One of the basic lessons taught by any content advice on being "one's own man", a "gentleman", or a generally fully functional independent human, is the practice of maintaining one's living (and transportation) space(s). Sure, no one actually "enjoys" cleaning. It's maintenance, a necessity, a base-level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It's often preached that "a clean living space means a clean mental, physical, and emotional life style". WHEN YOU'RE DOWN On the flip-side, I acknowledge when someone lacks the motivation or even physical ability to do so. For those unaware, last year I was constantly sick. Combination of pneumonia/bronchitis until doctors discovered a lung tumor. I was coughing so much it caused micro-fractures in my ribs (I knew they hurt, but wasn't until CT scans and X-Rays confirmed it). The chronic coughing often caused conscious black-outs, among other very disturbing symptoms, and a general lack of energy. Thankfully, I've recovered post-surgery, and getting back to, and even beyond, my former healthier state. I did at the time have some help from my ex-wife. Then again, those were during friendlier terms. MOTIVATION SOURCE That last point brings me to "motivational sources". Now, often when we're not yet adults, we have to be scolded by family to do our chores, instilling in us the hard lesson that we must care for one's space. Especially when we share a living space. As adults, we're usually nagged by our partners, or we already put cleaning into practice and take initiative. As for me, it was multiple sources. Both my own desire to improve my life, but also in the form of nasty character assaults from the ex (not that she has much room to talk, but still, it was the "final kick" I needed). ACTION So, for 4 hours yesterday between my haircut and saxophone practice, I put on some upbeat Jazz (video below), and got to work. My kitchen really needed some love.

I warned Scott in a comment, and I know we've had our share of rants about "modern fashion", so I'm taking my turn. When waiting to pick up my daughter from school, while I have noticed more men showing up more often to pick up their kids (which is a good thing), I can't help but notice they look so much like most people I see out and about. Basically, like homeless ex-convicts. Ill-fitted clothing, dirty, torn, faded graphic shirts, covered in tattoos, pajama pants, faces like they just escaped the Dust Bowl (no skin care routine or attempt to be clean apart from maybe a nice haircut), sometimes with piercings bigger than a pencil or sharpie marker, etc. Even when I was a kid/teen/20-something, I never saw the appeal in dressing like a slob. Sure, I was into the Goth style for 12 years (from high school until my late 20s), but I made sure it looked good/refined. Even James of GentZ was Goth once upon a time. The closest AI-generated answer search could give is it's just "trendy" to look like trash (partly thanks to the fashion industry). That, in some weird way, it's considered "more masculine", and the worst excuse yet, "showing solidarity to accept ex-cons back into society". While that last one seems well-intended, I think there are far better ways to be supportive than to dress like shit. Sure, it's the first thing we see, so "normalizing it" seems to reduce stigma, but it's detrimental as it overall lowers society's bar for standards. At least with "Lumber-sexual" (as opposed to the metro-sexual trend of 20 years ago), they tried to have kempt beards, neat haircuts, and their style aesthetic made sense. At this point, even athleisure-wear looks more appealing (and I'll never do that to myself). The "homeless ex-con cosplay" as I call it, just comes off as fake and a sorry excuse to "be comfortable" or "give up" in the face of an unfavorable economic era. Personally, I'd rather be intimidating as a well-dressed man with manners (or even seen as "a snob", "judgmental", or "trying too hard"), than some pseudo ex-con you'd approach for a toilet wine recipe and wonder if you'll get shanked. While sadly many end up in prison for totally unjustified reasons, many DO end up there for a good reason.

My name is Anastasia and I'm glad to be among you! I like the gentlemanly aesthetic, old Hollywood, and classic novels by Wilde, Fitzgerald, Remarque, and others. Now I'm the student of Moscow state university and have a goal to improve my English to the end of this year😊 I will be glad to communicate, gentlemen's. My Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nasteoshka?igsh=MXZ0NmhnMGFpMnJtaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Gentlemen, Ladies It is with a mixture of regret, concern, and no small amount of disbelief that I must once again issue a formal communiqué regarding the prolonged absence of His Grace, Lord René — Gentleman-at-Liberty, Of Counsel, and, for reasons still under investigation, Honorary Cultural Attaché to the Danish Realm. As previously noted, His Grace had intended to return to active Society duties this week, including final sign-off on the Elements of a Gentleman curriculum. Unfortunately, that return has been indefinitely postponed, due to what is now being described — even by traditionally neutral Swiss newspapers — as an “escalating international incident.” You will, of course, be aware of the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Europe over Greenland. However, few are aware that the origins of the affair lie in a private liaison between His Grace and the Greenlandic Ambassador’s wife during last month’s Reykjavik Energy & Sovereignty Summit. While the exact nature of their interaction remains diplomatically ambiguous, it reportedly involved: - a miscommunicated sauna invitation, - a ceremonial sealskin robe, and - a regrettable misunderstanding regarding personal boundaries. President Trump, upon learning of the affair via unnamed sources (believed to be a disgruntled valet), has reignited his campaign to acquire Greenland, stating publicly that “if the Europeans can’t keep their nobility under control, we’ll buy the whole damn iceberg.” NATO, rather unusually understanding the seriousness of the threat, has mobilised a small joint task force. President Trump has since threatened retaliatory tariffs on European waistcoats and foie gras. His Grace, believed to be lying low in a remote fishing lodge under diplomatic hush, is said to be “reflecting on events,” with access to limited port and no external tailoring services. Until further notice — or until NATO stands down — His Grace will remain unable to fulfil his Society responsibilities. I have therefore been entrusted to continue issuing Sunday dispatches, safeguarding the archive, and keeping the younger members away from the brandy cabinet.

Our first course, a case study of Count Alexander Rostov, from the book a Gentleman in Moscow, is now out on YouTube and on the Society’s classroom page. Rene https://youtu.be/jXkjbEarxiU?si=SerUkijH_He5v65Z