Es muss ein großer Segen sein, so dumm wie Trump zu sein. Der Nahe Osten war für die USA Jahrzehnte der wichtigste Hebel als Hegemon. Mit Israel als strategischem Anker führte man viele Kriege, baute unzählige Militärbasen, alles um die Kontrolle über das Öl zu sichern. Dass Trump diesen Rückzug freudig begrüßt, ist das Geständnis einer Niederlage, die er nicht erkennt.

Was hat den Anstoß gegeben? Die iranischen Angriffe auf US-Militärbasen haben gezeigt, was viele ahnten: Die USA sind kein zuverlässiger Protektor mehr. Wer Sicherheit will, muss mehr tun als nur den wertlosen Dollar zu horten. Die Golfstaaten haben das begriffen.

Trump glaubt, das Bündnis richte sich in erster Linie gegen den Iran. Vielleicht denkt er sogar, er könne es nach Belieben lenken. Beides ist falsch. Der Iran ist der Vorwand. Der eigentliche Adressat ist Israel und seine kontinuierliche territoriale Expansion. Saudi-Arabien, die Türkei und Pakistan schaffen sich eine Absicherung gegen ein Israel, das sich unter US-Deckung für unantastbar hält. Ob Trump das versteht? Unwahrscheinlich.

aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/17/t…

#uspol #trump #turkey #saudiarabia #pakistan #israel #iran #meccapact

Posting about BINI, a pop group from the Philippines, and clicking on the tag #TurkishCelebrities reminded me of my ignorance of vast areas of the world and its diverse peoples.

I try my best not to be a blinkered Anglo, whilst also recognizing that I can never hope to have much more than a fragmentary and superficial understanding of the histories of most of the planet's inhabitants. For deeper insights, I am dependent on experts and informants with firsthand knowledge and experience.

I hope it doesn't sound too smug if I say that at least I am aware of my ignorance.

What frightens me is that the most powerful man on earth is not only ignorant, but also unaware of the depth of his ignorance and, insofar as he is aware of his ignorance, resistant to remedying that ignorance to any degree by careful reading of briefings, thoughtful discussion with experts, or - can you imagine it? -- opening a book.

Ultimately, my ignorance is of little consequence one way or the other. His ignorance could, quite literally, be the end of the world.

#Image: Bryce Vickmark/ZUMA; RomoloTavani/iStock; photoillustration by Ivylise Simones

#Politics #History #DonaldTrump #NuclearWar #BINI #Philippines #Türkiye #Turkey #Ignorance #Antiintellectualism

How We Show Up for Every Customer, at Every Step

There’s a quiet myth about the word “premium.” It brings to mind distant service, unanswered messages, and an experience that feels designed to impress rather than to genuinely help. We’ve never thought that trade-off was necessary.

Being premium and being accessible are not opposites. The best experience a customer can have is to feel like someone is paying attention to them, not just at checkout, but the whole time.

Here’s how that looks in practice, at every stage of your order.

Before You Place an Order

There are usually questions before anyone hits “buy.” When it comes to sizing, timelines, materials, and suitability, it’s the little things that make a purchase feel right or uncertain.

Our main priority right now is to be totally accessible. It’s not technically available, but it’s actually responsive. We’re looking for real answers, not just templated deflections.

When someone reaches out, they get a thoughtful reply that acknowledges their question as a valid and important thing to ask — because it is.

No one should feel like they need to earn the right to ask something. If you ask questions early on, you’ll be able to place orders with confidence.

When You Place Your Order

We like to mix things up.

Our confirmations are written by ourselves.

We include a real person to write back to, not a no-reply address.

This is the point when most brands stop communicating, thinking they’ve done all they can. We see it as the moment the relationship actually begins.

While Your Order Is Being Prepared

The period between placing an order and receiving it is when anxiety quietly builds. Customers don’t want to be flooded with updates — but they do want to know that someone is on top of it.

We’re pretty proactive. If something changes — a delay, an unexpected change, anything that affects your order — we’ll reach out before you have a reason to write in. We’re the first ones to reach out, and we make it clear what’s going on and how to move forward. No one should have to call us for info about their order.

Proactive communication isn’t about managing optics. It’s about respecting your time and your plans.

After It’s in Your Hands

Most transactional relationships end at delivery. We think the most important moment is just after it.

A short, unhurried check-in — not a review-solicitation blast, but a genuine enquiry — signals that our interest in your experience didn’t stop the moment the package left our hands. If something was wrong, we want to know, and we want to be the easiest possible people to tell. If something worked really well, that matters too.

Over time, this follow-through is what separates a brand that feels attentive from one that just looks polished. We remember preferences. We carry context forward. We try to get a little better to work with each time

What This Actually Means

Premium but accessible, in plain terms, looks like this: short response times, honest communication when things are delayed, packaging that shows care, messages that sound like a person wrote them, and follow-ups that aren’t fishing for five stars.

It means no customer should ever feel that their concern is too small, their question too basic, or their order too modest to deserve real attention.

The true measure of a premium experience isn’t the price point or the aesthetic. It’s whether the customer — at every stage of the journey — felt like someone was genuinely glad they reached out.

That’s the standard we hold ourselves to. Not because it’s always easy, but because it’s the right way to treat people.

At 4AKC, we believe shopping for men’s clothing is more than just picking a suit or a shirt—it’s a full experience. As a leading menswear brand from Turkey with 10 active stores, we are redefining what it means to shop for wholesale men’s outfits and wholesale men’s suits.

Crafting an Exceptional Shopping Experience

Every visit to our stores is designed to be seamless and memorable. From the moment you step inside, you’re not just browsing clothes—you’re entering a space where style, comfort, and service meet. Our trained staff ensures that each customer finds the perfect fit, whether it’s a sharp wholesale men’s suit for business or a casual menswear outfit for daily wear.

