Next time you’re bracing for a long-haul flight‚ spare a thought for Robert Timm and John Cook. In 1958-1959‚ the two pilots set the record for the world’s longest-ever flight when they flew non-stop for 64 days‚ 22 hours‚ and 19 minutes over Las Vegas‚ landing on February 7‚ 1959. In total‚ the journey clocked 240‚000 kilometers (150‚000 miles)‚ equivalent to over six journeys around the Earth. Their endurance flight record has stood for 65 years. In fact‚ it hasn’t even been beaten by uncrewed autonomous aircraft. In 2022‚ a solar-powered drone called Zephyr came close‚ but it ended up crashing down after 64 days‚ 18 hours‚ and 26 minutes – less than 4 hours away from breaking the record.The story behind the world’s longest flight is an aptly strange and incredible one. In 1956‚ the Hacienda Hotel and Casino opened its doors on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise‚ Nevada. To promote its grand opening‚ its owners agreed to pull off a publicity stunt of epic proportions: paint the hotel’s name on the side of a plane and use it to complete the longest flight endurance record.The ambitious plan was placed in the hands of Timm‚ a former World War II bomber pilot who recently joined the hotel’s staff as a slot machine mechanic.The chosen plane was a Cessna 172‚ a small single-engine aircraft that was mass-produced. Numerous modifications were made to ensure the plane was fit for purpose‚ including the installation of a 95-gallon belly tank for extra fuel. “The important thing‚ however‚ was to create a way to refuel. There had been a lot of experiments up to this point with aerial refueling‚ but there really was no way to modify a Cessna 172 to be refueled in midair. So they set up an extra tank that could be filled from a truck on the ground‚” Janet Bednarek‚ an aviation historian and professor at the University of Dayton‚ told CNN in 2023. “When they needed to refuel‚ they would come down and fly very low and just above stall speed‚ then the truck came along and winched up a hose and then used a pump to transfer the fuel into the airplane. It really was a dramatic show of airmanship‚ because they had to do it at night sometimes and that required some precision flying‚” added Bednarek.Timm and Cook's Cessna 172 aircraft is on display in the passenger terminal at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.Image credit: AdolfGalland/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)Timm’s first three attempts ended in failure due to several mechanical failures‚ including  – perhaps unsurprisingly – issues with refueling. Not deterred‚ however‚ Timm decided to set out on a fourth attempt alongside Cook‚ an airplane mechanic. On December 4‚ 1958‚ the duo set off from McCarran Airport in Las Vegas and would not set foot on the ground again for over 64 days.Each refueling session would take place on a dead straight road along the California-Arizona border where the plane could fly low and a vehicle could run alongside their path. They’d also use these opportunities to pass food‚ water‚ and other supplies.If you’re wondering about toilet trips‚ the pair would simply head to the back of the aircraft cabin and use a foldable toilet made for camping. The used bags would then be unceremoniously tossed out of the window into the desert. A mattress was situated in the back of the small cabin and the pair slept in turns – although that’s easier said than done while flying on a noisy‚ small aircraft. Cook made daily entries in a diary‚ which reportedly became more delirious as the mission went on‚ likely owing to lack of sleep‚ stress‚ physical fatigue‚ and sheer boredom.Lack of sleep almost became the death of the two pilots. On the 36th day of the flight‚ Timm fell asleep at the wheel of the plane and it flew by itself on autopilot for over an hour at an altitude of 1‚200 meters (4‚000 feet). A few days later‚ the autopilot system was kaputt‚ underlining that this sleep-induced screw-up could never happen again. When approaching the 65th day‚ Timm and Cook decided to call it quits. After all‚ the record was well and truly theirs – and would remain so even until this day. Robert Timm died in 1976 and John Cook in 1995‚ by which time the piloting pair had firmly established themselves in the aviation history books. Their record-breaking flight in 1959 is even more remarkable when you consider they were closer in time to the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 than today.Clearly‚ however‚ achieving such bold feats comes at a price. “Next time I feel in the mood to fly endurance‚ I’m going to lock myself in a garbage can with the vacuum cleaner running‚ and have Bob [Timm] serve me T-bone steaks chopped up in a Thermos bottle. That is‚ until my psychiatrist opens for business in the morning‚” Cook told a reporter when asked if he’d consider another endurance flight‚ as per CNN.

