Review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

It was the year 2001. The first film adaptation of the Harry Potter series had just come out – The Philosopher’s Stone. Die hard fans had declared battle against the muggles for saying it didn’t matter that the film was different to the book. A ten year fight ensued, with each new film augmenting the disdain. It seemed the divide was irrevocable. Until now…

KFC debuts a ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ nail polish

Can I have an original thumb with a side ordering of hot and spicy fingers?

Relax – it is just KFC’s new nail polish range.

The world’s first armpit sniffing date night comes to London

I lent in, closed my eyes, and breathed them in; and in that moment, I knew – this was the armpit I was going to marry. It was love at first smell.

That’s what you’ll be saying this week.

Eight times social media made the world a better place

In a twitter feed of narcissism, on a Facebook page of negativity, we need only one compassionate post to remind us that social media is not inherently bad; for at the twiddling thumbs of the benevolent, the platforms turn to gold. Here are eight examples of how social networking sites are  used as a conduit for positivity;

The role of social media in cyberbullying

“Come forward,” campaigns say.

“Don’t suffer in silence,” they plead.

“It will be okay,”they promise.

But you can’t. You must. And it won’t.

And the very reason you can hide the truth is the very reason your bully can too.

You’re separated by a screen.

ISIS and its use of social media as a conduit for negativity

It was merely the dawn of social media when terror organisations first started using the internet to propagate their extremist ideologies.  The platforms were not only rudimentary but played a largely inconsequential role in our lives. So while the Taliban, Hamas, and Al-Qaeda had an active online presence, it failed to penetrate society to the extent that ISIL does today. For networking sites are now an integral part of everyday life and perhaps as much a stronghold of the extremist group as Raqqa and Mosul – a consequence of two troubling facts; that the group emerged at the peak of the revolution and that the militants in control of the communications strategy are the very people who grew up alongside the platforms. 

Is social media a conduit for positivity or violence?

When social media was but a baby, it was promoted as an unprecedented advancement in communication – a way to pick up a phone, pop in the car, or cross an ocean via a screen. Families split by miles could reunite. Business hindered by time difference could succeed. Love tortured by distance could prevail.  Society was spellbound.

As Bebo and Myspace grew up to be Twitter and Facebook, however, the dynamic of our relationship changed. For we are no longer merely under social media’s spell. We are victim to its curse. Over the next few blog posts, I will be addressing the question, “Is social media a conduit for violence or positivity?” Each post will focus on a specific subject of which social media is both our greatest ally and our worst enemy. 

Headway made in anti-bullying movement as young girl designs software to prevent online abuse.

Alive and kicking are the days of playground rifts and face to face confrontation. But gone are those when victims had a safe haven to which they could retreat, for the internet has brought bullying into our homes and out of control. Hope is not lost, however. We just need to ReThink.

Review of MTV’s Eyecandy

From the television network that brought us Catfish, the latest scare tactic of MTV’S with regard to online dating is ‘Eye candy’. Whereas as the former is a reality based documentary series focusing on the psychological and emotional aspects of online love, the latter is a loose adaption of the book by R.L Stine, taking a more macabre, but no less real, approach to the subject.

Five reasons why Kanye West would make a great president

On the 30th of August, at the 2015 MTV video music awards, time stood still. All that existed was one spliff, one man, and one speech. And when time began again, we had a 2020 presidential candidate – Mr Kanye West.

Since announcing his intention to run for President, Kanye has either been met with ridicule or outright dismissal. And to those guilty of either, I have something to say to you. You should be ashamed. You elected Bush twice. You elected Obama twice. Some of you are even supporting Donald Trump! But you can’t extend Kanye the courtesy of considering his candidacy with an open mind? Forget momentarily the Kanye we know, and envision the Kanye he could be. Here is a man with a dream, and here are five reasons why Mr. West would make a great President.