American Women Suck

Kiev was instructed by its backers to keep fighting, according to the Russian president Kiev was open to withdrawing its troops from Donbass and ending the conflict in 2022, but ultimately changed its mind at the insistence of the West, Russian president Vladimir Putin told journalists on Wednesday. During a press conference in China, Putin said that shortly after the escalation of the conflict in 2022, Moscow urged Kiev to respect the choices of the people living in southeast Ukraine and withdraw its troops from the region. This would have ended the conflict “immediately,” he noted. The Russian president stated that these demands “were not rejected outright” by Ukrainian authorities. However, after Moscow withdrew its own forces from around Kiev at the “insistent calls of our Western European colleagues,” the situation changed completely, Putin said. After the troops were pulled back, “we were told, almost verbatim, ‘now we will fight until you twist off our heads, or we will twist off yours,’” Putin recalled. “I don't remember whether I ever said this publicly or not, but it sounded something like this. Only in more crude terms, but quite openly and, as strange as it sounds, in a comradely way: ‘now it's either you or us.” Moscow has described its conflict with Kiev as a proxy war in which the Ukrainian people have been used as “cannon fodder” to further the interests of the West. Russian officials have also repeatedly accused Kiev’s European backers of consistently derailing any efforts to resolve the conflict. Putin said on Wednesday that it is still possible to reach a peace deal, particularly given the “sincere desire” of US President Donald Trump to find a solution to the crisis. However, he stressed that if a solution is not found, Moscow is prepared to defend its interests and achieve its goals through military means. View the full article

The US president has said he plans to discuss the Ukraine conflict with his Russian counterpart US President Donald Trump has said he plans to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days to discuss steps toward resolving the Ukraine conflict. The two leaders held a summit in Alaska last month, which they described as extremely productive, although no breakthrough was announced. Speaking to reporters in Washington on Wednesday, Trump said “I’m going to be speaking with [Putin] him very shortly, and I’ll have a clearer picture of what we’re going to do.” “We’ve already taken strong action, as you know, and in other ways as well. I’ll be talking to him in the coming days, and we’ll see what comes out of it,” he added. The summit, held on August 15 in Anchorage, was the first in-person meeting between Putin and Trump since the US president began his new term earlier this year. The three-hour talks marked a diplomatic breakthrough, though they produced neither a ceasefire nor a formal peace deal. Trump later met with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and several European leaders, urging direct talks between Putin and Zelensky. He warned he could impose sanctions and tariffs on both Moscow and Kiev if no progress is made in resolving hostilities. Asked on Wednesday if he had a message for Putin, Trump replied: “I have no message to President Putin. He knows where I stand, and he’ll make his decision one way or the other…” Trump said he has good relations with the Russian president, and that they would find out how strong their relationship is “over the next week or two.” Putin said on Wednesday he sees “a light at the end of the tunnel” in efforts to resolve the conflict. “We’ll see how the situation develops,” he told reporters in Beijing. The Russian leader added he is ready to host Zelensky in Moscow, but noted that the latter’s presidential term had long expired and said the Ukrainian constitution provides no mechanism for extending his powers. View the full article

College football kicked off this weekend and there was a huge, early season matchup between the Texas Longhorns, ranked #1, and the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are the defending national champions and ranked #3. In big games like this, poll numbers mean nothing. Pre-game predictions are pointless, the endless talk of pundits and know-it-alls means nothing. Friends and fans with all their biased, slanted opinions are so many passages of wasted breath. What it really comes down to is… I don’t know, I’m not a sports fan at all. But there are inescapable facts, numbers that, while disturbing, don’t lie. Ohio State Coach Ryan Day makes, according to reports, twelve and half million dollars a year. Steve Sarkisian, coach of the Texas Longhorns has to live on a paltry ten million and eight hundred thousand in a season. Poor guy. Between the two of them, the pay day for the game in Ohio Stadium is 1,941,666.67. Of course, we all realize they don’t just work for a few hours on Saturday, they have a job to do all week. Toiling under the weight of fan expectations from August until the end of November, and if misadventure is kind they will have to suffer through until January. There is additional compensation for those games. That is just the head coach salary. It doesn’t include the NIL money paid to student/athletes, or the pay doled out to assistant coaches, stadium staff, the medical staff, and sundry other employees. When you factor in the ticket costs, ranging from $313.00 to $1,372.00 each, at last check, for the Ohio State versus Texas game, which means an average ticket price of $842.50. Currently, Ohio Stadium seats 102,870 loyal fans, making it the 4th largest on campus stadium in the US. This means, based on simple, incomplete math, I realize there are variables and different ways to figure averages, there was $86,616,540 spent on tickets to the game. It doesn’t matter that a percentage of that money went to agents and resellers, not the university. It isn’t really about accountability, just cost. If you tune into the game, or shell out the cash for a ticket, you’ll see people adorned in game jerseys (between $20.00 and $185.00 depending on authenticity), sweatshirts, team shirts, logos emblazoned with pride on their pants. They’ll be wearing hats and visors, scarfs, bandanas, neckerchiefs and a few dapper souls will walk the stadium steps in Ohio State dresses, or button-down oxfords and ties. Stadium fare includes pizza, nachos, loaded macaroni and cheese, beer, specialty cocktails, a land of excess, a glutton’s dream, for a price. For a family of four, to buy tickets, maybe grab some swag, have a few drinks and something to eat they would lay out more than $1200.00, possibly up to $5000.00. You need to be a real fan. In the end, it doesn’t really matter who won. Both teams played as hard as they could and their fans were feverish and vocal, and one team had to lose. With the expanded playoff format offered by the bloated, and opulent Bowl Championship Series a loss to a highly ranked team this early in the season, is only a blemish. A two loss Ohio State team won the championship last year, the first year of the expanded playoff despite losing the final game of the season, and not being a conference champion. Making it into the Bowl Championship Series is like a license to print money. They hand it out in buckets. Schools and conferences rake in huge paydays. Coaches are handed huge bonuses. Everybody comes out ahead. Except for the fan, who scrapes up enough money to buy a ticket, pay plane fair, rent a motel room, buy food, drinks and possibly some official, university approved clothing to prove they were there. Money isn’t the root of all evil, but chasing it has become a national obsession. In universities with successful medical and research facilities, where the nation’s youth learn the things required to move the country forward, coaches are normally the highest paid employees. And here is the most bizarre constant of the whole equation, coaches are hired to win games, and with a little luck, championships, but contracts don’t reflect a win/loss standard of success. Perhaps it seems to tawdry, or crass to put what everybody expects, even demands, into writing. If they don’t win enough games schools need to manufacture an excuse to fire them, shaming the coach and themselves in the process. It might be better than paying out the remainder of the contract, a crippling blow to the budget, because you can’t just wait until the last coach is off the payroll to find another potential millionaire to accept the generosity of the Board of Regents, or whoever’s in charge of the purse strings. Football season is just starting, excitement builds, sweeping fan bases along on a reckless journey, through fall, and into the winter, if you’re lucky. Each week is another chance to celebrate the enormous investment involved in fielding a team. Enjoy it, don’t think about the sacrifices required to make it happen. It is a lot more fun if you ignore the price. — Nheyob on Wikimedia Public Domain The post Successful Excess: Fleecing the Willing appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Several systems have been tested and are being manufactured in limited numbers, with plans to expand production, Denis Manturov has said Russia is planning to actively deploy anti-drone laser systems in the near future, with several models already in production, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov has said. The official told TASS on Tuesday that “we have… models that are already being supplied, in small quantities for now.” “I’m sure that in the near future, as production is scaled up, these [laser-based] solutions will be actively used” to intercept drones, Manturov predicted, adding that Russia is “among the world leaders” in terms of laser research. In mid-June, Manturov attended the trials of eight novel anti-aircraft laser systems, ranging from “compact mobile devices to stationary high-power systems.” Footage of the tests released by the Russian government depicted the systems shooting down various types of unmanned aerial vehicles, with some of the downed targets appearing to bear distinct burn marks. All eight models were reported to have performed satisfactorily, paving the way for their mass production. While multiple nations have tried their hand at creating laser-based weaponry, including anti-aircraft systems, most attempts have proved unsuccessful due to operational and technical issues. Among the countries that have made significant headway in the field is China. During the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing on Wednesday, several anti-drone laser-based systems were displayed. In July, China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) conducted a live-fire demonstration of its new OW5-A50 laser weapon system. View the full article

