Furthermore, the study also found that officers in police departments with more restrictive policies in place are actually less likely to be assaulted, conveying how even law enforcement itself can benefit from police reform.

As Black Lives Matter activists call for the defunding of police, there is a common misconception surrounding what the concept actually entails. The concept to defund the police exists on a spectrum and does not necessarily mean to strip police funding and dissolve departments (although some activists are certainly calling for it).

Rather, defunding the police means to divest from the violent policing infrastructure (potentially resulting in fewer cops) and reinvesting those funds into strengthening Black and Brown communities.

In cities like Charlottesville and Los Angeles, police department funding accounts for an astronomical proportion of the city budget, which dwarves those for education, housing, and other vital services.

By cutting police spending, those reallocated funds will be put back into social services such as mental health, domestic violence, and homelessness as well as aid the funding of hospital equipment and youth initiatives. Ideally, such an initiative to invest in resource-deficient communities will effectively reduce crime on its own.

Do Not Go Gentle

What is truly astounding about the George Floyd protests is that there is no distinct leader powering the movement; there is just the implicit belief that everyone’s voice matters.

Yet, it does not mean that Black Lives Matter is a rudderless movement. On the contrary, with the power of social media as a digital playbook, the collective majority now possess the means to stand against systemic oppression in ways prior generations could not before.

In the age of social media, everyone has a platform where they can actively amplify their voices and let themselves be heard in the fight for justice and equality. Therefore, to remain silent is to deprive your social spheres of the opportunity to hold meaningful reflection and foster discussion about what police reform and Black Lives Matter means to them.

And we shouldn’t stay silent.

Not when we currently live in a country where Black lives are systematically targeted for demise.

Not when the color of your skin can get you killed just for jogging, buying groceries, being homeless, wearing a hoodie at night, enjoying ice cream in your own living room, and even sleeping in your own bed.

Not when thousands upon thousands of protestors are risking their lives and bodies for a chance at being heard in the middle of a deadly pandemic.

We must remember that the soul of America has always been in political revolution. To remain resilient in the face of deadly oppression is the reason why we call the United States our home.

Be that as it may, this country has its share of troubling failures. For that reason, we must also confront the still-present legacy of slavery in America: systemic racism.

To fight against such engrained systemic racism in American society will certainly involve more than just posting black squares on your Instagrams. Our collective voices must maintain a consistent story, a story that advocates for racial justice at every conceivable opportunity.

Some have chosen to donate time and money to Black organizations and businesses; some have decided to offer free healthcare to the protestors on the front lines; others have pledged to work pro-bono to represent those arrested.

Whatever you choose to do, just remember that there is no magic solution. Only education and action will enable a more fair and just America that we have never known in our lifetimes.

Just remember that we can never remain silent about George Floyd.

Progress can be a painful and unforgiving process. Still, a reckoning is long overdue.

To learn more about how you can support Black Lives Matter, visit: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/

Know Your Rights Camp: https://knowyourrightscamp.com/

Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

Police Brutality Spreadsheet

(Warning: Some videos and images contain scenes of graphic violence)

Say Their Names:

Ahmaud Arbery Sean Bell Rumain Brisbon Philando Castille William Chapman Keith Childress Jr. Stephon Clark John Crawford III Johnathan Ferrell George Floyd Ezell Ford Eric Garner Brendon Glenn Oscar Grant Freddie Gray Kimani Gray Akai Gurley Botham Jean Atatiana Jefferson Bettie Jones Trayvon Martin Kendrec Mcdade Natasha Mckenna Eric Reason Tamir Rice Tony Robinson Jr. Jonathan Sanders Walter Scott Alton Sterling Breonna Taylor

The Dark Side of Popeyes’ Chicken Sandwich

The real-world implications of a fast-food craze gone viral.

David McNew/Getty Images – A Popeyes fast-food restaurant sign illuminated in the Los Angeles skyline.

A national emergency was virtually declared when fried-chicken chain Popeyes announced that its restaurants have exhausted the supply of its glorified chicken sandwiches.

Any minute now, a frenzy of hungry customers will take to the streets, wondering why the esteemed sandwich that was proclaimed to “save America” has suddenly turned its back on honest American citizens.

In the face of this burgeoning crisis, the White House has not yet issued a statement on this very, very serious matter.

Now left to our own devices, we are faced with endless questions no one can seemingly answer.

Who will pay for this Tennessee man’s ill-fated plight of spending “countless [hours] driving” from one Popeyes to the next in search of this elusive delicacy?

How will we get our hands on delicious chicken sandwiches on Sundays now?

But perhaps most importantly, why did I not order the spicy mayo variety instead of the plain?

While poking fun on the viral sandwich sensation is all the rage these days, this post will take a calculated glimpse toward the exacerbating labor conditions the unheralded service workers encountered during America’s foodiest hour.

(Note: less than a day after this blog post was published, Popeyes employees in Houston were held at gunpoint by a group of men over the sold-out chicken sandwiches. That’s right: a harmless chicken sandwich war has indeed turned into a harrowing situation for Popeyes employees on the so-called frontlines.)

Furthermore, this post will examine the repercussions of the ballooning social media marketing that was prominently displayed during the mania.

Buckle up kiddos, we’re in the endgame now. But first, a history lesson.

A social media promotion that struck gold – and struck out

 Author’s GIF – Popeye’s new chicken sandwich is good but not “viral national frenzy” good.

On August 12th, Popeyes Lousiana Kitchen genially launched the delectable $3.99 combination of crispy chicken breast, pickles, and mayonnaise on a brioche bun to the masses.

Nobody – not even Popeyes themselves – could have predicted that they have just unleashed the company’s most successful product in its entire history.

Indeed, the surprising nature of the product’s debut was made all the more evident when the coveted chicken sandwiches sold out in just two weeks – nearly an entire month before they were supposed to.

Just like that, the craze was decidedly over almost as soon as it began. So what exactly started the phenomenon that captured the (fast-food) nation’s imagination?

A chicken Sandwich war with all the beef

Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes is all it took to ignite a war.

