American Women Suck

🍏 Turn off iPhone analytics: Apple collects usage data and location info from your device to “improve services.” They say it’s anonymous, but why risk your privacy? Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements and toggle everything off. Bonus: You’ll get a tiny battery boost since your phone won’t be uploading data in the background. The post Turn off iPhone analytics appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The two leaders showcased their countries’ ties with a symbolic gesture on the sidelines of the SCO summit in China Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a ride in the Russian-made Aurus Senat presidential limousine following the main session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Monday. The Aurus Senat transported the two men from the summit venue to a hotel for their official bilateral meeting. Modi said on X the leaders travelled together and added that his discussions with Putin are “always insightful.” Before the delegation-level talks, Putin and Modi had a one-on-one conversation lasting about an hour in the Russian presidential vehicle. ⚡️NOW: President Putin & PM Modi Arrive for 🇷🇺-🇮🇳 Meeting in China - After More than 30 Mins Talking in Putin's Aurus pic.twitter.com/DTKrvTrZ9R — RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 1, 2025 The Aurus Senat, also referred to as a “fortress-on-wheels,” is a full-sized, heavily armored luxury limousine produced by Aurus Motors, a Russian automaker that is a joint venture between NAMI, a Russian state research institute, Sollers, and the UAE’s Tawazun Holding. Social media posts with images of the two leaders went viral in India on X, and in China on Weibo, with several thousand users liking and commenting on the story. ❗️Trending on Weibo Right Now - PM Modi Taking a Ride in Putin's Car! Garnering thousands upon thousands and likes and comments, Chinese social media is abuzz with the Indian Prime Minister belting up with President Putin for talks at #SCO2025 pic.twitter.com/x8pJr8zQpO — RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 1, 2025 The Aurus Senat was created after Putin said that Russia should make its own presidential vehicles. The Russian president has been using an Aurus Senat as his personal presidential limousine since 2018, and the car has been available to other buyers since 2021, a report by Car Magazine said. A civilian version is available, limited to 120 units annually, and costs around 18 million rubles ($223,000). Its design is inspired by the Soviet-era ZIS-110 limousine. Putin gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un an Aurus Senat during his June 2024 visit to Pyongyang. View the full article

Taipei missed a March deadline to move its representative office from Pretoria as the two sides were negotiating a new deal South Africa is finalizing the relocation of Taiwan’s unofficial embassy from the country’s capital Pretoria to Johannesburg, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has revealed. South Africa officially ended its diplomatic ties with Taipei in 1997, and recently, the department gazetted a notice for the relocation of the office from Pretoria to Johannesburg. Lamola confirmed that a notice has been gazetted for the transition of the Taiwan office, which will now be rebranded as the Taiwan Commercial Office in Johannesburg, adding that the move from Pretoria to Johannesburg has become a done deal. The latest relocation deadline was set for March 31; however, it was not met due to ongoing negotiations between the two countries regarding the terms of the agreement. Early this year, IOL reported that the South African government had initially ordered Taiwan to move its Pretoria office to Johannesburg in October 2024, but talks between the sides resulted in a new date of the end of March being set. ”We consider it done. We have gazetted the relocation to the City of Johannesburg. We have stated the reasons because our relations with Taiwan are at a commercial level and in trade. This is not just a South African phenomenon in many capitals across the globe; Taiwan is the commercial city – it is not some South African exceptionalism,” the minister said. The latest comes after the Taiwan government slammed Lamola for claiming that Taiwan has no representative office in the United States capital, Washington, DC, during a media briefing last Wednesday. In a statement, the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Lamola of making ‘false’ claims to justify South Africa’s unilateral abandonment of a 1997 bilateral agreement that aimed to downgrade Taiwan’s representative office. ”The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly refutes Minister Lamola’s claims, which not only contradicted reality but also highlighted South Africa’s grave lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of the international situation,” the ministry said. First published by IOL View the full article

Western blocs have “looked for enemies outside” while the East has stressed guarding against terrorism and separatism, Einar Tangen has said The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) approach to security is radically different to the prevalent “aggressive” model in the West, a US seecurity analyst told RT on Monday. Commentator Einar Tangen made the comments shortly after the ten SCO members endorsed a key declaration calling for reforms and new principles in global governance that reject typical Western international relations practices. The SCO's focus differs markedly from Western blocs because they “look for enemies outside” and present a narrative of a “big bad wolf out there.” In contrast, “SCO is the exact opposite,” he stated. He explained that the SCO instead emphasizes threats “within our society with terrorism, separatism, extremism” that must be guarded against. Tangen remarked that the contrasting worldviews are consistent when Putin asserts “it’s time to do something about Ukraine. Remember, this always had to do with the security of Russia and the infringement by both Europe and the United States directly against their word of going into Ukraine.” He further contrasted Western and Eastern alliances. While the West’s byline “is kind of aggressive,” the message from groups such as the SCO and BRICS emphasizes “multilateralism, a multipolar world, fairness amongst all nations.” Tangen reflected on how peaceful intentions are often misinterpreted. “A thief always believes everyone else is a thief,” he said, noting that people tend to project their own behavior onto others. “There’s a lot of transference … where people just assume you’re like them and will act as they do.” He added that this mindset shapes much of Washington’s thinking. “They think as an empire, so they see enemies everywhere and maintain hegemony by keeping other countries in fear,” Tanged said. View the full article

When you hear the word “mistake,” what goes on in your head? For years, I heard that word and thought: “That’s me.” I confused doing something wrong with being something wrong. But that’s the lie we’re told. Society trains us to fear failure — as if it’s proof we’re unworthy. But what if we’ve misunderstood the role of mistakes entirely? Mistakes aren’t bad, and they aren’t wrong. Human beings have an inherent need to make mistakes, that we are fundamentally wired to stumble, to explore, and to learn from the consequences. What We Can Learn From Babies When we’re born, we are all blank slates. Babies explore the world through fresh eyes, not yet told by the world all the things they can and can’t do. One of the most significant milestones is learning how to walk. Before they can walk, babies push themselves up and fall over and over. And what do we do? We clap. We cheer. We don’t scold them when they fall — we celebrate it, because every fall means they’re trying. Every stumble is progress. Just like babies need to fall to learn, we still need stumbles — especially as teenagers, when our mistakes get more complex. The Hidden Cost Of Playing It Safe Teenagers get a bad rep for their impulsiveness, but biologically, it makes sense: their prefrontal cortex — the brain’s decision-making center — isn’t fully developed until age 25. I was the opposite. In high school, I didn’t party. I avoided social risks. I was what people called “wise for my age.” But wisdom wasn’t the whole story — I was scared. Social anxiety kept me sidelined. In some ways, I was behind the curveball. I missed out on a lot of messy, formative experiences. And maybe that’s the point: we crave mistakes not just to grow — but to connect. Why We Touch The Stove Our brains are wired for curiosity. Even when routines feel safe, something deeper urges us to explore. And why wouldn’t we? When we try new things, our brains release dopamine. That’s why a child touches a stove despite the warning — it’s not rebellion; it’s a craving to learn firsthand. We want new experiences, even if they sting. Not because we’re reckless — but because it’s how we grow. Every “mistake” is a doorway into deeper self-knowledge. Curiosity sets the stage for genuine growth, and sometimes that means a few falls before we truly find our footing. We flinch when we say the wrong thing in a meeting, when we send the email too soon. When we fall off a habit. When we choose the wrong relationship, the wrong job, the wrong words. But these aren’t signs we’re broken. They’re signs we’re brave enough to try. These moments of exploration, where we might trip or veer off course, aren’t proof of failure; they’re proof of our humanity. Mistakes Mean You’re Still In The Game Every time you mess up, stumble, or cringe at something you said or did… it means you’re alive. You’re showing up, experimenting, growing, and stretching beyond your comfort zone. That’s not a weakness. That’s progress in motion. I know the shame can feel heavy, like you’re the only one still fumbling. But you’re not. We all are. We’re all bumbling through this messy, beautiful life, learning as we go. Mistakes are the trail markers of growth. So please, stop waiting until you’re “ready.” Go try. Trip. Learn. Laugh. Then try again. Because the only real mistake is holding yourself back. — Previously Published on Medium iStock image The post What I Learned From Screwing Everything Up appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

⛳️ Talk birdie to me: Forget 18-hole snoozefests. YouTube quietly turned golf into a content gold mine. During the pandemic, channels like Good Good exploded; now 75% of their revenue comes from merch, not swings. Paige Spiranac parlayed 4M Instagram followers into golf stardom, and even Bryson DeChambeau used YouTube to fix his image with 2.3M subs. The post Talk birdie to me appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Karol Nawrocki has insisted Poland needs “justice,” despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk having rescinded Warsaw’s request for compensation Polish President Karol Nawrocki has renewed demands for reparations from Germany for Nazi-era devastation, insisting that they must be paid in the interests of “justice and truth.” The reparations question has long strained Polish-German relations. The previous Law and Justice (PiS) government, in office from 2015 to 2023, demanded that Germany pay 6.2 trillion Polish zloty (around $1.5 trillion) for damage under Nazi occupation. That claim was then dropped by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said Warsaw would no longer be seeking payments and would instead focus on improving relations with Berlin. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has suggested Berlin could “offer a creative decision” on how to account for Nazi crimes in a different way. Nawrocki, however, used a speech on Monday at a ceremony marking the 86th anniversary of the start of World War II to press Berlin once more. “Poland, as a frontline state, as the most important country on the eastern flank of NATO, needs justice and truth and clear relations with Germany, but we also need reparations from the German state,” he said at the Westerplatte memorial. “In order to build a partnership built on truth and good relations, we must deal with the issue of reparations from the German state which, as Polish president, I unequivocally demand, for the common good,” he added. Nawrocki said he hopes Tusk and the government will back the demands. Tusk, however, stated at the same ceremony that Poland must “understand who is our enemy” and cited the supposed threat from Russia. Moscow has repeatedly denied harboring any hostile intent towards the West, calling such claims “nonsense” meant to justify inflated military budgets. Berlin has acknowledged responsibility for Nazi crimes but has refused to reopen reparations, arguing Poland waived its rights in 1953 in an agreement with East Germany and that the 1990 treaty on German reunification settled the matter. Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 marked the start of World War II in Europe. The occupation lasted until 1945, when Soviet and local forces liberated the country. Poland lost around 6 million citizens during the conflict. View the full article

