By: Paula de Souza We all know who the Kardashians are. Yet, what we tend to forget is that decades ago, they were just another privileged American household living a relatively normal life. In a span of a few years, these girls went from mere teenagers to A-list celebrities and business moguls. How? That's the big question.
It all begins with 5 girls: Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie, and of course, their mother, Kris. The Kardashian name first appeared in the public eye in the 1990s when Kris's first husband and father of Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe—Robert George Kardashian—became the defense attorney for O.J. Simpson’s infamous murder trial. Yet the Kardashian–Jenner family, as we know them today, came to light in 2007 with the release of the iconic reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This show redefined reality TV and catapulted the girls into fame. Their personal lives became millions of people's daily entertainment, and in no time, the Kardashians became household names. Yet it didn't stop there. Kris had a vision: to turn her family into a brand. So, the girls mastered the art of social media and personal branding. They became influencers before the influencer economy even took off, and frankly, they rewrote how fame works. Through perfectly crafted personal branding and an impressive system of monetization, the Kardashian–Jenners grew from celebrities to billionaires. Instead of simply settling for the benefits of fame, the Kardashians went beyond and used their fame as a lucrative business tool, using their powerful personas to create million—or even billion—dollar companies. It would be unreasonable to list the extensive number of business ventures the Kardashian–Jenners have launched; yet, if we were to name just a few, there is Kylie Cosmetics, Skims, KKW Beauty, Good American, Lemme Gum... the list goes on. This strategy proved to be successful when Kylie became the youngest self-made billionaire and when any Kardashian could easily make millions simply out of their marketable personas and brand image. It is obvious that the Kardashian-Jenner family has been a game-changer in the world of fame and business. They broke the traditional mold of a celebrity, pioneering the rise of influencers and showing the world 2 things: that fame can be self-generated- and not always tied to acting or singing like beforehand, and that this fame can be used to profit --significantly. The Kardashian-Jenners have blurred the line between celebrity and business mogul, turning their public image into a foundation for entrepreneurial success.
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By: L. Roschel When we look around us, it can be arduous to find and create something new. We often believe that there is nothing left to change, and it is this type of thinking that holds us back. In several areas, we can observe those who revolutionized the world around them, the game changers, but we presumably don't stop to reflect on what they faced to get there. Since to be a game changer, there has to be a game.
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, started singing at the age of six with his brothers, with his premature success he was exposed to a lot of pressure during his childhood and throughout his life it only got worse, causing several difficulties along his journey. Nonetheless he continued, with the album Thriller and the classic Moonwalk step. In Smooth Criminal, Jackson and his dancers did a step in which they inclined 45 degrees towards the floor, which was seen as something bizarre at first. Many judged Michael based on several aspects, mainly the colour of his skin, but that didn't stop him from being the King of Pop. Frida Kahlo had a revolutionary spirit and was a member of the Mexican communist party, fought for women's rights and greatly valued the indigenous culture of the Andean people. She also became also a reference in Latin American culture. At 18 years old she suffered a serious tram accident, which left her unable to walk normally, so she started painting pictures. This led her to focus on her career as a painter. The artist said the well-known phrase: "Why do I need feet when I have wings to fly?" She artistically portrayed intimate and feminine aspects, such as abortions and femicides, something considered unacceptable at the time. Tarsila do Amaral was a Brazilian painter and designer, one of the central artists of Brazilian painting and of the first phase of the Brazilian modernist movement. Her painting Abaporu, from 1928, inaugurated the anthropophagic movement in the plastic arts. Although she did not actively participate in the 1922 Modern Art Week, her great consequence on national modernism made her face many challenges, as her works were seen with contempt; some artists were even called crazy and were intimidated with being placed in hospices for their confronting art. Elvis Presley began by being a member of the choir of the local evangelical church and was influenced by the blues. He brought something to the table that many had never seen: his unique way of charming and scandalizing audiences, with his extravagant clothes and his exaggerated way of dancing. What was judged to be provocative was very flashy and resulted in some of his TV appearances being removed if he didn't perform according to traditional "norms". Regardless, he is not the King of Rock for pursuing the rules, and not for having done what was expected and for having done the ordinary. It is certainly extremely complicated to change a game, because it already has its rules and standards, so we have the option of creating a new version, exposing ideas and new points of view never before imagined. There is no need for an immediate scandal, because these people I spoke about took years and decades to achieve what we see today. Success takes time and dedication, especially if you want to stand out and go from ordinary to extraordinary. Hence, start your change from something you believe in, because you will have to fight a lot, but when you reach the top and look at everything you have already been through and achieved, you will realize that your effort was worth it. Keep pushing forward, and don't forget that you didn't come this far just halt here. By: M. Gilchrist Dostoevsky was, and still is, one of the most important writers that not only narrated stories but began to psychoanalyze each of his characters in intricate ways. Throughout his novels he explored the temptation of gambling, murder, and suicide. His intricate and complex perspectives and work led him to be one of the most acclaimed writers amongst philosophers and psychologists alike.