There are few things we enjoy hearing of more than a rediscovered species. Since the rare Santa Marta sabrewing (Campylopterus phainopeplus)‚ a beautiful blue and green hummingbird‚ was unexpectedly rediscovered in 2022 after 64 years as a lost species‚ researchers have been studying this striking bird to learn more about this extremely rare population."The moment when I first found the Santa Marta sabrewing was very emotional‚ I really couldn't believe it. The adrenaline‚ the thrill of that moment of rediscovery‚ it's hard to fully describe just how exciting it was‚" said Yurgen Vega‚ one of the authors of a new study revealing insights into its range‚ habitat‚ and behavior‚ in a statement.Since the rediscovery in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of northern Colombia in 2022‚ another research group found more individuals in different locations within the same broad area. The species was listed on the Search For Lost Birds and since being found‚ an international team has been monitoring these birds for the last two years.The researchers monitored the behavior of these birds‚ learning that the species has year-round territories rather than migrating across the altitude as was previously thought. They also found that the birds have an extremely restricted range‚ only seen using four out of five known areas along the Guatapurí river basin.            “Our findings show that this amazing hummingbird may be an example of microendemism‚ as it seems to be restricted to a limited area within the world’s most important continental center of endemism‚” said Esteban Botero-Delgadillo‚ lead author of the study and Director of Conservation Science with SELVA: Research for Conservation in the Neotropics. The team also found out more about the ecology of the species‚ which suggests that the males form leks and aggressively chase intruders out of their territories. Looking closely at past historical records‚ and those from museums and Indigenous communities‚ they paint a clearer picture of the lives of these critically endangered hummingbirds. The proximity to the water seems an important point in the ecology of this species and the presence of riverbanks near the leks could indicate female nest sites‚ note the authors. The researchers also highlighted what a collaborative effort the new knowledge took‚ and it was especially important to work with the local Indigenous communities who coexist with the hummingbirds.  “Unveiling the Santa Marta Sabrewing's story was not only possible through a joint effort between academia‚ local‚ and international organizations‚ but also by collaboration with the local Indigenous communities who coexist with the species‚" said Professor Carlos Esteban Lara of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in a separate statement. "We are grateful for their help as our partnership and research continue to expand‚ to help implement conservation actions that benefit both the local people and the birds.”The paper is available on the preprint server BioRxiV and has not yet undergone peer review. 

Nikola Tesla revealed that an earthquake which drew police and ambulances to the region of his laboratory at 48 E. Houston St.‚ New York‚ in 1898‚ was the result of a little machine he was experimenting with at the time which “you could put in your overcoat pocket” Nikola Tesla is today famous for his work on electricity and energy. He developed the alternating current system‚ making it possible to transmit electricity over large distances‚ and worked also on wireless communication and energy transfer. He was a brilliant thinker‚ but also very eccentric. Maybe the more enigmatic parts of his personality make him such an interesting subject for conspiracists. Tesla is credited to have worked on unknown energy-sources‚ to be contacted by UFOs‚ caused the Tunguska explosion by a death-ray‚ and even worked on an earthquake-generator. In 1896 Tesla was working on oscillations to be used for energy transfer. The idea was to create a steam-powered oscillator‚ able to create various frequencies. If the frequency-matched the resonance frequency‚ a receiving device should transform the mechanical oscillations back into an electric current. It was a quiet day in 1898 when the residents of several blocks of buildings in the crowded Chinese and Italian neighbourhoods of Manhattan began to experience a tremor that soon began to shake all buildings and shatter glass‚ causing people to run scared on the streets of New York. The police were forced to rush in to assess the situation. After checking that the quake was confined to that small part of the city and suspects who could be the cause‚ the police sent two of their agents to 46 East Houston Street. Just before entering the building‚ they noticed that the tremor stopped‚ and when they passed through the door of a laboratory‚ they were received by a tall and thin man‚ with a moustache‚ elegantly dressed‚ and armed with a hammer. The man calmly told them‚ “Gentlemen‚” he announced‚ “I am sorry. You are just a trifle too late to witness my experiment. I found it necessary to stop it suddenly and unexpectedly in an unusual way. However‚ if you will come around this evening‚ I will have another oscillator attached to a platform and each of you can stand on it. You will‚ I am sure‚ find it a most interesting and pleasurable experience. Now‚ you must leave‚ for I have many things to do. Good day.” The cause of that incident had been a small electromechanical oscillator (Earthquake Machine) with