Podcasts about Busan

In this episode of Horror Hour with the Hanna's, we take a high-speed plunge into Train to Busan (2016), the South Korean zombie thriller that redefined the genre. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this film isn't just a nail-biting horror ride—it's a brutal look at humanity under pressure, social division, and what it really means to protect the ones you love.We break down the film's kinetic pacing, heartbreaking character arcs, and masterful use of confined space to ratchet up tension. From the emotionally distant Seok-woo to the fan-favorite Sang-hwa (aka WIFE GUY aka the punching MVP of the undead), we explore how Train to Busan delivers both gore and gut-punches. We also talk about the film's deeper themes of sacrifice, selfishness, and survival—and whether the tears at the end were earned or engineered.Hop on board as we discuss one of the most gripping zombie films of the 21st century—and why Train to Busan still hits like a runaway train.Follow Us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: @horrorhourwiththehannasMusic by Aries Beats - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPpnxLYrzVA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Le storie di oggi sono due scomparse assurde e avvolte nel mistero: quella di Liu Huijun sparita con la figlia a Taiwan e quella di Choi Sung Hee e Jeon Min Geun, svaniti a Busan.Come sempre le fonti che abbiamo usato per mettere insieme questo episodio sul nostro ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Die Parks: Gyeongju World Lotte World Adventure Busan Die Bahnen: Sköll & Hati Draken Phaethon Wizard Race Valkyrie Giant Splash Mysterious Cookie Train Giant Digger

If there was a zombie apocalypse and they acted like the zombies in this movie, Mike and Brandon would be dead pretty quick. Likely, Mike would be dead first. But only after Brandon bravely sacrificed Mike in the sake of his own safety. Only to die moments later after his crackity ankle gives out on him.In this episode, we discuss the 2016 movie, Train to Busan. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Starring Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Yeon Sang-ho, and Jung Yu-mi. It is available on Netflix.You can request movies by emailing us at specrapular@gmail.comGo follow our Youtube channel where ALL of our episodes are posted now: ⁠⁠Specrapular⁠ ⁠(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ppqS8Japy4yT4cVfcGEKw)The next movie we are going to discuss is, Macgruber, from 2010. Directed by Jorma Taccone. Starring Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig, and Val Kilmer (RIP). It is available on Netflix.Intro music by: Luis Find more music from Luis at: instagram.com/breatheinstereSeason 8 Episode 7

Your Nightly Prayer

Following months of political turmoil, South Korea chooses a new president. We get a view of the results from key cities of Seoul and Busan. Plus: We unpick Meloni and Macron's meeting in Rome and London’s Serpentine Pavilion is revealed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a topic!!!!Ever tried to name your top five movies of all time? The struggle is real, and in this episode, we attempt the impossible while digging into what makes certain films stick with us forever. Our journey begins with a brutally honest take on "Warfare," a film many critics crowned as this year's masterpiece. We break down why this supposedly tension-filled war drama left us completely underwhelmed, questioning whether every true story deserves the big-screen treatment. This sparks a larger conversation about what truly makes a cinematic experience memorable – is it emotional resonance, unexpected storytelling, or something else entirely?The conversation flows naturally into our own movie obsessions, from Sandra Bullock's underrated gem "Murder by Numbers" to beloved classics like "The Bone Collector" and "Cape Fear." We share those comfort films we'd watch on repeat (hello, "Dracula Untold" and "Train to Busan") and why certain actors like Ryan Gosling never quite hit "great" status despite solid performances. Our mutual appreciation for Daniel Craig's James Bond leads to a confession: his portrayal was so perfect that earlier Bond films now feel like pale imitations.Korean productions receive special attention as we celebrate shows like "Night Agent," "All of Us Are Dead," and "Hellbound," examining why international content often takes creative risks American productions shy away from. We even touch on the political implications of overseas filming and why certain countries produce consistently innovative entertainment.Want more recommendations? We've got them – from zombie outbreaks to fantasy worlds, from thrillers to underrated comedies. Drop us a comment with your own impossible top five movie list or tell us if you've watched "Eastbound and Down" yet. Because while we might not always talk movies on this podcast, when we do, we absolutely Talk That Shit.Support the show

