American Women Suck

✈️ Board to be wild: “Airport theory” videos on TikTok dare you to show up 15 minutes before boarding. Maybe you’ll get lucky with TSA PreCheck or a delay, but odds are you’re dropping $400 on a rebook and crying at a Holiday Inn. Most clips are staged. Real advice? Two hours domestic, three for international. The post Board to be wild appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Russia has ruled out a Western military presence in the neighboring country as part of any peace deal Kiev’s European backers want the US to oversee a buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine in the event of a peace deal, with troops from non-NATO countries such as Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia potentially deployed on the ground, NBC News reported Friday, citing anonymous sources. According to the outlet, Washington’s role would be to use drones, satellites, and other intelligence capabilities to monitor conditions and coordinate with participating nations. Moscow has repeatedly rejected the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of any peace settlement. Politico previously outlined the same proposal for a buffer zone, suggesting involvement of third-party states but not naming them, and indicating that French and British troops could make up much of the force. A former Pentagon official told the outlet the plan reflected Kiev’s European backers “grasping at straws.” On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin again stressed Moscow’s opposition, warning that foreign soldiers would either become targets for Russian forces during hostilities or serve no purpose if a genuine peace agreement were reached. He added that “the West’s dragging of Ukraine into NATO was one of the causes of the conflict” and said any settlement would have to include security guarantees for both Russia and Ukraine. On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky met with members of the “coalition of the willing,” the group of nations supplying Kiev with weapons and promising security commitments in the event of a resolution with Russia. Most of them have publicly ruled out putting their own forces on the ground. Meanwhile, Moscow has said it plans to establish its own buffer zone along parts of the border to protect Russian civilians, particularly in Kursk and Bryansk regions. Putin noted in May that Ukrainian forces often target non-military assets, including homes and civilian vehicles such as ambulances and farm equipment, which he said made such measures necessary. View the full article

https://www.shopify.com/blog/millennials-buying-behavior By Angelica Frey for Shopify Millennials—individuals born between 1981 and 1996—now make up 29% of the worldwide population. In the United States, they are the largest adult group, totaling more than 74 million people.Given the generation’s size, it makes sense that millennials comprise a large share of purchasing power. Despite having come of age during the 2008 Great Recession, millennials are now in their prime spending years, with 16% of U.S. millennials earning $100,000 or more per year, per YouGov. Understanding millennial shopping habits can help you foster brand loyalty and drive sales. Below, Shopify explores millennial purchasing behaviors and how they can impact your business strategy. Five millennial buying behaviors Millennials, also known as Generation Y, grew up during the internet boom and witnessed the inception and rise of social media. While not quite digital natives, they became the first digitally savvy generation, accustomed to the convenience of new technologies, including e-commerce and the quality-on-a-budget formula of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. They also formed longstanding relationships with internet personalities that came of age alongside them, such as beauty and food-focused YouTubers who then went on to develop their own lines. As they near middle age, millennial consumers are prioritizing wellness and longevity, and are willing to spend their money on such things. At the same time, they are also directly influencing (and being influenced by) the preferences of their Gen-Alpha kids. 1. Nostalgia, but healthier Some 70% of Gen Alpha’s parents are millennials, PR agency DKC reports. Millennial spending habits are specific when it comes to their children: They are nostalgic for their own childhoods, while seeking safer, healthier materials in the food, toys, and clothes they purchase for their kids. “When it comes to snacks and food, there’s an emphasis on items that allow millennials to relive their childhood but that also have appeal for their kids,” says Angie Meltsner, a trends and consumer insights researcher and founder of the cultural insights studio Tomato Baby. “For example, Chomps, a meat stick brand, allows millennials to tap into notions of nostalgia of eating a favorite childhood snack, but can also feel good about giving it to their children. “When you’re a kid, of course you’re not in charge of groceries, but now millennials are in control of the purchasing decisions for their households and their families. They can live vicariously through these nostalgic purchases in a way, buying those things they wanted in their youth but as better-for-you alternatives for both their kids and themselves.” Frozen breakfast brand Belgian Boys caters to millennial parents and their Gen Alpha children. It offers a selection of products inspired by European staples that combine childhood nostalgia with a millennial aesthetic. The product line, which includes classics like chocolate-chip pancakes along with more novelty items like Belgian waffles and crepes, eschews artificial ingredients, corn syrup, and, in the case of some SKUs, GMOs—providing a “better for you” option. The brand emphasizes its gourmet offerings: The Belgian waffle, for instance, is made with “decadent brioche dough with real bits of pearl sugar baked right in.” Belgian Boys also offers suggestions on unique lunchbox ideas or how to get creative in the kitchen, helping fulfill millennial parents’ desire for a screen-free bonding activity to share with their children. 2. Convenience is king While Gen Z shoppers demand in-store experiences, which has trickled down to other generations, including Gen Alpha, members of the millennial generation still prefer the convenience of online shopping. Capital One Shopping reports, in fact, that 14.3% more millennials shop primarily online compared to all shoppers and, given the option between online and in-store, 32% prefer to shop online. “Millennials grew up having to go to stores: There was no other option,” says Meltsner. “And then when millennials eventually had their own money and were able to buy things for themselves—their households—that’s when online shopping became really popular, and millennials just really embraced it for the convenience factor. Now, you can’t get away from that.” The reasons are manifold: Shopping online offers more comprehensive inventory for various sizes, shades, and styles. Better yet, shopping online—especially on brand websites—often promotes better savings with customizable bundles or discount codes, which can help assuage the generation’s financial concerns. But the convenience is most compelling—even trumping sustainability concerns. “Their love for easy, hassle-free returns and the influence of social media are leading to hidden environmental consequences that many may not fully consider,” reports trade publication Packaging Europe, with millennial consumers responsible for 30% of total returns. 3. Millennials prioritize wellness, self care, and longevity According to a 2024 report by Ford, 60% of millennials in the U.S. would accept a 20% pay cut to achieve a lifestyle that prioritizes well-being. As millennials near middle age, their consumer behavior is focused on wellness, self care, and longevity. This focus significantly influences their spending habits; they spend an average of $115 per month ($20 more than Gen Z) on beauty, fitness, and mental health resources, according to a 2024 survey by StyleSeat. Millennials and Gen Z are the main drivers behind the $2 trillion global wellness market. “Younger consumers tend to purchase across a wider range of discretionary products, including health-tracking devices, massage tools, IV drips, and beauty and mindfulness apps. They are more open to experimentation and interested in testing digital solutions,” according to McKinsey’s 2025 Future of Wellness survey. “There is kind of a tension between appreciating aging, wanting to be knowledgeable about it, wanting products that support aging and are not anti-aging, and the accessibility of Botox and micro-surgeries,” says Meltsner. “At the same time, investing time and money into products and services that promise longevity, and focus on biological age rather than chronological age, are no longer fringe.” Supplement, lifestyle, and beauty brands that focus on middle age, and exercise routines that benefit flexibility and strength are all categories that cater to millennials’ interest in wellness. Some brands are capitalizing on the generation’s preference for wellness by revamping storied product categories. Bala gives 1980s-inspired, at-home fitness equipment a millennial makeover via sleek designs and a pastel color palette. AG1 provides vitamins, minerals, and probiotics in one product, with a sleek design and an emphasis on its being paleo, keto, and gluten-free to match the preferences of its target demographic. Beauty brand Jones Road Beauty sells clean, tinted moisturizers that are designed with middle-aged skin in mind. 4. Defying taboos For better or for worse, millennials have long been deemed oversharers. A positive outcome of these divulsions: The open dialogues have challenged and reframed what were once considered stigmas in previous generations. One such topic is menopause, an area that was once whispered about, if discussed at all. But in 2024, the topic perhaps reached peak zeitgeist with the viral release of Miranda July’s novel “All Fours,” which has been dubbed “the first great perimenopause novel.” Unofficial branded merch, including baseball caps reading “All Fours Group Chat,” has proliferated. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. A report from Women’s Health Access Matters and KPMG estimated that the 2024 market size for menopause products, which include holistic treatments, apps, and wearables, was nearly $18 billion. It’s forecasted to reach $27 billion by 2030. The 2024 Menopause in the Workplace report by fertility-benefits provider Carrot Fertility relays that the majority of millennial respondents (51%) think about menopause monthly or more often, and while less than a third of Gen X women had a high understanding of their menopause symptoms and treatment options when their symptoms began, 80% of millennial respondents have been educating themselves on the topic, and 67% discuss it among friends and relatives. Then there is its preceding life stage, perimenopause: “Over half (51%) of millennial women are also familiar with the transition period into menopause called perimenopause, with 32% reporting they already have symptoms and are preparing to address it,” according to the report. Supplements, such as those from Perelel Health, and beauty products, like Naomi Watts’ beauty brand Stripes, are examples of successful lower-barrier-of-entry products designed for the perimenopause and menopause market—and a willingness to talk about them on social media via influencer marketing. Perelel Health has partnerships with millennial celebrities and influencers, including comedian Abbi Jacobson, singer and actress Mandy Moore, and lifestyle influencer Pia Baroncini. In May 2025, Baroncini interviewed Perelel cofounder Dr. Banafsheh Bayati in the episode “Perimenopause, Protein, and Power,” and the duo framed menopause not as a transition, but as a life stage. The takeaway here? Innovation is calling: The millennial market is eager for products that the generations before them would never dream of adding to their carts. 5. Subscriptions for everything The phrase “Netflix and chill,” coined in 2009, does not just speak about millennial dating habits, but it also underscores millennials’ proclivity for what was, and still is, a subscription service. Millennials are fond of subscriptions, both digital and physical, and are the generation most likely to have between six and 11 subscriptions, reports European ecommerce and multichannel retail trade publication Internet Retailing. They’re also the most likely to spend more than $100 per month on subscriptions when compared with other generations. Millennials lead the subscription trend, with 39% of them relying on retail subscriptions for their everyday needs, reports the trade publication Pymnts, which covers the payments and platforms of the connected economy. Not all subscriptions function on the same business model. The “subscribe and save” and “auto-replenish” models cater to those looking for convenience for daily items such as meal kits, pet food, diapers, and household items. Beauty products are also popular for this type of subscription: Glossier offers a subscribe-and-save option for its products, which allows customers to save 25%. Curation is another type of subscription business model, which is essential to millennials’ (and Gen Z’s) self-expression. With curation, a business provides its customers with a range of selected products in a subscription box (beauty products, clothes, cuts of meat/seafood, pet care, premium digital content) for a monthly fee, with varying degrees of customization. Examples include Scentbird (fragrance subscription box), Stitchfix (clothing), Moinkbox (butcher cuts), and BarkBox (pet care and treats). “Curated boxes offer shoppers an accessible way to explore and experiment with products,” says Meltsner. “If something isn’t right this month, it can be adjusted for the next, and if something does work out, then it justifies the subscription.” Offering a curated subscription model allows customers to avoid decision-making fatigue while still allowing for choice and personal expression. This story was produced by Shopify and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. — Previously Published on hub.stacker Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. Photo credit: iStock The post Wellness, Subscriptions, and Nostalgia: How Millennials Are Spending Their Money appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Hours earlier president Vladimir Putin proposed joint investment projects with American firms, urging Washington to renew cooperation The US has apparently “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China,” President Donald Trump said Friday in a post on Truth Social. The message included a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking alongside Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump wished the three a “long and prosperous future together.” The leaders had gathered last Sunday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China. Putin remained afterward to attend commemorations of the 80th anniversary of World War II in Beijing, where he and Xi presided over a military parade joined by other foreign dignitaries. Trump accused Russia, China and North Korea – whose leader Kim Jong-un was also present – of “conspiring” against the U.S. The US president has often employed sarcasm in public statements, including in his annual holiday messages directed at people he calls his “enemies”. Russian officials dismissed the notion of a conspiracy. Putin’s foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that Trump’s comment appeared to be made in jest. At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin emphasized Russia’s interest in constructive relations with Washington. “The two-headed eagle, one of our national symbols, looks both ways,” he said, referencing Russia’s coat of arms. “Did we turn our backs on anyone? We did not. The eagle looks both ways just like always.” Putin added that Moscow sees potential in trilateral investment projects with the US and China in the Arctic and other joint endeavors. View the full article

