Podcasts about Backgammon

It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a renaissance. (Part two of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”)   SOURCES:  Remington Davenport, founder of NYC Backgammon Club. Frank Frigo, game strategy expert & two-time world backgammon champion. Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, professional backgammon player. Marc Olsen, C.E.O. of Backgammon Galaxy. Robert Wachtel, author and professional backgammon player.   RESOURCES: The Backgammon Chronicles: A Pro's Adventures on Tour Volume 1, by Robert Wachtel (2019). In the Game Until the End, by Robert Wachtel (1993) "Tric Trac, Clic Clac," (The New Yorker, 1930). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The team discuss what niche hobby or activity they could go to the World Championships for - Parallel parking, card throwing, Backgammon and catching oysters in the mouth? Leisel had a shocking moment at the hairdresser yesterday, when the hairdresser shaved the back of her neck and then kept going down, shaving her back! She never knew she had a hairy back - someone call the authorities, bigfoot has been found! The team run through their Worst Movies Podium. Avatar, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood & Star Trek all top the lists! With a special surprise sporting guest, Liam brings in his brother to talk all things Australian Open Lawn Bowls. Spida is fascinated, until he starts talking about his upcoming travel. His granddaughter has some demands, which mean airport humiliation for the big fella. How does he walk through the airport with a metre tall stuffed unicorn?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First Broadcast 17th May 2026

Leonie und Benedikt sind 64 Jahre verheiratet. Vierundsechzig Jahre. Kurz vor der diamantenen Hochzeit stirbt Benedikt plötzlich und Leonie - tanzt mit ihm als Luftfigur durch die Küche, spielt Backgammon mit einer ihr gegenüber aufgestellten Benedikt-Fotografie und spricht mit ihm, als sei er noch immer da. Gut möglich, dass das auf eine Weise sogar stimmte. Diese behutsam gedrehten Szenen entstammen einem Dokumentarfilm, den Sigrid Klausmann über ihre Mutter drehte. Klausmann kommt 1955 im Schwarzwald zur Welt, 6 Geschwister, mit 19 arbeitet sie als Lehrerin. Sie lernt ihren Mann, den Schauspieler Walter Sittler kennen. Schnell werden sie Eltern dreier Kinder, Klausmann unterrichtet jetzt Modern Dance und arbeitet als gefeierte Choreografin. Seit 2007 dreht sie Dokumentarfilme über und mit Kindern und Jugendlichen, Filme, die ausgesprochen fein und gleichzeitig intensiv sind. Sich nicht angesprochen zu fühlen, ist quasi ausgeschlossen. Das gilt vielleicht sogar besonders für ihren - wie sie sagt - mit 71 Jahren letzten Film, „Girls don’t cry“, den niemand nicht sehen sollte. Schön, dass Sigrid Klausmann Zeit finden konnte, um uns hier in Berlin im Studio zu besuchen. Playlist: Paul Simon - Graceland Melanie - Alexander Beetle Bluesquemperfect - I don't wanna talk about it Janis Joplin - Cry Baby Lea & the Loved Ones - Here we are Van Morrison - These are the days My Dear Companion - About to depart Diese Podcast-Episode steht unter der Creative Commons Lizenz CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

First Broadcast 19th April 2026

Every Monday at this time Jesse likes to go clubbing, what better time than hitting the clubs than Monday afternoon? We've chatted to pigeon racers, lawnmower clubs, machine knitters, and an historic arms community. If you're a member of a club of society you think we should know about then get in touch, Jesse@rnz.co.nz