Mysteriös lächelnde K-Pop-Stars flimmern auf riesigen digitalen Werbetafeln, der mitreißende Sound schallt durch Metrogänge und Einkaufszentren: die südkoreanischen Großstädte wie Busan und Seoul sind von der Popmusik der Boy und Girl-Groups geprägt. Christine Siebert ist mit ihrer 23-jährigen Tochter Magdalena, einem K-Pop-Fan, in der südkoreanischen Pop-Szene unterwegs. Die beiden shoppen in den zahlreichen K-Pop-Läden und geraten sogar auf die Geburtstagsparty des K-Pop-Idols Yuna, einem Star von Magdalenas Lieblingsgruppe Itzy! Yuna ist auf dem Event zwar nicht persönlich anwesend, aber ihre Fans verteilen jede Menge Fotokarten, Sticker und andere Goodies: überall Yuna wie sie ein Victory-Zeichen macht, sich die Haare aus dem Gesicht streicht oder eine Brille aufprobiert. Auf dieser Reise durch die K-Pop-Welt erfahren die beiden: K-Pop ist Gute-Laune-Musik, kann aber auch gesellschaftskritisch daherkommen. Und so cool sich die Stars auch in Videoclips und auf Postern geben, ihr Alltag ist alles andere als lässig: die Konkurrenz zwischen den Gruppen ist knallhart, und die Idols müssen perfekt in enge Moral- und Schönheitsvorstellungen passen. Die koreanische Jugend liebt aber nicht nur Pop, sondern auch uralte Traditionen: Junge Männer mit hohen antiken Hüten, junge Frauen in Reifröcken und Spitzenstolas wandeln durch die Gärten der alten Königspaläste. Der Kostümverleih boomt rund um die ehrwürdigen Gemäuer. Traditionen und Jahrtausende alte Geschichte sind in diesem supermodernen Land allgegenwärtig.

HORROR WITH SIR. STURDY EP 552 SEOUL STATION (2016) REVIEW & THE OUTBREAK BEFORE THE TRAIN   What's good, Horror Fam?! Tonight on Horror With Sir. Sturdy, we're takin' it back to where the infection began with a deep dive into Seoul Station (2016)—the animated prequel to Train to Busan.   This film packs all the tension, heartbreak, and horror you'd expect from the franchise, but through the unique lens of animation. It's gritty, socially charged, and completely underrated.   Joining me for this one:

Send us a textA jam-packed weekend of CrossFit Games Semifinal competition is in store starting this Friday. A total of 12 athletes will secure their spot at the 2025 Games in Albany, NY. After previewing Torian Pro last week, Brian and PC return to discuss the three other Semifinals that will happen this weekend, which include eight Game invitations. The weekend starts first in Busan, Korea, for the fourth installment of the Far East Throwdown. Next up is the REBEL Renegade Games in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Each day of competition ends with the Syndicate Crown, held in Knoxville, Tennessee.Brian goes through his predictions on how he feels the leaderboards will end up in those competitions and offers additional insights on what to watch for.Please consider donating to Dusty and his family as he recovers in the aftermath of a recent medical emergency:https://www.spotfund.com/story/2b351b...Visit us on our website at bfriendlyfitness.comConnect with us on Instagram BFriendly on Instagram Brian on Instagram PC on Instagram Today's episode is brought to you by Home Grown ReleafMake sure you go check out the best CBD product out there, Home Grown Releaf, who is back as our podcast sponsor for 2025!HGR Website: https://hgrcbd.com/Use code "FRIEND20" to get 20% off your purchase

