HOW THANKFULNESS CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

GRATITUDES
It is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. 

You ever wondered why certain people just seem to radiate happiness and positivity, no matter what life throws at them?
Well, I’ve got a secret to share: it’s all about gratitude. It’s not a magic pill, but it’s pretty close.
In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the psychology of gratitude and explore how embracing thankfulness can truly transform your life.

Ready to get started? Let’s jump right in!

BETTER QUALITY OF SLEEP

Picture this: you’re tucked into bed, ready for a good night’s sleep. But your mind just won’t stop buzzing.

Sound familiar? Well, gratitude might just be the answer.

Studies show that jotting down a few things you’re grateful for before hitting the sack can improve your sleep quality.
It helps to quiet that buzzing mind, replacing worries and negative thoughts with positive vibes. 
So, next time you’re tossing and turning, swap that counting sheep routine with counting your blessings.
You’ll be surprised at the tranquility it brings, paving the way for a deep, restful slumber.

Now, who wouldn’t be thankful for that?

IMPROVED FOCUS

Ever found yourself lost in a haze, unable to concentrate on the task at hand?

Trust me, you’re not alone. The good news? Gratitude can help.

It works like this: when you focus on things you’re thankful for, you’re essentially training your brain to stay focused on the positive.
It’s like giving your mind a gym workout!
Over time, this helps to improve your overall focus and attention span, even when you’re not consciously practicing gratitude.

And let’s face it: In today’s world of endless distractions, who couldn’t use a little more focus in their life?

So why not give gratitude a try – your brain will thank you!

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BOOST IN SELF-ESTEEM

In a world full of comparisons and endless competition, maintaining a healthy level of self-esteem can be tough.

For some people, it may even seem impossible!
But when you start acknowledging your own worth by being grateful for your achievements, talents, and even your failures (they’re learning experiences, after all!)… something great happens!
You start to view yourself in a more positive light. You recognize your strengths.

And then you celebrate them. And not just that! You start recognizing and appreciating your own value.
And as you grow more comfortable in your own skin, you’ll find that gratitude not only boosts your self-esteem.
But it radiates out, affecting those around you in the most positive way.

STRONGER SOCIAL BONDS

Let’s face it: We’re social creatures.
We thrive on connection, on feeling understood and appreciated.
Now, here’s where gratitude comes in.
When you practice gratitude, you’re not just fostering positivity within yourself. You’re also radiating it outwards, showing appreciation for the people around you.
A heartfelt thank you or a simple acknowledgment can go a long way in strengthening bonds.
It builds trust, encourages mutual respect, and fosters a sense of community. So, next time you’re with your friends or family, take a moment to express your thankfulness.

You can thank them for cooking you food, for helping you carry stuff, for listening to your rants… anything! They may be simple acts, but they carry immense impact.
You’ll be surprised at how these small acts of gratitude can deepen your relationships.

MOTIVATION FOR SELF-CARE

Self-care is more than just bubble baths and face masks.
This is about looking after your physical, mental, and emotional health.
But here’s the thing: it’s easy to put yourself last in the hustle and bustle of life.
This is where gratitude can play a crucial role. When you’re thankful for your health and wellbeing, you’re more likely to take steps to maintain it.
Appreciating your body and mind can motivate you to adopt healthier habits, from regular exercise and balanced eating to mindfulness and meditation.
So, start expressing gratitude for your health, and watch how it becomes the fuel for your self-care journey.

IMPROVED PHYSICAL HEALTH DUE TO BEHAVIOR CHANGES

Did you know that gratitude can actually improve your physical health? Sounds too good to be true, right?
But hear me out. When you practice gratitude, it often leads to positive behavior changes.
For instance, being grateful for your health can inspire you to eat better, exercise more, or quit harmful habits like smoking.

Over time, these changes can lead to noticeable improvements in your physical health, from lower blood pressure to a stronger immune system.

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Plus, studies have shown that individuals who practice gratitude regularly even report fewer aches and pains!
It may seem too good to be true. But really, it just shows how much positive framing can help us holistically.
So, it seems that an attitude of gratitude might just be the best medicine.

NOW, WHAT STOPS US FROM PRACTICING THANKFULNESS?

▪︎Envy

Ever found yourself in the clutches of envy It’s easy to lose sight of our own blessings when we’re peering over the fence.
If you want to keep yourself focused on your own journey and personal wins, then it’s time to let this go.

▪︎Materialism

In today’s world, material possessions often masquerade as happiness.
But the truth is:  real joy isn’t about ‘stuff’. It’s about love, experiences, and connections. 
When we shift our energy to gratefulness, it helps us shift this focus, revealing what truly matters.

▪︎Cynicism
Cynicism has a way of clouding our perception, making it hard to see the good.
It’s tough to be thankful when you’re skeptical.
But, practicing gratitude is like turning on a light in a dark room—it dispels cynicism.

▪︎Narcissism

Narcissism can create a sense of entitlement, which often stands in the way of gratitude.
When you’re always expecting more, it’s hard to appreciate what you already have.
On the other hand, gratitude encourages humility, a necessary antidote to narcissism.

▪︎Stress

Stress has a sneaky way of stealing joy. When we’re overwhelmed, gratitude often takes a back seat.
But here’s the deal: recognizing small moments of thankfulness can actually help manage stress. It’s about finding calm in the chaos.

▪︎Depression

Depression can feel like a heavy cloud, making it hard to see anything to be grateful for.
It’s not easy, but finding even tiny moments of gratitude can spark a light in the darkness.
In this case, gratitude may not be the cure-all. But it can surely serve as a prevention method in helping to lift our mood over time.

HOW CAN YOU INCORPORATE GRATITUDE IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

▪︎Gratitude Journaling

Gratitude journaling is a game-changing, yet simple method.
Here’s how you can do it: You start by jotting down a few things you’re grateful for each day. It might be a delicious meal, a warm bed, or a chat with a friend.
You don’t have to tell anyone about it. All you need to do is write them down, and collect them as you go!
You’ll be amazed at how this simple practice can shift your focus and brighten your outlook.

