"It's a bit like that for me, too." The post Why Joe Strummer compared himself to Greta Garbo: “Extra bitter” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

The American Civil War and the subsequent emancipation of enslaved people in 1865 marked a profound transformation in the Southern United States. For prominent slaveholding families, this period signified a dramatic upheaval in their economic foundations and social status. The abolition of slavery eradicated the primary source of their wealth and influence, leading to significant ...

from The Conservative Treehouse: You know a deep state cover-story operation is underway when Natasha Bertrand and Evan Perez are pushing the narrative. The narrative is laughable, claiming the 30-year-old black North Virgina resident, working for a bail bond company that supports illegal aliens, whose father previously sued the Trump administration and claims racism against […]

After releasing The World Under Unsun, he’s defiantly making himself listen to more records and read more books. He ponders how much change is to come, and how much time he has left for it

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve spent any time online lately, you know the world isn’t exactly short on advice. It feels like everyone is ready and willing to talk over each other and shovel out unsolicited counsel: “Fix your mindset.” “Rewrite your habits.” “Become that version of yourself.”  Some of it might be helpful, a lot of it contradictory, and most of it just overwhelming. Under this constant tirade of voices, it can be hard for young people (and let’s be honest, the rest of us, too) to know what guidance to follow. With opinions coming at us every time we pick up our phones, clarity can feel out of reach. But beneath all the noise, researchers and mental health experts tend to agree on a handful of foundational tenets that help people thrive. These aren’t quick hacks or trendy challenges. They’re long‑studied, deeply human practices drawn from positive psychology, decades of behavioral‑health research, and conversations with people who’ve spent their careers helping communities navigate real‑world stress. Julie Radlauer-Doerfler, LMHC, a leading expert on the social influences of mental health, shares these five simple principles anyone can return to when life feels chaotic, complicated, or a little off‑track. The five principles for building a happier, steadier life 1. Know your values and use your voice Most people get that immediate, nagging feeling when they stray from what matters most to them. When our daily lives don’t align with our core values, whether that’s freedom, stability, creativity, community, or anything else, stress, discomfort, and dissatisfaction are sure to follow. Finding your voice starts with noticing what lights you up and what drains you. It also means communicating honestly (and kindly) with others. Radlauer-Doerfler emphasizes that “our words shape the world around us as well as the world inside us,” and that curiosity, rather than judgment, often prevents conflict before it starts. Speaking up with clarity and compassion is one of the most powerful ways to move through the world with ease. 2. Protect your peace like it’s a resource In a world where content never stops and notifications are constant, deciding what deserves your attention is an act of self‑preservation. This is where boundaries come in, not as a harsh line, but as a healthy practice. Protecting your peace can look like taking digital breaks, saying no when your plate is full, or limiting the emotional energy you give to draining environments. Research consistently shows that what we consume influences how we feel. A more intentional “mental diet” supports better mood, steadier energy, and healthier coping. Your peace is priceless. Treat it that way. 3. Let integrity and humility guide how you show up Happiness isn’t only about how we feel; it’s also about how we behave. Following through on commitments, showing up when we say we will, and honoring our word strengthens relationships and builds inner confidence. Integrity keeps us grounded in who we are. Humility keeps us open to who we can become. Together, they form the backbone of trust, both with others and within ourselves. 4. Choose connection, even when it feels vulnerable A growing body of research highlights what many people already feel: loneliness is taking a real toll. In one recent survey, 73 percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling lonely at least some of the time, and many parents worry their children are struggling to make friends. Human beings are built for community, and meaningful relationships are one of the most consistent predictors of well‑being. Face‑to‑face connection (think sharing meals, joining clubs, volunteering, playing sports, showing up for others) offers something no algorithm can replicate. If building community feels daunting, start small. Follow your interests and join spaces where people share your passions. If you feel like you haven’t yet identified a passion or hobby, use that blank slate as a launchpad to try out new things. Creating community and connections, like everything, starts by just taking that first step. 5. Practice resilience as a learned skill—not a personality trait Everyone faces challenges. What matters is how we move through them. Resilience isn’t about avoiding hard things. It’s about learning from them, asking for help when needed, and trying again with new insight. Experts note that resilience strengthens through actions like seeking meaning in difficulties, staying patient through setbacks, and staying connected to something larger than yourself. It’s not about being unbreakable. It’s about staying flexible. Putting it all together These five principles aren’t quick fixes, and they aren’t rules. They’re gentle anchors and guiding ideas that can help us understand ourselves more