Phoronix Premium allows ad-free access to the site and other features while supporting this site's continued operations The mission at Phoronix since 2004 has centered around enriching the Linux hardware experience. In addition to supporting our site through advertisements, you can help by subscribing to Phoronix Premium. You can also contribute to Phoronix through a PayPal tip or tip via Stripe Legal Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Cookies | Privacy Manager | Contact Copyright © 2004 - 2025 by Phoronix Media All trademarks used are properties of their respective owners Install the TJR Wrestling web app for instant access to the very latest news and reviews Two released WWE stars have fired back at suggestions that laziness was the reason behind them being cut from the company Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio Dave Meltzer noted that WWE felt that many of those who were released weren’t training hard enough He added that he’d seen the word “lazy” used to describe some talents who were let go: Many of those cut were perceived as not working hard in training if the feeling is you’re not working hard in training – I saw the term ‘lazy’ – the ones who are lazy are gonna be gone and the ones who didn’t stand out are gonna be gone But some of those now ex-WWE stars aren’t having any of it Gigi Dolin – now going by her non-WWE name of Priscilla Kelly – took to social media to hit back at suggestions she had been lazy: When I wasn’t traveling to work for either of the two companies I was working for bumping my ass off and doing cardio drills with one of the best/toughest coaches I’ve worked with Cora Jade also had her say on the issue in response to Dolin’s comments: plus can’t forget having to go to my own gym outside of work after “strength and conditioning” that wasn’t doing anything for me other than get me body shamed by my bosses — Priscilla Kelly (@HellsFavoritePK) May 4, 2025 A WWE Hall of Famer has questioned Joe Hendry's loss at WrestleMania "Timeless" Toni Storm delivered a rousing speech on AEW Collision celebrating her adoring public Cora Jade has revealed she was body shamed by her bosses and coworkers during her time in WWE Another popular WWE Superstar is leaving the company One top AEW star has admitted that he doesn't watch wrestling Becky Lynch wasn't who one WWE Champion was expecting A popular WWE Premium Live Event looks set to drop from the calendar Get instant access to ITR on your home screen Add ITR Wrestling to your Google News feed > According to reports, several “lazy” stars were a part of the recent WWE releases On May 2, WWE released or opted not to renew the contracts of 17 on screen performers and several office staff and writers. The biggest name among those was Christine Lubrano who served as the company’s Senior Vice President of Creative Writing Operations Joining the company in 2021 Lubrano took on a significant leadership role within the company’s content engine and reported to Bruse Prichard and Paul Levesque Gigi Dolin and Eddie Thorpe were surprising additions to the list while the main roster releases of Shayna Baszler Dakota Kai and Braun Strowman certainly raised eyebrows across the wrestling world Despite the disappointing news, stars like Cora Jade and Dakota Kai have both released statements about their wrestling futures More details have emerged regarding the latest round of WWE releases, but according to David Meltzer, on the Wrestling Observer Radio “many” of the releases from NXT were those reportedly “not working hard in training” “Many of those cut were perceived as not working hard in training And if you don’t work hard in training if the feeling is you’re not working hard in training – I saw the term ‘lazy’ – the ones who are lazy are gonna be gone and the ones who didn’t stand out are gonna be gone.” Following her release from WWE, former NXT star Dani Palmer took to social media to announce she was “officially” closing out her athletic career and not expected to pursue a career in professional wrestling going forward. In other news, backstage news on Braun Strowman’s WWE release has been disclosed In recent news, a recently released NXT star has issued a cryptic social media message. Paul Heyman has explained why he turned his back on Roman Reigns A former WWE Champion has announced their wedding engagement AEW Women's Champion Toni Storm wants to wrestle this Academy-Award winning actor CM Punk has opened up on the women wrestler's role in WWE A WWE Hall of Famer's daughter is currently training to become a pro-wrestler New update has emerged on Chelsea Green's WWE contract Potential date revealed for Cody Rhodes' WWE return A popular WWE Attitude Era star has opened up on his in-ring comeback thoughts It appears that commitment is making Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce turn more and more lazy The news has been shared by an inside source close to the Daily Mail while the duo is keen to “get their own workouts in together” The biggest change to their dynamic is their lazy mornings “She is big on breakfast which generally consists of yogurt and eggs,” for her 9 am wakeup days The morning is her best time to create music which she is constantly doing all day every day in the back of her mind.” breathes and experiences gives her insight for new material she will feel a beat or lyrics and grab her guitar which she knows all the inner workings of.” own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment University of Oxford provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK View all partners you’ve probably felt the sting of being called lazy Do you sometimes feel guilty when not being productive You’re not alone. Self-doubt about productivity is very common and no wonder: we’re immersed in a culture that expects constant achievement. The perception of gen Z (and millennials) being “lazy” or “entitled” persists making it easy to internalise these criticisms Particularly in the era of working from home, it can be hard to shake the feeling of guilt when not being “productive”. Articles with titles like Am I Depressed or Lazy? reveal how commonly people (even highly successful ones) worry about being lazy Laziness is not only seen as a personal shortcoming but also a moral one. This is the case across different cultures – references to the “badness” of laziness can be found in texts of all major religions This moral dimension explains why being called “lazy” feels so much worse than being called “distracted” or “slow” — it implies a character flaw But judging someone (or oneself) as lazy also reinforces a harmful myth that emerged from the Protestant work ethic and was further entrenched by capitalist values: that constant effort and productivity are the only paths to achievement and self-worth This sustains a culture where everyone must always be trying harder, leading to anxiety, burnout and discrimination against those who work differently six-week newsletter course from The Conversation’s UK and Canada editions Every week, we’ll bring you research-backed advice and tools to help improve your relationships, your career, your free time and your mental health – no supplements or skincare required. Sign up here to start your glow-up at any time or are struggling with homelessness or unemployment you’re much more likely to be labelled “lazy” Research shows that children from minority groups are more likely to be thought of as lazy in school, resulting in punishment instead of help. Employees with obesity are promoted less often due to assumptions about their “laziness” and those who can’t take on extra work because of caring duties are often seen as not committed enough and miss out on professional development Given the serious consequences of labelling someone as lazy we’d better make sure we understand what laziness is What often seems implied by the judgment “you’re lazy” is: “You could achieve more if you tried harder” But we can almost always achieve more by putting in more effort If not always giving it our all is enough for laziness then we’re all being lazy most of the time The research I’m conducting aims to better understand and redefine “laziness” I first explored how people commonly understand laziness and then used philosophical analysis to identify which everyday understanding makes most sense I drew on various areas of philosophy that discuss the value of effort and to what extent we can be blamed for behaving in a certain way due to lack of willpower My analysis reveals that what is crucial for laziness is that you lack a good reason – a justification – for not trying harder only the first scenario involves true laziness what