Things come up on short notice, leaving us scrambling to balance personal needs/responsibilities and professional responsibilities. Calling out of work doesn’t need to be difficult, but if you give the wrong reason, it could leave your boss doubting you and could even get you fired in some states. In this article, I explain 12 legitimate reasons to call out of work at the last minute, their pros and cons, how to communicate your absence to your boss/supervisor, and the necessary follow-ups, if any. The whole idea is to ensure you keep your employers in the loop in the right way and avoid any potential misunderstandings. Highlights Always check your company’s leave policies to ensure your excuse is valid and covered under these guidelines to avoid any potential issues. For excuses that may require verification, prepare the necessary documentation in advance to support your leave request smoothly. Where feasible, mitigate the impact of your absence by delegating essential tasks and providing colleagues with the information they need to cover for you effectively. 12 Valid Excuses to Call Out of Work 1. You’re sick. Feeling ill is one of the best excuses for missing work, as your company/boss will not want you in the office if you’re sick and possibly contagious. Pros Staying away from work while sick prevents the spread of disease to other co-workers. It gives you more time for recovery and ultimately helps you stay productive in the long term. Companies typically have policies for calling out sick, and your request will likely be granted. Cons Calling out sick often means more responsibility for colleagues. Some workplaces don’t offer paid sick leave, so missing a day could mean lost wages. There’s also the potential for extra work when you eventually recover. Irrespective of the potential cons, sickness is still one of the most legitimate excuses to get out of work. Putting yourself under extra pressure when you’re not feeling too well is not ideal. According to a survey by Bamboo HR, almost 90% of employees work through sickness or feel guilty when calling out of work. Rachel Suff, senior policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), says: “Remember, your health is paramount. Don’t feel guilty about calling in sick; a healthy you is a more productive you in the long run! “If you are really not well and your symptoms mean you are not going to be productive, it’s better to go off sick. You’re also not spreading germs around the workplace,” What to say “Hi, (Boss’s name). I am feeling under the weather and won’t make it in today. Hoping to be back tomorrow.” “Hi [Boss’s Name], I’m feeling unwell this morning with [brief description of symptoms, e.g., a severe headache, stomach issues]. I’ll be taking a sick day to recover. I plan to check my email periodically if anything urgent comes up. Thank you for your understanding. Best, [Your Name]” “Hi [Boss’s Name], “Hi [Boss’s Name], I need to take an urgent sick day today due to unexpected health issues. I’m seeking medical advice and will keep you informed about my situation. Please let me know if there’s anything urgent that needs to be addressed, and I’ll do my best to coordinate remotely. Thanks for your understanding, [Your Name]” Related Article: Use these sick-day email templates to request the day off hassle-free. IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Some particularly strict/old-fashioned employers may want a doctor’s note as proof of illness when you return. The maximum number of paid sick leave days varies across organizations; be sure to understand yours. 2. You’re caring for a sick child or family member. Caring for a sick child or family member might even be a better excuse to miss work than calling in sick because it is a sign of responsibility and shows you can balance work and personal obligations. Pros It allows you to focus on helping your family member recover without work anxiety. Saves personal sick leave for when you’re ill. It could potentially strengthen your rapport with management through honest communication. Cons Depending on your company’s policy, you might not get paid for sick leave used for family members. When used too often, it might bring about a perception of unreliability. You may return to an increased workload as work accumulates during your absence. What to say “I’m sorry, but my child is feeling ill, and there’s nobody else who can care for them on such short notice. I’ll need to take a day to handle this emergency and return to work tomorrow.“ “Hi [Boss’s name], it’s [Your Name]. Unfortunately, my child woke up sick this morning and there’s no one else available to stay home with them. I need to take a day to care for them. I apologize for any inconvenience, and I’ll be back tomorrow.” Remember that family emergencies happen; most employers will understand and be sympathetic when you call in sick for medical reasons, whether personal or for a family member. IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Provide enough information to justify your absence without oversharing private medical information about your family member. Verify whether additional documentation or specific steps are required upon your return. 3. You have a family emergency. A family emergency is another valid reason to call out of work, even on short notice. The typical boss will quickly accept this excuse to miss work without much questioning or doubt. They may not even ask when you’ll be able to return and instead say, “Just let me know if you’re able to come in tomorrow.” Pros Addressing a family emergency head-on reduces overall stress, leading to better focus when you return to work. It reinforces a positive work-life balance and family values. You usually won’t face many follow-up questions and won’t have to go into too much detail. Cons Potential for missed opportunities or falling behind on tasks. Uncertainty about some employer’s reaction or understanding of the situation. What to say “Good morning, I have a family emergency that requires my immediate attention. I won’t be able to make it to work today. I apologize for any inconvenience and I’ll keep you updated.” “Hi [Boss’s Name], I need to request an emergency day off due to a significant family issue that has just arisen and needs my urgent attention. Specifically, [brief explanation if you’re comfortable, e.g., “a close relative has been hospitalized and requires my immediate presence”]. I anticipate returning to work by [expected return date]. I’ll make sure to keep you updated. Thank you for your support during this difficult time. Sincerely, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Manage expectations by letting them know your availability during your absence. Will you be reachable for urgent matters? Keep any relevant documentation or proof of the emergency, such as hospital records or legal documents, in case your employer requires verification. 4. Attending a funeral. Calling out of work at the last minute to attend a funeral is generally considered a valid reason, as funerals often occur unexpectedly and require immediate attention. Pros Funerals are generally accepted as a legitimate excuse, so you’re highly likely to get your absence approved. You don’t need to go into extensive details about the deceased or your relationship with them. Given the sensitivity of the situation, it is unlikely that an employer will question the legitimacy of the absence. Cons Some organizations have strict bereavement leave policies, limiting the number of days off and specifying eligible relations, which may not fully accommodate your needs. The timing of the absence, such as during critical projects, may lead to negative views on legitimate absences like attending a funeral. What to say “Dear [Boss’ name], I am writing to inform you that I have just received news of a family bereavement and need to take urgent leave to attend the funeral services. I will be out of the office starting today [insert date] and plan to return on [insert return date]. I have handed over my current tasks to [colleague’s name] and briefed them on the essential details to ensure continuity. Please let me know if there is anything specific you would like me to address before I leave. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time. Warm regards, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Last-minute notifications are sometimes unavoidable in these situations, but the sooner you can let them know, the better. Adhere to your company’s policies on bereavement leave. This might involve filling out specific forms or providing documentation, such as a funeral notice if required. 5. Childcare issues (sudden closure of a child’s school or daycare). Calling out of work at the last minute due to sudden childcare issues, like a daycare closure, is generally considered a very understandable reason. Pros Many employers recognize the importance of childcare and the challenges sudden closures create. If this is a rare occurrence and you have a good track record, your employer might be more forgiving of the short notice. You don’t have to go into extensive detail about the closure. Cons Repeated emergencies of this nature can lead to a backlog of tasks that are challenging to manage. In client-facing or critical roles, sudden childcare-related absences can cause significant, hard-to-mitigate disruptions. What to say “Dear [Supervisor’s Name], I wish to inform you that due to an unexpected closure of my child’s daycare, I need to take an urgent leave today to manage childcare. I have arranged for my tasks to be covered by [Colleague’s Name] and will ensure all critical duties are attended to remotely as much as possible. Thank you for your understanding and support during this unexpected situation. Best regards, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Explore alternative childcare options with family, friends, or neighbors before calling out. Consider the criticality of your work tasks and deadlines. Can you work remotely while managing childcare for short bursts? 6. You need to care for a sick pet. While not one of the best excuses to get out of work, there can be situations where your pet needs immediate attention. In situations like this, simply let your employer know that your pet isn’t feeling well and that you will need to go to an emergency vet appointment or stay with them while you give them medication. Pros The excuse could appeal to your employer’s empathy. Your dedication to your pet might be viewed favorably, especially in organizations with pet-friendly policies. Cons Unlike human family members, some organizations may not recognize pets in their family leave policies. Frequent absences, especially for pet emergencies, might be flagged during performance reviews. What to say “I will be unable to come to work today, [date], due to a sudden and urgent situation with my pet. They require immediate veterinary care. I apologize for any inconvenience this causes. I will be checking emails periodically and can be reached at [phone number] for critical issues. I expect to be back in the office tomorrow, [date]. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, [Your Name]” “Dear [Boss’s Name], Due to an urgent health issue with my pet, I am requesting to take the day off today. This will allow me to monitor and care for them. I apologize for the short notice and inconvenience. Best, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Before using this excuse to call out of work, you should weigh the urgency of your pet’s situation against work demands. Explore other options, like checking if a trusted friend or family member can check on your pet and provide basic care while you’re at work. 7. You have a last-minute dentist or doctor’s appointment. Next on our list of acceptable excuses to call out of work is a last-minute dentist or doctor’s appointment. Pros Missing work to attend a last-minute doctor’s appointment can address potential health issues early on. It could also mean less downtime in the long term when you miss work to attend a last-minute doctor’s appointment. Cons Your boss may ask why they were not informed sooner. There’s also the risk of perceived unreliability or lack of foresight from management’s perspective. What to say “Hi [Boss’ name], There’s something I want to get looked at urgently and my doctor/dentist had a last-minute cancellation and offered me an appointment today. Apologies for the short notice I hope to be back to work tomorrow.” “Hi [Boss’s name], it’s [Your Name]. An unexpected health issue came up and I need to see a doctor/dentist right away. I won’t be able to make it into work today. I apologize for the short notice and will keep you updated.” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER You may need to provide a doctor/dentist’s note to back up your excuse. Always check your company’s policy on sick leave and doctor’s appointments. Be professional and apologetic, but you don’t need to disclose the specific details of your appointment. 8. You’re having car trouble. If you rely on your car to get to work and it is unavailable due to mechanical issues, you can inform your boss of the situation and get the day off. However, you may face follow-up questions like, “Can you take a bus? We really need you here today.” Thus, this excuse is only legitimate if there are no alternative means of getting to work. Pros Unaddressed car issues could be potentially dangerous; missing work to fix them prevents further complications. If remote work is not already applicable in your workplace, it could be a chance to demonstrate its feasibility and productivity. Cons Frequent car troubles could raise questions about your planning and management skills. What to say “Dear [Boss’s Name], I wanted to inform you that I am experiencing unexpected car trouble this morning and will not be able to make it to the office today. I am currently arranging for repairs. Thank you for your understanding. Best regards, [Your Name]” “Dear [Boss’s name], I will be unable to come to work today, [date], due to unexpected car trouble. My car broke down this morning and I’m currently waiting to hear back from a mechanic about repairs. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. I will be checking emails periodically throughout the day and can be reached at [phone number] if urgent. Best, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Depending on your work situation, you may be allowed to work from home for the day or the rest of the week. If remote work isn’t applicable, your employer would expect you to explore alternative transportation options, such as public transport or ride-sharing services, for subsequent days. 9. You have a household problem. A household problem that requires you to remain home is one of the most straightforward and valid excuses to call out of work. Pros Taking a day off to get things fixed at home prevents small issues from turning into costly repairs. You’re less likely to be distracted at work when you are not worrying about unresolved household problems. Cons Some employers may view the issue as not serious enough, questioning the employee’s commitment. What to say “Dear [Boss’s Name], I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to come to work today, [date], due to an urgent home repair situation. I woke up this morning to discover a leak in my water pipes, and a plumber needs immediate access to my property to assess and fix the damage. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Best regards, [Your Name]” “Hi [Boss’s Name], I want to inform you that I will need to take a half day off today, [date], to receive an important delivery that requires a signature. Unfortunately, the delivery window is only available during work hours today. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. I have completed [mention completed tasks] and will delegate [mention tasks delegated] to [colleague’s name] to ensure they are covered in my absence. Kind regards, [Your Name]“ IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER You should be prepared to explain how the situation was unforeseen and that you reached out to inform them as soon as you could. To avoid the perception of triviality, be sure to communicate the severity of the issue and why staying back to fix it is important. 10. Mental health day. A mental health day is a day employees are allowed to take time off for self-care and mental well-being. I’ve had horrible jobs myself, and I understand having a feeling of panic in the morning when you’re simply overwhelmed and want to call out. Pros It demonstrates self-awareness and proactive self-care, which is needed for long-term productivity. This could potentially foster a more open and supportive workplace culture around mental health. Cons Risk of stigma or misunderstanding from management regarding the need for mental health days. Many companies have no formal policy for mental health days. What to say “Hi John, I am writing to request a personal day off to attend to my mental health. I have been feeling increasingly overwhelmed and need some time to recharge and ensure I can continue to perform at my best. I apologize for the short notice. I plan to take today off and return tomorrow feeling more refreshed. Thank you for your understanding and support. Best regards, [Your Name],” “Hi Luke, I will be unable to come to work today, [date], to prioritize my mental health. I’m feeling burnt out and need a day to recharge and refocus. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. I have completed [mention completed tasks] and will ensure [mention loose ends] are covered before the end of the day, if possible. I will be checking emails periodically and can be reached at [phone number] for urgent matters. I expect to be back in the office tomorrow, [date], feeling refreshed and ready to contribute. Thank you for your understanding. Kind regards, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER More and more companies are accepting the idea of a mental health day without a specific reason or emergency. Although this excuse is best if requested one or two days in advance, you can still request a mental health day on short notice. 11. You have a religious holiday/event. If your employers don’t recognize your particular religious holiday, don’t shy away from bringing it up, as it is another valid excuse to call out of work. Pros Many countries have employment laws that protect employees’ right to observe religious holidays. Most organizations list diversity as a priority; hence, it will likely be granted. Cons A lack of understanding/appreciation of certain religious practices may be a constraint. What to say “Tomorrow is a big day for followers of my religion. To celebrate, there is an event that I’ve just been told I must attend. I know this is very short notice, but I hope you appreciate that my presence is important for my family and me.” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER Your employers are probably bound by HR policies to respect and accommodate each person’s religious beliefs. If you can, you should inform them beforehand rather than at the last minute. 12. Unsafe weather conditions. In unsafe weather conditions, you should prioritize your safety and communicate the situation to your employer. They will most likely understand the situation because no employer expects you to brave hazardous weather to come to work. Pros Taking a safety-first approach reduces the risk of accidents or injuries from attempting to commute in hazardous conditions. You’re unlikely to face any questions as hazardous weather conditions are typically unforeseen and beyond your control. Cons Weather impacts may vary across different places, which may cause differing perceptions of the need for weather-related absences. What to say “I may be unable to come to work safely today, [date], due to the [mention weather condition, e.g., heavy snowfall] in the forecast. I am concerned about the potential hazards during my commute and while traveling throughout the day. If the weather worsens or road conditions become unsafe, I won’t be able to make it into the office. I’ll check in again later this morning with an update on my ability to come in or work remotely.” “Dear [Boss’s Name], Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for today, including [mention specific conditions, e.g., heavy snowfall, ice, flooding], I am concerned about the safety risks associated with commuting. If possible, I would like to request to work from home to ensure my safety and maintain productivity. I am fully prepared to handle all my tasks remotely and can be reached at any time via email and phone. Thank you for considering my request. Sincerely, [Your Name]” IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER If feasible, offer to work from home or reschedule your duties for when conditions improve. Your employer is legally obligated to prioritize your safety. Don’t hesitate to voice concerns if you feel unsafe commuting in severe weather conditions. Dawn D. Boyer, CEO of D. Boyer Consulting, says there should be no reason for an employee to lose their job because they couldn’t make it to work due to unsafe weather conditions “unless the employee consistently uses it as an excuse to avoid coming to work and has run out of PTO, and/or there are other mitigating factors.” Best Practices for Notifying Employers You’ll Be Missing Work Unexpected absences happen, but keeping your employers informed the right way is important. Here are five best practices to ensure a smooth process whenever you need to call out of work. Communicating with the employer as soon as possible: The earlier you can communicate your absence to your supervisor, the better they can adjust tasks and schedules. This helps minimize disruption in workflow. Adhering to the company’s protocols: Many companies have established procedures for calling out of work. You should follow these procedures to ensure everything is documented properly and avoid confusion. Suggesting potential solutions to minimize disruption caused by your absence: If you can, offer suggestions to minimize the impact of your absence. This might take the form of creating a handover document to bring the person covering for you up to speed. Staying in touch and giving updates: Depending on the circumstances surrounding your absence, it might be helpful to check in from time to time. This is especially important if you’re out for an extended period. Doing this shows your commitment to work and keeps your employer informed. Does Calling Out of Work on Short Notice Leave a Negative Impression? Everyone misses work from time to time, and it’s not necessarily a bad sign that you need to take an unexpected day off. However, if you fail to inform your employer early enough and cause difficulties such as scheduling issues, then it could leave your boss upset. You shouldn’t feel bad about telling your employer you need a day off for any of the reasons above, but give them as much notice as possible. Also, avoid making it a frequent habit to call out. Can You Get Fired for Calling in Sick? In many states, work is considered to be done “at-will,” which means an employer can technically fire you for calling in sick. However, each state provides different rights to employees. No matter where you live, it’s unlikely that an employer will fire you for taking one sick day or calling out of work occasionally. How Often Can You Call Out of Work? It is difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer to how often you can call out of work. Here are some considerations to have in mind: Employer policy: Understand your company’s sick leave policy and procedures for absences. Job requirements: Consider how crucial your physical presence is for your role. If essential, have a backup plan. Work flexibility: Explore possibilities of remote work if your job allows it. Communication: Be honest and open with your manager about your needs. Build trust: Consistent good work helps establish trust for occasional absences. What Not to Say When You Call in Sick To wrap up, here are a couple of mistakes to avoid and bad reasons for calling out of work. First, you never want to say anything that suggests you failed to plan ahead or that you didn’t let them know promptly. Don’t give a reason that sounds like it’s something you would have known about days before. The other big mistake to avoid is overexplaining. You don’t need to share every detail when you explain why you can’t come to your job for one day. If you say you have a sick child, you don’t need to share every symptom as proof that they’re not feeling well. If you’re going to say that you’re sick, you don’t need to try to cough on the phone or sound miserable. Just be clear and direct, give the general excuse/reason that you’re going to use to miss work, and then stop talking and see how your boss responds. When you call out of work, it’s often better to say less. Bad Planning There are many good excuses to call out of work; poor planning is not one of them. Poor planning is not a quality any boss wants to see in their employee. Of course, some emergencies are understandable, but reasons like missing the bus or forgetting to set the alarm aren’t likely to go down well, especially when it happens too often. Forgot You Had A Shift Forgetting you had a shift is surely not one of the good excuses to miss work on short notice. Everyone makes mistakes. But forgetting that you had to go to work or had a shift to attend points, once again, to bad planning. Your best bet, in this case, would be to apologize profusely. Work Conflicts Conflicts with coworkers can be hard to deal with. However, your employer will likely have little patience for you if you miss work due to an interpersonal conflict. Talking things through with your employer or coworker might be a better solution. — This post was previously published on CareerSidekick. *** 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 12 Best Excuses to Miss Work (Last Minute/Short Notice) appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