This episode we close out discussion of this reign with a bit of a grab bag.  There is the minting of new coins, new letters to write Japanese, board games, and more. For more, check out our blogpost:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-146 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is episode 146: Coins, Letters, Games, and More   The large audience hall was filled with nobles, sitting in pairs across from each other.  Throughout the hall, the roof and walls reverberated with the sounds of numerous stone markers being placed on painted wooden tables—or more appropriately, game boards.   It was accompanied by the sound of dice clattering.  At the far end of the hall was the royal presence, where his majesty could likewise join in the entertainment—with someone of sufficient standing, of course. Throughout the day there were bursts of joy and frustration throughout the hall.  In some instances, one could see two players sharing in the joy and love of the game.  In other cases, political rivals stared each other down, neither one willing to give away any strategic advantage.  Any smiles there were merely a mask.  And yet, no matter how hard one tried, there was only so much you could do.  Ultimately, your fate was in the hands of the dice, though you could certainly do your best to nudge it here and there. And so they continued.  As they played, small wagers were made between players.  At the conclusion of their match, each player could find another opponent, and see if their luck held out.  Victory was desired, but at the very least one didn't want to be embarrassed.  As such, losing gracefully was just as important as winning with humility.  Sure, there were  the petty stakes that were gambled here and there, but the real stakes were embedded in the politics of the court.  That was a game  that everyone was playing, except that there was no board, and the rules were often merely suggestions, at best.     This episode we are going to close out the reign of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tenno.  It has been a while getting here—but then again, Ohoama's reign is the best documented so far, almost like the entire Chronicle has built up to this point.  We have spent about a dozen episodes on this reign—not including the four before that discussing the Jinshin no Ran. During that time we've talked about how Ohoama continued the Ritsuryou experiment, while  at the same time shaping it into something that was even more directly under his control.  A lot of this appears to have been done with the mostly willing consent of a good part of the archipelago. That may have been because of a few different things.  For one, all of this was justified through the philosophical underpinnings of the continent.  This is the new knowledge that the court had been devouring for over a century, and so I suspect that none of it seemed particularly surprising or out of place.  Furthermore, it seems that Ohoama's actions may have appealed to some of the more middle-tier elites; those for whom the idea of a government stipend was quite appealing. There was also the external threat of Silla and Tang.  Though in reality, Silla was in conflict with the Tang dynasty, up until the conclusion of the Silla-Tang War, around 676.  In truth, the Tang court wouldn't recognize Sillan sovereignty south of the Taedong river until 736, so there were still tensions.  However, early on in the reign there was at least the thought that hostilities could spill over onto the archipelago. And then there are all of the projects.  The designation of national temples, the beginning of a national history project, the founding of a permanent capital city, and the creation of a formal code—the Asuka Kiyomihara Code. Compared to all of that, the topics of this episode really are some miscellaneous stuff that I didn't have anywhere else to put, but wanted to bring to light anyway.  First, we'll talk about the minting of coins, and what that meant.  Once again, this is really neat because we actually have some coins that appear to be from this time frame, providing what might be a direct relationship between what is written down and what we have in the archaeological record.  Then we'll touch on another project of Ohoama's—this one less successful than some of the others we've discussed.  This was an attempt to create a new writing system specific to the Japanese language.  Remember, at this point literate people in the archipelago were using kanji to write everything down, and for the most part they were using kanbun—so Sinitic characters and grammar, with occasional use of characters purely for their phonetic qualities when they absolutely had to spell something out.  Eventually this would evolve into the syllabaries of katakana and hiragana, but there were several false starts before that, and we'll talk about what was being attempted during Ohoama's reign. Beyond those court projects we'll talk about some of the kami and Buddhist related rituals, especially as they related to growing merit and attempting to protect the state and its people from disasters—natural or otherwise.  And then there are various omens, and just a few edicts that were more geared towards the court but are still fun, like when Ohoama forced the entire court to join him for a day of… board games.  I guess when you are the sovereign and trying to set up a game day, scheduling is suddenly not so big of a problem. So that's what we are going to cover.  We are skipping around throughout the reign, and so while I'll mention dates here and there, I'll try not to get too bogged down with the exact dates unless it really matters. First off: coins.  We are going to start somewhere in the middle, on the 15th day of the 4th month of 683.  It is here that we see a note that Ohoama decreed that copper coins would be used, and not silver.  Remember that a silver mine had been discovered in Tsushima back in 674.  At that time we know that there were silver coins being made, but in 683 it looks like they were changing from silver to copper.  But three days later, they reversed the decision to completely cancel the silver coins, so they presumably had both silver and copper coins. Coins are interesting for several reasons.  For one, coins often help us to date various collections—if they are distinctive enough.  They can be quite helpful in telling us that a particular archaeological assemblage is almost certainly from sometime after the coins had begun to be circulated.  After all, if you unearth a stratum of an archeological dig and you find a penny dated to 1912, you can be reasonably confident that that layer was last exposed on or after 1912, unless time travel was at play. There are some exceptions where animals or tree roots or other forces can disturb the layering, but that's why archeologists carefully pay attention to soil features.  That isn't to say that all coins of the time had clear dates on them.  In fact, the oldest coins we have in the archipelago are something called "Mumon Ginsen"—literally unmarked silver coins.  They are found in various assemblages and thought to have originated under Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou.  The silver from Tsushima would have likely been used for this.  For many reasons it is unclear if these were minted by the state or if they were privately minted and circulated. The copper coin mentioned in Ohoama's record in the Nihon Shoki would appear to be what is known as a Fuhonsen coin, which we also have extant examples of.  These are round copper coins with a square hole in the middle, as was common on the continent.  The previous unmarked silver coins were just small circles of solid silver.  In contrast, the Fuhonsen bear the characters "FU-HON":  FU, or "Tomi", means wealth, and HON, or "moto", means something like base or basis.  "SEN" just refers to the fact that it is a coin.  So the coin represents the basis of wealth. They are just under an inch in diameter, and 1.5 millimeters thick.  While primarily copper, they do have traces of antimony, silver, and bismuth.  The use of copper was likely because of its lower melting point, which would have been easier to cast with. So it seems that these were the new copper coins mentioned in the Chronicles, and the intent was originally to completely replace any silver currency.  I suspect that they quickly realized that they could not easily replace all of the silver, and so the older silver coins were probably still in circulation—though I don't know if any new ones were being minted. We don't exactly know how the coins were used.  They weren't being used to pay taxes or similar things—that was still all being handled in rice, silk, cloth, and labor.  They might have been used by the government to pay individuals, who would then exchange them for goods, but they were probably not used very often between individuals.  There is even some suggestion that they had a more ritual meaning.  Coins of a similar shape—round with a square hole in the center—go back to at least 350 BCE on the continent, and were quite common by the  time of the Han dynasty.  The round hole allowed them to be placed on strings—you'll often see references to strings of cash.  In the Qin dynasty, a string was meant to be a superunit, made up of 1000 coins.  Merchants and others operating at some scale could then just pay in "strings" of cash rather than counting out each and every coin.  It also provided a way of transporting them.  Anyone doing business in east Asia would have encountered coinage from one of the dynasties on the mainland, and we certainly see various coins making their way over to the archipelago, though how exactly they were used and valued isn't certain.  It may have been more important to just have them on hand for trips to the continent so that an embassy or trading vessel could participate in the economy, there. The next coin to be minted in the archipelago itself wasn't until 708, and that was the Wadokaichin, or Wado coins, named for the four characters around the square hole, which included the era name that they were created, "Wado".  This seems to have kicked off an actual national currency that would only last for a couple hundred years before it was debased and lost its value.  For centuries after that, rice was once again the primary currency, and would continue to be so, even though the Tokugawa shogunate would begin to mint and issue coins again through much of their rule.  Still, coins were often outside the grasp of most of the common people. While coins may not have fully caught on, they did better than our next project.  This was a task that was given to Sakahibe no Muraji no Iwashiki who compiled, by royal command, a new set of characters, which were recorded in a book of 44 volumes.  Though this book  is no longer extant, we do have later sources that claim it was once in the royal library.  It describes the characters as similar to Sanskrit characters.  This appears to be an attempt to create an alphabet, or syllabary, for the Japanese language. While Yamato had adopted the Sinitic systems of logographic writing, it wasn't exactly up to the task of directly writing in Japanese.  For one thing, the languages had different sounds that they used, and in different combinations.  Furthermore, grammatically, the two were quite different.  Many Sinitic languages are Subject, Verb, Object, similar to English, while Japanese is Subject, Object, Verb, meaning the verb goes at the end.  But beyond that, Japanese relies extensively on conjugation of verbs, with verbs and adjectives changing to express tense and other such things that Sinitic languages, such as modern Putonghua and languages such as Middle Chinese handle in other ways.  To give an English speaking person a similar experience, imagine writing sentences as "The bird in the tree sat"  or "the man the bread at the store bought".  Now remove many of the articles and prepositions, so you get things like "bird tree sit" and "man bread store buy".  You can imagine how that can really get unwieldy if you want to convey more nuanced concepts. Japanese would either need to add a phonetic writing system—which it did—or it would need to come up with new characters to use in place of the special qualities of the language.  Or they would need to continue to write in Sinitic grammatical order and  continue to do the translation to Japanese on the fly.   One can imagine that this was hardly efficient—in order to learn how to write you would basically have to learn a whole new language. That these new symbols were similar to characters associated with Sanskrit also makes sense, and we even see similar attempts on the continent, though they had other writing systems to compare to as well.  For example, we see the Persian Sogdian, written with a variation of Syriac script, and the Ghandari language written with its own Ghandari or Kharosthi script, but the influence of Buddhism likely explains why scripts associated with Sanskrit likely had a greater influence than other languages.  I should note here that Sanskrit itself does not have a single script—today, people probably think of the Devanagari script, commonly used in India, but that doesn't seem to have been developed until the 8th century.  The work of Iwashiki was likely based on something like the Siddham, or Kutila, script.  This is an abudgida, where consonants and vowels are connected together when written.  This would have worked well for the Japanese language as phonemes are often grouped together as consonant-vowel clusters known as morae.  Siddham evolved in the late 6th century and many Buddhist scripts that were making their way along the Silk Road would have used it.  However, it is said that Siddham proper—or at least as we know it today—was introduced to Japan by the famous monk Kuukai in the early 9th century.  If that is the case, then what script was Iwashiki using as his inspiration? Regardless of the details, this new script doesn't seem to have taken off.  It may have just been too much to ask someone to learn the various kanji AND another system on top of that.  Instead, the Japanese would adopt certain kanji over time, and simplify them into what we know, today, as kana.  Our earliest example is what we know of as Man'yogana, named for the Man'yoshu, an 8th century collection of poems attributed to various contemporary and historical figures.  Because the poetic structure of Japanese required specific counts of syllables or, more specifically, morae, it was important to capture the actual pronunciation of the language.  Certain characters were chosen and used over and over again purely for their phonetic value, rather than any other inherent meaning.  Over time, those characters were simplified and standardized, developing into the katakana and hiragana still used today.  While it was these organically-evolving systems that would eventually be most popular and fill the gap, but it is still incredible to see someone deliberately tackling the problem at this early date. Moving on from money and writing, let's turn now to matters of the kami and the Buddha.   Yamato existed in a world that saw itself as being caught between forces both seen and unseen.  Besides the natural world there was the spiritual world, and to many it was just as real as anything else. We've talked all along about the interplay between the court, the kami and the Buddha, and some of the evidence we see is relatively simple.  For instance, in 675, the Ohokami, the great god, of Tosa presented a divine sword to the sovereign.  I doubt that a kami was showing up in person to the court—this would have been priests from the shrine.   Aston suggests that the kami in question was probably either Hitokotonushi no Mikoto or Misukitakahikone no Mikoto, quoting "authorities" which he does not otherwise name.  We get more serious, though, when it comes to major events.  And the drought and famine of 676 seems to fit that description.  As you may recall from episode 144, the governor of Shimotsukeno reported a bad harvest in the 5th month, and by the 6th month we see more reports coming in of a great drought.  Clothing was collected for the Buddhist temples to help build merit.  Later, there was a comet in the sky, and then, in the 8th month, we see that the court compelled the Kuni no Miyatsuko and the governors to all contribute to an Ohoharae, or Great Purification.  Eventually, the Ohoharae would become a regular ceremony held on the 30th day of the 6th and 12th months of the year, with royal princes down to the high ministers gathering at the southern gate—the Suzaku-mon. Members of the Urabe, the Diviners, would read the various norito, the ritual prayers, to disperse evil influences.  It was, and is,also used when there is a royal visit to the Ise or Kamo shrines, as well as at the Dajosai festival at the start of a new reign.  It can also be done if there is thought to have been some kind of offense that was committed. "Harae", or "purification", is a common part of Shinto ritual today.  From the simple washing of the hands and mouth before entering the shrine grounds to pray to spiritual purification performed by a priest who waves a large stick with paper streamers—the ohonusa or haraegushi—while chanting prayers to ward off evil influences, purification is a key component in Shinto, which often concerns itself with aspects of spiritual pollution.  And so the Oho-harae, the Great Purification, is that, but turned up to eleven. The litany used for the Ohoharae, today, is also known as the Nakatomi no Ohoharae, indicating the importance of the Nakatomi in the ritual.  This Ohoharae, however, was taking place in the 8th month, and may not have had all of the traditions of the later rituals we know today.  Rather, we are told what was required:  The Kuni no Miyatsuko of the provinces were instructed to send one horse and a piece of cloth to specific shrines of purification.  In addition, the governors of the various districts were each told to supply one sword, one deerskin, one mattock, one smaller sword, one sickle, one set of arrows, and one sheaf of rice.  In addition, each household had to supply a bundle of hemp cloth.  These may not have been used in the ritual as much as they were offerings to the kami and their shrine. We'll see this in various cases where the State places rather onerous financial requirements on the population in order to perform rituals.  Of course, by the logic of the time, whatever was donated would make the ritual more effective—it would be more pleasing to the kami.  Still this seems remarkably costly in a year where we are told that the peasants were starving just a few months prior. I'll also take this moment to point out a link here to something that anyone who has been to a shrine may be familiar with, and that is the donation of horses. Horses were common enough a donation—if people of status rode horses, then how much more so the kami themselves?  Sacred or votive horses could be used to carry the kami, and even today some shrines keep sacred horses for the kami.  However, not everyone has horses to donate, and I suspect that the shrine probably didn't need an entire herd of horses.  And so some would pay money for an image of a horse, instead, to be hung in the shrine, likely indicating the donor.  Of course, this wasn't just a picture, but an official record of some kind of donation, which could theoretically go to purchase horses and other such things that the shrine might need.  These pictures of horses were known as "e-ma", literally "picture horse", and we still see them today: The most common type of e-ma will be small wooden placards sold at the shrine, and people will write their desires on the back, with their name and information.  They will often be found hanging in groups on specially designated racks meant for that purpose.  Today, e-ma might have horses on them, but more often have other pictures, associated with the particular shrine and kami.  Speaking of horses, we have a couple more references to them this year.  At some point, Ohoama had issued an edict seeking horses, not just for riding, but other good horses so that the givernment would have them when needed, distributed to the various post-stations.  So when he was returning from a banquet by the Todoroki pool in Hatsuse—modern Hase--Ohoama made a diversion to the post-station of Tomi and had the horses demonstrate their speed.  Presumably this was just a horse race, which seems to be popular around the world, in any place with horses. We see something similar when we are told that Ohoama went to Asatsuma to inspect the horses of the officials there.  At his request, the officials organized a competition of horseback archery.  This appears to reference the famous art of Yabusame—though it may not have been recognized as such just yet, there is some thought that the idea of a horsed archer shooting at three targets while galloping past may have originated in the 6th century, with ties to Usa Jingu.  Still, horseback archery would remain important, and later it would become the primary art of the warrior class from about the 12th to the 13th century or so—and arguably even up until the Sengoku period, with its spear formations and foreign guns. Later, in the 10th lunar month of 681, Ohoama and the court were prepared to go hunting on the Hirose plain.  A temporary palace was prepared and all of the bags were packed, but ultimately, Ohoama didn't go.  Instead, those from the rank of Prince to high ministers stayed at Karunoichi—a market at a cross-roads in the Nara basin that likely was the location of a government stable.  There, they inspected the horses and saddle equipment.  Those from the rank of Shokin up sat under the trees while those of Daisen and below mounted up and passed along from south to north.  Not quite as exciting as horse racing or horsed archery, but who doesn't like a parade. One wonders what happened to call off the hunt.  Perhaps Ohoama, while not bedridden, was not in the best of health.  If he was having some kind of recurring problems then that could explain some of the merit-making as well.  You may recall we discussed how much merit the state seemed to be trying to make in support of the sovereign's health, which we discussed in episode 142. Getting back to the Ohoharae—the great purification.  That was followed up by a general amnesty, which we talked about last episode, as well as a command to let loose living things.  This is a Buddhist practice that one still sees today in various places, usually in the form of letting loose animals like fish and birds that were kept by individuals.  I don't think they were just opening up the paddocks and letting the horses, cattle, and other animals go.  As fascinating as that might be to contemplate, with horses just running wild and cattle trampling the rice fields, I doubt they took it that far.  Still, this practice was clearly an attempt to make more merit for the State.   This edict was repeated only a few months later, in the 11th lunar month, but then it was confined to those provinces that were considered to be "near" to the capital, so a little more focused.  The day after that second release of animals, men were dispatched to all parts to expound the Konkwoumyou and Ninou sutras.  This was the Sutra of Golden Light and the Sutra of the Benevolent King—both sutras focused on concepts of good rulership and protection of the State.  In fact, together with the Lotus Sutra, they would come to be considered the Gokoku Sanbukyou—the Three sutras for Protection of the State.  They were read for the purpose of averting disaster, but they also helped to prop up the image of a righteous and benevolent ruler—what might be termed a golden-wheel turning sovereign, or Chakravarti. So all of this would seem to simultaneously reflect an intention to protect the State while also demonstrating performative regnal righteousness.  It was, after all, what a good ruler was supposed to do, which also conveniently told people what a good ruler was supposed to do. It is unclear whether or not the court actually felt this did anything.  I would note that a month later they were asking Princes and Ministers to gather up weapons, so it is possible that they were concerned about more than just natural disasters— such as a concern that the people were getting restless.  A few days later, we see more largess, as the court made presents to public functionaries and men of the frontier states.  It is unclear to me if this is a reward of some sort or perhaps an attempt to boost their morale and support. Later in that month we see preparations for the upcoming Feast of First Fruits, or Niinamesai, two months later.  We are told that the Jingikan, the Office of Kami Matters, had made the divination that the Yuki, the ceremonially pure rice for the ritual would come from the District of Yamada, in Owari.  For the Sugi, the "next" lower quality of rice, that would come from the district of Kasa, in Tamba.  The feast went off as usual in the 11th month, pre-empting the normal announcement of the first of the month. Later in the record we see that preparations were started for another Ohoharae, or Great Purification, and a general amnesty was issued.  This time, instead of sending horses for the kami, the Miyatsuko of each province were to supply one male and one female servant to the shrines, instead.  Fifteen days later, in the intercalary 7th lunar month—an extra month inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars in synch—we see the queen, Uno, hosting a feast after ritual fasting.  She then had sutras expounded throughout the capital.  I find it particularly interesting that this was apparently instigated by the queen, but along with the Ohoharae, this all speaks towards the feeling that the State needed to be purified and supplied with good merit. The Ohoharae was not the only way to curry favor with the kami.  For example, in one record we see Ohoama designating sacred rice-tax for the shrines of Heaven and Earth—shrines for the Amatsu kami and Kunitsu kami.  One third of the rice was to go to the kami directly, while two thirds of the rice was to go to the priests who kept the shrines going. This same year, 677, we aren't told where the rice for the Niiname-sai came from, but we are told that those who donated as well as members of the Jingikan, who were involved in the divination and ritual more generally, were all compensated for their troubles with various presents. The Jingikan is one of those aspects of the new, bureaucratic state, that feels extremely tied to the archipelago.  It literally is the Bureau of Kami Matters, or the Bureau of Kami Affairs—the Kami no Tsukasa.  It would even come to be ranked above the Council of State in the official org chart of the government.  While the government had national temples and appointed members of the clergy who were responsible for keeping the Buddhist institutions in line with the State, the Jingikan was that entity for court ritual, and even for interfacing with various shrines around the country.   In the 10th century, all of the official shrines across the archipelago would be catalogued and assessed a rank and position, with Ise Shrine and the royal court at the top of the list. Speaking of the national temples, the fourth month of 680 was when Ohoama designated the national temples—which we also covered in Episode 142.  On the first day of month after that, we are told that he bestowed gifts of silk and cloth to 24 temples around the capital; and if there really were 24 temples just around the capital itself, one can imagine why they had to put a stop to publicly funding all of them.  That must have been quite the upkeep.  That same day, the Golden Light Sutra was expounded in the palace and at select temples as well.  As we've seen, the court relied just as heavily—or more—on Buddhism for certain rituals and providing spiritual power. While both Kami-based rituals and Buddhism were revered for their ability to affect the supernatural, Buddhist priests seem to have had a particularly revered place in—or perhaps more rightly outside—of society.  One is more likely to hear about someone who was a Buddhist priest or a novice being revered than a kannushi, or shrine priest.  For example, in the 7th month of 680, the priest Kouchou, of Asukadera, passed away. The royal princes Ohotsu and Takechi were sent to express royal condolence.  Later that same year we would see something similar, with Royal—later Crown—Prince Kusakabe visiting the eminent priest (Y)emyou on his death bed.  Yemyou died the next day, and three royal princes were sent to offer the condolences on behalf of the royal family. Towards the end of 680, Ohoama fell ill. One hundred individuals were made to take holy orders on his behalf, after which he appears to have recovered—or at least recovered enough for the time.  Earlier in the month his queen, Uno no Sarara, had taken ill, for which Ohoama had pledged to build Yakushiji, a temple of the Medicine Buddha, as we talked about in Episode 142. Although Ohoama temporarily recovered, we have mentioned how there are plenty of suggestions that he may not have been entirely better.  It could just be that time and numerous diseases were taking a toll, or perhaps he had an ailment that came and went.  I get that impression from things like in the 10th month of 685, as autumn changed to winter,  several nobles were sent to Shinano to build a temporary palace in preparation for a royal progress.  It seems that Ohoama wanted to visit the hot springs at Tsukama.  Tsukama may have been located on the outskirts of modern Matsumoto city, in Nagano, which is known for its hot springs, today.  Bentley implies  that the court was not entirely thrilled with Ohoama taking this journey.  I have to wonder whether or not this was all about Ohoama's health—hot springs were often seen as restorative.  At the same time, this sounds like a fairly long journey into the mountains as the weather was growing colder.  That also may have been part of the draw, however, allowing them to travel and see the changing leaves, a very common pastime in successive centuries, and even today. I can't help but imagine that Ohoama was seeking the restorative properties, while his court may have been apprehensive about the journey there and back as the days were getting colder.  Compare this to his actions at the start of the Jinshin no Ran, when he made that incredible dash from Yoshino, through the mountains, over to Owari.  But that was well over a decade ago, at this point, and he seems not quite so spry as he once had been. Another popular record that we find in this reign were various oddities and omens.  We've covered quite a few, but I did want to cover a few more before we pull the curtain closed on this era. First off, early in the reign, we see a record in the 10th month of 675 for a woman in the district of Takakura, in the province of Sagami, giving birth to triplets.  A quick Internet search suggests that natural triplets occur in about 1 in every 8000 or 10,000 births.  However, there is another thing to consider at this time:  giving birth to a single child was already a risky business, and death during or just after childbirth was a constant threat.  So now consider the issues with giving birth to twins or even triplets.  The odds that there is a complication just go up at that point.  So I suspect this was a very rare occurrence.  The fact that it was three sons was probably also seen as particularly auspicious, at least for any who were studying traditional Confucian scholarship. Moving on to the 4th day of the 4th lunar month of that same year, we get an omen for the court.  First is a cock sent to the court by Wanitsumi no Yogoto, from the Lower Sofu district in Yamato province.  This cock is said to have had a comb like a camelia flower, which was apparently quite auspicious.  On the other hand, a report came in from Akunami, also in Yamato province, about a hen that had turned into a cock.  Aston, of course, considers that this would have been an ominous sign—a disruption of the natural order.  To be honest, I don't see any particular judgment placed on it one way or the other.  It is just listed as a wondrous or miraculous occurrence. The year 678 has remarkably few events, in total, with nothing recorded between the 4th and 9th months.  And the 9th month was just a note about the death of one, Prince Wakasa, of the third princely rank.  The month after that we have another one of those strange occurrences.  This time it is a report of something falling from the sky like silk floss, except that it was 5 or 6 feet long and 7 or 8 inches wide.  It supposedly floated on the wind and waved from the fir woods and the reed plains.  People who saw it called it kanro, or "sweet nectar". This is really just a crazy entry.  I've wracked my brains to think of a natural event that could cause something like this, but this seems like something that was more like a rumor that got written down.  "Kanro" is thought to be something that Buddhist texts refer to as "Amrita", an exlixir of immortality.  In continental lore, it is said to be a sweet nectar that forms when yin and yang are in harmony—such as during a benevolent reign.  So whatever the truth of any natural event, to the Chroniclers the entry is clearly a chance to hype up Ohoama's reign. And then, towards the end of the 8th month, we see Katsura no Miyatsuko no Oshikatsu presenting auspicious stalks of grain.  Reportedly they all came from different plots and yet had very similar ears of grain.  Auspicious stalks of rice weren't uncommon, but Aston suggests that this was possibly an allegory for all of the royal princes who were brought together in Yoshino to swear to support each other.  The 8th month may have been when the grain was harvested—because it wasn't until the final month of the year that we see the court reacting.  At that point presents were made to the Royal and non-Royal Princes, the Ministers, and the public functionaries, all according to rank, in consequence of the auspicious stalks of grain.  In addition there was an amnesty for all offences from capital crimes on down. Now on top of all of that, there were a few edicts that touched on various topics that we just haven't gotten to, elsewhere. For instance, in the 8th month of 681, on the 10th day, we see a notification to all of the people in the archipelago who claimed descent from those from the continent—specifically those from the Korean peninsula, or the Samhan.  They were told that the taxes, which had previously been remitted for 10 years, so starting in 671, had come to an end.  However, corvee labor was still remitted for ten years to them and their children and grandchildren who had been with them when they first arrived. There are some questions about this passage, but in general it seems that those refugees who had escaped to the archipelago from Baekje and Goguryeo had previously been given 10 years from the time they arrived during which they did not owe taxes.  This included corvee labor—which also extended to any children that had been with them at the time.  Children that were born after that… well they wouldn't be of age to be used as corvee labor in 10 years so this would only apply to those who were with them at the  time and who would be of age within that 10 year timeframe. This exemption from taxes appears several times in different forms, and appears to be a grace period, during which people were expected to establish themselves, open fields, and begin to thrive.  At the end of 10 years, then they would start paying taxes, with the assumption that they had more than enough time to prepare and work the land. Moving on to one of my favorite entries, on the 18th day of the 9th lunar month in 685, Ohoama declared a game day.  He had the Princes and Ministers gather at the Ohoandono, the Great Audience Hall, and had them play a game called "Pakugi" or "Bakugi".  We aren't quite sure what the rules were—it probably wasn't Settlers of Catan, but you never know.  It was likely a game with dice, possibly a version of backgammon, which is quite old and commonly known as a game for gambling.  That same day, Ohoama gave out gifts of robes and trousers to ten princes and others—perhaps related to the gaming session? The history of games and gaming is particularly fascinating.  For one thing, many of the games that were played in the archipelago had come from the continent, and many had variants that had traversed the entirety of Eurasia.  Backgammon and Chess were both games that had variants that would be known in Japan.  Backgammon was known as sugoroku, and in Japan they played a game similar to chess known as Shogi.  They would also play go—or more appropriately igo—from at least the Nara period, though that game, invented in what is now China, does not seem to have spread quite as much as either backgammon or chess variants.  And while chess was a game that was often highly localized—with different pieces representing different things and often moving in different ways depending on the variant—backgammon seems to have been quite similar everywhere, and could probably be played by two people with wildly different cultural backgrounds with very little interpretation needed. The day after Ohoama had the court join his game day, there were more presents.  This time it was brown bear hides given to the royal and non-royal princes.  In total there were 48 hides given out, which is really pretty incredible.  I have this image in my mind of a very Asuka era wooden mansion, with wood and bronze and silk, and then a large bear hide sprawled out on the floor.  I'm not sure exactly how they were used, but I suspect that they were mostly used as floor coverings for people to sit or lay on, though I could also see them being used as sleeping mats.  It seems they were clearly elite status goods, but hardly what we think about in this period. And that is where we are going to come to a close.  There are only a few more things that we'll get to, but they are all related to what happened with the events surrounding Ohoama's death and the succession that followed, so we'll touch on those when we kick off the next reign. Until then if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

