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Author: Brandon Verastegui

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It’s the Little Things: Changes in Business Norms due to Coronavirus

The local politicians inner fight during COVID: Lina Hidalgo getting the anti-millennial treatment.

What is Post-Modern Conservatism?

Official Millennial Commentary On Reopening Texas Economy. “Regulations Are The Key!”

Happy 4/20 Millennials! Now We Have The Biggest Influence On Cannabis Legalization

Edu-tain Yourself: Netflix + Podcasts = Everyday Enrichment

The method to fewer headaches: Organization

News special

It’s the Little Things: Changes in Business Norms due to Coronavirus

May 1, 2020

The local politicians inner fight Lina Hidalgo getting the anti-millennial treatment

The local politicians inner fight during COVID: Lina Hidalgo getting the anti-millennial treatment.

April 29, 2020

What is Post-Modern Conservatism?

April 25, 2020

Official Millennial Commentary On Reopening Texas Economy. “Regulations Are The Key!”

April 20, 2020

Happy 4/20 Millennials! Now We Have The Biggest Influence On Cannabis Legalization

April 20, 2020

Recommendations for self entertainment on: Netflix / Podcasts. April 2020

Edu-tain Yourself: Netflix + Podcasts = Everyday Enrichment

April 20, 2020

The method to fewer headaches: Organization

April 20, 2020

by Brandon Verastegui April 20, 2020

Official Millennial Commentary On Reopening Texas Economy. “Regulations Are The Key!”

Written By: Brandon VerasteguiDirector of Millennials’ Era E-Mag Edited By: Kirk Shelton If you have followed the news and the livestreams of Governor Greg Abbott, then you should be well aware of his plan to reopen the Texas economy as

Full view here

Written By: Brandon Verastegui
Director of Millennials’ Era E-Mag

Edited By: Kirk Shelton

If you have followed the news and the livestreams of Governor Greg Abbott, then you should be well aware of his plan to reopen the Texas economy as soon as humanly possible.

Such announcement seemed to have created some criticism since many people are concerned about the potential reinfection and further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. Many people have shared on social media their disagreement with Greg Abbott’s initiative, and a few have been able to understand the importance of starting to move forward on a plan like this, even with the best precautions and regulations possible.

In the next few paragraphs, I’ll review the threats that Texan society is currently facing, followed by my commentary regarding a list of regulations and options that I personally believe will be conducive to the best outcome for the Lone Star State.

Threats

Coronavirus is still very present in our country.
Reopening the economy will also mean reopening the state for business travel visitors, consequently increasing the chances of more people being directly effected by the virus.
Our fossil fuel-based economy will collapse.
The effect of this global pandemic to the global economy has been devastating, especially since the crash in oil prices, brought on by a struggle between Russia and Saudi Arabia for dominance in the global crude market. That’s led to a historic oversupply, and a 50% drop in the price of a barrel of oil. In a state so dependent on the supply and demand of fossil fuels, having no movement of the residents, no demand for in-house fuel, no economical flow, no economical growth, we are undoubtedly headed for an eminent recession will lead to the economical collapse of our state if we don’t re-initiate movement in our state.
Overconfident Texan culture and its skepticism towards COVID-19.
Information about the skepticism towards the veracity of COVID-19 has been spinning around social media. Summing up the amount of cases and casualties in our state can potentially make Texans feel overconfident about not being at risk of contracting the virus anymore. However, it can also make Texans lower their guards and potentially raise the number of victims in Texas that we’ve seen thus far.
Trump supporters that don’t believe in the danger of Coronavirus.
It’s for this same reason that we need strict regulation to move forward faster on reopening and re-initiating our economy. This can be achieved through proper precautions/regulations in the safest and most effective manner.
At the very least, Governor Abbot should consider the following regulations as he starts litigating to move our state closer to a partial sense of normalcy altogether:

Regulations & Options

Mandatory Sneeze Guards

These Sneeze Guards are a must. Made of acrylic or glass, these guards are supposed to lower the likelihood of getting infected while shopping in super markets/retail stores. This is the type of business environment that shoppers will prefer while selecting their own groceries, even if we move to a delivery and carryout protocol within the majority of other businesses. At the same time, it's important to have hand sanitizer available for workers handling money. These guards intend to keep workers safe from infected clients and vice versa.