“I’m hurting,” says the heart. “I’ll protect you,” says the brain. “How?” asks the heart. “I’m breaking.” “I’ll hold the pieces,”says the brain. “For how long?” asks the heart. “Until you’re ready to pick them up,” says the brain. The conversation of denial. My friend and I have been talking recently. She’s upset over a guy. We lament over her angst. We share stories. We bond. We agree we both refuse to accept our truth. Because it’s not what we want. It’s not what our hearts want. I chose denial at the end of my marriage. It was a conscious choice. I realized I didn’t want to give up on my husband. But I didn’t realize I was lying to myself to hold onto him. I wasn’t entirely aware of the facets of denial. The lies we tell ourselves when love is failing. We choose denial to protect our hearts. We don’t want to give up on someone we love. We don’t want to lose them. We don’t want this to be our truth. It’s too painful to digest. Our brain makes a deal with our heart. I’ve been in denial again this past year. I now fully understood the pact between my heart and brain. I’ve sensed their protective instincts. I knew they had my back. I knew they were watching out for me. I knew they understood my limitations. They didn’t want me to suffer. I let them rescue me. I believe our denial comes with mile markers. There are 3 denial mile markers. We either have a date in mind, a specific action, or an endless agenda. It’s something we think may move the needle of the person we care about. The one we choose not to let go of. Even when it takes us down. The Destination Mile Marker Denial in the form of a calendar based timeline. My recent denial falls under this category. I selected a timeframe. I did this consciously. I projected into the future. I had my own reasoning and rationale for this. It was part soft landing, and part seeing how things might pan out. I missed a man. I told myself if what I felt between us was real I would see him again. Distance wouldn’t erase it. I felt there was a truth in what we shared, and the truth is hard to deny. If I was right, it would come to light with time. As I approach the calendar milestone marker I set for myself, I’ve come to acceptance. My heart is finally catching up with my brain. I can put my denial behind me. The Sight Seeing Mile Marker Denial in the form of something we want to see or hear. A few of my friends fall under this mile marker category. Their denial isn’t timeline based. Their pain acceptance hasn’t been pushed ahead to a particular calendar date. It’s event based. The friend I was chatting with has chosen this denial. It’s in the form of something she expects a man to do. She is waiting to see if he prioritizes her. If he will choose her rather than playing the field. There are other reasons people choose this type of denial. It could be hoping someone moves for you, overcomes an addiction, goes to couples counseling, etc. A specific action or proclamation that says I choose you. The Wanderer Mile Marker Denial in the form of never-ending timeline and optimism. I chose this endless mile marker at the end of my marriage. I chose (albeit unconsciously) to simply live in denial…for ages. I wouldn’t allow the reality of my marriage failing. I rejected it. I didn’t give myself a timeframe, or a specific event to end my denial. I optimistically and spiritually wouldn’t permit my truth. I believe all things are possible. This was my optimism. My faith reinforced that all things are possible. Miracles can happen. A marriage can be saved. A spouse can care, and change bad behaviors. And lastly, I didn’t comprehend the massive scope of denial. I didn’t understand I had slipped into protective mode. I thought I was doing the right thing by endlessly refusing to give up on my husband, and our marriage. I thought I was being the tenacious problem-solving fixer that I had always been. My friend and I feel things deeply. Maybe too deeply. We both understand that we’ve been in denial. It was too painful to come to acceptance any other way. She’s still waiting for her event mile marker. I’m grateful the calendar has arrived at my denial mile marker. The calendar has called my bluff. My heart is ready, my brain’s been waiting. The tortoise has finally caught up to the hare. I can no longer kid myself. I can no longer lie to myself. I once wrote, “We lie to ourselves to delay our pain. It’s the tool that eases us into heartbreak. It’s the untruth that delays the discomfort. The hurt saved for a rainy day when we finally ingest it and cry with the skies.” My Irish Catholic mother always said, “This too shall pass.” One of two signature comforts she doled out to us in times of angst. Eventually things do pass. We either pick up the pieces, or we leave them behind. — 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: lhon karwan On Unsplash The post We Choose Denial to Protect Our Hearts appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