▪︎Notes of Appreciation

Ever received a heartfelt thank you note? Feels great, right?

Now, imagine giving that feeling to others.
This practice may seem awkward at first. But the more you do it, it becomes more natural and genuine. Notes of appreciation spread positivity and deepen your sense of gratitude. Plus, it’ll make someone’s day!

▪︎Reframing Past Events

We all have past events that sting a little. But what if you could reframe them?
This is a bit hard to do. But it’s just so worth it!
All you need to do is to go to places with negative memories. Or do things associated with someone from your past.
Look for the lessons, the growth, the resilience.
It’s not about ignoring pain, but finding gratitude for the strength it fostered.

▪︎Morning Meditation

It really is best to start your day feeling grateful..

Morning meditation allows you to set a positive tone for the day. It conditions your mind to become more receptive to good things.
If you need help getting started, then do this:
Watch this eye-opening video. Here, the shaman Rudá Iandé explains how so many of us fall into the toxic spirituality trap. He himself went through a similar experience at the start of his journey. 

As he mentions in the video, spirituality should be about empowering yourself. Not suppressing emotions, not judging others, but forming a pure connection with who you are at your core. 

Focus on what you’re thankful for, from the sunrise to the smell of coffee. It’s a tranquil way to embrace gratitude.

▪︎Volunteering

Volunteering is a powerful way to cultivate gratitude.

It allows you to give back, connect with others, and appreciate your own blessings.
You can start small, in your local community. Then move towards bigger causes. Eventually, you’ll see that it’s a win-win situation.
Plus, it’s a reminder of the positive impact you can have. Now, that’s something to be grateful for!

FINALLY

Gratitude isn’t just about saying ‘thanks.’ It’s a mindset, a lifestyle, a powerful tool for transforming your life.

So, why not give it a shot? Start small, practice regularly, and watch as gratitude works its magic.
Remember: the journey to a more grateful life begins with a single ‘thank you.’

So, what are you grateful for today?

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Natural Benefits Of Sexual Intercourse (Must Read For Couples)

WAYS SEX HELPS YOU LIVE LONGER

Is sex really that important? Find out! 

As more and more research is done on the subject, it’s becoming clearer that having healthy sex is essential to a healthy life. Sex can even help you to live longer. According to Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Director of Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital, if you read the latest research, “you can’t conclude anything else but that it’s healthy to have sexual activity.” 

The research being done pinpoints a few specific — and surprising — health benefits that result from having a healthy and active sex life. Healthline examines a dozen of the most proven and interesting findings. 

• SEX FIGHTS COLDS AND THE FLU  

According to a study done at Wilkes University, people who have sex a couple of times a week tend to have much higher amounts of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) than those who have sex less than once a week. What does that mean? “IgA is the first line of defense against colds and flu,” says Carl Charnetski, one of the researchers on the Wilkes study. 

• SEX BURNS CALORIES  

Sex increases blood flow and gets your heart pumping. Simply put, sex is a form of exercise, and it’s more fun than running laps. Sex doesn’t burn a ton of calories. According to a 2013 article in The New England Journal of Medicine, a man in his mid-30s might expend 21 kilocalories during intercourse. However, it’s still more exercise than you’d get sitting on the couch in front of your TV. 

• SEX REDUCES RISK OF HEART DISEASE  

Numerous studies have shown that an active sex life is closely correlated with a longer life. Specifically, it seems like sex may lower the risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other heart diseases. In 2010, the New England Research Institute conducted a massive study. Its results suggested that regular sexual activity may reduce heart disease risk. 

• SEX REGULATES HORMONE LEVELS 

Why should you care? Among other things, a healthy hormone profile promotes regular menstrual cycles and decreases negative menopause symptoms. 

• SEX CAN CURE HEADACHES AND REDUCE PHYSICAL PAIN 

Although it doesn’t seem like sex would help relieve a headache, it actually can. How? During sex, the hormone oxytocin is released in your body. Oxytocin reduces pain. In a study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, volunteers who inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked felt only half as much pain as others who did not inhale any oxytocin. 

• SEX REDUCES STRESS AND LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE  

There is another benefit of the oxytocin released during orgasm: it calms the nerves. Studies done on lab rats have shown that oxytocin counteracts the effects of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Sex also helps you sleep better. When your partner rolls over and starts snoring after a good bout in the bed, it’s not just from physical exhaustion. Oxytocin not only calms you down, but it also specifically promotes sleep. 

• SEX REDUCES RISK FOR PROSTATE CANCER 

In 2003, Australian researchers published a study showing that the more often men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to develop prostate cancer. According to the author of the study, men in their 20s should probably be ejaculating once a day. A similar study performed a year later by the National Cancer Institute showed that men who ejaculated at least five times a week, whether through sex or masturbation, were less likely to get prostate cancer. “The claim physiologically,” Goldstein told us, “is that if you empty out the tank every so often, it’s healthier than holding onto the material within the tank.” 

• SEX REDUCES RISK FOR BREAST CANCER

Women can get in on this sex-as-preventive-care thing too. According to Goldstein, studies show that “women who have vaginal intercourse often have less risk of breast cancer than those who don’t.” Goldstein added that it’s “pretty interesting and exciting and needs to be studied more.” 

• SEX BOOSTS SELF-ESTEEM AND IMPROVES MOOD  

The psychological benefits of a healthy sex life are many. The feeling of walking around on cloud nine after sex lasts longer than you think. According to Goldstein, a healthy sex life leads to long-term satisfaction with one’s mental health and enhances your ability to communicate honestly and intimately. People who are sexually active are less likely to have alexithymia. This is a personality trait characterized by the inability to express or understand emotions. 

• SEX PREVENTS PREECLAMPSIA 

Preeclampsia is a condition where blood pressure rises and causes other organ dysfunction. It is common after 20 weeks gestation, but can sometimes occur earlier in pregnancy or even postpartum. A number of studies have shown that if a woman has had enough exposure to her partner’s semen prior to conception, she is significantly less likely to get preeclampsia. Tests conducted by Dutch biologists in 2000 confirmed that women who regularly practice oral sex — particularly those who swallow their partner’s semen — have a much lower risk of preeclampsia. 