might appear to be laziness is actually justified effort management: you have good reasons to rest or genuine limitations on how much effort you can exert In my view, what truly matters isn’t how hard you try, but whether your efforts efficiently achieve what’s important to you but are actually reasonable strategies for doing just that: The tendency to judge others as lazy often stems from overvaluing effort What’s really important is that our effort is directed at the right goal Learning to distinguish between truly lazy behaviour and justified effort management can be liberating It can allow you to more confidently resist the pressure to be constantly productive – and to do so without guilt I’m not suggesting we should only think about what matters to us personally you can question the common idea that more productivity and trying harder is always better consider whether there might be good reasons for their approach Perhaps they’re making strategic choices about their energy dealing with invisible challenges or prioritising differently taking it easier isn’t laziness — it’s wisdom Other people might be judging water parks based on the thrill rides or the wave pool or the food or the amenities I’m judging them almost exclusively based on the lazy river because that’s where I’m spending the majority of my time slathering on sunscreen and then immediately heading for the lazy river and circumnavigating loop after loop until I die of heat stroke or feel like getting a hot dog After my first trip this week to Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay That’s because Volcano Bay actually has two lazy rivers It’s a delightful little saunter around the park that includes some vibrant scenery and the occasional obstacle to traverse around and went around about five times to great success in one of the half chairs I was planning to go around another five times or so when my wife let me in on the big reveal about the second lazy river you put on a life jacket and the current propels you around like it’s 1880 and you just fell out of your boat on the Mighty Mississippi There’s the same types of obstacles you’d expect from a traditional lazy river the waterfalls that sneak up on you if you close your eyes for too long the one side or the other splits you need to choose between but the water is rushing several times faster than you’d normally expect and everyone is without a vehicle I’m not really sure if there’s a proven strategy for how to best get around but I tried several different positions as if I was doing a scientific experiment I floated on my back with my feet extended forward which seemed to be the safe approach most other people were taking I floated on my stomach with my feet extended backwards which was neither relaxing nor easy to maintain I tried floating on my back with my feet behind me but that felt like I was asking for a concussion I tried running on the ground to try and increase my speed but I’m pretty sure it was doing the opposite Volcano Bay took a concept I’ve loved for decades and contorted it just enough so it felt both familiar and new at the same time I imagine it’s the same way kids probably feel when they discover there are more flavors of ice cream than just vanilla or more beverages than just milk and water I’d spend a little time there and then head back again it has me wishing every single water park on Earth had a fast and a slow lazy river Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 'They Think Walt Disney Is A Company’: Imagineer Explains Why Controversial New Disneyland Show Needed To Happen, And The Reasons Make Sense David Harbour Meeting Red Guardian At Disneyland Is The Best Thing You'll See All Day 32 Times When Zack Morris And The Gang Did The Right Thing This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. .st3{enable-background:new}BuzzFeed Shopping logoSearchGift Guide but all were independently selected by our editors BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page Subscribe to Shopping NewsletterCaret Down26 Lazy Girl Hair Products If You Refuse To Get A Hot Tool Involved In Your StylingA change your sleep schedule and "Did I unplug that?" intrusive thoughts won't miss for a second This cream helps define your natural texture and works best on those with wavy Each set comes with a curling rod and two hair scrunchies These are designed to work with all hair types but work best if you roll them with damp hair Just a note that you don't have to lay your edges BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord swears by them: "These are designed to work on all hair types They're game changers for me as a runner and a human I basically have one on my wrist and in my hair at all times They're super soft but lock in place really well on runs — I've never once had to adjust or tighten them is they are *super* gentle when you pull them out As someone who already sheds a lot I am determined to keep as much of my hair on my head as possible! These are also great for sleeping in because if you wear them loose they don't dent your hair like other hair ties might They are definitely more expensive than other hair ties but worth it — I've rotated the same pack of six for over two years now!" Psssst — I've never had strong spray bottle feelings This has been SO helpful when I want to lightly wet my hair in the mornings for styling Find out more in my colleague's Reecho hair extensions deep dive They aim to get you the best quality and trendiest styles and boost your confidence Their buns are made of vegan synthetic fiber from Japan Make sure to read their tips on styling and care The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity WHEN Chanel Robinson piled on the pounds in the pandemic her self esteem took a hit - but that wasn't the only downside Facing a deadly diagnosis that doctors warned was a result of her 18st frame, the 29-year-old turned to weight loss jabs. Along with shedding a staggering 6st she admits there were two vital side effects she hadn't expected that have transformed her life and looks The discovery was the wake-up call she needed to finally take control of her health “Physically, just walking around doing miles was hard,” Chanel, from Atlanta, Georgia “I just felt very sluggish and I think I slept a lot more I wasn’t happy with myself and I was super critical “I didn’t feel comfortable wearing certain things Due to her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol, Chanel says she was able to get a prescription for the weight loss injectable “pretty easily” The medication works by mimicking a hormone the body produces when the stomach is full, slowing down digestion and preventing cravings Switching off hunger signals means patients eat less and avoid weight gain Chanel’s medical insurance does not cover the expenses meaning she has to fork out around $1,500 (£1,126) every month But having shed 6.5st - and wiped years off her appearance - Chanel says the hefty cost is more than worth it The content creator posted her transformation on TikTok where it racked up an incredible 7.8million views She says: “I started taking them 100 per cent for weight loss “I was unhappy with my weight and how I looked “I felt like my life was heading in the wrong direction so I decided to start taking them then “I went to the doctor and I found out I was pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol “I needed to be on them for reasons other than weight loss “Weight has not always been something I've struggled with “I know being sedentary during that time didn’t help and I continued those bad habits I developed during those times.” Chanel says having polycystic ovary syndrome (PSOS), a condition where you have few, unusual or very long periods the condition meant she found it difficult to slim down But having taken Ozempic since June 2023, Chanel feels slimmer and more confident than ever - and she says there’s been an unexpected benefit to the treatment: her youthful glow “Ozempic has made me look 10 years younger by improving my skin and my health,” she says “I've just gotten this glow that I don't even think I had prior to gaining weight “I'm extremely happy with how I look now My confidence has grown so much in the way I present myself “I've definitely had people comment on it The huge improvement in my skin is something people who know me point out in person but it's a pretty big conversation online as well “I had really bad seborrheic dermatitis that caused itchy “Now that it's cleared up due to the weight loss “It was hard going out with my friends because I was always 'the bigger friend' and it didn't help that I just genuinely didn't put much effort into my appearance because I wasn't happy with myself “But now that the weight loss has shaved years off my appearance I feel more confident than ever now that I look my age.” Chanel says she saw the effects of Ozempic quickly – losing more than 2st in the first few months She eats the same as before but now has smaller portions As well as the weight loss, clearing up her skin and helping with her PCOS the injections have had a profound effect on her other health conditions “It’s definitely helped my dermatitis and PCOS “I’m doing physical activities and I genuinely want to go out and move more.” Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year The jabs work by suppressing your appetite making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 which signals to the brain when the stomach is full so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists They slow down digestion and increase insulin production which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide) are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues GP and clinical consultant at patient.info said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.” Other uncommon side effects include altered taste Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines “You're not eating as much food and stay fuller for a lot longer,” she says I didn’t eat until 7pm because I genuinely had no desire for food “That was something I had to learn how to deal with “Now I'll eat pretty late at like 12pm in the afternoon I don’t eat until around this time and then I’ll have a snack and something smaller for dinner “The only side effect I was warned about was not to overeat as I might projectile vomit “I've probably overeaten a handful of times but I've felt extremely uncomfortable “On Thanksgiving and Christmas you’re eating all day – it’s that kind of full But it has only happened a few times - they aren’t consistent side effects.” Chanel says despite always being open and honest about her weight loss journey, she has been judged by others online She says: “I always tell people how I’ve lost weight “I’ve never had judgement in person but definitely online “I think so many of us have struggled with weight for so long and we didn’t have options People work out and diet and it doesn’t seem to stick “But people come in and have something negative to say – ‘You're lazy you're stealing medication from people who need it.’ I get some comments like that but I’m a pretty strong person there are people out here who want to see people continue to stay overweight and struggle.’ ‘I don’t respect the fact you did this and didn’t put blood sweat and tears into the gym and didn’t count calories.’ “They think if they struggled to lose weight Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Subscribe to Shopping NewsletterCaret DownCalling All Lazy Perfectionists — Here Are 27 Products You’ll Want To Have With You This YearSay it with me — this is the year where cleaning and whipping up a top-tier meal come easily to us and the other is a regular fine tip liner for defining the rest of the eye BuzzFeed Shopping editor Emma Lord says "I've owned one of these babies and have faithfully used it every week for upward of two years and especially love it while working from home — it simplifies breakfast because I know no matter what assortment of groceries I'm working with there are precooked eggs to add some protein to it 🍳) If my dinner is boring or seems like it needs a little extra oomph to it Some reviews note that the alarm on it is a little loud but the new models have significantly decreased the volume and sing a little song instead!" I'm *so* bad about cleaning my brushes (I know...shameful) and this makes it super easy to clean a brush in a matter of seconds So even if I'm trying to do a *slightly* more elaborate eyeshadow look for the day this makes the process of switching colors as quick and painless as possible and I've already tossed it in my bag and brought it on vacation with me This is one of those products I won't be traveling without in the future if I plan on doing eyeshadow at any point — and it means you only need to pack one or two eyeshadow brushes!"  Black woman–owned natural haircare brand on Etsy formulated for type 3 and 4 hair textures Psst — this is meant to be used in place of water as a refresher can be used right after conditioning as the “liquid” portion of the LOC method in your wash 'n' go or as a detangler woman-owned Etsy shop established in 2016 that specializes in hand-sewn headbands for kids and adults and dumplings featuring flavors from Sichuan Here's what BuzzFeed contributor Brittany Ross says about it: "Ever since my sister introduced me to this life-changing condiment I've slathered it on pretty much everything I could think of — from roasted vegetables and noodles to seafood and popcorn the thing I love most about this chili crisp is that it also has great flavor that doesn't get overpowered by the heat which happens with so many other spicy sauces That deep savory flavor comes from ingredients like fermented black bean so it's no wonder it's become my go-to pantry staple when I want to zhuzh up my dinner in a matter of seconds PS: Some people even swear by it as an ice cream topping!" people also use this on their pets as a quick grooming solution!) It suits all dishwasher machine makes and models Just pop them into the tray where you'd normally put detergent (or on the bottom of your dishwasher if you're washing dishes at the same time) Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on this spray This is made with a bamboo handle and powder-coated steel The simple lever system is what makes pulling weeds with this so easy It's dishwasher-safe and from a Miami-based small business Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity What's better than an easy chicken dinner Photographer: Jen Causey / Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage On Friday, it was announced that multiple wrestlers were parting ways with WWE including Braun Strowman and Shayna Baszler While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted the following about the releases… and the ones who didn’t stand out are gonna be gone.” (quote courtesy of WrestleTalk.com) issued a response to Meltzer’s comments… “When I wasn’t traveling to work for either of the two companies I was working for The way my body feels says otherwise.” plus can’t forget having to go to my own gym outside of work after ‘strength and conditioning’ that wasn’t doing anything for me other than get me body shamed by my bosses — Gigi Dolin (@gigidolin_wwe) May 4, 2025 The Golden State Warriors are on the verge of blowing a 3-1 lead to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs Believe it or not, Jimmy Butler played a huge role in the Game 5 and Game 6 defeats. Yes, the same Butler who turned the season around for the Warriors While Butler is known for taking things up a notch in the playoffs, the 35-year-old has been pushed to his limits in the latter half of this opening round series Butler is the guy who brings the most energy for his team on the floor According to data provided by Sofascore Butler shot just 41% from the field and 17% from the three-point line Butler talked about his abysmal shooting display in the postgame interview I probably got to jump up there and get some more rebounds I’ve been being lazy,” Butler said of return from injury He added: “I’m going definitely going to chase after the loose balls This is a veteran approach from Jimmy, who had to guard a mammoth in Steven Adams for the majority of the Warriors’ Game 6 loss vs the Rockets Being on the verge of blowing a 3-1 lead and playing the potentially final game of the season on the road can often take a toll on a player’s mentality Butler assured that the Warriors are soaring with confidence ahead of the important Game 7 clash We know how good of a team we are,” Butler continued a couple of us have been here before multiple times It’s on us to make sure we get it done,” the 6x NBA All-Star concluded It will be interesting to see what Butler does differently in the final game of the series Because who wants to hover over the stovetop all morning Even before his reign in N5 started, the Spaniard was cited as having developed many players at Manchester City, including the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane Obsessed with the fine details and the meticulous nuances of football it’s no surprise that the head coach has been referenced by so many as instrumental in their careers At Arsenal, Arteta has nurtured the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and, perhaps one of his biggest success stories, William Saliba Saliba signed for Arsenal in 2019 but didn’t make his competitive debut for the club until August 2022 The Frenchman was sent out on three separate loan spells before he made inroads in the Arsenal first team, with Arteta wanting the centre-back to develop certain aspects of his game before featuring for the Gunners This slow integration at the Emirates worked perfectly, with Saliba now wanted by Real Madrid as a result of establishing himself as one of the best defenders in world football Speaking to Arsenal.com about his career Saliba admitted he was ‘lazy’ when he was a young player trying to breakthrough into the professional game I would just do two or three sprints in the game then I would stand there and put my hands on my hips like this!’ So I was lazy but then I realised that if you want to be a top player you realise you need to step up a bit more There was one coach at this stage who told me to be more demanding with myself I have to run more in training and throughout the week.” Evidently not lazy by the time he joined Arsenal Saliba still had some things he needed to iron out of his game before Arteta could embrace him Occasionally too aggressive and front-footed as well as not always being the most commanding aerially the 23-year-old has developed in these aspects significantly in recent years Now valued at £68 million (via TransferMarkt) Dribbled past just twice all season in the Premier League the France international retains possession at an elite rate while he’s also willing to break lines with aggressive forward balls shutting down some of the world’s best forwards when they try to run at him Join the news democracyWhere your votes decide the Top 100 Reasons for you to sign up to our newsletter here Younger generations are radically rethinking what it means to earn a living With the cost of living surging and the traditional corporate grind often offering little more than hollow promises of future promotions and below-inflation pay rises the conventional 9 to 5 is fast losing its appeal a new wave of income generation is emerging and it’s being branded with a curiously paradoxical label: the ‘lazy’ side hustle Despite what the name might suggest, there’s nothing idle about these ventures. Whether it’s reselling clothes on Vinted, monetising a niche TikTok following, or flipping AI-generated content into passive income these so-called ‘lazy’ pursuits are often born not out of desire for extra work Young people aren’t chasing hustle culture for the thrill they’re reacting to a broken system that no longer guarantees stability Social media may glamorise the side hustle as a fast track to financial freedom it’s become a survival tool in an economy that increasingly asks people to do more there's one lesser-known side hustle that's starting to hit the mainstream - and it involves those pretty bland websites containing helpful information Known as 'digital real estate,' people are now buying niche websites and using ads and affiliate marketing to make money These can range from sites dedicated to pet care or home improvements which can rake in a staggering $3,000-$5,000 per month Matt Davis, a digital real estate expert, explained to Killer Startups: "The beauty of it is its simplicity You identify what people are searching for online create or buy content that solves their problems and far less stressful than traditional entrepreneurship." As to why it's not been raved about online one person simply quipped to the outlet: "Why would I shout from the rooftops about how easy it is so most of us prefer keeping a low profile." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings. which has fuelled Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s assault on government workers has existed for as long as bureaucracy itself with the alliterative plosives of its title raining down like flecks of spit was an opening volley in the fight to rouse sleepy bureaucrats and put them on notice that “bureaucrats have never been lazier.” According to Watters “Biden spent forty per cent of his Presidency on vacation But compared to the rest of the government he’s a workaholic.” America’s federal government employs a dizzying range of workers: mail carriers and mapmakers volcanologists positioned on tectonic-plate boundaries Recent antagonism toward the government workforce has targeted a particular type: the office-dweller the knowledge worker who is possibly remote DOGE’s waves of firings has been indiscriminate more machine-gun spray than surgical excision the image of the pampered paper pusher has stood in for a larger hazy vision of taxpayer-sponsored waste As the Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises—a leading thinker beloved by enemies of big government and friends of the free market—wrote in 1944 “Nobody calls himself a bureaucrat.” The very term implies an insult favors the “inefficient expert” who “cannot succeed within a competitive system.” For von Mises Other critics of bureaucracy point to a different danger: the corrupting effects of the system on the bureaucrats themselves of a twelve-person orgy among officials at a Veterans Affairs medical center in Tennessee offer salacious elaboration on this theme of erotic pathology casting the bureaucrat in the bedroom as at once perverse and virtuosic Although the question of whether bureaucrats make good lovers is relatively modern the trope of the bureaucrat as avoiding hard work has existed for as long as bureaucracy itself The scribes of ancient Egypt were among the world’s first bureaucrats and while scribal work was considered prestigious and honorable a career as a scribe was also a way of evading the hardships of other forms of labor “The Satire of the Trades,” a frequently copied text composed during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom presents itself as advice composed by a father for a son on his way to scribal school and bodily damage incurred in nearly all nonscribal occupations The idea that bureaucrats are slow-moving and unproductive In Charles Dickens’s novel “Little Dorrit,” published between 1855 and 1857 the most powerful government department is the Circumlocution Office through which all official business gets routed—and blocked: “Whatever was required to be done the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving—HOW NOT TO DO IT.” A full-blown moral panic about the laziness of government workers Musk’s filleting of the federal government is not the first time that so-called lazy bureaucrats have been thrown under the wheels of historical change Campaigns to purge the “parasites” tend to emerge—or to be fanned into flame—at moments of political rupture When an insecure yet ambitious regime attempts to carry out large-scale social transformation the indolent bureaucrat makes for an ideal scapegoat The reformers worried that change was too halting and that the Ottomans were falling behind the industrializing European nations Osman Hamdi Bey’s painting “The Tortoise Trainer,” one of the period’s most celebrated art works It shows an elderly man in religious Ottoman garb attempting to train the sluggish tortoises crawling at his feet Clerks who fell asleep in the office were charged with crimes the Grand Vizier—the head of state second only to the Sultan—demanded that “every lazy and inefficient civil official be weeded out.” An empire in decline turns on itself and attacks its own organism while fastening onto the belief that if people worked harder she would walk past one colleague “snoring at his desk.” Another employee would regularly slip out of the office to “take a nap in his favorite park Because “we have a country to save.” As Watters said on his show “Work-from-home Fridays isn’t going to fly in the Golden Age.” He credited Trump with a revival of the American work ethic This isn’t a lazy nation like some of you nations out there “Laziness is one of the sources of revisionism”—a deviation from revolutionary ideals Purges of supposed revisionists were routine in Mao’s China; linking laziness to counter-revolution the Chairman hacked away at the bureaucracy focussing especially on ministries dealing with culture the other representing the bureaucrat; the citizen has just launched himself into the air holds up a sign reading “Come back tomorrow.” neither shall he eat.” Later in the century The Soviet Union’s 1961 law outlawing “social parasitism” mostly targeted tramps and prostitutes (as well as poets like Joseph Brodsky)—not bureaucrats The glorious future of the nation depends on everyone laboring at a fast pace with no time to slow down and question what’s happening some DOGE staff members are sleeping on IKEA beds in a federal office building.) Musk has repeatedly contrasted the fecklessness of federal employees with the industriousness of his élite cadre of libertarian workaholics are working a hundred and twenty hours a week “Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week Few of us are going to match Musk on hours worked and a low-interest Department of Energy loan helped get Tesla off the ground.) But it’s also a story about how work ethic gets twisted to serve the ends of people in power the “lazy bureaucrat” is anyone who stands in their way A long-ago crime, suddenly remembered A limousine driver watches her passengers transform The day Muhammad Ali punched me What is it like to be keenly intelligent but deeply alienated from simple emotions? Temple Grandin knows The harsh realm of “gentle parenting.”  