How well do you know yourself? Pretty well? What if I told you that even after all this time, you still have a lot to learn? It’s true. For example, I just came to the realization that I don’t like lobster. It’s just a delivery system for butter. The Struggle is Real Regardless of your age there is always more to learn about yourself. More self-awareness to be gained. More clarity to be found. Some parts of you are buried so deep that that your conscious mind strains to access it. These are the parts of ourselves that we struggle to see or comprehend. Parts that, if revealed, might make us feel horrible about ourselves. Way back in 370 B.C., Plato’s Phaedra speaks of a struggle to see or comprehend earthly things. As if we are looking through a “glass dimly” and can’t see clearly what’s is on the other side. Meaning that our earthly perception of reality is enigmatic and moreover often flawed and distorted. Paul picks up the same thread in the New Testament, writing that we “see through a mirror, darkly.” That one day, everything hidden will be revealed. Everything unclear will make sense. It reminds me of a recent article I wrote called Why Your Brain Thrives on Uncertainty. The Shadow Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875 – 1961) referred to the parts of ourselves that we struggle to see or comprehend as shadows. Think of it as the step-brother of the negative voice in your head that you’re often having conversations with. Rather than confront something, our mind just pretends it doesn’t exist. Aggressive impulses, taboo mental images, shameful thoughts, immoral urges, fears and/or irrational wishes, etc. The shadow includes “everything about ourselves we do not know.” Or, maybe that we can’t fully comprehend. Not because it’s bad, but because it doesn’t match up with our public persona. The shadow is the dark underbelly of our soul. Think of your shadow as your cranky old neighbor in his bathrobe. He doesn’t bother to remove the cigarette butt from his lips before screaming at the kids to “get the hell of my lawn”. That dark underbelly is responsible for some truly reprehensible thinking. Things that we’d never admit to in public. Most often the shadow leads to negative thoughts and judgments about others. Thoughts that, if revealed, would destroy friendships and family relations forever. The shadow lives rent-free in your subconscious mind. You’re probably thinking that this whole dark underbelly thing doesn’t apply to you. Not so fast. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ve probably had some awful thoughts similar to these, right? Hoping a rival’s business fails so spectacularly that they go bankrupt and have to start over from scratch. Wishing your ex not only breaks up, but that their new partner cheats on them and leaves them heartbroken. Wanting your boss to get fired for incompetence so you can take their job. Hoping someone who hurt you stays stuck in life, sick, or unhappy—not because you’re cruel, but because it feels like justice. Oddly enough, Jung didn’t suggest that having these kinds of untoward thoughts made us bad people. Or, that we should try to stop having these thoughts. Moreover, Jung suggested that we all have dark, hidden thoughts and desires. But, they’re entireley human. And, nearly universal. The goal isn’t to get rid of your shadow. The goal is to own it. To bring it into the light. To recognize that even the darkest parts of your soul have something to teach you. “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” Psychology and Alchemy” (1944) The enlightenment from this type of exploration comes from bringing light into the darkness. The more light, the less shadows. After all, hatred is largely fueled by fear, not hate. Did someone forward you this email? Once you recognize that it’s just your shadow that’s fomenting all these nasty thoughts, everything else seems more rational. And, those untoward thoughts can be more easily understood: Sometimes envy is just unhealed regret. Sometimes pride is just deeply disguised shame. Sometimes lust is just a longing to be seen. Sometimes wrath is just unspeakable sorrow. We consciously create these ugly thoughts but bury them deep in our subconscious. Like early childhood memories from a place you can’t identify but somehow vaguely remember. Maybe we don’t need to explain those moments away. Maybe we need to listen to them. “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life toward it and you will call it fate.” Carl Jung And, the more we attempt to keep the shadows in the dark, the louder they’ll bang on the door later. Sometimes what’s hidden in the darkness, what lurks in the shadows holds the answers. It just needs more light. Maybe the point isn’t to make perfect sense of it all. Maybe the point is to pay attention—to the shadows, the whispers, the darkness that pulls at you in your worst moments. Because somewhere in between the dark and the light, something sacred is trying to break through. Not to shame you. Not to scare you. But to remind you. That even the very worst side of you, the dark underbelly of your soul, holds something instructive. Because growth happens when the light gets in; in the gentle illumination of self reflection. Because even the very darkest parts of your soul have something to teach you. Please share this article with someone you really really care about. I know this one is pretty deep. If you learned something or it challenged you or made you feel differently about yourself, would you mind leaving me a message? I promise that you’ll hear back from me. — This post was previously published on Wit & Wisdom. *** 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 Things We Know Without Knowing appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

🍏 Turn off iPhone auto-renewals: Subscriptions like streaming apps can sneak up and hit you with surprise charges if you forget to cancel. Go to Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions, then find the ones you want to stop under Active. Tap Cancel Subscription. FYI: If you’ve prepaid, you’ll still have access until the listed date. The post Turn off iPhone auto-renewals appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

A preliminary agreement been signed between business chambers of the two countries, setting out a framework for partnership The India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (ISACC) and the India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening economic ties. The move followed South African Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau’s working visit to New Delhi. An MOU is a document that outlines an agreement between two or more parties, expressing a common intent or framework for a partnership or common action. The signing of the MOU between ISACC and ICTC seeks to promote mutual economic cooperation and partnership between Indian and South African businesses. The scope of the MOU seeks to: Facilitate exchange of business delegations, experts, and economic missions with mutual support, Develop a global business network to promote opportunities among members. Collaborate on sustainable tourism initiatives and cultural exchanges. Share market data, economic info, and business intelligence for informed decisions and joint ventures. Encourage joint research projects where relevant and feasible. Exchange business publications and legal/regulatory updates; public communications to be jointly approved. Promote technical expertise sharing, training, and knowledge transfer; each may nominate one advisor to the other’s board India South Africa Chamber of Commerce’s (ISACC) Pradeep Ramlall said that there is a necessity to collaborate with small business chambers in India, “because we need a focused strategy rather than having a broad-based approach”. ”It’s about people-to-people, business-to-business contact, because there are various investors who are looking at coming into the South African market, but this MOU will allow them to go through the chamber, where they have the appropriate influence.” Ramlall added that signing MOUs with various smaller chambers across India also allows them to involve smaller interest groups, rather than excluding them from the conversation. He added that they are also targeting the SMMEs as they “make up the strong component of the South African economy, we want to work with chambers that represent the SMME business community”. ”We have specific objects, and we are looking at infrastructure too, as renewable energy is a big thing, and there are other infrastructure projects in the medical sector, as India has become a hub for low-cost generic manufacturers. ”One of the things is that they’re able to get investors, who will bring in their own intellectual property into the country, which is very much needed in South Africa.” Ramlall added that this MOU signing echoes the public-private and private-private partnerships recently touted during Tau’s visit to India. ”This is not about asking for money, but it is about partnerships, and of course, the chamber provides that role of trying to link various industries, and getting role players, in terms of matchmaking. We can’t just go out see the audience of various businesses in South Africa and India, the Chamber unites it, and screens, and says who has got an appetite to enter this market.” Ramlall explained that a chamber plays an important part in attracting investors and that South Africa is welcoming equity into the country. ”The market is open, but we need to manage the entry into these markets, because there is always a fear of being taken for a ride, and that is where these chambers play an important role.” India Commonwealth Trade Council (ICTC)’s Honorary Trade Commissioner, Dr Arnob Bhattacharjee, said that the reason for signing the MOU is to collectively help build the infrastructure in defence, medical, and any other pending needs for the SA economy. ”We are all part of Commonwealth Nations, so helping and assisting each other to our strengths will also help assess our future growth for two different countries. We, from the ICTC, can assist with what we do best, but we also gain assistance from South Africa, as there are a lot of developments and products that we require in the Indian sub-continent, and the other Commonwealth Nations. ”It is more of an exchange programme, on the economic development side. That is what we’re trying to achieve, and if we can assist a brother nation, then that is what we are here for, and get the assistance in return, because it will be win-win for everybody.” Bhattacharjee said that they have been facilitating such partnerships with several countries for decades and that they have been able to inject assistance. ”A lot of countries have been cut off and feeling the impact of tariffs, and we want to come in, and be the CPR for countries when it comes to their financial needs. We are opening doors, so that the development of the countries doesn’t take a hit.” First published by IOL View the full article

The summit in Alaska showed that Steve Witkoff conveys Moscow’s position accurately, the Russian president has said US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff ‘accurately’ conveys both Moscow’s and Washington’s positions on ending the Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Trump met Putin in Alaska last month in an effort to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine. No breakthroughs were achieved, but both sides later described the summit as positive. The US president has since urged direct talks between his Russian counterpart and Vladimir Zelensky. Putin said on Wednesday that he is ready to host the Ukrainian leader in Moscow. At a press conference ending his four-day visit to China, Putin stressed that Witkoff is presenting “the position of the American president himself.” “Our talks in Anchorage showed that he quite accurately conveys the position of the Russian side,” Putin added. The Russian president also spoke out in defense of the envoy, saying that Witkoff can be critiqued only by those “not in favor” of his or Trump’s position on Ukraine. The Trump administration has repeatedly distanced the US from its previous blank-check policy on Ukraine. Earlier this month, Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington would no longer fund Kiev directly. Last month, Trump said the US is no longer directly funding Ukraine and will instead be profiting from arms sales to its European NATO partners, which in turn supply those weapons to Kiev. Moscow has long insisted on a peace agreement that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict. It has demanded that Ukraine maintain neutrality, stay out of NATO and other military blocs, demilitarize and denazify, and accept the current territorial reality – including the status of Crimea and other regions that voted to join Russia in referendums in 2014 and 2022. View the full article

