ᴀᴋɪø ᴀᴋᴜᴍᴀ (sᴛʀᴀʏᴋɪᴅs)

AKIØ (아키오) is a member of the co-ed 4th gen group "Stray Kids" but was formally a trainee under YG Entertainment and was set to debut with BLACKPINK before being cut due to her young age and simply not being ready to debut at the time. Not wanting to let her talent go to waste, YG recommended her to JYP, and they decided to test her skills and see if she really was an 'ace' as YG proclaimed. Members Bang Chan, Felix, and Minho were there at her evaluation, and first hand experienced her overwhelming talent. After some long hours and days of convincing, Bang Chan convinced JYP that Aiko needed to be apart of the Stray Kids survival show and as per his request, JYP gave in and decided to let her be apart of it.

STAGE NAME: AKIØ (아키오)

BIRTH NAME: Aiko Shimura (志村愛子)

KOREAN NAME: Soo-ho (수호 시무라)

ENGLISH NAME: Azzy Shimura

POSITIONS: Vocalist, Rapper, Maknae

BIRTHDAY: April 17, 2002

ZSIGN: Aries

HEIGHT: 157cm (5'2)

MBTI: INTP---->ISTP

REPRESENTATIVE ANIMAL: Black Panther

UNIT: VocalRacha

NICKNAMES: YG's Secret Weapon, 4th Gen Siren, Fearless Maknae, Demon of K-POP

INSTAGRAM: akiø.akuma

YOUTUBE: whosakiø.__.

AKIØ FACTS:

• Aiko was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan until she moved to Houston, TX at 5 before moving back to Japan at 10

• At 10 she was kicked out of her home by her mother after a heated argument

• After attempting to finish middle school, she decided to drop out due to her mental health

• At 12, she auditioned for YG and got accepted

• While at YG, she trained with the members who would eventually become BLACKPINK

• Aiko looked up to them and the PINKS treated her like their younger sister

• Has the second longest training period among Stray Kids (2014-2017)-(2017-2018)

• Aiko's SKZOO character is KURO a black panther cub that sometimes comes with a blue bowtie

• Aiko's hair is really long and she's always had it dyed the tips of her hair since she debuted at JYP and she's tried to match the color of her hair with every comeback

• She has a German Shepherd named Clover and Pre-debut she had a dog of the same breed named Ryuko

• Because of Aiko's language skills and being fluent in most of them, her pronunciation in singing songs in those languages (i.e eng, jpn, & kor.) are very good which makes her vocals stand out more

• Her dancing is in no way terrible, she can easily keep up with most of the talented female dancers in the industry, but when it comes to dances with her members is where she gets mixed up. Being the only girl in the group, she has to work harder to learn the choreo.

• Aiko revealed in a live that her stage name if she would've debuted with BLACKPINK would've been 'AKUMA', and the PINKS still sometimes call Aiko by her old stage name

• Among the members her nicknames include: Ai, Shortie, Gen Z representative

• Is a member of Paboracha by default since she dropped out of middle school which her members like to joke about

• Would've possibly debuted with ITZY if Chan didn't call for Aiko when he did

• Besties with half the industry due to her friendliness

• While living at the dorms, she'd wake up at 6am every morning without fail and head to the JYP practices rooms to workout and practice

• Best english speaker along with channie and felix and they're jokingly refered to as 'EnglishRacha'

• Occasionally does lives where she either watches shows or movies, plays games, or dance practices with Hyunjin

• It was revealed that out of all the members, Ai is the one that swears the most, which comes as a surprise to many since she's so quiet on camera

• Has an iconic 'annoyed' look STAYs like to joke about

• Despite their rivalry, Minho revealed that Aiko is the most selfless member and will do anything to make someone happy

• A picky eater but if someone made food for her she'll eat it

• Helped write some of SKZ more emotional songs such as '#LoveSTAY', 'Silent Cry', and more recently 'Youtiful'

• Although her MBTI is ISTP, she is more loud and energetic when around the other members, close friends, and STAYs, which causes her to be an introverted extrovert

• When a STAY asked over bubble for a spoiler for the 'ending' of SKZ lore, she responded with '💀' which led to speculate that her 'character' AKIØ will die

• In 2020, she collaborated with BLACKPINK on their track, "Lovesick Girls" which reunited the old trainee friends

• While filming the MV for Lovesick Girls, she accidentally called ROSÉ 'oppa' since she was so used to filming with her members instead of girls

• Channie said it himself that Aiko has the best stage presence out of them all, and refers to it as 'YG stage presence' since Aiko still has the mentality of being a YG trainee

• When asked about her favorite MV among SKZ, she revealed that VENOM was her favorite since she finally got to rap and be a villain

• Her favorite era is NOEASY era since her hair was blue and her first solo 'HWAA' was released

• Aiko admitted in a live that her relationship with JYP is a little strained since the survival show when he eliminated Minho and Felix

• During May of 2023 it was revealed that Hyunjin and Aiko have been dating since 2020 which sparked chaos with STAYs, some being supportive and some being toxic, but even so the two seem to be unbothered

