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Why does the Indian army march so comically?

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 17:31:00 +0300

Humorous and strange gait of Indian soldiers seems to not everyone. But when it comes to the famous goose step at the border with Pakistan, it is not a military standard, but a cerebral ritual, which is deliberately exaggerated and theatrical. This is not a marching step, but a spectacle What you see in the video with Indian soldiers most often happens at the border Wagah (Wagah-Attari) between India and Pakistan. Every evening there is a ceremony closing the border, where soldiers from both countries compete in the extravagance of movements. The meaning of this performance is not military training, but a demonstration of strength and spirit in front of the enemy. Soldiers lift their legs high (sometimes almost to their heads), stamp heavily, furrow their brows, and clench their fists, trying to look as terrifying as possible. To an outside observer, it looks comical, but to the participants, it is a matter of national pride. Where did such a manner come from The roots of this tradition go back to the British colonial school. The Indian army adopted British military traditions, but over time pushed them to the extreme, turning them into acrobatics. At the border with Pakistan, this manner became a way to show who is cooler, so the movements are deliberately exaggerated. This is harmful to health The most interesting thing is that the soldiers themselves are not enthusiastic about such a load. Due to constant high kicks and strong blows of the foot to the ground, soldiers have sore knees and injured legs. In 2010, India and Pakistan even agreed to remove the most extreme elements (for example, high kicks), because it injured the military personnel. So it's not the Indian army that walks like this, but a specific border ritual that looks funny, but requires enormous physical endurance and patience from those who perform it. Summary table Aspect Details Whe ... Read more

Statistics on billionaires. Source of capital (earned, inheritance, etc.)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 11:47:00 +0300

Here is the statistics on the sources of capital of billionaires based on data for the years 2025-2026. The numbers vary slightly depending on the methodology (Altrata, UBS, Hurun, Forbes), but the overall picture is quite stable: completely inherited wealth is a minority, but a significant portion of billionaires started with inheritance or family capital. Key Figures (2025-2026) According to Altrata (Billionaire Census 2026), out of 3,795 billionaires in the world: 62% — self-made (created wealth from scratch or scaled their business significantly). 30% — mixed type (inherited a business or capital and significantly increased it). 8% — completely inherited wealth (without making significant personal efforts to create it). According to UBS (Billionaire Ambitions Report 2025) from 2,919 billionaires: 2,059 (about 70%) — self-made. 860 (about 30%) — inherited wealth. According to Hurun Global Rich List 2026 from 4,020 billionaires: 69% — self-made. 31% — inherited wealth. Summary Table Source Number of billionaires Self-made Inherited Altrata 3,795 62% 8% (completely) UBS 2,919 70% 30% Hurun 4,020 69% 31% Important Nuances \"Self-made\" does not always mean \"from scratch.\" Many of those categorized as self-made started with loans, connections, or startup capital from their family. For example, Statista's research notes that most modern billionaires have used family wealth, privileges, and social connections to get started. Altrata also points out that the share of self-made among billionaires (62%) is 13 percentage points lower than among simply very wealthy people (not billionaires) — that is, having a startup capital or platform plays a significant role in jumping into the ten-figure club. Completely inherited wealth is decreasing. The share of those ... Read more