Behaviors promoting same-sex practices are now punishable with up to five years in prison in Burkina Faso Burkina Faso’s lawmakers have passed a law on marriage and family values, effectively banning homosexuality in the West African state. Offenders now face punishments that include prison and fines. The new Persons and Family Code (CPF) was unanimously adopted by the Transitional Legislative Assembly on Monday in a vote aired on state TV, RTB. The CPF defines “behavior likely to promote homosexual practices and similar practices” as punishable by two to five years in prison and fines reportedly ranging from two million XOF (about $3,200) to ten million XOF (about $16,000). Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala described homosexual acts as “bizarre behavior” and confirmed that the legislation had taken immediate effect. The measure reflects “respect for cultural values and the desire to build a fairer and more united Burkinabe family.” The code also sets the minimum marriage age at 18 for both sexes and introduces rules ending gender discrimination in inheritance. The move adds Burkina Faso to a growing list of African governments prohibiting same-sex relations. Uganda drew Western condemnation after passing an anti-LGBTQ law in May 2023, imposing the death penalty for some same-sex acts and 20 years for promoting homosexuality. The US responded with sanctions, expelling Uganda from a key duty-free trade program, while the World Bank froze new loans. In July 2023, and despite Western criticism, Ghana’s parliament unanimously passed amendments to its law on Promotion of Proper Sexual Human Rights and Family Values, criminalizing advocacy, funding, or promotion of same-sex relationships and imposing tougher sentences for homosexual acts. Nigeria, Sudan, and Mauritania also retain the death penalty for same-sex relations. On Tuesday, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, praised Burkina Faso’s government for guaranteeing protection of children from “early and forced marriage” under the new legislations. Sivieude, however, criticized the Sahel state for criminalizing same-sex relations between “adults,” saying it “violates the right to equality” and is inconsistent with laws ratified by the Sahel state. He has urged Burkina Faso’s interim President, Ibrahim Traore, to return the code to parliament for revision before signing it into law. View the full article

Finland's Alexander Stubb rejects the multipolar world order being pursued by Russia and China, and insists on preserving a multilateral approach Finnish President Alexander Stubb has warned that Western countries could “lose the game” to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) unless they reassess their approach to the Global South. His comments come following the latest SCO summit in Tianjin, which has been seen as a show of unity among its members, which include China, Russia and India. Speaking in Helsinki alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Stubb urged his Western European counterparts and the US to adopt a more “cohesive and dignified foreign policy,” particularly with regard to nations such as India, against which Washington had recently imposed extensive tariffs. Commenting on the latest SCO summit, Stubb claimed that efforts by Beijing and Moscow to promote a multipolar world order amount to an “attempt to undermine the unity of the global West.” Stubb cited a a “jostling of power and the weakening of multilateral institutions, rules and norms” since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Moscow and Beijing have argued that institutions like the IMF, WTO, and the World Bank have been used by the West to exert control. Russia and China, along with the 18 other countries which attended the SCO summit are pushing for a multipolar world order, where all players are treated equally. “I disagree with this approach,” Stubb said, insisting that “multilateralism is the best way to drive cooperation forward.” “My message not only to my European colleagues, but especially to the US, is that if we don’t drive a more cooperative, more dignified foreign policy, especially with the Global South and the likes of India, we’re going to lose this game,” he warned. His comments came as both China and Russia have repeatedly spoken out against Western hegemony, calling for the end of the unipolar world order dominated by Washington and celebrating the rise of blocs such as the SCO. At the Tianjin summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on SCO members to oppose “hegemonism and power politics” and to work toward a fairer international system rooted in “mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of shared development.” Russian President Vladimir Putin has also reiterated calls for a multipolar world while stressing that organizations like the SCO are not meant to oppose any third countries and are meant to establish a more just global governance system. View the full article

In relationships, we typically either build bridges or walls. When we build bridges, we work towards connection, intimacy, and safety. In contrast, when we build walls, we move towards distance, isolation, discomfort, and/or lack of safety. When we think about conflict resolution, it usually comes down to building bridges or walls. “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” Issac Newton When you think about your relationships, are you building bridges or walls in times of conflict and stress? Building Bridges or Building Walls – Reflecting On Professional Relationships In my personal or professional life, I can learn much about myself by reflecting on whether I am working towards building bridges or building walls. It is easier in my professional life to be more consistent about building bridges or building walls. Generally, this is due to the fact that I do not have the same needs with my clients as in my personal relationships. The boundaries are clearer, and I am clear why I am there with you. Of course, I am human and have needs when I am with you; they are in the background, and your needs are front and center. Building Bridges or Building Walls – Personal Relationships Personally, it is not as easy or simple. Personal relationships can be messy and complicated, whether with friends, family, or intimate partners. Our personal needs, wants, and preferences can get in the way. The ego makes itself known when we feel threatened, scared, or uncomfortable. Our needs can sometimes compete for attention. Fear tells us we need to protect ourselves; it is a survival instinct that can get distorted. Learning how to distinguish the difference between fear of circumstances and situations that may only affect us for minutes or hours versus fear in situations that may have consequences that last months, years, or life-threatening is important. For many of us, our nervous system can not discern the difference between these different levels of fear. Fear of not being accepted or liked by a new member of your social circle is drastically different from fear of crossing the street and a Mack truck not stopping at a red light! “If you are good at building bridges, you will never fall into the abyss!” Mehmet Murat ildan Building Bridges or Building Walls – Fear and Protection When I think about building bridges or walls in my professional work, I think about the individuals, couples, and families I have worked with. More often than not, those struggling with the important relationships in their life are building more walls than bridges. We know this is about fear, which sometimes manifests as anger or rage. But it is fear and a way to protect ourselves from fear, sadness, and/or pain. Unfortunately, when we build more walls than bridges, it actually has a reverse effect. We usually feel isolated, alone, and unaccepted, leading to building more walls and fewer bridges. The cycle continues and escalates until the important relationships in our lives deteriorate so much that we stop talking to each other. Or we stop fighting and begin to start building bridges. On the surface, building walls seems easier than building bridges. This is not true; it is an illusion. It may take more courage and strength to build bridges, but it is easier because we get what we want: connection, love, acceptance, and support. “Fear builds walls instead of bridges. I want a life of bridges, not walls.” Lisa Wingate, The Prayer Box Building Bridges or Building Walls – Conflict Resolution In times of conflict, I encourage you to take a moment and think about where you are standing. Are you invested in building bridges or walls? Is the person you are dealing with experiencing challenges with building bridges or walls? If you are building walls, what do you need to stop protecting yourself and get what you actually need to build bridges? What do they need to start building bridges? What can we do to support this process? Building Bridges or Building Walls – Willingness Is The Key If you are lost and confused about how to build a bridge back to connection and mutual understanding, the steps to take are not complicated. You can take a deep breath, share why you love them and how much they matter to you, and reach out and touch them to let them know that you are done building walls. Building bridges is not complicated, nor is conflict resolution in general. It is simply a matter of being willing to stop fighting, protecting yourself, and letting your Higher Self shine through! Love, caring, and commitment are not new or complicated strategies for conflict resolution and partnership. “Elegance in building bridges is rare. Elegance means beginning by acknowledging the other person’s reality. “Look, I know you have ADD and you get distracted and don’t follow through on your promises. It means lost, unpaid parking tickets that pile up with fines. I draw the line at losing our W-2 forms that I need to file for taxes. Do you agree?” Building a bridge means acknowledging why what you want is hard for the other person. Fights do not have to be either you or me. Besides the you and the me there is the us. Elegance in building bridges is a way to acknowledge the us.” Excerpt from Rhoda Sommer @ RELATIONSHIPS ARE ABOUT BUILDING BRIDGES Building Bridges or Building Walls – Connection or Isolation? I invite you to reflect on how you build bridges or build walls in your important relationships. We do this by putting aside our ego and pride and letting our hearts and minds be open to something better than fighting and conflict. If you really get down to it, which would you prefer: connection, support, and acceptance, or distance, isolation, and feeling unaccepted? If you choose connection, support, and acceptance, you are not alone! Other posts you may enjoy: Open Up – School of Life It’s Never Too Late To Be Amazing Number One Reason Most Relationships Struggle Listening as an Art and Skill to Improving Relationships Does Kindness Make You More Attractive? Research Says Yes Stop saying sorry if you want to say thank you: A seriously insightful cartoon Michael Swerdloff Providence Holistic Counselor, Coach and Reiki — Previously Published HERE — 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.com The post Building Bridges or Building Walls appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