As an excellent article from the New York Times vividly depicted:

“At 1:43 p.m. on Aug. 19, Bruno Cardinali, a marketing executive for Popeyes, got a WhatsApp message from a colleague: That morning, one of Popeye’s fast-food rivals, Chick-fil-A, had tweeted what appeared to be a thinly veiled critique of the new [Popeyes] fried chicken sandwich…

Mr. Cardinali quickly convened a group of marketing officials in a small room on the fifth floor of the Popeyes headquarters in Miami.”

Adapted from “15 Minutes to ‘Mayhem’: How a Tweet Led to a Shortage at Popeyes“

The task force of sly marketing officials worked through quickly and strategically, laboring at every angle, exhausting all possibilities.

At glorious last, after a rapid-fire brainstorming session, our daredevils resignedly pressed “send” and braced themselves for the cataclysmic unknown:

In a shot heard around the Twitter-verse, a viral sandwich feud was forged.

Of course, because these fast-food companies can never let sleeping dogs lie, other restaurants joined the fray.

In any case, the sandwich’s debut immediately became a culturally unifying event during a time where polarization was dismally the norm.

popeyes deep-fries the internet

The Great Chicken Sandwich Feud swiftly spread on social media in a blazing inferno. Now everyone craved a bite of the action, eager to not miss out on the latest edition of “FOMO.”

Mayhem ensued shortly after the sandwiches’ immense popularity led to shortages at many Popeyes locations.

A deluge of cars and hungry costumers snaked throughout the perimeter of the restaurants, resulting in hazardous traffic conditions.

Brawls over the limited sandwiches instantaneously transformed Popeyes to local dinner shows.

Those who were fortunate to survive the 45-minute lines were sometimes met with the cruel announcement that the sandwiches were just then sold out.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Everyday bore the same surreal outcome in Popeyes all across the nation until the chicken sandwiches as a whole officially sold out.

An unconvenient truth

For those sitting at the comfort of their homes and watching the madness unfold, it was amusing – and relatively harmless – at first.

The memes kept pouring in and collectively added to the overall spectacle.

Adrift in the flowing sea of memes, however, was a particular meme that compelled everyone to take a hard, long look at the viral chicken sandwich phenomenon.

The culprit in question was a minamalist photo of a visibly exhausted Popeyes worker in the aftermath of their shift.

Indubitably, hidden in plain sight was the unnerving nature of the capitalistic takeover that appeared to blindside the unfortunate Popeyes workers.

Slowly but surely, the community began to realize the tangible toll the online craze held over the lives of our blue-collar peers.

While Popeyes and the general populace were reveling in the festivities, the Popeyes service workers were left to bear the brunt of opening Pandora’s Box with a side of dry biscuits.

The fun and innocence of the profoundly seasoned façade inevitably started to wither.

The unsung heroes of the chicken sandwich wars

The grueling labor conditions of the understaffed Popeyes workers during the two-week ordeal left little to the imagination.

Indeed, Popeyes employees have reported 65-hour weeks, entire shifts with no breaks, and hellish threats from customers.

Earlier in August, an exhausted employee from Florida was hospitalized after collapsing from greasy floors caused from the overwhelming work environment.

What’s more, individual orders for the sandwiches ranged from one to a taxing 35 chicken sandwiches.

When the chicken sandwiches eventually sold out, the ravenous customers inexplicably vented their frustrations towards the downtrodden employees.

Specifically, customers have both verbally threatened and physically attacked Popeyes employees because they couldn’t get their grubby hands on the status item of the season.


Image/Twitter – A sign indicating that chicken sandwiches are sold out is displayed at the Popeyes location in Inglewood, California. Note: The user has since deleted the tweet.

Despite the pouring testimony and evidence of the inhumane treatment of Popeyes’ workers, the Popeyes CEO chalked it all up as just a “tough week.”

Combined with the prevalent issues of problematic algorithmic scheduling and a company-mandated 180-second window to complete drive-thru orders, Popeyes’ labor conditions will continue to intensify for the worse.

Fast-Food Nation: Popeyes Edition

Simply put, the fast-food industry is the most unequal in the US Economy.

For instance, the understaffed Popeyes cooks, whose employers have generated $5.35 billion in revenue last year, who have endured hazardous working conditions and are expected to work much harder, will not be reaping the benefits of this entire sandwich craze.

Unfortunately, there are no existing indications that Popeyes service employees, who are largely responsible for the majority of sandwich’s success whether by transporting, prepping or selling it, will be compensated despite the escalating demand.

Even before the chicken sandwich frenzy, Popeyes employees were paid starvation wages of $9.54 an hour.

Although it is known that the injustices of fast-food laborers cannot simply be solved by raising the minimum wage, it would provide immediate relief for the workers living in poverty.

Moreover, national programs that allow for both secure unionization and accessible health care benefits for the millions of fast-food workers who are left uncovered will serve to elevate the well-being of workers everywhere.

On a side note, further taxing the CEOs who make 12 times more than the average workers – even without the 300% bonus – could be a good starting place to fund these programs (wink, wink).

At any rate, it is certain that these exacerbating labor conditions cannot be effectively transformed without radical reform.

That harsh reality is further illustrated when you realize that Popeyes sources its chicken from chicken plants whom employ an immigrant, largely Latinx workforce (you know, like the one that got raided by ICE last month).

Moving forward, a sandwich product that is considered to be unethical, elitist, and racist is not an ideal look for Popeyes.

The real-world Impact of social media

You would think that over 23$ million of free press and advertising would enable Popeyes to throw a bone at its employees.

What is even more remarkable about the aforementioned estimate is that it was crunched up for only the first 11 days of the social media storm.

With just one viral tweet, Popeyes now possesses the potential to match its sales figures to that of its largest competitor in Chick-fil-A.

This scenario was a dream come true for Popeyes Chicken, especially since Twitter users themselves did all the work for the company.

To be clear, Popeyes’ success was not due to ingenious marketing strategy.

The company just chose to resonate with the youth community on Twitter by incorporating “internet speak” (hence, the “…y’all good?” tweet).

Still, its promoted social media marketing initiated an incredulous internet sensation that swept the nation.

That very same sensation has absolutely led to far-reaching consequences in the real world.

Whether it was by forcing fast-food companies to alter their trajectories in order to make the next best chicken sandwich, causing mayhem that affected the lives of consumers and employees alike, or by sealing the fate of the countless chickens who will be sacrificed to satiate the masses’ newfound obsession.

