Trapped in my house in 2020 during the pandemic with everyone else, a reality so shocking I felt like I was forced to feel alone, yet living with family -- this feeling still lingered. I would sit lifeless in my room as my mind rambled into traffic, feeling desperate to have something else other than to wallow in my own thoughts. I started to think of ways I can make being alone easier and more enjoyable. 

One of the most visible manifestations of this shift can be seen in her evolving personal style. Gone are the days of cornrows, durags, and form-fitting bodysuits that seemed to pay homage to the aesthetics of Black femininity. Instead, Kim has embraced a more minimalist, high-fashion approach to her wardrobe, one that favors clean lines, monochromatic hues, and a touch of androgyny.

What really makes this documentary hit its mark is showing how hard the lives of various people become as the cost of living gets higher and their wages stay the same. The sheer uncertainty of their situation is relatable for many of us, and footage of people explaining why the middle class has eroded and why the deck is stacked against the average person is woven in between to give it all more context.

In times of economic downturn, such as the 2008 financial crisis or the pandemic lockdown, the government enacts expansionary fiscal and monetary policy to “stimulate” the economy and create jobs. These policies also create inflation and many economists argue that the growth is illusory. The pandemic-related spending and stimulus caused inflation  to reach 9.1% in June 2022.

The Barbie brand has taken great major steps to become more racially and culturally inclusive. The first Black Barbie, Christie, was released in 1969. Teresa, the first Hispanic Barbie was released in 1980, and the first Native-American Barbie arrived in 1993. But it wasn’t until 2016 when Mattel released their Barbie Fashionistas collection, and seven different skin tones, 22 eye colors, and 24 hairstyles were implemented in the doll design.

Writer Michael Pollan echoes this thought when he cites the paucity of cultures and civilizations that have existed without the use of any psychoactive substances. The difference between heroin, which will promptly get you arrested, and codeine, morphine, or oxycodone, which we frequently prescribe in clinics, is merely a few atoms. We freely accept the deadliest of drugs by the score—tobacco and alcohol, along with dozens of addictive, intoxicating prescription drugs—yet we have demonized much less dangerous drugs.

This incident makes me well understand the reluctance and fear of non-natives in this country to even try to speak English. Some time ago, I was teaching an English as a Second Language class, and some of my students shied away from speaking at all. They most likely believed their heavy foreign accents would unjustly subject them to ridicule and make them seem unintelligent. They might have feared their classmates would have the audacity to laugh at them even as some of those students also kept silent when it was their turn to speak.

The problem with a BRICS currency would be that it would only be useful for purchasing imports from other BRICS countries. It would not be convertible into dollars or other currencies. It could not be used to purchase U.S. Treasury securities nor to pay off foreign debt. It would be impractical for use in FDI, even in other BRICS countries. FDI generally involves construction and infrastructure projects, requiring raw materials that could not be purchased using BRICS currency.

This is the prevailing legal standard that would apply to Trump. The fact of his indictment and potential trial is irrelevant to his qualifications for office under the Constitution. Nevertheless, there seems no question that indictment, conviction or both – let alone a prison sentence – would significantly compromise a president’s ability to function in office. And the Constitution doesn’t provide an easy answer to the problem posed by such a compromised chief executive.

This example of getting along came in marked contrast to how some legislators in Congress (mis)behaved during President Biden’s February 7 State of the Union address. As Biden talked about how a minority of GOP members aimed to cut spending for the Social Security and Medicare programs, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and a few of her fellow Republicans interrupted the speech by booing, shouting out rude objections, and generally making fools of themselves.