Mandatory Social Distancing Floor Stickers (AR enabled)

As simple as it might look, these social distancing floor stickers could by the very thing that keeps us from getting infected. The problem is that this hasn't been regulated as much as it should be, mainly because there can't be a police officer making sure everyone is complying with this regulation. Businesses should comply with using very visible social distance floor stickers, so that clients and visitors clearly understand the appropriate distance to observe in the building. When we talk about the production of these stickers, we are really talking about a need within the graphic design and printing industry; a prominent industry that's losing tons of business like many other industries. This could be a perfect opportunity for Graphic/Marketers/Augmented Reality designers to create engaging social distancing floor stickers with the capability of placing promotional legends or designs. This idea can be enhanced with AR-enabled (augmented reality-enabled) technology that clients could use through their phones to activate hidden messages that have been coded into the floor sticker, ultimately creating a convenient new experience for customers. This could translate into moving the flow of the economy to other sectors that could help the service industry - specifically retail stores, restaurants, and small businesses - obtain better engagement with the customer. We invite you to click on the image to check out an example of this technology currently being used by a company in Houston.

Mandatory Mask Usage

In order to lower the probabilities of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to more people, we must start taking all procedures and precautions seriously. This means that anyone outside of their home should be forced to wear mask or deal with the consequences. Many people are unable to just sit around at home; some have to go to the store to buy groceries, things for their work, school, and they all will have to visit a store, restaurant or a business sooner or later. In conjunction with the social distance floor stickers, the mandatory mask usage should be enough for us to maintain an environment that's safe from contracting this virus, if we should happen to visit any of these places, therefore allowing us to win the battle against this virus.

COVID-19 Awareness signs with instructions

Many of us have seen those papers placed on a wall outside local stores that have something in reference to Coronavirus, most of the time requesting clients to keep social distance. I believe that this cheap format creates a sense of rebellion that unconsciously lures the general public to disregard this simple command. Businesses should have COVID-19 awareness signs that create an authoritative indication to clients to keep in compliance with such regulations. These signs could also be AR-enabled to provide an engaging experience and create loyal customers, therefore helping the country overall in small, capitalistic ways to circulate funds back into the economy.

Mandatory disinfection of closed areas

This is the most important regulation that could finally lead us to winning the battle against COVID-19.
In my opinion, it's very strange that Greg Abbott did mention regulations similar to the ones I mentioned previously, but he failed to mention the steps needed to aggressively move forward on making that sure we destroy the chances of reinfection in the quickest and most effective manner. It shouldn't be so hard to agree that we need to move as fast as possible to move ahead the collateral of this pandemic, the potential collapse of our entire economy. In Texas compared to places like NY, everything is so spread out, and the only places where we share a closed area with others outside our homes are mainly offices, work areas, and small restaurants. If we really want to make sure that businesses are able to reopen, that we re-initiate the economy so people can recover their jobs, and that we can re-establish our economical stability, we must consistently take these measures, including daily disinfection of the following areas: offices, restaurants, schools, park facilities, retail stores, and workout facilities. This could also spark the creation of new jobs and the enhancement of the cleaning industry.
I would suggest you click on the image to see one of the companies that we know are already working on this initiative in Houston.

Analysis of the symbolism in “The Platform”.

Written By: Brandon Verastegui

Full view here

Written By: Brandon Verastegui

Director of Millennial’s Era E-Magazine

Edited By: Kirk Shelton

Analysis Of “The Platform” Movie

The meaning behind this movie's symbolism: First off, we see plenty of references to societal class differences. The idea that people are good at birth but gets corrupted by society is present throughout the film. People's innate sense of self-preservation installs the norm of egoism and antipathy, an individualist modern trait that many philosophers and anthropologists (Jean Jacques Rousseau, Ayn Rand) have pointed out in today's capitalist systems. This humans normalization of human traits is what I like to call “over-unilateralism”.

