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Category: Culture

The Third Gilmore Girl Cover

Kelly Bishop is More than the Third Gilmore Girl

Posted on by Tolu

A couple of weeks ago I finally read Kelly Bishop’s memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. I had been looking forward to reading Bishop’s for one main reason: I wanted the inside scoop on Gilmore Girls. Gilmore Girls is one of my favorite shows of all time. I needed to read about what really went down. I came into the memoir hoping to learn about the inner workings of the GG cast. After reading it, I came out with a better understanding of the fabulous Kelly Bishop, and lessons from a person that has been through so many stages of life.

#1 It’s Never Too Late

Kelly Bishop didn’t truly pursue acting until she was in her late twenties. Even when she started auditioning for acting roles on Broadway, it wasn’t like casting directors were knocking on her door. Bishop had been a chorus dancer for the majority of her career, so she needed producers and directors to see her as a leading lady. Though she wasn’t acting in the first thirty years of her career, her dedication as a chorus dancer kept her in the minds of others on Broadway who she worked with earlier in her career. She met these people when they were choreographers or had smaller roles in Broadway, and when their careers progressed, they thought of her. 

Many, including me, have become very impatient. We have trouble maintaining momentum when we don’t see our end goal in sight. I’m someone that will start a project, and then give up on it pretty quickly if I don’t see immediate results. Mrs. Kelly Bishop harbors the complete opposite mindset which is why she was able to win a Tony, appear in countless movies and tv shows, and receive the love of so many fans. She kept working no matter how small the role was. There are no small parts, only small actors.

#2 Be Careful of the Partners You Pick

The thing that can halt or even ruin your career is yourself at times. It’s the company YOU choose to keep around you that will hinder your career or keep you on the right path. Pobody’s nerfect, and we all keep people in our lives that we shouldn’t. Kelly Bishop kept around romantic partners that were not good for her. They used her for her connections, her financial stability, and as an escape from their realities. When she had partners that supported and dreamed with her, her career flourished, and she was more secure in herself.

It’s so common for women in romantic relationships with men to lose themselves, and I hate to see it. It’s like we don’t know what else is out there, we don’t think we deserve better or for some other reason we stay. The relationship may not end up leaving you in shambles, but it certainly won’t leave you better than before you entered it.

#3 Success Comes in Many Different Forms

I used to think that successful actors were the ones with blockbuster movies, and main character roles on network dramas, but no. Kelly Bishop didn’t have a career where she was releasing a box office smash or snagging Emmys each year. Besides her Drama Desk and Tony awards, if there’s one other award she should’ve been awarded is for consistency. Kelly Bishop has stayed in the game. Not many actors have maintained this same sort of consistency for many reasons including ego. 

We as humans don’t like to imagine or feel like we are taking a step back. Instead we just reject what could be a stepping stone to something great, and wait until something bigger comes along. In the end, we regret not accepting that smaller opportunity when we’re all out of options, and the opportunities just stop coming. Bishop had a 15 year break after she was in A Chorus Line. Mind you this was a show that she won a Tony for. During that break, she was still keeping her head up, and taking roles that came to her. She honed her craft on TV and Film especially during her time playing the third Gilmore Girl, Emily Gilmore. When she returned to Broadway, she had all of that experience in addition to when she was on Broadway earlier making her an even better actress. Her ego didn’t ruin her career. 

That’s all I have for this week. I highly encourage you all to read Kelly Bishop’s memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. Consider checking it out from your local library or purchasing it. Thank you for reading, and have an absolutely amazing weekend. Stay sharp 😉

Kindle aesthetic

Turning Tiny Pockets of Time Into Something to Look Forward to

Posted on by Tolu

Reading has always been a really big part of my life. When I was a kid, I would become filled with so much joy when my class traveled to the library and checked out books. I instantly lit up when my teacher told us that it was our turn to go to the library. After a century of waiting(most likely a week), we were finally returning. THE HOLY GRAIL!!! Once we arrived, I never wanted to leave. I would run to my favorite section of the library, and peruse the shelves for something good. My favorites were Katie Kazoo Switcheroo, Magic Tree House, Goddess Girls, and Junie B. Jones. Those were always my go tos in elementary school. 