Best footballers of Portugal

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:59:00 +0300

Best Footballers of Portugal — it's not just Cristiano Ronaldo, although he undoubtedly leads the list. Portugal has nurtured a whole generation of players who have shaped the face of world football in different eras. Eusébio — The Black Panther Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, known as Eusébio, was the first Portuguese footballer of global stature. Born in Mozambique in 1942, he became the symbol of Benfica in the 1960s and the Portuguese national team. He was called the Black Panther for his speed, power, and goal-scoring instinct. In 1965, he won the Golden Ball, becoming the first Portuguese to receive this award. Eusébio scored 733 goals in 745 matches throughout his career and is still considered one of the greatest strikers in history. Cristiano Ronaldo — Record Holder of All Time Cristiano Ronaldo is not just the best footballer in Portugal but also one of the two greatest players in the history of football. He has won the Golden Ball 5 times, the Champions League 5 times, become the top scorer in the history of national teams and the Champions League. Ronaldo is the only player to have scored on 5 World Cups. He led Portugal to victory at the 2016 Euros and the 2019 Nations League. His career at Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr has made him a global symbol of Portuguese football. Luis Figo — The Maestro Luis Figo is the second most significant Portuguese player after Ronaldo. He won the Golden Ball in 2000 and was a key figure in the golden generation of Portugal. His transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid for 60 million euros was the most expensive transfer in history at that time and is still considered one of the most controversial. Figo won the Champions League with Real Madrid and was captain of the national team at Euro 2004, where Portugal reached the final. Pauleta — The Dove Pedro Pauleta, known as the Dove, is one of the best strikers in the history of the Portuguese national team. ... Read more

Best laptops for video editing

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:23:00 +0300

Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2026 are machines with a powerful GPU, a large amount of RAM, and a quality display. The choice depends on the budget, ecosystem (Windows or macOS), and format of work: stationary or constantly on the move. Key Criteria for Selection GPU is everything. For editing in Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and CapCut, a dedicated graphics card is critically important. It accelerates timeline playback, effects, and rendering. Minimum — RTX 5060, comfortable — RTX 5080 or higher. RAM is not a place to save money. Adobe officially recommends 32 GB for 4K video and 64 GB for complex projects with multicamera editing or working in multiple applications simultaneously. Display for color correction. OLED panels with a coverage of 100% DCI-P3 and accuracy of Delta E < 2 allow working with color without an external calibrator. Best Models by Category Category Model Key Features For 4K Editing MSI Raider 18 HX AI 18-inch monster with Core Ultra 9 HX and RTX 5080. A mini-LED screen is great for HDR content. Excellent cooling system, but fans are loud under load. For Professionals on Windows Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Flagship machine with RTX 5090 and 64 GB RAM. A 16-inch OLED display with a 240 Hz refresh rate provides smooth images and accurate colors. The best choice for Windows work with maximum power. For Those on the Move Asus ProArt PX13 Compact transformer with an OLED touch screen and high performance. There's enough memory for 4K editing on the go. Minus — no SIM card slot. For Apple Users MacBook Pro 14 or 16 (M5) The M5 chip gives a huge boost in graphics. The main advantage is quietness and no throttling even during long 4K renders. The XDR display is read ... Read more

Politicians and military representatives of NATO countries on the Kaliningrad region

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:05:00 +0300

The situation around the Kaliningrad region remains one of the most volatile points in Europe. Statements by official representatives of NATO countries can be divided into two fundamentally different levels: practical military plans and public rhetoric. The first level is backed by specific divisions, armies, and technologies, while the second involves attempts to distance oneself from one's own threats. Practical Level: Plans and Military Statements The most specific statements are associated with the name of General Christopher Donahue, Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa. In July 2025, he presented NATO's strategy called \"Eastern Flank: Deterrence Line\". General Donahue explicitly stated that the alliance is capable of suppressing the A2/AD (area denial and maneuver) zone in the Kaliningrad region \"faster than ever before\", and that these plans \"are already developed\". The key technical element is the artificial intelligence platform Maven Smart System from Palantir. It is designed to process large volumes of data and assist command in making decisions in real time. Actions, not just words. In August 2026, NATO conducted large-scale exercises near the borders of the Kaliningrad region involving 25 aircraft, including American and Norwegian fighter jets, Apache helicopters, E-3A AWACS airborne radar detection aircraft, Bombardier ARTEMIS II reconnaissance aircraft, and the rare electronic warfare aircraft EA-37B Compass Call. Russian military experts interpreted this as a drill for the scenario of blockading Kaliningrad and forcing Russia to attempt a breakthrough through the Suwalki Corridor. Public Level: NATO Rhetoric The official position of NATO as an organization remains cautious, but with a noticeable degree of skepticism towards Russian warnings. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commented on Russia's diplomatic note on the inadmissibility of blocking Kaliningrad in September 2026. He confirmed that NATO received the warning ... Read more

