American Women Suck

It was in Lisbon, at a little café tucked into an alleyway painted with blue tiles. I was telling a story I’d never told out loud before — one of those fragile ones that lives at the bottom of your chest. Halfway through, I stopped. I expected the usual — a quick reassurance, a joke to break the heaviness, or worse, advice I hadn’t asked for. But you just sat there. Eyes steady. No interruption. Just silence, and your presence holding mine. And in that pause, I felt more understood than a thousand well-meaning words could have ever offered. … Why Silence Feels Like Safety Our brains are always scanning for signals — is this person really listening, or just waiting for their turn? Neuroscience shows that when someone resists the urge to fill the space, mirror neurons fire differently. We don’t just hear quiet — we feel it. That kind of silence tells the nervous system: You don’t need to defend yourself here. And so, we soften. … Three Silences That Speak Louder Than Words 1. The Pause After Confession When you admit something raw — and instead of rushing in, they give you air to breathe. That’s not indifference. That’s reverence. … 2. The Listening Without Fixing You don’t need a solution. You need a witness. Silence becomes the proof that they’re not afraid of your mess. … 3. The Shared Quiet That Doesn’t Feel Empty On a late-night walk. In a car ride with the windows cracked open. The kind where you don’t need to say anything because the connection hums on its own frequency. … The Gift of Saying Nothing We think intimacy is built from words, but often it’s built from restraint. The willingness to stay still. The trust to let someone find their own ending, without rushing them there. The silence between words is where our hearts finally exhale. It’s not absence. It’s presence — at its most profound. — 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: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash The post The Silence Between Words That Makes Someone Feel Understood appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

The identity of the alleged shooter who gunned down Andrey Parubiy has yet to be revealed Ukrainian law enforcement has detained a suspect in the killing of far-right MP and former parliamentary speaker Andrey Parubiy, President Vladimir Zelensky announced on Monday. The arrest comes less than 48 hours after Parubiy was gunned down in broad daylight in the western city of Lviv. Zelensky said he was informed of the development by Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Igor Klimenko and Security Service (SBU) chief Vasily Malyukon Sunday night. “I have instructed that the available information be presented to the public,” Zelensky said in a post on X. “I thank our law enforcement officers for their prompt and coordinated work. All the circumstances of this horrendous murder must be clarified.” The identity of the suspect remains unknown while “necessary investigative actions are ongoing,” Zelensky added. In a separate statement, he said he had spoken with Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, who confirmed that the suspect had already given an initial testimony. “Urgent investigative actions are currently underway to establish all the circumstances of this murder,” Zelensky noted, adding that “the entire law enforcement team and the prosecutors are working around the clock.” Parubiy, 54, was shot eight times by an unknown assailant on Saturday while walking along a sidewalk in Lviv. Surveillance footage, which has circulated online, appears to show a man posing as a food delivery courier approaching Parubiy from behind before raising a firearm and fleeing the scene. The motive behind Parubiy’s killing remains unclear. A prominent figure in Ukraine’s far-right political circles, Parubiy co-founded the Social-National Party of Ukraine in 1991 – a party known for its neo-Nazi symbolism and ideology. Parubiy played a central role in the 2014 Maidan coup, where he coordinated paramilitary protest groups and served as commandant of the protest camp in central Kiev. After the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovich, he was appointed secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, overseeing early military operations in Donbass and the government crackdown on anti-Maidan protests. Parubiy’s career was further marred by was his alleged role in suppressing protests in Odessa in May 2014, which culminated in a fire at the Trade Union building and killed more than 40 activists opposed to Kiev’s coup-installed government. In 2018, he drew international criticism for stating in a televised interview that “the greatest man who practiced direct democracy was Adolf Hitler in the 1930s” – a comment he later claimed was misunderstood. View the full article

August 31st is quickly approaching… It is a day that we will remember forever… It marks one year since Catherine Estelle Dublin took her final breath, and tonight, as I sit here in a different home than the one we shared together, I’m struck by how much has changed while so much of what she gave our family remains constant. A year ago on that day at 4:02 pm, I thought I knew what loss looked like sitting in that hospice room as the funeral home came to take her away… I’d spent two years watching cancer slowly take pieces of the woman I loved, preparing myself for the inevitable. But nothing could really prepare you for everything that followed — the daily barrage of Facebook Memories showing highlights of your life before (and during) cancer, the absence of Taylor Swift music blaring or her laugh echoing through the house, the empty spot on her side of the bed, the realization that all those little daily interactions you kinda took for granted are suddenly just memories. Yet as this year has unfolded, I’ve come to understand something that is impossible to know until you’ve lived through it: love doesn’t end when someone dies. It transforms. It grows. It finds new ways to show up in your life. My relationship with Cat taught me how to love. It showed me what it meant to unconditionally choose someone every day, not just when things were easy but especially when they weren’t. During her illness, when the woman I married slowly disappeared and was replaced by someone fighting for survival, I learned that real love isn’t about clinging to the version of the person you fell for… It’s about the choice you make to keep showing up for your person, no matter what changes. That’s what real commitment is. She didn’t live to see me become the man I am today, but she definitely helped create him. Every difficult conversation I’ve navigated this year, every moment I’ve had to be vulnerable with our children, every time I’ve chosen to remain open instead of closing myself off — those responses were shaped by her. She taught me that strength isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about breaking and still choosing to show up and to love without limits. The boys carry her forward in ways that continue to make me smile every day. Chris has her thoughtfulness and her way of considering everyone’s feelings at all times. DeAngelo inherited her emotional side and protective instincts. Ollie has her infectious laugh and her ability to find joy and laughter in the smallest things. Watching them navigate this year without her has shown me what strength really looks like. Although our family dynamics have changed dramatically, our bond remains strong. This year has brought changes I never expected. We left the house where Cat and I had started to build our new life together in North Carolina and created a new home in Uptown Charlotte. I’ve fallen in love again with someone whose beautiful soul has given her the capacity to love me while understanding that loving me means making room for Cat’s memory in our house. I’ve traveled to new places, made new friends, and built new traditions and routines with the boys. With each of these changes, I’ve learned that moving forward isn’t about leaving her behind; it’s about taking everything I’ve learned about myself through loving her into whatever comes next. She never got to experience who I’ve become in the aftermath of losing her, but I know she would recognize him. I believe she’d be proud of him. She would see the father who talks to his children about grief and joy with equal honesty. She would see a man who relentlessly shows up for and invests in his children. She would see the partner who knows how to love deeply because she helped teach him how. She would see someone who refuses to let tragedy and sadness have the final word in his story because she never let it have the final word in hers. People sometimes ask me how I’m able to find happiness again so “soon” after such a profound loss. The answer is simple: Her cancer journey and loss taught me that life is meant to be lived fully, that love is meant to be shared freely, and that joy is not something you earn through suffering; it’s something you choose despite it. Honoring her memory doesn’t mean staying frozen in sadness and in grief; it means living the lessons she helped teach me about what it means to be fully alive. Catherine is deeply missed by everyone whose life she touched. The boys miss their mother’s voice, her laugh, and the way she could solve any problem just by listening to them, hugging them, and telling them everything would be okay. Friends and family miss her warmth and the light she brought to every interaction. Her absence is felt in countless ways, large and small, by all of us who were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to love her in close proximity. But none of us is defined by what we’ve lost. We’re defined by what she left with us… The capacity to love without reservation, the strength to be vulnerable, the wisdom to know that the most profound love sometimes means letting go, and the understanding that happiness and grief can coexist in the same heart at the same time. A year later, Cat is still here. She’s present in the way I parent our children, in the lessons I’ve carried into my new relationship, in the courage I find to embrace unexpected changes, and in the deep well of love that her life created in mine. She’s in every choice I make to stay open instead of shutting down, to love instead of closing myself off to it, to live instead of just surviving. This weekend, I’m traveling to Columbus, OH, to watch the Buckeyes play their home opener against Texas; stacking new memories and experiences has helped keep things moving in a positive direction for me. It is a game and a trip that I’ve very much looked forward to. Before I go, though, I’ll give the boys gifts to commemorate the great memories we shared with her. I’ll honor her quietly and remember the woman who changed everything about how I understand love, loss, and what it means to be a man and a father. We also plan on celebrating her memory on September 13th at the Headed For Hope 5K (to donate or join our team — https://runsignup.com/teamcatherine), an event that she was extremely passionate about and participated in. Several friends and members of her family are coming up to Charlotte to participate with us in her honor. But this week, while the memory of August 31st has led to many tears and several sleepless nights, I remain grateful. Grateful for the time we had, grateful for the man she helped me become, and grateful that love doesn’t end — it just finds new ways to grow. Rest in peace, Cat. You are loved. You are missed. Thank you for everything. Walt — 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 courtesy of author. The post One Year Later… Carrying Love Forward appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