• SEX IMPROVES SENSE OF SMELL 

Scientists knew for a long time that the hormone prolactin surges in both men and women after orgasm. In 2003, a team of Canadian researchers did a test on mice. They discovered that prolactin causes stem cells in the brain to develop new neurons in the brain’s olfactory bulb — its smell center. Dr. Samuel Weiss, one of the researchers, said that he suspects that the increase in prolactin levels after sex helps “forge memories that are part of mating behaviors.” 

• SEX INCREASES BLADDER CONTROL 

The pelvic thrusting involved in sex exercises the Kegel muscles. These are the same set of muscles that controls urine flow. So lots of sex now may help prevent the onset of incontinence later.

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT SEX 

Beyond the obvious, sexual intercourse has many healthy benefits. It can help you feel happier, be healthier, and live a longer life. It can also protect against disease and possibly prevent cancer. Here, we explore some of the additional benefits that having sex can give you. 

• SEX SLASHES STRESS 

Intercourse may cut your stress level. A study published in the journal Biological Perspective asked participants to take part in a stressful activity, such as giving a speech or taking a complicated math quiz. The participants who had vaginal intercourse before a stressful task had lower levels of stress and lower blood pressures when compared to people who had no sex, those who masturbated, and those who had sexual contact without intercourse. 

• LESS SEX, MORE WORK 

Researchers at the University of Gottingen in Germany found that people with a less-than-robust sex life tend to take on more work to compensate for their lack of fulfillment in the bedroom. The study asked 32,000 people to describe their sex and work habits. The researchers found that 36 percent of men and 35 percent of women who have sex only once a week plunge themselves into their work. The more work you have, the more stress you have — and the more stress you have, the less sex you have. It’s a truly vicious cycle. 

• SEX IS GOOD FOR YOUR TICKER 

Intercourse certainly gets your heart beating, but that’s not where the heart health benefits end. A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community HealthTrusted Source found that sex can actually decrease a man’s risk for a fatal heart attack. Researchers found that men who had sex two times or more each week were less likely to die from a heart attack than men who had sex less often. The study found no relationship between the frequency of intercourse and the likelihood of dying from a stroke. 

• BETTER SELF-ESTEEM 

The sex and self-esteem street has two sides: people who have sex feel good about themselves, and people have sex to feel good about themselves. A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior looked at the many reasons humans have sex and found that one of the most common driving factors is the self-esteem boost many get from doing the deed. These same people report that sex makes them feel powerful and more attractive. Also, some people in the study had more altruistic intentions and wanted their partner to feel good about themselves. 

• SEX RELIEVES PAIN 

Sex can make you feel good in more than one way. There’s the obvious physical benefit, and then the less obvious: pain relief. During arousal and orgasm, the hypothalamus in the brain releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin. Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey found that this surge of oxytocin may actually help women feel less pain, especially during menstruation. A study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine found that oxytocin in men cuts pain perception by half. 

• SEX PROTECTS AGAINST CANCER  

According to some research, men aged 50 and over who have frequent sex are less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men their same age who do not have sex often. A study published in the journal BJU InternationalTrusted Source found that intercourse and masturbation may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in older men. Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical AssociationTrusted Source found that frequent ejaculations in a man’s ’20s may also help decrease his risk of prostate cancer. 

• ORGANSM IMPROVES SPERM QUALITY 

Frequent sex may improve a man’s sperm quality, reduce DNA damage to sperm, and increase fertility. According to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, men who had sex daily, or ejaculated daily, had more viable and higher quality semen after seven days than men who did not have sex. The study suggests this approach may help couples with mild fertility problems conceive. 

• CONSIDER SAFETY 

Sex is a chance for couples to explore their passions, connect with one another, and enjoy their relationship. It also has several additional benefits that are icing on the cake. Of course, to maintain a healthy sex life, don’t forget to practice safe sex. Use protection, especially if you’re not in a monogamous relationship, and get tested for sexually transmitted infections regularly.

Stay with Dave World Media for more articles like this and others at https://daveworldmedia.blogspot.com

WHY MEN LOVE SEX SO MUCH 

Ladies and gents, put religion whatsoever aside.  This purely a d practically natural. It's just the way it is 🤷

Shout out to those who have chosen the celibate way both male and female for a good and definite purpose, especially the reverend Father's and Sisters  Pastors and Apostles amongst several others I can't mention.

May the Lord you devoted you whole lives to uphold you. It takes a lot of self-discipline and determination to be down some natural forces.

I am not say that this of us who choose marriage are obscene, nasty or unholy, no. We are all the children of YAHWEH and in all our chosen ways or lifestyles, our GOD is to be glorified.

So I want to secure a permission from all of you to share this information

Please read the following.. 

Women find it hard to understand why men love sex so much, 

They want to help you, they want sex. 

They say they love you,they want sex. 

You mistakenly sleep over,they want sex. 

They want to borrow you money. They want sex. 

They want to give you a job. They want sex. 

They want to pass you. They want sex. 

First of all You need to understand the system of men. Men are naturally created that way, Do you know that 95% of healthy men wake up with an Erection? 

Do you know that the penis has a mind of his own?. 

A man can be sleeping, once you start rubbing the penis, it stands even when the man is asleep. 

Have you asked yourself why men are never on any periods? Cramps or bad moods. 

That's how God created Men.

A man is naturally always ready for sex. Rub a man on his head, he already thinks you want sex, wink at him, he's already seeing you naked. wave at a man walking with his wife, he will lose focus. 

That's why churches don't allow ladies with short dresses to sit in front because they will confuse pastor. 

Its not by anointing or by speaking in tongues.

Men didn't manufacture the high libido by themselves. 