Retirement the Margaritaville way Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Thank You for the Light.”  Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker. WHEN Bill O’Reilly doubled down on his mockery of Malaysia – scoffing that Malaysians “can’t even buy a little hat” and citing a household income figure of US$5,731 (RM24,400) versus US$42,220 in the US – he was not just being flippant He was showcasing the danger of lazy statistics he painted a distorted picture of economic despair – and in doing so revealed a worldview still steeped in colonialist condescension The US$42,220 figure cited by O’Reilly comes from the US Census Bureau’s annual household survey It refers to the median personal income of individuals aged 15 and above in 2023 adjusted for inflation (in what is called “2023 CPI-U-RS dollars”) The figure is widely referenced and republished by the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis under the series code MEPAINUSA672N the figure seems to have been quoted from the CEIC’s “Annual Household Income per Capita” dataset which draws on official data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) The calculation starts with the mean monthly household income in 2022 multiplied by the estimated number of households (about 8.662 million in 2022) and finally converted into US dollars using the average 2022 exchange rate O’Reilly’s framing ignores several key contextual differences: Different units: He compares income earned by actual individuals in the US to household income per capita in Malaysia which includes non-earners such as children and elderly dependents This pulls the Malaysian figure down and inflates the gap No purchasing power adjustment: A US dollar buys far more in Malaysia than it does in the US understating the true standard of living in Malaysia Different timeframe and inflation adjustments: The US number is from 2023 O’Reilly is comparing different years and price bases Even when we use CEIC’s harmonised household income data series – applied equally to both Malaysia and the US – but adjust for purchasing power parity using the World Bank’s official 2022 factor Malaysia’s household income per capita rises to US$16,857 the US-Malaysia income gap is only 2.3 times GDP per capita (PPP) shows Malaysia at US$34,366 compared to the US at US$78,035 – a 2.3 times gap as well O’Reilly’s claim did not just miss context – it overstated the disparity by a factor of three These comparisons still ignore differences in cost of living and access to services Declaring a nation poor without accounting for those factors is No wonder Malaysians cheekily reminded O’Reilly the top 20% controls over 50% of disposable income Harvard data suggests 85% of American families now require some form of financial aid housing and student loan costs heavily erode American incomes in ways Malaysians are largely protected from – thanks to public healthcare A nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur still costs less than a coffee in New York O’Reilly’s deeper implication – that Southeast Asia is irrelevant to the global economy – is just as inaccurate as Emir Research previously elaborated in “How Malaysia Keeps its Compass Steady amid Tariff Shocks – and Builds for What’s Next” Malaysia and its Asean neighbours are emerging economic powerhouses in their own right The image of Southeast Asia as having “no money” also ignores the region’s massive market potential rising middle classes and growth rates outpacing the West This is why trillions in South–South capital (from China the Middle East and elsewhere) are actively seeking opportunities in these emerging powerhouses when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Malaysia in April over 30 bilateral cooperation agreements were signed That strategic openness to both East and West has become far more pronounced under the Anwar Ibrahim administration Western tech giants like Google and Microsoft have recently invested significantly in Malaysia’s digital economy Malaysia’s economic approach today is pragmatic: be a “bridge not battleground” between great powers while investing in connectivity upskilling talent and maintaining macroeconomic stability Perhaps most revealing was O’Reilly’s flippant “Ha-ha paired with his mockery of “small” countries betrays a mindset that still colours parts of Western commentary This view assumes Western dominance as a given and frames non-Western nations as inherently lesser In the view of the O’Reillies of the world if a country does not match American standards of wealth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim rightly called such comments “arrogant and ignorant” shaped by imperial assumptions that no longer hold It is an upper-middle-income nation with a diversified export base strong industrial capability and rising agency it exported approximately US$74 billion in integrated circuits – 23% of total exports – ranking among the world’s top semiconductor exporters It also contributes 13% of the global market for backend semiconductor services like testing and packaging These are not signs of weakness but reflect systemic relevance and significant potential The challenge now is to translate that structural position into broader socioeconomic gains – a goal central to the current administration’s reform agenda which entrenches dominance through IMF conditions petrodollar hegemony and the privilege of printing the world’s reserve currency Malaysia – like many real-economy nations – has had to build its sovereignty from the ground up Global history shows that leaders who defend sovereignty in word and deed are often undermined – not just rhetorically but through sustained economic and political pressure The nexus between supranational and entrenched local colonialists runs deep The current administration inherited a system long dominated by entrenched interests – what can rightfully be called internal colonialists sustained in part by external colonialists who Decades of divisive politics and absolute policy inertia have left deep structural challenges Anwar’s reform agenda marks a break from that legacy but the path forward remains an uphill climb strengthens South–South ties and plays an active role in shaping regional policy through platforms like Asean RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) and CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Its strategy – resilience without retaliation – offers a potential model for others when O’Reilly mocks Malaysia’s outreach to China It welcomes both East and West on terms that serve mutual national interest Next time someone chuckles about who “has money” growth and strategic savvy – is far more compelling than a drive-by income comparison unadjusted figure is not just a bad analysis; it is a relic of a fading worldview it is not the loudest voices that lead but those with the clearest compass Dr Rais Hussin is the founder of Emir Research a think-tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research Tel: +603-7784 6688      Fax: +603-7785 2625 and anything but lazy — a turntable can be a serious home-dining upgrade If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy a flight of chutneys and sauces was just as easily assembled on its surface and spun to reach every dinner guest it made cleaning the table itself super easy (just lift the Susan) in addition to circulating cucumber sandwiches or expertly stashing my vinegar selection lazy Susans — which really should be called clever Susans given their helpful design — have also become a mainstay of Chinese restaurants in the US and abroad and deserve to find a center-stage place on your home dining table A post shared by Levity Interiors - Vintage & More (@levityinteriors) As someone who is frequently reorganizing their kitchen and dining room this coherency of form and function has me hooked and after seeing how much a lazy Susan enhanced my friend’s home dining experience I was ready to draft up a few requirements for an ideal dining table lazy Susan remember that a lazy Susan isn’t just your saving grace from “Can you pass the salt?” fatigue It’s also a place to showcase your bud vases You can’t go wrong with a classic acacia wood lazy Susan. This 10-inch spinner has a slight lip around the edge to keep spills contained, and costs less than my last jaunt to a cafe for an almond croissant and a latte A slightly larger iteration of the acacia beauty above this 13-incher also has a more substantial lip.  