dream job... but i'm not smart enough.

was a mainstay of the southern economy in the 1700s because of the dye made from its leaves. indigo became valuable due to the innovations of 17-year-old eliza lucas of south carolina who developed a deep blue dye that became wildly popular.

derogatory name given to all colonists, even those who didn't support the rebellion.

(see: #613)

in 1874, the discovery of gold in the black hills of dakota sent thousands of gold seekers through sacred sioux lands. war parties responded by raiding white settlements. after two years of warfare, a group of sioux and cheyenne warriors confronted a u.s. cavalry column at the little bighorn river in montana territory. instead of waiting for reinforcements, general george a. custer led his 264 troopers into battle. they were surrounded, and every last man, including custer, was killed.

the battle of the little bighorn was the indians' greatest victory, but it was also their last. by 1881, all the plains tribes had been forced to move to reservations.

at the end of the spanish-american war, the united states had acquired the philippines and hawaii. this made the nation a major power in the pacific. the navy now needed to find a way to move ships from the west coast to the east coast that was more efficient than going around the tip of south america. the solution was to build a canal — a waterway connecting two bodies of water - across central america to join the atlantic ocean and the pacific ocean.

in 1903, a revolution in panama gave the country its independence from colombia. president roosevelt now had the opportunity he needed to acquire a route for the canal, since the isthmus of panama is the narrowest piece of land in the americas. the u.s. government instantly recognized the new government of panama and signed a treaty that gave the united states a ten-mile-wide "canal zone" in exchange for a fee of $10 million and an annual payment of $250,000.

he was the most important military leader in japan after 1931 and led japan during world war 2.

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.

a gift or superpower in some instances.

his real name is nusret gokce. we both come from the same turkish city: erzurum.

can a truth become a lie?

how erdogan tamed turkey's newsrooms

life in ancient greece varied greatly depending on a person's status, occupation, and location, but there were some common elements that characterized daily life for the majority of the population.

for most ancient greeks, the day began with a simple breakfast of bread, cheese, and perhaps a cup of wine. afterward, they would set off to work, whether that meant farming, crafting, or trading. the workday would typically last from sunrise to sunset.

after work, ancient greeks would return home to their families. dinner, the main meal of the day, was typically a communal affair, with the family eating together at a table. dinner might include a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes, as well as fish, meat, and dairy products.

after dinner, ancient greeks might engage in leisure activities such as playing games, visiting with friends and neighbors, or attending cultural events such as plays or athletic competitions. some people also spent their evenings studying or engaging in religious rituals.

it's important to note that ancient greek society was highly stratified, with a small elite class of wealthy landowners and politicians at the top, and a large class of poor peasants and slaves at the bottom. daily life would have been very different for these two groups, with the wealthy enjoying a much higher standard of living and more leisure time, while the poor were burdened with hard manual labor and had little time for leisure.

the 2023 israel-hamas war, also referred to as "operation iron swords" by israel, and as the "battle of seif al-quds" by hamas, marked a significant and deadly escalation in the long-standing israeli-palestinian conflict. this conflict has deep historical roots, primarily revolving around territorial, national, and religious disputes between israelis and palestinians.

the immediate events leading to the war began on october 7, 2023, when hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern israel from the gaza strip. this attack involved gunmen entering israeli territory, resulting in significant casualties and hostages being taken back to gaza. in response, israel launched extensive military airstrikes and a ground invasion aimed at neutralizing hamas' military capabilities and recovering hostages.

historically, the gaza strip has been a focal point of conflict. hamas, which governs gaza, is designated as a terrorist organization by israel, the united states, and the european union, among others. it took control of gaza in 2007, following its victory in the 2006 palestinian legislative elections and subsequent conflicts with the fatah party. the israeli government has since imposed blockades on gaza, citing the need to limit hamas' ability to arm itself. these blockades, coupled with repeated cycles of conflict, have led to significant humanitarian issues in gaza.

the broader historical context includes the establishment of israel in 1948, subsequent arab-israeli wars, and ongoing disputes over territories and the rights of palestinians and israelis. various peace efforts over the decades, including the oslo accords in the 1990s, have attempted to address these issues but have largely failed to achieve a lasting resolution.

the 2023 conflict has been marked by extensive military operations, significant casualties on both sides, and widespread international concern over the humanitarian impact, particularly in gaza. efforts by other countries and international organizations to mediate have continued, but the situation remains highly volatile and deeply complex.

have you ever heard of the region-beta paradox?

imagine someone starting a new job. they tell themselves, “if my office is less than a mile away, i’ll walk. but if it’s farther, i’ll bike.” walking is clearly their first choice because it means the job is close and easy. but it turns out the office is two miles away, so they have to bike.

here’s where the paradox comes in. if the office were only a mile away, walking would take ten or fifteen minutes. but because it’s two miles and they bike, it only takes four or five minutes. the situation they thought was worse actually works out better. seen from a time-saving perspective, it makes perfect sense. strange, right?

psychologist dan gilbert from harvard university described this idea in 2006 and called it the region-beta paradox. he explained that people often get stuck in situations that are only mildly uncomfortable. they’re not bad enough to fix, but not good enough to truly enjoy. because these situations don’t cross the brain’s “alarm threshold,” we don’t change them. we just adapt.

the region-beta paradox reminds us that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. it’s the space where seemingly negative outcomes can lead to surprisingly positive ones.

think about it: your relationship isn’t amazing, but it’s not terrible either. you tell yourself, “we’re fine.” years pass. your job is okay. the pay’s decent, your boss isn’t bad, but you wake up every morning feeling drained. you think, “it’s fine for now.” five years go by. you have a small ache that’s not serious enough for a doctor, but not minor enough to ignore. months later, it’s still there.

that “it’s fine” zone is where life quietly stagnates. if things were worse, you’d take action. if they were better, you’d enjoy them. but in the middle, you stay stuck.

maybe if that relationship ended, you’d meet someone who truly fits you. maybe if you left that dull job, you’d find one that excites you. maybe if you stopped tolerating that ache, you’d catch a health issue early.

sometimes a setback forces you forward, because that’s when you finally get on the bike. when discomfort increases, instinct takes over. when it’s mild, you just adapt.

the region-beta paradox is a hidden trap — the comfort of “not bad.” it’s not the disasters that ruin us. it’s the “it’s fine” moments that quietly do.

so remember: don’t forget to get on your bike.