Il 3 giugno si vota in Corea del Sud, dopo la drammatica parabola verso l'abisso di Yoon Sui-yeol, l'ex presidente che dopo aver proclamato la legge marziale è stato arrestato, sottoposto a impeachment e quindi destituito. Al voto si va tra polarizzazione, paura e novità legate al modo di comunicare dei candidati, tre uomini, alla presidenza. Gli inserti audio della puntata sono tratti da: 어린이날 밤 한동훈입니다, canale Youtube 한동훈, 5 maggio 2025; 진짜 대한민국까지 , canale Youtube 이재명, 25 maggio 2025; South Korea opposition chief Lee Jae-myung stabbed in neck during visit to Busan, CNA, 2 gennaio 2024; 이제부터 진짜 대한민국, canale Youtube 이재명, 13 maggio 2025; Kim Moon-soo kicks off campaign, KBS Korea, 12 maggio 2025; Reform Party's Lee on Election Campaign Plans, Bloomberg Tv, 7 aprile 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A child with special abilities? Since this movie came out before X-Men, does this make it the first mutant movie? This show thinks so.In this episode, we discuss the 1996 movie, Matilda. Directed by Danny Devito. Starring Mara Wilson, Danny Devito, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidz, and Pam Ferris. It is available on Netflix.You can request movies by emailing us at specrapular@gmail.comGo follow our Youtube channel where ALL of our episodes are posted now: ⁠⁠Specrapular⁠ ⁠(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ppqS8Japy4yT4cVfcGEKw)The next movie we are going to discuss is, Train to Busan, from 2016. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Starring Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Yeon Sang-ho, and Jung Yu-mi. It is available on Netflix.Intro music by: Luis Find more music from Luis at: instagram.com/breatheinstereSeason 8 Episode 6

The Wailing is a movie about a cop who is bad at being a cop, a kid who is great at being possessed, and a steep hill that will absolutely kick your ass no matter who you are.Ted Anderson is here to discuss this moody Korean masterpiece with us as we all desperately grasp for any clue of what might be going on. One thing is for sure though, this is a real feel bad movie and at three hours long, you'll still be feeling bad the next day too!Director: Na Hong-jin Writers: Na Hong-jin Stars: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-here, Jun KunimuraRecommendations: Ted - SirenEmily- SeveranceBen - Train to BusanJeremy - Chainsaw Man Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Vacay, we're exploring South Korea, a destination on the rise that's capturing the hearts of foodies, K-pop fans, and cultural adventurers alike. From the bustling, tech-forward streets of Seoul to the scenic port city of Busan and the historic charm of Gyeongju, South Korea is a country where tradition meets ultra-modern living. Host Sophie Jackson chats with Stacey Brownsey from Helloworld Travel to uncover why now is the perfect time to visit, before it becomes the next Japan. Expect insights into the best cherry blossom spots, local cuisine that rivals any global foodie hotspot, and the rising popularity of Korean skincare, K-Dramas, and K-Pop tourism. Whether you're craving mountain air, beachside relaxation, or Michelin-worthy street food, South Korea is a destination that promises it all, with fewer crowds (for now). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our final two matchups of the bracket are Deathdream vs. The Battery and Train to Busan vs. Savageland. Three American indies, one Korean blockbuster. How greatly is vision limited by budget? As usual, we focus on the eliminated films but highlight what they have to offer.

This week we watched Train to Busan (2016) and discuss late-stage capitalism, a zombified deer, and the first zombie train chain gang?!?!Our plot discussion begins at 15:19Content warning: We love horror and want everyone to enjoy it accessibly and safely. In general, assume we may talk about violence, gore, death, and scary situations. We provide a customized content warning about the movie for each episode during the episode, before launching into the plot. If you have particular triggers, please check the movie on doesthedogdie.com.

In this week's (delayed) episode, we speak to music writer (and fellow Scouser) Jamie Finn about northerners in Korea tending to gravitate towards each other, heading to the peninsula for an adventure, basically not knowing anything about it and writing about the local Korean music scene through multiple outlets.We also discuss the evolution of music and events in Korea (and the beginnings of nonconformity), starting his own magazines, gentrification and its effects on the local culture (mainly in HBC), and the Busan music scene compared to SeoulThere's plenty more this week, including (but not limited to) iconic Liverpool institution, The Krazyhouse, Robbie and Barry from Eastenders (we never quite know where these conversations will turn), Korean societal problems and the differences in gig culture between Korea and the West.As always, something for everyone.Get on it.