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ

i want to preface this with a few things

dick grayson is my favourite character. i am not here to slander him or talk bad about those who like him

fanon is what got me into dc. i have grown since and now have a substantial comic collection (at least for the few months i've been collecting). i still enjoy fanon but i am a canon person

with all of that said...

a pointless rant about dick grayson in fanon

sources listed at the bottom

this discourse surrounding dc, the batfam in particular, has really been irking my lately. i don't know why, it just has. i see so much around these characters and the way fans interact with each other here on hellsite and on tiktok (i avoid twitter like middle-aged cis white british dads avoid talking about their feelings) and i just wanna scream about it

the erasure of dick grayson's character

dick grayson isn't a himbo

this is particularly common in fanfictions given that the barrier of entry is non-existent but the idea that dick is a silly, ditzy, idiot that can't cook is arguably the complete opposite of his character

i have a feeling this idea stems from the nature of dick as nightwing, the cracking jokes whilst fighting, the appearance of not taking things seriously (when he in fact does, just not as outwardly as the likes of batman). this in and of itself is ridiculous given that a similar character, peter parker aka spider-man, also crack jokes and honestly is very similar to dick in the way he is as a hero, and yet, for the most part, is still taken seriously and isn't diminished to the same level that dick is

which could come down to public knowledge of the character

let's be honest, the majority of the public could tell you who peter parker is, have probably seen at least one live action iteration of the character, if not all 3 iconic versions (maguire, garfield, holland) most (and please forgive me for using generations) millenials and gen z can define their teen years based on which spider-man was coming out. which they went to the cinema to see. all live-action appearances are:

the amazing spider-man ('77-'79) played by nicholas hammond

spider-man (also japanese spider-man) ('78-'79) played by Shinji Tōdō

spider-man (1, 2, 3)('02, '04, '07) played by tobey maguire

the amazing spider-man (1, 2)('12, '14) played by andrew garfield

spider-man (homecoming, far from home, no way home)('17, '19, '21) played by tom holland

given that dick has just as many live action appearances, stretching back to before spider-man had even debuted in the comics:

the batman serial ('43) played by douglas croft

the batman and robin serial ('49) played by jonny duncan

batman ('66-'68) played by burt ward

batman forever ('95) and Batman & Robin ('97) played by chris o'donnell

titans ('18-'23) played by brenton thwaites

EDIT: in my excitement i never included the first comic appearances of either character. dick debuted on the 6th march 1940 in detective comics #38, peter debuted on 5th june 1962 in amazing fantasy #15

(i am not talking about animated appearances as for both peter and dick they are much less known to the general public than live action)

i'd say i was surprised to see the same number of appearances, but by comparing when the show/movie came out, you can see a clear difference

every live action spider-man project listed has occurred within the past 50 years, with the movies being in relatively consistent from 2002 onwards. dick grayson is more sporadic, 2 appearances in the 40s, again in the 60s, again in the 90s, and finally in the late 10s. no wonder he's less well known when you have to go back to the 90s for a movie version and even then it isn't really dick grayson (in terms of characterisation)

most people can tell you there's batman and robin, and maybe just maybe they can tell you robin is dick grayson, but that's about it. mention nightwing and they blank. and don't even try to tell someone that there's been more that one robin, it won't end well

i can hear people yelling "but dick is a sidekick and peter isn't"

yes, that is true, but dick hasn't been a sidekick since the early 80s, after he'd been around for over 4 decades. that's a pretty old sidekick. but yes, this does hold some merit but given that dick is a lot older it's interesting. and with the most recent live action appearance being titans, a show that spends the first 2 seasons exploring dick's journey from sidekick to standalone hero, it does pose some questions

that was a long tangent to basically say that an equivalent character in personality isn't erased so much in fanfiction because they have more recent and bigger exposure (probably)

also, random, but in my research i came across this list of best teen heroes and look

fig 1. image showing spider-man and dick grayson in positions 1 and 2 relatively in a fan voted list of best teen heroes, spider-man having 3446 votes and dick grayson having 3191 votes

anyway, back to the rant

a wayne family adventures (WFA) tangent

i see people blaming WFA for this but i really don't think that is the case. he may not be the same as his comic counterpart but he is not out of character. everything he does is still very much him. examples include:

comforting duke after ana broke up with him (ep. 10)

helping damian make a friend (ep. 24)

being torn between his brothers (ep. 27-28)

teasing bruce after zatanna made him superman (ep. 54)

teasing helena into swapping weapons (ep. 63) i just like this one

organising everyone back to the manor when he realised alfred was left on his own during thanksgiving (ep. 68)

picking the rainbow suit for bruce (ep. 77)

talking to a little girl who just lost her parents (ep. 80-81)

annoying wally (ep. 84) birdflash time

helping duke with the kidnapping threat (ep. 99) also like this one

competing with jason over lian and roy (ep. 108)

making tim do all the work in his apartment (ep. 111) + haley

comforting and helping damian when he doubts himself (ep. 113) arguably my favourite episode

ok that was most of them BUT seriously WFA is not the problem here

there's no "fix" for this, i just wanted to tell people to stop blaming WFA for everything wrong with new comic fans; you can enjoy WFA and enjoy the comics, the aren't mutually exclusive