Conceptualization & Categorization of the Genre

Wikipedia and Netflix have categorized The Platform as a science fiction horror-thriller. Now Magazine labeled it as high-concept horror, and Rotten Apples has referred to the movie as a dystopian thriller. The Platform represents multiple levels of the science fiction genre, but is indeed a science fiction horror thriller at first glance. After analyzing all the symbolism in the movie’s development (minus the technological aspects), this film closely mirrors today's societal situation in response to COVID-19. In this sense, it’s much more of a psychological thriller, and when realizing the weight of the symbolism and the parallels it has with human nature, the result leads the viewer to conceptualize this movie as a surrealistic thriller.

Relations to Other Movies

Many have related The Platform to other movies and in this section I’d like to note differences between the most popular comparisons:

The Cube: The reason why people relate The Platform with this movie is due to the facility where all the events happen. Gray thick walls, with highly advanced mysterious technology and people trapped there, stuck in waiting or looking for ways to escape.
The differences between these movies are obviously their premises; The Cube’s premise is that Autistic people have a sense of divine connection, while in the Platform, the premise is that the world should have female divine symbols (A woman who represents Jesus).
Snowpiercer: I personally do not like this comparison, but if I had to force it, I’d say that it is obviously due to the sci-fi traits and longer story structure. Snowpiercer is really a communist allegory all the way through, as it has many examples of German-Nazi/Russian symbology. On the other hand, The Platform, though it might have some political allegories, is all based on the human condition and psyche, so it focuses on something beyond the material dialectic of Snowpiercer. Also, Snowpiercer has little to no suspense at all, so it loses the battle in the Thriller arena. I personally thought of Snowpiercer as a bit boring compared to The Platform.
Parasites: This movie is directed by Boon Jung-ho, the director of Snowpiercer, and is an actual social criticism, albeit mostly an attack on lower class groups and a stark contrast from the narrative of the Platform, which is a criticism to every human being with no distinction.

Characters analysis

Trimagasi ("thank you" in Malay/Indonesian language )

One of the more experienced prisoners, this old guy that has found his way to survive in this system, has been overtaken by the nature of this system long before being met in The Platform. He constantly pursues selfish motives and gives evil advice to Goreng, the main character, that is somehow morally admissible due to its rational foundation. His symbolism from a sociopolitical standpoint represents conservatives; old guy who “understood the rules of the system” in a "very rational and defensive " ways to survive. He argues that he was persuaded by a commercial to buy an unnecessary knife sharpening tool, only to find out that later on that another commercial was promoting a newer self-sharpening knife (his weapon of choice), making an allegory to conservatives who always fall for the first thing they see on TV.

Imoguiri ( a royal graveyard in Indonesia )

The symbolism of a lonely lady with a special bond with her dog is quite abstract; she uses this bond in an attempt to get past her own guilt and her “over-unilateralist” position of having assisted the administration of the facility. She then proceeds to commit suicide, knowing very well that her cellmate was never going to eat her flesh since she stated that she had cancer and that no one would eat contaminated flesh… at least not someone as conscious as Goreng. Everything is in the meaning of her name "Imoguiri"; a royal graveyard in Indonesia which is structured in sections, many of these sections have a sequence of three generations - 'Ego' or Father, Son and grandson. That being said, it is easy to infer that in her last moments she experienced the ego death, seeing Goreng on Floor 33 ( Representation of the number the Death of Jesus at Age 33) right before her death. Within the underlying narrative of the movie (the real actress is a transgender lady), there is a symbolic vote to end the succession and perpetuation of a patriarch system, which is solidified with the need for a Female Jesus.

Baharat ( a spice blend used in Turkish and Greek cuisine )

Regardless of anyone’s interpretation, he is one of the best characters in this movie. Equipped with a rope, he represents the will of humanity to climb this never-ending ladder of hierarchies; the will to survive and succeed at any cost. Being a Black actor, he reminds us of the difficulties of succeeding first through presentation, then by proving trustworthiness through works. His internal motivation can be compared with the internalization of a system that judges people based solely on the way they look. In his first appearance in the movie, he negotiates a way onto the level above, only to be defecated on the face by the manipulative inmate while he climbs the rope to what is perceived to be a better opportunity within the prison. Later on, we can hear that same inmate having sex with his roommate, another white woman, which represents very clearly the social capital access barrier for people of color, due in part to the perceived value of sexual capital based on euro-centric views of beauty. Baharat represents honest and hardworking people, while at the same time falling into a similar narrative belonging to one of the apostles that accompanied Jesus Christ's birth: Baltazar. Baltazar, the strongest of the 3 Wise Kings, went down with the protagonist on a journey to send the message of selflessness throughout the compound. We will explore how Goreng plays a role in this mission leading up to the climax of the film.