Fyodor Dostoevsky never had a fortunate life, and his pain and suffering was an essential factor that led him to have great knowledge on psychoanalysis. He criticized Czarist rule in Russia along with his writing circle, which later led him to be arrested and sentenced to death together with other participants. Him and all who had been sentenced to death with him had accepted their departure in life, until the last second where the Czar announced that they would be forgiven and would serve in the Siberian labor camps for 4 years, where the writer would begin to understand the value of life and existence. He came to the realization that all humans are always at the edge of death. After the enlightenment, many philosophers along with other intellectuals believed in rationalism and how the belief in God and religion would decay as time went by. Dostoevsky did not agree with this point and stated that any man or woman “deprived of meaningful work, [...] lose their reason for existence; they go stark, raving mad.” In this quote “meaningful work” is associated with the following of God and religion and how without it people would drive themselves insane, with no path or drive to continue. Dostoevsky thought that the pursuit of beauty, love and art was the reason for existence, rather than the vacuous nihilistic ways of the enlightenment. This critic of rationalism gave birth to modernism and writers such as Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre. Fyodor Dostoevsky changed our philosophical viewpoint of life, going against rationalist ways and began existentialism. By: O. Astor The sound of blaring horns rise from the congested streets of London. The impatient honks swell with the tide of bustling traffic. Desperate, you scan the streets for a way through. In another ten minutes you will be late for your meeting. A taxi!
A taxi is what you need. But what good will a taxi be when the traffic is like this? A seemingly endless tide of motionless cars. It would be faster to walk, really. Turning a corner, you spot an odd yellow vehicle. It resembles some kind of futuristic drone, hovering at a taxi point. The average London driver loses 101 hours a year in traffic. It’s easy to see how much of a problem severe traffic in London is. However, a surprising solution may be just around the corner. If the dream of the government comes true, flying taxis could soon be soaring over the Tower of London. This could happen as soon as 2028. How would this change London? In 101 hours, you could: buy some tomatoes, get a flying license, learn how to paint, get the laundry done, finally finish that project that’s been on your “I – will – finish – later – list” for 3 years, learn finances, make some nice pasta, learn the basics of Python, master tennis, make a new friend, open a café, reach A1 level in Spanish, just to name a few. The point is, sitting in motionless traffic is a huge waste of time. The main challenges faced by the government when introducing this new technology to the streets, are building the correct infrastructure, such as launching pads and designated areas for landing. It will also be difficult to get the public to accept this change in transport – imagine being at home in your top floor bedroom or bathroom and seeing a face peering out of a flying taxi in through your upstairs window! Furthermore, the U.K. government plans to have post delivered by similar drones as well. Hopefully, we will see this dream of lessening traffic all around the world become a reality if this technology spreads. I think this would be a change for the better. By: A. Lotufo Apple, a billion-dollar company, is constantly evolving and making changes to the technological industry. Since the iPhone release date in 2007, over 2.6 billion units were sold. Across many platforms online, like Forbes magazine and Interbrand, Apple fell into 1st place in a rank of best worldwide brands. Apple became a widely used, recognized, and valued brand, all in the span of 48 years.