Men are all created in God's image. The Bible recorded only few men who overcome sex in the Bible, Jesus Christ himself and Joseph, Joseph didn't just run away, he fled. 

Jesus was God and on top that, he was very careful not to include a woman in his disciple train. 

So many great men have fallen because of sex. Do you think they wanted to?. Soldiers in front of war still develop urge for Sex. So many soldiers were killed during war's because a woman may lure them Inside bush. 

David in the bible sent a woman's husband to the war front for him to die so he can have sex with the wife. do i need to tell you about Samson?. Solomon and other bible characters? 

It can only take the grace of God, and some level of maturity to curtail this.

The way a man's body react to this is not the same way a woman's body react to it. 

How many great women have you heard messed up because of sex, None or even few. So next time a man 'misbehaves' because of sex, don't see it as he's a beast or an animal. 

Men are just responding to nature.

It is not easy for him to easily abstain from sex that is why you need to pray for your man, stand by him, never push him away, help him build himself to be able to resist the temptations of sex. With God and you he can become a better man. 

Additionally, most of our woman are pretenders. if a woman is comfortable with her man, then you will see that they love and enjoy sex most.

Thanks for reading♤

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Ten Tricks to Save Fuel When Driving an Automatic Car

AUTO LIFE

20 JUN 2023

Driving an automatic is easy. The whole driving experience is comfortable and convenient, when there’s no having to shift the gears up and down.

However, automatic cars tend to be less fuel efficient than manuals. The slightly higher fuel consumption figure is due to the engine working a little harder, as they use a bit more gas to transmit power through an automatic transmission than a manual one. 

Here are some tricks and tips on how to drive your automatic car to save fuel and money, while keeping your vehicle running smoothly.

1. Even Out the Acceleration 

When driving an automatic car, one way to save fuel is to even out your acceleration. This can be done by gradually pressing down on the gas pedal instead of sudden, jerky movements. It's also helpful to anticipate stopping, easing off the accelerator to slow down, rather than braking suddenly. 

Additionally, try to maintain a steady speed on the motorway and avoid changing lanes and speeding up and slowing down frequently.

Use cruise control (when on flat, straight roads) or the speed limiter to maintain a steady and consistent speed, helping you avoid slowing down or speeding unnecessarily. Remember, the key is to drive smoothly and anticipate the road and traffic ahead.

2. Don't Rest Your Foot on the Brake 

One of the best ways to save fuel is to avoid resting your foot on the brake. Most cars have a footrest right beside the pedal, so get used to putting your left foot there — it'll help you keep your foot off the brake, so you can continue moving forward smoothly. 

Resting your foot on the brake can also wear out your brakes quicker, and increases drag (even if only slightly). 

3. Use the AC Sparingly 

Using your air conditioning constantly can have an impact on fuel efficiency. To save fuel, it's best to use your air conditioning sparingly. One way to do this is by rolling down the windows at lower speeds and using the air conditioning when driving at higher speeds, such as 50 km/h or more. At these speeds, the AC will have a more significant effect on cooling the car, while the drag caused by open windows will have a greater impact on fuel consumption. 

4. Check Your Tyre Pressure 

Flat or under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which means that your car has to use more energy when you are moving. Maintaining proper tyre pressure can boost the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, so be sure to check and set the correct tyre pressure for your car. 

Regular wheel alignments will also ensure safer and more efficient driving, so it's worth making sure you're getting it done with your regular services.

5. Control Your Transmission 

Even though you're driving with an automatic transmission, there are tricks you can use to save fuel. For one thing, you can coax your car transmission into shifting gears earlier by listening for the engine note and watching the needle on the tachometer to track the RPM when you're accelerating. Remember, the higher the engine note climbs, and the higher your RPMs go, the more fuel you're burning. 

Modern cars also come with paddle shifters, so you can control the gears like a manual car while still enjoying the ease of an automatic. 

6. Shift to Neutral or Turn off When Stopped 

This is one of the most obvious ways to save fuel and also one of the most effective. When you stop in traffic, shift into neutral and idle your engine. That way, your transmission isn't working harder to keep up with your idle speed, and therefore uses less fuel than if it were running. 

Modern engines use far less fuel when you start them than if you let them idle for an extended period of time — so it’s better to turn everything off if you’re waiting around or are going to be parked for more than a minute or so.

7. Plan Ahead 

Before you set out on your drive,  prepare for your commute. Google Maps or other Sat nav tools can help you find the best route to take — one that bypasses congestion or school pick-up and drop-off times. Where you can, avoid traffic lights and crossing intersections, as they are likely to cause you to stop and start quickly often. This way, you'll save on gas and your valuable time. 

If you're likely to make multiple trips, try to knock out more than one errand at a time, so you don't have to head out on multiple journeys.

8. Utilise Your Vehicle's Technology 

Alongside Satnav for efficient journeys and cruise control for smoothing out the ups and downs, there are other clever features in your car that help track and control your fuel consumption. 

On the multi-information display, some driver-assist systems will show how much fuel you're consuming in a litres per 100kms figure. You may find it a worthy challenge to adjust your driving habits to see if you can reduce this figure. 

The automatic function of hill-hold control is especially effective when driving from a stopped position up a steep incline. It holds your vehicle temporarily  so your car won't roll back down as you release the brake pedal to accelerate, reducing the use of fuel.

Tyre pressure monitoring systems let you know if and which tyre needs topping up on air, which helps improve overall fuel efficiency.

9. Stay On Top of Maintenance 

By regularly servicing your vehicle and keeping it in tip-top shape, you can ensure that the engine is running exactly as it should — at its most fuel-efficient level. 

Keeping the fluids topped up and replacing faulty components and consumables like oil and air filters is essential. If in doubt, follow the service schedule for your specific vehicle. Staying on top of maintenance will reduce the chances of something going wrong with the car that might cause it to burn more fuel than usual. 

10. Lighten Your Load 

This might seem like a no-brainer, but having excess weight in your car can affect your gas mileage. Additional weight requires more power, and therefore fuel, to move, so removing the items in your luggage area that you don’t require for the trip will save you at the pump.