The next level of lazy Susan exploration involves mixed materials This 9-inch option combines its wood base with a stainless steel rim that is given a wrought iron look.  Marble will forever be one of my favorite lazy Susan materials because it looks expensive and can double as an excellent cheese board (the marble will stay cool for your precious fromage).  Two of the coolest aesthetic touches in one This 16-inch lazy Susan is also big enough for you to layer another less visually-stimulating Susan on top of it.  including this mid-century modern option that is slightly boosted but not so much that it will obstruct your view.  Keep your eyes out for graphic and retro lazy Susans, such as this ode to martinis and the olives that make them great.  If you’re looking to drop a few Benjamins on a piece this extra-large lazy Susan features an enchanting standalone amber cast glass material that sure will catch the morning and afternoon light with flair If your aesthetic is more Deco-Luxe this nearly 100-year-old German lazy Susan is a rare gem.   why not opt for a new dining table with a built-in lazy Susan and its center lazy Susan is a generous 23 inches in width The freshest news from the food world every day Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Elizabeth Pearson covers career trends and women in business.Follow AuthorOct 17, 2024, 04:31pm EDTShareSaveCommentGen Z working from home If you’re a Millennial or Gen X manager, you’ve probably experienced some tension and frustration with your Gen Z employees. It’s easy to see them clutching their phones and label them as lazy, entitled, or detached from reality. But if you look under the surface, you’ll see that Gen Z brings an entirely new set of skills and work preferences to the table—and if embraced, these differences can benefit your organization more than one might think. Let’s break down some common gripes managers have of their Gen Z teams and how, in actuality, they can add value. Let’s also explore things you can do to ensure you’re managing them in a way that will get the most out of them—with the least amount of eye-rolling or judgmental sighs. Gen Z grew up with smartphones, social media, and the internet at their fingertips, making them highly adept at using new technology. You'll notice their quick ability to master new software, platforms, or tools without much training. I’ve heard many managers complain that their Gen Z employees are “addicted to their phones,” but if we find the silver lining in that, one can assume many are also fluent in leveraging social media for brand engagement and marketing. I’ve found that they thrive when given a task that involves them being on their phones, which could include doing market research on competitors, engaging with influencers who could turn into brand partners, and raising the visuality of the company’s brand on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. They’re also able to quickly find innovative solutions to technical challenges and tend to be excellent at researching and finding answers independently online, which can cut down on time-consuming questions and delays. So, if you're managing Gen Z employees, encourage them to lead tech-based initiatives. Whether it’s piloting a new project management software or expanding your social media strategy, let them take the reins and share their insights on how to streamline processes or boost online engagement. As a leader, focus on giving them freedom in the digital space and seek their advice when incorporating tech into your daily workflows. Unlike Millennials and Gen Xers, who were often praised for being workaholics, Gen Z employees value their time off. They expect work-life balance, mental health days, and flexible work environments. You might notice this generation is quick to ask for remote work options or question rigid 9-to-5 schedules. Gen Z’s demand for balance doesn’t stem from laziness; rather, it reflects a healthy boundary-setting that can lead to greater productivity in the long run. By respecting their desire for balance, you can reduce burnout and turnover while building a more motivated workforce. Additionally, their emphasis on mental health often fosters a more empathetic and supportive workplace culture, something that benefits everyone. Gen Z employees are vocal advocates for diversity and inclusivity. They expect workplaces to not only talk about DEI but actively implement policies that reflect these values. This generation isn’t afraid to challenge status quos or ask hard questions about a company’s ethical practices. This focus on DEI leads to a more dynamic and innovative workplace. Studies show that diverse teams perform better and are more creative in solving complex problems. Gen Z’s push for inclusivity can help build a stronger, more resilient company culture that attracts top talent and keeps you aligned with consumer expectations. Be sure to encourage your Gen Z employees to lead DEI initiatives and participate in committees focused on inclusivity. Make space for their voices in conversations about workplace policies and be transparent about how you plan to address DEI challenges. This will not only make Gen Z employees feel valued but also improve your organization’s overall culture and performance. If your younger staffers are questioning the “why” behind company decisions, it’s not because they’re being difficult. Gen Z prioritizes purpose and social impact over traditional markers of success like salary or job titles. They’re motivated by companies that align with their personal values, and they want to see that their work contributes to something bigger. The upside is that purpose-driven employees tend to be more engaged and productive. When Gen Z employees believe in the mission of the company, they’re more likely to take ownership of projects, collaborate effectively, and stay loyal to the organization. Aligning business goals with a greater cause can also enhance your company’s brand reputation, helping you attract socially conscious customers and top-tier talent. So, make sure your company’s mission and values are clear and authentically integrated into daily operations. You can also offer opportunities for Gen Z employees to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives or volunteer projects. These efforts will allow them to connect their work to the larger impact they seek. Gen Z employees value collaboration but don’t want to be micromanaged. They’re open to working in teams but are equally comfortable being in a silo and taking on independent tasks and solving problems on their own. You may notice them seeking guidance but also asking for autonomy once they understand the expectations. Striking the right balance between collaboration and independence means that Gen Z workers can offer fresh ideas and innovative solutions without needing constant oversight. They’re highly resourceful, often finding ways to improve processes or tackle tasks with minimal direction. This level of autonomy can free up time for managers to focus on bigger picture issues. Give your Gen Z employees the autonomy to manage their projects but establish clear communication channels for feedback and support. Empower them to make decisions and allow them to experiment with different approaches. Providing a level of trust will not only enhance their performance but also build their confidence as key contributors to the team. Set up weekly 1:1 calls to ensure everyone is on the same page, and then let them do their thing. Subscribe to Shopping NewsletterCaret Down34 Lazy Cleaning Shortcuts You'll Wish You'd Known About SoonerYou really *can* quit doing it all the hard way you're still washing dishes and there's no real shortcut for that but seeing what it did in the above during and after I don't think that you'll find much that anything requires too much scrubbing when you soak it in this for a second In fact, Elizabeth Lilly and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas you just toss the dirty liner in with that