The first iPad, released on the 3rd of April 2010, was seen as a major timestamp for Apple’s timeline. The iPad allowed people to read eBooks, browse, game, take photos, and more while still being lightweight. Steve Jobs, regarding the iPad, said that to have a third technological category, it would “have to better at these kinds of tasks than a laptop or a smartphone, otherwise it has no reason for being”. The range of functions, the versatility, and the convenience of the product revolutionized the world of technology we see today. The iPod, also a major impact on the world of technology, was the first MP3 player to pack 1,000 songs while having 10-hour battery. The iPod was introduced in 2001, but later in 2007, it evolved to become an iPod Touch. It brought the same visual of the popular iPhone while keeping it a music-based product. Many versions of the iPod continued to evolve, ranging from the 2015 iPod Shuffle (4th generation) which included no visual screens, but voice-over buttons to hear battery life and the song title, to the 2012 iPod Nano (7th generation), being the thinnest iPod to date with only 5.4mm. Apple continues to evolve yearly, releasing new products and improving their old ones. They have made ranges of products which can be seen worldwide today, like the AirTag, the Apple Watch, Airpods, and more, including the Apple TV+ streaming platform and the Apple TV 4K. The innovative products brought by the brand completely changed the game when it comes to technology, and consequently, their products are utilized immensely, and the brand is seen as one of the best and most valuable all over the world. By: M. Bitran A game changer is an idea, event or innovation which completely changes the dynamic of a specific field, industry, or an aspect of our lives. It creates new possibilities and opportunities, disrupting the norms, and shifting our minds into thinking about entirely new outcomes.
Recently, we have been experiencing a game changer. A game changer that covers many fields, and is gradually altering many of them. That game changer is artificial intelligence. Although AI has been a process of development for almost 70 years now, it has just recently, become such a major part of our lives. Since the early 2000s, it has been making great advancements, such as speech recognition system (Siri) and robots. However, as ChatGPT emerged in November of 2022, for the first time for most of us, it really seemed as if AI had become accessible and even a common tool to many of us. Artificial Intelligence is, and will only continue becoming a more powerful instrument, which is why we must be cautious and fully understand it. This game changer has revolutionized our daily lives, and with that comes change. AI is now able to carry out tasks which used to be executed by humans. Artificial Intelligence works quickly and accurately, and as time moves forward, we, humans, and the simple tasks and jobs which we used to do are being taken over by technology. According to BBC, AI has the capability of replacing 300 million jobs, which is almost 10% of all jobs worldwide. As of that, it crucial for us to be aware of the changes going on around us, as that is the only way to comprehend how they will affect us. By: A. KissajikianMarrakech is a mesmerising city in Morocco, rich in culture, history, and stunning landscapes. In between the desert and the mountains, it offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Here’s a guide to some must-visit places in the land of vibrant souks, historic palaces, and colourful gardens.
Exploring the City’s Heart We began our journey by visiting the ancient city walls, an architectural marvel that divides the old Medina from the newer parts of Marrakech. These walls designed holes helped cool the surroundings by allowing air to circulate during the hot summer and winter days. Our next stop was the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech. While we couldn’t enter, the mosque's towering minaret is a symbol of the city. The Moroccan flag in front of the Mosque shows a green five-pointed star representing the Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. A short 10-minute walk brought us to the Medina, where you can immerse yourself in a whirlwind of culture. Narrow streets are lined with shops selling Moroccan pastries, spices, textiles, and hand-crafted goods; make sure to go to the original Moroccan stores. The Medina’s vibrant atmosphere is thrilling but chaotic, with motorbikes, donkeys, and carts moving past. After wandering through the souks, we made our way to a rooftop restaurant. From there, we enjoyed a panoramic view of the city. Historical Gems We visited the stunning Palais Bahia, in the Medina (old city), a home with 150 rooms for the regent Ahmad Ibn Mūsā to live with his four wives. The palace was named after his favourite wife, Bāhiya. This home with elegant architecture, intricate mosaics, and beautiful gardens offers a glimpse into Morocco’s rich history. The incredible and colourful courtyard garden, with its fountains and mosaic, is a tranquil escape from the lively streets outside. Gardens and Culinary Delights We couldn’t visit Marrakech without stopping at the famous Jardin Majorelle, an enchanting garden filled with vibrant cobalt-blue buildings and an immense collection of exotic plants. The botanical garden was once purchased by Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint-Laurent fashion designer to restore it and open it to the public. The garden is full of life and colours, making it a perfect place for a leisurely stroll. The garden also has the Berber Museum where you can see the collection of objects and clothes from the Berbers, the most ancient people in North Africa. In 2017, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum opened nearby and you can enjoy a collection of clothes and learn their story. In the afternoon, we visited Bachar Café, known for its unique coffee creations. Moroccan coffee often incorporates unexpected flavours like orange or cinnamon, giving