03.26.26: Counterculture
Rethinking the College Dropout Narrative
There is a sense of romanticism attached to counterculture—the idea of actively rejecting the dominant values, norms, and expectations of mainstream society. One of the glorified narratives is that of the college dropout, which frames leaving as an act of rebellion, a rejection of the traditional postsecondary academic path in pursuit of something riskier, freer, […]
The Price of Becoming an Alpha Male
Instead of spending my Wednesday evening of Spring Recess lying on the beach clutching a piña colada in one hand and my faith in humanity in the other, I watched Louis Theroux’s new documentary titled “Inside the Manosphere.” For 91 minutes, I witnessed Theroux try to disentangle the bizarre nature of the “manosphere”—a vaguely connected […]
The Indy’s Guide to River Run Shots
This week, the Charles River Gods return for their annual appearance, manifested in cheap hard liquor on Harvard College’s Housing Day Eve: River Run. The following shots, some classic, some suggestions for a uniquely memorable River Run, may appear along your journey to appease them. My advice is as reliable as any college freshman’s, stitched […]
I Was Good at Loving Her, Not at Being Loved
The first time I met her, she sat next to our mutual friend, shy and quiet. People called her “Mali,” Thai for a small, delicate jasmine flower. She was 30, ten years older than me, yet every part of her body emitted an innocent desire to be loved, to be hugged, to be protected. I […]
Satire: Make Harvard Great Again!
It’s no secret—we’re looking at a new civil war. But this time, the war is actually totalllly understandable and happening for super duper good reasons between two actually relevant groups: Harvard University and the Trump administration. Those government people may not be right about a lot of things, but they are kind of right about […]
Boots, Beats, and Blue Jeans: The Fashion of Country’s Streaming Boom
Over the past six years, country music streaming has surged by nearly 287%, driven largely by Gen Z and millennials. Artists like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, and Megan Moroney now dominate charts and playlists once reserved for pop and hip-hop. What was once perceived as regional and niche has evolved into a defining sound of […]
Exploring American Hometowns: Irvine, California
Live long enough in Irvine, California, and you might begin to think you are living in “The Truman Show.” Sunny during all seasons, days blur into years under blue skies, white clouds, trimmed hedges, and asphalt streets. For 18 years, I grew up in Irvine, one of three babies born on a sunny December day […]
Do-it-Yourself Shotski
Some may crown sliced bread or the internet as humanity’s greatest invention, but that title belongs elsewhere. Instead, mankind should be lauded for the shotski. This beautiful device features four shot glasses attached to a ski; that’s it. Simple, yet it elevates the experience of taking a shot to a whole new level. What better […]