A kiss that led to a years-long nightmare, the Dull Men's Club, and a famous feminist mother
Happy Saturday! There was a lot to take in this week. Spacing out for a whole 90 minutes is the kind of challenge I need. Or perhaps a trip to the cinemas. But before I do that, let me bring you five stories worth your time.
After a heart attack, Andrew McKean moved to a care facility. While stuck in the confines of a room for most of the day, McKean started writing about 'the slow unfolding of a life'. Sounds dull, right? Well, no actually – not once he started posting about it in the Dull Men's Club.
What is it? An international club where people share online the tedium of everyday lives.
Where? The idea originated in the 1980s in New York, when founder Grover Click and some friends decided to 'embrace their dullness', Susan Chenery writes.
And now? It is immensely popular, with 1.9 million Facebook members on Click's original page.
How long will it take to read: three minutes.
Further reading: and then you must meet 'the dullest man in Britain'.
Since retaking power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have enforced repressive laws on Afghan women through their 'morality police'. But now Afghan fathers, brothers and husbands say they are under pressure to ensure women in their families observe the restrictions.
'Changing attitudes and behaviours': the Guardian, with Rukhshana Media, interviewed men and young women about how morality laws are affecting families.
One man from Bamyan province said: 'Men have become unpaid soldiers of the Taliban.'
How long will it take to read: three minutes.
Seventeen years ago, Nathan Dunne took a midnight swim in the icy waters of Hampstead Heath in London with his then girlfriend. As she kissed him in the cold, something inside him abruptly shifted.
***
'It was like being struck. Like something came down … The flip of a switch.' – Nathan Dunne.
Dunne was locked out of his body, or at least that's how it felt, and had a sudden fear of water. Years later, he was diagnosed with depersonalisation disorder.
How long will it take to read: five minutes.
Guardian readers love architecture, but throw in some 'weekend-long parties and carnal pleasure', as Oliver Wainwright suggests, and you've got yourself a fabulous read on the hedonistic party palaces of New York's Fire Island.
A 'queer Xanadu': Wainwright celebrates the legacy of late architect Horace Gifford, who defined the area's modernist beach-houses.
'It was made for sex': Calvin Klein is name dropped, including the time he bought one of Gifford's houses and had it renovated into a home 'made for sex'.
How long will it take to read: four minutes.
When Erica Jong's autobiographical novel Fear of Flying was published in 1973, it catapulted her to fame. The American author broke ground by writing openly about women's sexual desires – rarely done at the time. She quickly became known for her candour and wit.
But for her daughter, Molly Jong-Fast, growing up as Erica's only child told a different story.
A compelling read: In this excerpt from her new memoir, Jong-Fast reflects on the lingering pain of being 'still stuck in the mire of childhood', despite having 'created a different life' as an adult.
How long will it take to read: nine minutes.
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CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
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Time Business News
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Former USMNT star Cobi Jones excited to see ‘something special' at FIFA Club World Cup
Big-time soccer — coming soon to MetLife Stadium, or another American venue near you. The United States will jointly host the 2026 World Cup, a major milestone in the country's history with the beautiful game. Advertisement But first comes the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins Saturday night with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami hosting a game in South Florida. The tournament has a new format with 32 club teams from around the globe and a mega prize pool of roughly $1 billion to be divided among the entrants. Over the next four weeks, some of the biggest teams in world soccer (think: Real Madrid, Manchester City) and some you've likely never heard of (introducing: Mamelodi Sundowns and Urawa Red Diamonds) will square off in 11 cities across America. Advertisement 4 Former U.S. men's national team soccer player Cobi Jones speaks during the unveiling of the new test soccer pitch in anticipation of Nations League play and 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Nine of the matches will be held at MetLife, including both semifinals and the July 13 final (all the matches are streaming on DAZN). To preview the tournament, The Post caught up with Cobi Jones, a legend of the U.S. men's national team who knows a thing or two about big soccer games on American soil. Jones, 54, made 164 appearances for the USMNT, including all four matches at the iconic 1994 World Cup hosted in the States. Advertisement The interview has been edited for length and clarity. 4 General view outside Lumen Field ahead of the Club World Cup REUTERS NYP: What are you most excited to see from this Club World Cup? Jones: I don't think there's a better place to hold the Club World Cup, especially this new iteration of it, because the U.S. is such a melting pot. A Club World Cup is bringing teams from all over the world to come here and play. So, I guarantee you there's going to be a fan base for every team supporting it. This gives the average American fan — that maybe isn't a soccer fan, but just is hearing about it — the opportunity to see some special games, because no matter what anyone says, when it comes tournament time, something special always happens. Advertisement NYP: Who are some of the star players you're interested in seeing in the context of this competition? 4 Inter Miami's Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during a training session on the eve of the Club World Cup 2025 Group A football match between Egypt's Al-Ahly and US Inter Miami. AFP via Getty Images Jones: Do we even have to say Lionel Messi? To actually see him playing against other competition is great. Erling Haaland, the big man up top for Man City and everything he can do. And Kylian Mbappé [of Real Madrid]. I'm gonna jump to teams, too. You have the PSG that just won the Champions League. People should be doing whatever they can to get tickets to see PSG. Especially in the L.A. area, you have Monterrey from [Mexico's] Liga MX. You go down to Brazil and Argentina, Boca Juniors, Flamengo, those are teams that are very known within the soccer world, but maybe not so much to the average fan, and to have those teams coming up here and playing, that's something special. Bayern Munich, that's another team. NYP: How do you think the MLS teams will fare, matched up with teams they're not typically getting to play in a competitive environment? 4 Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák runs with the ball against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the first half at BC Place. Simon Fearn-Imagn Images Jones: I think it's going to be harder for Inter Miami because they do have Messi, and I think everyone's going to understand all eyes are going to be on Messi and his new club. … I do want to see the [Seattle] Sounders and LAFC, how they do match up against these big teams. Maybe, maybe some of these teams will overlook the MLS sides, and hopefully, that could be a little bit of the downfall for them. I do believe after this tournament there's gonna be much more respect and a better understanding of MLS. NYP: From your experience in American soccer, what makes MetLife an interesting venue for the marquee games that we're gonna get here? Advertisement Jones: It's always great to see the crowds, and that's something that not only as a fan that you can enjoy that environment, when it's loud and there's an intensity and you start to get the pulsing feel of an intense matchup, but also the players enjoy that and I think that translates onto the field. NYP: How do you think this Club World Cup can roll into the World Cup that is coming here next summer? Jones: We've had friendlies here all the time, but to have an actual meaningful tournament here, this is a great opportunity to see some high-level games, some high-level talent, and that's gonna hopefully get the fan base excited. If they love this, it's only natural to just build into the next year. It's going to be less than a year away from the World Cup that's going to be here.