When I got home, or got to daycare, I immediately dove into my books headfirst. Often I read them in a day especially if I had read the book before. I clocked into reading like rent was due. It was something I never played about. 

As a kid, I couldn’t imagine my life without reading. I think that’s why I’ve always felt something was missing while I’ve been in college. In K-12, no matter how busy I was, I always found time to read. When I finished my work early in class or had some time before my eyelids betrayed me at night, I read at least a couple pages of a book. Since I started university, I have forgotten my past self. I used to be the girl that would stay up until 2am on a Wednesday night because I wanted to finish my slow burn friends to lovers novel. Where’d she go?

Over the summer, I realized that I’m the person in charge of my wellbeing. My first two years of college, I was running myself ragged, and never properly took care of myself. I thought that if I just got the work done, and went to bed at night, I would wake up fully reset, and ready to do it all over again. This wasn’t possible because I wasn’t making time for myself throughout the day. 

To make it easier to read during the school year, I took the plunge and bought a Kindle. I bought it used of course because I’m trying to limit my Amazon patronage for a number of reasons. The Kindle is an amazing e-reader, but the company itself doesn’t sit right with me.

I enjoy my Kindle, and use it almost everyday. It’s simple to set up, barely adds any weight to my backpack, and holds a ton of books. I’ve already downloaded five books which only used 0.06 GB. 

*This post isn’t intended to be a Kindle ad. If you’re looking to buy one, Ebay has plenty of perfectly good used ones. Mine retailed for about $60 USD and looks brand new.*

I’ve only had my Kindle for about 3 weeks, and it’s already increased my quality of life so much. My love for reading has resurged because it’s much easier now for me to pursue this hobby. Some days I only have time to read a couple pages of a book, but reading those couple of pages makes a profound difference in my day. It allows me to have something to look forward to in between my assignments and studies. We often think it’s unrealistic to enjoy our hobbies when we only have small pockets of time throughout our day. In spite of this, we must make the most of those pockets. If we don’t take advantage of our pockets then life becomes a monotonous routine of work, sleep, work, sleep, work, sleep. That’s not the kind of life you want to live because you deserve to enjoy it.

This week I challenge you all to can incorporate one of your hobbies into those pockets of time you have. It could be that you carry around your knitting project or pack a book of crossword puzzles in your bag. Simplify your hobbies, so that they’re easier to pursue.

Thank you all for reading this week’s article. I hope you enjoyed it, and find time hobbies that have given you joy. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new ones. Stay sharp 😉

Scandal TV Poster

5 Important Things I Learned from Watching the TV Show Scandal

Posted on by Tolu

Scandal is gripping, fast paced, and full of bold enigmatic characters. If you haven’t watched it before, Scandal follows Olivia Pope and her team as she runs a crisis management firm in Washington, DC. How much drama could a couple politicians and federal workers stir up you might ask? When you mix ego, envy, pride, and corruption, a scandal will brew. That’s where Olivia Pope and Associates comes in. They shape the narrative in favor of their client. After watching the seven season rollercoaster that is this show, I wanted to share 5 important things I learned.

***No specific spoilers ahead***

1. Trust Your Gut

No matter what Olivia Pope always trusted her gut, and like 95% of the time she was right. The reason I believe this is such an important lesson is because we should trust our guts not because it’s right all of the time. We should trust our guts because we should trust ourselves. When you constantly ignore your gut, and let outside perspectives cloud your judgement, you lose faith in yourself. It didn’t matter if the odds were stacked against her, Olivia Pope always had faith in herself, and you should too. When your gut ends up being wrong, it’s okay because with time it develops and you too will be able to fully trust it just like Olivia Pope.

2. Surround Yourself With a Loyal Team

“Over a cliff” That was something Olivia’s team always told her. They would’ve done anything for her, and I mean ANYTHING for her, including following her over a cliff. We all need to find people in our lives who would do anything for us. People who would jump over a cliff for you. Just to be clear, jump figuratively not literally. Whenever I talk to anyone older than me whether it be a mentor, a professor, or an older classmate, they always tell me to surround myself with people that support and value me. This is such an important thing to remember because we all need people. We need people that can be there for our highs, lows, and when we need to hear the truth.