which Tesla was experimenting that day for his research into mechanical resonance. After placing it on a pillar of his laboratory‚ the vibration caused by the instrument began to spread through the underground of the building to neighbouring buildings creating chaos among its neighbours. So absorbed and fascinated was Tesla that did not decide to end the experiment until he noticed that his entire laboratory was shaking vigorously. Another of his experiments he would tell a few years later to a journalist. This time Tesla decided to experiment outside his laboratory and after locating a building under construction in the Wall Street neighborhood which was still a metal skeleton‚ he placed the oscillator on one of the beams and activated it. In a few minutes‚ the entire structure of ten floors of the building began to vibrate‚ frightening the workers and causing the police to make an appearance again. Before anyone could realize what was happening‚ Tesla deactivated the device‚ put it in his pocket and continued on his way. An oscillator that was among the exhibits Tesla demonstrated at the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. In the same interview the inventor said that in less than an hour he could knock down the Brooklyn Bridge‚ and he even claimed that with a suitable machine and dynamite‚ he would be able to split the Earth in two. “I was experimenting with vibrations. I had one of my machines going and I wanted to see if I could get it in tune with the vibration of the building. I put it up notch after notch. There was a peculiar cracking sound. I asked my assistants where did the sound come from. They did not know. I put the machine up a few more notches. There was a louder cracking sound. I knew I was approaching the vibration of the steel building. I pushed the machine a little higher. “Suddenly all the heavy machinery in the place was flying around. I grabbed a hammer and broke the machine. The building would have been about our ears in another few minutes. Outside in the street there was pandemonium. The police and ambulances arrived. I told my assistants to say nothing. We told the police it must have been an earthquake. That’s all they ever knew about it.” Some shrewd reporter asked Nikola Tesla at this point what he would need to destroy the Empire State Building with his Earthquake Machine and the doctor replied: “Vibration will do anything. It would only be necessary to step up the vibrations of the machine to fit the natural vibration of the building and the building would come crashing down. That’s why soldiers break step crossing a bridge.” Tesla later explained this principle to reporter Allan L. Besnson‚ who published in February 1912 an article about Tesla’s resonator in The World Today magazine: “He put his little vibrator in his coat-pocket and went out to hunt a half-erected steel building. Down in the Wall Street district‚ he found one‚ ten stories of steel framework without a brick or a stone laid around it. He clamped the vibrator to one of the beams‚ and fussed with the adjustment until he got it. Tesla said finally the structure began to creak and weave and the steel-workers came to the ground panic-stricken‚ believing that there had been an earthquake. Police was called out. Tesla put the vibrator in his pocket and went away. Ten minutes more and he could have laid the building in the street. And‚ with the same vibrator‚ he could have dropped the Brooklyn Bridge into the East River in less than an hour.” On the occasion of his annual birthday celebration interview by the press on July 10‚ 1935‚ in his suite at the Hotel New Yorker‚ Tesla announced a method of transmitting mechanical energy accurately with minimal loss over any terrestrial distance‚ including a related new means of communication and a method‚ he claimed‚ which would facilitate the unerring location of underground mineral deposits. At that time he recalled the earth-trembling “quake” that brought police and ambulances rushing to the scene of his Houston Street laboratory while an experiment was in progress with one of his mechanical oscillators. The post Nikola Tesla Earthquake Machine: Electro-mechanical Oscilator appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Picture this: a bright‚ sunny day perfect for a track meet at Logan High School in Utah. The stands are buzzing with excitement as spectators watch athletes‚ each brimming with determination‚ race around the track. But little did they know‚ the real star of the show was about to make his grand entrance – not... The post Energetic dog ‘crashes’ high school race and hilariously becomes ‘winner’ appeared first on Animal Channel.

Have you ever felt like your dog understands you better than anyone else? It’s not just your imagination. While we’ve long turned to the stars and various personality tests to understand ourselves‚ it turns out the best reflection of our dominant traits might have been wagging its tail beside us all along. Dogs‚ our loyal... The post Study shows you and your dog may be more alike than you realize appeared first on Animal Channel.

Have you ever felt like your dog understands you better than anyone else? It’s not just your imagination. While we’ve long turned to the stars and various personality tests to understand ourselves‚ it turns out the best reflection of our dominant traits might have been wagging its tail beside us all along. Dogs‚ our loyal... The post Study reveals you and your dog may be more alike than you realize appeared first on Animal Channel.