The latter point – as I touched upon in a previous post – will lead the meat industry to further destroy rainforests like the Amazon, causing long-term ramifications that have yet to manifest.

As the generations who have grown up in the digital age get older and more numerous, it would be intriguing to observe what social media marketing will evolve into next.

Why can’t we have nice things, America?

Will you be waiting in line when Popeyes’ chicken sandwich relaunches?

Whatever you do, just please do not try to resell them for $1000 (I’m looking at you, Quavo).

The End of Netflix?

The streaming arms race takes an intriguing turn as the competition heats up.

Is Netflix on the verge of collapse or, at the very least, in serious financial trouble?

Netflix, the once championed leviathan in entertainment, has finally lost American subscribers for the first time in eight years. How many? Merely just hundreds of thousands of them.

To curtail this burgeoning problem, the veteran streaming service myopically shifted its focus toward producing original programming to retain its subscribers.

Impressively, Netflix swiftly followed with several strong releases such as the dark comedy Dead to Me and the critically acclaimed When They See Us.

Unfortunately, despite releasing a number of remarkable content that racked in tens of millions of viewers, Netflix’s strategy for concentrating on original content is faltering.

After the media service company terribly missed its forecast on added subscribers in Q2 2019, the NFLX stock is reported to have currently spiraled down by 15% in the market.

As you may have guessed, that’s not ideal — even if this has happened before.

Carlton Basketball GIF from Carlton GIFs

Yes, it may seem irresistible to proclaim Netflix’s doom after every misstep (see: Netflix’s Qwikster Debacle), but this just feels different.

A closing window

As a consequence of burning more money at the proverbial fire, Netflix has reported an annual negative free cash flow of $3-4 billion.

In its vain effort to acquire more subscribers, Netflix has accrued a debt of $15 billion with no end in sight.

To make matters worse, the competitive pressure is just ramping up.

The additions of streaming services from competitors such as Apple, NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia, and, of course, the corporate world conquistador in Disney will all be sure to further loosen Netflix’s grip over its own subscriber base.

Netflix, with all its years of progressive momentum, has suddenly hit a wall. In an almost sobering fashion, Netflix’s domestic dominance is vulnerable to its biggest competitors in Amazon and Hulu. How did it come to this?

The golden age of netflix is over

Embed from Getty Images
Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images – Netflix CEO Reed Hastings will face a steep uphill battle in making Netflix profitable again.

When Netflix started on-demand streaming in 2011, it revolutionized the TV industry as we knew it.

Indeed, nothing was as close to alluring than the possibility of instantly binging thousands of shows and movies at about 20% the cost of most cable packages.

On the other hand, having the freedom to binge entire seasons of shows without the inconvenience of advertisements was truly innovative in its time.

In fact, when the streaming titan initiated its own foray into original video content in 2013, it even threatened Hollywood itself with its disproportionate chokehold in digital storytelling and the acquisition of talent.

Even just a few years ago, the company chief executive, Reed Hastings, heartily joked that Netflix’s biggest competitor was sleep.

My, how times have changed. You hate to see it.

Today, Netflix is indubitably at an inflection point. After a half-decade of nearly unchecked sovereignty in the premium video streaming sphere that allowed it to, “aggressively poach entertainment’s top executives and A-list talent,” the company now finds itself under siege.

Begun, the streaming wars has…

Embed from Getty Images
Michael Short/Getty Images – Apple announced the launch of its new video streaming service, Apple TV+, which it hopes to release this fall.

In the Q2 2019 letter to shareholders, Netflix stressed that the company’s slowed growth was not affected by its competitors but by its recent price hike.

Yet, a new wave of competitors will soon encircle a suddenly mortal Netflix.

In November, Disney is launching the Disney+ streaming service that is bundled along with Hulu and ESPN+. This enticing package is expected to directly compete with Netflix’s standard price at $12.99.

Moreover, Netflix has previously announced that powerhouse mainstays like The Office and Friends will soon be leaving the streaming service.

If that wasn’t enough, these popular money-makers are heading straight back to Netflix’s competitors. Ouch.

By mercilessly pulling Netflix’s beloved — and licensed — shows, major TV networks are therefore fragmenting the content Netflix can ultimately offer to consumers.

With a gradually increasing subscription fee, it will only be harder for the streaming service to continue justifying its premium cost to subscribers.

a brewing storm

In a mad dash to stop the bleeding, Netflix has not-so-subtly gone out to recruit big-name producers and talent — which may either be really brilliant or just another major flop.

Still, this striking move is described by some as almost “desperate,” especially since Netflix’s current plan for producing original content has not met expectations so far.

To abate the coming tide, Netflix claims that the loss of licensed content will free up resources for making more in-house hits. Yet, the company is too over-reliant on the credit market for their own good.

To simply explain:

(1) Wall Street is very fond of Netflix.

(2) Still, as Netflix’s original content plan continues to accrue debt, Wall Street’s patience will eventually wear thin.

(3) If and when Wall Street pulls back its support for Netflix, the company’s access to affordable credit will be restricted.

(4) This would inevitably lead Netflix to conjure less funding for original content, enabling Netflix’s stock to fall farther and further limiting its access to cheap credit.

Thus, as you can see, this reliance on the credit market indeed poses one of the greatest risks regarding Netflix’s current plans for the company’s growth.

What’s next For Netflix

Embed from Getty Images
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images – Original series like Mindhunter will have to guide Netflix forward.

As previously mentioned, a shift away from licensed content is in order for Netflix to keep afloat and stay competitive.

Indeed, producing spectacular originals like Stranger Things and Mindhunter is the key to Netflix’s survival.

In fact, Netflix is slated to spend $15 billion on original content this year alone, which would keep drawing subscribers to its service.

Netflix is also releasing a new feature that actively tracks upcoming releases, which would enable Netflix subscribers to think twice about canceling their subscriptions.

The downfall of Netflix, therefore, will not be attributed to its competitors but by its own decision-making.

As a result, it is imperative that Netflix maintains its brand proposition in being ad-free.

By keeping Netflix ad-free and inexpensive, the company can look forward to keeping the majority of its subscribers loyal to the streaming platform; else, it risks further alienating its base of subscribers.

(Personal note: have you ever experienced Hulu’s ads? They are the same three 90-second ads that play every 5 minutes. It’s truly a nightmare.)

