i didn't know it was a really big painting until i saw it at the metropolitan museum of art.
image

regarded as the best officer in the u.s. army, lee symbolized the conflict faced by many, lee had mixed feelings about slavery. though he never publicly spoke against it, he considered it a "moral and political but also felt it was a necessary lesson to civilize the slaves. he opposed secession, however, and so president lincoln offered him command of the union armies in 1861. but when virginia joined the confederacy, lee turned down the offer and accepted a commission in the confederate army. he said,

"i cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children."

thomas nast was a 20-year-old german immigrant when the civil war began. he first became famous as an artist for harper's weekly with a drawing called "emancipation," which showed what life might be like for freed slaves. but nast is most remembered for his later work. from the mid-1860s to the 1880s, nast drew editorial cartoons to attack political corruption. he also created the elephant symbol for the republican party and the democrats' donkey. and it was nast's drawings of santa claus as the jolly, red-suited figure handing out gifts from his sleigh that gave the world the modern image we know today.

one of the greatest –nobel prize winner– american authors. his letter to his son on love is as fascinating as his novels.

--spoiler--
...and don't worry about losing. if it is right, it happens — the main thing is not to hurry. nothing good gets away.
--spoiler--

dear thom:

we had your letter this morning. i will answer it from my point of view and of course elaine will from hers.

first — if you are in love — that's a good thing — that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

second — there are several kinds of love. one is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. this is the ugly and crippling kind. the other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. the first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

you say this is not puppy love. if you feel so deeply — of course it isn't puppy love.

but i don't think you were asking me what you feel. you know better than anyone. what you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it — and that i can tell you.

glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

the object of love is the best and most beautiful. try to live up to it.

if you love someone — there is no possible harm in saying so — only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

it sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

lastly, i know your feeling because i have it and i'm glad you have it.

we will be glad to meet susan. she will be very welcome. but elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. she knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than i can.

and don't worry about losing. if it is right, it happens — the main thing is not to hurry. nothing good gets away.

love,

fa

the official name of estonia is the republic of estonia.

estonia has the highest population of atheists in europe. more than 80% of its population is atheist.

estonia is the first country to leave the soviet union and produce its own money.

estonia is the home of important organizations and companies. (see: skype)

estonia wanted to be recognized as a northern country, not as a baltic country.

estonia has 2,222 islands.

estonia became the first country to have legally binding general elections using the internet.

away from keyboard.

wardenclyffe tower, also known as the tesla tower, was a wireless transmission station designed and built by the inventor nikola tesla. the tower was intended to transmit wireless energy and communication signals, but the project was never completed due to financial difficulties. it is located in shoreham, new york, and is one of the few remaining examples of tesla's work. the tower was declared a national historic landmark in 1989.

there are many different approaches to taking revenge, and some argue that seeking revenge is not a productive or healthy way to deal with conflicts or wrongdoings. here are a few examples of different philosophies and approaches to taking revenge:

an eye for an eye: this approach is based on the idea of reciprocity, and holds that when someone does something wrong or harmful to you, it is justified to do something wrong or harmful to them in return. this approach is often associated with the saying "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

forgiveness: this approach involves letting go of anger and resentment towards someone who has wronged you, and choosing not to seek revenge or retribution. many religions and spiritual traditions advocate for forgiveness as a way to find inner peace and move on from conflicts.

restorative justice: this approach focuses on repairing the harm caused by wrongdoing, rather than seeking punishment for the person who caused the harm. restorative justice involves bringing the offender and the victim together to discuss the harm that was caused and finding ways to make things right.

holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. - buddha

the term "redneck" has a complex and varied history, and its meaning has evolved over time. originally, the term was used to describe poor, white farmers in the southern united states who had sunburned necks from working long hours in the sun.

in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the term "redneck" was sometimes used as a derogatory term for white people who supported populist or labor movements, particularly in the southern states. it was also used to describe poor, rural whites who were seen as uneducated and uncultured.

during the mid-1900s, the term "redneck" began to take on a more specific meaning, referring to working-class white people who were perceived as conservative, rural, and often politically reactionary. this usage became more common in the 1960s and 1970s, during the civil rights movement and the vietnam war, when the term was often used to describe white southerners who opposed social and political change.

today, the term "redneck" is still used in a variety of ways. some people use it as a term of pride, celebrating their rural heritage and working-class roots. others use it as an insult, suggesting that someone is uneducated, close-minded, or backwards. overall, the meaning of the term "redneck" is complex and multifaceted, and it continues to evolve in response to changing social and political contexts.

the hawk tuah girl.
(see: hawk tuah)

let's dive into muphry's law (yes, that's spelled right). imagine murphy's law (anything that can go wrong, will go wrong) had a nerdy cousin who loved grammar and spelling. muphry's law states that whenever you criticize someone else's writing, you're almost guaranteed to make a mistake yourself. it's like the universe's way of keeping us humble.

here are some funny examples to illustrate:

1. social media fail: you comment on someone's post, "your such a idiot for not knowing the difference between 'your' and 'you're'." congrats, you just became the idiot.
2. email embarrassment: you send an email to your coworker, "please proofread this report. it's full of errors, and we can't have any misstakes." your coworker replies, "sure thing! by the way, you spelled 'mistakes' wrong."
3. editing nightmare: you're editing a friend's blog post and write in the margin, "this sentence is awkwardly phrased. rewright it." oops, guess who needs to rewrite their comment?

imagine this guy named chad who thinks he knows everything. he's got this unshakeable confidence, and he just can't resist explaining things, especially to women, even when they already know it—or worse, when they're experts. that's mansplaining in a nutshell.

picture tech savvy tammy, a software engineer with a decade of experience. chad, who just read a beginner's guide to coding, starts telling her how to write a basic program. tammy's internal monologue is probably something like, "thanks, chad. i only do this for a living."

then there's fitness fiona, a personal trainer. she's at the gym, working out, and chad strolls over to show her the 'correct' way to do a squat. fiona's response is a polite smile, but inside, she's imagining hitting chad with a kettlebell.

or take history buff hannah, who has a ph.d. in history. at a party, chad starts explaining world war ii to her as if she's never heard of it. hannah nods along, all the while thinking, "is this guy for real?"

and don't forget guitar goddess gwen, who's been playing guitar for fifteen years and is in a band. chad, who just picked up a guitar last week, starts showing her how to play a chord. gwen's like, "oh really, chad? tell me more about this g chord."

the best part about mansplaining is chad's unshakeable belief that he's bestowing valuable knowledge upon the unenlightened. meanwhile, the women on the receiving end are caught between wanting to laugh and wanting to sigh deeply.

so, mansplaining is when a guy explains something in a condescending way to a woman, assuming she doesn't know it, even if she's an expert. it's like chad believes it's his duty to educate everyone, even when they don't need—or want—his 'wisdom.'

istanbul mayor ekrem imamoglu, a leading opposition figure from the republican people's party (chp), has emerged as a symbol of resistance in turkey's evolving political scene. renowned for his reformist approach and strong connection with urban voters, he gained national prominence after winning istanbul's mayoralty in 2019 under contentious circumstances. his recent detention on charges of corruption and terrorism has triggered widespread protests, heightened economic uncertainty, and renewed debates over democratic freedoms in turkey. the incident is seen as a critical juncture in a long standing power struggle between the government and its critics.

timeline of key events

march 18, 2025
istanbul university annuls imamoglu's degree amid allegations of irregularities, a decision that jeopardizes his eligibility to run for president.

march 19, 2025
turkish police surround his residence in istanbul early in the morning. despite sending a message of resolve on social media, declaring that he would not give up, imamoglu is detained along with over 100 others on charges including corruption, extortion, and alleged ties to terrorism.

march 23, 2025
he is formally arrested on corruption charges and transferred to marmara prison. authorities accuse him of leading a criminal organization connected to municipal contracts and by extension influencing ties with designated terrorist groups.

march 24, 2025
mass protests erupt nationwide in response to his arrest. the government enforces restrictions on public gatherings and social media, while economic indicators show a sharp downturn amid rising political uncertainty. international voices call for upholding democratic processes, underscoring the broader impact of these events.

siamese cats are a breed originating from the siam region in thailand, southeast asia, where they were fed and regarded as sacred in holy temples. they take their name directly from siam. their most distinguishing features are a black face, ears, and paws, with the rest of the coat in white or cream tones, and typically striking bright blue eyes.

they are a short-haired breed. the long-haired variety is known as the balinese. all of these lines are pure and natural, and several other breeds stem from them: himalayan, oriental, tonkinese, balinese, and havana.

extremely friendly and playful, siamese rank high on the cat intelligence scale. their temperament is calm and affectionate, and they love to play.

their average lifespan is 8–15 years, with weights ranging from 2–8 kg.

traditional (or "applehead") siamese have long bodies and noses. the shorter-bodied, smaller-nosed type was developed later in america and is commonly referred to as the modern siamese.

they're my favorite cat breed: they chatter constantly, always demanding attention, yet they're incredibly smart and affectionate bundles of fur. one of their most curious traits is that their coat color darkens when it's cooler and lightens when it's warmer. in terms of feline intelligence, they're definitely in the top three—some individuals can astonish you with their cleverness.

ukygkughj