Latest news with #TikToks
Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
I had a troubled childhood. This is the question I am asked the most
The exact wording varies, but it's generally something like this: 'If you could go back in time and be removed from your mother's care permanently at the start, do you think that would have been better?' Yeah, it's a biggie. That question is essentially the ultimate one of nature vs nurture. Would my life be better now if I hadn't endured the abuse and neglect that I did as a child? If I didn't have to spend my adulthood dealing with the effects of this trauma, how different would things be? What would it be like to not be like this? To be ... 'cured'? I have answered that question differently over the years. I still answer it differently. Because I genuinely don't know. I've always thought that what I went through made me into the person I am today. I'm a talented writer and a great performer, and I'm funny. It could be argued that resilience built those things. But … I also resent the concept of 'resilience' being a virtue. I resent that I went through something so terrible that it forced me to be resilient in the first place. And who's to say my talent and humour aren't just in my genes? My mum and dad were both very funny people – my mum was extremely creative, and my dad was an exceptional writer. My grandmother was an academic and published author. Maybe I'm a storyteller because of nature, rather than nurture, and was always going to be this way. So if I had to choose … then yeah, I'd choose 'get me the hell out of there', wouldn't I? Go back to the start and put me in a stable and loving home. But … what if that stuff isn't in my genes? Then I spend a childhood in a stable and loving home, but I grow up to be a woman who names her kids Braighleigh and Caightleighn, posts TikToks about her MLM aromatherapy business and has a framed 'Live Laugh Love' poster as the central artwork in her living room. No sense of humour and no writing career. But also … no bad childhood means no mental health issues! Right? Does it, though? If I had grown up in a stable and loving home, I would certainly have had less trauma to deal with, but could I guarantee I'd have no mental-health issues? There's a history of mental illness on both sides of my family, ranging from schizophrenia to depression. So while my childhood may be the cause of the trauma in my life now, I could have had an incredible childhood and still struggled mentally because my genes were always going to be that way. When it comes to mental health, maybe my number was always going to be drafted at conception, bad childhood or not. So, am I sticking with Braighleigh and Caightleighn or … ? It's not just talent, humour and mental health to consider, though. I have qualities as a human being that I've come to appreciate, that almost certainly developed thanks to the work I've had to put into treatment. If I'd had a stable or loving childhood, or been 'cured' of my trauma sooner, I wouldn't have spent the years I have learning how to be a better person. Like picking up on the emotions of others. I do it to a hyper extent, constantly doing something I call 'temperature checking the room'. It's officially called hypervigilance and is a heightened sense that children in dangerous environments are forced to develop to stay safe. Are they mad? Do I need to be wary? Have I done something wrong? How can I fix this? What can I do to calm them down? All understandable thoughts for a little kid to have when they're just trying to stay alert and mitigate danger. When it comes to mental health, maybe my number was always going to be drafted at conception, bad childhood or not. But as an adult, I initially hated my hypervigilance. I found it exhausting to be constantly assessing my surroundings and the people in them. And while treatment hasn't got rid of it completely, it has helped me turn it into a quality I'm now proud to have. I understand now that while my hypervigilant brain may pick up on something going on with a person, I have no way of knowing what it is. So now I try to take that hypervigilance and filter it through empathy and insight, giving me the chance to check in with people about how they're feeling if I do pick up on something. My childhood gave me the ability to observe people out of necessity, and my treatment gave me the ability to turn that into something positive. (Hypervigilance also means I notice the kind of tiny, nonsense details that make me a ridiculously brilliant gift-giver. The list goes on, people!) Do I wish my childhood had been different? I just ... I don't know. That's why my answer to that question changes all the time. There is no simple answer. It's nature and nurture. It's frustration at the past and pride at surviving it. It's wishing I knew what it felt like to have an awesome dad like Richard Glover, and knowing so much of what is great about me wouldn't exist without the dad I did have. Loading What would my life look like if I didn't have a broken brain? I don't know if it would be better or worse. The boring answer is probably a bit of both. What I do know for sure, though, is that I wouldn't be the exact person I am right now, with all the brilliance and all the flaws, if everything hadn't gone exactly the way it has so far. And the person I am right now? I really, really like her.