By MetroHealth, Buckeye Flame If you have a prostate, you need to be screened regularly for prostate cancer starting around age 45—or around age 40 if you are Black or have a family history of prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, having a parent or sibling with prostate cancer more than doubles a person’s risk. Modern screening for prostate cancer is a PSA test, or prostate-specific antigen test, where a blood sample is analyzed for a specific protein produced by the prostate gland. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, studies show that gay men and transgender women appear to have lower rates of prostate cancer screening. Even if they get screened one time according to recommended guidelines, they’re less likely to be screened regularly, making it difficult to understand fluctuations in the PSA levels that indicate prostate cancer. And, according to Kirtishri Mishra, MD, a board-certified urologist and the Director of Sexual Health and Gender Reconstructive Surgery at MetroHealth, that’s putting lives at risk. “Prostate cancer screening saves lives,” says Dr. Mishra. “Prostate cancer is incredibly treatable if you pick up the disease early. But if the cancer spreads outside of the prostate, it can be deadly.” Breaking Barriers So, if prostate cancer screening is a simple blood test and prostate cancer is easily treatable in early stages, why don’t more gay men and trans women get screened? To Dr. Mishra, the problem is two-fold. First, healthcare disparities—including access to care and discrimination—are more common for members of the LGBTQ+ community. And because the disease disproportionately impacts Black men, it’s not uncommon for gay Black men and Black trans women to face additional disparities. “It’s on us as providers,” says Dr. Mishra. “Many providers aren’t comfortable talking about these issues with LGBTQ+ patients.” Kirtishri Mishra, MD, board-certified urologist and the Director of Sexual Health and Gender Reconstructive Surgery at MetroHealth That’s why Dr. Mishra has been on a personal journey to improve his knowledge about LGBTQ+ health issues. While he’s been at the forefront of gender-affirming surgery, a recent teleconference caused him to reflect on how he can improve. “They were telling a story about the partner of a gay man who was in the room when a prostate cancer diagnosis was explained, and the provider wouldn’t look at the partner—only the patient—and didn’t discuss the sexual side effects and prognosis,” recalls Dr. Mishra. “I realized that I was guilty of doing that sometimes, too. I had to reflect on my own practice and proactively work towards eliminating bias.” Secondly, he wants the field of urology to improve. “My ask of my urology colleagues is to have sexuality and gender baked into cancer care,” says Dr. Mishra. “Let’s offer the same benefits to LGBTQ+ patients as we do to straight and cisgender patients.” Understanding Prostate Cancer Treatment Within Gender/Sexuality Contexts For those with a prostate, treating prostate cancer has the same side effects for gay men and trans women as it does for straight, cisgender men. Surgical treatment often has immediate drawbacks that can improve over time. Incontinence and erectile dysfunction are common in the six weeks that follow surgery. Meanwhile, radiation treatment may not produce immediate side effects, but one to two years later, incontinence and erectile dysfunction can occur. However, one immediate side effect of radiation treatment is often proctitis, or inflammation of the rectum’s lining. It can cause fecal incontinence and irritation. While the side effects are universal, the cultural contexts are vastly different. Sexual health is incredibly important to the identities of gay men. Erectile dysfunction— both as someone who performs and receives penetrative anal intercourse—isn’t just about sexual performance, it’s about identity. If one partner is unable to perform due to treatment, it can create guilt and resentment, feeling like one partner is a “prisoner” to another’s disease. That’s why, according to Dr. Mishra, patients can’t be looked at in a cold, clinical light. They have to be seen for who they are. “The conversation about treatment with gay men and their partners must include intimacy and their sexual life,” says Dr. Mishra. “We talk about what sexual activities are a part of their life, how each intervention might impact those activities and ways to preserve intimacy in their relationships. The discussion must empower patients to understand the pros and cons of each treatment.” Sexual Health is Health Helping LGBTQ+ patients who have a prostate understand the impact of treatment on their sexual lives—and work to improve their sexual lives during a diagnosis—is critical to survivorship. That’s why MetroHealth launched a new rehabilitation program aimed at helping all patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis have the healthiest sexual health outcome possible. Patients meet with a sexual health expert before treatment. The provider understands the level of erectile dysfunction prior to surgery and may start patients on medication to improve blood flow to the groin. Continuing the medication after surgery allows for improved healing. Other therapies within the clinic include pelvic floor physical therapy before and after treatment to reduce urinary incontinence. Prostate Cancer and Trans Women: Still At Risk Dr. Mishra isn’t surprised anymore when he receives a call from a primary care doctor asking this question: “Does she still have a prostate? I don’t see it on the X-ray.” “Gender-affirming surgery is still an area where some providers don’t have all of the details,” says Dr. Mishra. “There’s a poor understanding among providers regarding the anatomical arrangement of a person’s pelvic area after gender-affirming surgery.” During a vaginoplasty, the prostate is not removed. Removing the prostate can cause incontinence and poor sexual function in trans women, plus, the prostate has many erogenous nerves that provide sexual pleasure. And even though gender-affirming hormone therapy often shrinks the prostate, trans women are still at risk for prostate cancer, much more than previously thought. Mishra knows. He did the research. “There’s still much to discover about the risk of prostate cancer after gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy,” says Mishra. “But research I contributed to in 2024 shows that prostate cancer isn’t rare at all in transgender women, despite previous thinking.” The message for trans women is clear: find a culturally competent provider and get screened for prostate cancer. “Unfortunately, people in the LGBTQ+ population encounter providers who aren’t comfortable talking about these issues, let alone treating them,” says Mishra. “That’s why we’re fortunate at MetroHealth to have the MetroHealth Pride Network. Cultural competency is critical.” About The MetroHealth Pride Network The MetroHealth Pride Network offers primary and mental healthcare for adults and children and gender-affirming care for adults. While people in the LGBTQ+ community have similar routine healthcare needs as cisgender or heterosexual people, providers in the MetroHealth Pride Network have specialized training and experience related to sexuality and gender. Pride Network providers can be found in five MetroHealth locations—Brecksville, Brooklyn, Cleveland Heights, Parma and Rocky River as well as a clinic in the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Learn more at www.metrohealth.org/pride. — The Buckeye Flame is an online platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ Ohioans to support community and civic empowerment through the creation of engaging content that chronicles their triumphs, struggles, and lived experiences. — Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today. All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS. A complete list of benefits is here. — Photo: thebuckeyeflame The post The Organs You Have: What Gay Men and Trans Women Need to Know About Prostate Health appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

