It is our human tendency to make comparisons. Having seen two different worlds in two different countries, sometimes I see differences and maybe my brain does comparisons too.
Here, in the UK, I saw bus drivers getting down from their seats, going towards the other side door of the bus through which passengers embark, unfolding the platform and support that is meant for people with wheelchairs, and helping them get on the bus. ‘It is their duty’ some may say. But then shouldn’t it be the duty of bus drivers all over the world? In my country I have seen buses and even the system with such a platform, but it is never used. People probably don’t even know that buses should have them or if they exist at all. Life is difficult for disabled people in many parts of the world.
I was also surprised to see that they can adjust and heighten or lower the chassis of the bus to adjust with the adjoining curb or footpath.
Not only such systems on buses, but so many buildings here, and almost all new buildings are designed to be accessible to disabled people, such as those who have to use wheelchairs.
Imagine, so many buildings having this provision. Bus driver doesn’t question why waste time for one such passenger. It is not questioned about how few would use such an accessibility route, but it has to be there. It is a necessity.
This kind of inclusion and consideration is very much necessary in the world.
Wrongly, first buildings and structures are built, and then they think about how to adjust other things.
LifeHuman life unfolds between two powerful forces: desire and choice.Desire is the seed planted within the human heart, while choice is the hand that either nurtures that seed or leaves it unattended. Every person lives between what they long for and what they decide to do about it.We often believe that we are the masters of our desires, but in reality, the origin of our desires is not entirely within our control. The place where we are born, the environment in which we are raised, and the experiences we pass through collectively shape the direction and color of our desires.For instance, a person who has no roof over their head naturally considers shelter their greatest desire. In contrast, someone who possesses every material comfort but lacks inner peace may find all worldly luxuries meaningless. If asked about their deepest wish, such a person would likely say that they seek peace above all else.Desires never truly leave human beings. A child desires toys, a young adult longs for success and achievement, and a middle-aged person searches for peace and stability. Even when a person reaches the final stage of life, desires do not completely disappear. A dying individual may still wish for ease and mercy in the world beyond.How strange it is that human beings and their desires can never truly be separated. Yet, despite this inseparable connection, desire itself is not fully a matter of personal choice.
As the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer famously said:“Man can do what he wants, but he cannot will what he wants.”
This statement reveals a profound truth about human existence: our wishes and desires are not entirely under our control. What we long for is, in many ways, something granted to us rather than consciously created by us.However, while desire may not be fully within our power, action certainly is. Human beings may not always choose what they want, but they can choose how they respond to those wants. This is where responsibility, morality, and character emerge.If we reflect deeply, we begin to realize that nothing truly belongs to us. Everywhere we look, we witness the presence and power of the One in whose control our very existence rests. When nothing is truly our own, humility becomes the path to salvation.In the end, perhaps the greatest wisdom is not in claiming ownership over life, but in accepting our limitations with grace, remaining humble, and recognizing the higher power that governs all things.
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To be honest, it’s kind of boring. There’s nothing special about it. But before I get ahead of myself, let me start with what The Row is.
The Row is a high-fashion brand created by the Olsen twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. It started in 2006. They used to be young actors, namely playing the same girl named Michelle Tanner in Full House. A lot of people might also know their younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen, who has worn a lot of their clothes at events. Others, as it says on 10 Famous Faces in the Row’s Celebrity Fan Club by Alice Cary from British Vogue, like Zoe Kravitz, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and more have been seen out wearing their clothes.
So now you know what it’s about. Let’s start with what it says on their website.
In the About Us section, it says “Focusing on exceptional fabrics, impeccable details, and precise tailoring, the house combines a timeless perspective with subtle attitudes which form an irreverent classic signature.” They state exactly why they’re famous. They pay attention to details most don’t, like the stitching or the fabric. It isn’t just about how nice it looks (not that they don’t care about that) but also about how it feels and was made. Things like nice silk, really soft cashmere, and hand-picked cotton are all put into these pieces just so that they can feel better and look good at the same time. All this makes them higher-end than most things because they put so much time and effort into the tiny things, which become the center of attention and force you to appreciate them more.
Another thing is quiet luxury. If you look at the Ready-To-Wear on their website, nothing is outstated. To be honest, it looks like it could just be bought at a local store (no offense). According to Quiet Luxury: Why This Trend Won’t Pass Away from Fashion United, “It is about prosperity and subtle wealth. Especially in times of crisis, quiet luxury is becoming more common.” The celebrities don’t seem to want to flaunt their wealth. They’re okay with not always looking rich. Along with that, I think the reason the article talks about “in times of crisis” is because it just would not be appropriate. If people are struggling out there and they’re out here wearing Chanel, Gucci, and things like that, it might not send out a great message to the public. It would show that they might not care because they still have stuff that others don’t. The Row is subtle enough that people might not notice that these people are wearing luxury items. It shows wealth, but subtly.
