A good read: reKindle-ing the fire


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I bring books everywhere. I bring them on the train, to class, to work. Even if I don’t get the chance to read, I bring them anyway, just in case. I also bring books on dates. They fill the lonely lag time between drinks or when one of us goes to the bathroom. And generally, the […]

Genre bias: bands we love to hate


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Someone higher up made the questionable decision to give me a weekly column to tell you, or rather, rant to you about my week’s musical ponderings. I could try to explain this, or I could just dive right in. Being on the lazy side, I’ll opt for the latter. There are a multitude of successful […]

Feminist zines address gender-based issues


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On an aimless browsing trip through Etsy, an online marketplace where people sell vintage or handmade items, I came across a peculiar listing. Interest piqued, I clicked on the link, “Riot Grrrl nostalgia zine grab bag.” The seller was advertising a collection of mismatched pro-feminism zines produced in the early 1990s. The covers were either […]

Bonnies over Clydes: Encounters in classroom romances


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I never used to make friends in class. I would come right on time, sit by the door and leave as soon as lecture ended. No time for chitchat. But last semester, in some twist of fate, I attracted a community of near-door sitters, who too had no time for chitchat. Somehow, chitchat we did. The […]

Reflecting on time in Melbourne


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Jet lagged and unable to lift my head from exhaustion, I asked the barista for a coffee. He looked perplexed and kindly asked how I would like the coffee prepared. I learned from then on that in Australia, the word “coffee” is virtually meaningless without futher instructions, such as flat white, black tea latte, etc. […]

At Bikram Yoga, students exercise in 104 degree conditions


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Located on a busy and bustling street in Marina del Rey and sandwiched between a Chinese restaurant and a chiropractor’s office, Bikram Yoga Marina del Rey proves appearances can be deceiving. As I waited to find a spot in the completely packed parking lot before class, I wondered what the studio could possibly have inside. […]

Jessica Jones tells complicated story of female superhero


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This past week, Netflix released Marvel’s Jessica Jones as the latest in its slew of original series that’s put the streaming service on the map in terms of quality programming. Starring Krysten Ritter as the title character, the show follows private detective Jones as she attempts to track down and destroy a mind-controlling man named […]

COLUMN: Hollywood Reporter replaces its 100 Power Women issue


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Last week, The Hollywood Reporter announced that it would cease its annual ranking of Hollywood’s 100 Power Women in Entertainment after 23 years. Last year, Anne Sweeney, president of Disney/ABC Television Group, graced the cover. The year before that, Oprah represented the powerful women in Hollywood. The list has had a broad range — from […]