By Martha A. Lavallie Building emotional availability in your marriage can make a big difference in your relationship. Research shows that when couples focus on becoming more emotionally available to each other, they often experience greater satisfaction and deeper intimacy.1 Here’s how building emotional availability can help you and your partner improve your connection and enjoy a more fulfilling relationship. What is Emotional Availability Emotional availability means being open and willing to connect with your feelings and those of others. It’s about being present and attentive when your partner shares their emotions. When you’re emotionally available, you listen, understand, and respond in a caring way. In a relationship, emotional availability helps build trust and a deeper connection. It allows both partners to feel valued and understood, making the relationship stronger and more fulfilling. Why Emotional Availability Matters in Marriage Emotional availability is crucial in marriage because it helps both partners feel connected and understood. Here’s why it matters: Builds Trust: When you’re open and honest with your feelings, your partner feels safe and trusted. This trust is essential for a strong relationship. Deepens Connection: Sharing emotions and listening to each other brings you closer. It helps you understand each other’s needs and feelings better. Resolves Conflicts: Being emotionally available allows you to talk about problems calmly and find solutions together. It helps avoid misunderstandings and arguments. Provides Support: When you’re there for your partner emotionally, it shows you care about their well-being. It makes them feel supported and valued. Enhances Intimacy: Emotional closeness leads to a stronger bond, which can improve your physical and emotional intimacy. Being emotionally available helps keep your marriage healthy and happy by creating a strong, supportive connection between you and your partner. Indicators of Emotional Unavailability Here are some signs that you or your partner might be emotionally unavailable: Avoiding Deep Conversations: If you steer clear of talking about feelings or important topics, it might mean you’re not ready to open up. Being Distracted: If you’re often distracted or not fully present during conversations, it can be a sign of emotional unavailability. Difficulty Expressing Feelings: Struggling to talk about your own emotions or being vague when discussing them might indicate emotional distance. Shutting Down: If you tend to shut down or become defensive when emotions are brought up, it can show you’re not ready to engage emotionally. Lack of Empathy: Not showing understanding or concern for your partner’s feelings can be a sign of being emotionally unavailable. Keeping Secrets: Hiding important details or not being honest about your thoughts and feelings might mean you’re holding back emotionally. Recognizing these signs can help address emotional barriers and improve communication and connection in your relationship. How to Foster Emotional Availability Here are some simple steps to help you become more emotionally available: Practice Listening: When your partner talks about their feelings, really listen without interrupting. Show you’re interested and understand what they’re saying. Share Your Own Feelings: Be open about how you feel. Talk about your emotions honestly and let your partner know what’s going on with you. Be Present: Spend quality time together and be fully engaged. Put away distractions like your phone and focus on your partner. Show Empathy: Try to understand how your partner feels and respond with care. Let them know you’re there to support them. Communicate Openly: Talk about any issues or concerns you have in the relationship. Address problems together rather than avoiding them. Be Patient: Building emotional availability takes time. Be patient with yourself and your partner as you work on improving your emotional connection. By taking these steps, you can build a stronger and more supportive relationship, where both partners feel valued and understood. Emotional Availability is an Ongoing Journey Being emotionally available isn’t something you achieve once and for all. It’s an ongoing journey that requires continual growth, as both emotions and relationships evolve over time. It’s important to keep working on understanding and sharing feelings as things change. Regular communication is key; consistently talking about your feelings and listening to your partner helps maintain emotional closeness. Life brings new challenges and changes, and being emotionally available means adapting to these shifts and supporting each other through them. Practicing patience is also important, as both you and your partner may struggle with emotions from time to time. Patience and persistence in improving your emotional connection can make a big difference. Lastly, learning from past experiences is essential. Reflect on what has worked well and what hasn’t, and use these insights to grow and strengthen your relationship. Staying emotionally available is about continuously working on your connection with your partner and being open to growth and change. Source: Frontiers in Psychology — This article was published and syndicated by Viral Chatter. — 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 How to Cultivate Emotional Availability in Your Marriage appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

It would “not bother” the US president if former officials James Comey and John Brennan ended up in custody US President Donald Trump has said he would not mind seeing ex-FBI Director James Comey and ex-CIA Director John Brennan handcuffed and arrested live on TV due to their alleged role in the Russiagate hoax. Trump made the remarks in an interview with the Daily Caller published on Saturday, stating that it would “not bother [him] at all” if the two former intel chiefs end up in custody. “What they did is a disgrace. They cheated, they lied, they did so many bad things, evil things that were so bad for the country, and because they did something to me that should have never been done, nobody thought they’d ever do that,” Trump stated. “They should be [arrested] because they’re crooked and they got caught,” he added. The situation with Brennan and Comey is different from what the US administration had on its hands with Hillary Clinton, Trump suggested, apparently referring to the email controversy dating back to her tenure as the US secretary of state. “Hillary’s a good example. We had Hillary cold. I didn’t want to see that. I didn’t want the, you know, the wife of a president, to go to jail, but she was stone cold guilty of things,” Trump stated. The Trump administration launched a probe into the Russiagate hoax shortly after the US president assumed the post for the second time early this year. The investigation has been spearheaded by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has repeatedly pledged to get to the bottom of what she described as a “treasonous conspiracy” to delegitimize Trump’s 2016 election victory and a “years-long coup.” Since mid-July, Gabbard has released multiple documents that allegedly expose a coordinated effort by senior Obama-era officials, as well as structures linked to billionaire George Soros, to falsely accuse Trump of colluding with Russia. Moscow has consistently denied any interference in the 2016 election, with Russian officials describing the allegations as a product of partisan infighting. The Russiagate scandal heavily damaged relations between Moscow and Washington, resulting in sanctions, asset seizures, and a further erosion of diplomatic engagement. View the full article

By Shashwat Mishra Emissions testing plays an essential role in controlling vehicle pollution and conserving the environment. These evaluations confirm that vehicles comply with legal regulations for the release of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Nonetheless, certain car producers have been discovered to be cheating in these evaluations. The main motive for is monetary. Achieving emissions standards frequently necessitates costly technologies such as sophisticated catalytic converters or more environmentally friendly engine designs. For car manufacturers, these enhancements may reduce profits or increase vehicle prices for buyers, possibly leading to lower sales. By engaging in deceit, companies can evade these expenses while still seeming to adhere to regulations. Moreover, tougher emissions regulations in areas such as the European Union and the U.S. exert notable pressure on manufacturers to innovate quickly. When deadlines appear unattainable, certain automakers resort to shortcuts by altering test outcomes. Cheating also helps preserve a company’s reputation. For example, VW heavily marketed its “Clean Diesel” vehicles as Eco-friendly alternatives, but later investigations revealed the use of defeat devices—software designed to manipulate results during tests. These devices made cars appear cleaner while emitting up to 40 times the legal limit of pollutants in real-world driving. Toyota was recently fined for cheating, showing that even trusted industry leaders sometimes prioritize profits over compliance. Other manufacturers have also faced accusations. Nissan falsified emissions data in Japan due to poorly managed testing systems. Opel was also found using defeat devices in Europe in 2015. And BMW was involved in an “emissions cartel” that sought to limit progress in AdBlue, a technology designed to decrease nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Even Mercedes-Benz faced allegations of using defeat devices, though the company refutes the claims. John Stoll explains, “The emissions information says what the test needs it to say so that it passes regulatory tests. And then in real-world conditions, it emits far more of the harmful emissions such as NOx into the air than is legally allowed.” While it’s unlikely that every car company cheats, the problem appears widespread enough to warrant concern. Weak enforcement and the potential for profit make cheating an attractive option for unethical companies. Nonetheless, many manufacturers do focus on compliance and put resources into cleaner technologies, demonstrating that innovation can occur without resorting to fraud. To tackle emissions fraud, authorities need to enhance enforcement and apply stricter penalties. Third-party organizations should handle emissions tests to ensure impartiality, and carmakers should be incentivized to develop sustainable technologies. As consumers, we can help by choosing vehicles that have confirmed eco-friendly certifications, and insisting on increased transparency from carmakers. CONTACTS Toyota Whacked with Gigantic Fine for Diesel Emissions Cheating Volkswagen: The scandal explained EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org. — Previously Published on emagazine *** Subscribe to The Good Men Project Newsletter Email Address * 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: istock The post Cheating on Emissions: A Problem for All Automakers? appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