3. Never Let a Man Manipulate You

Olivia Pope was a very smart woman. She could hold her own, and always found some sort of way to make sure her client and her firm came out on top. Her only flaw was that she at times let men manipulate her and influence her decision-making. Especially when it came to romantic partners, I really wish she hadn’t let her guard down so much. I think part of it came from the fact that Olivia was always taking care and helping others. She leaned on to these romantic partners because she wanted a break from being the central decision maker. People were always looking to Olivia for her solutions and ideas. I don’t judge Olivia for doing this, but I want to learn from her mistakes.

Outfits from the show Scandal

4. Wear Clothes that Make You Look and Feel Good

No matter what was going on Olivia Pope always wore a good outfit. She was the type of person to invest in herself including her wardrobe. Part of the reason Olivia was so respected by the entirety of Washington is because of her intelligence, but also how she dressed. Her clothing exuded confidence, assurance, and elegance. Olivia wore very good quality luxury clothing, but she also wore clothes that fit her well. It’s important to wear clothes that fit you well, especially when it comes to pants and coats. The right pant length and arm length on a coat can really elevate a look.

5. When a Person Reveals Themself, Remember That

A lot of the scandals in Scandal could’ve been avoided or predicted if Olivia had remembered past actions by the people around her. Olivia surrounded herself with sharks, and yet she was always so shocked when she got bit.(Metaphor from the show, if you know, you know) There were so many characters in this show that were kept around Olivia’s circle even after they crossed her because they were useful in some way. It always bit her in the butt one way or another. Please be mindful of the company you keep. Never let someone fool you more than once.

Well those were the five lessons I learned from Scandal. The show is available to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and even Tubi. Scandal was created by TV Queen Shonda Rhimes, so you already know it’s good. I highly recommend watching if you love powerful women, drama, and crazy chemistry. 

Thank you all for reading this week’s post. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉

Local library

Our Most Forgotten Local Resource: The Library

Posted on by Tolu

Why did we forget about the library? This year I told myself that I was going to make an effort towards patronizing my local libraries. My goal took a very slow start at the beginning of this year, but I’ve been making progress this summer, and it’s been so amazing.

I love reading, but with my current financial status, I can’t continue to buy books as often. Adding to my collection always brings me joy, but I must put this hobby on the back burner for now. Because of this, my hometown library has become a new favorite of mine this summer. Before this year, I hadn’t checked out a book from there in years. Thus, when I went searching in the stacks, I was quite shocked at how up-to-date the collection was. I found so many books that I’ve been wanting to read for years as well as new releases I didn’t think would be in stock yet.

In addition to regular fiction and nonfiction books, the library had cookbooks, ebooks, magazines, 3D printing, and more. There were just so many resources at my fingertips that I didn’t realize were available in the first place.

When I go to the library, there’s a certain way that I prepare, so that I don’t get overwhelmed by the rows and rows of books. First, I pull up my ‘Want to Read’ list on Goodreads alongside my library’s online catalog. Then, I use the catalog to search for books I want to read. If the book is available, I write down its collection and shelf location. I do this so that when I go to the library I know where to find the books. If the book is really popular, I’ll put it on hold. One big difference between libraries and bookstores is that bookstores are more filtered. They typically only carry the most popular titles while libraries generally have a much wider selection. It’s a lot harder to browse aimlessly like you would in a bookstore. This is why I come in with a plan.

Library Catalog
What I look for in the Library Catalog

Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty within not just the federal government, but in our state and local governments as well. Many lawmakers aren’t acting with their constituents’ best interests in mind, and so we all need to support the publicly owned resources in our communities such as libraries while we still can. Hopefully, with continued support from communities, local lawmakers will maintain funding for libraries. Additionally, with the current uncertainty in the government, it’s important we all try to actively read and learn more. There are so many people in power that are trying to rewrite history and erase important stories that shape the US and world. Take the opportunity to read and learn about these stories while they’re still in print.