Also, items like roof racks or roof boxes cause drag which reduces the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Be sure to remove these items when you are not requiring them to keep your vehicle as streamlined as possible

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Civilian Forced To Dig Trenches For Russians: ‘I wanted To Jump On A Mine And End It’

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The following article was gathered and written by Daria Shulzhenko for KyivIndependence, March 24, 2023 12:45 AM, 8 min read

"Editor's Note: People interviewed for this story are not identified by their full names to protect their identities since they or their relatives still remain in Russian-occupied towns in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The native city of released prisoner Bohdan, which is still under Russian occupation, is also not mentioned to protect his identity."

As he was walking past the Russian-controlled checkpoint outside the occupied city of Vasylivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in November, Bohdan thought that he had finally escaped the horrors of Russian captivity. 

The 22-year-old college student was kidnapped from his occupied hometown in southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast in August and held captive for three months. On Nov. 28, Russian troops brought him to their checkpoint and filmed Bohdan's so-called "deportation" to Ukrainian-controlled Zaporizhzhia. 

In the video, later published on Russian-controlled media channels, a Russian combatant reads trumped-up charges to Bohdan, hands him his Ukrainian passport, and orders Bohdan to walk toward the Ukrainian-controlled territory. 

Except that he never made it to the Ukrainian checkpoint. 

As Bohdan and another Ukrainian “deportee” were on the road toward the area controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, they came across yet another Russian checkpoint. 

His hopes of getting to Zaporizhzhia and reuniting with his friends were cut short when Bohdan heard a Russian officer saying: "I can not let you go. You have seen our positions." 

"But we will give you a chance. Work and you will live," the officer said. 

And so, yet another ordeal has begun. For almost four months, Russian troops held Bohdan and multiple other Ukrainian prisoners captive not far from that checkpoint, using them as a "labor force" for digging trenches and other hard work of the similar matter. 

During that time, Bohdan was considered missing. His loved ones heard nothing but rumors about his whereabouts. 

Bohdan was one of many Ukrainians who vanished this exact way. 

Many Ukrainian families have reported their loved ones have gone missing after Russian occupiers recorded and published videos of their so-called "deportation" from the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. 

Inna, a Ukrainian woman, told the Kyiv Independent that her father went missing in the same way on Jan. 14. A video was posted online where a Russian soldier stands next to her father at a Russian checkpoint, reading out a verdict that commands that he is “deported.” He then orders the man to run. His hands tied in front of him, the captive runs away from the checkpoint. 

After that, Inna hadn't heard from her father for almost three months. 

Bohdan and Inna's father were finally released in March. Inna could not disclose any further details due to security concerns. 

Dmytro Orlov, the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, wrote on Telegram in February that over the past several months, only a few Ukrainians who were "released on camera" actually reached a Ukrainian checkpoint in the oblast. 

Orlov said that as soon as the camera is off, Russian troops take their prisoners to some area called "the pit" between occupied Vasylivka and Kamianske, two towns located about 60 kilometers south of the regional capital of Zaporizhzia. According to him, about 200 civilian prisoners were held there as of Feb. 17. 

"Some of them are in captivity around the clock. Some people are forced to dig trenches and perform other work at the demands of the occupiers," Orlov wrote. 

Zaporizhzhia Oblast is among the four Ukrainian oblasts that Russia claimed to have annexed in an attempt to solidify Russia's territorial gains following a sham referendum in late September. Now, the oblast is only partly occupied by the Russian troops. 

Kidnapped After A Complaint 

Bohdan returned to his hometown from the regional capital, where he studies, two days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year. 

He started to regret the decision when Russian forces occupied his hometown in early March 2022. He started spending most of his time at home, where he felt safer. 

In late August, Bohdan decided it was time to try to get out of the occupied town. As he went out one day, looking for a driver to take him to a Ukrainian-controlled city, Bohdan met one of his former classmates. 

"We started talking, and, of course, politics was mentioned. It turned out he was totally pro-Russian, unlike me," Bohdan says. 

In just a day, a group of Russian soldiers "in balaclavas and with guns" came to Bohdan's family house. 

"They pulled me out of bed and took me to the woods outside the town," he says. 

According to Bohdan, Russian troops beat and interrogated him there, accusing him of his pro-Ukrainian position and questioning him about a possible connection to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the weapons he allegedly possessed. 

Then, they took Bohdan to the former police department in his hometown and locked him in one of the cells. His second interrogation came in about a month. 

Bohdan recalls the cell as small, with one bunk and a toilet. At different times, from six to nine people were held there. The prisoners did not get enough food from the Russian guards. Instead, Bohdan says their relatives were allowed to bring some food to them. 

"When I was (locked) there in the station, the number of detainees ranged from 40-50 in total," Bohdan says. "New ones arrived often." 

For a person to be detained, it was enough for a Russian collaborator to "point the finger at them and complain, and that was it," Bohdan says. 

During one of the interrogations, Russian officers made him sign a testimony claiming that two other prisoners supported Ukrainian soldiers in some local Telegram channels. 

"They (Russian officers) told me they wanted to deport these people," Bohdan says. "Then they said: “Maybe we should deport you too," he recalls. 

"I thought: 'Of course, deport me.' I would want to be on Ukrainian-controlled land." 

Russian officers told him they would "organize" everything, and he just needed to wait. 

Three weeks later, Bohdan was asked to sign some documents saying he refused to take Russian citizenship and didn't support the results of the sham referendum that Russians staged in September to claim annexation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Everything suggested that "deportation" was just around the corner. 

"I asked them how it would happen," Bohdan recalls. "They said that they would drive me to the checkpoint, and then I would walk on foot for a little while until volunteers meet me  (at the Ukrainian checkpoint)." 

"I returned to my cell so happy that day," he says.

'Work And You Will Live'

Finally, the day of the “deportation” arrived. 

At first, everything was just like the Russian officers had told Bohdan: They drove him and another male prisoner to the checkpoint controlled by the Russian National Guard outside of occupied Vasylivka on Nov. 28. 