Goreng ( means "fried" in Malay/Indonesian )

While many prisoners requested weapons, Goreng came into the prison equipped with a worn copy of “Don Quixote”, something that he is openly criticized for in the film. The novel is about someone who is obsessed with heroes’ stories drives himself to madness obsessing over the value of chivalry, in contrast with his friend Sancho Panza. This could lead one to think that he is representing the real last standing line of chivalrous men who are searching for a good in this world, leading some to call him the Messiah. At the same time, while closely mirroring a conquistador and at some point even the modern representation of Jesus Christ, Goreng was able to come up with ways to push the inmates to comply with ways to ration food. Some people viewed him as a communist, while others saw just another decent human being, but the fact remains that he is the “Messenger” of the film. As he leaves the platform near the end of the film, which is an allegory to Jesus Christ, this tells a lot about the transition of his role from prisoner to radical throughout the movie.

We can analyze his character in different ways:

The woke white person. As one of those white people who are aware of how certain structures of the system where the living affects his environment, he realizes that if he doesn’t do anything to bring about change, an exponentially growing number of problems will go unsolved. It is after this epiphany that his initiative for positive changes turns into a quest to search for a common good, regardless of his discomfort along the way.

The conquistador that is looking for redemption. He is aware of his comfortable position as a white male, so it benefits him to be directly involved in this experiment, giving himself a real life experience that other white people in his position may never understand without going through it. This interpretation will most likely be met with disagreement, but at least this character had the conviction to search for redemption by putting himself in that experience, and by doing so could have his own bloodline redeemed when it’s all said and done.

The realization of male privilege. The underlying need that many of the other inmates expressed to be equipped with weapons and other physical tools, the same need that helped Groneng to utilize both his book and his intellect, made him stand out among all of the other characters. It was this intellect that he used when he found Miharu in a daily fight to sustain the search for “her son”, a premise that other inmates didn’t buy into. The realm of paternity seems to weigh on his giving nature during his efforts to help this woman who seems very vulnerable to the dangers of this facility. He is rewarded when he was ultimately saved by her, and it gives him a hope that even though radical and macabre actions happen everyday in this hostile environment, he is still able to successfully help the whole modus operandus.

Miharu

Central to the film's plot by her actions and unpredictable nature, one of the most influential characters of the movie will be the last to be addressed. A true representation of a woman's nature, the strongest figure in the prison is willing to ride the platform, level by level, facing the hostile environment head-on to fulfill her mission of finding her lost child. She is represented as an Asian person who simultaneously seems to represent the difficulties of Asian countries when dealing with their overpopulated environment and the difficulties to succeed while keeping a family alive. This subconsciously leads us to a juxtaposition in between western and eastern culture, where the value of western symbolism is at stake when pushing beyond our comfort zone to empathize with the Asian population and especially with the everyday struggles of being an Asian woman.

Knowing about Chinese human reduction by halting the reproduction of women, Miharu seems to be that ultra savage hidden hero that will not stop until she finds her "son". The idea of maternity subconsciously becomes the real subject of this whole scenario, something that most of us as viewers don't have at the front of our minds when her character is introduced. It is precisely at the end of the movie that we find out that the child she is searching for isn't a son, but a daughter, which symbolizes that our country will deliver a message to the highest level within this system. It also symbolizes that perhaps we might be ready to embrace something other than the holy male representation of Jesus Christ, signified in the film by Goreng's death, and delivers the need for a powerful female symbol, a girl who becomes the new deity representation of the holy in humanity. This signifies the need for women to be represented in the highest level of spirituality, marking the end of patriarchy, as a result of all the chaos that perpetuates a system of self-preservation through extreme over unilateralist individualism that pumps blood into the heart of a cruel system.