Thank you all for reading this week’s post. I hope it encourages you to support your local library. Libraries help foster our love of learning and introduce us to new stories and ideas, so use them. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉

View of the Quito skyline

Tolu’s Guide to Quito for First Timers

Posted on by Tolu

Hello everyone! Last week, I finally touched down in the states after spending three weeks in Quito, Ecuador. The reason for this trip was for a bit of pleasure, but mainly for a study abroad program I was enrolled in. The purpose of the program is for pre-med students to learn Spanish and particularly medical Spanish by shadowing doctors and taking Spanish classes in Spanish speaking countries. I highly recommend this program for those who are in undergrad or recently graduated. Now, let’s get into my guide to Quito.

Food

When I’m traveling, the one thing I’m always the most excited for is to try the food in that region. Thankfully, Quito didn’t even come close to disappointing me. The food was such high quality yet for extremely affordable prices in my opinion. On my first day of classes, I was able to eat a three course meal for only $3. On another day I bought a sandwich, soda, and bag of chips for $2.20. There are definitely some places where I spent upwards of $15like this Korean fried chicken place called Kokodak. It was definitely a splurge, but the food was very high quality and it was my last week.

Another thing I loved indulging in was all of the treats and snacks sold by the food vendors. I bought strawberries and cream, mochi, and so many other delicious things. I had the best maracumango popsicle. It’s a popsicle with mango, and maracuya(granadilla), a type of passionfruit found in the highlands of South America. It was so refreshing and sweet from the fruit in it.

Strawberries and cream

If you plan on visiting Quito soon, I recommend setting aside $10-12 for each meal. Most of the time, your lunches will be around $6-8 dollars, but I recommend over budgeting. Breakfast is a very light meal there, so I recommend buying a couple things from the supermarket to quickly eat in the morning. Typically, my host mom would serve us toast and fruit in the morning. 

Here are places I recommend you all try as well as some photos.

  • Di Serggio-Margherita Pizza
  • La República del Cacao
  • Dirty Dog-Birria Tacos
  • Kokodak-Pollo Chilli
  • Suvlaki-Pita with Kebab
  • Pennyroyal Burger-Bittersweet Burger
  • Restauraunte Benalcazar-Menu of the Day
  • Los Troncos Chegusán in Quito

Activities

A guide to Quito would be nothing without activities. Quito is filled with endless museums, shops, and experiences. There were so many things I wish I could’ve gotten to do, but I had a wonderful time regardless. During our first weekend, we took a trip to Otavalo to tour an indigenous clinic, but also to do some shopping. The Otavalo Market is the perfect place to buy all of your souvenirs and gifts. They have bags, sweaters, key chains, jewelry, magnets, chess sets, and so much more. I was able to buy all of the gifts for my friends and family on the same day.

There is one rule, and only one rule for the Otavalo market. Always negotiate the price. If the vendor says an item costs $8, you counter with $4. Continue to go back and forth until you reach a price you like. Also, it’s okay to walk away. The seller will typically agree with your counter offer to try to keep you from leaving, or you can find the item cheaper at a different stand.

Otavalo Market in Ecuador

While we were in Otavalo, we ate lunch at an indigenous restaurant, Kawsaymi, and tried cuy. It’s essentially a grilled guinea pig. It was a culture shock eating it, but I can’t lie, it was pretty good. There wasn’t much meat on the animal, but the skin was pretty crispy.

The day after Otavalo, I did a bus tour around the city. The tour took us to the best sites in the city like the Artisanal Market, Basilica, the Historical Center, and the Panecillo. From the Basilica stop, we took an Uber to the TelefériQo. The TelefériQo is a cable car that takes you up to the side of the Pichincha Volcano where you can get some amazing views of the city. This excursion costs $9.00 for non locals which is a bit pricey in comparison to other excursions. If you want to save money, I recommend doing the bus tour for $15.00($16.58 with tax) and taking photos of the city at the last stop, the Panecillo. At the Panecillo, I got the most gorgeous photos of the city and the Virgen de Quito.