After Russians filmed a video of their "deportation," they ordered the two prisoners to walk along the road in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, the regional capital. 

"We heard explosions and artillery fire on our way," Bohdan recalls. 

After walking about two kilometers, they spotted two Russian soldiers standing at a crossing. 

"We approached them thinking it might be the last Russian checkpoint, and the Ukrainian one should be ahead of us," Bohdan says. 

Later he would learn that he wasn't entirely wrong: It was one of the Russian defense lines before the so-called "gray zone" and Ukrainian-controlled territory. But things didn’t go as Bohdan and the other former prisoner had planned. 

After thoroughly checking all their belongings, a Russian captain told them they would stay there and work for his unit. 

"He said he couldn't let us go since we had seen their positions, and upon our return to Zaporizhzhia, we would join the Ukrainian army and kill his soldiers," Bohdan says. 

"Work and you will live," the Russian captain said. 

"We were just a labor force for the Russian Army. The issue of our future lives and salvation was not on the table," Bohdan goes on. 

They were handed the shovels immediately. Bohdan says they joined the four other Ukrainian prisoners who had already been working there. But the number increased soon, reaching 18 people as of January, including three women. 

From early morning until late night, Bohdan says these people were forced to do all the strenuous physical work for the Russian soldiers, such as digging trenches and setting up positions. 

Bohdan says Russian soldiers occasionally made Ukrainian prisoners check the area for the mines before digging the trenches. 

"I wanted to jump on a mine myself so that it all would be over," Bohdan says. 

During the first nights, the prisoners were locked in a basement of an abandoned cafe not far from the checkpoint. Then they were moved to an abandoned house nearby. 

Bohdan says conditions there were quite good, adding that they had running water, gas, beds, and even a TV. 

While the men mainly were digging the trenches, women were often forced to do household work at the houses where the Russian soldiers were based. 

Bohdan believes that only about five kilometers divided them from the Ukrainian positions. He says they often had to hide in the trenches during attacks from the other side and saw many Ukrainian drones, "the ones we have been donating money to be purchased." 

"I had this belief that I couldn't die from a Ukrainian attack," Bohdan says. 

He and the other prisoners were ordered to hide whenever other Russian officers came to check on the company. Bohdan says it happened often. He doesn’t know why Russians wanted to hide them. 

In the meantime, the relatives of those Ukrainians who had gone missing after staged deportations went public and spoke about their disappearance. They started reaching out to Ukrainian government and Russian-installed authorities, demanding that their loved ones are found. 

On March 14, Russian Interior Ministry officers brought Bohdan and four other prisoners from his hometown to the occupied city of Melitopol. There, they were held for two more days for interrogation. According to Bohdan, they signed complaints against the Russian captain who had "kidnapped and illegally detained them, threatening to kill them." 

He was released on March 16. For now, he is staying in the occupied territory. 

Bohdan says he still does not know whether the Russian-installed authorities in the region truly knew what the military was doing with the civilian captives. 

What About Other Civilian Prisoners? 

On March 13, in a written comment to the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said it’s unknown why Russians stage “deportations” of Ukrainian captives in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. He said that only two families have contacted his office to report that their loved ones, who were in Russian captivity, underwent such a “deportation” and went missing after it. 

According to Lubinets, people whose relatives have gone missing in occupied territories should file search applications to Ukraine's National Police. Lubinets also said that the absence of Russia's confirmation of these people as those in captivity "is not an obstacle to their release and return under the exchange procedure." But the negotiation process is complicated, according to Lubinets. 

"The Russian side is inconsistent. They reject many proposals regarding the exchange and release of citizens and refuse to provide access to their places of detention, as well as humanitarian aid and medicines," his comment reads. 

Bohdan says the number of 200 civilian prisoners in Russian captivity in Zaporizhzhia Oblast reported by Orlov, the exiled mayor of the Russian-occupied town of Enerhodar, "sounds realistic and might be even higher." 

"Considering how easily they were doing that, and that 18 of us were (working) in just one company and there was a whole battalion consisting of multiple companies — people could be there as well," Bohdan says. 

"I'm afraid that after (Russian troops) saw us being found and taken away, they could just shoot dead those prisoners saying that they were never there, to escape possible problems with their leadership," he adds. 

"There is such a possibility," Bohdan says. "Because human life here is worthless."

Note from the author: 

Daria Shulzhenko is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been a lifestyle reporter at the Kyiv Post until November 2021. She graduated from Kyiv International University with a bachelor’s in linguistics, specializing in translation from English and German languages. She has previously worked as a freelance writer and researcher.

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HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY MR. MOTORCYCLE DESIGNER

Former Senior Vice President & Chief Styling Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company Willie G. Davidson Namesake and grandson of Motor Company co-founder William.

In 1911 the company presented their first V-twins and very soon these models became the customers’ favourites; it seems singles were most popular for utility uses and in the export markets.

In 1910 almost 3,200 singles were sold; in 1913 this number had almost doubled but in 1914 the output of singles had fallen to a little more than 3,200.

That same year some 15,000 twins left the factory, so we can safely conclude that a ’14 single is a rare beast.

The Model 10 was available as a single speeder with belt drive as Model 10A and chain driven as Model 10B. In C-trim the machines had a two speed gear in the rear hub and a clutch, which was new for the 1914 model year. Other novelties included an externally contracting band brake acting on a separate rear drum and a Step Starter, an early form of a kickstart but with a forward stroke.

Bore and stroke dimensions were 84.14 x 101.6 mm and the engine delivered about 5 hp @ 2,200 rpm, good for a top speed of 80 km an hour.

The 1914 V-twin model was good for 9 hp @2,400 rpm. With a weight of 90 kilos the single was as much as 50 kilos lighter than the twin. (Source: “Harley Davidson, all the Motorcycles 1903-1983” by Matthias Gerst.)

The rare 1914 single we offer here has an interesting history.