week's towels You could also totally cut cheap placemats to fit These just might make it a little easier: They come in a convenient 12"x24" size so they'll probably fit on your main shelves and all you have to customize = the liners for the door shelves You can use it up to once a week or so; basically it cleans all the built-up coffee residue and oils from the brew chamber and the pour spout which will keep your coffee tasting more like it's supposed to (especially if you switch between different coffees on a regular basis) It's also good to use right before a tea or hot chocolate K-Cup so you don't have any coffee flavor contaminating it Note that you'll still have to occasionally do the vinegar descaling process — these don't touch the water chamber or the other inner parts that get the mineral buildup from water — but you can use this along with that for for a truly deep clean Not that I advocate replacing these every time they get dirty But I think there could be particularly grimy stuck-on occasions that would be justified They're made with 100% soy wax and an odor neutralizer and will stop your house from smelling like wet dog or cat litter For more, check out 16 Ways To Use Your Dishwasher To Clean Almost Everything You Own It also helps dissolve any hard water buildup Promising review: "Super simple to use and it works I have hard water and also had a heating element that had given out This quickly caked up the calcium buildup and started to give the dishwasher a "not so fresh" smell My mom's had stainless appliances for well over a decade and a half now and after she discovered this spray from reading our posts truly 100% better than any other kind of stainless cleaners she'd tried in the past! you can let this sit anywhere from two hours to overnight to get results And while you might have to do *some* light scrubbing it should be much easier than it would've been without this cleaner Don't forget to spray it on the racks too (unless your racks have a special coating on 'em) this definitely won't take care of the problem or is flat and flush with the rest of the tub which means even if it gets a little mildewy you'll be able to easily wipe the gross stuff off and your hair stays trapped while the water flows through I do exactly this about every six months or so, and it works every single time! See my full shower hack review If you can't imagine not using your toilet brush you can use the small remaining bit of gel to scrub down the bowl before applying more I used this in college and can personally attest it really does work You do have to let it sit for 4–5 hours (or even overnight) as proven by the review photos like the one here The gel formula lets it stick and stay exactly where you put it down which is why it works better than just spraying with regular bleach: The bleach stays right on the mold stain until it's gone My best friend bought some of this from one of my posts and said it worked exactly the way I said it did — and when I saw her shower all the grout and caulking were perfectly white The possibilities are endless; these drill brushes can tackle pretty much anywhere you have stubborn dirt The set of three comes with a small two-inch circle brush which is tbh basically shaped like a toilet brush except with a base that attaches to your drill And if you're in the market for a good vacuum of any kind — full-size, stick vacs, robo vacs, and more — check out 15 Of The Best Vacuums That You Can Get On Amazon Former Buzzfeed editor AnaMaria Glavan recommends it:  "The glove is super comfortable and using it couldn’t be more foolproof: just put it on and run your hands through your pet’s fur The silicone grooves pick up so much fur with ease I found that I would have to remove fur from the glove before continuing (you can pick up the fur with your other hand or run the glove under some water — either works) but it’s no biggie The silicone actually makes it really easy to keep this clean We got Rockie when he was 5 and he’d been riddled with skin issues and allergies so I was pretty nervous to use anything that could potentially aggravate his conditions He starts snoring after exactly two run-throughs on his back TL;DR: this is one of those inexpensive add-ons that any pet owner should have on hand." Okay so this isn't SO much of a shortcut — you still have to actually dust — but getting rid of the dust is THE key to a home that needs less dusting This one from OXO is very thin so it can squeeze into tight crevices To clean it you just run it through a gentle cycle in the washer The kit includes one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable microfiber pads which you can use either wet or dry Two blinds = you could easily make one window's blinds look basically brand new in under 10 minutes Plus it comes with five microfiber sleeves which means you can finish all the blinds in your home without stopping to clean it off over and over — you just pop all the covers in the wash when you're done TIRANA – A recent European Union report assessing the situation of children on the continent The report highlights that around 48 percent of children under 6 years old in Albania are at risk of poverty This figure is more than double the EU average seem shocking and are expected to be exploited by the opposition as the electoral campaign draws to a close clarifying the real situation on the ground behind the curtain of numbers the Albanian Institute of Statistics agreed with Eurostat's data and explained that the increase in the poverty level of Albanian children is directly related to the scandalous rate of unemployment among this category but we must admit that the unemployment rate in this age group is 98%," INSTAT explains " while the negligible 2% who make their own living are mainly engaged in unskilled work with uncertain income such as standing on the sidewalk with their hands outstretched INSTAT specifies that despite the fact that the tourism sector or the liberal professions such as electricians Albanians aged 0-6 do not show any interest in these fields with guaranteed income Even harsher was the statement of the National Employment Service Strictly distancing itself from all appearances of laziness and vagrancy the Service provided the media with data from the last five years: If you find even one Albanian or Albanians aged 4-5 who have come to our offices to look for work of stretching out as wide as possible on the bed The Minister of State for Adolescents and Children also expressed her concern about the scandalous level of unemployment among children aged 0-6 but we have a problem with this category," declared Muuuuuzhaqi " the generation of Albanians who fled to Greece and Italy and had their backs broken at work has been replaced by these who found everything ready the minister struck a note of optimism when she stated that "We have several Swiss-Swedish-Dutch-Norwegian projects in hand with which we hope to increase the level of employment for this category The main focus is on raising awareness among parents that providing food and shelter to these parasites demotivates them from looking for work The signs are good," declared Muuuuuzhaqi.  Patrona?isti is essentially a satirical column which this time had a technical problem with the letter uuuuu key Nëse doni të jeni i pari për t'u informuar mbi lajme ekskluzive I don’t usually get to do things like this (busy schedule and all) I got to attend a screening of Tim Kirkman’s film Lazy Eye along with several dozen other students but I wish I’d gotten to speak to Kirkman after the movie ended— the film’s halting progression and Kirkman’s brief comments on its themes leave a little too much to the imagination for a truly satisfying viewing experience Lazy Eye is a film that takes place over a single weekend in a little house in Joshua Tree The protagonist is a gay graphic designer named Dean (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe) whose ex-boyfriend Alex (Aaron Costa Ganis) has just reached out for the first time in fifteen years after their relationship collapsed due to Alex’s sudden disappearance they waste no time picking up where they left off rekindling their romance and flirting over Harold and Maude and Dean’s complaints about his work several startling revelations about their respective pasts put Alex and Dean’s reunion in jeopardy and the two must decide whether it will be worth it to continue their relationship or call the whole thing off.  insurmountable feelings for Alex leaving the audience sympathetic and completely frustrated all at the same time (á la Louis in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America) Costa Ganis’ portrayal of