One GOP senator argues that President Joe Biden could have banned the communist Chinese government-tied TikTok‚ but chose not to do so for personal reasons. The debate about banning TikTok continues to rage as legislation has gone to the Senate. Biden said he would sign the legislation‚ yet continues to use TikTok and have TikTok influencers helping his campaign. Indeed‚ Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told 97.1 FM Talk’s The Marc Cox Morning Show Podcast that he doubts Biden will sign the legislation. “They think that their voters are on TikTok‚” Hawley declared‚ referring to Democrats. “The real truth is Biden could have banned it‚” Hawley said‚ as reported by Audacy‚ the publisher and parent comapny of 97.1 FM. “Trump tried to ban it when he was president. Biden has had years now to act. He hasn’t done it.” Biden is using the app for his Basement 2.0 campaign in 2024. “In fact‚ Biden is on TikTok‚ and the reason is the Democrats secretly love it‚” Hawley added. On Thursday‚ MRC Free Speech America Vice President Dan Schneider pointed out the same hypocrisy in an X post. “Joe Biden just posted his 92nd TikTok video after banning 4 million federal employees from using it‚” Schneider wrote. Meanwhile‚ Hawley explained the security risks of allowing TikTok to operate in the U.S. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) owns a board seat and maintains a financial stake in TikTok’s parent company ByteDance. A 2023 lawsuit alleged that a “backdoor” through ByteDance enabled the CCP to access U.S. user data. Hawley evidently believes that allegation. “Whatever the problem is‚ it’s a backdoor for spying by the Chinese Communist Party‚” he exclaimed during the radio interview. A U.S. company should buy TikTok to mitigate the security risks‚ Hawley insisted. “ByteDance‚ the parent company‚ would either have to sell TikTok or else if they don’t sell it‚ then they’d have to shut it down. We can argue about‚ you know‚ the exact details of the bill and is it written precisely the correct way? But I think this is the right thing‚” the senator added. Conservatives are under attack. Contact TikTok via email at communitymanager@tiktok.com and demand Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment and provide transparency. If you have been censored‚ contact us at the Media Research Center contact form‚ and help us hold Big Tech accountable.

MSNBC’s Joy Reid claims to have no problems with hearing Republican points of view‚ but when it came to discussing abortion on Wednesday’s edition of The ReidOut‚ she instead welcomed two Democrats‚ strategist Juanita Tolliver and former Sen. Doug Jones‚ to wonder why white women vote for Republicans because pro-lifers are a bunch of white supremacists who view them as vehicles to avoid “race suicide.” A confused Reid declared “the sort of trick that has been difficult to get her out how to untie this knot‚ Juanita‚ which is that‚ you know‚ white women on a majority‚ do vote Republican even in states where they’re voting away their reproductive rights. I think about Georgia where they voted for Brian Kemp and his six-week abortion ban and so it's like‚ what will unlock that fealty that white women have to it.”     When Reid wants to learn about pro-lifers‚ she turns to the lefties at Slate‚ “I read this thing in Slate that talked about the origins‚ the white nationalist origins of the anti-abortion movement. It says the following in Slate‚ ‘In the late 19th and early 20th centuries‚ the movement against abortion mainly included white supremacist who pointed to declining white birthrates believed that legalized abortion would mean race suicide for white Protestants.’” Not only is the pro-life movement larger than white Protestants‚ it is telling that Reid’s desire to project the 19th century on to 2024 only extends to pro-lifers and not her white male‚ former Democratic senator from Alabama guest. Finally getting to a question‚ Reid asked Tolliver‚ “You still look at it and you don't think they want you and me to have more babies. I don't think they want Latinos to have more babies. How do they get the message to white women that they are the target and should vote accordingly?” Tolliver’s solution was to break the scale on the freak out meter‚ “And we saw white women have a wakeup call when IVF was on the table and that is something that I think when we understand how this is going to impact IVF. Even the list that you had put up from the Heritage Foundation report for 2025‚ it included same-sex relationships as well.” In the 920-page document that is Heritage’s Project 2025‚ the term to “same-sex marriage” appears only twice. Once is to note that same-sex marriages‚ on average‚ last less than half that of heterosexual marriages‚ which is noteworthy for adoption placements and the second is that people should be protected against having to do things such as bake a cake for a same-sex wedding if they object. However‚ Tolliver rolled right along‚ lamenting that Heritage does not care for the left’s abortion euphemisms‚ “This is not isolated and it won't focus exclusively on abortion or reproductive rights‚ it is expansive and the other thing that came out of that Heritage report that is a sign of them going too far‚ as Doug Jones mentioned‚ is they literally want to delete the language from the books. I'm talking about deleting abortion from federal regulation. Deleting the phrase ‘reproductive rights.’ Deleting DEI‚ all of it.” Eventually‚ Reid returned to implore viewers to “Watch The Handmaid’s Tale‚ as much of it as you can stand. That's what they want to do and by the way‚ you know how it's not about babies? They are trying to kill Head Start‚ which is for the babies.” Nothing like a good old-fashioned non-sequitur to end the show. Here is a transcript for the March 27 show: MSNBC The ReidOut 3/27/2024 7:48 PM ET JOY REID: The thing is‚ the sort of trick that has been difficult to get her out how to untie this knot‚ Juanita‚ which is that‚ you know‚ white women on a majority‚ do vote Republican even in states where they’re voting away their reproductive rights. I think about Georgia where they voted for Brian Kemp-- JUANITA TOLLIVER: Right. REID: -- and his six-week abortion ban and so it's like‚ what will unlock that fealty that white women have to it. I read this thing in Slate that talked about the origins‚ the white nationalist origins of the anti-abortion movement. It says the following in Slate‚ “In the late 19th and early 20th centuries‚ the movement against abortion mainly included white supremacist who pointed to declining white birthrates believed that legalized abortion would mean race suicide for white Protestants.” You still look at it and you don't think they want you and me to have more babies. I don't think they want Latinos to have more babies. How do they get the message to white women that they are the target and should vote accordingly? TOLLIVER: Our message definitely has to come from Republicans because‚ remember‚ this attack on abortion is not isolated to abortion. It's reproductive rights generally.  REID: Correct. TOLLIVER: And we saw white women have a wakeup call when IVF was on the table and that is something that I think when we understand how this is going to impact IVF. Even the list that you had put up from the Heritage Foundation report for 2025‚ it included same-sex relationships as well.  REID: Correct. TOLLIVER: This is not isolated and it won't focus exclusively on abortion or reproductive rights‚ it is expansive and the other thing that came out of that Heritage report that is a sign of them going too far‚ as Doug Jones mentioned‚ is they literally want to delete the language from the books. REID: Yes. TOLLIVER: I'm talking about deleting abortion from federal regulation. Deleting the phrase "reproductive rights." REID: Correct. TOLLIVER: Deleting DEI‚ all of it.  REID: Yes. TOLLIVER: And I think when people frame it as this is not isolated to abortion. They're coming for IVF‚ they’re coming for contraception‚ they’re coming for anything privacy related— REID: Yeah. TOLLIVER-- with a roadmap given by Supreme Court justices Alito and Thomas‚ then that's what's going to resonate. REID: Watch The Handmaid’s Tale‚ as much of it as you can stand. That's what they want to do and by the way‚ you know how it's not about babies? They are trying to kill Head Start‚ which is for the babies.

Publishing giant Simon &; Schuster has backed out of a deal with an established journalist for a "comprehensive" look at the Biden administration as sales for Biden-related books remain in the tank.In February 2021‚ Politico announced that Alex Thompson — then a reporter with Politico who has since joined Axios as "a National Political Correspondent" — had signed a contract with Simon &; Schuster to pen "a comprehensive book on Biden’s presidency." The book was expected to provide "fresh reporting" from a journalist with a firsthand look at "the White House transition."In that announcement‚ Politico claimed that the book would likely be released "in early 2024" — just in time for campaign season.Now that "early 2024" has come and nearly gone‚ Politico has announced that the deal is off. According to the outlet‚ Simon &; Schuster has "withdrawn" the contract with Thompson‚ further signaling a "soft market for books about President Joe Biden." A spokesperson for the publisher declined Politico's request for comment. Thompson confirmed on X that the deal with Simon &; Schuster is now defunct but noted that he is "still writing" the promised book. "If you’re a publisher and interested‚ email/number in bio‚" he added. — (@) For some time now‚ Politico has sounded the alarm about just how poorly Biden-related books have sold. Just over six months ago‚ it published an article entitled "Biden books are still bombing." It also recently listed three supposedly major books about the Biden presidency‚ only one of which sold more than 10‚000 copies. The other two sold just 6‚500 combined.Those numbers are abysmal‚ especially in comparison to books related to former President Donald Trump. Those books‚ particularly those taking aim at the former president‚ easily sold hundreds of thousands of copies‚ Politico reported. Even a tell-all book about Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 presidential campaign‚ "Shattered‚" sold 125‚000 copies and became a New York Times bestseller.But Biden books apparently just don't draw interest. NBC News’ Jonathan Allen‚ who coauthored "Shattered‚" tried to put a positive spin on an otherwise worrisome bellwether as Biden vies for a second term. "[Biden] has tried to be kind of a drama-free president‚ certainly in comparison to his predecessor‚" Allen claimed‚ "and that makes it harder to write a book‚ both in terms of getting information and turning his story into one that is compelling for readers."Eric Nelson of Broadside Books‚ a conservative subdivision of HarperCollins‚ was much more blunt: "Biden never does anything interesting."Nelson also noted that Biden has placed himself in a bit of a political jam. "If your nickname is Sleepy Joe‚ you kind of have to simultaneously say this person is ruining everything and is supremely evil‚ but also he’s inept‚" he said."And that’s sort of a challenging combination."