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.comToday, we'll be discussing Episode 8 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, and Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss:The song featured during the recap: My Love by My Side by Isaac Hong, a gorgeous acoustic ballad performed with only guitar, piano and voice.The full-circle moment when Ae-sun and Gwan-sik's past kindness saves their daughter Geum Myeong from a false accusation nearly 20 years later.Guilt and obligation between parents and children, especially how Geum Myeong's guilt leads to emotional distance from her loving parents.Geum Myeong's awful experience at the police station, reminiscent of her mother's experience at the Busan police station 20 years earlier.Gwan-sik's efforts to connect with his daughter, waiting all day to see her in Seoul and facing her rejection with grace.Ae-sun's sacrifice: abandoning her dream of opening a café so Geum Myeong can study abroad in Japan.The museum that Gwan sik visited, which is probably the Independence Hall of Korea and the historical context of the 1987 democratic elections in Korea.The heartbreaking memory of little Geum Myeong waving to her father, and how a grown-up Geum Myeong's wave brings Gwan-sik to tears.How Gwang Rye, in Ae sun's dream, is still giving Ae sun advice how to discuss the death of Dong Myeong with Gwan sik.Ae-sun finally winning the poetry contest after years of longing, thanks to the haenyeos' secret submission of her poem.The mysterious wedding scene where Geum Myeong is sobbing—who is she marrying and why is she so sad?Reflections on “gaman,” a Japanese concept of enduring hardship with grace, and how it defines both Ae-sun and Gwan-sik's character.Park Hae-joon's transformation from the "nation's adulterer" to the "nation's romantic lead," and how playing Gwan-sik changed his personal outlook on his marriage and life with his wife.ReferencesIndependence Hall of Korea - Wikipedia1987 South Korean presidential election - Wikipedia

This week, Daniel and Jun reflect on the small routines and habits that shape daily life—and how those ordinary moments reveal cultural contrasts between Korea and America. From elevator etiquette to bike-riding, math education to parenting styles, they explore how values like speed, structure, and success show up in the simplest of places. They also touch on entrepreneurship in Korea, screen time for kids, and the cultural weight of words like “macho(맞죠)” and “oriental.”If you're interested in how everyday details—like drawing maps, riding bikes, or doing math homework—can reveal deeper societal values, tune in to hear Daniel and Jun discuss all this and more.Support the showAs a reminder, we record one episode a week in-person from Seoul, South Korea. We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation, and we're so excited to have you following us on this journey!Support us on Patreon:https://patreon.com/user?u=99211862Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/koreanamericanpodcast/https://twitter.com/korampodcasthttps://www.tiktok.com/@koreanamericanpodcastQuestions/Comments/Feedback? Email us at: koreanamericanpodcast@gmail.com