A girl who represents the birth of this female deity, who was held at the very bottom of the deity hierarchy, more than representing the bottom of the societal class... it represents the collective subconscious bias of humans, where not many are aware that there is a need for women to have their own female deity to follow, something opposed to Jesus Christ or anything that represents a belief in patriarchy. It is now that we start accumulating efforts to install a system held by the natural capabilities of women, a calendar the follows the cycles of the moon, 13 months and 28 days, so women can (hopefully) synchronize their menstruation in an effort to help societies find waves of women collective hormonal fluctuation while being able to measure the populous reactions and flow of societal moods in a matter of women circadian levels. Goreng and Baharat, both representing Jesus and Baltazar, are the fathers of this new age for humanity, and the reason why the movie was originally called “El hoyo” (the hole), making a very degrading reference to women’s genitalia.

I want to end this review with the view that this movie hit home with many influences, on both of the conservative and liberal sides of the political spectrum.
This is something very funny that I would like to mention before wrapping up my actual review on this film. The social effect that created in people a concept that I call “over-unilateralisation”. People well-versed in the ways that political systems work might be aware of how propaganda, social pressure, and group cohesion work, along with the theory of masses (how to maintain a narrative). Even though I personally do not follow a particular political narrative myself, I find it notable that many of the influencers who try to appeal to people and want to be validated by the far right have pushed it almost to an impossible point. Not even leftist groups have been able to substantiate the melodramatic claims of being attacked. In short words: “self-inflicted right wing influencers were triggered to the point of coming up with martyr-like arguments against this movie”. Being in self-victimization mode because of the rejection of social justice groups, far-right influencers have been on a mission to twist this movie into being some sort of leftist propaganda movie. I personally find it comical, yet on the other hand I’ve seen some left-leaning influencers claim that this movie perpetuates the idea that socialism is the only way to maintain the continuation of human prosperity. Both of these claims are false and over-unilateralist, as this movie is simply a movie that contains enough content to extend a blanket of criticism on the modern human condition. As I said above, it still circles back to human egoism and how people have always dreamed of finding ways to help it.

Millennial Perspective on Surviving the Pandemic

Something that you need to read if you are not in the frontline of the pandemic of COVID-19, especially if you are a Millennial.

Full view here

Authored by Brandon Verastegui
Edited by John Fierst

Before you continue your swim in the vast ocean of the internet to find new information about the Coronavirus, you should keep in mind that regardless of the countless tips and suggestions, you as an individual are responsible for yourself. But in this situation, any decision you make can affect not only yourself but also those around you, and for that reason you should not only care about yourself but also about how we all are going to survive as a society.

Many people are going crazy buying unnecessary amounts of things, which is creating chaos and a supply deficit. Media and the government have kept us aware of the best way to take care of ourselves, but what if we think about providing for one another in the best way possible during these times? What if previous generations taught us better ways to deal with these “scary” scenarios? But we are now squarely in a place where we all as Millennials have an opportunity to handle this crisis with grace and thus prepare future generations for success in times of crisis and in times where being socially conscious and sharing resources may be the only way to survive.

In addition to the other articles written for the debut of Millennials’ Era, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my own thoughts and guide to the Coronavirus pandemic.

chillax in the coronavirus times — Chillaxing is key in the coronavirus times

First and foremost, stay home and chillax.

This virus spreads very fast and easily, many of us might carry it without even being aware. I would be remiss if I did now acknowledge that we must turn our lives into a “staying at home 24/7” mode. It is also important for you to chill out because we need all of us to avoid chaotic actions such buying massive amounts of toilet paper, masks or anything that could become a bigger obstacle in the future rather than helping us in the short term. Just take a look at this video:

Be a slacker (or learn something new).

Just chill! There are plenty of things on the internet to browse, shows, documentaries, and tutorials to watch…which by the way I highly recommend learning new skills. There are a bunch of sites that are giving free lessons due to coronavirus. I personally recommend checking out Adobe tutorials, so you can learn how to make your own videos to take your social media accounts to a pro level.
We made a very cool chill modern music playlist on our youtube account check it out by clicking here.

Stay home, but be a cyber socialite.

Some people can’t stand being alone, even if they call themselves “introverts”; anxiety can create a strong desire for human interaction. Finding new friends in person honestly could lead you to get coronavirus! So stick to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Email, TikTok, (insert any other social media channel here), and repeat. You can do it from anywhere in your home, and no one is going to find out that you said “Hi, how are you?” while sitting on your toilet. I would also recommend to check this 4 tips about how to work efficiently from home.