WFA doesn't erase him, they just choose what to show in the limited time you get with him. the only thing i remember being "wrong" is that dick can't cook (ep. 17 - top chef)

and yeah, WFA does play into the golden retriever vibes fanon dick has... in one episode, specifically the haley episode (ep. 111) see below. if it takes 111 episodes to fall on a fanon trope, i think that is fine. if you want to include ep. 17, that's 2 episodes out of 116! that's pretty good going. even the comics have more ooc moments (see the current nightwing run)

fig. 2 screenshot from wayne family adventures showing dick grayson smiling and saying "thank you" whilst a tail wags in the background

fanfiction

unsurprisingly, fanfiction is probably to blame but don't think i'm blaming authors (i kinda am but stick with me here)

i don't think writing a comic canon charatcer should be required, but i do think writers should disclose when they haven't read the comics. from experience, i get not annoyed, but have a "ugh" moment when i read a fic and the character is ooc, but if the author has stated in the notes that they haven't read a comic and the character is probably ooc, i am still going to read the fic

ooc or not, if a fic has a decent plot, at least 6th grade (UK year 7) level writing, and not "want to punch them in the face" characters, i'll enjoy it. throw in a popular trope and it'll be a favourite

and if you tell people "hey, this is probably ooc from the comic canon" they can't get mad or blame authors... just saying

i mean the whole reason this is "the problem" is that people get mad over ooc in fan works. like i'm sorry, have you read gotham war?!?!? the current nightwing run?!?!? lots of ooc in the comics themselves

tl;dr

fanfiction is the root of all evil

no, but seriously, dick's, mis-characterisation is a product of his prevalence in media, the material people have, and a lack of disclaiming ooc in fanfics. the last point could be a solution, but honestly expecting fanfic authors to do that is ridiculous

this rant was for nothing, hope you enjoyed wasting your time

i did tell you it was pointless

(i should've called this section a conclusion bc the word count is 1559 and that is insane. it's literally longer than the essay i have due in next week that i'm only half way through)

(also, this was supposed to be the first part of a longer post about how dick is over-sexualised but at that word count i'm splitting it up)

sources

list of live action dick grayson

list of live action spider-man actors

used for dates of spider-man films in the correct order

wayne family adventures

It's weird, I kinda feel like this may be more technology related than generation related? I was born in 1999 (which makes me Gen Z I believe, which is a whole other thing, because I feel like I relate a lot more to Millenials than Gen Z), and I very much went outside and played for most of my childhood. My brother was born in 2002 (so he'd definitely be Gen Z) and his childhood was definitely spent more inside than outside. I distinctly remember the shift once things like iPhones and iPads started getting huge, but he doesn't, that's all he's known. Other people probably have different experiences but I think technology getting huge in the 2000s also heavily contributes to this

Yeah, exactly - it's technology linked, BUT because of when that shift happened, it has affected Gen Z MORE than it affected Millennials. So it's still a generational divide in the broad sense: more Millennials probably played outside compared to Gen Z. That doesn't mean zero Gen Z kids played outside, and that doesn't mean zero Millennials played inside, it's just an observable trend on the population level.

And yeah - those years are exactly when I shifted from middle school into high school, and those are the years I saw my play go from mostly outside to being more inside-based. And my brother shifted with me, even though he was three years younger. But we're both solidly Millennials.

Wow Cat, entitled much? College is not a guarantee to a "comfortable living". It's a path chosen by the user in hopes of turning that sheep skin into a livelihood that pays well. It isn't always the end result and 9 times out of 10 it's because the person who went to college didn't take into account what the degree's median pay would be. I can't tell you how many times a person has sat across from me and said something to the effect of "I have "X" degree and that should be worth something more, something extra." When I asked them what the median wage of that degree is their eyes would glaze over and there head would tilt like a puppy with no answer. It's because these people never looked into what their chosen degree path COULD MAKE, they just assume the sheep skin means more money. WRONG. Let's take Cat here as an example: Cat is going to graduate with a degree in Political Science and Geography, you know two of the 7 Social Science degrees (History, political science, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.) and 4th in line or middle of the road when it comes to money making degrees.