President Putin has previously said that if the Ukrainian leader wants to negotiate, he should come to the Russian capital Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky was not invited to Moscow in order to surrender, but to take part in negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Earlier this week, during his press conference in China, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that he had never refused to negotiate with Kiev or to meet with Zelensky. He cautioned that holding a summit “just for the sake of it” would be a “path to nowhere,” but added that if Zelensky genuinely wanted to talk, he could simply come to Moscow. Kiev has ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga has accused Putin of making “knowingly unacceptable” proposals, claiming that Zelensky is ready for a meeting at any time but not under Moscow’s conditions. Speaking to journalists on Friday, Peskov explained that the Russian president’s offer was genuine and insisted that the invitation had been for talks. “He was invited to Moscow to talk, not to capitulate,” the Kremlin spokesman said. On the same day, during a plenary session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin noted that while he does not see “much sense” in direct talks with Zelensky, he remains open to them. “The Ukrainian side wants a meeting? Come! We will ensure security,” he said. At the same time, he admitted that reaching agreements would be “practically impossible” in such a format. Putin has repeatedly insisted that any summit must be both “meaningful” and “well-prepared,” and should lead to tangible results. Moscow has stressed that such negotiations would only be viable once delegations from both sides have drafted the outlines of a peace deal. Although Moscow has repeatedly indicated it is open to negotiations, it has also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, noting that his presidential term expired last year and asserting any agreement signed by him could be contested by a future Ukrainian administration. Russia has stated that lasting peace would require Kiev to recognize its new borders and abandon plans to join NATO. View the full article