It was once part of the collection of Otis Chandler, one-time publisher of The Los Angeles Times and was also owned by Bud Ekins, who, in the late 40s, began riding off-road motorcycles daily in the hills above his Hollywood home.

As a result of his diligence, he developed into a highly talented motorcyclist and started entering local off-road races in 1949.

By the mid-1950s, Ekins was the top motocross and desert racer in Southern California, winning the AMA District 37 championship seven times.

By the mid-1960s Ekins owned a Triumph motorcycle dealership in Hollywood which became a popular destination for many young film actors including Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood.

Ekins became friends with McQueen and introduced him to off-road racing.

Through his association with McQueen, Ekins began a career as a film stuntman.

He is best known as the actor who jumped the fence on a motorcycle in the 1963 film The Great Escape, and one of the stuntmen who drove the Ford Mustang 390 GT in the car chase scene in the 1968 film Bullitt. After retiring from the film industry, Ekins continued to operate his motorcycle shop in Hollywood which featured his impressive collection of vintage motorcycles.

During the 1980s, Ekins became one of the top collectors of vintage motorcycles in the USA.

One of his prized possessions was this Model 10C, which is a good runner in excellent mechanical condition.

Its stunning authentic and slightly weathered appearance combines eminently with the sturdy and purposeful design of the machine.

Happy birthday to Willie G. Davidson!

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Top Ten Most Corrupt Police Force In Africa

According to the Transparency International, the following African Nations operates the Most Corrupt Police Forces in Africa. 

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How Russia Came To Fail In Ukraine

BATTLE after BATTLE 

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Article by Illia Ponomarenko

February 20, 2023 11:31 PM

9 min read

• Ukraine Soldier Raises Flag While Standing Atop Of A Russian Captured Armored Vehicle

Feb. 24, 2022, was supposed to bring the existence of a 40-million European nation to an end. 

Long before the dawn of light, Ukrainian cities were set alight in blazes of burning airfields and the scattering of artillery impacts. 

Endless armored convoys broke into highways, and helicopters roared over the woods of north Ukraine. 

Every hour, more towns and cities across the country were being captured by advancing Russian armies. CNN was showing Russian paratroopers, their elbows marked with white stripes, at the Antonov Airport just outside Kyiv. 

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declared the end of Ukraine as it was. 

Fast forward one year, and on Feb. 20, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden pays a surprise visit to Kyiv – a triumphant nod at Russia’s failed plans to conquer the Ukrainian capital. 

“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said in Kyiv. 

How did something that was supposed to be Putin’s several-day-long “special military operation” turn into a staggering defeat and a subsequent grinding war that the Kremlin’s propaganda now calls Russia’s “fight for survival”? 

Here’s how. 

The Failed Blitzkrieg 

Several key factors ensured Russia’s failure. 

• Ukraine Counter-attacking Russian Invasion

The first was its failure to destroy Ukraine’s military cohesion, social stability and system of governance in the decisive opening days of the invasion. 

Next, from the very beginning, Russia completely failed to assess Ukraine as a nation; to understand its morale and its military’s readiness to fight. This understanding would be critical to execute the beheading strike needed for victory. 

Furthermore, Russia did not have enough forces when it invaded Ukraine, a country the size of France. And these insufficient forces were dispersed into several axes of attack all along the Ukrainian border, which made them even weaker. 

Finally, failure to maintain an adequate line of supply to Russia’s inadequate forces, dealt the deathblow to its hopes of reaching the capital. 

As the attacking force, Russia could choose the date and time of invasion. It could postpone the attack until the circumstances were the most favorable. As the defender, Ukraine was very limited in its capacity to mobilize its forces and go on military footing while avoiding a social and economic collapse due to the war threat. 

But thanks to Western intelligence, the Ukrainian military was prepared and survived as a centralized system fully in control of itself. Ukraine saved its air force and air defense, and retained its full military power, even as the torrent of Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine’s defense infrastructure. 

Both the military and civilians resisted being demoralized and did not falter. When large Russian forces penetrated the state border from all directions, the nation was ready to fight back. 

Ukraine enters 2023 with frail upper hand over Russia 

The Ukrainian military, although large, could not count on covering the country’s entire giant border, from Belarus, to the Donbas, to the Black Sea coastline. So it opted to switch tactics — letting Russian forces go deep into its home turf, then hitting them where Russian convoys were the most vulnerable: woods, highways, and dense urban terrain. 

The Ukrainian military made good use of Russia’s startling overconfidence. Russia never expected to fight a full-scale war against a large and motivated adversary in hostile territory. From the very beginning, the Kremlin expected the Ukraine war to resemble a mixture between the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia and the 1979 attack that had dethroned and killed the president of Afghanistan in Kabul. 

Russia’s bold plan was initially meant to quickly gain a foothold at the Hostomel Airport outside of Kyiv, then ensure the arrival of more elite rapid response forces. They would follow up with the quick seizure or assassination of Ukraine’s leadership in Kyiv, leaving the country in the throes of chaos. That’s why it was called a “special military operation.” 

After the Russian paratroopers and special operations forces were done, the large, combined force concentrated along the Ukrainian border was to complete the plan — to overrun and occupy the disorganized nation, facing little to no fight from a demoralized Ukrainian military. 

That’s why we now have stories of Russian combat formations having their parade uniforms packed, ready for triumphant marches in downtown Kyiv. We have stories of Russia’s Rosgvardia militarized police units carrying basically nothing but sticks and shields to beat protesters. 

But the quick jump at Hostomel completely failed due to totally unexpected organized resistance. In fact, this sudden failure undermined the whole Russian plan from the beginning. 

• Ukraine Slowly but Progressive de-occuation

The giant Russian convoys rushed deep into Ukrainian territory, barely protected and poorly organized. Along highways running through dense woods of northern Ukraine, they met devastating ambushes by small, highly-mobile Ukrainian squads armed with advanced anti-tank weapons. The large concentrations of Russian military power also became easy targets for the masterful and precise Ukrainian artillery. 

