For fear of sounding like a grouchy Gen X-er shaking her fist at the cloud, why does everything have to be a thing?
When did lazing in bed become “rotting” and leaving work on time “quiet quitting"? When did a stroll in the park become a “hot girl walk” and autumn “pumpkin spiced latte season”? Why are unconventionally attractive guys “hot rodent men” and why is wearing a cardigan “coastal grandma chic”?
There’s a phrase for Gen Z’s love of labels. It’s called being “chronically online”. And at the intersection between chronically online and Halloween, you’ll find the boo basket.
For the uninitiated, the boo basket is a basket, box or bucket filled with sweets, chocolates and an array of Halloween-themed – how can I put this gently – junk. Plastic bits and bobs that little ones will ooh and aah over for all of 45 seconds before losing interest, and which you’ll find down the back of the sofa two months later.
The origins of the boo basket are a little murky. The internet tells me it’s a “fun custom” (although custom might be stretching it a bit) whereby you secretly leave a box of goodies on your neighbour’s doorstep for them to discover or kick over when they leave for work in the morning. This is called being “booed”.
Once received (or kicked over), it’s on the neighbour to put together their own box for the next neighbour and so forth, creating a kind of modern, pricier, chain letter in which everyone feels obligated to expend precious time and effort lest something terrible befall them within 72 hours.
Oh, and there’s more. Once you’ve been “booed”, you are required to make and hang a sign on your door saying: “We’ve been booed”, so that no one double-boos you and you end up making a lucrative sideline collecting boo baskets to sell at an autumnal farmer’s market.
To quote a famous meme: ain’t nobody got time for that.
A whole industry has sprung up around boo baskets, with online tutorials, curated Etsy and Amazon shopping lists and workshops showing how to make your own. Naturally, social media is awash with boo basket content.
At the higher end of the trend, TikTok user Lexi Hesler shared the boo basket her boyfriend gave her with her 10.4 million followers. It featured Ugg slippers, a mummy doll, Halloween motif socks and blanket (“the basis of any good boo basket”), a positive pumpkin, perfume and a small ghost toy in a plastic jar of which her boyfriend said: “I thought it was useless so I bought it.” It also included a candle of a skeleton in a bath of wax (“it kind of smells horrible, but it’s cute”), a hair clip shaped like a spider web and a ghost-shaped mug “for all my fall beverages”. Throughout her unboxing, Hesler says the word “cute” six times.
“Useless” ghosts in jars, “horrible” smelling candles. Unsustainable.
For mums and dads, the boo basket has become the latest iteration in the penchant for performative parenting
In another video, user Julianna Claire makes a boo basket for her “bestie”, containing Ugg slippers (those again), a jumper, an orange Stanley Cup, cloud socks, Reese’s peanut butter cups, an air freshener, body cream, a mug and some cookies. The Uggs alone retail for Dh640 ($175), the Stanley Cup Dh242. I love my friends, but not that much, and certainly not for Halloween.
For influencers, the boo basket has become the latest in a long line of ways to flaunt wealth and status or virtue signal their amazingness as a friend or partner. This begs the question: if an influencer performs a trend and there’s no one around to like it, does it yield any clout?
For mums and dads, the boo basket has become the latest iteration in the penchant for performative parenting. The insidious way online content has exponentially increased the pressure parents feel to meet expectations laid out by those with more time and money.
In the hundreds of thousands of videos of boo baskets showcased on social media, created mostly by women, bags are filled with sweets, crafts, clothes, toys, teddies, drinks cups, cosmetics, bath sets, candles, Sephora vouchers and more. Honestly? It’s more horrifying than any horror film you might watch this Halloween.
The message, as it always is with performative parenting, is clear: "We’re more attentive parents than you, ergo we’re better." Which the time-poor or cash-strapped parent can’t help but read as: "We love our children more than you do because look at all the stuff we’re giving them."
Oh, what a miserable hag you are for dumping all over this harmless Halloween fun, I hear you cry. To which I say: trick or treating, carving a pumpkin, dressing up as a zombie … isn’t that enough?
The boo basket is proof that nothing is safe from the relentless crawl of needless consumerism and waste for social media likes, in which every single celebration or event becomes centred on stuff rather than sentiment.
Which is why I say “boo” to the boo basket. Go haunt someone else’s doorstep.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Results
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EElite%20men%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Amare%20Hailemichael%20Samson%20(ERI)%202%3A07%3A10%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Leornard%20Barsoton%20(KEN)%202%3A09%3A37%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Ilham%20Ozbilan%20(TUR)%202%3A10%3A16%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Gideon%20Chepkonga%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A17%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Isaac%20Timoi%20(KEN)%202%3A11%3A34%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EElite%20women%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Brigid%20Kosgei%20(KEN)%202%3A19%3A15%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Hawi%20Feysa%20Gejia%20(ETH)%202%3A24%3A03%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Sintayehu%20Dessi%20(ETH)%202%3A25%3A36%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Aurelia%20Kiptui%20(KEN)%202%3A28%3A59%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Emily%20Kipchumba%20(KEN)%202%3A29%3A52%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
BMW%20M4%20Competition
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.0%20twin-turbo%20inline%20six-cylinder%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eight-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E503hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20600Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20from%20Dh617%2C600%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6-cylinder%2C%204.8-litre%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5-speed%20automatic%20and%20manual%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E280%20brake%20horsepower%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E451Nm%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh153%2C00%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
OIL PLEDGE
At the start of Russia's invasion, IEA member countries held 1.5 billion barrels in public reserves and about 575 million barrels under obligations with industry, according to the agency's website. The two collective actions of the IEA this year of 62.7 million barrels, which was agreed on March 1, and this week's 120 million barrels amount to 9 per cent of total emergency reserves, it added.
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