She's been on film sets across the country. She's been partially in the space shuttle. She's even been to the Pompano Beach dump. This is the life one leads as a casting director. And now that Sora is winding down and Disney isn't putting a billion dollars into replacing actors with AI, it would appear the position is safe. Everybody wins.Topics:Sora AI being shut downPeople quitting CNNSavanna Guthrie on TodayIowaEllen's careerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oliver Heuler ist Golflehrer, Autodidakt, Philosoph und Buchautor. Seit 38 Jahren unterrichtet er Golf. Eine Sportart, die er mit 16 Jahren für sich entdeckte und die ihn bis heute nicht losgelassen hat. Nebenbei hat er rund 30 weitere Sportarten erlernt, darunter olympisches Gewichtheben, das er mit 45 Jahren begann, und Backgammon, in dem er den Titel des internationalen Meisters trägt. Aus seiner jahrzehntelangen Auseinandersetzung mit Psychologie, östlicher Philosophie und dem Werk von Ken Wilber und Marshall Rosenberg entwickelte er seinen eigenen Ansatz: den Empathiekompass. Ein Navigationssystem jenseits moralischer Normen, das er in seinen Büchern „Vom Sollen zum Sein" und dem Roman „Jenseits der Moral" beschreibt.Im Gespräch mit Jasmin Kosubek legt Heuler offen, warum er Moral nicht für ein Fundament des Zusammenlebens hält, sondern für eine der gefährlichsten Erfindungen der Menschheit — weil sie Menschen von echter Empathie entbindet und Gewalt moralisch rechtfertigt. Wir sprechen darüber, warum er seinen Sohn nie erzogen hat, wie er vom überzeugten Ökosozialist zum Libertären wurde, was der Sozialstaat mit Waffengewalt zu tun hat und warum er den freien Willen für eine Illusion hält und das Leben seitdem deutlich angenehmer findet.