📞 What’s your emergency? America’s 911 centers are so short-staffed they’re outsourcing some calls to a robot. A startup named Aurelian (because of course) raised $14M to let AI handle non-emergencies like parking rage and stolen fanny packs. It’s live in over a dozen cities and counting. The post What’s your emergency appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

✍️ On the dotted line: Sign PDFs fast without extra apps. On a Mac, open the PDF and select Show Markup Toolbar (circle with a pin icon) at the top. Hit Signature (cursive icon) to sign with your trackpad or camera. For Windows, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and click Draw (pen icon) in the toolbar to sign. The post On the dotted line appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The Ukrainian authorities say finding “evidence” of Moscow’s involvement in the shooting of Andrey Parubiy is a priority Ukrainian investigators are trying to find evidence linking Russia to Saturday’s killing of Andrey Parubiy, a far-right lawmaker and key figure in the 2014 Maidan coup, a senior security official said on Monday. Parubiy was shot eight times on Saturday on a street in the city of Lviv. The gunman escaped, though Vladimir Zelensky announced on Monday that a suspect had been detained. Vadim Onishchenko, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the region, said at a joint press briefing on the same day that investigators “do not exclude” any theory and were actively trying to find Russian involvement. “So far, there is no such evidence in the case, but we are looking into it,” Onishchenko acknowledged. Lviv Region police chief Aleksandr Shlyakhovsky claimed Russia “seeks to destabilize society through various sinister and cynical actions,” suggesting Parubiy’s killing fits that description. His deputy, Dmitry Nebitov, added that searching for potential Russian ties was a “priority.” Officials said Parubiy had not requested personal protection from police or the SBU. The detained suspect, a 52-year-old Lviv resident, was described as living in “certain circumstances” that investigators believe may have contributed to the crime. Authorities declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing case. Parubiy, a former parliamentary speaker, co-founded the radical Social National Party, an organization known for its ultranationalist and neo-Nazi ideology, and commanded the far-right groups of armed and violent protesters during the Maidan events of 2014. He was believed to have sensitive knowledge about the violence that turned the 2014 demonstrations into an armed uprising that toppled the Ukrainian government. Parubiy was also accused of playing a prominent role in the fire at the Trade Unions House in Odessa in 2014 that led to the death of dozens of anti-Maidan demonstrators. Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, claimed the assassination appeared intended to “wipe the field clean” ahead of a potential settlement to the Ukraine conflict, which could mark a return of political competition in the country. View the full article

A delegation from 22 countries has met Patriarch Kirill and visited holy sites A delegation of 30 Orthodox priests from 22 African countries has concluded a weeklong visit to Russia, combining pilgrimage with the first ecclesiastical conference of the Moscow Patriarchate’s African Exarchate. The group was led by Metropolitan Konstantin of Cairo and North Africa and included clergy from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Uganda and others. They were joined by Bishop Euthymius of Lukhovitsk, Vicar of the Exarchate. During their stay in Moscow, the clergy took part in services led by Patriarch Kirill, including the All-Night Vigil for the Feast of the Dormition at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. © RT / RT They also visited the Trinity–Sergius Lavra, the largest male monastery and the most important Russian Orthodox Church spiritual center, founded in the 14th century and located not far from Moscow. © RT / RT The clergy conference, held on August 22, 25 and 26, featured more than 30 presentations on missionary work, catechesis, education and pastoral practice. A masterclass organized by RT introduced participants to methods of creating religious content for social platforms. © Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia On August 27, the delegation was received by Patriarch Kirill, when Metropolitan Konstantin and several other clerics were recognized with patriarchal honors. The visit concluded on August 29 with a farewell gathering. © RT / RT © RT / RT Speaking to RT in April, Father Sergiy Voemava from the Central African Republic, predicted that the Orthodox faith will continue to grow. He praised the efforts already made by the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa and the Russian Orthodox Church, noting their contributions in building school facilities, delivering humanitarian aid, and providing food assistance to children in the CAR. View the full article

