“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” is not what its subtitle suggests. Instead, the murder of Gianni Versace in 1997 serves as a starting point into the story of his killer, Andrew Cuanan. The show is a necessary and poignant examination of gay culture in the 90s. Unlike other murder shows, it focuses on the lives of Cuanan’s victims, beyond the most famous one. Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, and Ricky Martin are excellent. Want to learn about Gianni Versace, revolutionary fashion designer and gay icon? Looking for an in-depth, inside look at his July 1997 murder in Miami? Look somewhere else. Because while the title implies this is exactly what “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” is about, that’s only the starting point.The series does give us a glimpse of Versace’s life – both his … [Read more...] about ‘American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ transcends the murder show genre by diving deep into the lives of the victims, and 90s gay culture
Culture
Malay culture and work ethic in the way of progress, Dr Mahathir says
Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister candidate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes Malays in Malaysia are capable of bringing more progress to the nation, but are hindered by a problematic work ethic where bad work is not discouraged.Speaking at a forum on Friday (Jan 12), the former prime minister was quoted by several news outlets as saying that Malay people “are not so committed, not so hardworking and sometimes, we are not so trustworthy”.According to New Straits Times, Dr Mahathir also said: “I believe the Malays have the same capabilities as the Europeans and the Japanese. But, the (Malay) culture remains a problem.“We always try to find the easy way out and that is why we are left behind. We like it when there is less work despite a high pay. It is not because we cannot (carry out duties) but because we do not want to, that is the problem,” he reportedly said.Unlike the Malay culture, the Japanese have a work ethic that instills a strong sense of … [Read more...] about Malay culture and work ethic in the way of progress, Dr Mahathir says
I am proof libraries are critical to solving cultural poverty
When I was a child, my mother sat with my brother and I every night to read with us. Books were thus among the first windows through which we observed the world.It was before the divorce and the bankruptcy. Before we lost the house with a good part of what it contained. The following years were difficult financially. To help, my father started volunteering in a soup kitchen where we would frequently eat.In Quebec City, the public library in my neighbourhood was just across the street and our father, for whom cultural education was essential, took us there after meals. Each time we borrowed a stack of books and comics for the week.I believe it was at this time that I understood, even unconsciously, that there are at least two distinct forms of poverty in our societies. The first one, of course, is financial poverty: it is the one preventing us from meeting our basic needs, such as housing, food or clothing. The other one is more insidious, because it undermines children’s … [Read more...] about I am proof libraries are critical to solving cultural poverty
There’s a bitcoin rapper called CoinDaddy, and he’s just one of the fantastic characters in San Francisco’s bizarre crypto culture
Cryptocurrency entrepreneurs in San Francisco have formed their own subculture, complete with special clothing, music and language, according to a New York Times profile. CoinDaddy is a former real estate agent who now raps about the so-called crypto life. Many of the characters live in the Crypto Castle, visited by Business Insider last year. Who’s the player got the women liiiike…Coindaddy Who’s the player got the blockchain tiiiiie…Coindaddy Those are the opening lyrics to one of the latest tracks by the rapper CoinDaddy, née Arya Bahmanyar. A former real estate agent who decided to combine his passion for cryptocurrency with his musical aspirations, Coindaddy is one of the motley crew of individual’s in San Francisco’s bizarre crypto culture chronicled in a fascinating article by the New York Times’ Nellie Bowles. Among the others in this … [Read more...] about There’s a bitcoin rapper called CoinDaddy, and he’s just one of the fantastic characters in San Francisco’s bizarre crypto culture
A top BBC presenter quit her role and published a bombshell letter about the broadcaster’s ‘illegal pay culture’
BBC journalist Carrie Gracie has quit her role and published a bombshell letter complaining about the broadcaster’s “illegal pay culture.” She earned around 50% less than two of her male counterparts. Gracie had to present Radio 4’s “Today” programme on Monday morning, in which her letter was one of the main headlines. Fellow journalists, both at the BBC and elsewhere, have praised her bravery. A top BBC journalist has quit her role as China editor and published an explosive letter, in which she challenged the broadcaster’s “secretive and illegal pay culture.” Carrie Gracie addressed the letter (available in full below) to licence fee payers, the British public who fund the BBC, and published it on her website on Sunday evening. It follows salary disclosures at the BBC in July last year, which revealed discrepancies between how much male and female … [Read more...] about A top BBC presenter quit her role and published a bombshell letter about the broadcaster’s ‘illegal pay culture’