The Age
5 hours ago
- General
- The Age
I had a troubled childhood. This is the question I am asked the most
The exact wording varies, but it's generally something like this: 'If you could go back in time and be removed from your mother's care permanently at the start, do you think that would have been better?' Yeah, it's a biggie. That question is essentially the ultimate one of nature vs nurture. Would my life be better now if I hadn't endured the abuse and neglect that I did as a child? If I didn't have to spend my adulthood dealing with the effects of this trauma, how different would things be? What would it be like to not be like this? To be ... 'cured'? I have answered that question differently over the years. I still answer it differently. Because I genuinely don't know. I've always thought that what I went through made me into the person I am today. I'm a talented writer and a great performer, and I'm funny. It could be argued that resilience built those things. But … I also resent the concept of 'resilience' being a virtue. I resent that I went through something so terrible that it forced me to be resilient in the first place. And who's to say my talent and humour aren't just in my genes? My mum and dad were both very funny people – my mum was extremely creative, and my dad was an exceptional writer. My grandmother was an academic and published author. Maybe I'm a storyteller because of nature, rather than nurture, and was always going to be this way. So if I had to choose … then yeah, I'd choose 'get me the hell out of there', wouldn't I? Go back to the start and put me in a stable and loving home. But … what if that stuff isn't in my genes? Then I spend a childhood in a stable and loving home, but I grow up to be a woman who names her kids Braighleigh and Caightleighn, posts TikToks about her MLM aromatherapy business and has a framed 'Live Laugh Love' poster as the central artwork in her living room. No sense of humour and no writing career. But also … no bad childhood means no mental health issues! Right? Does it, though? If I had grown up in a stable and loving home, I would certainly have had less trauma to deal with, but could I guarantee I'd have no mental-health issues? There's a history of mental illness on both sides of my family, ranging from schizophrenia to depression. So while my childhood may be the cause of the trauma in my life now, I could have had an incredible childhood and still struggled mentally because my genes were always going to be that way. When it comes to mental health, maybe my number was always going to be drafted at conception, bad childhood or not. So, am I sticking with Braighleigh and Caightleighn or … ? It's not just talent, humour and mental health to consider, though. I have qualities as a human being that I've come to appreciate, that almost certainly developed thanks to the work I've had to put into treatment. If I'd had a stable or loving childhood, or been 'cured' of my trauma sooner, I wouldn't have spent the years I have learning how to be a better person. Like picking up on the emotions of others. I do it to a hyper extent, constantly doing something I call 'temperature checking the room'. It's officially called hypervigilance and is a heightened sense that children in dangerous environments are forced to develop to stay safe. Are they mad? Do I need to be wary? Have I done something wrong? How can I fix this? What can I do to calm them down? All understandable thoughts for a little kid to have when they're just trying to stay alert and mitigate danger. When it comes to mental health, maybe my number was always going to be drafted at conception, bad childhood or not. But as an adult, I initially hated my hypervigilance. I found it exhausting to be constantly assessing my surroundings and the people in them. And while treatment hasn't got rid of it completely, it has helped me turn it into a quality I'm now proud to have. I understand now that while my hypervigilant brain may pick up on something going on with a person, I have no way of knowing what it is. So now I try to take that hypervigilance and filter it through empathy and insight, giving me the chance to check in with people about how they're feeling if I do pick up on something. My childhood gave me the ability to observe people out of necessity, and my treatment gave me the ability to turn that into something positive. (Hypervigilance also means I notice the kind of tiny, nonsense details that make me a ridiculously brilliant gift-giver. The list goes on, people!) Do I wish my childhood had been different? I just ... I don't know. That's why my answer to that question changes all the time. There is no simple answer. It's nature and nurture. It's frustration at the past and pride at surviving it. It's wishing I knew what it felt like to have an awesome dad like Richard Glover, and knowing so much of what is great about me wouldn't exist without the dad I did have. Loading What would my life look like if I didn't have a broken brain? I don't know if it would be better or worse. The boring answer is probably a bit of both. What I do know for sure, though, is that I wouldn't be the exact person I am right now, with all the brilliance and all the flaws, if everything hadn't gone exactly the way it has so far. And the person I am right now? I really, really like her.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fleet sizes vs. fast food locations: How they compare