This week the dudes chat about: Backgammon, more MTG, card shows, baseball, Mickey Mantle, NBA All-Star, stealing, AEW, and comics!

Episode Description: What would you do if you came face-to-face with a 23-foot, 600-pound python?

Nouveaux pilotes, un brin déjantés, à bord de la Libre Antenne sur RMC ! Jean-Christophe Drouet et Julien Cazarre prennent le relais. Après les grands matchs, quand la lumière reste allumée pour les vrais passionnés, place à la Libre Antenne : un espace à part, entre passion, humour et dérision, débats enflammés, franc-parler et second degré. Un rendez-vous nocturne à la Cazarre, où l'on parle foot bien sûr, mais aussi mauvaise foi, vannes, imitations et grands moments de radio imprévisibles !

In this powerful and inspiring episode, Leslie sits down with Kate LaGere, co-founder of The Mahjong Line, the design-driven brand that transformed the look, feel, and cultural momentum of American Mahjong.Kate shares the real story behind how she and co-founder Annie O'Grady built one of the most recognizable modern game brands — from their first design prototypes and Pantone-specific tiles to their explosive growth across the South, college campuses, and nationwide Mahjong circles.But this episode goes deeper.Kate opens up about the unexpected viral backlash the company faced in 2021, when a wave of online criticism accused The Mahjong Line of cultural appropriation. She describes what it was like to become the center of a national firestorm overnight — the trolling, the threats, the media frenzy, and how she and Annie stayed grounded, responsive, and resilient.Kate also offers heartfelt advice for female founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs on taking risks, embracing discomfort, and building something meaningful — even when the internet comes for you.Whether you're a seasoned Mahjong player, a new learner, or simply love a good story about grit and reinvention, this conversation is a must-listen.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We're careening towards the Holiday Season which brings quality time spent with family you may or may not love. Well, do you know the quickest way to improve time spent with family you may or may not love? With traditional table games you may or may not love, of course! Unfortunately, traditional table games just don't hit the same in 2025. Luckily, roguelites like Balatro and BALL x PIT have paved a way for these beloved pastimes to reenter the gamer lexicon. That's why we're spending this week deciding which card or board game would make the best roguelite. Kyle is talking about a game you've heard of but probably don't understand. Andrew is talking about a game you've played but probably don't understand. Matt is talking about a game you've probably played and do understand. The title of this week's episode was selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community! If you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast! Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast Have you seen our Threads? threads.net/debatethiscast Want to send us an email? debatethiscast@gmail.com MERCH! We have that! Right now you can go on the internet and order things that say Debate This! On them! All you need to do is head to MerchThis.net and give us your money! Ever wanted socks with the DT! logo on them? Well now you can get em! One more time that website is MerchThis.net! Properties we talked about this week: Ballardo, Backgammon, Euchre, Mancala, Stardew Valley Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a creative commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

In this episode I talk with Jason Pack — a world-class backgammon grandmaster, geopolitical analyst, and host of Disorder, a podcast about what he calls “the global enduring disorder.” It's an unexpected mix of topics: the psychology of high-stakes decision-making, the Stoic discipline of attention, and how lessons from the game board apply to politics, leadership, and life. What starts as a conversation about dice and probability evolves into a reflection on courage, restraint, and rational focus — the same virtues Stoicism trains in us every day. Key takeaways from this episode include: — Backgammon teaches Stoic focus: attention belongs to the present move, not to past mistakes or imagined futures. — “Tilting” in games — or in life — is what happens when emotion overruns reason; Stoic practice helps restore composure and clear judgment. — The best players (and the best leaders) understand their own dispositions — courage, restraint, or excess — and correct for them. — Stoicism and strategy both demand discernment between what's up to us (our choices, our attitude) and what isn't (chance, luck, politics). — In a chaotic world — Jason's “enduring disorder” — wise cooperation and measured risk are the antidotes to reactive nationalism and impulsive power. — Whether in global politics or a roll of the dice, fortune favors those who prepare reasoned courage and act decisively when the moment comes. For an ad-free version of this podcast please visit https://stoicismpod.com/members For links to other valuable Stoic things, please visit https://links.stoicismpod.com -- You can listen to Jason Pack's Disorder podcast here: https://linktr.ee/disorderpod and learn more about it here: https://disordershow.com/ Why Backgammon Can Help us Order the Disorder Marc Olsen and Jason Pack on what BG teaches us about life: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep-132-why-backgammon-can-help-us-order-the-disorder/id1706818264?i=1000718750592 For more on Backgammon Galaxy visit - https://www.backgammongalaxy.com/  For a very fun video produced by Marc and featuring Jason about the World Backgammon Championship and what BG teaches about Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebkgCNS7OI  -- If you'd like to provide feedback on this episode, or have question, you may do so as a member. Email sent by non-members will not be answered (though they may be read). This isn't punitive, I just cannot keep up. Limiting access to members reduces my workload. You're always invited to leave a comment on Spotify, member or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the dudes chat about: NYC, Comedy Celler, Desert Island comics, Barney, indie comics, Kamen Rider, and comics!