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Blossoms and Belonging: Jiho's Race to Overcome Loneliness Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-05-01-22-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 벚꽃이 흩날리는 봄날이었어요.En: It was a spring day when cherry blossoms were falling.Ko: 부산의 작은 고아원 주변은 분홍빛으로 물들었습니다.En: The area around a small orphanage in Busan was tinted pink.Ko: 아이들이 들뜬 얼굴로 어린이날을 맞이했습니다.En: The children eagerly celebrated Children's Day.Ko: 학교 운동회 준비가 한창이었습니다.En: Preparations for the school sports day were in full swing.Ko: 조용하고 내성적인 지호는 고아원에서 살아가고 있었습니다.En: Jiho, who was quiet and introverted, was living at the orphanage.Ko: 그는 항상 전통적인 가족의 품을 그리워하며 외로움을 느꼈습니다.En: He always longed for the embrace of a traditional family and felt lonely.Ko: 그러나 친구들과 함께하다 보면 차츰 마음이 따뜻해지고는 했어요.En: However, when he was with his friends, his heart gradually warmed.Ko: "지호야, 오늘은 운동회 준비하는 날이야!En: "Jiho, today is the day we prepare for the sports day!"Ko: " 미준이 밝게 웃으며 불렀습니다.En: Mijun called out with a bright smile.Ko: 수빈이도 지호에게 손짓합니다.En: Subin also gestured to Jiho.Ko: 지호는 소심했지만, 친구들과 함께하고 싶었습니다.En: Though shy, Jiho wanted to be with his friends.Ko: 하지만 다른 친구들처럼 자유롭게 활동하는 게 쉽지 않았습니다.En: But it was not easy for him to participate freely like the other friends.Ko: 운동회를 잘하기 위해, 지호는 마음속 다짐을 했습니다.En: In order to do well on sports day, Jiho made a resolution to himself.Ko: 비록 수줍었지만, 하나씩 연습하며 준비해 보기로 했습니다.En: Although he was shy, he decided to practice and prepare step by step.Ko: 달리기 연습을 할 때마다 두근거리지만, 조금씩 자신감이 생겼습니다.En: His heart would race each time he practiced running, but little by little, he gained confidence.Ko: 운동회 날, 드디어 찾아왔습니다.En: The day of the sports day finally arrived.Ko: 학교 운동장은 모든 학생들로 가득 차 있었습니다.En: The school playground was filled with all the students.Ko: "지호야, 할 수 있어!En: "Jiho, you can do it!"Ko: " 미준과 수빈이 손을 흔들었습니다.En: Mijun and Subin waved their hands.Ko: 지호는 떨렸지만 그 순간 친구들의 응원을 느꼈습니다.En: Although nervous, Jiho felt his friends' support at that moment.Ko: 첫 번째 달리기 경기에 지호가 참여했습니다.En: Jiho participated in the first running event.Ko: 심장은 마구 뛰고, 손은 땀으로 젖었습니다.En: His heart was pounding, and his hands were sweaty.Ko: 그러나 출발선에 서자 옆에 함께 하는 친구들의 응원 소리가 희미하게 들려왔습니다.En: As he stood at the starting line, he faintly heard the cheers of the friends who were with him.Ko: 휘슬이 불자, 지호는 힘차게 달리기 시작했습니다.En: When the whistle blew, Jiho started running strongly.Ko: 바람이 얼굴을 스치는 순간, 어딘가 모르게 자신감이 생겼습니다.En: As the wind brushed against his face, he somehow gained confidence.Ko: 그의 모든 두려움이 조금씩 사라졌습니다.En: All his fears began to fade away.Ko: 친구들이 지호를 위해 소리쳤습니다.En: His friends shouted for Jiho.Ko: 지호는 결승선을 통과했습니다.En: Jiho crossed the finish line.Ko: 그는 숨이 차오르면서도 웃음이 번졌습니다.En: He was out of breath, yet a smile spread across his face.Ko: 친구들은 지호를 환영하며 달려왔습니다.En: His friends ran to greet him.Ko: "너 정말 멋졌어, 지호야!En: "You were really amazing, Jiho!"Ko: " 수빈이 말했습니다.En: Subin said.Ko: 그날 지호는 따뜻한 소속감과 기쁨을 느꼈습니다.En: That day, Jiho felt a warm sense of belonging and joy.Ko: 이제 그는 자신 안의 장벽을 극복할 수 있음을 알았습니다.En: He realized that he could overcome the barriers within himself.Ko: 그리고 친구들과의 소중한 기억을 마음에 깊이 새겼습니다.En: And he deeply engraved the precious memories with his friends in his heart.Ko: 벚꽃이 질 무렵, 지호는 새로운 자신감을 얻고, 친구들과 행복한 어린이날을 만들어 갔습니다.En: As the cherry blossoms were about to fall, Jiho gained new confidence and created a happy Children's Day with his friends.Ko: 고아원의 아이들 사이에서 지호는 더 이상 외롭지 않았습니다.En: Among the children at the orphanage, Jiho was no longer lonely. Vocabulary Words:blossoms: 벚꽃tinted: 물들었습니다orphanage: 고아원introverted: 내성적인longed: 그리워하며embrace: 품resolution: 다짐gradually: 차츰prepared: 준비해whistle: 휘슬confidence: 자신감pounding: 마구 뛰고cheers: 응원faintly: 희미하게steadily: 꾸준히sweaty: 땀으로 젖었습니다belonging: 소속감overcome: 극복할barriers: 장벽engaged: 참여했습니다race: 경기shouted: 소리쳤습니다finish line: 결승선precious: 소중한engraved: 새겼습니다fears: 두려움warmth: 따뜻한joy: 기쁨whisper: 속삭임difficult: 어려운

