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Under the traumatizing and seemingly lasting effects of the pandemic, Many people on social media still remain in denial of it’s existence entirely. While on surface level this might seem minor and insignificant, the consequences of such posts, comments and videos can play a huge role in the combat against COVID-19.  As avid users of the internet, all of us have certainly at some point come across uncertified news from various sources that lack credibility. This very inexistence of credibility is why we dismiss such articles. But there are often pieces of information on the internet which have less obvious detections of the lack of credibility. Such information confuses the viewer and this is where the problem begins to stem.  While some nations have recognized the dire consequences of these false articles and placed fines and charges against it. Unfortunately, many nations might not have acknowledged the severity of the matter and therefore social media was not regulated....

Everyone has obviously heard of the term ‘democracy’ and know that elections play a huge part in what constitutes the values of a democracy. Elections around the world are done through the method most of us are familiar with, the popular vote. In the popular vote as you already might know, the candidate with the most votes hence the most popular candidate wins.  While most democratic nations comply with this system of election and voting, the US seems to have a far more unique method to it all. The US is the only country to have an ‘electoral college’. So the votes given in by citizens aren’t used in a similar fashion as they are in the popular vote system. The citizen votes are then used to elect who votes from the electoral college, a body of delegates from each state, who then vote on behalf of the designated state.  This sounds complicated as of now but it is indeed important to know that the version of election most of us understand is an extremely watered down version of...

 All of us at some point must have heard, read or seen interesting tales from Greek mythology. From the toe of Achilles to the myth of Arachne, these tales all have one thing in common. They hold a moral or a lesson at the end. Often hidden through metaphors and interesting analogies, the morals in these myths are deemed special by many due to the fact that the conclusion derived can differ from person to person.  So let’s take a look at a few interesting accounts throughout Greek mythology and attempt to decipher the morals they conceal. 1. King Midas and The Golden Touch  The tale of Midas, a self indulgent king who had an insatiable thirst for luxury, is often regarded as a tale that exhibits the consequences of greed and lust. A short portion of the tale also represents the human mind’s temptation to tattle. As social creatures, interaction is considered vital to growth both emotionally and mentally. And so any means to expedite that interaction with others, we would ...

In such a fast paced world of views, clicks and likes, people have resorted to mocking mental disorders in order to receive validation and sympathy from others. Those people being on the younger spectrum of social media users mostly teenagers. Now that the problem is identified, let’s see where this might have stemmed from. The answer lies in the minds of these tech savvy teens. These likes and views translate to numbers and these numbers are being tied to the teenager’s sense of self worth and image. It is tempting to know that everybody in the room likes you but the reality we often cannot grasp is that it will never happen, it is simply impossible to please everyone in the room and the sooner you realize that the sooner you can be happy with yourself and start respecting yourself. Note that respecting yourself also leaves room for self improvement. Changing yourself for yourself not others. This obsessive tendency to please others leads to teens changing themselves in order to be ac...

Democracy has been thought to be the form of government which has always been striving for equality yet despite what the majority thinks, there have always been skeptics around even at the beginning of the concept’s creation. Famous philosophers were doubtful of this new invention called democracy. Stating it as the form of government where three idiots would have more power over one scholar.  So what would make democracy more equal you ask. Well, the most surface level solution would be to abolish the uneducated from voting. Now, you might think this is unfair but it actually levels the field more than you think. You see taking this step would prevent the rigging of elections to some extent as the uneducated are easily persuaded compared to the educated. It also gives votes more meaning as a whole. Those who vote will have a sense of proper representation of who they are and their rights. In developed countries proper background and stability checks should be regularly conducted c...

 Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America is a book published on January 8, 2019 and this is significant because given the recent issues of police brutality not only being put on the spotlight in just America but the world and that too on this kind of scale, I am genuinely astonished how not a lot of people are bringing up this book and talking about it.  Coming back to the book, as the title suggests, it’s a compilation of different stories based or inspired from real experiences and instances the authors have faced. Each chapter is a different story and written by a different author focusing on various topics ranging from sexual harassment to code switching and everything in between. So let’s begin to rate and analyze these chapters. Please do note that this is my opinion on the take of the author’s direction. I am not trying to prove or display anything as a fact to anyone. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s begin!  Half A Moon By Renée Watson ...