In early August, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck a sparsely populated region in Russia's far east. It triggered a tsunami that started crossing the ocean, heading towards the coastlines of Japan, Hawaii, and the US west coast. Thankfully… due to successful and orderly global co-ordination, millions were evacuated and countless lives were saved. This week, Jane and Jason discuss the little-known field of ‘disaster risk'. They look at why we need global coordination for it to work properly, what treaties, and international bodies govern international disaster response, and what successful multilateral efforts in the space of ‘disaster risk' can teach us about how to Order the Disorder in other domains. Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow Show Notes Links: For more on the ASRA Conference organisers - https://www.asranetwork.org/ How to save the world report co-authored by Jane https://europeanleadershipnetwork.org/report/how-to-save-the-world-influencing-policy-on-the-biggest-risks-to-humanity/ Florian Jehn on what helps societies and civilisations avoid major crises or collapse - https://existentialcrunch.substack.com/p/some-factors-that-could-help-societies Lara Mani's charity, the Global Volcanic Risk Alliance - https://www.globalvolcanoriskalliance.com/ Read Jason's article on An Orderly World Championships of Backgammon: https://ukbgf.com/an-orderly-world-championships-of-backgammon/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A family heirloom heist is uncovered in this special at-home episode.  Subscribe to our ⁠YouTube channel⁠ to watch full video episodes. Petty Criminals! Do you have a crime that should be heard in the Petty Crimes Court? Submit it to our team by emailing us at ⁠pettycrimespodcast@gmail.com⁠! And keep up with us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ for crime evidence, events, BTS and other general petty bullsh*t… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

« Dis-moi à quel jeu tu joues, je te dirai qui tu es ». C'est une série spéciale de RFI à la découverte des jeux populaires à travers le monde, ces jeux qui, à travers les joueurs, parlent de la culture et de l'identité de chaque pays. En Syrie, dans les vieux cafés de Damas, entre une bouffée de narguilé et un verre de thé, les dés claquent sur les plateaux de bois incrustés de nacre. Ce son sec et familier résonne depuis des siècles dans les ruelles de la vieille ville. Car le backgammon ou ṭāwlat az-zahr n'est pas arrivé là par hasard : on en retrouve des traces dès l'époque de l'Empire Perse, et il s'est enraciné dans le quotidien levantin depuis plus de 1 000 ans. En Syrie, on y joue depuis l'époque omeyyade, peut-être même avant. Plus qu'un simple passe-temps, ce jeu raconte toute une histoire : celle de l'artisanat damascène, de la transmission familiale et de la rivalité amicale.  De notre correspondant à Damas,  « Allez, explosion du score ! », Ahmed est un joueur de backgammon. Au Café Camel, dans le quartier d'Al-Merjah, l'odeur du café noir flotte entre les tables en bois usé. Autour d'un plateau de ṭāwlat az-zahr, le nom syrien du backgammon, les pions claquent, les dés roulent, et les regards se croisent dans un mélange de défi et de camaraderie. Deux hommes jouent, d'autres observent, tous viennent ici retrouver un peu de répit dans la routine :  « Je viens ici pour respirer un peu, échapper à la maison, à ma femme aussi. Allez, il faut bien rigoler ! Si je pouvais, je viendrais tous les jours. Mais bon, on travaille et avec la vie chère maintenant, même le café devient un luxe. Une ou deux fois par semaine, pas plus. » Dans ce vaste café de plus de 600 m² entre salle et terrasse, le ṭāwlat az-zahr est bien plus qu'un passe-temps : c'est un rituel quotidien. Dès l'après-midi et jusqu'à tard dans la nuit, les habitués s'installent autour d'un thé ou d'un narguilé. On joue pour le plaisir, pour l'équilibre, mais aussi parfois pour laver un affront de la veille : « La plupart de ceux qui jouent ici ont plus de 50 ans, précise Ahmed, gérant du Café Camel. Ce sont des gens qui viennent pour se détendre, se changer les idées. Ils arrivent en fin d'après-midi, et certains restent jusqu'à deux ou trois heures du matin. Les jeunes ? Ils sont rares, peut-être 5%. Eux, ils préfèrent les jeux vidéo, avec leur ordinateur posé sur la table. C'est une autre ambiance. » Mais le ṭāwlat az-zahr ne se vit pas qu'autour des tables de café. À quelques pas de là, dans une ruelle du souk Al-Hamidiyeh, l'odeur du bois ciré se mêle à la poussière fine d'un petit atelier. Ici, Ahmed et son frère Eidīn fabriquent les plateaux de backgammon à la main, pièce par pièce, dans le respect d'un savoir-faire transmis depuis des générations. « (...) ce n'est pas qu'un jeu, c'est une œuvre » Au fond de l'atelier, une lame circulaire tourne lentement. Des éclats minuscules de coquillage et de bois précieux viennent s'y frotter dans un crissement délicat. Ahmed, concentré, incruste un à un de minuscules fragments dans le bois. Il lui faut près de dix jours pour terminer un plateau, selon la complexité de la commande : « Ce que je fais, ce n'est pas juste un jeu, c'est une œuvre. Et quand je sais que ce plateau va finir dans le salon de quelqu'un, qu'il va être touché, utilisé, admiré, c'est ça qui me rend heureux, ajoute l'artisan. Plus que l'argent, c'est la trace que ça laisse chez les gens. » Dans certains foyers damascènes, le ṭāwlat az-zahr ne se joue pas seulement sur une table : il se transmet comme une histoire, un souvenir vivant. Chez Fatima, ce jeu a bercé l'enfance. Son père jouait devant elle, et bientôt, elle et ses frères ont suivi, naturellement. Aujourd'hui encore, les parties continuent, parfois même à la lueur d'une bougie :  « Je connais ce jeu depuis que je suis toute petite. Mon père jouait devant nous, et nous, les enfants, on s'y est mis aussi avec mes frères et sœurs plus tard. C'est en l'observant qu'on a appris les règles. Je me souviens, on partait en famille quelques fois en week-end à Bloudan ou à Zabadani et on faisait des paris. Celui qui perdait la partie devait préparer le repas pour tout le reste de la famille. C'était plus qu'un jeu, c'était vraiment notre lien. » Dans une ville marquée par l'histoire et les défis, le ṭāwlat az-zahr ou backgammon reste un fil invisible entre les générations. Ici, à Damas, le jeu continue.

We've heard about Putin bluffing. Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished poker player and Churchill dabbled at chess. But to our mind it is Backgammon that best reflects both politics and life decisions. It's a game of skill, luck, reversals and socializing. So could world leaders use Backgammon to help them develop their empathy, strategic thinking, resilience, and make better decisions? In this conversation, Jason Pack is joined by Marc Olsen – fellow Backgammon Grandmaster, former professional footballer, and the CEO and Founder of Backgammon Galaxy. Together they explore the multifaceted world of Backgammon. They unpack how it is a metaphor for life, decision-making, and the balance between order and disorder.  They discuss Marc's journey from professional football to becoming the CEO of Backgammon Galaxy, the conformism of Scandinavian society, and how a rebellious nature led Marc to discover Austrian school economics. Plus: the emotional aspects of learning through games, the relevance of game theory in the Enduring Disorder, and the unique features of Backgammon that make it a rich learning experience. And as they Order they Disorder – how Backgammon can foster empathy and social skills, and the potential of Backgammon as a tool for cross-cultural connection, especially in the Middle Eastern region. Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow  Show Notes Links: For more on Backgammon Galaxy visit - https://www.backgammongalaxy.com/  To watch the 2024 World Backgammon Championship Final commentated by Marc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d7-ky1bROk  For a very fun video produced by Marc and featuring Jason about the World Backgammon Championship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TebkgCNS7OI  For Marc on the Gentleman Scofflaw podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-gentleman-scofflaw-podcast/id1216891117?i=1000650103880  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wherein we brew up and share our own writing prompts.  Lock yourself in for a third round: gwritersanon@gmail.com Open the elevator doors to our Facebook page (Ghost Writers, Anonymous).  

