The Red Thread: October

Welcome to the first edition of The Red Thread, where we’ve gathered a collection of engaging articles covering a variety of topics. We explore the impact of social media on the job market, break down the ultimate throw in darts, review one of the latest romcoms, and conclude with a piece on Parkinson’s Law. A special thanks to our guest writer, Pieter Maarse. Enjoy the read!

Cabin Attendants on Social Media
Lotte Witké

“KLM roster reveal!!” If you are a regular on the For You page, it is something you might have seen coming by. Whether it is @mr.flightattendant with his infectious laugh (if you know, you know) or any other cabin attendant sharing where they are heading to next month, the cabin attendants seem to have found their way to go sky-high on social media. The comments consist of people saying it is their dream to once become a cabin attendant, to which the cabin attendants - turned influencers - respond with a video, giving tips for your application. Other videos are storytimes on some crazy flights, or just really aesthetic videos of them being on the other side of the world while getting paid for it.

Some would say this is really good marketing for the job. And do not get me wrong, it is! I heard that the vacancy for cabin attendant is always well responded to and that airlines have a lot of choices for picking new candidates. It does keep me wondering about occupations that go unnoticed and that should maybe take the stage on TikTok. For instance, The Netherlands has a great shortage of technical-trained people like plumbers. What if they would make a video, like a day-in-the-life to make people more enthusiastic to become a plumber?! Would it go something like this: 

“Hi everyone!!! Today I have two gigs planned!! First, I am going to student housing Uilenstede to recover someone’s bathroom. Then, I get to check the plumbs for this mansion in Oud-Zuid. That is actually my favorite destination, because they always have such good coffee!! Afterwards, I am on ‘reserve’ for a little bit and I have to respond fast if they need me”

I would look at it for sure. Who knows, maybe a "Plumber Roster Reveal" could be the next big TikTok trend, inspiring a new generation of skilled tradespeople.

180-180-141: Chasing Perfection
Cemre Suler

Rarely acknowledged by people as a real sport, darts. Challenge them to hit a 180, three treble twenties. Try it yourself. If you are lucky, and have access to a load of beer, you might succeed after many months. Hitting the target of less than three centimeters wide from over two meters away requires incredible levels of precision and focus. One tiny distraction and you miss. Now imagine doing this under the pressure of a singing crowd, with flashing lights and a life-changing amount of prize money on your mind. In darts, mental strength and endurance are everything.

This is also why even the best darts players on average hit a 180 “only” every three legs. If they land six darts in a row exactly where they want them to go, they are on for perfection. While there are 3944 mathematically possible ways to throw this perfect leg, it has only been witnessed live on television around 80 times. A magical million-to-one shot: The nine-darter.

The next big darts tournament is the European Championship, starting this week on Thursday and ending on Sunday. You can watch the European Championship on Viaplay and PDCTV.

Nobody Wants This (4.3 / 5)
Anne Alberts

Ever since its release on September 26, 2024, I have been hooked on the Netflix series Nobody Wants This. To start with one big plus, the entire season was released at once, making it perfect for binge-watching.

'Nobody wants this' is a romantic comedy with in the lead Joanna (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody). In the series, we will follow the relationship between Joanna, who makes a podcast about sex, and Noah, who is a rabbi. The series is inspired by the love life of the creator Erin Foster, who converted to Reform Judaism prior to her marriage. The show explores how religious beliefs affect people’s lives, sometimes causing conflict but also helping them grow.

I personally really enjoyed this series. Not only because it was easy to watch, but it had a refreshing aspect in its depiction of real-life challenges, such as the expectations placed on individuals by others. Unlike many romantic comedies that highlight drama and toxicity, this series presents a healthy, mature relationship between Joanna and Noah. It also explores how faith can be both a source of beauty and conflict.

Parkinson’s Law
Pieter Maarse

The famous words from Cyril Northcote Parkinson’s 1955 essay in The Economist: "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion", often interpreted as “If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute to do”.

For me personally, the beauty of this law is not only in the wide variety of applications it can be observed in, but also the frequency one can apply it to themselves. From having just enough space in your room to fit your belongings no matter the size, to beginning to study for an exam only at the last minute and still being able to pass it, Parkinson’s law is everywhere around us. 

This leaves us with a question. Is procrastinating on your studies you being lazy or you being efficient? Parkinson does not tell us anything about the prior option, but if we believe him, procrastination definitely results in efficiency. However, if you want to apply Parkinson’s Law yourself to boost your efficiency in studying, you have to be careful. If you consider the resit among “the time available for its completion”, Parkinson’s Law will not reach out to give you a hand. But remember, just like how we can thank Sir Isaac Newton for inventing gravity, many of us should thank Cyril Northcote Parkinson for having their degree.

Every month a guest writer writes for the Red Thread about something they find interesting. You can become a guest writer by sending an email to sectorcommittee@kraket.nl.