El Panecillo

Some affordable activities you can do in Quito are visiting the Botanical Gardens in Carolina Park($4.00), Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum($1.50), or Basilica del Voto Nacional($2 to enter, $1 to get to the top). I also recommend taking the metro to the San Francisco stop for only $0.45. It takes you right to the heart of the historical center where you can find countless museums, churches, restaurants, and sweet shops. On my last full day, I went to Heladería San Agustín which is an ice cream and candy shop, but also a restaurant. It’s been around since 1858, and you can find many classic Ecuadorian candies and sweets.

Guide to Quito: Heladeria San Augustin

Transportation

Getting around Quito is extremely affordable in comparison to other places I have visited. For a 10 minute drive, an Uber costs about $2.50. To take the metro to and from, it costs $0.90. Another great thing about Quito is that it’s walkable, especially in the Carolina area.

Accommodations

During my time in Quito, I stayed with a host mom in her house. She was the sweetest thing and she treated all of us like her daughters. If you’re looking for more independence, I recommend booking an Airbnb or staying at a Hotel. For my first two nights, I stayed at Hotel Finlandia, and though the rooms were a bit small, the amenities, and staff were great.

Safety

Overall, I felt mostly safe in Quito. There were multiple times where I explored the city alone and felt safe. My only recommendations are to not walk alone at night, and to steer clear of Carolina Park as well. Every person I met advised me to not walk through the park at night, so I thought it would be best to share this advice.

Other Tips

It’s not safe to drink the tap water in Quito, so make sure to buy a water jug or some water bottles at the beginning of your trip. Always have cash. In Quito, there were many places that were cash only, and I kept needing to make withdrawals. It seems a little annoying, but when you’re charged a $9 withdrawal fee you’ll wish you had taken more cash. I recommend having 75% of your budget in cash. If you’ve set aside $200 for the trip, withdraw $150 from the bank before you travel. Additionally, ask for the withdrawal in smaller bills like 20s, 10s, 5s, and 1s. Quito has a problem with counterfeit bills so most places don’t accept 50 and 100 dollar bills.

Thank you all for reading this week’s post. I hope my guide to Quito will help any of you planning on going soon or convince you to go soon. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉

A cover of the book Ace of Spades.

When Fiction Becomes Fact: Reviewing the novel Ace of Spades

Posted on by Tolu

I finally read Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. This novel came out in 2021, and I added it to my TBR on Goodreads immediately when I saw all of the hype on Booktok. Cut to four years later, and I was stumbling through Barnes and Noble with my birthday gift card, and I saw the book sitting in the YA section. Intrigued, I picked it up without even reading the summary and added it to my stack.

Here’s the mini plot of Ace of Spades. The book follows the only two black students at the elite Niveus Academy: Chiamaka Adebayo and Devon Richards. Richards is on scholarship, and comes from the less privileged side of town. His father is in jail, his mom works multiple jobs, and he lives a lonely life at school. Adebayo is like the resident IT girl at school. Everyone at school wants to be her and secretly hates her. She’s always surrounded by people, but she doesn’t have any real friends except for one. Or so we think.

Anyways, Adebayo and Richards are back for their senior year—the year for no mistakes. As the school year begins, an anonymous source, Aces, begins sending text messages to the entire school revealing Chiamaka and Devon’s secrets. As Devon loses his only friend at school, and Chiamaka loses her influence, they band together to defeat Aces.

***Spoilers Ahead***

Turns out, Aces isn’t just one person. Aces was created by the student body and faculty in the 60s to terrorize the black students at Niveus. Every summer, the white students attend a camp where they learn about social eugenics and the school’s ties to the Confederacy. We slowly see the racist and backwards thoughts of the students revealed. Chiamaka’s “best friend” starts treating her like an object he used for sex rather than a devoted friend. Devon’s favorite teacher discourages him from applying to college because he doesn’t think it’s for his kind. Devon and Chiamaka are being pushed out of the school, they worked endlessly to excel in.