"We zitten allemaal in dezelfde boot.” Hoe moeizaam en complex onderhandelingen over klimaatverdragen ook zijn, dit besef dringt uiteindelijk steeds weer door. Ook nu Donald Trump de Verenigde Staten ten tweeden male uit het Verdrag van Parijs terugtrok blijft dat cruciaal, ook al maakt dit het wereldwijde klimaatbeleid moeilijker. Dat vertelt Tony Agotha, de klimaatgezant – ‘ambassadeur at large, special envoy for climate and environment' - van de Europese Unie.Jaap Jansen en PG Kroeger praten met Agotha over wat dat eigenlijk inhoudt, klimaatdiplomatie. En hoe werkt zoiets in een Unie van 27 lidstaten die deels ook hun eigen klimaatbeleid voeren, hun eigen nationale belangen en relaties onderhouden, maar tegelijkertijd wel in dat Europees verband die belangen moeten zien te delen om samen sterker te staan.***Deze aflevering is mede mogelijk gemaakt met donaties van luisteraars die we hiervoor hartelijk danken. Word ook vriend van de show!Heb je belangstelling om in onze podcast te adverteren of ons te sponsoren? Zend een mailtje naar adverteren@dagennacht.nl en wij zoeken contact.Op sommige podcast-apps kun je niet alles lezen. De complete tekst plus linkjes en een overzicht van al onze eerdere afleveringen vind je hier***De Nederlander Tony Agotha werkte op Buitenlandse Zaken en in Brussel. Hij zat in het team van Eurocommissaris Frans Timmermans in de eerste Commissie-Von der Leyen. Nu is hij als klimaatgezant onderdeel van de buitenlandse dienst van de EU en valt daarmee tijdens Von der Leyen II onder de buitenlandchef van de Europese Unie Kaja Kallas. De inhoud van zijn diplomatieke werk stemt hij dan weer nauw af met de Europese Commissie: vicepresident Teresa Ribera en haar portefeuille ‘Schone, Rechtvaardige en Competitieve Transitie' en commissarissen als Wopke Hoekstra (Klimaat, Nettonul en Schone Groei) en Jessika Roswall (Milieu, Waterweerbaarheid en Circulaire Economie). Bovendien stemt hij zijn rol als EU-gezant nauw af met de 23 klimaatgezanten die vanuit de lidstaten actief zijn. “Het is heel belangrijk dat je elkaars signalen uit contacten wereldwijd goed oppikt en waar nodig doorspeelt en daar naar handelt. En dat je ervoor zorgt dat je vanuit dezelfde partituur je muziek maakt. Nee, niet helemaal zoals bij Bach of Mahler. Het is meer Jazz. Want je moet af en toe wel kunnen improviseren.”Agotha vertelt kleurrijk hoe hij als gezant te werk gaat en hoe het toegaat op de wereldwijde klimaatconferenties zoals afgelopen november de COP (Conference of the Parties) in Bakoe (Azerbeidzjan) en direct daarna een heftige bijeenkomst in Busan (Zuid-Korea) over het plasticprobleem. Daar in Busan klonk heel veel jazz, maar de gedurfde improvisaties leverden wel een coalitie van welwillenden op waarmee de EU verder kon bouwen.Zo'n COP is een verhaal apart. Die duurt twee weken en kent een heel eigen choreografie. Een soort Congres van Wenen anno nu. Onderhandelen gebeurt - zeker daar - in fasen en in bijeenkomsten van expertgroepen om de kaders en de mogelijkheden in kaart te brengen. In de tweede week verschijnen de politieke krachtpatsers en moeten deals gemaakt worden.Tony Agotha verheelt niet dat het in Bakoe kantje boord was. Hij en zijn EU-collega's moesten vol aan de bak. “Het voorzitterschap van het gastland kan als het de zaak goed aanpakt veel bereiken, maar ook - als het de zaak slecht leidt - een hoop narigheid veroorzaken.”In Bakoe moest de EU-delegatie met de nieuwe Eurocommissaris Wopke Hoekstra in het gat springen om te redden wat er te redden viel. Agotha