Life has a funny way of lining things up. For me, the universe brought extreme joy and deep sorrow almost at the same time. My baby boy, my son, came into the world, full of life and promise. He was a week old, still so new, when the news came from India: my dad, his grandpa, had passed away. I was in the U.S., far away from home, dealing with both the tiredness of a new mom and the quiet ache of sadness. My world felt mixed up with new beginnings and big endings, all at once. They were alive together for exactly 7 days. The last photo my dad saw, sent across continents, was of his new grandson’s first tiny triumph — his first poop. My dad was so happy, thrilled to be a grandpa again. All this joy and sorrow made me feel a bit strange. As I managed being a new mom and being sad from afar, I wondered: How do I talk about this? How do I talk about death to a child who literally just arrived? The conventional wisdom often whispers, “Shield them. Protect their innocence. Use euphemisms.” But something in me, perhaps the raw honesty demanded by new parenthood, decided against it. I chose to be open about death, even with my little one, not with grand metaphors, but through shared reality. It was a quiet gamble. And it was through his unfiltered lens and our evolving conversations that I began to learn how to deal with loss in ways I never anticipated. My son, the tiniest, most unintentional grief counselor, became my guide. His insights were woven in every day interactions, his questions, and his simple way of being. We never spoke of “Grandpa in the sky” or “watching over us”, yet I found comfort in the fact that my son stared at a wall in our home laughing and making faces as if my dad was standing there having conversations with him. I know that is delusional, but I took temporary comfort in the thought. I would show him photos and share stories of things that happened, things Grandpa did. “See his laugh?” I’d say. “You have the same laugh.” There’s a particular glint in his eyes, a mischievous glint in his eye, that mirrors his grandfather’s exactly when they’re plotting something. And I always tell him, “If Grandpa were here, he would react just like this.” He’d look for photos of his Grandpa and with a serene understanding, nothing too complicated, just accepted the absence and absorbed this connection through stories and shared traits. He taught me that remembering isn’t just about sadness, its about continuing the relationship in a different form. One day, my son and I were flipping through my wedding album. It was photo after photo of all smiles and celebrations, and one particular image of my favorite aunt smiling, her face emanating pure joy that immediately caught my son’s attention. Ironically, this was the aunt who was the real reason for our marriage. She, our playful matchmaker, had found and brought us together. My son pointed and asked, “Who is she?” I took a deep breath. “That’s my aunty,” I said softly, “she isn’t with us anymore.” I went ahead to share how she brought mom and dad together. He paused for a moment, his tiny finger tracing her beautiful smiling face. He looked at me with complete certainty, “She got you and Dad together… so she made way for me coming into this world as well?” His words, simple and profound, were a gentle wave of truth that washed over my own grief. I had spent years thinking about loss as an absence, as a space that needed to be filled. But he, in his child’s wisdom, saw it as a purpose fulfilled. It wasn’t that she got us together, but she paved a path for him to come into being too. This perspective shift has been the greatest gift. I no longer feel the need to carry grief as a heavy burden, but as a quiet, active part of my life. It has taught me that the opposite of death isn’t just life; it’s connection. And in that, there is always hope. ~Ashmita, learning to navigate loss with tiny hands and an open heart. #GriefJourney #ParentingThroughLoss #ChildhoodWisdom #UnscriptedConnections #LifeLessons #AuthenticParenting #Healing #AshmitaWrites #WhatKidsTeachUs #LossAndLove #Insecurities #DaryenTeaches — This post was previously published on medium.com. Love relationships? We promise to have a good one with your inbox. Subcribe to get 3x weekly dating and relationship advice. Did you know? We have 8 publications on Medium. Join us there! Hello, Love (relationships) Change Becomes You (Advice) A Parent is Born (Parenting) Equality Includes You (Social Justice) Greener Together (Environment) Shelter Me (Wellness) Modern Identities (Gender, etc.) Co-Existence (World) *** – Photo credit: Sabesh Photography LTD On Unsplash The post Tiny Hands, Big Lessons on Loss appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The higher your hemorrhoid risk if you linger on the toilet like it’s a spa day. Doctors now say “three minutes max,” which means your bathroom isn’t a binge-scrolling sanctuary, it’s a ticking rectal time bomb. “One more video” is how civilizations fall … and colons, too. The post 46% appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

My secret to speedy, safe devices: I use TotalAV to keep my devices safe and running fast. It blocks viruses, cleans out junk and even stops hackers before they strike. Get your first year for just $19 today! The post My secret to speedy, safe devices appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Walmart vs Amazon, round 92: Walmart+ just lobbed a grenade at Prime with its new offer of free Peacock streaming for members, starting Sept. 15. That’s Real Housewives, NFL and SNL, bundled into Walmart’s $98 plan, cheaper than Peacock’s $109.99 annual price. You can also swap between Peacock and Paramount+ every 90 days. The post Walmart vs Amazon, round 92 appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

“Pro-war” European politicians are turning a blind eye to an “open manhunt,” the Hungarian foreign minister has said Ukraine’s forced mobilization, which has gained international attention for its brutality towards conscripts and even reported deaths, is “one of the greatest disgraces” in Europe, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said. Kiev’s recruitment drive, overseen by the Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR), has grown increasingly brutal as Ukrainian forces confront setbacks and manpower shortages. Hundreds of incidents have been documented online in which TCR officers assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through the streets, and threatened bystanders who tried to intervene. According to Szijjarto, there is now an “open manhunt” in Ukraine. “Everyone knows that during this forced conscription, people are often beaten, in some cases beaten to death,” Szijjarto said at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday, as quoted by Sputnik. Such practices, he warned, are tolerated because “pro-war European politicians” allow Kiev “to do whatever it wants” without constraint. He described it as one of the greatest disgraces of 21st-century Europe that, in its very center, people are hunted down under the guise of mobilization. Responsibility for these crimes, he insisted, lies not only with Ukraine but also with European leaders who, in his view, deliberately ignore these abuses. Ukraine introduced a general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia, barring most men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, the government lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 and further tightened recruitment rules in order to offset growing battlefield losses. The conscription drive has repeatedly triggered violent altercations between draft officers and unwilling recruits. Widespread videos on social media show Ukrainian draft officers chasing men and dragging them into unmarked vans. This has led to growing public outrage over what is now widely known as “busification.” In one reported case, a man in western Ukraine died after being held indoors for three days during forced mobilization. His relatives later discovered his body in a morgue. In response, many potential recruits have attempted to escape the country by crossing treacherous terrain or rivers, often with fatal consequences. View the full article

New Delhi plans to add more than 10,000 miles of access-control roads to enable faster travel India is planning to invest $125 billion to expand its high-speed road network fivefold within a decade, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. In a bid to modernize its infrastructure and reduce logistics costs, India will add about 10,563 miles (17,000km) of access-control roads that enable motorists to travel at speeds of up to 75mph, the news agency said, citing people familiar with the matter. The network would offer safer, quicker, and more efficient connectivity than the South Asian country’s existing highways, according to the report. Around 40% of the network is under construction and should be ready by 2030, while work on the remaining part would begin in another three years, with a deadline for 2033, the news agency added. India has over 90,000 miles of highways, but less than 3,000 miles meet high-speed standards, according to the report. Funding for the project would be through a public-private partnership or hybrid system. New Delhi hopes to reduce logistics costs from 14% of GDP to about 8%, Bloomberg reported, citing a report by Rubix Data Sciences Pvt. While the South Asian nation’s economy grew at a rate of 7.8% in the quarter ending June 2025, the country’s infrastructure has failed to keep pace with its fast growth. A report by capital markets rating company Crisil Ratings in June said India would spend $205 billion in the current and next fiscal year on key infrastructure sectors such as roads, real estate, and renewable energy. View the full article