I’ve been thinking a lot about presence lately. Maybe it’s because I’m coming up on my birthday in a few days, or because I skipped a Saturday post to pack boxes, wrangle kids, and buy wood for the flooring project that is inevitably going to test my patience and Craig’s knee joints this week. Maybe it’s because Rowan wasn’t feeling well yesterday and instead of writing, I found myself sitting beside him, slowing down, just being with him in the stillness. Whatever the reason, presence has been on my heart. The thing about presence is that it doesn’t require a passport, or a perfect view, or even a carefully orchestrated moment. And yet, I’ve lived enough of life to know that presence does sneak in when you least expect it. Sometimes in the middle of a waterfall hike in Oregon, sometimes around a fire in the woods with my children bundled in blankets, sometimes at a dinner table with too much noise, too many elbows, and just enough laughter to make you forget the dishes waiting in the sink. I’ve had the joy of traveling to many places. I’ve camped under the wide expanse of desert sky, and I’ve walked through bustling cities where the air itself felt like energy made visible. I’ve taken my children on adventures across borders, through museums and musicals, into mountains and rivers, teaching them not just about geography but about wonder. And yet the thing I remember most from every trip isn’t the itinerary, it’s the faces. The laughter. The inside jokes that made no sense to anyone else. Presence is not in the where. It’s in the who. I think of sledding trips when cheeks turned red and fingers froze, and still the kids begged to go “one more time.” I think of fishing excursions where we caught more sunburns than fish, but everyone swore they’d seen “the big one.” I think of the prayers, the closing words I have whispered every single night for 27 years, words so stitched into our family fabric that my children could repeat them even in their sleep. It’s wild when you think about it. Twenty-seven years of the same prayer. Thousands of nights, thousands of moments, one thread weaving them all together. Some people might think it monotonous, but for me, it’s a heartbeat. A rhythm. A gift of presence that has carried my children and me, through storms and sunrises alike. And then there’s Craig. The warrior of my heart. The protector. My earth angel. Sometimes I look at him and I swear I’ve loved him for a thousand years, like every path we’ve walked separately was always leading here. With him beside me, even the ordinary feels extraordinary. A grocery store run. A walk by the lake. The long car rides when the conversation meanders from childhood memories to half-baked plans for the future. Presence becomes love when it’s shared. I am blessed. Not in the Instagram-perfect, hashtag-polished sense of the word, but in the gritty, real, this-is-my-life sense. I am blessed with children who are each their own constellation of uniqueness — bright, wild, tender, brilliant in their own ways. I am blessed that Levi is here after his accident, breathing, laughing, creating, teaching me daily that survival can turn into thriving. And then there is Damieon, my grandson. My heart warrior. The boy whose laugh is pure medicine, whose strength humbles me more than anything else in this world. Every time I see his smile, I am reminded that joy is not found in ease but in endurance. That little soul has taught me more about presence than any book I’ve ever read or written. He is here, now. Fully. And being with him reminds me to be, too. I am blessed to watch my eldest daughter’s strength, the kind of strength that doesn’t come from choice but from necessity, from the fire forged in the furnace of motherhood and resilience. Blessed by my clients, souls who have entrusted me with their stories, who have allowed me to walk alongside them in their healing. Blessed by friends who’ve walked in and out of seasons, but who have never really left my heart. Even the pain has been a blessing. The suffering. The nights when I thought I would break. The heartbreaks and betrayals, the loneliness and uncertainty. They carved me open. They hollowed out the places where joy could take root. And in their wake, I’ve come to know gratitude in ways I couldn’t have imagined. My guides. My guardians. My angels. I’ve felt them for as long as I can remember, sometimes whispering, sometimes roaring, always reminding me that presence isn’t just about what we see, but about what we feel. And then there’s the passion, the crusader spirit that God has put inside me. Sometimes it’s exhausting to carry a fire this big, but more often than not, it’s the reason I wake up in the morning. To write. To love. To fight. To keep saying the words that others are too afraid to say. Every heartbeat. Every breath. A gift. Sometimes we forget that. Sometimes we get lost in the noise, the hustle, the what’s-next of it all. But slowing down, being present, that’s where the real magic is. That’s where joy lives. That’s where God shows up, not just in the monumental but in the mundane. This is what I wanted to capture in my books, too. Sober Sex is not about banishing alcohol or demonizing weed. It’s about asking: why do we reach for them? Are we softening into presence, or are we escaping it? Are we saying yes with full consent, or are we numbing our way into disconnection? That book was born from presence, from my own hard-won journey of returning to authenticity. Empowered but Empty is my wrestling with the world we live in, the promises of modern feminism and the cracks it’s left in our families, our relationships, our hearts. It’s about stripping away the noise and coming back to what matters most. And The Voice That Made You — that one is pure presence. A hundred poems of dialogue with the Divine, words that came not from striving but from sitting still long enough to listen. All three are pieces of my story, but more than that, they are invitations into presence. And this week, for my birthday, they are all just $2.99 on Kindle. Not because the words are cheap, but because the gift of presence is worth sharing widely. So today, as I write this, I feel the hum of gratitude in my chest. For my family. For my clients. For my readers. For my guides. For every single messy, beautiful, holy ordinary moment that has stitched my life together. Presence is the real gift. And it’s the one I don’t want to miss. The gift of presence is available to all of us, but sometimes, we need a little reminder to slow down, breathe, and return to ourselves. That’s why I write. If you’ve been craving more honesty, more depth, more real conversation around intimacy, family, healing, and faith. My books are my offering to you. As always loving you from here, Rene Schooler — 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: Brian Wangenheim On Unsplash The post The Gift of Presence appeared first on The Good Men Project. View the full article