Moscow has accused Berlin of stirring anti-Russia sentiment in Europe Germany must revamp its counterintelligence service to confront what Berlin describes as a broad Russian campaign of sabotage and espionage, a senior German security official has said. Moscow has rejected the accusation, accusing Germany of drumming up anti-Russia hysteria in Europe. In an interview with Die Welt published on Saturday, Sinan Selen, vice president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), claimed that Russia is directing a “broad spectrum of actions” at Germany as it sees the country “as a key target in Europe.” “In addition to low-level agents, these increasingly include cyberattacks, disinformation, and outright sabotage. All of this serves to stir up fear, insecurity, and doubt about democracy,” Selen said. According to the official, Moscow has adapted its “intelligence toolbox” in recent years. In particular, Russia is now “smuggling migrants into Germany and influencing political decisions,” he claimed. He did not provide any proof or explain how this scheme was being implemented. Moscow also recruits agents by relying on their “vanity,” or employing “classic love traps,” he added. The BfV deputy chief said he wants to modernize the domestic intelligence service and clearly define its mission, identity, and guiding principles. However, he did not reveal any specific reforms that he believes the BfV should adopt. The remarks came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last month said that his country is “already in a conflict with Russia,” claiming that Moscow is seeking to destabilize the entire EU amid the standoff over Ukraine. Moscow has dismissed the allegations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Germany “is very actively participating in whipping up hysterical Russophobia on the European continent” and was trying to play a “leading role” in that effort. He added: “European countries have long sought to restrain Russia. This is a familiar trend, and we know how to counter it.” View the full article

The alert tone startled me as I sipped lukewarm coffee in my patrol car.It was almost 3 AM, and the radio had been quiet for some time. After the alert tone, the dispatcher’s voice reported an alarm at the only gun shop in town.I poured my coffee out the window and sped toward the gun shop a few miles away, located at the rear of a shopping center. The streets were nearly empty, save the occasional deer and skunks foraging the city while people slept.My Sergeant also responded to the alarm call.There was no need to use sirens, as the streets were quiet and we wanted the element of surprise. Burglars sometimes have lookouts, so our approach into the shopping center was surreptitious. We drove our patrol cars in via a dark, rear entrance.Once on scene, we notified dispatch and stealthily walked to the gun shop’s entrance. We found the front door damaged and ajar. With side arms and flashlights drawn, we cautiously peeked inside.All of the display cases were smashed, with shards of glass scattered around the carpet. The Sergeant and I entered the shop, crouching, service weapons at the ready, and painstakingly searched the crime scene. We didn’t know if the burglars were still there.I was a rookie back then, and I could feel my heart pounding. Fear is a tricky human emotion Police officers receive a great deal of professional training, to keep them safe in potentially life-threatening situations. The training begins with the police academy, but it continues throughout an officer’s career. Because, as the years click by law enforcement learns from its tragedies and mistakes. We watch training videos of officers murdered during car stops. We study critical incidents and officer-involved shootings, to learn which tactics work best, and the mistakes that can get you killed. And we learn that fear, when properly managed, is your friend. An article about fear in Psychology Today notes: Fear is a tricky human emotion. It can paralyze you. It can keep you from your dreams. It can keep you small. It can also keep you safe. Fortunately for the Sergeant and me, the gun shop was empty. We photographed, processed, and secured the scene. Dispatch notified the shop owner, who met with us later. Regrettably, many guns were stolen. There would be other scary calls in my law enforcement career, from high-speed chases and violent arrests to barricade situations and even a shooting with a deranged gunman. Fear accompanied me in all these incidents, but so did my professional training and experience. I learned how to breathe properly and rely on my training. I learned how to handle adrenaline and dangerous incidents. But there are other kinds of fears. No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear When I was 13 years old my father suffered a heart attack in front of me at home. It’s one thing to feel fear for your safety. It’s an entirely different kind of fear when you face the potential loss of someone you love. I remember my mother calling 9–1–1 as my father looked up at me from the couch and said, “Keep a stiff upper lip, Johnny.” I remember later after the paramedics came, we drove to the hospital. Dad was in a hospital bed. He vomited into a receptacle. My Mom sat by his side, holding his hand. In a weak voice, he gave her instructions in the event of his death. “Don’t let them sell you anything expensive. Get a cheap box for me. Sell the cars, get something more affordable,” Dad said. It was all so frightening. Don’t be afraid of your fears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know that something is worth it. — C. JoyBell C. We had lost pets in our family, so I had some understanding of loss. But the prospect of losing my father produced an insurmountable fear in me. No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. — C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed Thankfully, Dad survived and lived well into his eighties. Eventually, later in life, I would confront the loss of loved ones. I would feel the fear and emotional pain, unrelenting in the beginning. But I began to see that the fear reflects the love. The greater the fear, the greater the love. It makes it real There’s a lovely scene in the movie about C. S. Lewis and his cancer-stricken wife, Joy Davidman, when they’re honeymooning in the country. A rainstorm forces them to take shelter in a garden overhang. Lewis tells his wife that “I don’t want to be anywhere else anymore.” He’s truly happy. But then she says, “You know, it’s not going to last, Jack.” He tells her not to think about that (her cancer prognosis) and spoil the moment. She responds, “It doesn’t spoil it. It makes it real.” She goes on to tell him that the pain he will feel later when she’s gone, is a reflection of the happiness they feel now. It’s the same with fear. It makes it real. It reminds us that we’re alive. My life is better left to chance Two years ago, when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, fear once again burrowed into my being. During the initial weeks of tests and doctor appointments, I grappled with the possibility that I could lose my wife. And with it, all our hopes and dreams for the future. It wasn’t easy, but I reminded myself that the fear was a reflection of our love. Thankfully, my wife’s cancer was caught early, and she was successfully treated. Country music artist Garth Brooks sings a song called “The Dance.” It’s a beautiful song about life, echoing the old adage “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” The lyrics to “The Dance” include the following: Yes my life is better left to chance. I could have missed the pain but I’d have had to miss the dance. The writer John A. Shedd wrote: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Similarly, we may be safest when we don’t act or live fully, but we were not born to live under rocks. Life is meant to be lived. What is it the wind has lost? The other day my doorbell rang and I found a package on the bench. I opened the package and remembered what I bought online a few days before. It was a slim book of poetry titled, “Braided Creek: A Conversation in Poetry” by Ted Kooser and Jim Harrison. John P. Weiss I own many of Jim Harrison’s books and was curious about his collaboration with the poet Ted Kooser. The book is unusual in that the authors don’t tell us who wrote which poems. But it doesn’t matter. I flipped to a random page and read the following poem: Fear is a swallow in a boarded-up warehouse, seeking a window out We are all like that sparrow. Trying to escape our fears, seeking a window out from the pain and sorrow that fear often brings. But sometimes fear holds us back. As Hunter S. Thompson once wrote: “So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?” I flipped to another random page in Braided Creek and landed on the following poem: What is it the wind has lost that she keeps looking for under each leaf? Perhaps the wind is looking for love? Adventures? Hidden treasures? The wind doesn’t concern herself with fear. No matter what, the wind keeps looking. Perhaps we should do the same. Before you go I’m John P. Weiss. I write elegant stories and essays about life. If you enjoyed this piece, check out my free weekend newsletter, The Saturday Letters. — This post was previously published on Medium.com. *** You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project Compliments Men Want to Hear More Often Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex ..A Man’s Kiss Tells You Everything Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community. A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities. A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community. Register New Account Log in if you wish to renew an existing subscription. 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A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo credit: Nico Meier The post Fear Is a Swallow in a Boarded-up Warehouse appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Data grab alert: Anthropic just changed its privacy policy … again. You have until Sept. 28 to opt out if you don’t want your convos used to train AI. Otherwise? Your chats get stored for five years and turned into robot brain food. The toggle to opt out is tiny, buried under an “Accept” button. Sneaky. The post Data grab alert appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has pledged to build a “civil, secular and democratic state” in Sudan Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has been sworn in as head of a rival government in the war-torn African country, a coalition aligned with the armed group has announced. General Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, was inaugurated on Saturday in Nyala, the main city of South Darfur region, to lead a 15-member Presidential Council, including regional governors, the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) said in a statement. Nyala, Sudan’s most populous city outside the nation’s capital, Khartoum, has served as the RSF’s de facto base since the paramilitary group became locked in a brutal civil war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in April 2023, following months of tension over the country’s transition to civilian rule. “The inauguration of the president of the Presidential Council… is conducted under the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of Sudan for 2025, which abolishes the Transitional Constitutional Document of 2019 along with all preceding laws, decisions, and decrees,” TASIS stated. The coalition said the new constitution sets out key duties for the paramilitary-led ‘Transitional Government of Peace’, including ending the war and securing “a just and lasting peace, and establishing the Sudanese state on new foundations.” In a speech during his swearing-in, Dagalo vowed to build a “civil, secular and democratic state” in Sudan, promising to guarantee freedoms, prevent army interference in politics, and free citizens from fear. He said his administration is ready to work with UN agencies and humanitarian groups to deliver aid across Sudan, pledging commitment to international and regional agreements while seeking relations built on common interests and global peace. On Sunday, Dagalo issued a decree appointing Mohammed Hassan Osman Eltaishi as prime minister. The ceremony comes despite the UN, African Union (AU), and foreign governments rejecting the rival authority first announced in July. The AU warned it could prolong the two-year conflict and urged the world not to recognize it. Last month, the UN Security Council reaffirmed Sudan’s sovereignty and unity and pressed the army and RSF to resume talks toward a ceasefire and political settlement. View the full article