The bloc’s officials reportedly believe that Berlin could withhold troops for a possible monitoring mission EU officials fear that Germany could “chicken out” and ditch plans to send ground troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev, Der Spiegel reported on Thursday, citing sources. An unnamed EU diplomat cited by the paper warned that if Germany wants to remain a leading nation in Europe, Berlin “cannot participate in the planning for months and then duck out.” Moscow earlier signaled it would not accept NATO troop deployment in the neighboring country under any pretext. The diplomat told the outlet that if Berlin limits its support to money, “the international damage to its image would be enormous.” According to Der Spiegel, Berlin is still committed to strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and providing equipment for four mechanized infantry brigades, alongside continued training of Ukrainian soldiers and closer integration of European and Ukrainian arms industries. In August, Bild reported that Berlin had shelved plans to possibly deploy soldiers to Ukraine. According to the tabloid, the proposal was dropped after US President Donald Trump made clear there would be no American boots on the ground. Publicly, Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany currently has no concrete plans to send troops, although the idea is not off the table. “Many questions can only be answered once we have at least a ceasefire. Until then, there will certainly be no troop deployments to Ukraine,” he said. The report comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries had pledged to contribute to Ukraine’s security once a ceasefire is agreed. These countries promised “to deploy as a ‘reassurance force’ troops in Ukraine, or be present on the ground, in the sea, or in the air,” he added, without providing details on the exact line-up or roles. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also accused Germany of “whipping up hysterical Russophobia on the European continent” while trying to play a “leading role” in that effort. View the full article

The Russian president has said the Ukrainian leader would not be in danger if he traveled to Moscow for peace talks Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would guarantee the safety of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, should he take up an offer to travel to Moscow for peace talks. Putin has proposed the Russian capital as a venue for talks with the Ukrainian leader on several occasions, although Zelensky has dismissed the idea out of hand. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin said Russia would ensure Zelensky would not be in danger during any visit. “We are ready for meetings at the highest level. The Ukrainian side wants this meeting... I said: ‘I’m ready, please come. We will fully ensure the working conditions and security,” Putin said. While reiterating a willingness to meet with Zelensky, Putin said he did not currently see “much sense” in in-person talks. Moscow has consistently said the details of a peace agreement must be in place before a top-level meeting is held. Russia has also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy to sign any peace agreements, given that his presidential term officially expired last year. Focus on a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting increased following the Russian leader’s summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska last month. Trump suggested that Putin and Zelensky could hold a bilateral meeting before conducting a trilateral gathering with his participation. Earlier this week, Trump told CBS News, “Something is going to happen, but they are not ready yet. But something is going to happen. We are going to get it done.” Russia earlier offered to increase the level of its delegation for the next round of talks with Ukraine, following two sets of discussions earlier this year in Istanbul. View the full article

During a hotel stay, I noticed a vase on a shelf in the lobby. The big, open foyer relied mainly on wood and light, natural colors. As a contrast, the designers had used ceramic tiling for the decor elements, kept in blue and white — the colors of Bavaria. The vase came in those same colors, but something was off. Upon closer inspection, I realized the vase was broken — but not really. The lid was fine, and it sat exactly where it was supposed to be, but beneath it was not a ceramic container. Instead, it was a transparent, plastic vessel in the shape of a vase, inside of which rested the broken shards of what must once have been the original. “Ha! What a great idea!” I thought. Perhaps it was an art piece intended to be half-broken, half-perfect from the start. Maybe someone actually broke the vase and 3D-printed a replacement. Regardless, the object reminded me of kintsugi, the Japanese art of integrating mistakes instead of making them disappear. When a teacup breaks, you can use invisible glue to mend it and hope no one will notice. Or, you can fix it with seams of gold, turning what was once a symbol of its brokenness into the main feature of an entirely new creation. That vase was also kintsugi, but it took the philosophy to yet another level: Sometimes, the best way to repair what’s broken is to not fix it at all. Simply displaying its remains might be enough. After one of my worst alcohol benders, I woke up on a stretcher in the hospital hallway. I had neither my wallet nor my jacket, and my phone was almost out of battery. A kind nurse gave me a bottle of sparkling water, and while it marked the start of my return back to civilization, I promptly lost its cap on the way home. For more than a year, I kept that empty, cap-less bottle on my desk. It was the perfect reminder of knowing your limits, and I haven’t landed back in the hospital since. Whether it’s the lid, the base, or the leader of your book club that no longer wants to serve its function the next time some part of your life breaks, remember: Not every problem needs to be fixed, and even the ones that do don’t have to be put together exactly the way they were before they fell apart. Grab a copy of Nik’s book, 2-Minute Pep Talks. 2-Minute Pep Talks is a collection of 67 jolts of inspiration for more hope, comfort, and love in any situation. With more than two months of daily inspiration across five categories, 2-Minute Pep Talks will make you feel more comfortable in your own skin, remind you to love yourself enough to ask life for what you truly want, and provide you with the world’s scarcest resource: hope. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up, new perspectives, or more fuel to accomplish your dreams — if you’re ready to regain that light, passionate, optimistic feeling we all used to possess as children, this book is for you. AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON! — This post was previously published on Niklas Göke’s blog Subscribe HERE *** You may also like these posts on The Good Men Project: White Fragility: Talking to White People About Racism Escape the “Act Like a Man” Box The Lack of Gentle Platonic Touch in Men’s Lives is a Killer What We Talk About When We Talk About Men Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community. Register New Account Log in if you wish to renew an existing subscription. Username Email First Name Last Name Password Password Again Choose your subscription level Dating Masterclass - $999.00 - unlimited Dating Masterclass: How to Date and Create Satisfying and Lasting Love and Sexi in this Crazy, Modern World 5 Ways to Build Confidence - $99.00 - unlimited 5 Ways to Build Confidence and Make Meeting and Dating Women Less Nerve-Wracking Monthly Platinum - free - unlimited Monthly - $6.99 - 1 Month Yearly - $50.00 - 1 Year Sponsored Columnist Annual - $1,250.00 - 1 Year Sponsored Columnist Monthly - $150.00 - 1 Month Annual Platinum - $50.00 - 1 Year Annual Gold - $25.00 - 1 Year Monthly Gold - $20.00 - 1 Month Annual Bronze - $12.00 - 1 Year Credit / Debit Card PayPal Choose Your Payment Method Auto Renew By completing this registration form, you are also agreeing to our Terms of Service which can be found here. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: iStock The post The Broken Vase appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

📺 Dolby Vision 2 announced: The next generation of TV picture quality is coming, going beyond HDR. It’ll use “Content Intelligence” (AI) to adapt your TV to what you’re watching and the room’s lighting. Think clearer dark scenes, sharper contrast, richer colors and higher brightness. Hisense will get it first. The post Dolby Vision 2 announced appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Experts stressed sanctions resilience, the shift to national currencies, and shipping autonomy as key factors for a multipolar economy An expert session of ‘The Future of the World’ Open Dialogue, focusing on “Investments in Connectivity” was held at the Primorye branch of the National Centre RUSSIA on Friday, bringing together specialists from different countries to discuss “Transformation of Trade and Connectivity in the New Reality.” Opening the discussion, Maksim Oreshkin, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, stressed that new global trade solutions are now being driven by BRICS and the Global South. According to him, traditional institutions are becoming obsolete. “We already have everything: the new realities of the global economy and the technologies to support them. A new architecture of world trade is emerging. It does not replace old institutions or routes – it complements them,” Oreshkin said. Rakhim Oshakbayev, Chief Economist at the TALAP Center for Applied Research, argued that sanctions imposed on Russia spurred innovation and resilience. “The result is evident, and it surprises not only outside observers but even Russian economists – how much the Russian economy, through a mix of policy, governance, and private initiative, has demonstrated such strength,” he noted. Oreshkin echoed this, adding that large economies like China and India would soon feel similar benefits. Another major trend, highlighted by Jian Lian, founder of Beijing Hengce Investment Consulting, is the shift to national currencies. “We are moving to national currencies. This creates new conditions for economic efficiency – and we are achieving it peacefully,” he said. Connectivity in trade also depends on shipping capacity, stressed Pyotr Ivanov, head of logistics at Rosatom and CEO of Far Eastern Shipping Company. When international firms controlling most of global trade left Russia, freight rates soared tenfold, striking at connectivity and commerce. For Ivanov, “focusing on our own fleet is the foundation of stable international trade.” The session underscored that sanctions, currency diversification, and shipping autonomy are reshaping global trade – not by dismantling the old order, but by layering new structures upon it. Russia and its partners frame this transformation as part of a broader move toward a more multipolar and resilient global economy. View the full article