the drink an exotic twist. Sampling local cuisine is a must in Marrakech. We indulged in dishes like couscous with lamb or chicken, spiced with traditional Moroccan seasonings. Vegetables, often mixed with grains, are also a part of the Moroccan diet. For dessert, we savoured fried pastries with ice cream and the iconic Moroccan Affogato, alongside sweet dates. Hot air balloon We boarded a hot air balloon to watch the sunrise at 7 am. Drifting over Marrakech and the surrounding desert was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, the city glowing with soft golden light whilst you eat breakfast in the skies. It looked as if I was in a movie. The Desert Our final day was in the desert, just an hour and a half from the city. The vast emptiness of the landscape was striking, offering a sense of peace. We rented buggies to explore the dunes and the desert. In one hour, we got to know an extensive part of the desert. Stopping in the middle of the ride was a must, as the sun began to set, the desert transformed into a golden sea of sand. It was a magical moment—a perfect photo opportunity for families. We ended our day with a cultural experience, enjoying traditional Moroccan music and dance. We even learned how to dance to their music and we couldn’t resist getting henna tattoos, a great way to end the trip. Final Thoughts Our trip to Marrakech, though only a few days long, barely scratched the surface of the city’s rich culture and traditions. From the Medina to the calm of the desert, Marrakech offers a sensory overload in the best possible way. By: I. Papa Game Changers refer to an idea, event, person or creation that significantly alters the ways of things leading to transformative outcomes. Game changers can introduce new possibilities and disrupt the status quo and challenging standard norms. Their impact is far reaching, impacting various fields of various things! The iPhone, launched by Apple in 2007, stands as a clear example of a game changer in the realm of technology and communication. Its introduction not only revolutionized the industry of technology, but it also transformed how humans interact and communicate with one another.
Before the iPhone, mobile phones were primarily designed for voice calls and basic text messaging. While early phones existed, They had extremely limited functionality. The iPhone disrupted this status quo by combining a minimalist design with a touchscreen of endless possibilities!. This innovating approach made technology accessible to a much broader audience, paving the way for smartphones to become absolutely essential in everyday life. One of the iPhone’s most significant contributions is the App Store, launched in 2008. This platform allowed skillful people to create and spread applications, leading to an explosion of mobile software. Consequently, users gained access to a variety of tools for communication, productivity, entertainment, and social networking, transforming their devices into personal assistants! The success of the App Store changed how consumers interacted with their phones and also gave rise to new business models and industries centered around app development, assisting on economic growth distinctly. The iPhone also transformed the way people communicate. With features including FaceTime and iMessage, it made video calling and instant messaging seamless and easy. Social media applications, such as Facebook and Twitter, became readily available for users, fostering a culture of constant connectivity. This shift changed communication dynamics, leading to new social norms around interaction. Additionally, the iPhone has significantly influenced various fields, including photography, navigation, and education. The introduction of high-quality cameras on the device has enhanced photography, allowing anyone to capture and share high-resolution images effortlessly, with a click on a screen! Navigation apps, like Google Maps and Waze have revolutionized travel, making it easier for users to find their way without actual maps. In education, the iPhone has facilitated access to online resources and learning platforms, helping students and educators. In conclusion, the iPhone is a profound game changer that has reshaped our technological landscape. Its innovative design, with its introduction of the App Store, has transformed communication and access to information, creating new industries. As we continue to witness advancements in mobile technology, the impact of the iPhone remains a defining moment in the evolution of modern life, highlighting the power of innovation to redefine our world. By: N. Jannuzzi For the past few years, AI has made our lives easier, or for others has been a technology which is hard to comprehend. Although some might disagree, AI has made our lives easier in a few aspects; for example, it is basically present most of the time throughout our day. Maybe it’s a simple thing like as language translation apps, or it is specific research you are doing through ChatGPT or Claude. AI is a great way to collect information in an unbiased way and over the next few years AI engineers are developing the system to make it easier to use by correcting simple mistakes.
GameChanger AI Apps: 1. Chat GPT – the original technology and app 2. Claude – User friendly, creative AI technology 3. Perplexity – A simple app with great ideas for research On the contrary, AI sometimes can have a negative impact on our lives. Some believe that in the future AI can easily replace humans in their jobs. AI also increases human laziness: for example, when students ask AI to do their homework. There are also privacy concerns as AI systems collect a huge amount of personal data like your passwords, preferences and places you have been and risking that information is used in incorrect ways or even exposed in leaks. In conclusion, AI can be very useful when collecting information and facilitating our lives. However, we must be aware of some of the negative impacts. |
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