Alex is undeniably sweet and sensual with a bitter undercurrent of hesitation that emerges during moments of vulnerability the two are on-screen for almost the entire film a presence that adds to the film’s emotional impact rather than distracting or drawing away from it the isolation of the little house in Joshua Tree contributes to the feel of Alex and Dean’s secret the backdrop of mountains and stars present in nearly every shot making the audience feel as if they’re intruding on something intimate because Kirkman doesn’t seem keen on giving his audience anything more than what they see onscreen The plot— for all its twists and turns— doesn’t really go anywhere in the end leaving several questions unresolved and the characters’ development similarly up in the air It’s entirely possible that this was intentional on Kirkman’s part; during the Q&A session following the screening any questions about the film’s themes or open-endedness were answered with a vague statement about leaving further interpretations up to the audience I’m doubtful that this approach was suited to such a simplistic the lack of action or effects tends to increase the audience’s focus on the script they expect a complete story within the writing itself And although depriving audiences of that satisfaction ensures that they’ll be thinking about the film for a while perhaps it’s not in the way a director might intend but Kirkman seemed perfectly happy to leave it in the audience’s hands there was one question Kirkman answered in full It was a good question and I’m going to print his answer here both because of its relevance and the fact that it was the only time he was clear about the film’s themes I’m still not sure if I like Lazy Eye or not but even if the film itself wasn’t clear to me I’m glad Kirkman addressed this part out loud [AUDIENCE MEMBER]: What did you hope people would take away from this movie when it first came out (2016) [TIM KIRKMAN]: I think putting something out in the world in any art form at all is a risk I set out to make a movie where queerness wasn’t the center of the story I didn’t want to make it the problem in the story But these people have problems just like anyone else and that normalization is what I want people to take away from this I think those old stereotypes will stop as soon as you stop taking our rights away and attacking us because we will stop making movies about how you do that.  *Tim Kirkman is an American director whose previous work includes the feature films 2nd Serve and Loggerheads as well as the documentaries The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me and Dear Jesse which was nominated for an Emmy in News/Documentary Writing in 2000 Lazy Eye was released in 2016 and can be found on Amazon.* Log in to leave a comment or for information on how to get involved!  Email us at rambler@transy.edu or reach out to our Editor in Chief Or submit a response to our suggestion box below and our leadership team will get back to you We’ve been Transylvania University’s only student-run newspaper since 1915 “breaking the bubble” between our small campus and the Lexington community We aim to create a place for students to be creative and have a voice hoping to be an outlet for the passions and opinions of the Transy student body so send us a message if you have suggestions or want to write an article yourself; there is always room on our staff for new writers and creatives Thanks for reading The Rambler :) Print’s not dead Contact us: rambler@transy.edu ©2024 Transylvania University Rambler either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content You don't have to search far to hear a young person being dubbed lazy They're lumbered with the stereotype that they'd rather waste their money on expensive coffees and avocados than get on the property ladder (like it's comparable) But one Generation Xer (people born between 1965 to 1980) has taken to social media to question this narrative. In a post shared on Reddit (u/FukU6050) they suggested that young people aren't lazy This perspective has certainly captured attention by reframing the common Gen Z trope a sociology professor at Maryville University who works with Gen Z students told Newsweek that it's "not hard to understand their hopelessness," given the frustrations and anxieties they face The Reddit post explained that she could afford a two-bedroom apartment "in a good area." She did what she could with the money she earned and every now and then she could afford a vacation That's worlds apart from what young folk experience now The poster has a 30-year-old son who can't afford to buy a house and has to live with three others to afford rent The millennial can "barely afford the necessities of life" despite working full-time young people aren't lazy...they just don't see any point in working 40+ hours a week with no reward for doing so." Indeed, a survey by the American Psychological Association in 2023 found that young adults have higher stress levels than their older counterparts. Those aged between 18 and 34 had an average stress level of six out of 10 people aged 65 and over typically reported stress levels of around 3.4 the Reddit post has gone viral with over 13,000 votes and more than 300 comments at the time of writing Newsweek contacted the poster for comment via Reddit The Gen Xer also detailed in the post how the home she grew up in was owned by her parents without a mortgage her dad worked for the railroad and worked his way up Bausman teaches students between the ages of 20 and 26 and he told Newsweek that many of them "concur with the sentiment of hopelessness." Their reasons varied from climate change But there's one resounding answer that comes up every time: the economy "I often ask what aspect of the economy concerns them most which they feel directly through higher rents," Bausman said "Many express significant reservations about whether homeownership is a realistic possibility even though it remains something they aspire to." Another generational change is the perspective on climate change Bausman believes Gen Z see it as an immediate and tangible concern whereas older generations regard it in a "more abstract" way Perhaps it's unsurprising that Gen Z feel so disillusioned as Bausman pointed out that it's a result of life's milestones being unattainable The American dream—who even is she "The anxieties Gen Z express aren't personal failings; they are the consequences of structural problems rooted in economic shifts that have taken place over the last five decades," Bausman told Newsweek the cultural narrative was that if you worked hard pursued education and followed a traditional career you could achieve key milestones like homeownership This vision was built on economic conditions that no longer exist," he continued One of the strongest indications of this change is the housing market. The National Association of Realtors announced that first-time homebuyers shrunk to a historic low in 2024. The average age for first-time buyers has also increased to 38 The housing shortage is causing prices to skyrocket, with many selling over the asking price. This only adds to the complications for millennials and Gen Z Bob Driscoll Senior Vice President and Director of Residential Lending at Rockland Trust He told Newsweek that he's "never seen a more challenging time" to purchase a home homes frequently sell over asking," Driscoll said "Buyers who already own a home can use the proceeds from their sale to cover the additional cost but first-time buyers must absorb the difference out of pocket He continued: "This financial hurdle is compounded by the emotional toll of repeatedly bidding on homes Many future homebuyers feel demoralized after multiple failed attempts making the dream of homeownership seem increasingly out of reach." with over 48 million renters under the age of 30 they have the burden of trying to save while forking out huge sums of their wages Driscoll explained that this erodes their income and keeps Gen Z "locked in a cycle where buying a home feels out of reach." Following Reddit user u/FukU6050's post online hundreds of social media users took to the comments section to share their views One comment read: "The math to afford living in this society doesn't add up anymore so why bother It's not worth going above and beyond anymore." Another Reddit user wrote: "If I work 40 hours I still can't afford a house or car so might as well only work 30." While another person added: "This is absolutely the story of modern America and your story could be featured on Newsweek Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article Newsletters in your inbox See all