When life is tumultuous, creating consistently can feel impossible. Unexpected work obligations, family caretaking, travel emergencies, etc. Finding the time and mental space to be creative can feel overwhelming. Here’s a way of thinking about it that changed the process for me: Imagine you’ve promised a good friend — someone you genuinely care about — that you’ll reach out every single day. Your friend is struggling. They need your presence, your advice, or simply your thoughtful voice. You’d make time, wouldn’t you? You’d text them something meaningful, record a quick voice message, or even film a short video while waiting for your flight to board. You’d find a way. Because you made a commitment, and because you care. Now, what if you treated your audience exactly this way? Your ideal audience is that friend. This mindset shift transforms content creation. It takes it from the realm of obligation and pressure, into a space of genuine connection and care. The Power of Lightness and Authenticity For most of us, consistency isn’t about spending two uninterrupted hours every day crafting perfection. We don’t have time for that. Consistency means showing up regularly — even briefly — and sharing something authentic, meaningful, or supportive. Remember that it’s like sharing with a friend you care about. Don’t bother with the idea of writing an award-winning blog post or producing a viral video. Instead, you’re simply being present. You’re sharing something from the heart, perhaps something a little useful, something that matters to you, and may matter to your ideal audience, too. Content creation — if it’s to be sustainable — needs to be this light, this casual. Even if your life is stable and predictable, keep your creative process flexible and approachable. But especially when life is chaotic, this mindset becomes essential. Think of your content as short, daily acts of care. Practical Ways to Show Up Consistently Some days, I tweet a small idea. Other days, I record a three-minute video, right before boarding a flight. A quick thought, a helpful insight, a relatable story — that’s enough. Here’s something practical that’s worked well for me: Whenever I have a small idea or insight, I try to capture it immediately — and place it onto a social media platform where I feel comfortable experimenting. For me that’s X/Twitter. For you it may be Facebook, Substack, IG Stories, or even LinkedIn. Don’t worry if it’s not polished. Just get it out there. Then, once a week, I gather these smaller thoughts I’ve posted. I sit down for half an hour — just half an hour — and turn them (or even just one of them) into something more complete. A blog post, a video script, a longer reflection. Whatever form it takes, I’ve built it from these smaller daily pieces. What “Stage One” Content Looks Like If you haven’t yet read it, check out my 3 Stages of Content Creation post. “Stage One” content is simple, casual, and meant to be extremely doable. It’s the foundation for consistency, even when everything else feels unpredictable. You don’t have to produce content daily. If you show up weekly, you’re already ahead of most soulpreneurs. But if you can manage something small each day — even better. Discipline: Making Creativity Non-Negotiable No matter how unpredictable your life becomes, consistency ultimately comes down to discipline. You don’t say, “Life just got busy, so I’m skipping brushing my teeth.” You don’t say, “It’s chaotic today, so I won’t shower!” Certain activities are simply non-negotiable. We do them, regardless of chaos. Taking care of family members often falls into this category as well — it’s automatic, unquestioned. Yet, why do we easily question our own creative commitments, our own business goals, our own content creation? Perhaps content creation isn’t as critical as caring for an elderly parent or a sick child. Or perhaps, in some ways, it is. Only you can decide that based on your values and priorities. But here’s what I’ve learned: When I treat content creation as a simple act of genuine daily presence — like checking in with a struggling friend — it becomes achievable, no matter how chaotic life gets. Overcoming Resistance and Perfectionism The barrier isn’t time. It’s not resources, either. It’s usually resistance and perfectionism. If you promised your friend a daily check-in, you wouldn’t skip it because you weren’t inspired or didn’t have the perfect words. You’d send something — imperfect, brief, casual. You’d show up because the promise matters. Your audience doesn’t need or expect perfection. They value authentic presence. They appreciate consistency. They just want to hear from you. Use Everyday Moments to Create So next time you’re at the airport, waiting at a doctor’s office, or squeezing in a few minutes between appointments, consider this: Your audience is that friend who needs you. Record a quick video: “Flight’s taking off soon, but here’s something I thought might help you today.” Or jot down a quick insight on your phone. Post a helpful tip while you’re in line for coffee. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be polished. It just has to show up. That’s all it takes. A Word on Posting into the Void I know what you might be thinking… the friend metaphor is nice, but it has a flaw. A friend usually writes back. They react with a heart emoji. They message you back. You get some response that closes the loop and confirms you were heard. But if you currently don’t have much of an audience, you might post and hear only silence. It’s discouraging. It makes you question if anyone is listening at all. This is the moment the metaphor asks for a deeper kind of faith. Think of it this way… sometimes, the friend you’re caring for is too exhausted to reply. They read every word you send. It helps them. It’s a bright spot in their day. But they simply don’t have the energy to message back. Their silence isn’t rejection. It’s a sign of their struggle. You wouldn’t stop sending notes just because they were too tired to respond, would you? Your audience is often the same. Many people who need your message the most are “lurkers.” They read, they watch, they listen, and they absorb. They are quietly benefiting, but they are not ready to engage publicly. Your consistency is a lifeline for them, even if you never receive a thank you. More importantly, in this early stage, the promise isn’t just to your audience. It’s to yourself. You must learn to treat the act of posting the message as the victory… not being attached to any reply. Each post is a commitment kept to your own creativity. The discipline you build during this quiet phase is the foundation for everything that comes next. Another way of thinking about it — you are not posting into a void; you are building a library. Each light, casual post is like another book on the shelf. The right person hasn’t walked in the door yet, but you are stocking the shelves for their arrival. When they finally find you, they won’t just see one post. They will see a rich, consistent body of work waiting for them. They will see your dedication. That is what builds the trust that eventually turns silence into conversation. So keep sending the note. The right friend will hear it, even if they don’t reply right away. Start Small and Build Momentum Start with small, manageable actions. One thought. One idea. Consistency grows naturally from these small daily actions. Momentum builds. Your audience will notice you showing up regularly, imperfectly, warmly — and they will eventually respond to that. Make Content Creation Part of Your Self-Care Creating regularly isn’t just about business or marketing. It’s about honoring your own creativity. It’s about exercising your voice. It’s about recognizing that your work deserves attention, just as your family and friends do. When you start seeing your content as an essential part of self-care — a way of nurturing your professional purpose and personal creativity — it becomes easier to prioritize. Life won’t stop being unpredictable. But now you have a practical way to stay consistent, even when chaos reigns. Treat your audience like a friend who needs your thoughtful presence. Keep it casual. Keep it light. Keep showing up. That’s how you create consistently — no matter what life throws your way. — This post was previously published on George Kao’s blog. *** 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 ‘Life Is Unpredictable… How Do I Create Consistently?’ appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

A smart tip to help protect your retirement savings: With the economy so unpredictable, I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. I protect a portion of my savings with real gold and silver from Goldco. And right now, Goldco is giving up to 10% back in FREE silver when you open a qualified account. The post A smart tip to help protect your retirement savings appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

It appears that happiness is found in our experiences. For example, we might desire a particular job, achievement, relationship, possession, or numerous other experiences because we think they will bring us happiness. We may even look for happiness in subtler experiences like love, purpose, or belonging. But all of these are just experiences. They are temporary, and so they can not create the permanent, unshakable well-being that we seek. Experiences like these seem to generate well-being (or happiness) because we are identified with them. In other words, we feel like we are certain experiences. So, having these experiences reinforces our sense of self. This strengthening of the self makes us feel good (temporarily). What Seems to Increase and Decrease Happiness? For example, if someone compliments our appearance, we feel good because we believe we are our physical self. If someone we like asks us on a date, we feel good because we believe we are our social self. If we get an award, we feel good because we believe we are our achiever self. If someone agrees with our opinion, we feel good because we believe we are our mental self. These experiences increase our well-being (temporarily) by strengthening our self-concept. Unfortunately, all experiences are temporary. So, no experience can ever result in the permanent, unshakable well-being that we desire. The same thing is true for ill-being (or unhappiness). For example, if someone makes fun of our weight, we feel hurt because we believe we are our physical self. If someone rejects us, we feel hurt because we believe we are our social self. If we fail to get the job we want, we feel hurt because we believe we are our achiever self. If someone disagrees with our opinion, we feel bad because we believe we are our mental self. These experiences decrease our well-being (temporarily) by weakening our self-concept. But again, all experiences are temporary. So, experiences can also never result in permanent ill-being. The Search for Happiness Even though permanent happiness can not be found in experience, searching for happiness in experience is a normal part of our development. By bringing awareness to these experiences (usually many times over the course of many years), we eventually see that permanent well-being can not be found in any experiences. For example, maybe we discover that no matter what we accomplish, it never makes us happy. Or maybe we find that no matter how much money we make, we’re never satisfied. Or maybe we see that no relationship ever completely meets our needs. Or maybe we learn that no amount of meditation is enough to create permanent peace. Although I might tell you that permanent happiness can not be found in any experience, most people need to keep looking until they realize this for themselves. This was certainly true for me. For many of us, this ‘seeking and not finding’ process pushes us to look for happiness in more and more places until we eventually exhaust ourselves, realizing that lasting happiness can not be found in any experience. Paradoxically, this opens the gateway to finding true happiness, which is beyond experience. — This post was previously published on Psychology Today. *** 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 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 Happiness Isn’t Always Found in Experiences appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Send Chrome pages to your phone: On your computer, open the website you want and click the three-dot menu (top right). Go to Cast, save and share > Create QR Code. A QR code will pop up. On your phone, open the Camera app (or Scan QR code), and the link opens in your mobile browser. Nice. The post Send Chrome pages to your phone appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