Welcome to the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Newsletter presented by Drive Axle. In this issue: Fleet sizes vs. fast food locations; drivers share their pay; DIY port; and more. Fleet sizes vs. fast food restaurant locationsGrok Crunchwraps and crunching numbers — I never knew how much XPO and Taco Bell were alike. We all know McDonald's is everywhere, but so are megafleets. That got me curious: How do the largest fleets compare in size to the number of major chain restaurants? I'm not the only one. When I posted about this on LinkedIn, Brad Jacobs seemed to enjoy my But, if XPO is the Taco Bell of fleets, who is the McDonald's of fleets? Turns out J.B. Hunt and Schneider National both have 12,000-14,000 trucks while McDonald's has over 13,000 locations in the U.S. Grok Did you know that McDonald's isn't the biggest fast food chain in the U.S.? That distinction belongs to Subway, with over 19,000 stores. The only fleet that large is Knight-Swift. Despite AI only listing approximately 19,000 trucks for Knight-Swift, the company actually dwarfs Subway with over 27,000 tractors. (Verdict: Dooner>AI) Saia, Landstar and Old Dominion are the Dunkin' of Although AI says none can compare to Chili's, and I'm sure Reed Loustalot would agree with that statement, New Legend and Western Flyer Express both have 1,200 tractors to match Chili's 1,200 locations. Arby's not only has the beef, but it also has 3,398 locations in the U.S.. Marten has 3,349 tractors, making it the Arby's of carriers. Anthony Fecarotta cut his teeth at XPO and filled his mouth with Taco Bell. You may be wondering why Starbucks was curiously absent from this list. David Coffield made his own comparison. There are roughly the same number of food service DCs as there are Starbucks. In terms of fleets, UPS is the closest with over 19,000 trucks. Which fast food restaurant does your fleet match up with? Email me. DIY Port Did you know that you can buy a gantry crane on Alibaba? Even better: You can pay in four easy, interest-free Klarna payments! Bankrate But beware. Missed payments and overspending are starting to become a problem for buy-now, pay-later services. Driver, what's your pay? Truck driver pay is all over the place, so when I saw Indeed list the average truck driver salary as $93,190, it got me curious. Google Wednesday on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, I caught up with former trucker Justin Martin to break down pay and look at a series of popular TikToks where drivers explain their rate per mile (usually in comically confused ways.) Here's what you all had to say about your pay: This is just a cross section of the replies I received, but maybe Indeed isn't too far off on its average. And of course, net and gross can be two vastly different numbers in trucking. If you really want to dive deep on your own operating numbers, check out Adam Wingfield's Playbook. Is the FMCSA finally getting serious? Earlier this year, the FMCSA made some key changes to the Unified Registration System in an effort to fight the freight fraud epidemic. Starting on April 1, mandatory identity verification via Idemia became a requirement for all new motor carriers. Per CarrierOK: 'This chart shows the monthly counts of Filed vs. Published new carrier applications, and the Filed-to-Published conversion rate (white line). After FMCSA's identity verification became mandatory in April 2025, published counts (light blue) dropped by over 50%, while filings (dark blue) held steady – driving the conversion rate down from ~65% to ~30%.' Read the full report here. WTT Friday Blitz week breakdown: top violations – Friday on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, I'm catching up with SearchCarrier's Garrett Allen. His new site allows you to easily look up any carrier and see how often it's been put out of service, inspected and more. We're diving into his blitz week dashboard to break down this year's top violations. Konexial's Jerry D'Addesi on the latest in AI load matching, double broker prevention and edge computing. Plus: Trump appeals tariff ruling; FMCSA's new policy craters new trucking authorities; a look at where the post-Memorial Day market is headed; and more. Catch new shows live at noon ET Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM's Road Dog Trucking Channel The fit – Head on over to to get our made-in-the-USA T-shirt collection. Also, now all products get free shipping in the U.S. Now on demand Thanks for reading, and feel free to forward this to a friend. Tweet @ Dooner Email me Subscribe to the newsletter Subscribe to the show Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube TikTok Twitter Or simply look up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player. Or, if you have SiriusXM, tune in to the show Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Exit through the gift shop: Don't be a stranger, Dooner The post Fleet sizes vs. fast food locations: How they compare appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Axios
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Axios
Mini trucks are about to be big in Texas
The Texas Legislature has approved a bill solidifying the legal status of Japanese mini pickups also called kei trucks. Why it matters: The legislation, awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, could bring a wave of these charming vehicles to Texas roads, a big win for fans of the quirky imports. Kei vehicles have technically been street legal for a little over a year, thanks to a policy change at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Senate Bill 1816 would write that allowance into state law, removing any gray areas. The big picture: Kei vehicles were designed to meet Japan's tight regulations on size and engine power. They're typically at least 25 years old to qualify for U.S. import rules and feature small frames, right-hand drive, and top speeds between 45 mph and 75 mph. Their charm, fuel efficiency, and low cost have earned them a cult following online. Think: YouTube builds, auction guides and TikToks with millions of views. Listings on sites like range from $2,995 to $9,000, depending on fees and tariffs. That's a far cry from the $39,445 entry price on a new Ford F-150, the most popular vehicle in Texas. Between the lines: David McChristian, 37, founder of nonprofit Lone Star Kei, persuaded the DMV to revise its policy in April 2024, allowing owners to register their vehicles for road use. McChristian then worked with lawmakers to codify those changes through SB 1816.