Speaking of subtle wealth, this company has mastered that with some rules they set. You’re probably asking ‘What rules could she be talking about related to a fashion company?’ I asked myself that too when I first saw it. To answer, they don’t allow phones at their shows. No, they prefer to give people paper which raises a lot of opinions. From the article What a No-Phone Fashion Show Means in the Social Media Era by Isabelle Truman for Vogue Business, “‘I don’t have a The Row store anywhere near me, there’s no way I could experience whatever it is they do in person. I’d only get that through the internet. They know this,’ fashion archivist Kim Russell says. ‘It’s a move to craft a certain demographic and keep it that way.’”
Judging by this, the rule caught people’s attention. People think that it’s a way to keep it away from the public eye, to lure them in, or to be able to control what people see around the company. Obviously, that has a certain allure. Not being able to see something so important in the fashion industry would make it hard to want to stay away. On top of that it makes it seem high-class in a way. As if only the richest and most exclusive people can see it which makes other people seem lesser-than. The ironic part about that is they are the definition of quiet luxury, but the debate around their brand is definitely not.
Now, let’s make like a burrito and wrap it up! If you didn’t actually pay attention while reading this, I get it. But to make it simple, The Row is important because of three main things, details that normal people wouldn’t notice, being rich but quietly, and being rich, quiet, AND exclusive. Cool, right? I hope you learned something new while reading this because I know I did, and I know quite a lot about fashion.
Batman, Gotham’s famed dark knight has been officially protecting our beloved city for 15 (note to self doing the maths canonically batman has been batman for 17 years) years. But it calls into question, who IS he? Over the years we have yet to find any information on the caped crusader as to who he possibly is or anything about his life so why don't we delve into the history of the Batman and the most popular running theories as to who’s behind the mask?
Now it would be criminal of me to not bring up the most prevalent at this time one of Gotham's most famed socialites, Mr. play boy billionaire, Bruce Wayne. The Wayne theory first started getting popular in the 50’s with the emergence of the heir of the Wayne fortune made his debut of the annual Wayne Gala and then started to gain more traction when our batman had brought the first birdie under his wing, coincidentally at the same time as our own Brucie Wayne adopted his first ward; Richard Grayson. This revitalised the conversation around Bruce Wayne as the batman with his traffic light coloured side-kick bursting into the scene, but this can be no mere coincidence! Every single time batman has taken on a new robin, Bruce Wayne gains a new ward and the death of the second robin aligns exactly with the date of the death of Mr. Wayne's second son, Jason Todd. (Also the butts match)
The truth is, the batman is a man with access to large amounts of funding and training, leading to many people to believe he is one of the many rich people within the city or somebody being funded by the government. This is important when you take into account the different factors for his funding many take into account Bruce Wayne's role in the funding of the justice league - despite the well known avoidance of anything to do with Mr. Wayne by the batman, leading many to believe that they are scorned lovers, rather than the same person.
Another popular theory as to who the man behind the mask is comes in the form of our own lovely commissioner Gordon. Of course, this is highly improbable anymore as this year commissioner gordon is celebrating his 68th birthday this year, however he may have passed his legacy onto somebody else. This theory is presented by the citizens of Gotham due to some very suspicious behaviour Gordon has displayed, such as his “meetings” with the bat on the station rooftop alone, as well as the access to police weapons and vehicles to be able to use along with his training. People have also noticed the striking resemblance of Gordon's daughter, Barbra to bat girl, and the disappearance of bat girl around the same time that Ms. Gordon had the tragic incident that landed her in a wheelchair.
Some honourable mentions are the theories that he may not be a well known figure and possibly an ex-special forces officer as we know there has to be some sort of connection to the government,otherwise they would have done something about him by now. Especially given the fact it is obvious that the bat has had some sort of training. He also may also not be a man at all! Many subscribe to the belief that the bat is a cryptid along the likes of the moth-man or Sasquatch who exists solely to protect the citizens of Gotham. However we must remember that this is unlikely, due to the use of sidekicks and also the rise of other vigilantes around the city, such as the Red Hood and Spoiler. This proves that despite the bats working alone upon his debut, he is not isolated and has connections which all but throws the cryptid theory out the window.
Despite the discourse over his identity we still have to thank the bat for all hes done for our city. These 15 years have been chaotic and we know about the constant break outs but we come together to thank the Batman for keeping us safe and for building the system of heroes we have today and the slow going job of reforming our villains with the success of Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn; who still partake in vilianess activity on occasion but mostly act as vigilantes along side the bats now.
