Southern Lebanon — which was turned into a battleground between Israel and the pro‑Iranian militia Hezbollah in 2023 — has suffered a new wave of devastation since February 28, when the Israeli and U.S. governments declared war on Iran and Hezbollah once again took up arms in solidarity with its ally. Israel then shifted its focus from Iran to striking Lebanon, intensifying both its military offensive and its occupation of the neighboring country.

Seguir leyendo

On one of the main roads out of Dahieh, the name given to the Beirut suburbs now at the heart of Middle East geopolitics, a row of streetlights bearing the same photograph of Iran’s penultimate supreme leader, the late Ali Khamenei, seem to bid farewell to those leaving the area. A few meters further on, as the city of Beirut begins, the iconography that floods Dahieh with the faces of Iranian and Hezbollah leaders — its Lebanese allies — vanishes, as does, to a large extent, the threat of Israeli strikes.

Seguir leyendo

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean worker has shared that he quit his job despite having no backup plan, saying he simply “refused to suffer anymore” after months of misery at work.

In a post shared on a local forum on Wednesday (May 20), the man said he had been feeling “very unhappy, even sad” for the past few months, as he constantly stayed up late finishing work until his “health and relationships” started to fall apart.

According to him, he pushed through the exhaustion because he believed the sacrifices would eventually lead to a promotion. 

However, instead of rewarding his efforts, the management allegedly “constantly berated” him.

“The new boss who came in has no reprieve, but the team seems ok with the new rhythm. I absolutely know this is the DUMBEST decision I can make, but I choose myself, and I cannot see myself suffering another 6 months if I need to consider rotation.”

Although he acknowledged that resigning without another role secured was risky, the worker said he had managed to build up around two years’ worth of savings from bonuses over the years, giving him some financial breathing room for now.

Still, he stressed that he could not afford to remain unemployed indefinitely due to his financial responsibilities.

“[My] financial commitments are: housing loan about S$1.2K/month with CPF, to also pay parents’ allowance & insurance costs + special occasion meals, which I have buffered—but I cannot stop working in case of any mishaps because they’re old. DINK. 7 YOE.”

He ended the post by asking others who had taken similar risks in their careers for advice, writing, “Anyone with any advice who has gone against the grain and still made it through, and possibly what sectors/roles may be suitable, will be helpful. My skill sets are rather generic. This includes writing, managing stakeholders, and delivering projects, and realising I am maybe not so good at managing bosses.”

“I hope you find something better.” 

His post quickly resonated with many Reddit users, particularly workers who said they had also struggled with burnout, toxic management, and deteriorating mental health.

One commenter wrote, “Hey, hi-5! Same here. I’ll tell you what, I think this was 100% the right decision. Mental health comes 1st.”

Another said, “Second this! This is the right decision and not dumb at all. The job market and economy might be bad, but nothing can compare to your well-being and mental health in the long run.”

A third shared, “I resigned without a job lined up a few years ago, also on health grounds. You don’t need validation from anyone regarding this decision. You made an assessment and pulled the trigger for your own good.”

Several other Reddit users also chimed in with words of comfort, encouragement, and practical advice as the post author prepares for the next chapter of his life.

One individual told him, “Well, I hope you find something better. Leaving an old place paves new opportunities for you. Don’t listen to any negativity; you made the right decision. Finding a job is two ways, right? Not just you, desperately looking for a job. Likewise, there’s a company/team looking for you, too. You just have to grind a little in this job market and find smart, not just brute force.”

Another advised, “Spend some time with parents and spouse while you’re job hunting. Money matters, but don’t forget to use this break to build memories too.”

In other news, a domestic helper recently took to social media to share her heartbreak after deciding to leave the family she had worked for over the past four years because her employers allegedly refused to increase her S$650 salary despite repeated promises.

In an anonymous post in the SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER Facebook group, the helper said she had become deeply attached to the family after caring for their three children and managing nearly every aspect of the household since joining them.

Read more: Maid leaves after employers refused to raise her S$650 salary: ‘Leaving them is painful, but I have to think about my child’s future’

This article (SG worker walks away without another job, says toxic work culture pushed him to the brink) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

Eudaemonius posted a photo:

hayksenekerimyan posted a photo:

Some moments don't need color to feel alive. Just you, the water, and a mountain watching over it all.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Police have arrested six individuals, including four minors, believed to have been involved in dangerous wheelie stunts on Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan P. Ramlee here recently.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the incident was detected after a 44-second video was uploaded to Facebook last Sunday, showing several motorcyclists performing dangerous stunts with pillion riders on public roads.

He said the first arrests were made yesterday at 3.20am involving a 20-year-old man and his 16-year-old girlfriend, who were riding a white Yamaha 135LC motorcycle.

“Following that, two male riders aged 17 and 16, together with two female pillion riders aged 18 and 15, who are believed to have been involved in the viral video recording, were arrested at about 12.54am today,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Zamzuri said the suspects arrested in the second operation had used two blue Yamaha 135LC motorcycles. All the suspects have had their statements recorded and were released on police bail as some of them are still underage.

“Further investigations are being carried out under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving,” he said. — Bernama

rbd4n posted a photo:

rbd4n posted a photo:

XPPen has announced its first-ever creative editing console, the Pilot Pro, and the company says it sets a new benchmark for professional editing workflows.

[Read More]

My Toy Museum posted a photo:

I bought this vintage kit in 2016. It was in the storage for years. I took it out and start building it. I love vintage kits for nostalgic reasons. I will build more of them again soon! All good fun and journey through memory lane!

When Valerie Lueth of Tugboat Printshop sets out to make a woodblock print, it’s rare that she only uses a single block. Instead, sometimes up to five distinctly carved pieces are incorporated, each containing different details that, when combined, create a total image. To make the prints, which are usually limited to editions of 100 or so, Lueth rolls the meticulously hand-carved blocks with colorful ink, layering them precisely in order. Black outlines define flora and fauna, for instance, which are first laid down as colorful shapes.

Tugboat Printshop is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and for a limited time, there’s a discount on original woodcut prints in the shop. Keep an eye out on the studio’s Instagram for updates about future editions, and Lueth is always sharing loads of making-of images on Flickr.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Tugboat Printshop Marks 20 Years of Making Meticulously Crafted Woodblock Prints appeared first on Colossal.