Poor logistics and constant Ukrainian hit-and-run attacks deteriorated the situation. Ukrainian formations wiped out Russian fuel trucks headed for the convoys, dooming the Russian armored vehicles to run out of fuel and be abandoned, at Ukraine’s mercy. 

As a result, according to United States intelligence, Russia lost well over 1,000 tanks and other military vehicles in its failed blitzkrieg in north Ukraine. That roughly corresponds to the tank arsenals of Britain, France, Germany and Italy combined. 

How many tanks does Russia really have? 

Eventually, Russian forces became bogged down in heavy fighting in the suburbs of Ukrainian cities like Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Kyiv.

• Russian Soldiers

Russia completely failed to penetrate Kyiv’s defenses or even lay siege to the Ukrainian capital. Its dismal combined arms advances in northern Ukraine halted by mid-March. The writing was on the wall — facing a Ukrainian counter-strike, Russia opted to leave the Kyiv area before it was too late, by the end of the first month of the full-scale war. 

With the Battle of Kyiv lost, it made no sense trying to capture Sumy and Chernihiv, which Russia also failed to achieve. 

In the first of what it called “goodwill gestures,” Russia withdrew from north Ukraine by April. 

The first major victory gave Ukraine the most important thing — the Russian blitzkrieg plan was completely derailed, and Russia lost a giant bulk of its initial fighting power. This can be roughly compared to stupidly losing some $600,000 an instant before one has to pay at least $1 million. 

By contrast, many things went wrong in Ukraine’s south. Ukrainian failures helped Russia quickly seize Kherson, and then Berdyansk and Melitopol without much of a fight. This paved the way to the tragic destruction of Mariupol. 

But at the same time, Russian advances in the south were stopped by the brutal resistance at Mykolaiv. Russia never came to seize Odesa and enter Moldova’s Transnistria.

• A Ukrainian soldier injured in action near Bakhmut, Donetsk, Oblast, on Dec. 5, 2022.

The Battle of Donbas 

With the failure of the blitzkrieg aimed at Kyiv, the Kremlin had to do something to get away with what had happened without admitting a general defeat. 

The Kremlin had to turn on the dime and greatly narrow its war goals. Russian war propaganda swiftly forgot all about Kyiv. It pretended the whole thing was about nothing but Donbas from the very beginning. 

Russia regrouped and concentrated the rest of its combat-capable force in the embattled Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The Russians revised their tactics and prepared their bottomless artillery power that could devastate everything in front of it. 

Ukraine also has considerable military power in the country’s east. It has much more motivated and competent infantry, along with heavily fortified positions developed through the eight-year static war in the region. 

A new stage started here — attrition. 

Ukraine, which could not match the devastating Russian artillery power, opted to bog Russia down in brutal, slow, and extremely costly fighting for each and every strongpoint. In these grueling battles, Russia pounds Ukrainian cities to dust and the Ukrainian military defends them in close combat until it can’t hold them and withdraws to another line. This has repeated again and again. 

As a result, with the capture of what was left of the twin cities of Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk in July, Russia was so exhausted that it couldn’t gather a comprehensive offensive capability for more than half a year. 

• Stressed Ukrainian Soldier Bew One Of The Frontlines

But the blood of Ukrainian soldiers helped Ukraine complete a full-scale mobilization and call up to 1 million men and women to its ranks, preparing the nation for a longer war. Also, it helped buy time and persuade the West into truly believing the Ukrainian cause — and finally providing Ukraine with heavy weapons. 

Amid the Battle of Sievierodonetsk in late spring and early summer, a human-made miracle occurred. 

After months of intense war with Russia, Ukraine was running out of artillery and munitions. But it managed to quickly switch to Western pieces, such as the now-legendary M777 howitzers. 

Thanks to this, Ukraine managed to fight on — and avoid an inevitable defeat to Russia in the long run, had it been stripped of its heavy weaponry. And in many ways thanks to Ukraine’s saturation of Western anti-aircraft weaponry, Russia never managed to gain air supremacy over Ukraine. 

That’s where the war moved to a new stage. 

Advanced rocket weapons, like M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS came to the battlefield just as Russia was too exhausted to go on. These weapons wiped out Russian logistics and munition supplies, greatly undermining Russia’s greatest advantage in this war — its artillery. 

So it’s no wonder that Ukraine managed to meanwhile build up offensive capability by September and launch a two-pronged strike. First, Ukrainian forces attacked near Kherson, in a bid to exhaust what’s left of Russian elite forces on the Dnipro’s west bank and retake the only regional capital lost after Feb. 24, 2022. 

At the same time, Ukraine exploited the chaos and Russia’s lack of available manpower, delivering a sudden and devastating strike in Kharkiv Oblast in September. 

Ukraine targets Russia’s ammunition depots, undermining its artillery advantage 

Ukraine Missile Firing Squad 

The startling success of the Kharkiv Operation didn’t just help Ukraine deliver intense pressure from northern Donbas by severing key Russian supply lines running through the cities of Kupyansk and Izium. 

It stripped Russia of any realistic chance to surround and destroy the Ukrainian military grouping in the country’s east, via Barvinkove. 

But it also made the Kremlin take some of its most extreme domestic measures — such as the so-called “general mobilization” in Russia, which hadn’t been seen since 1941 and 1914, just because Russia’s grinding campaign in Ukraine had no hope of success with so little manpower spread across the 2,000-kilometer front line. 

It’s only thanks to the very politically risky mobilization did Russia manage to hold on to what it captured in Ukraine and even finally launch a general offensive in the east — for the first time since the summer of 2022. 

The new Russian offensive is showing very limited results. In areas like Vuhledar, it brings back to memories of early 2022, with advancing Russian convoys devastated by Ukrainian artillery. 

But, according to the art of war, once this new advance culminates and wears down again, Ukraine will have to go over the top and counter-attack. 

That’s why Kyiv is so insistent on getting as many Western weapons as possible, especially vehicles. When the time comes, the Ukrainian counteroffensive force needs to have an armored fist prepared.

Credit: Kyiv_Independent

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