Why are monkeys so smart?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:30:00 +0300

The intelligence of monkeys is the result of millions of years of evolution in a complex social environment. They are smart not because they have a large brain in itself, but because their brain is adapted to solving specific tasks: survival in a group, foraging for food, and manipulating conspecifics. Social Brain: The Main Driver The most convincing theory explains primate intelligence by social complexity. Living in a group requires remembering dozens of relationships, tracking alliances, deceiving, and detecting deception. The more complex the society, the larger the brain. Social Brain Hypothesis. The size of the neocortex, that is, the new cortex, in primates correlates with the size of the group they live in. Monkeys living in large groups are smarter than those living in small ones. Politics and Manipulation. Monkeys form coalitions, take revenge, reconcile, and deceive. For example, baboons are capable of tracking who is friends with whom and who owes whom for years. Understanding Other Minds. Some monkeys understand that others can make mistakes or not know something. This is called theory of mind and is considered the foundation of complex social behavior. Tools and Ecology The second factor is the need to obtain hard-to-reach food. Use of Tools. Chimpanzees use stones to crack nuts, sticks to catch termites, and leaves as sponges for water. This requires planning and training. Extractive Foraging. Fruits, nuts, insects hidden in hard-to-reach places require ingenuity. Monkeys whose diet includes such resources demonstrate more complex behavior. Anatomy and Brain The monkey brain is disproportionately large compared to the body. In chimpanzees, it weighs about four hundred grams — less than a human, but the structure is very similar. Prefrontal Cortex. Responsible for planning, self-control, and decision-making. The prefrontal cortex in primates is much bet ... Read more

How to Teach a Bear to Ride a Bike. A Short Manual

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:52:00 +0300

Bear training is a complex, lengthy, and potentially dangerous process. In professional circuses and training centers, it takes months, sometimes even years. A bear is not a dog or a horse: it is a large predator with unpredictable behavior, so training is based on patience, positive reinforcement, and strict safety. Step one: establishing contact and trust Before thinking about the bicycle, the bear must get used to humans. This is done from a young age, often with cubs that grew up around people. The trainer spends a lot of time with the animal, feeds it by hand, plays, and gradually becomes its own. Without trust, any training turns into a fight and a risk. Step two: positive reinforcement The foundation of training is a treat. The bear must understand that for the correct action, it will receive a reward: honey, fruit, fish, condensed milk. Commands are given by voice and gesture, and performance is immediately rewarded. No violence: fear and aggression make training impossible. Step three: acclimatizing to the bicycle This is the longest stage. Familiarization with the object. The bicycle is left next to the feeding area so that the bear gets used to its appearance and smell. Acclimatizing to touching. The bear is taught to touch the bicycle with its paws for a treat. First, just next to it, then — to touch it. Sitting down. When the bear is not afraid of the bicycle, it is encouraged to put its front paws on the handlebars or frame. This is done gradually, with support and rewards. Balance. The bear is taught to shift its weight to its hind legs and maintain balance. Here, a special platform or assistance from a second person helps. Movement. When the bear stands confidently on the bicycle, it is slowly pushed along with it, supporting and rewarding for calmness. Independent riding. Gradually, support is removed, and the bear learns to pedal or simply maintain balance while the bicycle moves. Step four: regularity and patience Les ... Read more

The most comprehensive libraries in the world

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:04:00 +0300

The most comprehensive library in the world is the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Its collection includes over 178 million items, including books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, audio recordings, and other materials in more than 470 languages. World's Largest Libraries Below are the leading libraries by the size of their collections. The numbers may vary slightly in different sources, as some include all types of materials while others include only printed publications. Rank Library Location Collection Size 1 Library of Congress USA, Washington, D.C. 178 million items 2 British Library United Kingdom, London 170 million items 3 Russian State Library Russia, Moscow 128 million items 4 Shanghai Library China, Shanghai 58 million items 5 New York Public Library USA, New York 56 million items Other Large Depositories Library Location Collection Size Library and Archives Canada Ottawa over 50 million items National Diet Library of Japan Tokyo, Kyoto about 47.5 million items National Library of China Beijing over 45 million items German National Library ... Read more

