KWICK 6: The Start

Welcome to KWICK 6! Super excited to share what I've been thinking about, what I've consumed, and my current reads. Like I said in the introduction, Kicking It with Intention, Collecting Knowledge is about growth. So I hope you enjoy it. Read what interests you; skip what doesn't.

Thought of the Week:

I've been thinking a lot about whether having a "dream job" is realistic. So instead of going through life and tolerating my career, why don't I create something that I will enjoy doing? No expectation, just enjoyment. So that's why KWICK 6 is here.

What I've Consumed:

Is Our Fascination with True Crime Beneficial?

Like most Americans, I have watched and listened to an absurd number of true crime documentaries. I've watched a variety of shows like "American Greed" and "20/20" to deep dives like "How to Fix A Drug Scandal." However, last week I came across a video by a Youtuber named Princess Weekes titled "How True Crime Reveals the Corruption and Failures of the Legal System." She gives revealing statistics about crime and discusses how prison reform conversations have not changed over time. However, at the start of the video, she made me stop and think. The point of her video is that true crime should be consumed critically and challenge the viewer to critically look at the criminal law system, including how America polices its citizens. In turn, this should inform our decisions. I had to stop and think about whether I consume true crime for knowledge, for entertainment, or both. Furthermore, does the way I consume inform how I view the criminal justice systems and the reforms I believe are needed?

Copaganda

Princess Weekes' video led me to other videos. Particularly a playlist from a Youtuber, Skip Intro, titled "Copaganda." Watching this playlist (which isn't completed as another video came out a couple of days ago) has been eye-opening. Did you know the LAPD funded, and in many ways controlled, Dragnet? Did you know that 60% of primetime shows in 2019 were shows about crime, the police, and the legal system? I didn't either. I watch a lot of crime tv shows. NCIS was one of my favorites, although I slowed watching it after Tony left. Castle is a favorite, even if the last season wasn't that great. Law and Order SVU has been a staple in my life for years. All media influences us in some way, but I have never thought about how cop shows influenced me and society at large. This is a well-done playlist with facts, figures, and humor. I highly recommend it.

Is Quiet Quitting New, or Are We Just Putting a Name To What's Been Happening?

My best friend and I have been sending articles back and forth regarding quiet quitting. I told her I saw some very extreme takes on practicing quiet quitting, but after reading more articles and watching a couple of videos, I've concluded it's just a new name for what people have been doing. I think the idea of quiet quitting and radical rest are symptoms of the hustle culture that has been prevalent for the past decade. Between burnout from the hustle culture and the pandemic showing there are more efficient ways of working, quiet quitting is a natural byproduct. As a black woman, I have grown up hearing black people have to work twice as hard. So is quiet quitting an option for minorities? I'm not sure. It'll be interesting to see how this conversation continues to develop in society. Here is an interesting video for a rundown on quiet quitting and its relation to the Great Resignation.

TikTok and Counterintelligence

Does the American government genuinely see TikTok as a national security threat? I believe so. Not necessarily because of the number of people on the app but the concerns over who can access the data. Mainly...China. In this digital age, it is apparent that there is a new normal. The FBI released a video earlier this year titled "Made in Beijing: The Plan for Global Market Domination," which details the strategic ways China is attacking the US and other countries, I'm sure. So how does TikTok fit in? I think that is the main question. Just as Facebook and Twitter are ripe for misinformation, so is TikTok. "It's Time to Get Real About TikTok's Risks" was an interesting read because it was fascinating to see the disconnect between the general public and the threat the government sees with TikTok. This article leans on the side that the government is overreacting and reaching in its assessment of the threat. However, it also hints that the government is hypocritical in its assessment. This is definitely a subject I would like to keep exploring.

The Gentleman

The Gentleman is a 2019 action comedy film. It follows an American-born "cannabis baron" living and enjoying his empire in England. He wants to sell his business, and that's where the story begins. The movie wasn't anything mind-blowing. It was very white man heavy and had some casual racism. Although it is supposed to have some comedy, it really wasn't that funny. Typical over-the-top action is prevalent in this genre. However, the movie is uncomplicated, good when there is nothing else to watch, and get some entertainment type of movie. My favorite quote from the movie is: "If you wish to be the king of the jungle, it's not enough to act like a king; you must be the king. And there can be no doubt because doubt causes chaos and one's own demise." I watched it on Netflix, but it is on Paramount+ as well. If you are scrolling, trying to find something to watch, and can't make a decision, then I recommend this movie.

Currently Reading:

The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

• 2% completed. I literally just started the book. 13 pages in, and already confronted with some challenging parts. I am interested in reading this because I read Homegoing and enjoyed traveling through a family line. However, I wanted a little bit more from that story. With this book clocking in at 790 pages, I hope to connect with the characters and the family. I will take my time and read this over the next two months.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

• 5% completed. I am a fantasy and sci-fi lover. Those genres and romance are where the bulk of my reading lies. I am starting this epic fantasy series that follows a thief and has an intriguing magic system. I have heard good things about this series, so I am excited to dive into this world.

Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov

• 15% completed. I am returning to this world where the story expands over decades. This is the 3rd book in the series (publication order). Foundation covered 150 years while the 2nd book honed in on the timeline. In the first book, the ideas are what captured me, whereas, in the 2nd book, the story is what took center stage. However, in book 2, it didn't have as much impact on me. I am interested to see where I land on this book.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

• 78% completed. I started this book in February and decided to immersive read (reading physically and listening to the audiobook). Then, preparing for the move and actually moving, I didn't want to read this book. I picked it back up in June and didn't read any more until this week, when I committed to finishing it. I think what grates me about this book is its repetitive nature. Great information mixed with real-life stories. But there are only so many ways you can say that the American government has been central and instrumental to the segregation of this nation and the wealth inequality. I am interested in how the book concludes. But my next nonfiction will be much lighter...maybe.

If you need some recommendations, check out my Goodreads or StoryGraph. And then follow me on Instagram and Twitter. One of my favorite newsletters to read for current events is Morning Brew. Check it out.