Clean, desinfect, sanitize, is the new exercise.

You are most likely to get even tired of sitting on the couch for long periods of time, take the chance to sweep, wash the dishes, mop, and all of those things you don’t do normally, it will help your mental & physical health.
I also recommend you to check this article about What you need to know about: Cleaning Disinfecting and Sanitizing Your Space in Coronavirus Times.

Be the king/queen of the PJs.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I am highlighting the only way for us to survive, and while there are super smart medical professionals on the frontline of this epidemic containing the exponentially growing number of patients, you will be helping as much as possible when you chill out on your own couch wearing those PJs (or random shirts and random sweaters that you wouldn’t dare to go out of door with). It might get boring so for that reason I challenge you to the #PJChallenge where you pretend you are walking on a runaway in New York Fashion Week with the most fashionable outfit ever – that fashionable outfit being your most random choice of PJs making the best reference to those random fashion styles that not all of us understand, just kidding.

Ok, if you need sunlight then…

Things might feel stressful and claustrophobic for people who haven’t developed healthy coping mechanisms for their mental health. So when you do need to go out, go to your backyard, stretch, chill out with a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, a beer, a glass of wine, a margarita (or maybe a combination of those last 3 things…). And in case you don’t have that much space, walking around your neighborhood is okay, as long as you maintain social distance!

You still need food and goods…plan ahead!

Remember that going out is a total no, so the only reason why you should go out is to buy groceries. Try buying food for the week (or for longer if you can swing it). And don’t buy more toilet paper than what you need. Another hint: do not make small orders on delivery apps. It is better to place larger orders so we make the most efficient use of delivery drivers.

Pray…

…for having 5G installed by the time all of this ends. Jokes aside, reach out to your friends and family, ask them how they are. Some of them (and maybe ourselves too) could begin to develop symptoms. Apart from the physical, be the one to provide moral support, as this could be very much appreciated. Be respectful of those in difficult times. Per instance you might wanna check this real case of a friend of ours here in this article.

Techniques to relax will help.

There are many techniques to relax that involve breathing. I personally recommend hot water baths (with bath salts if you want). Fill the tub with hot water, lay down, and your lungs will feel a bit of pressure which should allow you to focus on your breathing. Relax your body while you breathe slowly and deeply. Your relaxed body should be able to allow your lungs to stretch and improve their ability to take in air.
You can also check this other article that explain more in depth about the psychology behind the worldwide pandemic panic by clicking here.

If you smoke, there is no better time to quit!

Smoking is never recommended, but certainly in these times, adult smokers should really be trying to stop smoking, since there is important evidence that vaping and smoking tobacco and/or marijuana can lead to more severe cases of coronavirus. So stop playing with your life. If you smoke while you drink, you may consider quitting drinking so you don’t feel the urge to smoke.”

Train your brain to think positively.

This is among the most important points in my article. This is the time to be introspective, to be mindful, to ponder what brought us here. Many of those thoughts may lead our mind to a negative place, whether that be about our future, our health, or the future and health of others.

The best way that I know to control your thoughts and become more positive is through the mastery of your brain’s hemispheres through what is called ambidexterity. Ambidexterity can help you significantly right now. It’s a form of “meditation in action” which means that the more you can relax your train of thought, the more deeply you can meditate. It’s in the art of self-examination where our own unbridled inner voice can tell us that we are incapable of using our less dominant brain hemisphere. Once we are able to move past the limitations of our minds, we can feel truly free, and I believe if we all try this, then we will be on the right path to help ourselves and teach our kids how to handle crises.

Document your life!

You might want to keep track of important things that happen at this point in your life. Some of us who have lost our jobs and have nothing more responsible to do than stay at home might as well do something productive! For that reason we want to invite every Millennial out there to collaborate with us, so if you have an article you would like to publish, send it as a Google Doc to themillennialsera@gmail.com – if you get selected to publish, we will notify you and work with you to make it ready to share online. Spread the message!

To all of our readers, I say thank you for supporting Millennials’ Era in our debut. We hope you stay safe and healthy during this unprecedented time, and we look forward to sharing many more articles with you. Brandon V.