Get Apple’s free iWork Suite: Pages, Numbers and Keynote give you powerful tools for documents, spreadsheets and presentations, all free on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Check it out here. The post Get Apple’s free iWork Suite appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Assassins failed to take the Orange Man out. Impeachment didn’t stick. Is the Grim Reaper the new favored candidate? Is US President Donald Trump on death’s doorstep? That’s the question that Trump haters have been asking as they’ve suddenly turned to armchair medical analysis – their latest great hope. It all kicked off with some recent shots of the back of Trump’s hands covered in poorly blended women’s makeup, ostensibly covering some bruising. Social media has been rife with amateur sleuths manipulating the contrast on the images in an attempt to determine whether there are any signs of intravenous puncture that could perhaps be indicative of a serious medical condition – like heart failure. As supporting evidence, they also cite recent shots of his swollen ankles – or “cankles” – debating whether they’re expanding and contracting like an accordion, and if so, what that means for the number of days that he has left, both in power and in life. TikTok in particular has given rise to a whole new category of content called “hopecore,” with Trump haters citing medical or medical-adjacent experience in publishing content opining about how Trump’s days are numbered – although there’s usually much debate over exactly how many. That uncertainty is a source of great frustration for commenters seeking certainty in nailing down the exact amount of time that they have to put up with him. Some even keep spreadsheets, charts, and countdown clocks like they’re managing fantasy football teams, except instead of touchdowns they’re tracking anatomical anomalies. The White House has openly commented on Trump’s “chronic venous insufficiency,” which would explain the bruising and swelling. But even before that, back in June, his appearance at a UFC fighting event led to much zooming in on the crotch area of this 79-year-old man, with some speculating that he was wearing a catheter. Others argued that it was just something in his pocket. Some internet detectives even claimed it was a subtle Olympic-level flex that defies both anatomy and comprehension. Why is this even a thing, though? I guess gossip and speculation makes politics accessible for those who prefer the entry bar to be at floor-level. Policy and issues are complex and require work, particularly when the objective is to eject someone from power. It’s much more fun to just place all hope in fate to do the heavy lifting for you. And to cheer it along on a daily basis with your like-minded tribe. Add a hashtag, a TikTok filter, and suddenly it’s an entire movement. One that doesn’t even require you to get off the couch to make you feel like you’re part of something big – like a child tugging an escalator handrail convinced they’re moving everyone to the top. Guess they’re now putting all their hope on the Grim Reaper to take Trump out. Assassins failed to do it with actual bullets. Impeachment didn’t stick. Not even his disqualification through the courts came through for them. The Grim Reaper is now effectively their candidate of choice, and they seem more psyched about him than they ever did about Kamala Harris or Joe Biden. Go figure that there’s a glaring overlap between these people and those who also glom onto every health-related tidbit about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the years, it’s been reported in Western publications that he’s suffered from strokes, Parkinson’s, “terminal” pancreatic cancer (over a decade ago), thyroid cancer, and leprosy. Again, basically a fantasy football roster of health crises, all projected onto one man. It’s hardly a coincidence that many of those conjuring up death fantasies also happen to be proponents of regime change, including former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, former CIA officer Ralph Goff, Danish intelligence sources, Kremlin critic Valery Solovei, or former Ukrainian intelligence chief Kirill Budanov. All waiting for Mother Nature to spring into action like she’s on USAID payroll. When Putin and Trump were together in Alaska recently for Ukraine peace talks, it was a double whammy field day for the death pool watchers. They glommed onto Trump’s somewhat non-linear walk down the tarmac’s red carpet to greet Putin as “proof” of his ongoing decline. Then their radar went off again when Putin shifted his weight from one leg to the other while chatting with Trump. Evidence that he was about to collapse, surely! If not immediately, then imminently! It’s a classic case of anxiety displacement. Instead of grappling with why a political leader has power or support, they funnel their unease into scrutinizing movements, coughs, or missed steps. The result is a culture of obsessive speculation where nothing is sacred – not posture, not hands, not ankles, and certainly not the crotch region. But the more interesting question is why exactly do they feel the need to take refuge in this kind of nonsense? It represents a super low-effort power grab. Fate does the heavy lifting and clears the way for their preferred alternative over which they feel they have more control. There seems to be a lot of projection going on, though – the mistaken belief that what comes after would be more aligned with their interests. Or that the eradication of a particular leader through natural biological processes would somehow shift the tectonic plates of the political landscape. History shows that this is hardly ever the case. Just ask all the folks in Che Guevara or Martin Luther King t-shirts. Trumpism won’t end with Trump. Nor will the growing appetite for institutional reform of Washington. So then what’s the plan? To start all over again with a J.D. Vance death watch? At this point, someone should probably invent an app to track ankle swelling and gait analytics in real time. Because if you’re too lazy or inept to win, you can at least obsess over your opponent’s every micro-movement. View the full article

Assassins failed to take the Orange Man out. Impeachment didn’t stick. Is the Grim Reaper the new favored candidate? Is US President Donald Trump on death’s doorstep? That’s the question that Trump haters have been asking as they’ve suddenly turned to armchair medical analysis – their latest great hope. It all kicked off with some recent shots of the back of Trump’s hands covered in poorly blended women’s makeup, ostensibly covering some bruising. Social media has been rife with amateur sleuths manipulating the contrast on the images in an attempt to determine whether there are any signs of intravenous puncture that could perhaps be indicative of a serious medical condition – like heart failure. As supporting evidence, they also cite recent shots of his swollen ankles – or “cankles” – debating whether they’re expanding and contracting like an accordion, and if so, what that means for the number of days that he has left, both in power and in life. TikTok in particular has given rise to a whole new category of content called “hopecore,” with Trump haters citing medical or medical-adjacent experience in publishing content opining about how Trump’s days are numbered – although there’s usually much debate over exactly how many. That uncertainty is a source of great frustration for commenters seeking certainty in nailing down the exact amount of time that they have to put up with him. Some even keep spreadsheets, charts, and countdown clocks like they’re managing fantasy football teams, except instead of touchdowns they’re tracking anatomical anomalies. The White House has openly commented on Trump’s “chronic venous insufficiency,” which would explain the bruising and swelling. But even before that, back in June, his appearance at a UFC fighting event led to much zooming in on the crotch area of this 79-year-old man, with some speculating that he was wearing a catheter. Others argued that it was just something in his pocket. Some internet detectives even claimed it was a subtle Olympic-level flex that defies both anatomy and comprehension. Read more White House explains Trump’s swollen ankles and bruised hand Why is this even a thing, though? I guess gossip and speculation makes politics accessible for those who prefer the entry bar to be at floor-level. Policy and issues are complex and require work, particularly when the objective is to eject someone from power. It’s much more fun to just place all hope in fate to do the heavy lifting for you. And to cheer it along on a daily basis with your like-minded tribe. Add a hashtag, a TikTok filter, and suddenly it’s an entire movement. One that doesn’t even require you to get off the couch to make you feel like you’re part of something big – like a child tugging an escalator handrail convinced they’re moving everyone to the top. Guess they’re now putting all their hope on the Grim Reaper to take Trump out. Assassins failed to do it with actual bullets. Impeachment didn’t stick. Not even his disqualification through the courts came through for them. The Grim Reaper is now effectively their candidate of choice, and they seem more psyched about him than they ever did about Kamala Harris or Joe Biden. Go figure that there’s a glaring overlap between these people and those who also glom onto every health-related tidbit about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the years, it’s been reported in Western publications that he’s suffered from strokes, Parkinson’s, “terminal” pancreatic cancer (over a decade ago), thyroid cancer, and leprosy. Again, basically a fantasy football roster of health crises, all projected onto one man. It’s hardly a coincidence that many of those conjuring up death fantasies also happen to be proponents of regime change, including former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, former CIA officer Ralph Goff, Danish intelligence sources, Kremlin critic Valery Solovei, or former Ukrainian intelligence chief Kirill Budanov. All waiting for Mother Nature to spring into action like she’s on USAID payroll. Read more From cold war to cold peace: What the Anchorage and White House meetings mean for the world When Putin and Trump were together in Alaska recently for Ukraine peace talks, it was a double whammy field day for the death pool watchers. They glommed onto Trump’s somewhat non-linear walk down the tarmac’s red carpet to greet Putin as “proof” of his ongoing decline. Then their radar went off again when Putin shifted his weight from one leg to the other while chatting with Trump. Evidence that he was about to collapse, surely! If not immediately, then imminently! It’s a classic case of anxiety displacement. Instead of grappling with why a political leader has power or support, they funnel their unease into scrutinizing movements, coughs, or missed steps. The result is a culture of obsessive speculation where nothing is sacred – not posture, not hands, not ankles, and certainly not the crotch region. But the more interesting question is why exactly do they feel the need to take refuge in this kind of nonsense? It represents a super low-effort power grab. Fate does the heavy lifting and clears the way for their preferred alternative over which they feel they have more control. There seems to be a lot of projection going on, though – the mistaken belief that what comes after would be more aligned with their interests. Or that the eradication of a particular leader through natural biological processes would somehow shift the tectonic plates of the political landscape. History shows that this is hardly ever the case. Just ask all the folks in Che Guevara or Martin Luther King t-shirts. Trumpism won’t end with Trump. Nor will the growing appetite for institutional reform of Washington. So then what’s the plan? To start all over again with a J.D. Vance death watch? At this point, someone should probably invent an app to track ankle swelling and gait analytics in real time. Because if you’re too lazy or inept to win, you can at least obsess over your opponent’s every micro-movement. View the full article

🤳 Fix blurry phone photos: If tapping to focus isn’t working, your lens is probably dirty. After all, your phone lives in your pocket, collecting dust and grime. Folks, don’t reach for your T-shirt. Go with proper lens wipes that are scratch-free and streak-free. I found a pack of 200 for under $10. We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective. The post Fix blurry phone photos appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