With summer holidays   coming to an end, the choice comes knocking at every parent’s door. Should I send my kid back to school? Is this a good step moving forward or something they will regret soon enough. For some this is the question that keeps rattling around their mind all day long which is why we’re going to be taking a look at some of the pros and cons of the situation at hand and assessing for ourselves whether sending children back to school is a good idea after all.  Also do keep in mind that I am listing these pros and cons according to my opinion so do take them with a grain of salt. Pros :-  1). Studying would actually take place This might sound absurd at first but think about it. Online learning offers a variety of distractions ranging from devices to simply walking off in a matter of seconds. Students will have a harder time determining which cushion to choose for their nap rather than settling on the topic to write for an essay.  Given the golden ...

With such fast-paced technology and machine capabilities growing day by day, it’s hard to tell what the future holds for us. While there are plenty of theories out there the most common proposition has to be the Robot theory.  This theory states that Robots integrated with AI will surround us in the years to come. They will overtake, supervise and perhaps even dominate as well as control human beings. While only being a theory, it is definitely intriguing how robots around the world are taking over the jobs that would be carried out traditionally by a human.  A study conducted in 20 19 by the group  Observer concluded that by this decade 200,000 workers will be replaced by robots in the banking industry alone.  While most machines have already taken over the manufacturing industry. Humans are still required to supervise it in case of a malfunction of any sort yet most presume that by the next couple of years a new line of machinery will be built that won’t deman...

 Vanilla Sky is a 2001 movie starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz among others. The whole story revolves around a selfish and extremely wealthy man David Aames who on the surface seems to be having the perfect life in New York City until everything in his life gradually turns into hell all after meeting one mysterious stranger and a horrifying car accident.  The movie does a great job confusing you with it’s twists and turns along the plot. The sheer confusion of what is going on is shared well between the viewer as well as David himself. For some, the narrative may be a bit to much to catch up with especially if you aren’t paying attention but for those who did understand what was going on till the very end I guarantee you those people would really enjoy this film for what it is. When it comes to rewatching, personally I don’t rewatch a lot of films but I would recommend rewatching Vanilla Sky because watching a second time will give you a better understanding ...

The novel ‘ Soldier Spy ’ wraps you into the life of M-15 operator Tom Marcus filled with highly detailed, vivid operator missions, the tragic life of suffering from PTSD and how a operator manages between work and family among much much more.  The book was published on October 6, 2016 and was in fact the first novel to kickstart a line of books written by Tom Marcus, other books in the series include ‘ Capture or Kill ’ and ‘ I-Spy - My life at M-15 ’. A new addition to the series is coming very soon called ‘ Defend or Die ’ that will publish on November 26th, 2020. Coming back to the book itself, it does a nice job on putting you in the shoes of a M-15 operator going through one fatal mission to the other. I highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone who ever wondered what it is like to fight in the shadows for not only a country but the world against those who wish to cause harm along with a very important message towards the end of the book. A short yet exciting read ind...

In 2019, with the release of the movie Joker came an argument, which portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime is the better one, Heath Ledger’s Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight or Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal in the more recent film and so here is why I think Heath Ledger’s Joker is better, Let’s begin !  1. The less known, the better... Joker gives us a somewhat of an origin story on how the Joker came to be and here is where the problem stems. Part of what makes the Joker such an iconic villain is that his origin story remains a mystery. In Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, the Joker is seen giving three different backstories on how he got his scars which leaves us to wonder which backstory is the correct one or if any of these stories were the correct one at all. That is the charm of this mysterious figure and in my opinion one of the reasons why Joker is such a great villain is that we are left to keep guessing what his origins could be.   2). Not a Guy with A ...

In a world full of news focusing on the negativity, stress and pain of the situation. It gets hard for anyone to remain positive and look on the bright side but I decided to write this blog to let my readers know that they must remain positive. The race for vaccines has long begun yet most people still remain pessimistic and I am sure you must have encountered this by now.  Yes, I do agree that the situation is bad but isn’t keeping hope what makes us human in the first place. Words like hope and positivity might seem unimportant but in reality they play a vital role during crises. In some instances, hope could also become the deciding factor of whether the conflict can be solved or not. So I ask all of you reading this to spread this bit of hope to everyone you know after all a little positivity goes a long way. In the end, it all depends on the person whether to see the glass half full or half empty but for those who do decide to stay positive I want this message to reach them...

The question has been raised many times: Why aren’t feminists taken seriously, why is the term feminism looked down upon and what can we do to change it? First, let’s look back at when the term feminism was coined and what it originally meant. The term feminism in mid-1800’s was used to refer to the qualities of females until the First International Women’s Conference in 1892, Paris after which the term was used regularly to believe in and advocacy of equal rights for women.  Coming back to the 21st century, the word has been misdefined and misused on so many levels that finding out the correct definition could become a 2 hour debate. Here is where the first red flag rises, with being misdefined and misused so many times comes miscommunication which ruins the term itself.  You see, so many female chauvinists that just simply want to hate on men have took on the cover of feminist in such a way that the definition itself has changed. Feminism today is mostly seen as a way to hat...