By Aria Gastón-Panthaki, Doug Piper, and Molly Scott Key takeaways for caregivers In the context of digital media, challenges for caregivers include finding developmentally beneficial media for children and using media strategically to give caregivers a break. Some helpful demonstrations of a balanced approach to digital parenting are apparent in the popular television series Bluey, which depicts a cartoon family of dogs. The parents navigate supporting the puppies’ digital media use strategically within their broader family culture. Caregivers should find the best strategies for managing media use that fit their families’ needs. They should choose age-appropriate games and videos with high-quality content that supports the development of important life skills such as collaboration, communication, understanding of content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence (also known as the “6Cs”). Technology can be a useful tool that allows adults to take breaks and refresh from parenting stress and supports warm and responsive caregiving. When possible, caregivers should encourage activities that reduce children’s screen time, engage children in offline activities, and add tech-free times to the family routine. Modern concerns about parenting and digital media In today’s digital age, children and adults are likely spending more time on screens than recommended. Screen media is captivating. Indeed, if given a choice, a child may choose engaging in screen time over going outside to play. In recent years, several studies have linked excessive or problematic media use with developmental concerns in children, including sleep problems, behavioral problems, symptoms of depression, poorer language development, overweight/obesity, lower school performance, and low self-esteem. Yet it is unclear if these outcomes are related to the amount of screen time or the kinds of media children are using. How and when can screen time be beneficial for children? Many academics have questioned the perception that all screen time is bad for children’s development. In her review of Jonathan Haidt’s popular and controversial book The Anxious Generation, Candice Odgers stated that current data do not support a strong connection between the time children spend on screens and mental illness. While excessive screen time can have negative effects, moderate use of digital tools provides children with opportunities to enhance learning. Educational benefits of screen time People often overlook these educational benefits by focusing on the possible harms of digital technology, but substantial research illustrates the benefits of digital technology. Digital media can build children’s digital literacy and lead to learning in multiple domains, including spelling and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In fact, a recent review of media use in children and adolescents found strong positive effects of screen-based interventions on targeted learning goals, such as a game meant to improve children’s numeracy skills. However, these digital tools should extend, not replace, real-world experiences, suggesting that there is a sweet spot between taking advantage of the opportunities of digital learning and avoiding too much time on screens. Therefore, caregivers should develop strategies for making decisions about their children’s media use. Strategies for navigating the pros and cons of digital media Research can guide us in identifying techniques caregivers can use to leverage the positive effects of screen media. Adults can use a variety of strategies to make children’s screen time developmentally beneficial. The 5Cs of media use Finding the right amount of media use for children is challenging, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends five considerations (the 5Cs of media use) when making decisions about media use: child, content, calm, crowding out, and communication. These considerations result in several strategies for navigating children’s digital world, which researchers have grouped into three types of digital parenting: enhance, resist, and balance. Joint media engagement In addition, joint media engagement is a strategy that involves caregivers watching or using the same media together with their child and discussing what is happening on the screen. This strategy plays a role in all three digital parenting types. A family’s full suite of strategies shapes their digital parenting approach. The first type, embrace, occurs when parents look for content to share with their children to foster their development of digital skills. The second, resist, is the most restrictive, with caregivers relying on rules to limit their children’s access to all or most digital media. The third type, balance, lies between resist and embrace. Parents whose strategies align with balance evaluate media experiences for possible risks and benefits on a case-by-case basis. Evaluating good vs bad media A recent Child & Family Blog article provides guidance on finding balance and evaluating “good” versus “bad” media. Here, we dive deeper into such evaluations and the balance type of digital parenting. What might an example of balance look like? BlueyTM, one of the most watched shows in 2024 (with 55.62 billion viewing minutes), offers examples in an entertaining context of a cartoon family of dogs. The show Bluey is a popular, entertaining program, and the question of what developmental benefits children gain from watching it is beyond the scope of this blog post. Instead, because the characters frequently model digital parenting strategies for viewers, here, we use examples from the show to illustrate approaches to managing children’s digital lives. How Bluey represents parenting in the digital age Bluey demonstrates strategies of parenting in the digital age and of harnessing the power of media to support, rather than hinder, children’s development. The show features two canine parents, Chilli and Bandit, and their two daughters, Bluey and Bingo (to whom we will refer as children while recognizing that they are cartoon puppies). Many episodes illustrate specific strategies for digital parenting and how technology can be used to families’ advantage, while others depict ways to go tech-free when desired. In this blog post, we highlight seven episodes to illustrate examples of the strategies caregivers can use to navigate children’s use of digital media. Some fall under the category of promoting beneficial media use and some fall under the category of ensuring that digital media does not replace or prevent other valuable experiences. Promoting beneficial media use Caregivers and children should participate in screen time together Active mediation is a process in digital parenting that is characterized by parental guidance and collaborative discussions between parents and children about appropriate content. Among the many features of active mediation is monitoring children’s media use, which typically involves co-viewing. Sharing a media experience with a child facilitates conversations while viewing to either support learning or respond to inappropriate onscreen content. A recent study found that Bluey was uniquely suited to encourage caregivers to watch the show with their child when compared to another popular children’s show. By being aware of children’s onscreen activities, caregivers can intervene when children are exposed to content that might not be beneficial for them. Because of the proactive nature of active mediation and its focus on ongoing discussions, this strategy has been linked with children’s development of digital literacy. By being aware of children’s onscreen activities, caregivers can intervene when children are exposed to content that might not be beneficial for them. “FaceyTalk” (S03, E24) The Bluey episode entitled “FaceyTalk” exemplifies active mediation, which viewers can see when Bluey and Bingo ask to call their cousins for a video chat. Bandit negotiates that the two sisters must share the screen and take turns being in control of the device. During the video chat, Bandit monitors the screen and engages when Bingo and Bluey see their aunt and uncle get into an argument. Bandit asks the girls to mute the volume so the children will not overhear the argument taking place on screen. Through active mediation, parents can prepare their children for and respond to content that is inappropriate or does not offer any benefits. Caregiver-child conversations sparked by active mediation can focus children’s attention on content that targets important skill development. Adults should help children use devices as valuable tools Three Bluey episodes illustrate how digital media can help children develop important life skills, such as collaboration, communication, understanding of content, critical thinking, creative innovation, and confidence (the 6Cs). Educators, psychologists, and business experts agree that these skills are necessary for children’s success as they grow up in the 21st century. In addition, scientists have called for those working in children’s media to create high-quality digital products that feature the 6Cs. Important life skills can be modelled by characters on TV. A recent study showed that nearly half of the Bluey episodes reviewed by researchers contained lessons about overcoming challenges. We similarly found strong examples, including: “Octopus” (S02, E40) In the episode called “Octopus,” technology promotes three of the 6Cs: understanding of content, collaboration, and communication. Bluey and her best friend, Chloe, play an imaginary game called Octopus, in which they steal treasure from an octopus (a role played by Bandit). Chloe enjoys the game and wants to recreate it at home with her father. However, Chloe’s dad does not play the game as Bandit does, and she is disappointed. To cheer her up, Chloe’s dad searches the Internet to learn about octopi and other sea life. He then uses these facts in a Chloe-approved version of the game. While playing, Chloe is not just learning content knowledge about ocean life, but also how to collaborate and communicate with her father. Viewers see how her father used media as a tool to find a way to play the game that met both their needs. “TV Shop” (S03, E45) In “TV Shop,” Bluey and her friends collaborate, communicate, and think critically to help Bingo make her way through a store to find their friend, Coco. Bluey’s friends work together to guide Bingo through the store to Coco’s location, which is revealed to them on the store’s network of closed-circuit televisions. Using screens as their medium, the children identify sections of the store and help Bingo navigate the maze of aisles. They think critically to get Bingo to Coco. This episode is a great example of how children can use technology to work with friends to solve a shared problem. “Grannies” (S01, E28) This episode shows how video chat can promote understanding of content, communication, collaboration, and confidence. Bluey and Bingo video chat with their grandmother to settle a dispute about whether or not grannies can do a popular modern dance called flossing. When they discover that Granny cannot do the dance, Bingo is upset that she was incorrect. Bluey seeks to help her sister and uses video chat to collaborate and communicate with her grandmother to teach her the correct dance moves. While her grandmother struggles to stay in the camera’s view and learn the dance, Granny persists through these challenges to surprise Bingo by flossing. The episode illustrates that grandparents and grandchildren, especially when separated by geography, can harness the power of screens to connect and learn from each other. Caregivers can balance active engagement with children with their own needs to take a break While media can provide benefits to children, it also gives caregivers opportunities to take breaks or get work done. Being an active participant in children’s media use can maximize educational impacts from high-quality media, but not every media experience needs to be supported by caregivers. Parenting is challenging and requires a great deal of self-regulation. Caregivers can use media as a strategy for their own regulation by letting children watch an episode of a high-quality show like Bluey while the parent takes a moment to recenter or by using media themselves to help them manage an immediate source of stress. Caregivers may find comfort from texting their friends for social support or watching a short, fun video to calm down. While these strategies should be part of a larger toolkit that also includes off-screen regulation (e.g., breathing exercises), these digital strategies can help ensure that caregivers return to their children replenished and responsive. “Whale Watchers” (S03, E22) Using media to give caregivers a break is exemplified in “Whale Watchers” when Chilli and Bandit are recovering from a night out. The parents are exhausted and lack the energy to play, but Bingo and Bluey are determined to play with their parents. The girls pretend to embark on a whale-watching excursion. After reluctantly taking on the role of a whale, Chilli needs a moment to rest and turns on a nature documentary about whales for the girls to watch. This allows her to take a breath and regain her ability to be a warm and loving caregiver. Ensuring that digital media does not replace or prevent other valuable experiences Caregivers need to be on the lookout for technoference While media can help young children and parents connect in daily life, screens can also disrupt real-world experiences. Researchers have studied parent-child relationships through the lens of technoference, or the interference technology can cause during social interactions. Technoference becomes a bigger concern as screens become more integrated into our daily lives. “Bob Bilby” (S01, E12) Technoference is best exemplified in the episode “Bob Bilby,” in which Bingo brings a puppet, Bob Bilby, home from pre-kindergarten class and documents Bob’s visit to their home. Early in the episode, Bluey and Bingo are eager to teach Bob about their tablet and share their cartoons with him. When out shopping, Chilli notices that Bob, Bingo, and Bluey’s attention is captured by cartoons on a television on display at the store. She goes to connect with them, but is also lured in by a program on a nearby television. During the outing and throughout the day, both parents take pictures of Bob and the girls spending time on screens. When looking at the pictures later, Bingo frets that she has shown Bob the “most boring time.” The visit with her family involved a lot of screen time and very little engagement in other exciting, off screen activities. Parents should incorporate tech-free time and activities Bluey illustrates helpful ways to use screen time to support children’s development. But the show also explores children’s near-constant use of technology and the benefits of reducing screen time. Limiting screen time can increase time for physical activity, which promotes children’s health. Researchers have illustrated that children can become more dependent on outside sources of entertainment, like screen media, when they lose their ability to find activities when they are bored. Overcoming boredom without technology can support the development of children’s self-expression, imagination, problem solving, and creativity. In the final two examples we discuss, the show demonstrates the value of taking a break from screens when media use no longer adds value to an experience. Our aim is not to create added pressure on caregivers to remove technology but rather to consider the benefits of sometimes replacing screen time with non-digital experiences. “Bob Bilby” (S01, E12) After realizing that they had the “most boring time” with Bob Bilby, the family decides to do something different and go tech-free by riding bikes, playing at the park, going to the library, and watching fireworks. After recognizing the role digital media has played in interrupting family interactions and displacing more exciting experiences, the family pivots toward real-world activities. Bluey also points out that Bob copies what the rest of the family does, just as young children learn from imitating those around them. Parents model media habits for their children, and parents’ media use predicts their children’s media use. That is why it is important for caregivers to set an example with their own media use for times when it is inappropriate to use screens, such as during social interactions or when hosting a guest. The characters in Bluey saw that screens made them feel bored and decided to strive for a balance between their digital and non-digital worlds. Going tech-free does not have to be something that happens every day, but finding opportunities in the family schedule to unplug can bring families closer together. “Roadtrip” (S02, E45) In this episode, the family faces the challenge of losing the children’s tablets during a car trip. Chilli begins creating games to keep Bluey’s mind occupied and provide some fun for the trip. For example, Bluey “walks” her fingers along the windowsill to jump over the cows and trees that they pass. The family talks about how being bored is okay. Boredom leads Bluey to take a moment to observe the car and discover that if she pulls on a certain tab near her, a little armrest and cup holders appear, which she would not have found if her eyes had been glued to a tablet. The armrest gives her the idea to play restaurant with her sister. This episode highlights that caregivers can encourage children to take a break from screens, use their imagination, and embrace boredom. Conclusion Parenting in a digital age is challenging when new research, new technology, and new guidance emerges daily. Fortunately, caregivers can access many resources when seeking advice on this topic. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health has compiled a guide for caregivers for managing the benefits and risks of media use and finding the approach to digital parenting that best fits their family. Additionally, Common Sense Media offers parents a guide to movies, shows, books, and games as they navigate digital parenting concerns. Screens can relieve parenting stress and caregivers should not be shamed for using technology as a regulation tool. Strategies of digital parenting include choosing content that is best for children, talking with children about what they see on screens, and setting rules that work for caregivers. Parents can encourage their child’s learning and development of important life skills, such as the 6Cs, by supporting the way they consume media. Supports include co-viewing, choosing high-quality educational games and videos, and using media as a tool to solve a problem. Screens can relieve parenting stress and caregivers should not be shamed for using technology as a regulation tool. Research evidence used to guide digital parenting can help increase the developmental benefits for children, while acknowledging the challenges of parenting in the digital age. Finally, too much of anything can be detrimental to children’s health, so disconnecting when technology no longer adds value to an experience can prevent some harms of excessive media use. Families have unique needs and require digital parenting solutions that fit best for them. The family depicted in the TV show Bluey provides just one example of finding balance with a diverse toolkit of digital parenting strategies. References American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024, April 30). Kids & Screen Time: How to use the 5 C’s of media guidance. HealthyChildren.org. Bender, K. H. (2024). Exploring the effects of the television shows, Bluey and Blippi, on young children’s language development: a Mixed methods study. GriffinShare. Bohl, K. A., Smith, B. P., & Bolling, M. T. (2025). “Oh, Biscuits!” Exploring resilience in the children’s television programme Bluey. Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 42(2), 271–285. Eichen, L., Hackl-Wimmer, S., Eglmaier, M. T. W., Lackner, H. K., Paechter, M., Rettenbacher, K., Rominger, C., & Walter-Laager, C. (2021). Families’ digital media use: Intentions, rules and activities. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52(6), 2162–2177. Guernsey, L. (2007). Into the minds of babes: How screen time affects children from birth to age five. Basic Books. Lammers, S. M., Woods, R. J., Brotherson, S. E., Deal, J. E., & Platt, C. A. (2022). Explaining adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics screen time recommendations with caregiver awareness and parental motivation factors: Mixed methods study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 5(2), e29102. Livingstone, S., & Blum-Ross, A. (2020). Expectations. In Parenting for a digital future: How hopes and fears about technology shape children’s lives. Oxford University Press. McDaniel, B. T. (2015). “Technoference”: Everyday intrusions and interruptions of technology in couple and family relationships. In C. J. Bruess (Ed.), Family communication in the age of digital and social media. Peter Lang Publishing. Rega, V., Gioia, F., & Boursier, V. (2023). Problematic media use among children up to the age of 10: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(10), 5854. Sanders, T., Noetel, M., Parker, P., Del Pozo Cruz, B., Biddle, S., Ronto, R., Hulteen, R., Parker, R., Thomas, G., De Cocker, K., Salmon, J., Hesketh, K., Weeks, N., Arnott, H., Devine, E., Vasconcellos, R., Pagano, R., Sherson, J., Conigrave, J., & Lonsdale, C. (2024). An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens. Nature Human Behaviour, 8(1), 82-99. Sigman, A. (2019). A Movement for movement: Screen time, physical activity and sleep; a new integrated approach for children. Association of Play Industries. Xu, Y., He, K., Levine, J., Ritchie, D., Pan, Z., Bustamante, A. S., & Uci, M. W. (2023). Artificial intelligence enhances children’s science learning from television shows. EdArXiv Preprints. — Previously Published on childandfamilyblog with Creative Commons License *** Does dating ever feel challenging, awkward or frustrating? Turn Your Dating Life into a WOW! with our new classes and live coaching. Click here for more info or to buy with special launch pricing! *** On Substack? Follow us there for more great dating and relationships content. 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. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo Credit: unsplash The post Bluey’s Media Illustration of Parenting in the Digital Age appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