A Newfound hope

Netflix, one of the greatest pioneers in entertainment (they transformed the industry a whopping three times), will most likely endure.

In fact, they have been counting on the competition heating up for years.

Its own executives have even claimed that the saturation of streaming options will benefit the entire industry by driving out more consumers from linear TV.

In preparation, Netflix is scheduled to employ its massive headstart in subscriptions and original programming to branch out further into international markets.

Netflix’s troubles, it seems, appears to be solely domestic in nature.

Be that as it may, these are indeed uncertain times for the world’s leading internet entertainment service. It remains to be seen if Netflix will keep its dominance over the US streaming market.

On the other hand, if Netflix were to continue to struggle, there is always the last resort that the company will slowly lose its overpriced valuation over the years.

Ideally, Netflix would be eventually bought out by a larger competitor like Disney.

Ultimately, perhaps the biggest loser will be us, the consumer. Still, out of all the parties involved, Netflix surely has the most to lose.

Where do you think Netflix’s future is headed? Will Blockbuster finally have its revenge? If you enjoyed this post, be sure to give a like!

The Importance of Being Sound: 5 Ways to Blow Off Some Steam

You wake up in a sweaty panic because you realize you overslept for that job interview you were really thrilled about (probably because your phone, the modern alarm clock, didn’t properly charge last night).

To collect yourself, you start up a steamy shower that you so desperately needed, only for the hot water to run out halfway through.

Then, after you get out of your “polar bear certified” shower, you discover that one of your old college roommates resurfaced a video set during those weird days you thought you can rap like Busta Rhymes (why of all things did THAT go viral?)

In agony, you just accidentally spilled coffee on your favorite shirt (you know, the one that says “I ♥ NY” even though you have never experienced the traditional Big Apple smell of “God knows what from God knows when”).

And for all your troubles at home, you decide to take a relaxing drive around town with your newly washed car (laughs in Los Angeles gas prices). Alas, you soon realize that your sweet, little bird friends did their best effort to repaint your car white (its their way of showing you they care).

Being human (and therefore being inherently flawed), we are prone to being trapped in our minds from time to time.

That especially goes on days when you try your best, but you don’t succeed and when you get what you want, but not want you need (Coldplay, I love you).

Sometimes life can get a little overwhelming, and on those days when we just can’t win, we need to adequately process and outlet some of the difficult emotions we harbor inside.

As there are many approaches in which one can exercise mindfulness, I will present some of the positive outlets that are very effective in helping me both cope and roll with the punches that life can deliver.

So let’s blow off some steam:

1. “Just keep [writing], just keep [writing]!” – Dory, probably

An example of a journal entry, directly adapted from Childish Gambino’s open letter.

Ever since a high school therapist recommended this personal routine to me, I have kept a private journal and never thought twice about it (yes, that was back in 2010. Yes, I am getting old. Yes, I am a 24-year-old Latino male keeping a glorified diary).

But hear me out: to this day, I have not found a more effective method in consoling and reorienting my mind.

There is just something so therapeutic in writing down all those eluding thoughts, emotions and feelings in my head onto something tangible. That way, once it is on paper, I won’t have any need to provide further attention to those feelings and thoughts anymore.

Indeed, clearing that head space is pivotal because it grants you the sense of clarity to think about “the bigger picture” surrounding your life’s events.

Making a habit out of journaling helps you process those complicated emotions; this, in turn, will grant you the objectivity to fight off that inner-conflict festering inside. Documenting journal entries can also establish a record that affords one with the ability to re-experience the past with the developed maturity they may possess today.

So write down all the things that come to mind, even the things that make you go “uh-ha-ha.” The wonderful thing about journaling is that you can be truly honest with yourself and your feelings in order to promote a deeper level of discovery, stability, proactivity and liberation.

Sometimes I am consistent with writing in my journal and sometimes I’m not. And that’s okay, since journaling is not truly necessary and its only there if you feel like it can benefit you.

I understand that for some people, this method will not work. Still, I strongly urge everyone to give this a try whenever their head space is brimming with pent-up thoughts and emotions and you need a healthy release.

You never know if journaling can be a transformative keystone habit like it was for me.

2. Fight for your right to… well, exercise

Working out at a gym, even for only a couple of months, certainly has elevated my mood and overall energy.

Contrary to popular belief, exercising is not just about building muscle and burning calories.

Personally, I started exercising because it was an excellent way of transfiguring my raw emotional energy into precise physical release.

Alleviating stress via exercise is essential to my welfare because stress has a way of clouding judgment and inviting both negative thoughts and intense emotions.

By working out at the local gym, I can safely enjoy taking out all my frustration on those weights or cardio machines (how dare they remove The Office from Netflix!)

On the other hand, working out can literally change the way your brain works. Research has demonstrated that exercise can improve the synaptic connectivity between neurons, optimize hormonal levels (like dopamine) and increase blood flow, all of which are essential in handling those “I LITERALLY CAN’T EVEN” moments like a pro.

And even if you don’t have an hour to spare during your busy day, a little activity is better than none. In fact, 20 minutes — at least once or twice per week — of brisk walking can provide immediate benefits for both your health and your mood.

In terms of improving one’s mood, achieving happiness is all about constantly improving yourself and your situation (which is made clear during investigations into why people with vast amounts of wealth are seldom happy).

Therefore, exercising is a crucial outlet simply because you truly are in a better place mentally and physically after your workout than you were before you started — minus the soreness and all.

In addition, going to the gym is the only part of my day where I do not have to worry about anything else but lifting weights for an hour and a half. Now that’s my type of meditation.

If anything, when it came to hitting the gym hard, getting fit was merely a bonus. Although fitness is important, clearing your mind of stress cannot be overlooked.

3. Play tunes to tune out

The CD album covers for Childish Gambino’s Because the Internet and the Weeknd’s Starboy.

I wanted to be a bit more original with this listing, but you cannot exclude something as practical as listening to music when it comes to blowing off steam.

Music is indeed the Michael Jordan — a.k.a. the G.O.A.T. (yes, I said what I said) — of stress relievers.

I mean, there’s good reason why researchers at Stanford University found that listening to music seems to be able to change brain functioning to the same extent as medication (i.e., according to science, music really IS a drug).

