ALBONE

Our devices make our lives easier, but that doesn’t always mean they make them better. Sometimes I think we really take for granted what technology allows us to do. I’m living in Thailand at the moment, and I sometimes use taxis to get around. Once, I was in a taxi and the driver needed to check something on his phone (probably directions to where we were headed). He spoke into his phone in Thai, and his speech was converted to Thai script on his screen. Text-to-speech has been common place for a while, but thinking about the fact that the driver’s phone was able to process Thai blew me away, as Thai is a character-based language. The internet has made our lives easier in so many ways. Google Translate has helped me overcome the challenging language barrier in Thailand. Information that would have taken a trip to a good library to acquire can now be found with a simple online search. We can communicate with anyone across the globe as long as we have a stable internet connection or mobi

 We may have different religious views, but respect is something we can all agree on. Let's just get straight to it; the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony crossed a line. During the ceremony, there was a live performance which was staged to recreate Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper.  I didn’t watch it (and I wouldn't advise anyone to), but the performance was said to be a disgusting farce which mocked one of the most important moments in the New Testament of the Bible: Jesus' Last Supper with His Apostle. This event centres around the Institution of the Eucharist; Jesus' Ultimate Gift to His followers. The Last Supper is commemorated by billions of Christians every Sunday in the Mass and marked in a special way on Holy Thursday before Easter.    Following backlash on social media, the Olympic Committee later apologized for the performance, but I feel that this incident is emblematic of a larger problem in our society today: a general lack of respect for Christ

 It takes a brave man to acknowledge his vulnerability. June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Over the last few years, there has been a welcome increase in discussion around mental health, particularly men's mental health. Unfortunately, the centuries-old stigma surrounding men's mental health still persists, as if having a Y-chromosome somehow prevents you from being emotionally vulnerable. Men don't cry? Yeah, no. Men don’t feel anxious? Nope. Jesus Christ, the literal definition of a Perfect Man, was in such mental agony the night before His execution that he sweated blood (a rare condition known as hematidrosis). There are a plethora of negative societal consequences for not allowing men to talk about their mental health: such as more instances of domestic violence and higher rates of depression. According to WHO, annual suicide rates for males globally (12.6 per 10,000 people) are over twice as high as those for females (5.6 per 10,000 people).  This needs to c

 Standing up for what's right is rarely easy, but it's necessary. Over the last couple of days, there have been numerous protests held in various Kenyan counties over the proposed 2024 Finance Bill. The Bill is part of the Kenyan government's annual budget and is in its final stages of deliberation. The reason so many Kenyans have taken to the streets and to social media to protest against the Bill is due to the numerous tax hikes it'll introduce on basic commodities and services. Furthermore, if the Bill is approved, it will result in a loss of digital privacy amongst Kenyans by granting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) immunity to data protection laws. Like many other Kenyans, I feel as though this Finance Bill is the straw that broke the camel's back. Over the last few years, Kenya has seen a large increase in taxes. Whilst this is somewhat understandable (as there has been a global recession of sorts over the last few years and Kenya is pretty deep in the debt

 A reflection on the role and nature of fatherhood. I'm not the first or the last to say this: our world is suffering from a 'dad' crisis. Many children are growing up without the physical or emotional presence of a father figure in their lives. In some circumstances, this is unavoidable (such as in the case of the death of a father figure), but in a lot of others, so-called 'men' are unwilling to do their duty and support their families, either slacking off in their role or outright abandoning their wives and children. Why is this happening? Amongst other reasons, I believe ignorance is a key factor to be considered. Ignorance of what exactly? Ignorance of what being a father really means. Now, I can't claim to know much about fatherhood. Yeah, I've been blessed with a great dad, but that doesn't mean that I understand exactly how it feels like to be a father. In general, parenthood is about  giving. During marriage, husband and wife agree to give thems

One of my favourite sequels tbh. So in my last post (which you can check out if you haven’t already) I reviewed Kung Fu Panda. I rewatched the sequel with my friends the other day, and it’s even better than the first one.     [OBLIGATORY SPOILER WARNING] Like any good sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2 builds on its predecessor’s story. We learn that Po is adopted (which resolves questions kid-me had when I saw the first one), and journey with him as he slowly learns that harrowing truth about what happened to the panda village. One of the best things about this movie is how it handles mature themes like genocide and trauma. Through distinctive animation and a striking sound track (Hans Zimmer at it again), we learn how and why Lord Shen purged all the pandas, and how Po survived. The scene in the rain where Po finally comes to terms with his loss; letting go of the past and embracing the present is one of my favourite scenes in film. Jack Black is back and better than ever. Along with the animat