We focus on personalized service, curated collections, and attention to detail, because we know the shopping experience matters just as much as the clothes themselves.

A Digital Presence That Reflects Our Brand

We bring the same care from our stores into the digital world. Our website showcases the full breadth of our collections, making it easy for retailers and fashion enthusiasts alike to explore and order wholesale men’s clothing online.

By prioritizing user-friendly design, high-quality visuals, and interactive features, we ensure that our digital platform mirrors the premium experience you get in-store. From virtual lookbooks to online B2B registration, our online presence is built to be as engaging and efficient as our physical stores.

Why Digital Excellence Matters

In today’s fast-paced fashion world, a strong digital presence is more than convenience—it’s a statement. At 4AKC Menswear, our website and social media channels reflect our commitment to style, quality, and innovation, allowing us to connect with customers worldwide while maintaining the exclusive feel of our in-store experience.

Wholesale Men’s Clothing, Redefined

Whether you are a boutique owner or a fashion-conscious retailer, partnering with 4AKC Men’s Clothing, means more than purchasing wholesale men’s outfits. It’s about joining a brand that values:

• Quality craftsmanship
• Innovative style
• An exceptional shopping experience, online and offline

We invite you to explore our collections and experience why 4AKC stands out as a leading menswear brand from Turkey.

We can deliver your orders quickly from Türkiye through our dedicated foreign trade team. Our export specialists carefully manage every step of the process to ensure your shipment reaches you smoothly and without any issues.

Throughout the shipping process, we stand by your side—helping you find the most efficient and cost-effective logistics solutions for your order.

«3 March: International Sex Workers' Rights Day»

Joint statement by [Turkish] organizations working with and for trans communities. 👠🇹🇷🏳‍⚧

> 3 March marks the anniversary of the historic march launched by thousands of sex workers in India in 2001 to demand their rights!

> Today, from Türkiye, we salute the legacy of that struggle. March 3 is not merely a date on the calendar; it symbolizes a global voice raised for the recognition of sex workers' labor, for working conditions free from violence, and for the demand for equal citizenship.

> Yet we commemorate this meaningful day amid acute rights violations in Türkiye, intensified under the declaration of the “Year of the Family” which directly targets the living and working spaces of sex workers.

> Today, sex workers are subjected to systematic repression under vague justifications such as “public morality” and “public order”.

> Over the past year, this regime of pressure in Türkiye has evolved into a process in which arbitrary home sealings have become normalized, judicial harassment and open targeting have increased, and allegations of ‘obscenity’ have been transformed into systematic tools of punishment for sex workers.

> Our constitutional right to housing is being violated through unlawful home sealings; sex workers pushed onto the streets are exposed to economic violence through arbitrary and unjust administrative fines imposed under the Misdemeanors Law.

> Efforts to exist and create working spaces in digital spheres are also criminalized; social media posts and online communication activities are used as grounds for investigations and prosecutions under claims of “obscenity” and “immorality”, keeping sex workers under constant threat of judicial harassment.

> These punitive practices not only push sex workers into deeper poverty but also render them unprotected and vulnerable to hate crimes, physical violence, and systematic abuse.

> For trans sex workers, these violations intersect with social exclusion and employment discrimination, resulting in even harsher isolation and life-threatening risks.

> As organizations working with and for trans communities, we firmly assert that sex workers are entitles to full and equal rights, and that our labor must be legally recognized and protected. The closure of safe working spaces, the sealing of brothels, and policies that force people into unregistered and precarious work disregard occupational safety and endanger our lives.

> We raise our voices against all arbitrary and unlawful practices, against stigmatizing language, and against impunity policies that fuel violence.

> On this March 3, we once again declare:

> In the face of criminalization and isolation, our greatest strength is our organized struggle and solidarity.

> We will continue to defend one another's rights and stand shoulder to shoulder in courts, in the streets, and in every sphere of life.

> We will not give up our right to and desire for an equal, just, and violence-free life.

> FOR OUR RIGHTS AND OUR LIVES, WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE!

• Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association.
• Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association.
• 20 November Association Against Hate Crimes.
• Mersin LGTB 7 Colors Research and Solidarity Association.
• Kapsama Alanı.

Signatory International Organizations:
• SWAN: The Sex Workers' Rights Advocacy Network.
• ESWA: European Sex Workers' Rights Alliance.
• Red Umbrella Athens.

👏👏👏👏👏 😍

#SexWork #ISWRD #ISWRD2026 #Trans #Turkey #Türkiye #SWAN #ESWA

So, Canada Geese aka cobra chickens are well known for their aggressive territoriality.

Wild turkeys are larger and relentlessly persistent however. Most of us would not want to be on the wrong side of one. Come spring, we give turkey hens wandering about with their chicken-sized fluffy grey chicks a wide berth.

While they are native to Ontario originally, wild turkeys were extirpated from the Canada by 1909. Mid twentieth century efforts to restore wild turkeys in the United States were picked up in Canada.

Reintroduction for Ontario efforts of the mid 1980s were successful and current efforts focus on distributing the population and maintaining a population for hunting.

Ottawa, with its extensive greenbelt, has many natural corridors for wild turkeys.

A major intersection with high traffic volume in Ottawa unfortunately seems to have become a regular hangout for some turkeys to the misfortune of pedestrians, especially if a pedestrian appears to be trying to walk away from them.

A pair of them decided that they needed to follow a someone this weekend and someone caught it on video.

Enjoy.

cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/otta…

#Canada #Turkey #WildTurkeys #Birds #Ottawa #Ontario #Wildlife #SuburbanWildlife #Rewilding