🙏🏻 iPhone saves teen’s life: A 16-year-old in Greenville fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, leaving her with multiple broken bones. Trapped inside her pickup, she couldn’t call for help, but her iPhone did. Crash Detection automatically dialed 911 and got rescuers there. Want the same safety net? Go to Settings > Emergency SOS and toggle on Call After Severe Crash. The post iPhone saves teen’s life appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The South Asian nation is aiming to roll out its first commercial production of semiconductors by the end of the year, the prime minister has announced India will drive major change by shaping the future of the microchip industry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. New Delhi will begin commercial semiconductor production by the end of 2025, marking a significant milestone in the country's push toward technological self-reliance, he added. Speaking at the opening of the Semicon India 2025 conference, Modi said: “The day is not far away when India’s smallest chip will drive the world’s biggest change.” He added: “Our last century was shaped by oil… But the power of the 21st century is limited to a small chip. This chip has the power to accelerate the development of the world.” New Delhi has already greenlighted ten semiconductor plants, and four additional units are expected to start production within the next 12 months. Modi also announced a Critical Minerals Mission, focusing on securing rare earth elements and other essential minerals vital for semiconductor manufacturing. During the ceremony, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented Modi with India's first indigenously developed Vikram-32-bit chip, created by the national space agency’s (ISRO) Semiconductor Laboratory for various space applications. The microprocessor was formally inducted into ISRO's program in March, along with another chip called Kalpana 3201. 🇮🇳 Tech Inspection: PM Modi Takes A Look At India's Cutting-Edge Nano Chips Amongst Other Innovations At Semicon India Exhibition 2025 In New Delhi https://t.co/D1Xs9IYR5w pic.twitter.com/cneXg1PtBE — RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 3, 2025 According to industry estimates, India's semiconductor market was valued at about $45-50 billion in 2024-25, up from $38 billion in 2023.. The government has set ambitious targets to reach $100-110 billion by 2030. “Our journey in this sector began late, but nothing can stop us now,” Modi said. Earlier this year, India also announced a program to develop an AI-based chip from scratch in a move that aims to challenge US dominance in the industry Modi also took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the Indian economy against the backdrop of US tariffs which took effect on August 27. Quoting the latest GDP numbers, Modi said India has “once again performed better than every expectation and prediction.” “When every economy has concerns, facing challenges stemming from economic selfishness, even in those times, India has achieved a 7.8% growth,” the prime minister said. The US first imposed 25% tariffs on India in early August, as New Delhi and Washington could not finalize a trade agreement. US President Donald Trump then announced an additional 25% tariff on India effective August 27 for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. View the full article