The white nationalist ideas harbored by the characters in this novel mirror many of the ideas we’re seeing today especially in the US. In the novel, it took only one group to create this disgusting mindset amongst the students, alumni, and faculty. In real life, it’s taken one presidential administration to elevate the voices of white nationalists in the U.S. It only takes one group, one person to make people feel comfortable enough to voice their hateful and despicable sentiments.

I encourage you all to read Ace of Spades for the mystery, drama, and its parallels to the world today. The novel is a little unsettling, but it’s a necessary read for all especially younger adults in this political climate.

Thank you all for reading this week’s post. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 🙂

A photo collage of first time winners at the Grammys.

The 2025 Grammys: How Manifestation was this Year’s Theme

Posted on by Tolu

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a lovely week. This past Sunday the 2025 Grammys took place, and it was one for the history books. The performances, looks, and speeches all were memorable for their own reasons, but I was struck by the energy in the room that night. There were many first time winners and they all had similar things in common: they worked and manifested for years.

The Grammys venue this year was filled with so many artists that have put in tremendous amounts of work to get to where they are today. Below I’ll be detailing a couple of stories I found really inspiring and admirable.

Doechii

We all know Doechii as the artist behind “What It Is (Block Boy)” and her debut album Alligator Bites Never Heal. What we don’t know is that she has been working for years. On January 12, 2020, Doechii posted such an honest video on her Youtube Channel. In the video, she mentions she’s been fired and makes a plan to go to a bunch of record labels and studios to ask if they have any internships open. It’s quite obvious Doechii is so tired and discouraged, but, nonetheless, she maintains some hope.

Doechii spent years recording music in her room and chasing her dream in LA before she won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. She never got a record deal or any award handed to her. In her Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, Doechii expresses her hunger for her work and dedication. Even is she has two days, or 24 hours, Doechii will work her “hardest to make the best performance because [she] wants to be the best”. It’s so refreshing to see a woman be honest about her work ethic, and not diminish her efforts.

Sabrina Carpenter

Some of you all may know Sabrina Carpenter from her albums Short n’ Sweet or emails i can’t send, but the OGs know her from her debut album Eyes Wide Open. Not including her deluxe albums, Sabrina Carpenter has released six albums in her career. Even with this incredible body of work, she’s only just receiving her flowers. When Sabrina Carpenter was 14 she entered into a five album record deal with Disney Music Group’s Hollywood Records. Because of that deal, she wasn’t given much creative freedom and room to grow. She was able to build a strong fanbase that has grown alongside her though.

Sabrina Carpenter deserved to win to Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2025 Grammys because she has put in the work. She spent years under Disney’s thumb, and when she was finally given the opportunity to break out, and she did. Carpenter created her own unique sound, image, and energy that’s hers. Some may say Sabrina Carpenter is an industry plant, but that’s absolutely not true. This woman has been releasing music for years. She’s just finally been given a spotlight.

Beyoncé

We all know Queen Bey as one of the baddest and most revered artists of all time. She has sold over 200 million records, won 35 Grammys, but she has never let her success plateau. Even with all of her achievements, she continuously finds different sides of her self to express in music. Recently, with the Cowboy Carter album, we were able to hear Beyonce’s Texas and country roots personified through music. In the US, many Black individuals have been overlooked for their contributions to American culture, and this album helps to rectify that. The lyrics tell the stories of Black southerners that not many have been given the opportunity to learn about.

This year was the first time Beyoncé has ever won Album of the Year which is shocking, but also a testament to her unending work ethic. She didn’t let the disappointment of losing each year hold her back. She instead let it fuel her work and push her to continue making music that creates culture shifts. I don’t want to say that Beyoncé was solely working all these years for this award. To say that, would be a bit demeaning. I will say though that Beyoncé manifested this award through all of her years of putting out exceptional work and asserting herself in the music industry.

The 2025 Grammys was such an empowering award show to watch, because it’s encouraged me to keep working. I want to be a maternal fetal medicine specialist. I want to start my own clothing line. Every goal or dream I’ve ever had will be achieved. It may take years, but I’m going to do it.