The order would mandate voter identification, restrict mail-in voting, and allow paper ballots only, the US president says US President Donald Trump has pledged to issue an executive order that would heavily restrict mail-in voting and mandate identification for every ballot. Trump has repeatedly pledged to overhaul the US voting system, alleging that it has become too susceptible to fraud. The US president made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, signaling that the action will have the vote-by-mail system effectively dismantled with only a few exceptions allowed. “Voter ID must be part of every single vote. No exceptions! I will be doing an executive order to that end!!! He added: “Also, no mail-in voting, except for those are very ill, and the far away military. Use paper ballots only!!!” Earlier this month, Trump revealed the executive order concerning the voting system is “being written … by the best lawyers in the country.” The US president has long been critical of the country’s election system and has repeatedly pledged to overhaul it. Trump has repeatedly blamed his 2020 loss to Joe Biden on widespread fraud, claiming mass voting by non-citizens and irregularities in mail-in voting, among other complaints. He has also questioned voting machines, pushing for paper ballots and manual counting instead. Voting rights groups, however, have criticized Trump’s plans to overhaul the system. Mandatory identification has been among the most contentious issues. Rights groups argue that a sizeable chunk of eligible US voters do not have such documents on hand. According to a 2023 report compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice and other groups, some 21.3 million people, which is around 9% of US citizens of voting age, do not have proof of citizenship readily available. It also remains unclear whether the US president will actually be able to enforce the changes, given that federal elections are administered at the state level. Trump’s critics have been accusing him of overstepping his authority, arguing that the president does not have explicit constitutional powers to change the election system. View the full article

👪 Try Snapchat with your kids: You might not want them on it. Download the app (iOS, Android), tap the Search icon, type their username, and hit Add. Don’t see them? Tap View More to expand the results. The post Try Snapchat with your kids appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

European leaders are attempting to derail US president Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, Dmitry Peskov has claimed The European “war party” is trying to sabotage the diplomatic process launched by the US and Russia to end the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. He added that this approach contradicts the efforts of US President Donald Trump. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have for months floated the idea of sending a joint military contingent to Ukraine in a so-called peacekeeping capacity if Kiev and Moscow reach a truce or peace deal. Moscow has strongly opposed the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine in any role. On Sunday, Peskov said the stance of the “European war party” is “in stark contrast to the approach pursued” by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “The Europeans are hindering the [peace] efforts,” as part of their strategy to “contain” Russia, the Kremlin spokesperson told journalists. He added that certain NATO member states have been encouraging Ukraine to refuse to negotiate with Russia in good faith – a strategy that “will do no good to the Kiev regime.” “Russia is still ready to settle the [conflict] by political-diplomatic means,” Peskov said, but Kiev has to show reciprocity for the hostilities to end. Last weekend, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov argued that European nations “don’t want peace” in Ukraine, citing their reaction to the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska earlier this month. Last week, speaking to reporters after a follow-up meeting between the US president and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, as well as several European leaders at the White House, Macron insisted that Europe “will need to help Ukraine with boots on the ground.” Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Croatia have ruled out taking part in the mission. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a significant proportion of the EU population is “opposed to any deployment that places troops in harm’s way.” View the full article

How growing arsenals and proxy wars are pushing the region closer to the brink Modern conflicts are increasingly hybrid, blending conventional warfare with cyber operations, economic pressure, and proxy battles. Nowhere is this more visible than in the Middle East – where the interests of the US, Russia, China, Iran, Türkiye, Israel, and the Arab states collide. In this environment, missile arsenals have become one of the decisive tools of war. Alongside airpower, they allow militaries to strike across great distances, punch through defenses, and project strategic pressure far beyond their borders. To understand the balance of power in the region, it’s essential to look at the missile capabilities of its key players. Iran: Missiles as the core of deterrence Despite the June 2025 clash with Israel – which exposed some vulnerabilities and cost Tehran a number of assets – Iran still fields the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East. Its rockets are deployed both directly by the Iranian military and indirectly through proxy groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shia militias in Iraq. Iran’s arsenal covers a wide range of systems: Short- and medium-range ballistic missiles (500-2,500km). Solid-fuel designs that increase survivability and reduce launch prep times. A growing focus on hypersonic technology, with the two-stage Sejil capable of reaching 2,500km and reportedly carrying a reentry vehicle traveling at up to Mach 10. The Fateh-110, a precision-guided missile with a range of 300km and a circular error of less than 10 meters thanks to satellite navigation. The liquid-fueled Khorramshahr, with a range over 2,000km, can carry multiple warheads to overwhelm missile defenses during a mass strike. © Wikipedia The real strength of Iran’s strategy lies in its ability to saturate defenses with large salvos. Even advanced systems struggle to stop every missile when dozens are launched simultaneously. That said, as was shown in June, effective airpower can blunt this advantage by striking mobile launchers and intercepting missiles in flight. Iran has also invested heavily in drones. Its Shahed-series loitering munitions have become a signature weapon, deployed in large numbers against Israel. But in June, Israel countered with new air-to-air missiles adapted specifically for anti-drone warfare, neutralizing much of the threat. Even so, Iran retains sheer volume as its trump card. With more than 2,000 missiles of various types in its inventory, Tehran sits at the forefront of the Middle East’s missile race – and shows no sign of slowing down. Israel: Precision strikes and missile defense Israel is the other major missile power in the region, though its strategy looks very different from Iran’s. Rather than relying on sheer volume, Israel combines advanced airpower, layered missile defenses, and a nuclear deterrent shrouded in deliberate ambiguity. The nuclear part is never openly acknowledged. West Jerusalem has never confirmed its stockpile, but most analysts believe the Jericho-3 ballistic missile – with an estimated range of 4,800 to 6,000km – is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Israel’s air force is also thought to maintain a nuclear strike option with gravity bombs. © Cyclowiki Where Israel is fully transparent is in its conventional arsenal. Its air force is the backbone of its offensive power: More than 300 modern fighters, including F-15s, F-16s, and fifth-generation F-35s. Armed with guided missiles, precision bombs, and air-launched ballistic weapons, these aircraft give Israel the ability to suppress enemy air defenses, seize air superiority, and deliver devastating precision strikes. The June 2025 conflict underscored this: When Israeli jets dismantled air defenses, Iran’s missile salvos lost much of their impact. Equally important is Israel’s layered missile defense architecture – from the Iron Dome to David’s Sling and Arrow-3 – which has proven highly effective at intercepting rockets, drones, and even ballistic threats. Together with airpower, this defensive shield ensures that Israel not only wields powerful offensive capabilities but also neutralizes much of the threat posed by its adversaries’ arsenals. This combination – precision strike capability, layered defenses, and a nuclear backstop – makes Israel’s military one of the most formidable in the Middle East. And it didn’t achieve this alone: Sustained US support has been essential to building and maintaining this edge. Türkiye: A growing missile power Türkiye is positioning itself as one of the most ambitious military innovators in the region. Its strategy is to build as much as possible at home – from a fifth-generation fighter program (KAAN) to advanced drones like the Kizilelma, its own main battle tank, a modern navy, and an expanding missile arsenal. The centerpiece of Ankara’s missile effort is the Tayfun program, an operational-tactical ballistic missile with a range of around 500km. Currently in testing, Tayfun is expected to evolve into a mobile missile system comparable to Russia’s Iskander – highly accurate, difficult to intercept, and designed to strike critical targets despite modern missile defenses. Turkish officials suggest it could enter service within the next year or two, significantly enhancing the country’s strike capability and making Türkiye one of the strongest missile powers in both the Middle East and Europe. © Fikret Delal / Anadolu via Getty Images Beyond ballistic systems, Türkiye fields a sizable air force and has become a drone superpower. Its UAVs can deliver precision-guided munitions, including air-to-surface missiles. Against advanced air defenses, these drones are vulnerable, but against most regional opponents they give Türkiye a decisive edge. What’s more, developing a 500-kilometer-class missile is only a first step. The same technical foundation could, with political will and resources, be extended to missiles with ranges of 1,000 or even 5,000 kilometers. As North Korea has already shown, scaling up is possible for a determined state. And Türkiye, with its growing defense industry and economic base, has both the ambition and the capacity to get there. Saudi Arabia and the UAE: Dependent arsenals Saudi Arabia’s missile arsenal is sizable but heavily dependent on foreign suppliers. Its backbone consists of Chinese-made ballistic missiles acquired decades ago. The DF-3, delivered in the late 1980s, has a range of around 3,000km but is essentially a 1950s-era design, comparable to the old Soviet R-12. Its accuracy is poor, making it useful mainly for striking large-area targets such as cities. Reports also suggest that Riyadh has more modern DF-21 solid-fuel missiles with a range of about 2,100km. Unlike the DF-3, these are mobile, more accurate, and potentially capable of precision strikes against military targets. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia has never developed nuclear weapons. If it had, the original acquisition of the DF-3 would have made more sense as a nuclear delivery platform. Instead, these missiles have been relegated mostly to parades and symbolic shows of force. © Wikipedia The United Arab Emirates, for its part, relies almost entirely on advanced Western aircraft and missile defense systems, with little in the way of indigenous ballistic missile capabilities. Its strength lies in integration with the US and allied systems, rather than in building its own arsenal. Conclusion The Middle East today is not just a patchwork of proxy wars and shifting alliances – it is also an active missile theater, where states large and small are investing in strike capabilities that can alter the regional balance almost overnight. Iran leans on mass salvos and regional proxies to project power across borders. Israel counters with high-end fighters, layered missile defenses, and a nuclear deterrent shrouded in silence. Türkiye is rapidly building the foundations of a domestic missile industry that could extend far beyond its neighborhood. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, though dependent on external suppliers, remain important players whose arsenals serve as both symbols and potential assets in a crisis. What ties all of this together is the region’s volatility. Hybrid wars, drone swarms, and missile barrages are already shaping the battlefield. The next escalation may not come from a conventional invasion or a single strike, but from the convergence of these tools in a conflict where no side can fully control the outcome. Missiles have become the pressure points of Middle Eastern geopolitics – both a shield and a sword. And as the arsenals grow, so does the risk that one spark could ignite a chain reaction far beyond the region itself. View the full article