Moscow always keeps its diplomatic options open – as long as its sovereignty is respected US President Donald Trump’s recent statement that the US has “lost Russia to China” makes for a good headline or soundbite, but the reality is more nuanced than that. Russia isn’t anyone’s lost cause. It’s doing what it has always done: maneuvering pragmatically, engaging when it sees opportunities, and reminding the world that it plays by its own rules – not by someone else’s bloc mentality. The eagle looks both ways At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought this point across in a vivid metaphor of the two-headed eagle, Russia’s national emblem. “Did we turn our backs on anyone? We did not. The eagle looks both ways just like always,” Putin says. That’s a powerful way to frame Russia’s approach. Moscow has long insisted that it isn’t closing doors, whether East or West. Its message is straightforward: we are open to work with everyone – as long as our sovereignty and interests are respected. This isn’t a new idea. Even during the most heated confrontations with the US and Western Europe, the Kremlin has kept repeating it. And the examples Putin gave weren’t abstract diplomatic niceties. He pointed to concrete projects: joint natural gas ventures in Alaska, where American resources could be paired with Russian liquefaction technology; and trilateral energy cooperation in the Arctic with both US and Chinese partners. These are tangible ideas. The only thing that could stand in the way of this cooperation, Putin stressed, would be political will in Washington. Which brings us to the Anchorage summit in August. For the first time since the Russia-Ukraine war started, the leaders of the US and Russia sat down together on American soil. The choice of Alaska was deliberate: a US territory with historic Russian roots – a reminder of old ties, of geography, of shared history that neither side can erase. Read more Russia never turned its back on the US – Putin The meeting didn’t deliver an immediate dramatic breakthrough, but in diplomacy, sometimes the symbolism is the story. Just the act of holding the summit was itself a statement: these channels remain open, the US and Russia still have business to discuss. Putin spoke of “understandings” that could pave the way toward peace in Ukraine. Some skeptics saw this as more PR than substance – but even that doesn’t erase the fact that dialogue happened, and that it was framed around practical cooperation, not only confrontation. One of the clearest signals of this practicality is the involvement of Kirill Dmitriev in Russia’s talks with the US. Dmitriev isn’t some anonymous technocrat. He’s the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Harvard-educated, Wall Street-seasoned, a figure who knows the logic of global finance inside out. In February he was appointed as Putin’s Special Presidential Envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation – a role tailor-made for someone who can bridge Moscow’s goals with Western business interests. Dmitriev’s involvement is significant because it speaks of Moscow’s desire to not just talk policy but translate it into projects that investors and companies can actually get behind. It is a clear indication that Russia is not after political theater, but tangible progress. To say that Russia is “lost to China” is to ignore this entire dimension of Moscow’s diplomacy. If Russia truly considered the US irrelevant, if it had really “gone East” once and for all, Dmitriev wouldn’t have been there. His very presence is evidence that Moscow sees value in exploring cooperation with America. Read more Fyodor Lukyanov: Trump and Putin are closing the era that Reagan and Gorbachev began China is a natural partner, not a cage Of course, none of this denies the obvious: Russia and China are drawing ever closer. That’s not some geopolitical surprise: they are the two biggest powers in Eurasia, sharing a vast border and centuries of intertwined history. Economically, politically, even ideologically, they’ve found common ground – particularly in rejecting the idea of a world dominated by Western institutions. But closer partnership with China doesn’t mean closing the door to the West. Russia has never operated that way. Its foreign policy DNA is multipolar, pragmatic, and balanced. Cooperation with Beijing is natural, but so too is keeping channels open with Washington, Brussels, Delhi, or anyone else willing to engage. This is why the bloc mentality that implies that Russia must belong either to the US or to China simply doesn’t fit Moscow’s worldview. The Kremlin prefers options, leverage, and room to maneuver. Russia isn’t lost because nobody owns it. It’s deepening ties with Beijing, yes, but at the very same time it’s inviting American businesses to partner in Alaska, in the Arctic, in energy and beyond. It’s sitting down with Washington’s leaders. It’s sending seasoned, globally connected negotiators like Kirill Dmitriev to the table. That’s not the behavior of a country that has written America off. It’s the behavior of a country determined to keep every option open, to maximize its leverage, and to ensure that no one – not China, not the US, not anyone – gets to dictate its choices. View the full article

Moscow always keeps its diplomatic options open – as long as its sovereignty is respected US President Donald Trump’s recent statement that the US has “lost Russia to China” makes for a good headline or soundbite, but the reality is more nuanced than that. Russia isn’t anyone’s lost cause. It’s doing what it has always done: maneuvering pragmatically, engaging when it sees opportunities, and reminding the world that it plays by its own rules – not by someone else’s bloc mentality. The eagle looks both ways At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought this point across in a vivid metaphor of the two-headed eagle, Russia’s national emblem. “Did we turn our backs on anyone? We did not. The eagle looks both ways just like always,” Putin says. That’s a powerful way to frame Russia’s approach. Moscow has long insisted that it isn’t closing doors, whether East or West. Its message is straightforward: we are open to work with everyone – as long as our sovereignty and interests are respected. This isn’t a new idea. Even during the most heated confrontations with the US and Western Europe, the Kremlin has kept repeating it. And the examples Putin gave weren’t abstract diplomatic niceties. He pointed to concrete projects: joint natural gas ventures in Alaska, where American resources could be paired with Russian liquefaction technology; and trilateral energy cooperation in the Arctic with both US and Chinese partners. These are tangible ideas. The only thing that could stand in the way of this cooperation, Putin stressed, would be political will in Washington. Which brings us to the Anchorage summit in August. For the first time since the Russia-Ukraine war started, the leaders of the US and Russia sat down together on American soil. The choice of Alaska was deliberate: a US territory with historic Russian roots – a reminder of old ties, of geography, of shared history that neither side can erase. The meeting didn’t deliver an immediate dramatic breakthrough, but in diplomacy, sometimes the symbolism is the story. Just the act of holding the summit was itself a statement: these channels remain open, the US and Russia still have business to discuss. Putin spoke of “understandings” that could pave the way toward peace in Ukraine. Some skeptics saw this as more PR than substance – but even that doesn’t erase the fact that dialogue happened, and that it was framed around practical cooperation, not only confrontation. One of the clearest signals of this practicality is the involvement of Kirill Dmitriev in Russia’s talks with the US. Dmitriev isn’t some anonymous technocrat. He’s the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Harvard-educated, Wall Street-seasoned, a figure who knows the logic of global finance inside out. In February he was appointed as Putin’s Special Presidential Envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation – a role tailor-made for someone who can bridge Moscow’s goals with Western business interests. Dmitriev’s involvement is significant because it speaks of Moscow’s desire to not just talk policy but translate it into projects that investors and companies can actually get behind. It is a clear indication that Russia is not after political theater, but tangible progress. To say that Russia is “lost to China” is to ignore this entire dimension of Moscow’s diplomacy. If Russia truly considered the US irrelevant, if it had really “gone East” once and for all, Dmitriev wouldn’t have been there. His very presence is evidence that Moscow sees value in exploring cooperation with America. China is a natural partner, not a cage Of course, none of this denies the obvious: Russia and China are drawing ever closer. That’s not some geopolitical surprise: they are the two biggest powers in Eurasia, sharing a vast border and centuries of intertwined history. Economically, politically, even ideologically, they’ve found common ground – particularly in rejecting the idea of a world dominated by Western institutions. But closer partnership with China doesn’t mean closing the door to the West. Russia has never operated that way. Its foreign policy DNA is multipolar, pragmatic, and balanced. Cooperation with Beijing is natural, but so too is keeping channels open with Washington, Brussels, Delhi, or anyone else willing to engage. This is why the bloc mentality that implies that Russia must belong either to the US or to China simply doesn’t fit Moscow’s worldview. The Kremlin prefers options, leverage, and room to maneuver. Russia isn’t lost because nobody owns it. It’s deepening ties with Beijing, yes, but at the very same time it’s inviting American businesses to partner in Alaska, in the Arctic, in energy and beyond. It’s sitting down with Washington’s leaders. It’s sending seasoned, globally connected negotiators like Kirill Dmitriev to the table. That’s not the behavior of a country that has written America off. It’s the behavior of a country determined to keep every option open, to maximize its leverage, and to ensure that no one – not China, not the US, not anyone – gets to dictate its choices. View the full article