The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline will help boost supplies to over 100 bcm of gas a year, according to the Russian president The Power of Siberia 2, a major gas project agreed by Russia and China earlier this week, will be based on market principles, with prices set by an objective formula rather than politics, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Speaking to journalists in Beijing on Wednesday, Putin said the two countries had reached consensus on the deal. “This is not charity – we’re talking about mutually beneficial agreements based on market principles,” he stated. The agreement on what has been described as the world’s biggest gas project was announced on Tuesday by Gazprom chief Aleksey Miller after a meeting in Beijing attended by Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. DETAILS TO FOLLOW View the full article

When I think about retirement, I see myself in a small beach house with a ranch. No partner. No work. No nosy neighbors. Just me, my horses, and the soft whispers of the ocean. It feels like freedom — a quiet escape. But for some reason, I don’t say it out loud. It sits heavy in my chest, as if wanting a life away from everyone is some kind of sin. Over the weekend, I finally shared it with my friends. “I get it,” Lora sighed. “The older I get, the more withdrawn I feel from my partner. Not angry. Not even sad. Just… distant.” “Tell me about it,” Fiona said, swirling her wine glass. “I’ve been thinking about moving to an island. Surf in the mornings. Hike in the evenings. Just… breathe.” I realized then, it’s not just me. For some women, the longing isn’t just for solitude. It’s emotional. It’s about wanting to feel alive again. Emma has been married for 29 years. Happily, by most people’s standards. But even she admits there’s a distance she can’t ignore. “I love my husband,” she told me quietly, “but I feel like a ghost in my own home. He doesn’t see me anymore. I crave tenderness — not diamonds, not trips — just the feeling of being wanted.” That stayed with me. Because it’s never about being ungrateful or wanting someone else. It’s about missing that spark, the softness, the little things that routine quietly erases over time. Then there are women like my friend — a fourth-grade teacher who spends her days nurturing other people’s children. One night, over coffee, she said, “All I want is a small flat in Lisbon. Mornings with tea on the balcony. Evenings painting. Just… peace.” It’s not loneliness. It’s the deep knowing that you can be whole in your own company. That silence can be a form of healing. And then there are those who ache for the innocence of not knowing — when the world was softer, and they were too. One woman wrote, “I wish I could go back to summers at my grandma’s house. Back before I had to pretend. Before the heartbreak. Before I learned to hide who I really was.” That kind of nostalgia — it’s not just about the past. It’s about safety, about wanting to return to the version of yourself that existed before the world taught you how to disappear. These stories aren’t rare, though. They’re whispered in late-night texts, hidden in anonymous forums, or said out loud when the wine loosens the fear of judgment. And the common thread? We are tired. Tired of being everything to everyone. Tired of dimming our needs because they don’t fit the picture society sold us. It’s no wonder young women aren’t coupling up the way they used to. It’s not because we’re bitter or “can’t find a man.” It’s because we’re starting to see marriage and even cohabitation for what they often are: systems that give more to men while quietly draining women. Sarah teaches literature at the university, and she put it bluntly over lunch one afternoon: “I don’t want to be someone’s wife if it means I’m cooking, cleaning, and managing his life while my needs sit at the bottom of the list.” That same frustration spills across social media every day. One IG influencer said this on her live stream, “Being a wife feels like being an unpaid and unappreciated servant in 95% of marriages.” It got thousands of upvotes — not because it was shocking, but because so many women quietly feel the same. Emma, a software engineer, has been with her partner for years but has no plans to marry. “I’d rather invest my time and money in myself — my travels, my work, my peace. Marriage? That’s optional now,” She said, rejecting my request on a blind date. And Nina, an artist, doesn’t want to give up love entirely but refuses to settle. She laughed over wine one night, saying; “If marriage is the prize, why does it feel like the cost is myself?” These conversations are happening every day. In local clubs, in group chats, even in family dinners where older relatives still ask when you’re “finally settling down.” Women are no longer afraid to say what they’ve always known — partnership often demands more than it gives back. This isn’t a rejection of love. It’s a quiet revolution — a shift toward choosing ourselves, our freedom, and our joy without apology. And the truth? Men aren’t making it easier. For generations, women have been conditioned to put everyone else first — husbands, children, aging parents, even the emotional well-being of the men around them. We’ve been taught to absorb, to fix, to carry the invisible weight of everyone’s needs. But men rarely stop to ask what that weight does to us. Now that women are stepping into their own — building careers, buying homes, traveling solo, saying “no” to relationships that don’t serve them — the reaction from many men has been… predictable. They’re grumpier. Resentful. Instead of celebrating women’s independence, too many are retreating into echo chambers that tell them women are the problem. You see it everywhere: the rise of conservative, authoritarian populists like Donald Trump, and the idolization of internet misogynists like Andrew Tate. These voices feed men a simple, poisonous narrative: that women’s success is a threat, not progress. I see this even in my own circles. When my friend Sarah got promoted to department head, her husband joked that she was “the man of the house now.” He meant it playfully, but she told me later how that comment stung. She worked for that title. She earned it. Yet even in her own home, her success came with a hint of resentment. On Reddit, one woman wrote: “I got a raise that put me ahead of my boyfriend financially. Instead of being happy for me, he started making digs about me being a ‘career girl’ and how women like me never make good wives.” That’s the undercurrent so many of us are feeling. We’ve stopped shrinking ourselves to make men comfortable, and instead of adjusting, some men are doubling down. This is why more women are walking away. We are withdrawing ourselves from the exhausting version of womanhood that demands we keep giving without ever being seen, valued, or supported in return. We are done settling. We’re done with men who still see relationships through a 1950s lens — men who expect us to shoulder the bulk of emotional labor, childcare, and housework, even when we’re working full-time, demanding jobs. Why fight the tide of outdated gender roles when you could choose peace instead? When staying single means you don’t have to negotiate for basic respect, or explain — again — that coming home to a sink full of dishes after a 10-hour workday isn’t “just how things are.” I read a comment on YouTube that summed it up perfectly: “I make six figures, I own my house, and I still found myself cooking, cleaning, and mothering a man who acted like it was my duty. Never again.” My friend Fiona said something similar when we talked about why she hasn’t dated seriously in years: “It’s not that I don’t like men. I just don’t like the version of myself I become when I’m with someone who still thinks my time, my success, my needs — all of it — should come second.” For a growing number of women, staying single isn’t a sad default — it’s a deliberate choice. A choice to build a life that feels whole without constantly fighting to be seen as an equal. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the real revolution — choosing ourselves, fully and unapologetically. … Do you think traditional gender roles in relationships are dying — or just evolving into something else? Have you ever felt like you’re carrying more of the emotional or domestic load? How do you handle it? I’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments. — 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: Richard Sagredo On Unsplash The post Why Women Staying Single by Choice Is Socially Unacceptable appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The Russian president said the initiative is aimed at fostering positive collaboration between countries that attended the latest SCO summit Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his support for China’s proposed global governance reform project, hailing it as a timely initiative aimed at promoting positive ties between the countries that attended the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. In his keynote speech on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping invoked what he called “the Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust, respect and pursuit of shared development and urged SCO members to “oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and bullying practices.” Xi proposed the ‘Global Governance Initiative,’ calling on SCO nations to uphold equality, multilateralism and UN authority to build a fairer global system. During a press conference on Wednesday, Putin called the Chinese initiative “very timely and important” and said it would help establish positive collaboration between the countries that gathered at the SCO summit, as well as with those which have yet to declare their desire for partnership. DETAILS TO FOLLOW View the full article

Such a meeting, however, must have a meaningful agenda, the Russian president has said DETAILS TO FOLLOW View the full article