Thank you all for reading this week’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉

This is a photo of the Harris/Walz rally in DC on October 29, 2024.
@kidkai9 on Instagram

How do want the 2024 Presidential Election to go down in history?

Posted on by Tolu

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a lovely week, and if you didn’t, I hope that you do next week. Before I begin this week’s post, I want to apologize for not posting last week. There were so many assignments I had to get done for school, and I didn’t have time to write anything worth posting. From now on, I’m going to try to post every week, but Organic Chemistry is no joke. It really does take up your entire life.

Anyways, this week’s post is all about Election Day. If you didn’t know, Election Day is this Tuesday on November 5th, and we all have a role to play on Election Day, especially this one. I’ve recently come to terms with the fact that this election won’t just effect the United States’ political and economic agenda for the next four years. The outcome of this election will probably affect that agenda for the next decade or two. Each candidate has ideas and objectives that will lead to a massive paradigm shift in the US and US relations with other countries.

I say these things because I want you all to grasp how important it is to vote in this election. Though Kamala Harris has a slight lead in the polls, it’s still pretty neck and neck in many of the swing states. We can’t just hope and pray she wins. We actually have to get to the polls and vote.

For those who haven’t voted yet, I urge you all to not lose hope. You can still vote early in person today and the rest of this weekend in most states. If you are in possession of your absentee ballot, still mail it out. USPS is working hard this year to get ballots delivered to election officials on time. This year, USPS has delivered inbound ballots within 1 day, so don’t lose hope. Send out your ballots this weekend. Even if your ballot isn’t received on time, at least you tried.

Additionally, if you are a college student, it’s okay if you missed the absentee ballot deadline. You may be able to vote in your college’s state by showing proof of residency.

If you can’t get off work on Election Day, please try to vote before work, after work, or even during lunch. A lot of the polls open at 7 am and close at 7 pm. As long as you’re in line by 7 pm, you should be able to vote.

Also, don’t wear yourself out on Election Day. There’s only so much you as an individual can do, and there’s no point in stressing yourself out. If you need to, go to bed early on Tuesday. The outcome won’t change whether you choose or don’t choose to wait for the results.

Lastly, I want to say that no matter what you’ve heard, the power in in our hands this election. Because of how close it’s going to be we need everyone who can vote to vote. As we’ve seen around the world, voting is privilege and we are extremely lucky to have this right in the US.

Thank you for reading this week’s article. Make sure to vote by the time polls close on Tuesday. Stay sharp 😉

This is a photo of the soft rock band Infinity Song in a collage.

Going to a Concert by Myself is the Best Decision I’ve Ever Made

Posted on by Tolu

One of my manifestations for 2024 was to go to a concert, and in the summer I got an email from Spotify notifying me that one of my favorite bands was coming to town. The band Infinity Song was stopping in DC for the world tour, and tickets were only $30. My eyes almost bursted out of my head from the shockingly low price. I knew I had to buy tickets for this tour because I can tell they’re growing in popularity. By their next tour, tickets will probably be at least 3 times the price.

At the time, I wasn’t sure I was ready to go to a concert by myself, so I asked some of my friends in our group chat, and crickets. None of them even bothered to answer except for a “sorry don’t know who they are”. I was in complete disbelief that with group chat this big, no one knew Infinity Song. Either way, I decided that my lack of friends interested in a soft rock family band, was not going to stop me from going to this concert. On June 30th, 2024, I impulsively purchased 1 ticket for the DC Infinity Song concert for $32.19. I know right. A steal.

As I was days away from the concert, 3 main things were on my mind. I was going alone. I was not familiar with that area of DC. Most importantly, it was on a school night. There were so many times when I wanted to resell my ticket, but I ultimately decided not to. This was one my chance to see an amazing band, and I needed to take that chance.

The moment I walked into the concert venue I felt so at peace and safe. It was a pretty small venue, and the concert was sold out, so I was worried that I would have no room to breathe. Surprisingly, the room felt very warm, inviting, and intimate rather than tight and sweaty.