More than a dozen people have been killed by the Zaire strain of the virus in DR Congo, according to health authorities At least 16 people, including four health workers, have died in a new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), authorities in the Central African country have announced. So far, 28 suspected cases have been reported in Kasai province, and laboratory tests have confirmed the Zaire strain of the disease, the Congolese health ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “The case fatality rate is estimated at 57%, although investigations and laboratory analyses are continuing to refine the situation,” the ministry stated, adding that the latest cases mark the 16th epidemic recorded in the DR Congo. The government said it has deployed rapid response teams, supported by World Health Organization (WHO) experts, to boost epidemiological surveillance and set up triage and isolation facilities. Ebola, a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or tissue. Symptoms often include high fever, fatigue, headaches, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, and internal or external bleeding. Congo last recorded the virus in 2022 in Equateur province, after a devastating 2018–2020 outbreak killed nearly 2,300 people. The country, currently gripped by armed conflict in its mineral-rich eastern provinces fueled by the M23 rebel group, has also been experiencing severe outbreaks in recent months, ranging from those described as “mysterious” to the Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox. The WHO has said it will deliver two tons of supplies, including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory gear and medicines, to support Kinshasa. It added that Congo has a stockpile of treatments and 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which will be sent to Kasai to vaccinate contacts and frontline health workers. Earlier this year, neighboring Uganda also declared a new Ebola outbreak after a 32-year-old nurse died from multiple organ failure. The WHO recorded 14 cases, including 12 confirmed and two probable, with four deaths. In June, Ugandan health official Diana Atwine said the country had “swiftly” contained the outbreak with help from Russian partners. Russia’s public health agency Rospotrebnadzor said in January it had supported Uganda with an epidemiological investigation and anti-epidemic measures after donating a mobile laboratory in 2024. View the full article

It bothers me to a significant degree that, more often than not, the first thing in any list of recommendations for the cures for psychiatric disorders is medication. The prevalence of the most societally persistent psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, reflects more on the structure of society and how modern life is incompatible with human needs rather than a large proportion of the population suddenly evolving to have significant biochemical imbalances in the past century. A primarily biological interpretation of a depressive disorder misses the point. It is not only a pattern of chemical production in the brain that can be chronic — a philosophy can be life-determining, persistent, and chronic, too. I experienced a strange spell of chronic depression recently, which my therapist concluded to be an accumulation of low serotonin during winter, hormonal factors, and childhood trauma unconsciously modulating my thoughts and behaviours. I was crying several times a day consistently. I failed to concentrate on productive activities, except for some essays I compulsively wrote during that period in chase of brief emotional relief. My therapist suggested I change my medication since he concluded that this one wasn’t working as effectively. But an odd thing happened. I realised that the source of my anguish was a persistent self-hatred, snowballing into an anxiety over having feelings of self-hatred in the first place. The thing about shame is that it compounds. You experience primary shame over the main thing, like your inability to concentrate, which causes you to experience secondary shame over feeling ashamed in the first place, further decreasing your already-fledging concentration ability. No matter how hard I tried to argue against the loud voices validating reasons to loathe myself, I couldn’t get close to believing it, which is another failure to add to the list of reasons why I am a failure! So, I had to change my strategy, and I did. All I did was imagine that I was temporarily inhabiting my best friend’s body: Would I have treated her the way I treated myself? And then, my perspective shifted utterly. I absolutely could not, in any universe, imagine the vile beliefs I had about myself to be true about my best friend. I could not let her not eat for the whole day, and my disgust at the thought of disrespecting her like that motivated me to go out and buy groceries. I was about to buy instant noodles, but then I remembered that I never would feed my best friend unhealthy food, so I bought meat and vegetables instead. I was so focused on my ruminations that after queuing and with a full basket, the cashier asked for my card, only for me to realise that I had forgotten my card at home. This incident was embarrassing, and I usually would have blamed myself for it, but I could not imagine speaking that way to my best friend or that those harsh criticisms were valid. It made me realise that we always view the world from tinted glasses, and there is no removing them. Humans are fundamentally subjective creatures, and our lens determines how the world ‘objectively’ appears to us. Art’s function is to make us aware of these other subjectivities. Indeed, my favourite artworks — like my favourite movies and books — usually remind me of all the possibilities, of the incredible capaciousness of art. There are so many ways to write a thing, so many ways that only I could write it. Over time, we start to narrow our thinking about what a piece of writing — what a particular story — can be and how it needs to be told. Partly, this is because we get attached to the most familiar narrative. We connect to the one we tell ourselves because it makes persisting easier. The cause of this limiting of our range and scope is inertial: it is the narrative we have been told about ourselves and our stories, and so that’s the narrative we tend to speak. I’ve spent my whole life being prescribed narratives about my mind: how it should and shouldn’t be, what it should or shouldn’t do, and its value. Mainly, I have learned a lot from my culture, media, government, men on the streets of whatever city I’ve lived in, men whom I have loved and not loved, women whom I have loved and not loved — and what I have learned is how being emotional is hysterical, a truthful reaction is an overreaction, and that I should tailor the recounting of my experiences in a way to avoid causing men discomfort. The degree to which this education has affected my life is impossible to overstate. It has defined my relationship to my identity, how I present myself to others, how I treat myself in private, my relationship with men, politics, art, food, clothing, money, and medicine. This internalised narrative about how my mind was supposed to function and its value has governed much of how I think of myself and what I have spent the minutes of my life contemplating and doing. The outstanding work of anyone’s life, I believe, is to attend to the project of its undoing, of discerning what thought processes are possible to undo, what must be lived with, and how to situate what must be lived within the mind and life, so that it does not do the work intended by its embedding: to undermine any power one might have that does not serve men. So, here’s a challenge: Write about your personal experience the first time. Then, rewrite that experience, but you cannot use similar words or synonyms. Then, repeat that with another set of different words and synonyms. This method will train you to view things from different perspectives and broaden your subjectivities. You are, in essence, purchasing new glasses to view the world — and this, I argue, is what medication tries to achieve, only to crudely scratch the surface. Medication might remove your previous glasses but not give you new ones. Adopting new glasses requires an arduous journey, meticulous vetting of other potential glasses, and determining whether they fit you. Poor self-perception is not a biological problem — it is a philosophical one. Almost everything I’ve ever written started with a secret, with the fear that my subject was unspeakable. Without expectation, writing about these subjects has not only freed me from that fear but from the subjects themselves and from the bondage of believing I might be alone in them. What I have also observed is that avoiding a secret subject can be its own kind of bondage. We are indeed monsters. And to deny the monstrous is to deny its beauty, meaning, and necessary devastation. Every personal author writes a history that could not be found in any other book. We tell the stories no one else can tell and give each other this proof of our survival. While the question of who cares is an important one for every writer to ask themselves, embedded in my contemplation of it were more than twenty years of conditioning to believe that the subject of girlhood was not worth a few minutes of a reader’s time. It was a very meta experience, an example of the efficiency of social conditioning. Whenever this insecurity struck, I would ask myself whom I was imagining when I imagined that uncharitable reader. It was not me or any of the people who mattered in my life. It was that one guy I slept with who argued that the MeToo movement ruined men’s lives. It was that one guy who happened to be my regretful sperm donor. It was not anyone whose opinion I valued. It was not my intended audience. It was the people whose approval I’d been trained long ago to seek, whose stories I’d learned to value over my own. The white man, being the ‘default’ interpretation of humanity, has his accounts extrapolated into the universal. In contrast, works written by women, queer, or people of colour are relegated to works of niche and particular identities. When produced by people of marginalised groups, personal written work is often labelled as ‘navel-gazing’. By labelling it navel-gazing and convincing us to police our own and one another’s stories, they have enlisted us in the project of our continued disempowerment. I don’t think it’s a stretch to wonder if the navel, as the locus of all this disdain, has something to do with its connection to birth, body, and the female. Now that I have rooted that belief out of myself, my tolerance for it is at an all-time low and sinking. Former favourite books by French male philosophers are intolerable. Bring me your books about girlhood, queer families, and sex workers — I will read them all. And I kept writing. The process continually revealed new layers of conditioning, functions of my mind that prioritised the feelings and desires of others — sometimes total strangers — over my own. It is through that very writing that I was able to undo it further. Being healed by writing does not excuse you from the extravagantly hard work of making good art. I laboured endlessly behind every essay I’ve written. But occasionally, I still fielded insinuations that I had gotten away with publishing my diary. When, in fact, writing about your personal experiences is not easier than other kinds of writing. To write an essay, I had to invest the time and energy to research and craft plots, scenes, descriptions, dialogue, and pacing — all the writer’s jobs. I also had to face some unpalatable truths about my accountability. Becoming a better person is often more challenging than writing a better book. I prefer to read books that evidence this emotional confrontation with the self. I want to feel how the writer changed the page and how the act of writing changed them. The risk of honest self-appraisal requires bravery. To place our flawed selves in the context of this magnificent, broken world is the opposite of narcissism, which is building a self-image that pleases you. As Rilke wrote in Letters to a Young Poet: “The work of the eyes is done. Go now and do the heart-work on the images imprisoned within you.” Don’t tell me that the experiences of most of our planet’s human population are marginal, irrelevant, or political. Don’t tell me that you think there’s not enough room for another story about sexual abuse, motherhood, or racism. There is no writer’s block; there is only fear. And you can be afraid and still write something. No one has to read it, though when you’re done, you might want them to. The only way to make room is to drag all our stories into that room. That’s how it gets bigger. You write it, and I will read it. — This post was previously published on Writers’ Blokke. *** You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project .10 Things Good Men Should Never Do in a Relationship The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex .. In Modern Relationships, We Cheat Every Single Day Here’s What Happens When You Find The One Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. Photo credit: iStock The post Medicating a Philosophical Problem appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