Unquestionably, music has a considerable selection of genres; and within those distinct genres, there is a staggering number of varieties to choose from.

Yet, despite music’s complexity, listening to music can be pretty straightforward. You can choose to either:

  • (1) Listen to calming music to soothe your nerves or…
  • (2) Blast angry music and going absolutely bananas.

Both appeal to their fair share of people, but in terms of personal experience, the latter is where the magic happens.

Indeed, there is nothing more truly cathartic than playing music on full blast like it’s nobody’s business. Remember, we’re talking about blowing steam here, so you better go full Sith lord and…

Don’t worry, the Dark Side has macadamia cookies and free healthcare (for that inevitable hearing loss, of course. Seriously guys, exercise caution when listening to loud music).

For those who want to go the gentle route, be sure to check out this song that has been scientifically proven to calm you down:

UK neuroscience claims that this song can reduce up to 65% of overall anxiety in listeners. That’s bonkers. Listen to it here for more streaming options.

It can be easy to forget that the songs we love to hear everyday are made by people just like you and I. Music artists may, too, sometimes feel vulnerable and suffer from rough patches in their lives. Chances are that you’ll find some music that relates to EXACTLY how you’re feeling.

Ultimately, the very best thing about music is that listening to it is not a mutually exclusive activity; you can rock out to some tunes while exercising or journaling to augment the overall experience and effectiveness in your endeavors.

So seek shelter, vent and get lost into your music within minutes.

Just please remember to not Drake and Drive.

4. Another one fights the dust

My car always gets the brunt of my senseless spring cleaning onslaughts.

I get it, nobody wants to go straight home and clean the house, especially after a long day at the office and you didn’t get to eat cause some coworker ate your sandwich that you’ve thought you had perfectly hidden away. *Cries*

It’s all about getting yourself in the right headspace to clean, to the point where it’s just merely the primal urge to clean the crap out of something. I want you whistling while you work, Snow White style, for goodness’ sake.

Even Jennifer Lawrence had the right idea. You need to add a little flavor when you clean, whether it is listening to music or cleaning while you’re angry.

Ah yes, the infamous ‘Rage Clean’. We know it all too well. We know it when your temper flares, and those messes that need sorting out almost beckon your name. We know it when those dishes gets washed with intense glee. Surfaces are sprayed and wiped with forceful intent. Laundry gets deposited with angry aplomb. Tables are scrubbed, the broom gets victimized and my car? That poor unfortunate soul GLISTENS when I’m done with it.

And there’s beauty behind the madness too. Because, after you’re done cleaning, you’re not only left with a room you wouldn’t be afraid to show your mother but you have also effectively blown out your steam. Accidental productivity for the win!

Thus, forget traditional therapy — there’s no copay involved in spring cleaning!(Just kidding about forgetting therapy, therapy is wonderful.)

Sometimes, I like to visualize physically cleaning the clutter in my room as mentally clearing the scattered thoughts in my head. After all, we are the product of our environment, and the best thing you can do to improve your mood is to improve your surroundings.

Basically, cleaning my room virtually becomes an exercise in clearing the redundant energy I may possess after a long, hard day.

If you do it right, you can even turn spring cleaning into a workout (e.g., burning calories by running up and down stairs, scrubbing the windows and floors, etc.)

There’s a reason why it is said that “cleanliness is close to godliness.” Indubitably, having an immediate positive impact in your life — by simply augmenting the cleanliness of your room — may lead to a cascade of more positive changes to come.

5. Talk to someone (including yourself)

Just hanging out with the only people I trust (someone please get this editing software away from me).

On days when you get the short end of the stick and just want to be left alone, it can be extremely difficult to foresee yourself being in a talkative mood. However, putting in effort to reach out and be social can be well worth the risk.

Like journaling, expressing our our thoughts, feelings and concerns to others help us both process and eradicate them.

Furthermore, once you’re finished getting things off your chest (while also getting a fresh outside perspective on your situation), you’ll literally feel like you lifted a weight off your shoulder. Thus, releasing that tension and burden you harbor inside will certainly improve your well-being both physically and mentally.

It also helps that, by confiding in someone you can trust, you can cultivate a deeper and more profound relationship with that certain someone. That is precisely how some of my finest friendships were formed — just because someone took the heartfelt risk in deciding to trust me and vice versa.

The possibilities for confiding in someone can encompass close friends (who might relate to what you’re going through), family members (who can sometimes give you great support), teachers or youth workers (who are often good listeners and trained to deal with loads of issues), or going to talk to a professional who is completely removed from the situation.

If there really is no one to talk to, then there’s still hope. Even having a conversation with yourself is sufficient in acquiring an ample amount of psychological distance from your experiences, which can often be useful for regulating those troublesome emotions.

Still, people are one of the most abundant resources on the planet; use them!

You know, “no man is an island?” “No failure is a man who has friends?” Ah forget it.

Just remember, I am always here for anybody who needs someone to listen. All you need to do is contact me and you’ve got a friend in me.

Sorry, just saw Toy Story 4 the other day. I am still not over it.

What do you think about the listed methods for blowing off some steam? Is there any other modes of action that you’d personally like to share? Is Michael Jordan indeed the Greatest of All Time? Be sure to comment below!

Thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you next time, you affable hot heads.

Hating the Player and the Game: the problem with classifying ‘Gaming Disorder’

How ‘Gaming Disorder’ undermines both gaming and other recognized mental health disorders.

Well it’s official: ‘Gaming Disorder’ is a bona fide medical condition. Back in May, the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to adopt ‘Gaming Disorder’ as yet another behavior addiction disorder on the 11th edition of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

From a public health perspective, including ‘Gaming Disorder’ in the ICD-11 allows medical professionals to universally diagnose video game addiction and develop effective treatment plans should the need arise.

However, this move was implemented despite a growing amount of controversy and industry pushback. Indeed, experts, the gaming industry and gamers themselves have all contested that the inclusion of ‘Gaming Disorder’ is irresponsible as it marks gaming as a media scapegoat while simultaneously trivializing widely-recognized mental illnesses such as depression and social anxiety disorder (whew, that sentence took forever).

Above: an example of the many YouTube videos discussing the validity of ‘Gaming Disorder’ and video game addiction.