Show Notes: Lawrence Steyn moved to Los Angeles to work with Walt Disney, where he helped think through financing new theme parks and movies. After leaving Disney, he went into traditional investment banking. He also mentions that he was a character in a theme park training program, where he was a penguin in full costume. His experience in LA and his role as a character in the training program were both memorable and challenging, and being a penguin was the hardest job he had in the 30+ years since graduating.  From Investment Banking to the Tech Industry Lawrence moved to New York and worked at Goldman, including spending several years in London. He worked at Morgan Stanley and also as vice chairman at  JP Morgan. After COVID-19, he faced a midlife crisis and decided to work at an autonomous vehicle company called Pony.ai. The company was Chinese-centric and had a large nexus with China. This was around 2020/21 during a time when relations between the U.S. and China were strained. The company faced financial and geopolitical challenges from China, who wanted to assert control over its tech sector, and restrictions from the US. Lawrence talks about an event that took place in the U.S. that allowed a government body to exert their control and limit the company. However, Lawrence started lobbying for Pony's cause, visiting Capitol Hill and California representatives,  however it became clear that Pony was never going to go public as an American-centric company.  Joining a Manufacturing-centric P.E. Firm As his time at Pony was coming to an end, a private equity firm, American Industrial Partners, approached Lawrence to join them. Lawrence discusses the changing business world, government issues, and supply chain changes post-COVID. As an American manufacturing-centric private equity firm, he observes the shrinking of supply chains and the refocus on American hard enterprise, but he compares this with his experience at Pony, as a $6-7 billion company started by seven guys in a garage, compared to the cost of manufacturing enterprises. Lawrence enjoys his work and the opportunity to create billions of dollars of value through low capital and high-IQ work. Lawrence also shares his experience with venture capital tech. A Superpower and Brokering a Big Deal Lawrence believes that his superpower is listening to people's words and being thoughtful, especially when dealing with potential clients. He emphasizes being creative and challenging himself to think of unexpected twists in situations. He shares an example from his time at Morgan Stanley,  and the most successful deal of his career. He was the sole advisor to United Technologies, which was the biggest industrial deal up to that date. The unique idea was that United Technologies wanted to buy Rockwell Collins. Lawrence talks about the idea he put forward that allowed United Technologies to keep the Rockwell Collins name and maintain its rich heritage, while United Technologies owned about 60% of the company. The deal was a complex and unique one, with high effort and structuring involved.  Global Trade Wars and Tariffs The conversation revolves around the ongoing global trade wars, particularly the tariffs. Lawrence states that while the uncertainty has slowed everything down, however, the outcome has not been terrible. The market has returned to close to all-time highs. Lawrence mentions that the long-term impact of these tariffs is questionable, as the reduction in the dollar's role as a global reserve currency is problematic. He also discusses the importance of having a strong US global leadership role and the need for a good manufacturing base. He mentions that the lack of access to various materials has proven problematic, and that the US should focus on American manufacturing capabilities. However, he also mentions that American Industrial Partners have been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and their history and majority of businesses are America-centric. A Global Trade Slow Down The Trump administration's focus on tariffs has slowed down global trade, with the US and Mexico experiencing increased tensions. The US has been focusing on geopolitical issues, such as China and Mexico, but the long-term impact of these tariffs is uncertain. The US has been investing in American manufacturing capabilities for decades, and many businesses have found that having an American manufacturing base is more valuable to people around the world. The uncertainty surrounding the introduction of tariffs has led to negotiations and investment being put on hold, as the US has good manufacturing capabilities in Mexico. The short-term impacts of these tariffs have been less dramatic, and the long-term impacts are more theoretical at this point. However, the US has managed to maintain its manufacturing base and maintain its global leadership role. Barriers to Growth in Manufacturing The conversation turns to barriers to the growth of the manufacturing industry in America, including electricity, skilled labor, zoning, local supply chain, permits, and environmental reviews etc. Lawrence highlights the importance of re-electrifying America, which is a complex process that takes time and requires skilled and unskilled labor. The supply chain, as seen with Apple's desire to manufacture in the US. The biggest challenge for manufacturers is the uncertainty of tariffs and their impact on the US manufacturing industry. If there were a sustainable and constructive policy in place for decades, manufacturers would be more comfortable investing in advanced manufacturing capabilities. However, the whimsy of these policies can be problematic, as they may be reversed or ended by lawsuits, hinders planning and investment. An Effective Pro-US Manufacturing Policy A more effective pro-US manufacturing policy with bipartisan support could be beneficial. Some goals that could be valuable include bringing manufacturing back to the US for data centers, shipbuilding, and auto manufacturing. However, the broad concept of remanufacturing in the US doesn't necessarily mean achieving everything at once. A thoughtful policy with bipartisan support could be powerful, but a more consistent, specific, targeted policy with broad support could be more effective. Influential Harvard Courses and Professors Lawrence mentions a Michael Sandel's core class, Justice, that focuses on different theories of justice, which he believes are important for thinking thoughtfully about political and global events. He also enjoyed a seminar with Marjorie Garber on Shakespeare, which he took as a core class and then revisited as an alumni for a deep dive. He also mentions activities centered around the International Relations Council, Model UN, and American Industrial Partners.  Timestamps: 04:16: Experiences at Pony.ai and Autonomous Vehicles  09:36: Transition to American Industrial Partners  23:35: Challenges in American Manufacturing  37:17: Personal Reflections and Future Plans 40:58: Backgammon and Personal Interests  43:35: Harvard Memories and Influences 48:05: Connecting with the Harvard Community  Links: Website: https://americanindustrial.com/team/lawrence-steyn/ Featured Non-profit: The featured non-profit of this week's episode is Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio recommended by John Unger who reports:  “Hello, class of 1992 this is your classmate, John Unger of Kirkland House in Weld North. I'm submitting to you the featured nonprofit for this week's episode of The 92 Report, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lighthouse is a wonderful and impactful organization that gives guidance and support to orphans and foster care children in our city, and my mom has been a heavily involved volunteer for decades. You can learn about Lighthouse Youth Services at its website, lys.org Thank you for your consideration. Now here's Will with this week's episode”. To learn more about their work, visit: LYS.org.

Hometown Radio 04/10/25 3p: Alex Rassipour compares chess to backgammon and the games people play

Zeitloses Brettspiel, bei dem Taktik und Würfel entscheiden... Mach's dir bequem und kuschel dich ein! Dieser Podcast wird durch Werbung finanziert. Infos und Angebote unserer Werbepartner: https://linktr.ee/EinschlafenMitWikipediaPodcast Hier geht's zum Wikipedia-Artikel. Der Artikel wurde redaktionell überarbeitet: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammon CC BY-SA 4.0 Musik: LAKEY INSPIRED - Better Days: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/better-days CC BY-SA 3.0

It's another New Cool, the Wide Flank show where Alon and Sean bring each other a New and/or Cool gaming-adjacent topic to talk about!In this episode, Alon presents us with an old classic board game and why it's interesting and cool, and Sean attempts to figure out why and how to adapt a piece of work into another medium.Support us and help us pay for games and stuff at: https://www.patreon.com/wideflankJoin the Wide Flank discord!!! https://discord.gg/ACbDjNhMpJAll Wide Flank links: https://linktr.ee/wideflank--Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:15 - New show and new Patreon show announcements03:04 - Alon's topic: Backgammon (and the doubling cube)34:17 - Sean's topic: Adaptations (not the movie)--Show notes:How to Play Mancala - https://youtu.be/OX7rj93m6o8?si=tMTgdWj3XCw88LQbtaking the mountain by backgammon strategy by dan davies: https://substack.com/inbox/post/157139639Ben Brode talking about the doubling cube at GDC (when prototyping Marvel Snap): https://youtu.be/HjhsY2Zuo-c?si=IHbwJ7NYF1G2WQy5&t=434Bram Stoker's Dracula (video game) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stoker's_Dracula_(video_game)Master of Darkness - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Darkness

Episode: 3308 Why do we play board games?  Today, board games as models of the world.

We all know the classics: Monopoly, Backgammon, Checkers, and many more. For some, board games are relegated to the dregs of American entertainment, to be broken out at bad parties and played by candlelight on nights where the power's out. But for many, a new wave of board game production and enthusiasm has them clearing calendars and pulling up a chair. We discuss what's driving the tabletop gaming surge and what it means for an industry that's primarily analog. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Did you know that chess used to have elephants in it?

There's a lot of great tracks in this free play mixtape, so let's jump right in.  The boizz kicked things off with a Mega Drive Meganet track from Teddy Boy Blues.  While actually a 90's release, it really embodies the fun sound of 80's pop.  After that you can put your mind to work on a little game of Backgammon for the Famicom Disc System.  Now that your mind is pumped up,

This episode of Eye on AI is sponsored by Citrusx. Unlock reliable AI with Citrusx! Our platform simplifies validation and risk management, empowering you to make smarter decisions and stay compliant. Detects and mitigate AI vulnerabilities, biases, and errors with ease.    Visit http://email.citrusx.ai/eyeonai to download our free fairness use case and see the solution in action.     In this episode of the Eye on AI podcast, Terry Sejnowski, a pioneer in neural networks and computational neuroscience, joins Craig Smith to discuss the future of AI, the evolution of ChatGPT, and the challenges of understanding intelligence.   Terry, a key figure in the deep learning revolution, shares insights into how neural networks laid the foundation for modern AI, including ChatGPT's groundbreaking generative capabilities. From its ability to mimic human-like creativity to its limitations in true understanding, we explore what makes ChatGPT remarkable and what it still lacks compared to human cognition.   We also dive into fascinating topics like the debate over AI sentience, the concept of "hallucinations" in AI models, and how language models like ChatGPT act as mirrors reflecting user input rather than possessing intrinsic intelligence. Terry explains how understanding language and meaning in AI remains one of the field's greatest challenges.   Additionally, Terry shares his perspective on nature-inspired AI and what it will take to develop systems that go beyond prediction to exhibit true autonomy and decision-making.   Learn why AI models like ChatGPT are revolutionary yet incomplete, how generative AI might redefine creativity, and what the future holds for AI as we continue to push its boundaries.   Don't miss this deep dive into the fascinating world of AI with Terry Sejnowski. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more cutting-edge AI insights!   Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI     (00:00) Introduction to Terry Sejnowski and His Work  (03:02) The Origins of Modern AI and Neural Networks  (05:29) The Deep Learning Revolution and ImageNet  (07:11) Understanding ChatGPT and Generative AI  (12:34) Exploring AI Creativity (16:03) Lessons from Gaming AI: AlphaGo and Backgammon  (18:37) Early Insights into AI's Affinity for Language  (24:48) Syntax vs. Semantics: The Purpose of Language  (30:00) How Written Language Transformed AI Training  (35:10) Can AI Become Sentient?  (41:37) AI Agents and the Next Frontier in Automation  (45:43) Nature-Inspired AI: Lessons from Biology  (50:02) Digital vs. Biological Computation: Key Differences  (54:29) Will AI Replace Jobs? (57:07) The Future of AI

Brendan talks about a few classic games he knows and what he thinks about them. Join us, won't you?Chess (1475)Searching for Bobby FischerGo (-2200)Checkers (1150)500 (1904)Bridge (1925)Poker (1810)Backgammon (1630)Rich Sommer's CARDBOARD!Stratego (1946)Risk (1959)Axis & Allies (1981)Rummikub (1977)Scrabble (1948)Yahtzee (1956)Monopoly (1935)Clue (1969)Sleuth (1971)P.I. (2012)What classic games do you really like? Share your thoughts over on boardgamegeek in guild #3269.