My wife and I are coming up on a significant anniversary, the kind with an “0” at the end that you don’t want to forget. We have each been previously divorced, so we both know firsthand the painful consequences of not staying on top of what’s going on in your marriage. As it got closer to this anniversary, I cautiously approached my wife with what seemed to me like a radical idea. I suggested that we renegotiate the terms of our marriage, and that we continue to do so every five years from now on. I was concerned that she would hear this as an attempt on my part to either leave the marriage or to negotiate terms that were more to my liking. Fortunately, she immediately understood that my suggestion was not made in the interests of finding a way out, but rather as a way to help us stay connected and happily married. It’s not uncommon for people to renew their vows on a significant anniversary, but that implies that the vows will remain unchanged and that the marriage will continue under the same agreements. We know that people continually change throughout their lives, so it doesn’t make sense to me that any marriage can be well served by a contract that doesn’t change over time. I’m suggesting that couples have the courage to suspend the assumption that their relationship will necessarily continue, and that they regularly reevaluate the goodness of fit of their relationship for each of them. I had a friend who, as you walked into the house, would anxiously tell you to be sure to close the door so the dog wouldn’t get out. Now this was one of the most pampered, well-loved dogs I’ve ever met. I had no idea why any dog would think about leaving such a cushy setup. So one day, exasperated, I suggested that he leave the door open, and that if the dog wasn’t happy there, he could leave whenever he wanted to. That would allow my friend to worry less about his dog running away, and maybe make room for him to settle into what he already knew, which is that his dog loved him and didn’t want to go anywhere. Many people are scared to lose their partners, which is why they are afraid to leave the door open. So they lead with their fears, making sure that all the doors are always tightly shut. While this might provide the illusion of safety, letting your fears run your marriage means living with the chronic fear of losing your partner. Not only that, but half of marriages end in divorce, even when the doors are closed, making it an ineffective strategy. We understand this concept in the workplace, but it’s more threatening to apply it to our intimate relationships. Most jobs have annual performance reviews of each employee, which are meant to let employees know how they are doing and what they need to improve to remain in good standing in their jobs. While people are often anxious about their annual reviews, I would argue that they are less anxious than they would be if they never received any feedback and were constantly worried about their performance at work and whether they might be fired. How to Renegotiate Your Marriage To make this challenge a bit less daunting, I’m going to offer a series of steps that you might find helpful to guide the renegotiation of your marriage contract. I suggest you start by finding your old wedding vows and reviewing them. Then ask: How are we each doing in meeting the aspirations we agreed to when we were married? Which of our vows have we been able to keep, and which have we struggled with? Which of those vows seems relevant today that we might want to recommit to, and which of them might feel outdated that we want to let go of? Intimacy is the capacity to be more fully yourself in a relationship with someone else. The second set of questions to consider relates to intimacy: How are we each doing in our individual lives? Is my relationship with you helping me to be more fully myself, helping me to be more fully my best self, the person I aspire to be? Next, look at physical intimacy: How are we each feeling about the physical intimacy in our relationship? Do we both feel that our physical relationship is helping us to feel closer to each other? Do we feel comfortable talking with each other about our sexual interests and desires? Are we still attracted to each other? From there, move to finances: Do we feel like a team financially? Are we able to talk with each other about how we spend money and prepare for our financial future? Does the way we spend our money align with our values as a couple? Community: How do we feel about the communities we are a part of? Do we feel like these communities hold and support us as a couple? Last, consider secrets: Are there things that either of us is holding back from sharing with each other? It’s OK if there are, and you don’t necessarily need to disclose everything that’s on your mind right now. This is an opportunity to check in with each other about what you haven’t yet discussed, and to explore what support you might need to address those topics in the future. I hope you will find the courage together to give this a try, even if it’s not your anniversary. If you do, let us know in the comments how it goes and what you’ve learned. Excerpted, in part, from Hidden in Plain Sight: How Men’s Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships. Lasting Impact Press. References Weiss, A. (2021). Hiden in Plain Sight: How Men’s Fears of Women Shape Their Intimate Relationships. Lasting Impact Press. — 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: Josue Michel On Unsplash The post How Renegotiating Your Marriage Can Keep Your Love Alive appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

📺 Cast your Chromebook to a TV: Want a bigger screen for movies or presentations? Make sure your Chromebook and smart TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Chrome browser, click the three-dot menu (top right), select Cast and choose your TV from the list of available devices. The post Cast your Chromebook to a TV appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

What Milwaukee’s data, divisions, and daily realities tell us about race, resilience, and inequality across the United States. At first glance, this essay might sound eerily familiar. It reflects many of the themes I’ve explored in The Foundation from the Background: What Happens When Black America Isn’t the Headline Anymore — systemic inequality, historical neglect, and the enduring resilience of Black communities. But this piece is different. The data here isn’t abstract or generalized — it’s rooted entirely in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — and it’s more concentrated. And that’s exactly what makes it matter. Milwaukee is more than the setting for these statistics — it’s the sharpened lens through which we can see the nation more clearly. What happens here doesn’t just reflect a local failure; it magnifies a national pattern. One article asks: What’s actually happening on the ground when no one’s watching? The other answers: The same thing that’s always been happening — just without your attention. Most of the time, I try to write about race from a broad perspective, pulling together research, history, and stories from across the United States. But sometimes, I can’t help but look out my own window, and view things from my own backyard. Milwaukee is more than a backdrop — it’s a city defined by sharp lines: who gets to live where, who gets to thrive, who struggles, and who gets left behind. In 2013, I wrote an essay titled “Milwaukee: A Third World City,” which laid out a systematic analysis of my home. I asked: How can one city in the heart of the Midwest feel so divided, so stuck? It felt as if I were living in a third world country — in a major city within the United States borders. Now, more than a decade later, I have the same questions, maybe more. Has anything changed? Is Milwaukee a microcosm of the Black experience in America, or its own cautionary tale? Has life for Black Milwaukeeans improved, stayed the same, or gotten worse — and if it has, why? Most importantly: What can we do about it? This is the mirror I want to hold up — not just to Milwaukee, but to every city grappling with these questions, still waiting for honest answers. A Snapshot — Then and Now Back in 2013, I called Milwaukee a “Third World City.” That wasn’t for shock value — it was the honest description for what I saw and lived: stark segregation, economic abandonment, Black neighborhoods left behind, schools closing, jobs disappearing, and violence filling the void. In 2025, all of the same disparities remain. To really see what’s changed (or hasn’t), you have to look at the layers — data, headlines, and daily life. Segregation 2013: Milwaukee was named the “most segregated city in America” by multiple studies (UW-Milwaukee, Census data). Entire zip codes were sharply divided by race and opportunity. 2025: Milwaukee remains among the most segregated cities, often ranked #1 or #2 nationally. The entrenched racial and economic boundaries between the majority-Black North Side, Latino South Side, and predominantly White suburbs continue with little change, despite limited migration to the suburbs. The city’s “color lines” persist on every map — from housing and schooling to access to jobs and resources. Sources: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee), Brookings, Urban Institute, 2020 Census Incarceration & Policing 2013: Wisconsin had the highest Black male incarceration rate in the U.S. (1 in 8 working-age Black men from Milwaukee County in prison or jail). Police presence and surveillance were daily realities in Black neighborhoods. 2025: Numbers have improved modestly with reforms (reduced marijuana arrests, some alternatives to incarceration), but Wisconsin still leads the nation in Black male incarceration. The legacy of mass imprisonment continues: family disruption, lost voting rights, and deep mistrust in law enforcement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence and homicides in Milwaukee surged to record highs, compounding long-standing fears and trauma. Tensions between police and community persist, with many Black residents feeling both over-policed and under-protected. Sources: Vera Institute, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission Poverty & Unemployment 2013: The Black poverty rate was nearly 40%. Factory jobs were long gone, and unemployment for Black residents was double or triple that of White residents. 2025: Black poverty remains stubbornly high in Milwaukee — hovering around 35 to 37 percent as of 2023, compared to less than 20 percent for the city as a whole. Unemployment gaps are persistent, with Black residents facing jobless rates that are two to three times higher than those of their White neighbors. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out dozens of small businesses and thousands of jobs in Black neighborhoods, deepening economic hardship and erasing hard-won gains. While cranes go up and new developments rise in other parts of the city, economic recovery in Black communities has been slow, uneven, and often invisible. Even when jobs are available, most do not pay a living wage — forcing families to juggle multiple part-time or temporary positions just to cover the basics. With rising rents, higher food prices, and few real opportunities for advancement, it becomes nearly impossible for Black families to build savings or break out of their current living conditions. Prosperity happens elsewhere, while too many are left fighting to survive right where they are. Sources: U.S. Census ACS (American Community Survey), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brookings Institution, Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee Community Journal, Urban Institute Education 2013: Public schools faced budget cuts, closures, and increased competition from the state’s private voucher program. The achievement gap for Black students was among the nation’s worst. 2025: Graduation rates for Black students in Milwaukee have improved modestly in recent years, but remain significantly lower than for White and Asian students. In 2022–2023, the four-year graduation rate for Black students in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) hovered around 65%, compared to nearly 85% for White students and over 90% for Asian students. The achievement gap persists despite efforts to reform curriculum and support struggling schools. Funding for MPS continues to lag behind suburban districts, and the expansion of voucher and charter programs has pulled millions of dollars from public schools, straining resources further. Black students are also disciplined at disproportionately high rates, facing suspensions and expulsions more often than their peers, which contributes to higher dropout rates and lower college enrollment. Even after high school, Black graduates are more likely to attend underfunded colleges, incur greater student loan debt, and face more challenges finding well-paying jobs after graduation. Sources: Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) data, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, UW-Milwaukee Housing & Evictions 2013: Housing was highly segregated; Black homeownership rates were low and rental housing was often unstable or poorly maintained. 2025: Black homeownership in Milwaukee remains stubbornly low — less than 30% as of 2023 — compared to nearly 60% for White residents. While both rents and property values have increased citywide, most of the wealth-building that comes with homeownership has bypassed Black families. Redlining and decades of disinvestment still cast a long shadow, making it harder for Black residents to buy homes or build equity. The COVID-19 pandemic only deepened housing insecurity. Eviction filings surged in majority-Black neighborhoods, with many families forced to move multiple times in search of affordable rent. Even as property values rise, these gains rarely translate to intergenerational wealth for Black residents, since so few own their homes. Many Black renters are also burdened by rising rents and stagnant wages, leaving little room to save or invest. The lack of affordable housing options means housing instability — frequent moves, overcrowding, or even periods of homelessness — remains an everyday reality for too many. Sources: Eviction Lab, ACS (American Community Survey), Milwaukee Community Journal Health Disparities 2013: Black neighborhoods had higher rates of chronic illness (asthma, diabetes), infant mortality, and limited access to quality healthcare. 2025: COVID-19 exposed and worsened Milwaukee’s deep health disparities. Black residents faced significantly higher hospitalization and mortality rates during the pandemic — often due to higher rates of preexisting conditions, overcrowded housing, and jobs that couldn’t be done remotely. Long before COVID-19, food deserts were common in majority-Black neighborhoods, with few full-service grocery stores and limited access to affordable, healthy food. Hospital closures — such as the near-shutdown of Ascension St. Joseph in 2023 — left many Black families with long trips to access emergency care. Pharmacies and clinics have shuttered in these communities as well, leaving routine care and life-saving medications out of reach for many. Sources: Milwaukee Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, CDC, Wisconsin Policy Forum, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Milwaukee Community Journal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Gun Violence & Community Safety 2013: Violence concentrated in certain zip codes; homicide and shooting rates were persistently high in Black neighborhoods. 2025: Gun violence in Milwaukee has reached record highs in recent years, with the city breaking its all-time homicide record in both 2021 and 2022. In 2022 alone, Milwaukee saw 214 homicides — more than double the annual totals from just a decade prior. The vast majority of these deaths — over 85% — involved firearms. Non-fatal shootings have also surged, with more than 800 people wounded by gunfire in 2022. The toll is deeply unequal: over 80% of homicide victims are Black, despite Black residents making up less than 40% of the city’s population. These numbers are not outliers — they represent a devastating, persistent reality in many Black neighborhoods. While the city has invested in community-based violence interruption efforts such as 414Life and expanded the Office of Violence Prevention, the progress remains slow and often outpaced by the scale of the problem. Surveys, including Marquette Law School polls, reveal that mistrust in law enforcement remains high among Black residents. Many report feeling over-policed yet under-protected, as heavy-handed policing continues alongside chronic underinvestment in neighborhood safety and well-being. The legacy of mass incarceration, family disruption, and lost voting rights only deepens these divides. Despite reforms — such as fewer marijuana arrests and some alternatives to incarceration — Wisconsin still leads the nation in Black male incarceration rates. The cycle of violence, incarceration, and community trauma continues, with too little changing for those who live closest to the daily dangers. Gun violence isn’t just a headline in Milwaukee; it’s an everyday reality, one that shapes how families move, how children grow up, and how entire neighborhoods relate to the systems meant to serve and protect them. Sources: Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission (Annual Reports), Milwaukee Police Department (2020–2023 Crime Reports), City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, Marquette Law School Polls, Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Hope & Community Resilience 2013: Neighborhoods relied on churches, block clubs, and informal mutual aid to weather systemic neglect. 2025: Grassroots organizations, Black-owned businesses, youth-led protests, and cultural events (like expanded Juneteenth celebrations) have grown. Public conversations about equity are more visible, but “systemic change” is slow and hard-won. Summary Milwaukee provides a brutal mirror for Black America — a city where “separate and unequal” is still more than a phrase. It’s sobering when so many of the divides from 2013 remain — some have widened, and efforts to address them have been uneven at best. The patterns found in Milwaukee — deep-seated segregation, disproportionate incarceration, persistent wealth and health gaps, unequal schools — can be found in varying degrees in cities like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Baltimore, Cleveland, and others. What makes Milwaukee stand out is the intensity and concentration of these issues. Milwaukee doesn’t just rank high for segregation — it often tops the list. And it blows away any competition for Black male incarceration rates. I grew up in ZIP code 53206, where more than 60% of Black men have been incarcerated at some point in their lives. That’s not just a statistic — it’s where I learned what systemic oppression looks like up close. Wisconsin leads the nation in Black adult incarceration, but 53206 stands alone as a national outlier. The economic and health disparities are unusually ingrained, and the legacy of discriminatory policy — redlining, disinvestment, inequitable school funding, and highway construction that split neighborhoods in two — is still visible on every map. Milwaukee didn’t invent the problem, but it reveals it. The story told here is one of national trends, magnified and made crystal clear. When I first wrote about Milwaukee in 2013, I hoped the city was on the verge of change. The problems were well documented; the data was undeniable. I believed that shining a light would bring action, that exposing these realities would force the city — and the country — to do better. But more than a decade later, the map hasn’t shifted. In some ways, things have gotten worse. This is the epitome of what it means that, just because the Black community may not be in the headlines, it doesn’t mean we’re not the news. We remain ever present, essential, and living with the consequences of abandonment, even when the country pretends not to notice. Previously Published on Daily Kos — iStock image The post The Most Segregated City in the United States: A Microcosm of Black Life appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