The reality is, most gamers that criticize the validity of ‘Gaming Disorder’ would not have experienced anything close to addiction themselves. As is true for most other addictive activities and substances, the great majority of people who play video games are not going to be addicted and, therefore, cannot fully grasp the influence gaming has on those who truly are addicted.

Furthermore, by carelessly ranting on the WHO making ‘Gaming Disorder’ official (just because it is popular to do so), these armchair experts fail to understand that incorporating ‘Gaming Disorder’ in the ICD-11 allows video game addiction to be taken seriously by the medical community; this in turn allows afflicted individuals to properly receive benefits such as insurance for treatment.

Be that as it may, I, too, believe that the ratification of ‘Gaming Disorder’ is premature and sets a harmful precedent for both gaming and other recognized mental health disorders.

Let me make myself clear: video game addiction is real, rare and poorly misunderstood, which is not helped by the predatory practices of the gaming industry (see: Loot Boxes). Yet, the WHO may have jumped the gun on classifying ‘Gaming Disorder’ without sufficient empirical evidence or a firm understanding of the etiology of video game addiction.

To clarify, let’s examine the history of ‘Gaming Disorder’ and the resulting problematic implications of the WHO’s hasty diagnosis:

Defining ‘Gaming Disorder’

Video game addiction is characterized on the ICD -11 as follows:

Gaming Disorder – a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior (‘video-gaming’), which may be online (i.e., over the internet) or offline, manifested by:

1. Impaired control over gaming

2. Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities

3. Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences (e.g., social, occupational, educational)

The gaming behavior and other features are normally evident over a period of at least 12 months in order for a diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and symptoms are severe.

Usually administered via cognitive-behavioral therapy or one-on-one counseling with a psychiatrist or a therapist, the treatment of ‘Gaming Disorder’ (like other behavior addiction disorders) involves changing the thoughts that contribute to unhealthy gaming habits and also modifying one’s actions to slowly reduce the amount of time spent playing video games. 

According to several research measures, ‘Gaming Disorder’ is prevalent in about 3.1% of gamers overall (i.e., about tens of millions of gamers worldwide).

Support for ‘Gaming Disorder’ being officially recognized

By incorporating ‘Gaming Disorder’ into the ICD-11, the WHO just made it clear to the international medical community that video game addiction is a medical condition that requires both healthcare and treatment due to the compulsive and rewarding behaviors that gaming can elicit.

In fact, the WHO maintains that their decision was adapted from the “reviews of available evidence and reflects a consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions.” 

According to Game Quitters, a support community for video game addiction, the WHO’s classification of ‘Gaming Disorder’ as an official mental disorder allows for the possibility of:

“1. Improved accessibility to professional services [and facilitating further research], including the potential for services to be covered by insurance. More professionals will specialize in ‘Gaming Disorder.”

“2. Improved quality control. Currently there is no standard protocol for mental health professionals to follow for prevention and treatment of gaming disorder. Quality care begins with an official diagnosis and means of assessment.”

“3. Reduced stigma and moral panic. Research shows stigma – the fear of being judged, dismissed, or misunderstood – to be the biggest barrier to gaming addicts seeking help.”

In addition to validating the experiences of actual gaming addicts, the facilitation of further research on the significance and etiology of ‘Gaming Disorder’ is a remarkable result that must be commended.

Previously, Gaming Disorder’s twin brother, Internet Gaming Disorder (ISD), was also deemed by the America Psychiatric Association (APA) as a subject worthy of more research in the DSM-5.

What makes the APA’s classification different from the WHO’s, however, is that the APA does not currently recognize IGD (i.e., video game addiction) as an official condition.

Igniting controversy

Did you really expect gamers (like myself) and the entire gaming industry to just sit back and ride the wave?

Most critics condemning ‘Gaming Disorder’ hone in on the frustrating inevitability that disorders due to addictive behavior can be very difficult to pinpoint and quantify. This is not to mention that it is unclear if excessive gaming itself is a disease or the underlying symptom of other mental health disorders.

Indeed, some researchers argue that the people who are addicted to video games can receive psychiatric treatment under broader diagnoses such as depression and anxiety. Soon enough, the rush to include ‘Gaming Disorder’ to the ICD-11 can cause unnecessary mistakes that could take years to correct.

Moreover, many gamers feel that this classification is the latest attack on such a harmless and beloved hobby. They perceive gaming to be no more behaviorally addictive than other common daytime activities: if there were to be a ‘Gaming Disorder’, we also would need a ‘Netflix Disorder’, a ‘Gym Disorder‘, a ‘Wikipedia-scrolling Disorder’, an ‘Instagram Disorder‘ and a ‘Pug-lover Disorder’.

Absolutely, these skeptics are fundamentally asking, “on what basis is gaming considered pathologic while other addictive distractions (e.g., smartphones) are not?”

Because of the WHO’s reluctance to address these debates, many believe the WHO needs to reconsider their take on video game addiction.

Significant research gaps remain

As previously mentioned, the WHO justifies their ICD-11 classification of ‘Gaming Disorder’ by proclaiming that the inclusion is “based on reviews of available evidence,” and reflects on the general agreement among experts around the world.

Yet, many skeptics contend that the proclamation could not be further from the truth. The aforementioned evidence appears to be insufficient and statistically underpowered: the studies employ small sample sizes, and does little to illustrate whether video games cause psychological problems or are merely associated with them.

Also, there is practically no consensus in the academic community (even amongst ‘Gaming Disorder’ supporters) on the symptomatology and assessment of ‘Gaming Disorder’. The scholars assert that the clinical definition for ‘Gaming Disorder’ does not clarify what types or mechanics of games might be addicting, and so the classification is too broad to be effective.

On an interesting note, more skeptics have pointed out that the medicalization of ‘Gaming Disorder’ can be applied to any activity in everyday life (cue the talk of ‘Crazy Cat Lady’ syndrome). As it stands, this ambiguous pathology of gaming does not inspire confidence in the WHO’s current classification of ‘Gaming Disorder’.

How ‘Gaming Disorder’ further stigmatizes gamers

While some gaming behaviors can be very questionable, ‘Gaming Disorder’ affects only a very small percentage compared to the 2.5+ billion gamers currently found anywhere in the world. By globally introducing ‘Gaming Disorder’ (which does little to ensure that healthy gamers are not pathologized or misdiagnosed), the entirety of gaming culture will be further stigmatized because of a select few in the community.

