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What is happening in Ukraine—the attempt by Russia to subjugate and dismantle a sovereign nation—is not fundamentally different from what has happened throughout recorded human history. Empires have risen and fallen, kingdoms have expanded and collapsed, and ambitious rulers have continually sought more power, territory, resources, and wealth. And always, the cost has been paid in human lives. The names and technologies changed, but the fundamental mechanism remained remarkably consistent: power creates control, and control creates wealth. Political power could be acquired through conquest, military force, trade, or a combination of both. Once established, it allowed one nation, empire, or group to exercise control over others and extract resources from them. History provides an almost endless list: Akkadian Empire — one of the earliest known empires; it expanded through conquest and eventually collapsed. Ancient Egypt — a succession of powerful kingdoms whose we...

 Looking across the long arc of human history, a recurring pattern in the way societies are organized seems to emerge. Although institutions, technologies, cultures, and political systems have changed enormously from one age to another, certain relationships between production, power, security, and control appear to persist. Again and again, those who produce the material foundations of society seem to coexist with—and often become subordinate to—those who possess the means to organize, enforce, or appropriate power. The names, institutions, and technologies change with the times, but the underlying dynamic can be remarkably familiar. Perhaps what changes throughout history is less the fundamental structure of these relationships than the mechanisms through which they are maintained. The warrior becomes the feudal lord, the feudal lord becomes the aristocrat, and the aristocrat gives way to the modern political and economic elite. Tribute becomes taxation; physical protection bec...

Following Russia’s war against Ukraine, public debate has tended to crystallize into two major narratives—pro-Russian and pro-Ukraine. Some argue that a third, “neutral,” narrative exists. Yet when examined closely, this position often aligns with the pro-Russian stance, framing the invasion as an internal matter that others should not interfere with. However, this debate is not what struck me most. What deserves attention is how mass media routinely speaks of “countries” as if they were unified actors with singular opinions. In reality, these narratives represent the positions of ruling classes—political elites, governing parties, and decision-makers—who set national direction. If we look at history, we are reminded that large political shifts rarely begin as grand designs. Instead, they often emerge from small actions or failures to act, first by individuals, then by small groups, growing gradually like a snowball until they produce changes that affect the lives of millions. It b...

First we must point out the definition of normality: Normality in society is the state in which individuals' behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles conform to the established norms, rules, and expectations of their culture or social group. Key Points: ·          Culturally Dependent: What is considered "normal" varies between cultures, communities, and time periods. ·          Not Absolute: Normality is socially constructed , meaning it is shaped by what the majority or those in power define as acceptable or typical. ·          Used for Social Control: Societies often use the idea of normality to encourage conformity and discourage deviance (behavior outside the norms). ·          Can Exclude: Labeling something or someone as "not normal" can lead to stigma , marginalization , or discrimination . Let us acknowled...

I believe there is a growing, perhaps universal, trend to displace people from rural lands and draw them into urban centers. This shift isn't solely about people seeking comfort or opportunity. It also appears to be driven by a broader institutional agenda—one that finds it more efficient to concentrate populations in cities, where they are easier to monitor, regulate, and control. Increasing taxes on land, coupled with restrictive rural regulations, seem to be steadily paving the way for the gradual removal of people from the land. Admittedly, small-scale farming is no longer the most productive way to earn a living or feed a family. However, for those who deliberately choose this lifestyle, modern technology offers a path to a more sustainable and autonomous existence. Today’s tools and knowledge make it possible to live at least partially off-grid with a level of efficiency unimaginable a century ago. This means farming doesn’t have to be all-consuming—it can leave time for othe...

No matter the outcome of the so-called 'minerals deal' in Ukraine, the relationship between the European Union and the United States has undeniably suffered a significant fissure—one that is likely to persist or even deepen in the years to come. The mercantilist approach displayed by the current U.S. administration has served as a cold shower for the EU, revealing uncomfortable truths about the nature of their partnership. This shift in U.S. foreign policy has, in many ways, crowned a three-decade-long trajectory of American interventionism and transactional diplomacy, marked by a series of questionable decisions on the global stage: the Iraq War (Bush Jr.), the destruction of Libya, the muddled involvement in Syria, and, to a certain extent, the complex outcomes of the Afghan conflict. This trend reflects a broader pattern in U.S. foreign policy—one that prioritizes national interests, often at the expense of long-standing alliances. The EU, once a central partner in shaping...