Per a Georgetown University study, her chosen degree paths starts at about 33k a year with a median wage of 60k a year, but she wants to start at 50k, because college reason. Now lets get to her inflation argument that bypasses huge things to make her argument work like the Consumer Price Index and the actual inflation rate. Cat was born in 2002, not 1982 so she knows shit about living in the 80's or the 70's. In 1980 the inflation rate was 13.9% in 1981 it was 11.8%, for the first 19 years of her life the highest inflation rate that her parents, not her, had to deal with was 4.3% in 2008. 2002's was 7.5% and 2023 6.4%, Guess what happened in 2022, our government went on a spending spree that has not stopped. The average inflation rate for her entire life is 2.3%. (All of the parentage are based of January numbers for each year rather than the highest or lowest for the entire year. Years like 2009 and 2015 where inflation rates were in negative percentages I made them zero %.) Side note: before 2009 you have to go back to 1955 before you find negative inflation rates again. From 1970 to 1990 the average inflation rate was 6.8285714285714%, just shy of 3 time higher than what she is complaining about, and her folks did it on a lower wage. Enter the Consumer Price index. From 2002 to today in 2023 the average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) is 2.5304347826087%, and from 1970 to 1990 it was 6.2714285714286%, you guessed it, almost 3 times higher again. Of course the governments reckless spending and financing wars all over hell in back has started impacting EVERYONES bottom line, Cat is apparently just learning this. Cat, you need to earn a comfortable living, not have it handed to you. You need to work your ass up from the starting line not start closer to the top. It's not a Boomer, Gen X, Gen Z or what ever else is out there thing, its a you have never worked in your field thing, you just might suck at it thing and employers are not going to pay you on the work you might be able to do or the work ethic you might have, they are going to pay you as an employee that has limited work history, get used to it. I was born in 1970 got my first job, one of only 3 I ever had, in 1986. I did not earn over 41k a year until 2009, that was with a family of 4. Between my Bride and I we earned 4 1/2 degrees and took on no debt. How did we do it, work and save, living within our means and a budget. Guess what effects us much less becasue we pay cash for things, inflation. Not holding debt frees you up to do so many more things with your cash on hand. It's was less about inflation, although that is killing just about everyone now and more to do with piss poor advanced planning on Cat's part. Example: Had Cat looked into STEM degrees, you know a field short of female applicants, where the median starting yearly wage is 43k, with an expected yearly median wage of 76k per year, her outlook for earned wages would be much different. So, in short, Cat is pointing her anger at the wrong place, she shot herself in the foot taking on degrees with limited earning potential and in over saturated job markets rather than a more technical, less saturated job field that pays more all the way around.

“I think that if you go to college, you deserve to be able to make enough to live comfortably,” she asserts. “I think if you don’t go to college you should be able to make enough to live comfortably.” Comfortably, is relative to the person, and has more to do with, well comfort than economics. That's not how life works Cat. Maybe you should have paid a little more attention to those finance and economics classes.

generations are stupid obviously but fr we need to talk about the difference between the 97-05'ers and 06-12'ers because one of those groups still grew up with vhs tapes and dvds and phones with keyboards and remember corded house phones and one of those groups grew up with ipads and tiktok (obviously there's no clear line but as someone who has interacted a lot with my fellow zers I stg there is some kind of cutoff starting in 06 like up to 05 they feel like My People and then starting younger than that it's Different, maybe that'll change as we get older idk but that's where my split between Older zers and Younger zers is rn). like I'll never forget when I was a camp counselor in summer 2021 and I (19, born 2002) wowed one of my campers (12, born 2008-2009) with the concept of satellite TV having 3 several-minute ad breaks per episode of television, while he was used to 30 second ads at the start of episodes of his anime with no breaks in the middle. like I think there's something to be said about the difference between people who remember getting their first screen and people who don't. the way I see most adults millennials and up talk about gen z they forget the 97-05'ers and only talk about the gen zers who are still children and say stuff like "unalive" and don't realize the 90s was the age of flavor blasted ph of 2 sour candy. I mean there's something to be said about people being slow to catch up with the effects of time, I remember people thinking I was a millennial as a teen because they couldn't wrap their head around the fact that millennials were adults now, and now the same thing is happening to gen z where people forget a good chunk of us are adults now, as old as 26. anyways that has been my rant post please remember a good chunk of gen z are adults now

Who’s In?

Fast fashion has become one of the most criticized marketing trends of the century. It targets women (especially Gen-Z), who buy far more clothes and shoes than men do, and preys upon consumer desire to be fashionable and trendy. If you can speed up the process, as in have a continuous drip irrigation system of new styles, colors, etc., you can get people to buy more.

Oh, and it helps to sell at jaw-dropping prices, quality be damned. These items aren’t meant to make it to next year anyway. Who says that clothing has to be sustainable? Make more, sell more, and keep the cycle going.

As for the gender targeting, we need look no farther than Shein (pronounced “She In”), the Chinese clothing giant that has taken the world by storm. Available only online, they sell from their own website, as well as a store on Amazon. To be fair, Shein does sell a few men’s items, but you can tell by the name who their target audience is.

And Shein just found itself in the middle of a firestorm, thanks to a promotional stunt they just pulled.

No stranger to social media and the power that some users have there, Shein invited a group of American influencers for a free junket to China to view its model factory. As you might expect, all the happy, smiling workers and absolutely perfect working conditions wowed the influencers, who then gushed about it on their socials.