As with any psychiatric diagnosis, classifying ‘Gaming Disorder’ as an official mental illness practically guarantees a corresponding stigma that will irreversibly harm the gaming community.

Therefore, the ICD-11 classification on video game addiction has tremendous potential to contribute to the existing misguided beliefs and misconceptions surrounding video games. While there ARE negative consequences in gaming, there is not enough dialogue discussing the benefits provided by gaming.

Many gamers are quick to point out the advantages of gaming, such as faster reflexes, improved hand-eye coordination, and increased peripheral vision. In addition, video games are a way for some to fulfill social needs while reinforcing social skills along the way. Yet, these effects are not going to grab the media’s attention unlike prominent headlines such as, say, ‘Video games are digital heroin.’

Moreover, some gamers even claim that video games are a necessary distraction and an outlet for widely-recognized disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Ultimately, I believe that the addictive behaviors associated with gaming may be signaling society’s problematic dependence on technology as a whole as opposed to a specific dependence on video games themselves.

In any case, without conclusive empirical evidence, defining and diagnosing video game addiction should be handled with more caution and responsibility; else, the WHO will inevitably cause a moral panic from people who do not understand video games that will stigmatize even typical gamers with healthy habits.

Why ‘Gaming Disorder’ sets a troubling precedent to other recognized disorders

Formalizing an official health disorder usually requires a high level of robust and unequivocal evidence, which ‘Gaming Disorder’ ultimately lacks. For the WHO to responsibly label ‘Gaming Disorder’ as a behavioral addiction, a greater amount of research is required to adequately support such a serious diagnosis.

As addiction in general is already unfortunately misunderstood, ‘Gaming Disorder’ can allow for the illogical medicalization of other addicting activities. The criteria and symptoms required to diagnose ‘Gaming disorder’ are too broad (e.g., there is no existing blueprint for clinicians to detect manifestations of “impaired control” in different contexts) and ambiguous; therefore, they can dangerously pathologize normal behaviors into addiction.

In addition, the ambiguity behind ‘Gaming Disorder’ has the possibility to undergo over-diagnosing and misdiagnosis, all of which is prevalent in already established mental disorders. This is not helped by the fact that clinicians have a general negative perception of games and a lack of experience.

Mental health disorders, in reality, cannot be easily distinguished as different people have different experiences to mental illnesses. Thus, misdiagnoses has been such an extensive problem in the medical community that introducing a novel mental disorder that is both under-researched and too generalized can cause great harm to the gaming community while also undermining established mental disorders.

Indeed, grouping behaviors into video game addiction can overshadow serious underlying conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders and stress-related disorders.

By classifying symptoms as ‘Gaming Disorder,’ medical professionals can fail to treat patients from the precursors that led to the video game addiction in the first place.

These diagnosed individuals will be told that they have mental illnesses they may not have and, thus, public health resources that can be allocated to more pressing concerns are being ultimately wasted because of an insufficient definition of video game addiction.

This harmful precedent set by the current iteration of ‘Gaming Disorder’ cannot be taken lightly. The WHO must exercise more caution when it comes to defining video game addiction on the ICD-11; Else, the mishandling of diagnosing video game addiction can cast both the practice of psychiatry and the ‘litmus test’ of diagnosing medical disorders in a negative light.

What should be done about video game addiction

While video game addiction is a very real phenomenon, more empirical research is required that delves into the different kinds of gaming and investigates the alluring video game mechanics (again, see: Loot Boxes) that evoke the obsessive behaviors that contribute to addiction .

As priorly discussed, the etiology of the disorder is currently poorly defined and not well understood; therefore, it is apparent that the WHO may been premature in incorporating ‘Gaming Disorder’ into the ICD-11.

Indeed, it could very well be possible that the addictive behaviors in gaming arise not just from video games but from our increasing dependence on technology as a whole (but that is a story for another day).

Promoting our understanding of technology’s potential for addiction as opposed to just singling out gaming individually can prevent gamers’ suffering from further stigma.

For example, would you like at me the same way if I told you I was an avid gamer as opposed to an avid book reader or rock-climber? I don’t think so.

With the demonstration above, we can avidly foresee that labeling video game addiction in a way that does not protect healthy gamers can cause the media to further demonize video games (which, in turn, can cause more psychological harm in children).

Unfortunately, there are many people who are suffering from video game addiction that would want their stories to be validated as serious medical disorders; however, if we are too hasty in our approach, then the ‘Gaming Disorder’ diagnosis will certainly do far more public harm than good.

Let’s hope to fight against video game addiction, the responsible way.

What are your thoughts on ‘Gaming Disorder’? Is it all Because the Internet? Give a like if you agreed with the post and thanks for reading!

How You Can Protect Earth’s Biodiversity At Home

Note: For 9 simple actions that will help reduce loss in biodiversity, go straight to Page 2 (click on ‘Next Page’)

As an undergraduate at UCLA sifting through courses in Ecology and Life Sciences, I was inevitably confronted by an unsettling issue that has since lingered and become deeply ingrained into the far recesses of my mind: the loss of biodiversity at an unprecedented scale.

Therefore, on May 6, 2019, when the United Nations published a landmark report confirming the rapid deterioration of Earth’s ecosystems, I was again confronted with this familiar affliction of desperation; only this time, there was beyond any doubt of the dire implications established by this imminent threat.

Indeed, via the systematic review of about 15,000 scientific and government sources, the UN biodiversity experts demonstrated that protecting the invaluable contributions of nature will be our defining challenge for decades to come.

To further elaborate, there has been a piling number of research indicating that we are currently undergoing Earth’s sixth mass extinction with no signs of desisting; within the next few decades, up to 1 million plant and animal species will be irreversibly devastated or ultimately face annihilation.

To be fair, there are also quite a few credible scientists that accuse these claims of mass extinction to be grossly exaggerated and reveling in irresponsible sensationalism.

For example, in Peter Brannen’s excellent article for the Atlantic, Smithsonian paleontologist Doug Erwin insists that, “to a certain extent they’re claiming [mass extinction] as a way of frightening people into action.”