🗂️ Show file extensions in Windows: By default, Windows hides the suffixes at the end of file names (like .jpeg, .mp4 or .exe). You’ll want these visible, so you don’t accidentally open a malicious file that looks like a photo but is actually an executable. To turn them on, open File Explorer > View > Show > File name extensions. The post Show file extensions in Windows appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Kiev has regularly attacked civilian areas and critical infrastructure in the neighboring country Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has threatened new strikes into Russia, days after claiming that Kiev possessed a brand-new long-range missile capable of reaching Moscow. Zelensky wrote on Telegram that he had been briefed by Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, on the current battlefield situation. “We will continue our active actions exactly as needed to protect Ukraine. Forces and means are prepared. New deep strikes have also been planned,” he said on Sunday, without providing further details. Earlier this month, Zelensky claimed Ukraine had developed the long-range Flamingo missile with a reported range of 3,000 kilometers – which would be enough to reach not only Moscow but also Russian cities beyond the Ural mountains. The Ukrainian leader, however, said that mass production is not expected for the next several months. British media outlets cast doubts on whether the Flamingo was developed in Ukraine, noting similarities with the FP-5 cruise missile produced by the UK-based Milanion Group and unveiled at an arms expo in Abu Dhabi this year. The UK has also been supportive of Kiev’s long-range strikes, having provided it with Storm Shadow missiles in the past. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that there is “nothing surprising” in the similarities, adding that “Ukraine has long turned into a testing ground for Western weapons. There are more than enough examples.” On Friday, the Kyiv Independent also reported that Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau has launched an investigation into Fire Point, the defense firm linked to the development of the Flamingo missile, after reports it misled the government on pricing and deliveries. Earlier this month the Wall Street Journal reported that the US had blocked Ukraine from carrying out strikes deep inside Russian territory. Throughout the conflict, some of Kiev’s Western backers have been wary of authorizing unrestricted strikes into Russia using Western-supplied weapons, citing concerns over escalation with Moscow. Ukraine has regularly carried out long-range attacks inside Russia, which Moscow says frequently hit civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Russia has retaliated with strikes on Ukrainian military-related facilities and defense enterprises but maintains that it never targets civilians. View the full article

The plans were reportedly scrapped after US President Donald Trump vowed there won’t be US boots on the ground in the region Berlin has shelved plans to possibly deploy German soldiers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Bild reported on Sunday, citing government sources. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had earlier signaled openness to Berlin joining a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. The idea had been floated by the so-called “coalition of the willing” – a group of Western states pushing for continued aid to Kiev. The group has proposed deploying NATO troops to monitor a potential future ceasefire with Russia as part of security guarantees for Ukraine, despite Moscow’s consistent rejection of any Western military presence in Ukraine under any guise. Trump, however, said last week that American troops would not be deployed to Ukraine, insisting that the EU should “front load” security guarantees for Kiev, not the US, including with regard to peacekeepers. According to Bild, Trump’s stance put a halt to Berlin’s discussions about deployment “until further notice.” Sources told the outlet the idea could return “should Trump take action” or once Moscow and Kiev reach a settlement. In an interview with ZDF on Sunday, Merz confirmed the U-turn, saying “nobody is talking about ground troops at this point” and indicating discussions could resume once a ceasefire is in place. Instead, Germany reportedly plans to provide financial security guarantees to Ukraine. Sources claimed Berlin intends for the Bundeswehr to continue training Ukrainian soldiers, expand weapons production in Ukraine with German arms firms, and potentially cover part of Ukrainian soldiers’ salaries after a ceasefire to ensure Kiev maintains sufficient forces. Kiev has demanded security guarantees from Western backers as a precondition for a peace deal. Moscow has not ruled out such guarantees in principle but rejects efforts made without its participation. It has also opposed any Western troop presence in Ukraine, stressing that NATO’s expansion toward its borders was one of the key causes of the conflict. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday that guarantees must be the result of a settlement, not a precondition, and must take into account Russia’s security. She added that any deal should ensure Ukraine’s demilitarization, denazification, neutral and non-nuclear status, and recognition of territorial realities. View the full article

Kiev will blame Russia for the murder or Maidan commandant Andrey Parubiy – but everyone knows the killers are much closer to home All of Ukraine’s political elite will loudly point to Moscow as the hand behind the murder of former parliamentary speaker Andrey Parubiy. They will cry out in public that Russia is to blame, repeating the same narrative of the “Russian trace.” But in private, they all know the truth: it was his own people that came for him. The idea that Parubiy was eliminated by the authorities themselves, while sounding outrageous to some, is a version that carries weight, even if many prefer not to believe it. Why? Because Parubiy was one of the few men in Ukraine who truly knew how to build a Maidan. He had organized the barricades in 2014, commanded the Maidan “self-defense”, and knew every method of bringing people into the streets and holding them there against state power. His reputation came from exactly this talent. And in today’s Ukraine, the possibility of another Maidan is very real. For those in power, such a possibility is dangerous, and removing the man who could light the match makes a grim kind of sense. But there is another explanation, one far darker and one in which almost everyone believes, even if few Ukrainians will say so out loud. Parubiy carried too many secrets – and in Ukraine, secrets can be fatal. He knew far too much about the real shooters on the Maidan in February 2014. As “commandant,” he oversaw the units who guarded the square, and he was positioned to see what others could not. He knew what really happened when the snipers opened fire, when the bloodbath claimed lives and forced Yanukovich to flee. He knew names, structures, and the chain of command. That knowledge made him dangerous. He also knew the truth about Odessa, May 2, 2014 – the day the Trade Union House went up in flames and dozens of anti-Maidan activists died. International monitors called it a massacre, but the state buried accountability. Parubiy, as head of the National Security and Defense Council at the time, was in the middle of it all. He saw who gave the orders, who turned away, who allowed the fire to consume the building. Those responsible never faced justice, and Parubiy carried the story inside his head. He knew the full picture of the early days in Donbass, when provocations, manipulations, and engineered violence pushed Ukraine into a war against its own people. He knew the true sponsors and curators. He knew which political figures, which structures, which financial backers prepared and paid for the bloody upheaval. All of this knowledge made him a threat not to Russia, but to those much closer: the networks who had built their power in those years and who now sit on fragile foundations. For them, Parubiy, – a close ally of former president Petro Poroshenko, beaten by Vladimir Zelensky in 2019 – was no longer an ally. He was a liability. And in the brutal logic of power, liabilities are erased. This is why his assassination looks less like an act of foreign aggression and more like an act of internal housecleaning. It was a calculated decision to tidy up loose ends, to remove a man who could, at any moment, destabilize the whole system by speaking truths that were never meant to surface. His silence was demanded, and silence was achieved. So while the official story will continue to speak of Russian agents, of another “terrorist act” in Moscow’s hybrid war, many in Kiev understand otherwise. They know Parubiy was not struck down by outsiders but by insiders. They know it was not the Kremlin's revenge for 2014 but Ukraine’s own structures, its own power brokers deciding that one of its founding fathers had become excess baggage. In this sense, his death is a signal to others: no one is safe, and no secret is too old to kill for. View the full article

