{:en} A Renaissance Tale of Nobility, Scandal, and the Birth of the Conservatory By Tugba YAZICI Let’s start with a little drama, shall we? 🙂 Yes, the title takes inspiration from Turkish novelist Elif Şafak’s Bastard and Father , but my story heads in a completely different direction. This isn’t about the book or the author, but about a very real “Father and Bastard” tale whispered through palace corridors, beneath mosaicked church ceilings, and echoed in the lives of the people who shaped the art world as we know it. THE BASTARDS OF THE MIDDLE AGES And the Children the Nobility Tried to Hide In medieval Europe; especially in France, Italy, England, and...

{:en} The Dopamine Trap: Why Your Brain Craves Stress (and How to Break the Cycle)Feeling wired but tired? Learn why your brain craves stress, how the dopamine; adrenaline cycle fuels burnout, and what to do to reset your nervous system and break free from stress addiction.Hooked on Hustle? You swear you’ll start earlier next time. But there you are again; running on caffeine, adrenaline surging, typing like a machine. You’re stressed, sure, but you’re also weirdly focused.Here’s the truth: if chaos feels like your comfort zone, your body might be addicted to its own stress hormones. Why Stress Feels So Good (Until It Doesn’t)Some people aren’t just tolerating...

{:en} In today’s world, social media is not just a place to connect, it has become a mirror in whichwe constantly evaluate ourselves. Every like, every follower, every perfectly curated pictureseems to send us a message about who we are and how much we matter. The constantexposure to glamorous vacations, flawless beauty or endless success stories often leaves usquestioning whether we are good enough. What was originally designed to bring peoplecloser together has created invisible pressures that slowly destroy our confidence and selfworth.At the heart of social media lies comparison. We scroll through highlight reels of otherpeople’s lives, carefully edited and filtered, to show only the best...

{:en} We will start the week with the continuing effects of Venus-Pluto, Mars-Neptune, Sun-Mars squares and continue with Mars-Pluto 150° angle. It will be a week where we will experience very interesting things. Between March 17-25, 5 planets will change signs. This is a harbinger that we have entered a very active, challenging and stressful time period. Of course, the most important of these planets is Pluto moving into Aquarius. On March 17, Venus entered the zodiac sign it rules, Taurus. The money aspect of Venus will be active. March 19 Mercury enters Aries, March 21 Sun enters Aries, March 23 Pluto enters Aquarius, March 25 Mars...

{:en} If you are looking for unlimited fun and adventure and dream of living on an island, Sentosa Island is the right place for you! I am very lucky because, during my trip to the Far East, I had the chance to visit Sentosa Island, a resort with many different attractions. The best time to visit the island is between October and December, as the weather is mild and beautiful during these months and ideal for sightseeing. Due to its location, Sentosa Island is subject to unexpected rains throughout the year, so it is a good idea to bring an umbrella or raincoat during your visit. Please note. This...

{:en} We will start the week with Mercury moving forward. As of this week, we will be in times where communication will flow like water. There will be a Sun-Neptune opposition on September 19, 2023. This angle brings a dreamer approach to events. It causes events such as deception, fraud, and water accidents. It is useful to be careful in these matters. There will be a Sun-Pluto triangle on September 21, 2023. With this angle, our self-confidence may skyrocket. That's why we need to be careful in matters where we are not sure of ourselves, overconfidence can cause harm. It is possible to emerge victorious from any...

{:en} I begin to my article by telling you that I am in such a place… I hope you will see it someday. I write to our newspaper from Bodrum, Turkey. This is the capital of colors, one of those inspiring places. It's a peninsula, thus you can reach the blue waters, whether you go right or left. There is healing on its shores, you can inhale the iodine and its smell in every breath you take. Greens overflowing from the hills drop a curtsy to the sea, the places where the shade falls on the sea are green. The alleys seethe with bougainvillea at every corner....

{:en} A Life on the Other Side of the World By Melda Sherman — reporting from Boston In this story, I’ll quite literally take you to the other side of the globe — to the Southern Hemisphere, to Sydney, Australia. My guest, Buket Behçet Balaban, speaks candidly about not only what life is like in Sydney, but also how migration shapes a person’s outlook, resilience, and sense of belonging. This interview feels especially meaningful to me, as Buket is also a reader of my book Migratory Birds. I’d like to take this chance to thank her once again for our warm and heartfelt exchange. Buket Behcet BALABAN/ Sydney From Izmir to Sydney:...