The only problem is that it backfired on the influencers, who then had to endure an onslaught of hate. Shein, you see, is alleged to rely on a slew of unethical business practices, from forced labor to unsafe working conditions. The model factory, critics argue, was a prop, and the influencers were unwitting dupes.

At least they got to go to China.

If this were during the 1950s, it would be like the USSR inviting Americans over to check out their premier forced labor camp, where all the inmates would be grinning from ear to ear and extolling the virtues of their employer. Except those labor camps were true, and thus far, all the flack about Shein is just rumors and speculation.

You know, just like the rumors about TikTok as well as Chinese retail newcomer Temu. If you can’t prove something, just start some nasty rumors.

We are left with an odd situation. The influencers may very well have been duped. I’ve been to China a few times, and I know all about the window dressing. Western hotels have air conditioning and heat, and commonly accept credit cards. But if you get a little bit out of the business districts of Beijing, Shanghai, etc., it is very different. I remember all too well touring an orphanage in 2002, and you could hang beef there. It was February, and the nannies and infants were bundled up like Eskimos (and I use that word in a non-racist kind of way). Our hotel down the street, though, was like being in any other major US city.

And then there are the critics, who are inciting the wrath of the entire social landscape. They may also be a tad bit jealous that they weren’t chosen to go on this trip. Either way, alleging unethical practices of any Chinese company is about as convenient as buying a new dress online for this weekend’s holiday party.

Well, as long as they can get it delivered in time. Otherwise, you may just have to wear last year’s garment, if you still have it. Oh, the tragedy. But that’s a consumer behavior issue, yet another wrinkle in this mess. There are plenty of things I understand, but that’s not one of them.

I’ll just stick to the business of it all.

Dr “I’m In” Gerlich

Audio Blog

Rashed Belhasa: Redefining Youth Entrepreneurship and Digital Influence Introduction When it comes to young entrepreneurs who are making waves in the digital age, few can match the reach and influence of Rashed Belhasa, widely known by his alias "Money Kicks." Beyond his Internet fame lies a young man deeply entrenched in entrepreneurial ventures and brand building. So, what sets him apart in an ecosystem saturated with influencers and online celebrities? Rashed Belhasa (also known as Money Kicks) is a Dubai-based social media influencer and businessman. He is known for his luxurious lifestyle and his massive sneaker collection. Early Life and Background Born on January 5, 2002, in Dubai, UAE, Rashed Belhasa is no ordinary teenager. As the son of Saif Ahmed Belhasa, a prominent businessman in the UAE, he grew up in an environment of opulence and privilege, which has been both an asset and a challenge in carving out his identity. What Sets Him Apart While many might argue that his privilege gives him an unfair advantage, what sets Belhasa apart is how he's leveraged this position. His successful forays into business ventures, notably his streetwear brand and sneaker collection, indicate a sharp entrepreneurial mind, far beyond merely social media posturing. Belhasa's Instagram account has over 16 million followers and his YouTube channel has over 3.5 million subscribers as of 2024. He is one of the most popular social media influencers in the Middle East. Belhasa's posts and videos often feature him showing off his expensive cars, watches, and clothes. He also frequently posts photos and videos of his sneaker collection, which is estimated to be worth over $2 million. In addition to his social media career, Belhasa is also a successful businessman. He is the CEO of the Belhasa Group, a conglomerate with interests in real estate, construction, and fashion. Business Ventures and Portfolio The Sneaker Collection One of Rashed's most famous ventures is his sneaker collection, an investment in itself, which has been valued at over $2 million. KA1 Clothing Line Belhasa launched his own clothing line, KA1, which gained immediate traction, a testament to his brand's pulling power. Farm Zoo He also manages his family's private exotic zoo, which hosts celebrities and influencers, thereby gaining more exposure and building a network in the entertainment industry. Evolution and Diversification From initially being recognized as a vlogger flaunting luxury, Rashed has diversified into various businesses. This is a calculated evolution that demonstrates strategic thinking and risk-taking, qualities not often associated with teenagers. Belhasa is a popular figure among Gen Z users for his luxurious lifestyle and his success. He is seen as a symbol of the new generation of wealthy and successful Arabs. Here are some of the reasons why Rashed Belhasa is so popular: He is wealthy. Rashed Belhasa is the son of a billionaire businessman. He has access to an incredible amount of wealth, and he is not afraid to show it off. He is successful. Rashed Belhasa is a successful businessman in his own right. He is the CEO of the Belhasa Group, a conglomerate with interests in real estate, construction, and fashion. He is stylish. Rashed Belhasa has a great sense of style. He is always dressed in the latest designer clothes and shoes. He is charitable. Rashed Belhasa is a generous philanthropist. He often donates money to charities and causes that he cares about. Rashed Belhasa -Making Factors Benefits Global Network: Thanks to his family's standing and his own social media reach, Rashed has access to a network that many can only dream of. Unique Selling Proposition: The blend of lifestyle vlogging with genuine business ventures provides a compelling narrative. Drawbacks High Entry Barriers: The extravagant lifestyle displayed can be intimidating or alienating to many viewers, making relatability an issue.