🤳🏻 Instagram finally has an iPad app: It’s different from the phone version. The app opens straight into a feed of Reels, with a new Following tab to see posts in chronological order. Comments show beside videos, and the DM page displays your inbox next to chats. Download it here, and drop me a follow for more tips. The post Instagram finally has an iPad app appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The Russian president has outlined his vision on the national economy and resolving the Ukraine conflict, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered an address to the Eastern Economic Forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok on Friday, which mostly focused on the domestic economy but also covered issues including the Ukraine conflict. Putin highlighted a renewed interest from Western businesses in re-entering the Russian market, commented on the possibility of a meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, and dismissed the need for Western troop deployments to support Kiev. Here are the key takeaways from the Russian leader’s speech. Poverty in decline Putin reported that the poverty level in Russia has fallen from 11.3% to 7.2% over the past decade, calling the trend “positive.” He also expressed confidence that inflation – currently estimated at 8.8% – could be lowered to a minimum while maintaining economic growth. He stressed that his goal is to make Russia “an economy of high salaries.” “This is no populism, this makes sense economically,” Putin said, adding that the unemployment has decreased from 7% to 2.4%. Western business wants return to Russia Putin noted that numerous Western businesses had exited the country after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 and the imposition of sanctions on Russia, “at a loss to themselves due to ‘political reasons.’” However, he said many firms “are eagerly waiting for all these political restrictions to be lifted.” Putin also observed that some foreign companies “continue to operate in Russia despite political disagreements between their governments and Moscow” and “even want to expand cooperation.” He stressed that Russia remains open to cooperation, particularly “with our friends.” “But we are not isolating ourselves from anyone… we have never turned away or pushed anyone out. Those who want [to come] back in are welcome.” No ‘resources trap’ for Russia Russia is not at risk of a dependence on selling crude oil, gas, and other natural resources abroad, Putin said, adding that such a threat would only become real if Russia remained passive. “We must create conditions for the development of innovative sectors of the economy… so that the people needed for work in these spheres come here,” Putin said, referring to the Far East. He added that Russia’s partners “will gladly invest in those promising enterprises.” 100% security guarantee for Zelensky Putin reiterated that he is ready for in-person talks with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, but “does not see much sense” in them, explaining that any agreements on the territorial dispute between Moscow and Kiev could be settled only via a referendum in Ukraine. Russian officials earlier also pointed out that Zelensky’s presidential term expired last year, making him unfit to sign any binding agreements. At the same time, Putin said he was ready to talk with Zelensky in Moscow, adding that Moscow is willing to provide a “100% security guarantee” for the Ukrainian leader. Zelensky earlier declined the invitation. “We are ready for meetings at the highest level. The Ukrainian side wants this meeting... I said: ‘I’m ready, please come. We will fully ensure the working conditions and security.’” Foreign troop deployment in Ukraine There would be “no sense” in a Western troop deployment to Ukraine once a lasting settlement to the conflict is reached, Putin said. “Nobody should doubt that Russia would implement the agreed terms fully. We will respect security guarantees that both Russia and Ukraine need to be offered,” he added. The Russian leader also warned that if any Western troops arrive in Ukraine while the hostilities are ongoing, Moscow “would consider them legitimate military targets.” Arctic cooperation with the US US companies are ready to engage in economic cooperation in the Arctic with Russia, and Moscow is open to this prospect, although political will is required to kickstart projects, Putin said. “It is not up to us – we are also ready, but if there are political decisions, we will move in that direction,” he said, adding that Russian gas extraction and liquefaction technologies are more efficient than those developed in the US. According to Putin, Moscow and Washington have also discussed potential trilateral cooperation in the Russian Arctic with China. Cooperation in the oil and gas sector would be mutually beneficial, the Russian president added. People before AI Pivoting to the role of artificial intelligence, Putin remarked that he was certain that AI could be used in the decision-making process. However, decisions ultimately “must be made by a specific person, who must be accountable,” he added. “You can’t hold artificial intelligence accountable – it is just a tool, it is people who must work.” View the full article

