The Whistling Kettle

Although college students are hopped up on caffeine and no sleep while getting ready for finals, other people in the world are preparing for the holiday season. As I was scrolling through Facebook drinking my chai tea yesterday morning, I was bombarded with posts about the royal engagement but then I came across an interesting video. Melania Trump has finished decorating, primping, and polishing the White House to welcome the whimsical feeling of this wonderful season. The White House was breathtakingly beautiful . With a large White House Gingerbread replica and the landscape of a winter wonderland of anyone's childhood dreams, the White House is ready for Christmas. I couldn't help but praise Melania for a moment not for her taste in men but for her taste in classy holiday decorum fit for the President of the United States. However, the media ripped her apart for acting like she had done it all herself in the White House video. The video showed Melania tying bows an...

How would you feel if when you grabbed your cup of Earl Grey to cozy up on the couch and watch YouTube or read an article, you were met with endless blocks stating that the page cannot be reached or your screen takes forever and a day to load? Well, on December 14, 2017, Congress will vote on Net Neutrality which could make this nightmare come true. Net Neutrality does not allow internet companies to monopolize and jeopardize your internet access. You can freely choose your provider, speeds, and what you want to access. However, if Net Neutrality no longer exists, you may not be able to have much of a choice with your internet use and access. Companies can choose which sites run fast or slow much like a highway. The absence of Net Neutrality could also infringe on your first amendment right of free speech. Without Net Neutrality, companies and the government can monitor what is posted and if they don't agree with an opinion, they can block the page or make it take forever t...

Perusing through the news today, I noticed an article that made me completely spit my tea out. Apparently, Ivanka Trump believes that women are the primary forces that can boost India's economy. Only one-third of women in India over the age of 15 are employed or seeking a job. The premise is great in theory. If India can close the work gender gap, India's economy could achieve a $150 billion boost in a three year period. Increasing the amount of women in India's work force would improve the economy, quality of living, while also creating a new vision for females in that country. Women would not just be viewed as homemakers who cook meals and birth children. They can be driving forces for change and the leaders of tomorrow. Does that first point of view remind you of anyone? That's right. The view of women as baby makers and homemakers is predominantly held by Ivanka's father as well as other key players in our government appointed by Mr. Trump. Later in the ...

Recently, the #MeToo movement covered our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds and took the media world by storm. Women all over the world posted #MeToo as their status update with or without explanation but confirming that they have been a victim of sexual harassment or sexual assault. I would scroll through all of my social media feeds and see friends and relatives sharing the status update. I could have shared #MeToo as my own post because I have been a survivor (not a victim) of sexual harassment and assault. However, I should be covered in feathers while sipping my tea because I am a chicken who didn't really want to answer the questions from my family. As the #MeToo movement gained popularity, you could see celebrities, feminists, activists, bloggers, influensters, politicians, etc. sharing their stories and aiding the movement's development. This movement even sparked another movement of actors and actresses speaking out against the harassment and abuse endured on ...

If you watch seemingly any event involving or concerning the current President of the United States, the press critiques and criticizes every move Trump makes. You would think that the media would only criticize what he says and when he says it which should give the press enough ammunition or so you would think. Surprisingly, I have noticed that the media notices and "calls out" President Trump for the smallest faux pas. For example, when he awkwardly took a sip of water while giving a speech, the media, bloggers, and just haters in general made multiple remarks, gifs, and even videos of this fail on Trump's part. It seems a little silly and childish to make the headline of the day the fact that the President didn't keep his pinky up when sipping his tea. This begs me to ask the question: is it justified for every move of the President to be held under such great scrutiny that even drinking water becomes big news? Also, is it necessarily a requirement for the Presi...

We spend countless hours scrolling through our Facebook accounts, Twitter feeds, Instagrams, and Snapchats. Has all of this scrolling impacted how we view the world and find out what's happening? An increasing number of people are stating that they use social media as their primary source for news. In a changing world, should this fact be scary or normal? The cup's a little half empty, half full about this situation. Part of me is a little scared of this fact simply because I understand how much "fake news" exists and how gullible people can be. I will formally raise my hand for being gullible and clicking the link that supposedly goes to the article about Channing Tatum getting a divorce. No, he is still married. Yes, I did feel like an idiot. Also, my fiance got a little offended. The "fake news" can be a little humorous when it's something like that. However, when the news sounds real, looks real, and feels real, people are most likely going to be...