Limited Audience Demographics: His content and business ventures predominantly cater to a luxury-focused audience, limiting his mass appeal. Comparable Influencers Tamara Kalinic: Focuses on luxury and fashion but does not have the same entrepreneurial angle as Rashed. Mo Vlogs: Offers a similar Dubai-based luxurious lifestyle but lacks the diversified business portfolio that Rashed possesses. Why Rashed Belhasa Is More Than Just an Influencer Rashed Belhasa is not merely an influencer riding on his family's wealth; he has skillfully pivoted his social media presence into multiple successful business ventures. His entrepreneurial endeavors demonstrate an understanding of brand building and market dynamics, setting him apart in an industry that often blurs the lines between genuine influence and vanity metrics. If you are interested in luxury lifestyles and success, then Rashed Belhasa is the social media influencer for you. His posts and videos offer a glimpse into the world of the rich and famous.

Gavin was born in 2002, meaning he’s a Gen Z. He, too, rocked those terrible “fuck off” tees, drank Starbucks, and wore his hair in a middle part. He even had a septum.

Both images would be from 2020, the first one being him with a friend.

Did people in older generations feel like the world was just getting worse as they grew older?? Is this something unique to millennial/gen z age people???

Just saw the tacky proposed EU barcode flag from 2002 and it reminded me of when I first learned about the EU in middle school and how amazing and cool and such a great idea I thought it was. Then I compared that to present times with Brexit and how such a cool concept got ruined for so many people and it made me think about how sometimes everything feels like it’s progressively getting worse as time goes on

Which led me to question if older generations felt this way when they got to be my age (20s) or if this is a younger generations thing because the world really is getting worse

How Ebay Use Their Logo

The eBay logo has a long and interesting history. It was first introduced in 1995 when the company was founded by Pierre Omidyar. The original logo was a simple black and white design that featured an outlined box with the eBay name in the center. The box was meant to represent the idea of a virtual marketplace, while the name was meant to be inviting and friendly.

In 1998, eBay updated its logo to a more modern look. The box was replaced with a red and yellow sunburst, symbolizing optimism, energy, and growth. The name also changed from eBay to “ebay.com”, emphasizing the company’s online presence. In 2002, eBay changed its logo again. This time, the sunburst was replaced with a swirl of blue and orange, with the word “ebay” in the center. The new logo was intended to reflect the company’s growth and expansion into international markets. The bright colors were also meant to be inviting and friendly.

In 2010, eBay changed its logo yet again. This time, the swirl was replaced with a bold, modern design that featured the company’s name in a bright green. The new logo was meant to be more modern and eye-catching, as well as to reflect the company’s move into mobile commerce.

Today, the eBay logo is still the same as it was in 2010. The bright green color and bold font are meant to be inviting and friendly, while still reflecting the company’s modern and technological advances. The logo is a symbol of eBay’s success and growth over the years, and it is a reminder of the company’s commitment to providing a safe and reliable online marketplace.

I wasnt able to find any information on the use of their logo within their brand guidlines, or in the D&AD breif, the pack just included jpegs of their current logo. "ebay mate" is the tag line or phrase we want associated with this ad campaingn, so I experimented with potential re designs above.

Ebay and mate both have four letters and share the letter A, this was the thought process behind the top two, however the balance and reability is totally off. Personally I think the ebay logo and web/ app UI is horrible and as a customer to platforms like this the logo itself puts me off shopping there. I thought a potential re brand could speak to our target audience and encourage them to take action and actually buy and sell on there, after watching the ad.

The middle left logos use Changeling Neo Bold and FranklinGothic URW, I did try to use the ebay colours within the logo still however using it in a gradient symbolyses a rainbow more than the ebay logo in my opinion. Use the ebay colours on the logo with FranklinGothic URW looks childish and i dont think appeals to our target audience.

Keeping the original ebay font which is a slightly modified version of the univers font but including "mate" in a sort of handwritten style font i think is the most effective. I did some black and white variations of this, but i think either "ebay" or "mate" still has to use the brand colours.

I also had a look at how ebay uses their logo at the end of adverts, and in some cases they do loose the red, blue, yellow, green colours and opt for completely different ones. The advert titled "thats the ebay way" is actually animated to look as though it is typed out on a laptop which is a nice subtile visual language we could use in our adverts, as texting is a form of communication which Gen Z can relate to.