From immigrants eating pets, to Jewish space lasers starting wildfires, to 9/11 ‘trutherism', our disordered world – and particularly the rhetoric surrounding the 2024 US Election – is awash with conspiracy theories. Are these theories: ways of venting anti-establishment anger, merely entertaining distractions, dangerous socially acceptable ways of conveying hate for minorities, or do they actually convey meaningful calls to revolutionary political action? What is the hidden meaning encoded in the plot lines and specific tropes of particular popular conspiracy theories? And why do neo-populist leaders push – and anti-establishment voters believe in them? Are conspiracy theories inherently ‘disordering' and do they make it more difficult for today's politicians to solve pressing challenges?    To explore this complex world, Jason Pack is joined by Joseph Uscinski. He is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami, author of ‘Conspiracy Theories: A Primer', and editor of Conspiracy ‘Theories and the People Who Believe Them'.    Throughout the episode, Jason engages in a conspiracy to come up with a unified field theory of how to unlock the meaning of conspiracy theories. Joe rains on his parade, rejecting most of Jason's pet theories, while unsurprisingly approving of his own pet theory: ‘Conspiracy Theories are for Losers and express a coherent world view that suits those without economic or political power'.    Jason and Joe discuss how conspiracy theories have become intertwined with certain types of modern political movements (especially disordering neo-populist ones), the psychological and social factors that motivate belief in conspiracy theories, the role of antisemitism throughout much conspiratorial thinking, and how these theories often target marginalised groups. The show closes with various sharp debates like over whether entertainment value or calls to political action have key roles to play in the spread of conspiracy theories. Lastly, when they Order the Disorder, Jason and Joe disagree vehemently over the role of global institutions should play in curtailing the spread of conspiracy theories.    Producer: George McDonagh  Exec Producer: Neil Fearn    Subscribe to our Substack: https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ to get the special substack-only second episode on Backgammon and Politics with former World Champion of Backgammon Sander Lylloff which drops tomorrow October 23rd      Show Notes Links    For various experts who think Conspiracy Theories entail and motivate actions: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/marianna-in-conspiracyland/id1690561703?i=1000616687886     Get Joseph's book, Conspiracy Theories: A Primer: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/conspiracy-theories-joseph-e-uscinski/1133459048     Listen to Joseph explain conspiracy theories and the people who believe them: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-joseph-uscinski-conspiracy-theories-and-the-people/id1599806986?i=1000549404259     Listen to Joseph on confronting conspiracy theories:  https://www.podcastone.com/episode/Episode-8---Confronting-Conspiracy-Theories-with-Joseph-Uscinski     Read how conspiracy theories have taken hold in far right communities: https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/i-went-undercover-among-the-fascists-and-this-is-what-i-found-rd5o5whq     Read the definition Jason uses for popular conspiracy theories: https://allthatsinteresting.com/popular-conspiracy-theories     Read definition of the 6 types of conspiracy theories: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/02/25/a-psychologist-explains-6-types-of-conspiracy-theories/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can games of skill and chance, of risk and reward – like Poker and Backgammon– teach diplomats, policymakers, and interested participants about how to Order the Disorder?    In this episode, Jason Pack is joined by the former #1 Giant of Backgammon, Wilcox Snellings. In the 1990s, he was considered by his peers to be the best player in the world. The duo discuss: Wilcox's upbringing, New York's gambling culture, the milieu of high stakes gambling and its myriad lessons for confronting disorder with probabilistic calculations.    The duo explore how concepts of expected value and game theory, which underpin modern economics, derive from gambling. They also explore the concepts popularized by Nate Silver in his new book 'On the Edge', which focuses on the dichotomy between ‘the River' (i.e. the community of risk takers) and ‘the village' (i.e. the community of PC, play-it-safe, left-leaning establishment elites). Wilcox and Jason explore how today's crop of political leaders often fail to utilize the principles of risk vs reward calculations and fail to grasp inherent causal connections when making decisions. In the Ordering the Disorder section, Wilcox and Jason link the failure of left and centrist politicians in tackling the challenges of campaign finance, taxation equity, and income inequality to their risk averseness.     If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear its partner episode with Sander Lylloff the 2022 World Champion of Backgammon Subscribe to our Substack: https://natoandtheged.substack.com/     Next week that special bonus episode will drop only on the Substack.    Producer: George McDonagh  Exec Producer: Neil Fearn    Show Notes Links    Listen to the World's current number 1 Giant of Backgammon Mochy talking to Jason's friend Etan Ilfeld: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-etan-ilfeld-podcast/id1500914118?i=1000671570803     Venture into online backgammon and amongst the stars on Backgammon Galaxy: https://www.backgammongalaxy.com/     For another more personal interview about Wilcox's life: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Wilcox+Snellings&mid=801C99A1E7F69963E00A801C99A1E7F69963E00A&FORM=VIRE       Read more about Nate Silver's book https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/09/09/on-the-edge-the-art-of-risking-everything-nate-silver-book-review    And a fairly cogent critique of Silver's book:   https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/09/20/on-the-edge-book-review-nate-silver-risk/     Read Jason's article written in Dubai three years ago about Backgammon, peace making, and the Abraham Accords: https://www.mei.edu/publications/personal-vantage-point-gamble-abraham-accords-dubais-first-international-backgammon     Watch Jason Play a commentated tournament backgammon live from Dubai starting at 3:51:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzDxx1yG78o     Listen to current world number 1, Mochy on Backgammon and Life on the Etan Ilfeld Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-etan-ilfeld-podcast/id1500914118?i=1000671570803   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Behrendt, Moritz www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de, Studio 9

Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend - from the community fairs to the massive concerts. 

2:10:49 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: Tea party questions, conspiracy theories, Life and Trust, turnpike lunch, Buc-ee’s billboard, Wall Drug, Corn Palace, Lost Highway (1997), Mulholland Drive (2001), Inland Empire (2006), Phil Donahue dead at 88, Beck, cults, tteokbokki, Austin Powers Backgammon, Space Opera, Mondegreen, and much more… plus the […]

2:10:49 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: Tea party questions, conspiracy theories, Life and Trust, turnpike lunch, Buc-ee’s billboard, Wall Drug, Corn Palace, Lost Highway (1997), Mulholland Drive (2001), Inland Empire (2006), Phil Donahue dead at 88, Beck, cults, tteokbokki, Austin Powers Backgammon, Space Opera, Mondegreen, and much more… plus the […]

Previously, We Discussed How Play is Non-Instrumental, Voluntary, and Unnecessary. And yet, as will discover this episode, it is a necessity for human flourishing. It is the "necessary unnecessity." Playfulness is ubiquitous for animal life Playfulness in Ubiquitous to Human Experience Since the Beginning - For Adults Too * Royal Game of Ur (2500 BC) * Barbara Ehrenreich - Dancing in the Streets - A History of Collective Joy * Herodotus - Games invented in Lydia (450 BC) * Chess, Go, Backgammon, Mancala - Africa, Asia, Middle East * Alfonso's Book of Games (1283) Playfulness is Behind Creativity and Cultural Advancement * Steven Johnson - Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World * Banu Musa Brothers (9th century Baghdad) * Merlin's Magical Museum (Thomas Denton, 18-19th century England) * Punchcards lead to looms lead to computer programming Play is Essential for Human Development * Dr. Stuart Brown has written and taught extensively on this topic, discovering that play is essential for emotional, physical, and mental development and health--and that the absence of play can lead to social and emotional challenges later on in life. * Jonothan Haidt has recently also argued for the importance of free play for human development Play is Therefore a Basic Human Right * J. Drew Lanham - People have fought and died for the right of others to play * It is not a luxury; it is an essential part of being human * Dave Bindewald - In the face of suffering, our task is not to marginalize play, but to double-down on its importance. Jane McGonigal - Given that We are Wired for Play, How Can We Gamify Life? * Would probably still define work and play a little differently than she does (she says play is work we enjoy), but she is great at exploring ways to bring elements of play (voluntary, unnecessary obstacles) to work * What are some examples? * Quests to do chores * Tombstone Hold-Em * Crowdsourcing Research - Three Body Problem * However, they are still a means to an end. So What's Going On Here? If Play is Unnecessary, Why is it Such a Necessity? * On our next episode, the spiritual necessity of play Takeaways Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience, not just for children but also for adults. Playfulness and play have been present throughout history and across cultures, from ancient games to modern-day fashion and coding. Animals also engage in play, demonstrating the innate nature of playfulness. Play is a catalyst for human creativity and cultural achievements, shaping our society and civilization. Play allows for experimentation, exploration, and the development of new ideas and concepts. Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience. Bringing elements of play into other areas of life can lead to increased creativity, team building, and enjoyment. Games can be used to crowdsource solutions to complex problems. Sound Bites "Play is a universal and essential part of the human experience" "Animals play on various levels, demonstrating the innate nature of playfulness" "Playfulness is a major part of human culture and has shaped our creative and cultural achievements" "Energy and capitalism and growth, you know, these new areas and fields inventions come about really through play" "You know, can bypass our normal systems" "Play is not a luxury. It's an essential part of what it means to be human. It's a human right." CALL TO ACTION Subscribe to our newsletter (https://buttondown.email/BoardGameFaith) Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/boardgamefaith/) Interact with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith/) Discord us Discord (https://discord.gg/MRqDXEJZ)