🤖 Bot time Grandma got company: South Korea gave 12,000 lonely older adults AI “grandchildren” that talk, glow and remind them to take their meds. The dolls run on ChatGPT and deep cultural guilt. And yes, they’re coming to the U.S. by 2026 for a slice of the global $7.7B (by 2030) eldercare robot market. The post Bot time Grandma got company appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Alejandro Pérez is a Partner at Pierson Ferdinand PLLC, specializing in labour and employment law, cyber/privacy law, and emerging technologies. A nationally recognized employment attorney, workplace investigator, and DEI thought leader, he advises employers ranging from startups to multinational corporations on litigation, compliance, and internal investigations. Fluent in Spanish and a former HR professional, he offers cultural fluency and business insight in addressing discrimination, harassment, pay equity, and I-9 compliance. President of the ACLU of Arizona, Pérez is also a sought-after speaker and trainer. He shares his personal story to mentor others and foster fairness, respect, and inclusion in workplaces. In this interview, Scott Douglas Jacobsen speaks with Alejandro Pérez, Partner at Pierson Ferdinand PLLC and President of the ACLU of Arizona, about workforce restructuring in the age of artificial intelligence. Pérez, a nationally recognized employment attorney, workplace investigator, and DEI thought leader, discusses how AI is reshaping job design, staffing priorities, and the need for agility within organizations. He emphasizes transparency, continuous learning, and re-skilling as critical to employee resilience. Drawing from his expertise in employment and cybersecurity law, Pérez outlines best practices for supporting employees during layoffs and highlights the long-term implications for career advancement and industry stability. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are with Alejandro Pérez. He is a Partner at Pierson Ferdinand PLLC, specializing in labour and employment law, cyber/privacy law, and emerging technologies. A nationally recognized employment attorney, workplace investigator, and DEI thought leader, he advises employers ranging from startups to multinational corporations on litigation, compliance, and internal investigations. Fluent in Spanish and a former HR professional, he brings cultural fluency and business insight to issues such as discrimination, harassment, pay equity, and I-9 compliance. President of the ACLU of Arizona, Pérez is also a sought-after speaker and trainer, and he often shares his personal story to mentor others and foster fairness, respect, and inclusion in the workplace. Thank you very much for joining me today. I appreciate it. Alejandro Pérez: Oh, you are very welcome. Happy to be here. Jacobsen: So, what do you consider the core business market and strategic factors driving large-scale workforce restructuring in some of the major tech companies? Pérez: I think much of it has to do with AI investments and shifting strategic priorities from one focus to another. We are seeing a recalibration of workforce structures to better align with those shifts. Employers are positioning AI both as a cost lever and as an operational transformer. So, roles are being redefined. Many traditional roles—like customer service and certain marketing positions—are either being outsourced or replaced by AI. Jacobsen: How is this integration of artificial intelligence and automation happening in concrete terms? How is it reshaping organizational staffing needs and skill priorities in particular? Pérez: AI has been transformative in reshaping workplace needs, putting a heightened focus on data literacy, systems thinking, and interdisciplinary roles. What we are seeing is a strong emphasis on AI skills. That is where much of the demand and focus are right now. Jacobsen: What about job design across the tech sector? When an organization restructures on a large scale, the meaning of a particular role often shifts—sometimes drastically. What approaches are companies taking toward that? Pérez: The key approach is agility—being ready to pivot. It is an incredibly agile workforce and an incredibly agile business environment. We do not know what tomorrow will bring or which roles will suddenly become essential. Employers need to be prepared to pivot quickly and remain flexible as things change. Right now, massive investments and capital are flowing into AI. However, that could change and develop in different ways over time. So the most important thing is to remain flexible and adaptable. Jacobsen: What about proactive measures that teams can take to ensure workforce agility? When restructuring, how can organizations minimize disruption? Pérez: The first step is to encourage resilience within roles. Talk to your teams, make sure they know they need to be agile, flexible, and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice. Transparency about what is happening can reduce many of the morale issues that arise. Employees are fearful of being displaced due to AI or the potential disappearance of their job functions. I do not necessarily see that as the case. You still need people to operate AI. However, transparency helps, as does flattening hierarchies, creating cross-functional teams, and ensuring talent pools are more fluid overall. Jacobsen: Does AI and automation function essentially as a big hammer? In other words, a larger vector per person operating it—making them more effective if used properly, but not necessarily making them obsolete? Pérez: Exactly, that is precisely it. AI makes an employee much more efficient if used correctly. It should not displace the employee. Jacobsen: Are there areas where people expected AI to help but instead found it counterproductive? Pérez: I have not seen that broadly, but I can give an example from the legal field. Some attorneys have gotten into serious trouble after asking AI to draft briefs, only to find that the AI “hallucinated” arguments or case law that did not exist. Judges are coming down hard on that. We are also seeing some hesitancy in the legal sector overall, with courts creating rules around AI. In some jurisdictions, if you use AI, you must certify that you have personally verified all cited authorities, while in others, you may be barred from using AI in filings altogether. I imagine similar issues arise in other sectors as well. Jacobsen: Have hallucinations been reduced significantly enough that AI can now be used more safely in those gray areas? Pérez: I do not think so. In my experience, you still have to take the time to verify and quality-check everything. For example, sometimes I will experiment with AI and ask it to help me come up with an argument. I will speak to it almost like it is a person. What I have found is that some of the output is useful, but some of it is fabricated—even today. So I will give it feedback: “You gave me some fake material here.” Maybe it improves over time, but I do not use it heavily in my practice. I tend to experiment with it because, in addition to employment law, I also practice cybersecurity. I am always curious about emerging technologies and how they impact the workforce. Jacobsen: Are there specific traditional tech roles that have been around for a while that are simply going to go the way of the dodo bird? Pérez: I think we will see some reduction in roles like customer service. I do not believe most positions will disappear entirely, but the scale of those teams will shrink significantly. For example, in transportation, perhaps drivers with companies like Waymo could eventually be displaced. However, even there, limitations remain. In my community, a Waymo car cannot even enter. So I think the trend will be fewer large-scale positions, with a focus on consolidation—stripping down to what is essential and eliminating excess. Jacobsen: What about adjacent industry ripples? If one industry undergoes restructuring, connected industries often feel the impact, even if not directly targeted. Pérez: Good question. The short answer is yes—adjacent industries will inevitably feel the impact. Fewer jobs in one area directly affect the financial sector and ripple into nearly everything else. These changes also influence talent pools and the educational sector, as people recalibrate to meet shifting demands. Companies are recalibrating, and individuals must do the same—preparing for changes in their professions and careers. Jacobsen: Does this, in your mind, bring to the fore the importance of continuous learning and re-skilling as employees face an evolving demand in the tech job market? Pérez: Absolutely. Life has changed so much. In the past, people often worked for the same company for decades. My parents did that—my mother was a factory worker. However, many of those jobs have since been automated or robotized. Today, employees must constantly be in learning mode. The most important takeaway is to utilize whatever benefits are available. Your salary is not just your paycheck; it also includes benefits like tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities. Employees should take advantage of these to remain competitive. Employees should continuously seek out opportunities to learn and re-skill, especially in the tech sector, but really in any sector. Stay current on how industries are changing and how those changes apply to your role. Re-skill as much as possible, learn as much as possible, and strengthen your skill set to withstand potential layoffs. If a layoff does occur, having up-to-date skills makes you more attractive to other employers. Employers, in turn, should be transparent about changes and provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills and take advantage of re-skilling programs. Jacobsen: What are best practices in supporting employees during layoffs in order to preserve morale and maintain future talent pipelines, in addition to protecting brand reputation? Pérez: Good question. First, employers must comply with all applicable laws. For example, when laying off a certain number of employees, companies may have to provide legally required notice. The federal WARN Act requires this, and some states have their versions of the law. Compliance is the first step. The second step is transparency. Communicate with employees well in advance—do not just meet the legal minimum, but provide as much notice as possible—partner with other companies to explore relocation or reemployment opportunities. Offer support like resume-writing services and career coaching. The goal is to make the process feel thoughtful and supportive rather than abrupt and impersonal. Companies that handle layoffs this way preserve goodwill. Often, organizations that conduct layoffs will be hiring again in the future, so they want former employees to view them positively. Protecting the brand is critical. Even if some criticism arises, it is much harder for people to fault a company that treated employees with empathy and fairness. Ultimately, treat people as people. Apply the golden rule—treat employees as you would want to be treated yourself. Jacobsen: Long-term labour economics—how will current restructuring trends redefine ideas around advancement in the technology industry and career stability? Pérez: I think it is going to create different types of positions. We will see a restructuring that flattens job hierarchies and changes how positions are organized overall. As for career stability and advancement, I believe there will be significant opportunities for those who keep up with the times, continuously learn, and update their skills. Continuous learning will be pivotal. Employees who re-skill and adapt will be well-positioned for advancement in this evolving environment. Jacobsen: Excellent. Alejandro, thank you very much for your time today. It was a pleasure speaking with you and meeting you. Pérez: Thank you so much. Jacobsen: Bye-bye. Pérez: Bye. — Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations. *** If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project and want a deeper connection with our community, please join us as a Premium Member today. Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo by Guilherme Cunha on Unsplash The post Alejandro Pérez on AI, Workforce Restructuring, and the Future of Employment Law appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Washington earlier imposed 50% tariffs on New Delhi over purchases of Russian oil The US is pressuring EU nations to impose additional tariffs on India over its continued oil trade with Russia that would be similar to Washington’s 50% levies on Indian goods, sources have told Axios and India Today. According to Axios, the US wants European countries to ramp up economic pressure on Russia, including “a complete cessation of all oil and gas purchases” from the country and introduce secondary tariffs not only on India, but also on China. Axios also noted that the White House is “losing patience” with EU leaders who they see as pushing for Ukraine to reject any territorial concessions to Russia. ”The Europeans don’t get to prolong this war and backdoor unreasonable expectations, while also expecting America to bear the cost,” a top White House official told the outlet. “If Europe wants to escalate this war, that will be up to them. But they will be hopelessly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.” An India Today report on Sunday echoed the Axios claim, adding that Washington wants the EU to mirror its measures targeting India, including a halt to imports of oil and gas. Bloc officials, however, are yet to comment on the matter. As of 2024, the EU is India’s second-largest trading partner, accounting for trade in goods worth €120 billion ($140 billion), or 11.5% of India’s total trade. The US first imposed a 25% tariff on India in early August after trade talks collapsed, before announcing an additional 25% tariff tied to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. US President Donald Trump has claimed that India’s imports of Russian oil and weapons are indirectly fueling the Ukraine conflict. In response, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said New Delhi would not “bow down” to Washington’s pressure and would instead focus on finding new markets. Moscow, meanwhile, has denounced US tariffs on India, stressing that sovereign nations have every right to choose their trading partners. As the tariff dispute heated up, leaders from India, China, Russia, and other states met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. View the full article