So today I decided to change things up and write about some of my personal experiences and things that I have come across as an atheist so let’s begin.  1). Semi-theist are you now? So the first thing that I have seen countless times is people addressing themselves as ‘semi-theists’ and most of these people define the term ‘semi-theists’ as someone who isn’t necessarily religious but does believe in god. Now that is perfectly fine it’s just that semi-theist isn’t the term for it it’s agnostic. Many of the times people may also mix up semi-atheism with omnism or deism which I also find frustrating. So for the last time let me clear up this misconception.  Atheist - Someone who doesn’t believe in the existence of God or gods.  Deist - Believes in the existence of a supreme being, specifically a creator who does not intervene in the universe.  Omnist - One that believes in all religions although it isn’t necessary for a omnist to practice or follow teachings.  I...

Amidst this pandemic , I assure you something great is approaching very soon. Something that will not only expand human knowledge but human limitations as well : The Hope Mission of the UAE  A large team of aerospace engineers are currently working on launching a probe that will study weather on Mars and help us understand the planet better. Yes, you read that right, this mission will continue amidst the COVID - 19 pandemic.  This mission isn’t just a representation of reaching new heights but also symbolizes diversity and stands as a proud moment for Arabs around the world because 200 of these engineers are proud Emiratis and 34% of the team are women.  This probe mission has three major  goals :-  1).  Increase our understanding and knowledge of the Martian atmosphere and the Red planet better. 2). Inspire the Arab youth and be able to encourage children to pursue science and technology further.  3). Send a message of hope to Arabs everywhe...

With the rise of the coronavirus pandemic, a sudden interest of pandemics in general has swept the public. This blog series will give you a brief overview of pandemics, how it has effected history and possibly our future .  The Plague Of Justinian   The first ever recorded pandemic dates back to 541 ce. The Plague of Justinian was the first ever recorded plague pandemic and had lasting effects on the Byzantine Empire. Originating in Egypt, the plague soon moved in two directions :  north to  Alexandria  and east to  Palestine . The means of transmission for the plague was the black rat which boarded the carts and grain ships sent to Constantinople  as tribute.  The plague hit the streets of Constantinople in 542 ce and gave the locals a sense of it’s wrath .  The Plague of Justinian refers to the ruler at the time, Justinian I .  About 30 to 50 million fell victim to the plague . Although this information could be inaccurate or exagge...

Firstly I request whoever reads this to share it as much as possible because maybe just maybe it can bring a difference. If you don’t read this blog in it’s entirety, no hard feelings but deep down inside you will get a good idea of who you really are. Someone who ignores wrong-doings and can’t bother for change. So let me ask you this question, are you that person? The Education system has plenty of flaws many of which have lasted decades and if nothing is done sooner it could continue for decades more. Let’s take a look at some of the problems because the first step to finding a solution is always identifying the problem.  Take a look at New York from a 100 years ago to now:- Take a look at fashion from a 100 years ago to now:- Now I ask you to take a look at a classroom from a 100 years ago to now:- Or   Shocking right? In a 100 years the only thing that has changed in a classroom is the introduction of fancy gadgets and machines. In almost a century nothing has changed exc...

Born in Swat Valley, Pakistan. Daughter to local education activist, Ziauddin Yousafzai and Toor Pekai Yousafzai. No one could even fathom what the girl would grow up to be. This is the story of that girl. This is the story of Malala ... On July 12th, 1997, a girl named Malala was born in the valley of Swat. She grew up along with two younger brothers, Khushal and Atal. She was an ordinary girl of the valley although gifted with a lot of abilities recognized early on. At the age of ten, Malala could already speak Urdu, Pashto as well as English.  But all of that changed in 2007 when the Taliban Fundamentalist Army took control of the area. Putting into motion strict rules like banning television and dance but most importantly they decided that girls couldn’t go to school and women were not to be seen in public places such as markets.  The Taliban destroyed several schools and institutions for girls, threatened locals and the extremism so far to the point that beheaded bodies o...