Washington slaps tariffs on allies while Russia and China demonstrate unity, Kaja Kallas has said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has criticized the United States for weakening its own allies through trade tariffs, warning that such policies give Russia and China the upper hand by underscoring Western disunity. Superpowers “sometimes overestimate their own power and underestimate how much they need others,” Kallas said Wednesday at an event hosted by the EU Institute for Security Studies, the bloc’s in-house defense and security think tank. Kallas pointed to US tariffs targeting nations aligned with Washington, including Canada, Australia and Japan, arguing that the measures “make those countries weaker” and embolden Moscow and Beijing. She recalled attending an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting where the Russian delegation emphasized Moscow’s historic ties with China. Kallas claimed to be surprised at Russia and China's joint commemoration of victory in WWII, in which both countries incurred up to 45,000,000 military and civilian deaths while fighting the Axis powers. “Russia was addressing China, like, ‘Russia and China, we fought the Second World War [and we defeated] Nazism.’ And I was, like, ‘OK, that is something new,’” Kallas said. “If you know history then, you know, it raises a lot of question marks in your head.” She went on to claim that many people today don’t study history enough and “buy these narratives.” Kallas confirmed that in her view, the Russia-China partnership appeared to be resilient. Her remarks coincided with China’s military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Imperial Japan’s defeat and the end of World War II. Ahead of the commemorations, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping underscored their countries’ shared duty to preserve the historical legacy of victory. “Our ancestors, our fathers and grandfathers have paid a huge price for peace and freedom,” Putin said. “We remember that. That is the foundation of our achievements today and in the future.” View the full article

Russia is not reorienting its foreign policy, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed, adding that doing so would be a mistake Russia is not shifting its foreign policy to the East or anywhere else, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said following President Vladimir Putin’s recent four-day visit to China. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Peskov was asked if the president’s trip could be interpreted as official “documentation” that Moscow has reoriented eastward. ”You can’t put it that way,” Peskov objected. “Nothing has been formalized, and it is impossible to formally record any kind of turns. Furthermore, Russia is not planning to turn anywhere, that would be a mistake. In fact, it has already always been in the East,” he added. The spokesman added that Russia continues to develop its strategic and privileged partnership with China, as well as ties with other countries in the region and with the Global South. According to Peskov, the ongoing processes of global transformation are leading many of these states to unite around a shared vision of the need to transform the international system. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday, Putin stressed that Russia had never turned its back on anyone and always “looks both ways,” just like the two-headed eagle on the country’s national symbols. He emphasized that Russia has always been, and remains open to economic cooperation with the US, and that American businesses could greatly benefit from joint projects if Washington allows it. The president also pointed to the opportunities that exist in the Arctic. He stated that three-way operations with China and the US to begin developing the region “right now” were possible, only requiring a “political decision.” Meanwhile, Moscow and Beijing have unveiled new agreements covering energy, governance, and travel. Putin confirmed increased gas exports to China through the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline while China announced visa-free entry for Russians from September 15, with Moscow set to reciprocate. At the SCO summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping also launched a global governance initiative, with Putin backing the proposed reforms. Western officials have warned that the closer partnership challenges their rules-based order. However, Putin has stressed organizations like the SCO are not aimed against third countries, but rather at creating a more just world order. View the full article

The United States is experiencing a phenomenon as fascinating as it is unsettling: one of the most advanced economies on the planet, home to some of the world’s finest universities and research centers, has fallen prey to a collective delusion dragging it decades backward in public health, environmental policy, science, energy and technology. The trigger for this piece is an impressive Washington Post article analyzing the devastating floods in Texas over the Fourth of July, which killed at least a hundred people — many of them children — stunning local authorities with their speed and ferocity. The core of the article isn’t just the climate tragedy itself, but the context in which it unfolds: a country where the president, Donald Trump, aims to eliminate the entire federal budget for climate and meteorological research. Zero dollars. None. As well as being an idiot, he thinks that ignoring the problem will make it vanish… This dismantling of scientific knowledge isn’t random or anecdotal. It’s accompanied by shuttering weather stations, eliminating key positions in the National Weather Service (even in vulnerable areas like Kerr County itself), and the systematic gutting of agencies like NOAA, the backbone of U.S. climate and oceanic forecasting. A direct attack on science, on information, and ultimately, on public safety. And by the way, in China they are going in the exact opposite direction: more research, more AI, more prevention, less deaths… But the regression isn’t limited to climate. In public health, the picture is just as grim. The United States is suffering its worst measles outbreak in decades, with cases surpassing 500 in Texas and rising in Kansas and other states. The culprit? Anti-vaccine rhetoric that has gone from the fringes of conspiracy theory to the heart of public policy, now championed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose health department has gone so far as to cancel subscriptions to scientific journals like Nature, dismissing them as “junk science” — when the only junk here is the brains of these charlatans. The same Kennedy administration is also pushing to ban fluoride supplements in water and for children, a decision rooted in radical pseudoscientific misinformation. Moves like this are part of a broader trend of systematic assaults on evidence-based science and policy — a disturbing return to institutionalized ignorance. On the environmental front, Trump used his first 100 days to roll back dozens of policies: scrapping anti-pollution regulations, incentivizing gas-guzzlers over electric vehicles, weakening safeguards for national parks, and axing energy efficiency standards for appliances. What’s truly baffling isn’t just that a government would propose such destructive measures — authoritarian populism is nothing new — but that millions of people blindly defend it. That in the 21st century, with all the world’s knowledge at their fingertips, a significant portion of the US population rejects science, embraces climate denialism, shuns vaccines and actively votes to dismantle the very institutions upholding their quality of life. How to explain this backslide? How does a country that invented the internet, won the space race and pioneered mRNA vaccines now march toward a self-inflicted dystopia where knowledge is censored and ignorance is institutionalized? The answer likely lies in extreme tribalism, polarization fueled by algorithms, media echo chambers and systematic disinformation. But there’s also a deeper emotional component: a rejection of change, progress, and the modern world — masked as freedom. Not freedom as rational emancipation, but as a childish defiance of anything that means change. The consequences of this are all too real: more disease, more deaths, more climate disasters, less economic competitiveness. A country that, instead of leading the future, chooses to retreat into an imaginary past where everything was supposedly “better” — simply because no one questioned it — led by a blowhard who represents very powerful vested interests. As Harvard climatologist Daniel Schrag put it this week: “It’s insane for a government to impose its ideology on basic science.” Indeed, it is. But that’s exactly what’s happening. Populism as democracy’s cancer. And there’s no sign it’ll stop soon — nor that other nations will learn from the obvious consequences of electing certain people to power. — This post was previously published on Enrique Dans’ blog. *** You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project You Said ‘Race’, but Are You Actually Talking About Race? Understanding the Nonbinary: Are You Confusing Gender With Sex? The Difference Between Compassion for Those With Disabilities & Ableism? ‘Masculinity’ Is Having an Identity Crisis Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * Subscribe If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. Photo credit: iStock The post The United States Is Now in a Very Dark Place appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article