Kiev will blame Russia for the murder or Maidan commandant Andrey Parubiy – but everyone knows the killers are much closer to home All of Ukraine’s political elite will loudly point to Moscow as the hand behind the murder of former parliamentary speaker Andrey Parubiy. They will cry out in public that Russia is to blame, repeating the same narrative of the “Russian trace.” But in private, they all know the truth: it was his own people that came for him. The idea that Parubiy was eliminated by the authorities themselves, while sounding outrageous to some, is a version that carries weight, even if many prefer not to believe it. Why? Because Parubiy was one of the few men in Ukraine who truly knew how to build a Maidan. He had organized the barricades in 2014, commanded the Maidan “self-defense”, and knew every method of bringing people into the streets and holding them there against state power. His reputation came from exactly this talent. And in today’s Ukraine, the possibility of another Maidan is very real. For those in power, such a possibility is dangerous, and removing the man who could light the match makes a grim kind of sense. But there is another explanation, one far darker and one in which almost everyone believes, even if few Ukrainians will say so out loud. Parubiy carried too many secrets – and in Ukraine, secrets can be fatal. He knew far too much about the real shooters on the Maidan in February 2014. As “commandant,” he oversaw the units who guarded the square, and he was positioned to see what others could not. He knew what really happened when the snipers opened fire, when the bloodbath claimed lives and forced Yanukovich to flee. He knew names, structures, and the chain of command. That knowledge made him dangerous. He also knew the truth about Odessa, May 2, 2014 – the day the Trade Union House went up in flames and dozens of anti-Maidan activists died. International monitors called it a massacre, but the state buried accountability. Parubiy, as head of the National Security and Defense Council at the time, was in the middle of it all. He saw who gave the orders, who turned away, who allowed the fire to consume the building. Those responsible never faced justice, and Parubiy carried the story inside his head. Read more Staunch neo-Nazi and Maidan kingpin assassinated: Who was prominent Ukrainian MP Andrey Parubiy? He knew the full picture of the early days in Donbass, when provocations, manipulations, and engineered violence pushed Ukraine into a war against its own people. He knew the true sponsors and curators. He knew which political figures, which structures, which financial backers prepared and paid for the bloody upheaval. All of this knowledge made him a threat not to Russia, but to those much closer: the networks who had built their power in those years and who now sit on fragile foundations. For them, Parubiy, – a close ally of former president Petro Poroshenko, beaten by Vladimir Zelensky in 2019 – was no longer an ally. He was a liability. And in the brutal logic of power, liabilities are erased. This is why his assassination looks less like an act of foreign aggression and more like an act of internal housecleaning. It was a calculated decision to tidy up loose ends, to remove a man who could, at any moment, destabilize the whole system by speaking truths that were never meant to surface. His silence was demanded, and silence was achieved. So while the official story will continue to speak of Russian agents, of another “terrorist act” in Moscow’s hybrid war, many in Kiev understand otherwise. They know Parubiy was not struck down by outsiders but by insiders. They know it was not the Kremlin's revenge for 2014 but Ukraine’s own structures, its own power brokers deciding that one of its founding fathers had become excess baggage. In this sense, his death is a signal to others: no one is safe, and no secret is too old to kill for. View the full article

🦜 Google trying to eat Duolingo: Google just shoved AI into Translate, adding a language practice mode with listening/speaking drills that adapt to your skill level. It’s basically Duolingo but without the bird threatening your family. Also new: live audio translations in 70+ languages, even in noisy airports. It’s never been a better time to perfect your awkward small talk in French. The post Google trying to eat Duolingo appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Use a Bluetooth mouse on iPad: Put your mouse in pairing mode, then on your iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and look under Other Devices. Tap to pair, and once it connects, a cursor will appear. FYI: You’ll need iPadOS 13.4 or later and a compatible mouse (here’s one on sale). We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective. The post Use a Bluetooth mouse on iPad appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Luxury’s identity crisis: When you’re dropping $400K on a car, do you really want it to feel like a fancy iPad on wheels? Bentley doesn’t think so either. They’re going full old-school – custom wood, rare materials and designers who actually sit down with you. Because real luxury is still made by hand, not just coded in. The post Luxury’s identity crisis appeared first on Komando.com. View the full article

Activists in Cologne rallied against Berlin’s plans to boost defense spending and aid for Ukraine and Israel An initially peaceful anti-war march in Cologne descended into violence on Saturday after activists clashed with police. Protesters were rallying against Berlin’s plans to boost military spending and aid for Ukraine and Israel. The rally, which reportedly drew nearly 3,000 people, was organized by the anti-war group Disarm Rheinmetall, a reference to Germany’s top defense supplier. The group staged multiple demonstrations this week, including blocking access to a Bundeswehr building on Wednesday and protesting outside Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger’s home in Meerbusch, near Dusseldorf. The activists said they were opposing the government’s plans to increase defense spending, expand the army through conscription, and provide military support to Ukraine and Israel. Footage from Saturday’s protest showed banners reading “lay down your arms” and “We won’t die in your wars.” One protester told the video agency Ruptly that German militarization and NATO’s role in the Ukraine conflict marked “a significant step towards World War III.” Another criticized the government for channeling funds into the arms industry instead of social needs and education. According to reports, citing the local authorities, the march was repeatedly halted after police reported seeing protesters masking themselves and setting off smoke bombs. Police also said it intercepted an escort vehicle carrying pyrotechnics, methylated spirits, and gas cylinders. It claimed it was eventually forced to disperse the crowd after some demonstrators attacked officers. Mindestens ein Demonstrant wurde bei dieser Aktion durch den Schlag eines Polizisten verletzt. #Köln #koe3008 #k3008 #RME #RME2025 pic.twitter.com/M0oP1nlAXo — junge Welt (@jungewelt) August 30, 2025 Videos posted online showed police using their fists, batons and tear gas, with several activists visibly injured. A number of protesters were reportedly detained, though no figure was given. A spokesman for the demonstrators accused the police of attacking activists, claiming between 40 and 60 people were injured. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suspended borrowing limits to ramp up defense spending, pledging to raise it to 3.5% of GDP by 2029. He also announced plans to expand the Bundeswehr from about 182,000 to 240,000 active troops by 2031, and introduced mandatory registration for 18-year-olds to prepare for a potential return to conscription. He has further suggested that German troops could be deployed to Ukraine as part of a European peacekeeping force, despite Russia’s rejection of any Western troop presence in Ukraine under any guise. View the full article