“Generative AI models don’t understand, they just predict the next token.” You’ve probably heard a dozen variations of this theme. I certainly have. But I recently heard a talk by Shuchao Bi that changed the way I think about the relationship between prediction and understanding. The entire talk is terrific, but the section that inspired this post is between 19:10 and 21:50. Saying a model can “just do prediction,” as if there were no relationship between understanding and prediction, is painting a woefully incomplete picture. Ask yourself: why do we expend all the time, effort, and resources we do on science? What is the primary benefit of, for example, understanding the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration? The primary benefit of understanding this relationship is being able to make accurate predictions about a huge range of events, from billiard balls colliding to planets crashing into each other. In fact, the relationship between understanding and prediction is so strong that the primary way we test people’s understanding of the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is by asking them to make predictions. “A 100kg box is pushed to the right with a force of 500 N. What is its acceleration?” A student who understands the relationships will be able to predict the acceleration accurately; one who doesn’t, won’t. If a person was provided with a prompt like “10 grams of matter are converted into energy. How much energy will be released?,” and they made the right prediction, would you believe they “understand” the relationship between energy, matter, and the speed of light? What if, when given ten variations on the exercise, they made the correct prediction ten times out of ten? You would likely decide that they “understand” the relationship, and if these ten exercises happened to comprise a quiz, you would certainly give them an A. And it would never occur to you to be concerned about the fact that you can’t crack open the learner’s skull, shove in a microscope or other instrument inside, and directly observe the specific chemical, electrical, and other processes happening inside their brain as they produce their results. As we always do with assessment of learning, you would happily accept their observable behavior as a proxy for their unobservable understanding. If a model can make accurate predictions with a high degree of consistency and reliability, does that means it understands? I don’t know. But when a person can make accurate predictions with a high degree of consistency and reliability, we award them a diploma and certify their understanding to the world. “LLMs Just Compress Language, They Don’t Understand It” Along the same lines as the prediction argument, you may have heard people say that generative AI models “simply compress” language instead of truly understanding it. “They just exploit patterns in the statistical structure of language.” I’ve heard some version of that dozens of times, too. But coming back to our science analogy, consider this: scientific experiments are conducted in order to generate data. Scientists examine the resulting data for patterns, and sometimes those patterns can be compressed into exquisitely elegant forms, like f = ma. What are equations like f = ma and e = mc2 if not ways of compressing the outcomes of an infinite number of possible events into a compact form? A compact form that allows us to make accurate predictions? Do the fundamental equations of physics “simply compress” the behavior of the physical universe by “just exploiting patterns” in the way the universe behaves without really understanding? Do large language models “simply compress” language without really understanding it? I don’t know. Everything hinges on your definition of the word “understand.” But I do know that one of the primary reasons I would want to achieve understanding in either case is so that I can make accurate predictions. — Previously Published on opencontent.org 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. — Photo credit: unsplash The post “AI Models Don’t Understand, They Just Predict” appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

AI hits your TV: Samsung’s 2025 TVs now come with Microsoft’s Copilot built in. I can see the excitement on your face. This animated beige blob can recommend shows, recap episodes and answer random questions. Basically a roommate that watches too much, but rounder, and permanently stuck in your living room. But hey, at least it won’t eat your leftovers. The post AI hits your TV appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article