The Podcast is back for another series recap instant analysis, as the Orioles traveled down the beltway to split a series with Nats. In a wild two games that included a disappointing loss for the O's, parlayed into some incredible social media activity that led into a rubber match to remember, Baltimore righted the ship with a long extra innings win tonight. The guys get into it all - including tonight's win, Craig Kimbrel, the City Connects, David Rubenstein as Mr. Splash this coming weekend - and much more. Thanks as always for listening, and we'll be back at you very soon. Hosts: Jake Louque, Spencer Schultz, Eric Arditti Producer: Jake Louque Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Jimmy's Seafood, Fed Thrill Sunglasses, Black Eyed Susan Spices Follow the show on social: Twitter: @Exit52Podcast, @JumboSetPodcast IG: exit52podcast TikTok: exit52podcast

Cat and Pat are joined this week by special guest Liza Treyger! They swap nanny stories, Taylor Swift lyrics, and thoughts on Bravo shows (from several months ago). Liza graciously gives Swiftie bracelets to Cat and Pat and talks about the common malpractice of sexism in Backgammon. Watch the full episode on our YouTube and follow below!Show Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seektreatmentpodShow Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seektreatmentpodCat: https://www.instagram.com/catccohenPat: https://www.instagram.com/patreegsSeek Treatment is a production of Headgum Studios. Our associate producer is Allie Kahan. Our producer is Tavi Kaunitz. Our executive producer is Emma Foley. The show is edited, mixed, and mastered by Richelle Chen. The show art was created by Carly Jean Andrews. Like the show? Rate Seek Treatment on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review.Advertise on Seek Treatment via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Charlie Eisenhood and Josh Mansfield discuss the breakup between the Disc Golf Pro Tour and UDisc before talking with Chess.com CEO and co-founder Erik Allebest about his love of disc golf and the company's decision to sponsor the season opener. The guys also discuss the VIP ticket sales at Worlds and look at how the Chess.com tournament is doing with ticket sales with two weeks to go until the event.(0:00) Separation of UDisc & DGPT(14:45) Erik Allebest of Chess.com(21:10) Sponsoring Disc Golf(27:55) Chess & Backgammon(30:00) Chess Controversis(32:40) Erik's Chess & DG Ratings(35:00) Thoughts on Allebest(41:10) Ticket Sales in Disc Golf

Charlie Eisenhood and Josh Mansfield take mailbag questions from email and the subscriber Discord about the 2024 season, disc sales, key storylines, and a whole lot more.Charlie's Backgammon (0:00)UDisc Price Increase (6:25)Over/Under (12:00)Converting Baseball Players (16:25)Best Courses to Add/Drop (21:20)Pick 'Em Leagues (31:40)Paige's Impact (36:45)Chess.com Partnership (41:30)Signing Mid-Level Pros (44:15)Future of Innova (49:00)Compelling 2024 Storylines (54:50)

We discuss the Goop Gift Guide and Actors on Actors lineup. I also have to know what the SAG strike wins were and whether or not the Golden Bachelor has been lying. Let's Catch Up! Kylie Jenner + Jennifer Lawrence: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/kylie-jenner-interviewed-by-jennifer-lawrence

In this author interview, I sit down with renowned mathematician Marcus Du Sautoy and talk about his newest book: Around the World in 80 Games. I LOVE games, as will be apparent in this interview. And I could not miss the chance to talk to a mathematician about how, for example, my Risk strategy has been all wrong. Links:Buy The BookWebsite Patreon Free TrialWestern Civ 2.0 Free TrialThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5553835/advertisement

"Today's international system is like a ship adrift during a pandemic. With the captain lost to the virus, and the most capable and conscientious members of the crew self-isolating in their cabins, the deck is now teeming with contagious megalomaniacs. Rather than collaborate, each thinks he knows how to steer the ship better than the admirals.” That is the cheerful first paragraph of Jason Pack's book Libya and the Enduring Global Disorder. Jason Pack is also a NATO Foundation Senior Analyst, co-host of the new Disorder podcast, and international man of mystery who was kidnapped twice in Syria, led wine tours in Georgia, is a backgammon champion and–most importantly–is a long time listener to Historically Thinking who can only be described as a super-fan. He's here to talk about his book, the ongoing disorder in Libya, how Historically Thinking changed his life, his new podcast, and Georgian wine. For Further Investigation Given its influence on Jason, you can't go wrong with listening to my conversation with Steele Brand (not a pseudonym) about the great Polybius of Megalopolis. Also very much related to this conversation is my conversation about "Empire and Jihad" with the late Neil Faulkner in Episode 240 (one of the most popular in the history of the podcast) and with Glenda Sluga in Episode 257 on the Congress of Vienna, titled "Inventing a New World Order." Jason Pack, "Libya's Chaos is a Warning to the World" Alexandra Sharp, "Mass Flooding Submerges Libya in Disaster" Lorenzo Rusconi, "Backgammon and the Meaning of Life"  The Georgian Wine House, importers to the United States of fine Georgian wines; and, once you're hooked, take a tour with the Birthplace of Wine Experience to see what "the wines of the Greeks, Romans, and ancient Near East tasted like". Or travel in your mind with Atlas Obscura's Guide to Georgia. Bake a khachapuri for a crowd  Visit Washington, DC, not for the monuments or museums, for its Georgian restaurant

Guest: Tom Hale, CEO of OuraWhen he was growing up, Tom Hale's family had pretty ordinary dinner-table conversations: What happened today, how was school, etc. But every day after dinner, Tom and his father would play backgammon, an experience that indirectly taught him a lot about business. Now the CEO of wearable health company Oura, he recalls that the game helped him understand risk-taking, strategy, pattern recognition, and more. Tom's father also insisted they play for money: “If I could win 20 bucks, I could go down to the store and get something. But when I lost, I felt the sting of it. That's the best teacher, because you're learning the preciousness of the decisions you make.”In this episode, Tom and Joubin discuss Tom's radio voice, games of chance and skill, vacation rentals pre- and post-Airbnb, “irritant” service fees, health tracking, the psychology of rebranding, the consumerization of healthcare, personalized medicine, the myth of the founder-hero, rowing machines, and the meaning of work.In this episode, we cover: Returning to the office (00:50) John Doerr and Macromedia (05:15) Post-dinner backgammon (08:01) Tom's past jobs and HomeAway (11:31) Competing against private startups (16:09) How Airbnb captured demand (18:55) Being acquired by Expedia (24:26) What Oura's smart rings do (26:13) Rebranding SurveyMonkey to Momentive (29:55) Leaving Momentive for Oura (31:54) Making the case for himself (34:59) The future of public health, data, and wearables (37:10) “Sleep is strategic” (42:32) Why Oura is an AI company (44:48) The health impact of a taxing job (47:16) Being a non-founder CEO (49:39) Working with people (53:38) What would be in a “working with Tom” doc? (54:52) Managing the psychology of a 10-year-old startup (56:48) Being there for family & colleagues (59:18) Who Oura is hiring, and what “grit” means to Tom (01:02:54) Links: Connect with Tom Twitter LinkedIn Connect with Joubin Twitter LinkedIn Email: grit@kleinerperkins.com  Learn more about Kleiner Perkins This episode was edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm

Head down to the closet under the stairs and reach for the bottom of the pile of board games for the classics! Since May is officially Star Wars season, we focus on some of the great, classic Star Wars games that we have loved to play over the years. Jay and Shua try to get the highest spin as they channel the Force on Enjoy Stuff!   After Jay's review of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, tune in for a history of board games and a look at some of the greatest classic Star Wars games.    News Dark Horse Comics and Mattel are releasing a very cool Masters of the Universe art book Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves gets a digital release with bonus features Beetlejuice 2 is officially announced NASA found the juice to keep Voyager 2 going for 3 more years! Kit Kat cereal is here! Gimme a break! Have you checked out the Gran Turismo trailer? David Tenant returns to Doctor Who for 60th Anniversary Return of the Jedi hits #4 at the box office   Check out our TeePublic store for some enjoyable swag and all the latest fashion trends What we're Enjoying When Jay's power goes out, he gets to dig into a book. The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood by Sam Wasson tells some stories about one of the most classic eras of Hollywood and the drama around it. Shua is deep into season 2 of the Netflix series Shadow and Bone. He describes it as a ‘fantasy steam-punk', which has a very unique feel.     Enjoy Games!    Board games have been around way longer than you realize. But are some of those historic games still being played? First we look back at some of the oldest games in human history that are still being played today. Dice has definitely been around the longest, dating all the way back to prehistoric times. But if you want something with an actual board, that would be the Royal Game of Ur, which has been played since 2650 BCE! Backgammon may no longer hold the title of oldest, but it sure has been around for a long time. There's even an annual, world-wide game award from Germany, called the Spiel des Jahres. One game a year has been picked as the best since 1978.    There's some great games that we grew up with that may not make it on the Spiel des Jahres list, but they were fun nevertheless. Classic, mainstream games like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Mousetrap, Yahtzee, and more start our board game discussion with some nostalgia.    But it's Star Wars month, so we pick some of the Star Wars favorites from the last 46 years. From the original Escape From Death Star game to the heyday of Revenge of the Sith products, these classic games give us so many varieties of game play. Listen in to see if your favorites made the list.  Which board games do you Enjoy playing? What Star Wars games would you add to the list? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Fair and square” will get a special mention on the show.  Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com  

Without kids in the house, Johnjay is learning about traditional leisurely activities for life after they flee the big ol' nest. Ah yes, the circle of life. Backgammon today, Early Bird Jell-O in the cafeteria tomorrow. (JK ITS JUST THE BOARD GAME) just put away the dentures and I'll believe you.. KIDDING. SORRY. Today on the show, aside from BINGO and Crafts day, Kyle's daughter ADDY turned 8 years old over the weekend and they went horseback riding! Also, we got some major TV TALK and GBG updates for you. Plus, it's an ALL NEW Missed Connections!! All of this and so much more today on Johnjay & Rich.