Turns out that there were actually people I knew from school there, so I got to hang out with them throughout the concert which was assuring. Now, the band themselves were absolutely amazing. Not many artists can recreate the sound they recorded in the studio, but Infinity Song does and sounds just a tiny bit better somehow. I feel like I can hear the harmonies better and their voices are more raw and emotional. The opener was amazing, but for some reason, I can’t find her anywhere. Once I do, I will be dropping a link to her Spotify account, so you can all listen to her. She really killed it.

During the concert, the band was so engaged with the crowd, and their set was perfect. Every song led into the next, and no song felt out of place. To top it off, they even signed the tote bag I bought which I know have on display in dorm room. All in all, I had a grand ole time.

This experience has taught me that I have to stop waiting on other people to enjoy your life. I’m so glad I didn’t back out of the concert because I had the time of my life. Don’t let the fear going somewhere alone stop you from doing what you really want to do. Life is too short to wait around for people.

Also, here’s a link to the band, so you can listen to their incredible music.

Thank you all for reading this weeks post. I hope it encouraged some of you to finally do something on your bucket list even if it means doing it alone. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉

The cast of the TV show Arrested Development.

Why You Need to Put Arrested Development on Your Watchlist

Posted on by Tolu

This past summer, I didn’t really watch too many new shows, but there is one that I just need to tell you all about. If you’re someone that likes black comedy with a 2000s vibe, put Arrested Development on your watch list ASAP.

The Premise

If you’re unfamiliar with Arrested Development as I was when I first saw the show on Netflix, here’s the premise. The show circles around Michael Bluth and his many attempts to rebuild his family’s real estate development firm after the authorities detain his father, the family patriarch. His family is of no avail as they continue to squander the little money they do have on ridiculous things like props for magic tricks and diamond face cream.

It’s one of those shows where there’s so much miscommunication between characters, but only the audience is aware which makes it even more funny. Many tv shows surrounding a family are typically very heartwarming and wholesome. Arrested Development does an amazing job at circumventing this common narrative. Throughout the entire show, Michael attempts to get his family’s company back on track, but he can never do so. At least one of his family members or himself at times screw it up. This family is slowly self-destructing throughout the series, and I’ll admit it, it’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever watched.

Watching people self-destruct on TV is funny not because you want them to fail but because the chaos and mishaps are addictingly amusing. We don’t want it in our own lives, but it’s so funny to watch. There are so many miscommunications and secrets only the audience knows that carry on from one episode to the next. As a viewer, you’re watching the characters slowly catch onto the miscommunications after multiple episodes of them being perpetually oblivious.

Film Style

The film style is documentary adjacent. There’s a documentary film crew behind the cameras, but there’s no individual interviews. Thus this encourages viewers to interpret how a character is feeling based on the scene. What helps though, is that each character is extremely distinct from each other. It’s not too difficult to decipher how they would feel in that situation.

For example, the main character Michael Bluth is a responsible and focused individual while his twin sister Lindsay on the other hand is selfish, undriven, and lazy. When these characters are faced with the same situation, you immediately know how either one of them is feeling or will react just from their interactions with other family members. Michael will typically try to come up with a plan while Lindsay will find a way to save herself first.

Juxtaposition of the Setting and the Family

Another aspect of this show that is skillfully done is the juxtaposition of the setting with this family’s chaos. The family lives in Newport Beach, California; a place known for its relaxing beaches, pier, and overall picturesque atmosphere. Imagine the Bluth family rolls in and they just obliterate this entire atmosphere. They’re throwing Spring Break parties on the beach, blowing up their banana stand, and stealing yachts. The mayhem extends beyond their family home.

All in all, Arrested Development is a fun 2000s tv show about a dysfunctional family that gets more dysfunctional as the show progresses. This is the show to watch if you want to feel a little frustrated, but also laugh your socks off. A bonus is seeing a young Michael Cera, the most awkward man to grace our screens.

That’s all for this week’s article, I hope you all watch at least one episode of Arrested Development. I truly do think that you will enjoy this show, if you give it a chance. Thank you all for reading. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of new posts. Stay sharp 😉