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When you’re in love‚ nothing feels cringe. I mean when you’re in the full flush of first attraction — nothing about the other person can possibly be annoying. Or else it’s only annoying in the “oh‚ you” sort of way. “She’s always on me about my old T-shirts.” “He’s the worst at texting back.” You roll your eyes. But you also kind of think it’s adorable. Then‚ if the relationship turns sour‚ something ugly happens. The words stay the same‚ but the tone transforms. When you fall out of love‚ the very same quirks that once seemed endearing now fill you with disgust beyond all rational measure. “She’s always on me about my old T-shirts.” “He’s the worst at texting back!” Today this is called “getting the ick.” In Tom Stoppard’s play "The Real Thing‚" two reckless paramours named Henry and Annie blow up their marriages to be together. Henry keeps finishing Annie’s sentences‚ which is cute until it’s not. When they finally have each other‚ the romance curdles into mundanity‚ then contempt: “For Christ’s sake‚ will you stop finishing my sentences for me?!” That line‚ so apparently simple‚ goes off like a grenade. Once she’s said it out loud‚ it becomes real: She’s got the ick. These days‚ I get the disturbing impression that men and women in the aggregate have the ick for each other. Everyone can cite some things about the opposite sex that they find mystifying and a little silly. “Is it really so hard for men to pick up after themselves?” “She’ll tell you about her problems‚ but she doesn’t want you to fix them.” These complaints‚ when made with affection‚ are actually part of love. Who are these mad and maddening creatures‚ we are saying‚ who complicate and yet complete the world? But recently those very same sentiments have become bywords of intersexual warfare. “Is it really so hard for men to pick up after themselves? They’ve cheated us out of trillions of dollars!” “Women don’t want to fix their problems; they just want to drain men dry.” This sounds to me like a society-wide case of the ick. A couple of weeks ago‚ basically every single person on the internet watched a young woman explain that after enough minor disappointments‚ a girl will simply shut down toward her boyfriend overall: “The problem now is that she’s unattracted to you and just simply does not like you any more.” I suspect that video went so astronomically viral because it seems to describe not simply one failed relationship but an entire failed social arrangement between the sexes. Online‚ at least‚ we have spiraled into making hideous caricatures and impossible demands of one another: Never‚ ever flirt (you slut). Never talk to other women alone (you filthy animal). Maybe it takes an outsider to see this‚ or maybe it’s all too easy for a gay guy to diagnose dysfunctions in the straight dating world (we have plenty of our own‚ I promise). But it does strike me that decades of angry grand pronouncements about “what men are like” and “how women act” have turned charming foibles into bitter accusations. The preposterous excesses of late 20th-century feminism — “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle!” — and the lock-jawed tradwife/manosphere reaction in this century have teased men and women apart by stages. Is anybody happy with this state of affairs? It seems not. In a real-life relationship‚ I propose‚ the cure for the ick is as follows. Spend less time grumbling theories about the other person to yourself in the shower and more time face to face with the other person‚ listening with charity. Because the secret is that he or she is neither the unblemished demigod you made when you were doe-eyed nor the incurable reprobate you make of him or her now that things have gone south. Love — real love‚ not infatuation — will mellow out slowly in the negotiation between you two as you are: quirky and obnoxious‚ elegant and strong‚ trying sincerely to know and be known. Is it possible that a similar approach might work at the social level? I’m heartened to see people getting sick of capital-T theorizing about the opposite sex‚ be it trad or rad. I suspect the remedy lies in turning instead to seek actual community with people of both sexes. As Lane Scott wrote recently‚ the domestic bliss of the future won’t look exactly like it did before all this Sturm und Drang. Some things really have changed. That’s okay. We’re still the same species we were when we first fell in love. Lay your weapons and your tweet threads down. We can patch things up. Editor's note:This essay was originally published on Spencer Klavan's Substack.