 It is a refreshing shift to finally recognize that the so-called 'tycoons' of the West should rightfully be classified as oligarchs. For decades, we were fed the narrative that the United States and other Western 'democracies' were home to tycoons—wealthy individuals who had earned their fortunes through business prowess. Meanwhile, in the East, the term 'oligarchs' was reserved for the elites who wielded both financial and political power, often acquired through murky means. This stark distinction was presented as though it were a matter of geography and governance, implying that the West’s wealthiest were somehow more legitimate or virtuous in their accumulation of power. However, a shift is now happening. More and more people in the United States are beginning to see that the label 'tycoon' is merely a euphemism—a glossy sticker slapped on a bag of rotten tomatoes to make it look more appetizing. The reality is, once an individual, family, or group r...

I am from this "neck of the woods", near Ukraine, and yes, the red army and the USSR did some bad things around here. Still, the current situation deserves attention as it's not as Western powers portray it. Along the history many world powers made or dismantled governments outside their borders in order to achieve control over certain resources situated in those particular countries or to simply generate conflicts to turn the electorate attention there and boost their own war industry. In how many countries USA, UK and others "put their tails in". How many "revolutions" were created (not sustained) through foreign intervention. I, already have a point of view regarding "petro-dollars" wars. Russia is no saint but neither the others. Control the information and counter-information and you will win the war. Through world powers, I mean the ruling class there (those 1% existing everywhere) which "educate" the voters through main m...

A metallic frame is desirable for two reasons. (1) Less plastic and (2) less plastic. Metals are more durable while not leaking chemicals. Less plastic = less dependence on fossil fuels. We see consumerism at its peak in the car manufacturing industry where, despite the fact that the technology is so advanced, the amount of plastic used in the constructions process is tremendous high. "The engine is still working ok" but most of plastics used are literally decay around you. Let's make a product that will last a life time (or as much as possible) as our needs aren't that different in regards to transportation, data management, appliances, etc. If we are not doing that, the amount of garbage that we produce will bury us. I like to work on my bike and, generally working with machines (entry level stuff, not car mechanic thing) and I must tell that I wish they last forever but the thing is that we have gaskets everywhere. Well gaskets made from rubber and some plastic are...

Did anyone think about the way in which the flu/cold season is taking speed? Yes one could say that the passing between the seasons is weakening our immune system and so, we are becoming susceptible to common diseases. Can we stop for a moment and think about the meaning of quarantine from the perspective of remote working as a norm not as an exception? Regarding the waste of energy and the contradiction between the centralised offices and the common-sense health considerations, below are two aspects: ·          natural light ·          fresh air One thing that hit me today was the amount of “window space” for each employee working on a centralised office. This mean that in a sea of working stations (desktops = furniture) only a few benefit of the sun while the rest remain dependant to the artificial light. As this isn’t enough another aspect of big offices is the centralised cli...

"Hell is the absence of reason", somebody said. I relocated to an office in another country, just to spend >90% of time at a desk, rarely seeing what I designed. I am open to travel but, let’s face it, 90% of the delivery process is done at a desk in front of a monitor and those could be anywhere in the world. The inclusion & diversity will truly work by allowing people to work and deliver their brain power from a familiar environment. In my case, I just changed one desk with another, 3200 km away from my life. As a result I'm struggling with depression. We are talking about unleash your creativity while the work pattern/policy demands people to be tied to an office and to slightly modified 9-5 pm work day. We are talking about reducing our carbon footprint while > 70 % of employees commute because they either cannot afford buy a property in the city – near the office or they want to have a garden and be closer to nature => they are forced to move f...

I will start his with the link below: https://www.lifesavvy.com/6505/is-it-hard-to-stay-productive-when-you-work-from-home/ I am mentioning this as it seems that the status quo representing by the almost-mandatory presence of employees in the centralized office is not aligned with the innovation diversity & inclusion , reduced carbon footprint , energy efficient and so on - advertised. The other day somebody said something about unleashing the/your creativity … but it seems to me that many companies are stuck in a work pattern (factory like) from the 60’s. We are talking about 5G internet speed and autonomous electric vehicles, but we aren't willing to challenge the impracticability’s of the day to day life. As I commuted for several years, I end up seeing that there is problem that needs to be addressed at the core of how businesses are organised. Way too many people travel to work (centralised offices) in the era www. 8 hrs x 5 + 1.5hrs x 5= 40+7.5 => on...