Aiden and Cara make their way to the entrance. Cara ignores the signs that read ‘This way to the Blarney Stone’ and trespasses into a roped off area. Aiden seems extremely muddled... ‘Isn’t the Blarney Stone there?’ asks Aiden pointing at the signs. ‘That’s a fake prop for tourists.’ says Cara rolling her eyes. ‘But you said the legend was real?’ asks Aiden chuckling now thinking that even Cara has realized that this whole thing is not real. ‘Oh no, the legend is definitely real, it’s just not that stone. The real Stone lies farther to the top of the castle.’ says Cara. As she completes her sentence she notices it, Aiden as well.  A large piece of rock jutting out of the wall and along with it a sudden shift in the atmosphere. ‘Come on, help me up’ instructs Cara. Aiden does so helping Cara reach the surface just close enough to kiss it. ‘Alright, steady now, don’t move!’ commands Cara. Aiden stands there thinking what a waste of time this is. ‘Ah! yes I have done it!’ screams Cara...

They say that the stone offers plenty a gifts, others believe it to be a mere tourist trap. Whether the legend is real or not is still unknown but there have been interesting instances that reveal the Curse of the Blarney Stone. Those who have done wrong to the stone face consequences, often deadly... Aiden and Cara make their way to the Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions. ‘Why exactly are you taking me there?’ asks Aiden. ‘Sham, haven’t ya heard of the gift of gab’ replies Cara, astonished that Aiden doesn’t know about the legend. ‘No, what is the gift of gab?' asks Aiden looking confused. ‘Legend says that whosoever kisses the Blarney Stone on top of the Blarney Castle is gifted with a certain charm that allows the person to sweet talk his way out of any situation. The Stone was placed there by the goddess Clíodhna when the builder of the castle, Cormac MacCarthy requested for her help in the middle of a problem. Goddess Clíodhna instructed Cormac t...

Everyone recognizes and appreciates the jawaan that go out and fight on our borders. But only few recognize and appreciate the jawaan in each household that goes out and fights every single day.  I am talking about the fathers. While everyone talks to about mothers and their love, fathers are not given the spotlight and when fathers are mentioned in media it's usually criticism and hate. Yes, there are abusive parents out there but for each abusive parent there is a genuinely loving parent who would go to any limits for their children.  A lot of the times, fathers aren't acknowledged because of the work that consumes most of their lives. But I believe that the very little moments that we do get to spend time with our dads, makes it even more special because of how rare it is.  The bond of fathers and children is different from that of a mother's. A mother and her child's relationship is very straightforward but a father and child have a telepathic connection, they might...

“ Crying does not mean that a person is weak, but it means that the person has a heart. ” With the recent suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, comes a bombardment of fans and actors and people who are talking about mental health and stereotypes against men.When will everybody realize that we must talk about these things everyday not only when a problem arises. While feminism is a topic people come across on a daily basis. Men aren’t asked about their emotions or feelings in fact they are expected to hide them with a mask of masculinity every single day. Men are called ‘weak’ when expressing feelings and are expected to be strong physically, mentally and emotionally all the time.  I want to talk about these situations without shying or straying away from it. We must be open when talking about our difficulties and circumstances. That is how we grow and that is how we bond with those closest to us.  And the answer to all of these issues isn’t committing suicide. Suicide is a ir...

Charles Hitchens several years ago, had paid £700 to become the Under Marshal of London, the highest rank of law enforcement in London at the time. Charles needed a protégé and so he approached the increasingly popular fence, Jonathan Wilde to work under him as an extortionist and errand boy.  Jonathan continued to work for him but started realizing some of the major flaws of Charles criminal system. For instance, Charles when writing threatening letters, used to sign under his own name. Jonathan began finding Charles methods pathetic and became more and more greedy, wanting the throne of the Under Marshal for himself. Turns out luck was on Jonathan’s side when Charles became involved in an anti-corruption scandal and city officials although not arresting Charles, demanded he take a break from the duties of Under Marshal. This is where Jonathan came in, he would be the acting Under Marshal, running Charles’s gang until he could make his marvelous return.  But as soon as Hitche...

1720 London, a man has just been robbed in a lone alleyway. He approaches the most famous Thief Taker in town, Jonathan Wilde and asks for his help in catching the criminal. Days later, Jonathan and his agents have found the valuables. They negotiate a price to release the goods and the man pays the robber in an anonymous meet out. Wilde only accepts a small fee in exchange for his services. Ah, what a noble man you think he is, a true giver of justice... but ask around and soon you will hear a different kind of story. One of that every criminal from the pickpockets to the wig stealers has a master. That master being Thief Taker General Jonathan Wilde himself... Between 1680 and 1720, a new wave of crime had hit the streets of London. Capitalism meant an increase in manufactured goods that could easily be stolen and sold again. This very concept is what led to a new era of thievery. On top of that London at the time did not have a professional police force unlike neighboring France whe...