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Politics, democracy and lessons from the rugby pitch
Op Eds As I prepare to step down after 12 years in municipal politics, and as my oldest child prepares to graduate from high school, I find myself reflecting on the surprising places where I've found the most powerful lessons in leadership, resilience and community. One of those places is my daughter's rugby games. The Class of 2025 began high school under circumstances none of us could have ever imagined. Their first year was shaped by lockdowns, mask mandates, classroom 'bubbles' and long stretches of online learning. My three children were among the first in their schools to send their classes home that year when we contracted COVID-19 early in the semester. It was a tough time for everyone, especially for kids looking for connection and normalcy. Yet, something extraordinary happened in the middle of that isolation and difficult time. A longtime rugby coach at my daughter's school, Stephen Kaplan, came out of retirement. He launched a remote rugby program over Zoom, and a group of 12-year-old girls started training from their basements. Coach Stephen sent each of them a ball. Parents and siblings stepped in as training partners. These girls, who had never played a game together in person, began to form a team. And when in-person practices resumed, they showed up. They proudly pulled on ECS jerseys (Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School), learned to tackle and be tackled, and embraced a sport built on physical grit, passing the ball, trust and loyalty. I still remember watching my daughter in her first game. She was fast but small, and I nearly threw up when I saw her tackle someone twice her size. Yet with each game, their smiles grew wider. Their confidence soared. These young women weren't just playing rugby; they were becoming a team in the truest sense. That team taught me something I hadn't fully appreciated in all my years around sports and civic life. Rugby demands fierce competition on the field, but it's followed by camaraderie off it. Players will knock each other down during a game, then film TikToks together afterward. They battle, then they break bread. It's a culture of mutual respect, accountability, and deep connection — qualities that feel increasingly rare in today's polarized world. Winston Churchill famously said, 'Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen.' I believe politics could learn a lot from rugby. In my role as mayor of Westmount, and previously as a city councillor, I've seen how local government, closest to the people, can be both the most effective and the most human level of public service. When it works, it's because people bring passion, integrity, a willingness to collaborate and the ability to make decisions. But increasingly, we're losing the ability to disagree without despising each other. If we want to preserve our democracy, we need to reintroduce that culture of respectful, purpose-driven competition. This fall, Quebecers will head to the polls for municipal elections. Candidates will step forward to represent their communities. I hope they run with eyes wide open: understanding the challenges ahead, from massive infrastructure debts to the housing crisis, but also embracing the profound privilege of serving their neighbours. I hope they remember you can be tough in debate and kind in spirit. Like my daughter's rugby team, our democracy depends on grit, grace and teamwork. I hope the 2025 graduates know how proud they should be. They started high school in a pandemic and emerged with resilience, kindness and an uncommon strength forged in uncertainty. Watching them and the ECS juvenile rugby team has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I have to thank the teachers, former players who served as role models and of course Coach Stephen for teaching this team to be so fierce. I know what they learned over the past five years will help them with everything that lies ahead. Let's take that spirit of teamwork, respect and connection beyond the pitch into our shared world.