Women on Mount Athos

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 20:08:00 +0300

Athon is the largest center of Orthodox monasticism in the world, and women have been prohibited from entering its territory for over a thousand years. This is not discrimination, but a special tradition based on religious principles and historical decrees. Why the Ban Exists The ban on women visiting Athon has two main reasons closely linked to each other. The Mother of God's удел: according to tradition, the ship on which the Mother of God was sailing caught a storm and landed on the shore of Athon. Struck by the beauty of these places, she asked God to make Athon her earthly удел. Since then, the Holy Mountain has been considered the garden of the Mother of God, and only she represents her sex on this land. Preservation of the monastic struggle: Athon is a place of special prayerful seclusion for male monks. The presence of women, according to the monks of Athon, may distract them from spiritual life and create temptations. Therefore, the ban is intended to preserve a special form of monastic life, not to violate anyone's rights. History and Laws The ban was not an instantaneous decision, but formed over centuries. In the eleventh century, the tradition was officially established in 1405 by an edict of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. It was also forbidden at that time to be present on the peninsula and domestic animals of female gender. In modern times, in 1953, a law was adopted in Greece according to which a woman who consciously violated the ban and entered Athon could be subject to imprisonment for a term of two to twelve months. Women are also prohibited from approaching the coast of Athon closer than five hundred meters. Attempts to abolish: when Greece joined the European Union, the European Parliament tried to challenge this ban, but without success. Formally, Athon is private property of monasteries, which allows it to maintain its special status. How Women Can Touch the Shrines Although direct access is closed, women still have the o ... Read more

Hvorfor ukrainske utøvere ikke gir hånd til russere?

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 19:51:00 +0300

Ukrainske idrettsutøvere nekter å hilse russiske mennesker på to hovedårsaker: personlig politisk posisjon av solidaritet med Ukraina og press fra ukrainske idrettsmyndigheter som tvanger dem til å følge denne praksisen. Idrettsutøvernes politiske posisjon En rekke fremtredende ukrainske tennisspillere, inkludert Jelena Switолина, Marta Kostjuk og Dajana Jastremская, har offentlig uttalt at avvisningen av håndtrykk er deres bevisste posisjon knyttet til den militære konflikten. Switолina forklarte at hun føler en spesiell kampånd i kamper mot russiske tennisspillere og at dette gir henne ekstra motivasjon, og avvisningen av håndtrykk er en måte å vise støtte til ukrainske soldater og borgere. Kostjuk følger samme politikk siden 2022 og har flere ganger brukt sin plattform til å tiltrekke oppmerksomhet til konflikten. Jastremская uttrykte direkte: dette er vår posisjon, og alle visste det. Press og frykt for repressjoner Ifølge uttalelsen til den ukrainske MMA-utøveren Maksim Ryndovskij nekter mange ukrainske idrettsutøvere ikke av egen vilje, men av frykt for å miste jobben og støte på forfølgelse. Ifølge ham kan de som samtykker til å hilse med hånd, miste lønn, bli sparket ut av landslaget, miste sponsorer. Ryndovskij, som selv forlot Ukraina etter anklager om separatisme, mener at de fleste idrettsutøverne handler nødvendigvis, selv om han erkjenner tilstedeværelsen av ideologisk engasjerte. Kontekst Praksisen med å nekte håndtrykk med russiske og belarusiske idrettsutøvere har blitt systematisk for det ukrainske landslaget siden 2022. Avvisninger er dokumentert i tennis, judo og andre idretter. Statsrepresentant i Den russiske nasjonalforsamlingen, Svetlana Zhurova, merket at røttene til denne praksisen går tilbake til 2014 og spår at lignende oppførsel vil fortsette selv etter at politiske spørsmål er løst. På denne måten er avvisningen av håndtrykk en kombinasjon av frivillig politisk posisjon for noen idrettsutøvere og tvunget etterfølgelse av bestemmels ... Read more