(ollie)

22 in 2022 - Thoughts

A concept I definitely have been thinking about is generations. I technically am a part of Gen Z, but I do not feel like people that are more a part of Gen Z (kids born in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) while I'm not a part of Gen Y/Millenials. I sometimes feel as if I am a cusper/ Zillenials I grew up with a Nintendo DSi, CDs, and the Powerpuff Girls while at the same time having a phone by 11 YOs and having an iPhone in middle school and an Instagram in high school.

i feel like talking about gen z as a cohesive group is so funny because some of them are 24 and some of them are like 10 lol. are u really saying that 10 year olds are engaging in performative activism. i feel like people talk about gen z because if you say "teenagers are doing something i dont like" it sounds kind of whiny and stupid

Me- Gen Z: born 2002, post-9/11, so all my life I've been hearing about war in the Middle East and war on Terrorism, grew up during the Internet Age and homegrown on technology. They taught us how to use computers and tablets when we were still in elementary school. Saw the Obama Era, the Trump Era, and now the Biden Era. Graduated during the Pandemic, reached adulthood during the Pandemic. Saw the peak of BLM movement and the 2020 summer riots. The last casualties of Afghanistan and the war on Terror were from my generation, the youngest being 20 years old I believe.

Parents- Millennial and Gen X: born between 1970s to 1980s. Mom turned 18 yrs old around the new Millennium. Dad born in 70s, so grew up during the 80s making him apart of the MTV generation. Mom saw the harsh affects of the Clinton's harsh crime bills that locked up a lot of her peers (who were labeled "Super Predators"), the harsh after affects of the AIDs epidemic and the War on Drugs within black communities, saw 9/11, War on Terror and the Bush administration, Obama presidency, the great recession, Trump Era, the Pandemic and Biden Administration.

Grandparents- Baby Boomers: born in 50s and 60s, grew up during the American golden age, but because they were black it wasn't so golden for them. Saw the rise of the Black Panthers, saw the Civil Rights Movement and the end of Segregation and Jim Crow, saw and fought in the war in Vietnam. My grandad actually visited one of the meetings held by Jim Jones and his followers before they left to Jonestown. Obviously my grandad didn't follow but his step-mother and half-brother did. They did not make it, sadly.

Great Grandparents -Greatest Generation and Silent Generation: Obviously, my great grandfathers on both sides were drafted and sent to fight in WW2, though one of them was 18 years old and it was 1945, so I guess he could also count as the Silent Generation. My paternal grandfather would have been 17 years old when America entered the war in 1941. Looking at his draft card shows that he was drafted a year later when he turned 18. Returned from the war against fascism only to be met with Jim Crow laws. Saw the rise of MLK and Malcolm X, the Civil Rights Movement and the Nation of Islam. On both sides of family, they were apart of the Great Migration and left the South to live in California.

Great great Grandparents- the Lost Generation and Missionary Generation: my great-great grandfather Will was born in 1896 and my great-great grandmother Alberta was born in 1900. I'm still trying to find out more about them but considering what generation they were born into a I can make a few guesses. I'm sure my great-great grandfather fought in WWI, he wouldn't have had any choice really. He was born 31 years after the Civil War, the end of slavery, and Reconstruction. Lived through the Black Codes which prohibited black people from voting, carrying guns, owning property, etc. They lived in Texas so more likely than not my great great grandparents had to deal with this. They were probably sharecroopers as well, though it's not impossible that they could have had a different occupation. My other great great grandparents, Charlie (born 1879) and Bessie (born 1885) probably had a similar experience in Georgia. They all more likely than not saw the rise of the Ku Kux Klan and Jim Crow. Alberta would at least live to see the Civil Rights Movement and the passing of the Civil Rights Act, though she’d also live to see the AIDS epidemic, the War on Drugs, the assassination of MLK and Malcolm X, and the downfall of the Black Panthers.

3rd great grandparents- the Progressive Generation: Hezekiah Jr. was born 1851 and Easter was born 1853. Not much is known about them save the plantation they came from and the family who owned them. They grew up as slaves but after the Civil War, were emancipated.

4th great grandparents - Gilded Generation: Hezekiah (also a Jr.) was born 1822 and died 1879. Born a slave and lived most of his life as one until the Civil War.

5th great grandparents - Transcendental Generation: Hezekiah Sr. born 1793. Born as a slave, but if he lived to 72 he would have seen the end of slavery. The same for Anachy, born 1800. If she lived to 65, then she would have seen it as well.

6th great grandparent - the Compromise Generation: Fanny was born in 1775 in Wilkes Georgia. She had one daughter, Anachy. Fanny was born a slave and died one.

Infodump on us about something you're passionate about

*deep breath*

THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM IS SO FUCKING COOL I JUST agagahgahgag

okokok so the voice they use for emergency alerts has actually changed a lot over the years! Most of us Gen Z-ers grew up with Tom (who was the voice from 2003-2016) or Donna (who was used mainly for alerts from NOAA Weather Radios from 2002-2016), but younger kids will be growing up with New Paul (2016-present).

Also, that ear-splitting noise that probably woke you up in the middle of the night if you made the mistake of leaving your radio on during a nighttime storm isn't just to get you attention! Those three beeps at the beginning are Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) tones, which are the reason why you don't get an alert for a severe thunderstorm in Louisiana when it's sunny and 75 and you're also all the way in goddamn Connecticut. That really long beep (which, by the way, has to be at least 8 seconds long) is the only part there to get your attention.

....I really like the emergency alert system ok?