However, Dr. Erwin clarifies that even though, “we’re not in a mass extinction yet… if we keep things up long enough, we’ll get to a mass extinction.”

Fundamentally, this distinction of whether we are presently facing a mass extinction appears to be purely academic in nature; in practice, the disturbing reality remains in that we are either undergoing a catastrophic loss in biodiversity or we soon will be.

When you break it down, the predominant culprits engineering the mass extinction of Earth’s inhabitants include climate change, loss of habitat, air and water pollution and the overexploitation of natural resources.

And who is chiefly to blame for it all?

You guessed it: Humanity.

Our contributions to this manufactured “biological annihilation” cannot be ignored:

With many other prevalent examples, it is not difficult to imagine how humans can adversely affect the ecosystems of our earthly neighbors.

Regardless, it can be easy to assume because biodiversity loss is such a large-scale problem, any single individual cannot possibly have any effect in reducing humanity’s carbon footprint.

Nevertheless, our culminated efforts can rival the influence of the world’s leading industries (especially those that contribute the most to species extinction). And despite the fact that the window for effective action is closing fast, the UN report confirms that nature can still be conserved, restored and used sustainably:

“The Report also tells us that it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global.” – Robert Watson, IBPES Chair

Next Page

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

5 Takeaways From My Trip To Kauai

Despite a seemingly endless number of locales consisting of both sun and beach, there is truly no place that offers the delectable combination of beauty, lushness and serenity like the island of Kaua’i. An astonishing 562 square miles of untamed beauty owes itself to the fact that Kaua’i is the least commercially developed of the Hawaiian islands (and also being one of the wettest places on Earth). The idea of minimal tourist and refreshing open-space inspired me to take my own birthday trip to the most beautiful (and oldest) island of the Hawaiian archipelago.

DO NOT take this post as the ultimate guide to visiting Kaua’i; this is just a list showcasing some of the things that stood out to me on my mini-vacation here.

Like, for example:

The older the island, the sweeter the views.

Say it with me now.

Here are my takeaways from my short trip to “the Garden Island”:

1. There’s a bit of everything to experience on Kauai.

Image by TC Perch

Apparently, the island of Kaua’i did not get the memo when it came to not leaving all your eggs in one basket. Visitors are pleasantly surprised when they realize the Garden Isle is actually comprised of diverse ecological regions. Book a helicopter flight and you will be sure to find stunning microclimates, including but not limited to: golden beaches, sprawling plains, glorious mountain peaks, arid desert and teeming rainforest.

Those who love the outdoors will be sure to keep themselves happy and busy on the daily hikes and activities that will take even the most dedicated of vacation-goers months to cover. From the sunsets of Hanalei Bay to the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” in Waimea Canyon, there is definitely something for everyone in Kaua’i.

2. Nothing is certain but death and taxes… and chickens on Kauai.

Embark on a scenic drive on the roads of Kaua’i, and you will be bound to profoundly exclaim, “Look at all those chickens.” The moa (feral chickens) number in the thousands since there are effectively no natural predators on the island. Their not-so-hostile takeover occurred when they were freed en masse from their coops following the wake of Hurricane ‘Iniki back in 1992. After a large crossbreeding between the Polynesian Red Jungle Fowl and common domestic chickens, the moa have thrived ever since.

When I say thrive, what I mean is that the little cluckers basically rule the entirety of the island, from the scenic waterfalls to the local café. These modern-day dinosaurs are probably what gave Steven Spielberg the inspiration to film “Jurassic Park” on Kaua’i (not really). Loudly crowing at all times of the day, you will be sure to wake up whenever THEY feel like you should. All hail the kings of Kaua’i.

3. Furry friends are a MUST. (duh!)

Ever miss your buddy Fido while on vacation? Well fret no more thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Kauai Humane Society. The innovative Shelter Dog Field Trip Program allows you to spend a day with dogs like Ren in order for them to receive fresh air from the kennels and to provide the dogs precious exposure for adoptions.

Be aware that there is a $200 credit card deposit and a minimum $25 donation fee that accompanies the program, but the shelter provides all the information and supplies you’ll need for your trip with your new best friend. Also, be sure to note that the shelter closes on Wednesdays and you usually pick up the dogs in the morning (10 am – 12 pm) and return them one hour before closing (3 pm).

Getting your doggie fix and helping dogs in need get adopted? Now that’s my kind of volunteering (I am sure Fido will approve).

4. Be sure to rent a vehicle to fully explore the island.


Not sure if this needs to be said. Practically every visitor gets around the island in a rental car. With just a rudimentary bus system not designed for visitors in mind, it is highly improbable for you to see many of the desired locales without independent vehicle transportation.

I recommend a four-wheel drive, like the Jeep Wrangler, for the full touristy experience (I am cliché and proud of it). I mean, there’s a reason why every tourist and their grandma is driving a Jeep on the island: Jeeps are awesome. Please stop me before I sound like a paid advertisement.

5. Do not forget to relax.

Since there is so much to do and see on Kaua’i, and typically precious little time, vacationers are usually scrambling from one destination to the next in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy. There were times during my own visit when I was frantically pacing to the hidden stretches of paradise and all 60+ beaches, effectively depreciating the experience each locale had to offer. Get a clue (see what I did there) and don’t be me.

What is indeed so special about Kaua’i is that every single location is not wanting of any of the awe-inspiring spectacle you were searching for when you booked your trip here. Your vacation should be a time where you get to sit back and open your mind from the troubles at home, so please try to not create even more unnecessary stress. So pick a couple of places and relax you workaholics, you deserve a break. And besides, leaving locales for later gives you a great excuse to always come back (wink, wink).

For those who have had the pleasure to experience Kaua’i, what are your takeaways? See you next time and thanks for reading!

A Weekend Hobby – Introduction

Thanks for joining me on my new blog! This online journal is just a wholesome place for me to spread my ideas across in the most fun way possible: writing! 

Writing is indeed the framework of communication: it makes our thinking and learning tangible and present in such a way that promotes not only the understanding of others but of ourselves as well. Thus, this new weekend hobby provides a creative outlet for me to express all the thoughts and feelings I harbor inside, especially in such an uneasy time in my life (i.e., being a UCLA post-graduate who did not get into medical school upon applying).

You can read more about me and what my blog consists of in the “About” page. Thank you so much for reading!

“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill