When in doubt, check the currency rates. The financial markets care more about reality and less about propaganda.
One Ukrainian hryvnia is worth 20% less than a year ago. One Russian ruble is worth 20% more than a year ago.
I decided to quit in January last year. The first steps were difficult and I relapsed a few times after that, but I've managed to be completely porn-free since May.
I used to watch mostly softcore amateur porn on r***it. The never-ending content from millions of women whoring themselves out was dangerous and addictive. There are subforums dedicated probably to every single body detail -- it's relatively easy to discover your favourite body type and the traits that turn you on... and then, it's VERY difficult to stop scrolling and never come back. It's always "just one more photo".
Ever since I ditched it, I feel better, my hairline stopped receding and my male traits actually seem much stronger -- for instance, my jaw feels wider than before. The temptation is still there, but resisting it feels easier every week. I don't have the urge anymore. I hope I won with the addiction.
I know that's the main argument against the monarchy, but then nobody really gets rid of the presidents either. "We have a mechanism to get rid of him" is irrelevant if you never use that mechanism. Who cares whether it's more difficult to get rid of the king than the president (arguable) when it's essentially the same?
And honestly the presidents do not represent the best in the nation. With a king, "weak or sinful" is a "maybe". With a president, it's a "maybe not".
Theoretically the best of the two worlds would be an elective monarchy, such as eg. the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century or Vatican currently -- but the practice shows that it's actually the worst of the two worlds. You get an uneducated, psychologically impaired head of state with royal powers for life.
When you're ruled by a Monarch, you're ruled by somebody who was thoroughly prepared for this role since birth, in his upbringing and education. It's his duty. His main incentive is leaving the country in the good shape for his descendants, as well as for the entire nation.
When you're ruled by a president, you're ruled by someone who has decided that he WANTS to rule, so usually that's a person with some serious psychological condition. He's elected "by the people", so his competence doesn't really matter. What matters is either how he sells himself to the voters, or who counts the votes cast for him. His main incentive is making as much money as possible until his term ends. Shape of the country doesn't matter if you can spend your retirement in another country.
...yeah, it's a no-brainer, really.
Welcome to 2022. I know nothing, I have no certainty and life has never been worse.
Nobody can be sure about the raw footage authenticity anymore, because the media has never been more corrupt. And the technology? Any 14-year-old can insert a digital tank into a short movie he shot with his smartphone.
Therefore, it's not unthinkable to consider that the corpses could have been inserted, too. The combat zone footage is not believable any more. Generating some pictures is extremely easy. Videos are not a reliable proof anymore.
"Better movies than anyone else"? It's (((the current year))), even Bollywood is far superior to Hollywood. The special effects caught up, the scenarios are written by whoever's most competent -- and not whoever's needed for a diversity ratio, there is no wokeness, they joke about midgets, women, and blacks. There is no demoralization.
To be honest, I'm currently more interested in Indian Filmfare Awards than in American Academy Awards. Hollywood is dead. It was killed by the same (((people))) that built its legend.
For me, the breaking point was the infamous Nazi saying, "S**** Ukraini, G****** S****". For many of our ancestors, these were the last words they have heard in their lives -- just before they were barbarically murdered. The reaction to these words was usually proportional, with some Polish politicians condemning their use and most of the Poles refusing to say them out loud, even while visiting Ukraine. Then, the switch was flipped: my friends are blatantly using these in their social media stories, they are casually displayed on the streets of Warsaw. The verbal equivalent of something worse than a swastika.
It feels like having a stroke.
What do you mean? France, UK, Germany, Sweden...