deeply, protect our emotional energy, and build lives filled with purpose, connection, and growth. If your life doesn’t feel the way you want it to yet, that’s okay. You’re allowed to start again, begin small, and build slowly. With the right tools, anyone can create a life that feels good from the inside out.The post How to build a life that feels good: 5 guiding principles to happiness  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Starting this week, on December 10th, Australia will become the first country to ban all children under 16 from having social media accounts. This is meant to be a sweeping law that covers TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, and other popular platforms. Whether the move will meaningfully protect young people or simply push them toward digital workarounds is still unclear. The only thing that is clear is that the rest of the world is watching closely. A radical response to growing harm The ban follows a government-commissioned study released earlier this year that painted a troubling picture of kids’ online lives. 96 percent of children aged 10 to 15 were using social media, and 70 percent had been exposed to harmful content, including misogyny, violence, and material promoting suicide and eating disorders. One in seven had been targeted by grooming behavior, and more than half reported being cyberbullied. The government cited these findings when introducing the ban, accusing social media platforms of promoting “design features that encourage [young people] to spend more time on screens” while pushing content that “can harm their health and wellbeing.” What the ban actually does Children under 16 can no longer create or maintain social media accounts across ten platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and Twitch. Existing accounts must be deactivated. However, kids can still watch most content passively as the ban only blocks interactive accounts. Interestingly, platforms like YouTube Kids, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom are exempt, as they don’t meet the criteria for being “social” in the legal sense. Online games such as Roblox and Discord are also excluded, though some have quietly added age-gating features. Who’s responsible—and what’s at stake The law doesn’t punish children or parents. Instead, the burden falls entirely on social media companies, who must take “reasonable steps” to keep under-16s off their platforms or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (about USD $32 million). To comply, companies must implement age assurance technology that goes beyond simple self-declared birthdays. That may include government ID checks, facial or voice recognition, or advanced algorithms that infer a user’s age based on online behavior. Companies like Meta and Snapchat are already adapting. Meta began removing teen accounts in early December, allowing wrongly flagged users to appeal using ID or video selfies. Snapchat offers age verification through bank accounts and photo IDs. Why critics say the policy is flawed Despite good intentions, critics worry the rollout may backfire. Facial recognition is notoriously unreliable for teens, and many fear the law will block adults by mistake while letting determined underage users slip through. Stephen Scheeler, a former Facebook executive, questioned the effectiveness of the fines. “It takes Meta about an hour and 52 minutes to make A$50 million in revenue,” he told AAP. Others point to loopholes: dating apps, gaming platforms, and AI chatbots, some of which have been flagged for predatory or sexually suggestive behavior, are not covered by the ban. Even teens themselves seem skeptical. Some admitted that they’re setting up fake accounts, switching to shared family profiles, or planning to use VPNs to mask their age and location. These are all tactics already used by kids in the UK after similar laws were enacted. Platform pushback and privacy concerns Tech companies weren’t shy about their frustration. YouTube’s parent company, Google, called the new law “rushed” and warned it may make kids less safe by removing access to safety tools built into accounts. Meta warned of “inconsistent protections” across apps. Critics also flagged the privacy implications of collecting biometric data and IDs to verify age, especially in a country where data breaches have exposed sensitive personal information in recent years. The government insists the legislation includes strong data protections: information collected can only be used for age verification and must be deleted immediately after. “It’s going to look untidy” Communications Minister Annika Wells admitted the rollout won’t be flawless. “It’s going to look a bit untidy on the way through,” she said. “Big reforms always do.” The government maintains that doing something is better than doing nothing, especially as global anxiety around kids’ digital safety grows. Denmark has announced a similar under-15 ban, France is debating a curfew for teens on social media, and Spain and Norway are exploring new restrictions. In the UK, companies now face major fines or even jail time for executives if they fail to prevent kids from accessing harmful content. In the U.S., efforts like Utah’s under-18 ban have been blocked in court. A test case for global policy Australia’s law is a bold experiment in regulating digital spaces for children. It’s messy, imperfect, and controversial, but it may also become a blueprint for countries grappling with how to raise kids in a hyperconnected world. The post Australia’s bold move to ban kids under 16 from social media sparks important global debate first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Discover how seasons of waiting, though challenging, can be sacred spaces for spiritual renewal and unexpected growth. Learn to trust God's strength to overcome impatience and find the profound glory that awaits those who wait well.