Also listen to EAS Mocks for clear skin. I recommend starting with mini-scenarios before moving on to the big 1- and 2-hour long honkers people like SPChermitage 1258 push out

Okay firstly. Im so sorry I’m very tipsy trying to write this, but. People really underestimate how good f(x) and shinee are for introducing people to Kpop. Maybe it’s just the really late millennial - earlier gen z (like through 2002) sub-generations (and those generational descriptions aren’t very useful outside of the west and are rooted in capitalist advertising but it’s what we’ve got).

So ANYWAYS maybe it’s just that sub-group. But late 2000s-early 2010s dance music goes down really well at a party with my peers. And you can slip some shinee and f(x) in the middle, and it’s not like people wont notice it’s Kpop. But they’ll be in that mid-party mood where that kind of prejudice is dulled a bit because of the dance and the drugs and the drums, and despite their bias they can recognize that four walls/married to the music/electric shock/ring ding Dong etc. are all massive bops.

OH ALSO, 2pm, esp hands up era, songs go down really well. Not only bc they really fit in with that early 2010s LMFAO club music vibe, but bc people who grew up in areas with a large Asian American population, whether or not they are Asian American themselves, often actually heard some 2pm songs in middle school and it’s literally unlocking memories for them.

Anyways, I have four walls set up to play after a every time we touch remix on my party playlist and it goes over well everything. A lot of Kpop is such fun joyful dance music, it would feel like a crime not to put it on my party playlist.

nice!!!! it used to be like gee by snsd and i don't care by 2ne1 that i would show the uninitiated that unlocks memories. ur right tho it's perfect party music it's made for having a good time!

It really bothers me how tech illiterate Gen Z is.

It really bothers me how tech illiterate Gen Z is. And that’s including people born in the weird 1996-2002 era in between millennials and us.

Being able to use social media isn’t at all a substitute for knowing and being able to operate a damn computer. I know I sound like some crotchety developer from the 70s, but it really is terrifying how little some of the people my age and younger know-- and I’m nearly 20. Let’s get this out of the way: the oldest people in Gen Z are around 25. They are adults, and this is a major issue that will soon impact a majority of adults.

Onto the main issue: Generation Z is, as a whole, largely unused to operating computers in easy ways-- using keyboard shortcuts, being able to protect their privacy, being able to access content that isn’t legal (e.x. through torrents), even using Microsoft Office... I’m still unable to let go of 8th grade, 2014-15-- I had to teach one of my classmates how to use certain features of Microsoft Word, keyboard shortcuts, and a mouse. The basic ones. Like right-clicking, ctrl+C and ctrl+V, and using the dictionary feature.

At the time, I was woefully in awe of how stupid she was, and took it as a moment to roll my eyes and feel both smug and disgusted. Now, I know better than to write her off as an airhead who didn’t know something I’d assumed was universal. 

I was fortunate enough to have been born in 2000, and to have gone to an elementary school that was still in the odd middle ground between “let’s educate the kindergartners about computers!” and “eh, screw it, we don’t have that much funding and their parents will probably teach them at home anyway.”

I learned the proper method of typing when I was five. We went to our school’s computer lab at least once a week and practiced and learned. I learned about the different parts of a computer (kindergarten edition, so nothing detailed about internal parts, but my parents are software engineers who taught me later down the line). 

And then... they just stopped. The last time I, as a kid, did any sort of computer learning or proper keyboarding that was school-initiated was 1st grade. At the latest, that’s the first half of 2008. 

For perspective, children born in 2008 are now 12.  

I don’t know how else to describe how bad it is. Time is passing. Older people think that Gen Z is “tech literate”, but it simply isn’t true. We are social media literate. We are wary of online advertising (but still fall prey to it, thanks to shifting marketing strategies). We use social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. We care about social issues. But unless we teach ourselves, we know next to nothing about information technology.

Our parents, overall, did not teach us. Schools, in their haste-- whether that be out of sheer laziness or lack of funding or some twisted combination-- failed us.

Putting aside things like piracy of entertainment or being able to use all ten fingers to type, our security is at jeopardy. So many companies take advantage of and actively prey on us for our computer illiteracy and lack of knowledge on digital privacy.

Even I’m not well-informed enough to make a real write-up on it. It’s something I’ve noticed, and something I’ve read enough about and been taught about by my own parents and my own technology classes in college to be afraid of. People can’t do research. They can’t use keywords.

I’m being somewhat overzealous, but it is a problem how quickly basic things like using computer parts, doing in-depth research on your own, and privacy are just not being taught to young kids anymore. I haven’t stepped foot in elementary school in a long time, so maybe things are different now, but I highly doubt five and six year olds of today are being taught about computers via computers instead of using interactive iPads.

This isn’t to say that everyone in Gen Z knows nothing. I am Gen Z. Many, many kids and adults born in Gen Z are fully aware of the ramifications of this issue and others related to it. But there’s just as many, if not more, who aren’t.

TL;DR... There’s a lot Gen Z wasn’t and still isn’t being educated about when it comes to computers and tech, and it’ll definitely lead to problems later down the line.