The US president made the remark in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s four-day visit to Beijing US President Donald Trump has said he is not worried about China-Russia ties, insisting that America has the world’s “strongest” military. He made the comment on Tuesday in response to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who called him his “old friend.” Moscow and Beijing described each other as strategic partners and pledged to deepen cooperation “without limits.” In an interview with The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump was asked if he was concerned “about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia.” The president responded “I am not concerned at all,” adding “We have the strongest military in the world, by far. They would never use their military on us. Believe me.” The remarks came just ahead of a military parade in Beijing marking the World War II victory over Japan. Putin attended the celebrations alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and other leaders. Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Putin and added without elaborating that his administration was preparing actions “to help people live.” Trump met Putin in Alaska last month in an effort to mediate a ceasefire in Ukraine. No breakthroughs were reached, but both sides called the talks positive. Trump has since urged direct talks between Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Putin “does not rule out the possibility of holding such a meeting,” but stressed it should be carefully prepared. On Wednesday, Trump posted on Truth Social during the parade that Xi, Putin, and Kim were “conspiring” against Washington. He congratulated Xi, honored Americans who died in China’s “quest for Victory and Glory,” and wrote: “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States.” Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said he hoped Trump had made the comments in jest. He stressed that “nobody is plotting any conspiracies” and added that everyone understood the role played by the United States, the Trump administration and the president personally in international affairs. View the full article

Scotland, UK At Dunblane Primary School in Dunblane, near Stirling, Scotland, on March 13, 1996, a 43-year-old man entered with four legally purchased handguns and sprayed the school with bullets. By the time he ended his spree, 16 young students and one teacher lay dead with an additional 15 others injured before he killed himself. This massacre remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history. In the aftermath, the public and their government representatives discussed ways to prevent similar acts of violence from happening all across the United Kingdom. People circulated petitions, known as the Snowdrop Petition, for a ban on private ownership of handguns. Governmental officials led an official inquiry, which in 1996 produced the Cullen Report led by Lord Cullen. These actions led to legislation of two new Firearms Acts, which prohibited the private ownership of most types of handguns in Great Britain. The national government instituted a firearms buyback program, which provided appropriate compensation to licensed owners. As recommended by the Cullen Report, the government introduced stricter regulations on handgun ownership while considering whether to permanently ban all private ownership, though gun club ownership would remain. The Report also recommended several changes in school security procedures and enhanced background checks on all adults working with young people under the age of 18 since the perpetrator of the Dunblane massacre had served as a Scout master. The government created a six-member Gun Control Network, which was supported by some of the parents of the victims of the Dunblane and Hungerford massacres. The latter occurred in Wiltshire and Berkshire, UK, and ended in the death of 16 people, including an unarmed police officer and the mother of the shooter, a 27-year-old man, before he killed himself. The Conservative government of Prime Minister John Major responded by introducing the Firearms (Amendment) Act in 1997 banning all cartridge ammunition handguns, in England, Scotland, and Wales except the .22 calibre rimfire. After the United Kingdom’s general election in 1997, the Labour government of Prime Minister Tony Blair, however, introduced the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which banned the remaining .22 cartridge handguns as well. The only non-banned legal firearms included muzzle-loading and historic handguns and some sporting handguns (e.g. “Long-Arms”) and long-barreled handguns that fall outside the minimum barrel and overall length dimensions in the Firearms Act 1968, as amended. This handgun ban did not apply to Northern Ireland where it remains legal for citizens to own handguns for target shooting (if they hold a firearms license) and, for self-defense, if the owner has been granted a personal protection weapon permit. Though the UK experienced an initial surge in firearms deaths and injuries immediately following the passage of tightened controls, reports have shown a significant decline in gun-related violence in later years. Australia Before and up to 1996, Australia had relatively high rates of gun-related murder, but an incident at Port Arthur, Tasmania, April 28, 1996, was the proverbial straw that broke the poor camel’s back. On that date, a man opened fire on a group of tourists killing 35 and wounding another 23. The massacre was the worst mass murder in Australia’s history. Taking decisive action, newly-elected conservative Prime Minister, John Howard, negotiated a bipartisan deal between the national, state, and local governments in enacting comprehensive gun safety measures, which included a massive buyback of more than 600,000 semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, and laws prohibiting private firearms sales, mandatory registration by owners of all weapons, and the requirement that all potential buyers of guns at the time of purchase give a “genuine reason” other than general or overarching self-defense without documentation of necessity. By 1996, polls showed overwhelming public support of approximately 90% for the new measures. And though firearms-related injuries and death have not totally come to an end, according to The Washington Post,homicides by firearms fell by 59% between 1995 and 2006 with no corresponding increase in non-firearm-related homicides, and a 65% reduction in gun-related suicides. Other studies found significant drops in robberies involving firearms, and contrary to fears by some, there was no increase in the overall number of home invasions. In the decade preceding the Port Arthur massacre, Australia recorded 11 mass shootings. No mass shootings have occurred for over two decades after the measures went into effect. United States Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut where on December 14, 2012, a 20-year-old man murdered 20 children and 6 adult staff before committing suicide. The man murdered his mother at her home before heading to the school. Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida where on February 14, 2018 (Valentine’s Day), a 19-year-old man and former student at the school opened fire killing 17 people and injuring another 18. He was arrested after fleeing the scene. Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas where on May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old man and former student at the school fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers and injured 17 others, before the shooter was killed by law enforcement officers. Annunciation Catholic Church and School, Minneapolis, Minnesota where on August 27, 2025 a shooter scattered bullets through the stained glass windows killing two young students aged 8 and 10 and injuring another 15 students and 3 adults before committing suicide. In addition to these high-profile gun-related incidents in U.S. schools, the K-12 School Shooting Database, which tracks the number of school incidents since 1996 has reported: 2020: 116 incidents 2021: 257 incidents 2022: 308 incidents 2023: 350 incidents 2024: 337 incidents 2025: 150 incidents as of August 27 The ordinarily cool “no drama Obama” wiped away a tear and expressed his frustration over the easy accessibility of high-powered rifles following the devastating murder of 20 precious babies and their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Following that tragedy, approximately 24 states extended people’s right to carry guns into public spaces such as bars, houses of worship, college campuses, and some businesses, and even into airports up to the TSA checkpoints. The great abolitionist Frederick Douglass said in 1853, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” The point he was making was that individuals, institutions, and societies virtually never relinquish even a bit of power without challenge and conflict. The mass murder by a fully-armed shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida seemed to have provoked a tipping point ushering in the next development in a continuing movement to promote firearms safety in the United States: direct action led by a new generation of justifiably frightened and angry passionate young people, many of whom have grown up since and during the tragic murders of students at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, and Sandy Hook Elementary School. While the U.S. Congress passed a few small incremental changes in the nation’s gun laws, it pales when compared to the U.S. Congress’s brief federal ban on so-called assault weapons, The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act, in September 1994. The ban, which also included barring high-capacity magazines, expired in September 2004 as required in its 10-year sunset provision. The measure has not been reauthorized by Congress. The difference between the actions taken in the United Kingdom and Australia compared to the United States is that the former nations did not include the equivalent of a Second Amendment in their legal documents. Subsequently, the United States has a significantly higher overall rate of firearms deaths than any of our western peer nations and, in fact, of most of the nations around the world except for Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, and El Salvador. A Pew Research Center 2024 poll found: A majority of Americans (61%) say it is too easy to legally obtain a gun in this country, About six-in-ten U.S. adults (58%) favor stricter gun laws, More than half of U.S. adults say an increase in the number of guns in the country is bad for society (the current rate is 120.5 guns per 100 people), About half of Americans (49%) see gun violence as a major problem, A majority of public K-12 teachers (59%) say they are at least somewhat worried about the possibility of a shooting ever happening at their school, including 18% who are very or extremely worried. But how many more Sandy Hook Elementary Schools, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High Schools, Robb Elementary Schools, Virginia Techs, Annunciation Catholic Schools, and so many others will it take for the vast majority of our people to act in demanding that our legislators en mass finally grow a spine and do the right thing by passing comprehensive and effective firearms safety reforms that will actually save lives? I truly wish that our nation’s founders had not included the equivalent of the current Second Amendment permitting residents to “bear arms,” which has resulted in the United States running toward the head of the pack of nations with the highest firearms-related death rate in the world. I have been, nonetheless, advocating for the overturning of the Second Amendment while knowing that it is impossible owing to the entrenchment of the gun culture in the United States. In the art of diplomacy, the parties go into talks announcing their ultimate wants or goals. In their negotiations and using the process of compromise, if successful, they come out of the discussions with less than they had hoped for, but enough to at least give them some satisfaction that they leave with more than they had at the beginning. Possibly if some people with political power advocate for the repeal of the Second Amendment as their want or goal, then maybe those who have remained steadfast in their hardened positions of maintaining the status quo might at least consider softening a bit by supporting: universal background checks, limiting the number of firearms any individual can own, limiting the number of bullets any firearm clip can hold, repealing “shoot first” or “stand your ground” laws. Hey, one day if their spines maintain a semblance of stability, they might even support the reinstatement of The Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Protection Act banning “assault weapons.” — 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 Second Amendment Has Placed the U.S. Toward the Head of the Pack of Nations With Gun-Related Deaths appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

📼 Own it? Not really: A new lawsuit says Amazon’s “Buy” button on video downloads is misleading, because what you’re really buying is a long-term rental they can take back anytime. A new California law backs the claim. So if your “purchased” movie vanishes next week, well, that’s legal. Somewhere, your dusty DVD collection is cackling. The post Own it? Not really appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article