is stiekem best een beetje trots op hoe dat uiteindelijk slaagde.Diplomatie is dan ook een vak apart. “Het op een na oudste beroep ter wereld”, zegt hij met zelfspot. Essentieel is dat je de belangen van je gesprekspartners niet alleen kent, maar ook begrijpt. “Nee zeggen is tot daar aan toe, maar weten waarom iemand nee zegt is veel belangrijker.” Hij wijst erop hoe Klemens von Metternich er in onderhandelingen met Napoleon achter kwam dat die bij elke concessie meteen doorging met eisen opvoeren. “Diplomatie blijft altijd mensenwerk, altijd. Het is daarom heel belangrijk dat je met je gesprekspartners uit andere landen en culturen een verstandhouding ontwikkelt. Idealiter moet je onderhandelingen zo kunnen beginnen: ik lees nu uit mijn hoofd de instructies voor die jij van thuis meekreeg en jij die van mij.”Zijn Chinese collega noemt hem ‘my old friend'. Maar Agotha is niet naïef over de relatie EU-China. Het zijn harde onderhandelaars en nog recent kreeg hij de volle laag met een waslijst aan verwijten. Ook daar moet je mee leren omgaan. De Chinezen zijn heel slim, maar essentieel noemt Agotha dat zij aanspreekbaar zijn op de fundamentele afspraken rond het klimaatbeleid. Daarom is het voor de EU zelf wezenlijk dat de Unie als betrouwbare, transparante en eensgezinde groep landen weet op te treden, juist in deze turbulente tijd.Minstens zo gelaagd zijn de relaties met belangrijke spelers als India en Saoedi-Arabië. Heel verschillende naties met heel diverse belangen en cultuur waar je mee moet leren werken.Hoe de relaties met Amerika zich ontwikkelen zullen is ook voor Agotha nog onhelder. Wel zijn er staten binnen de VS die blijven hechten aan een gedegen klimaatbeleid. Ook voor hen geldt wat Agotha de centrale boodschap noemt: “We doen dit beleid niet voor de Aarde want die kon zich miljarden jaren ook zonder ons bedruipen. We doen dit voor onszelf - voor onze gezondheid, onze banen en de komende generaties.”Het klimaatvraagstuk is omvangrijk en maakt mensen soms defaitistisch, maar Agotha is er daar niet een van. Hij wijst op winstpunten als het Europese emissiehandelssysteem, wat China en India dermate interessant vinden dat zij inmiddels ook in deze richting denken. “Europa is toonaangevend. Wij kunnen een stevige stem kunnen laten horen. De EU blijft een enorm project dat zich juist bewijst in tijden van crisis.” ***Verder lezenSpeech by President von der Leyen at the EU Ambassadors Conference 2025Von der Leyen: "Wir haben keine Bros und keine Oligarchen" (Die Zeit, 15 april 2025)***Verder luisteren471 - De verduurzaming is Nederlands grootste verbouwing ooit462 - Allard Castelein moet essentiële grondstoffen veiligstellen460 - VVD'er Silvio Erkens strijdt voor versnelling van het klimaatbeleid446 - Doe wat Draghi zegt of Europa wacht een langzame doodsstrijd435 - Klimaat en Groene Groei: Sophie Hermans heeft grote ambities, maar wordt het haar mogelijk gemaakt?427 - Europa wordt een grootmacht en daar moeten we het over hebben415 – Klimaatbeleid: de inhaalslag van Nederland in Europa411 - Negen opmerkelijke aspecten van de Europese Unie389 - De lange en hobbelige weg naar een klimaatneutraal Nederland378 - Dertig jaar na 'Maastricht' is Europa toe aan een nieuwe sprong voorwaarts369 - Klimaatminister Rob Jetten358 - Ligt het ambitieuze klimaat- en energiebeleid op koers? Gesprek met Henri Bontenbal (CDA)344 - Nederland in Europa: een masterclass door Tom de Bruijn340 – Caroline van der Plas ontvangt Frans Timmermans. Vijf misverstanden over Europa338 - Hoe de stikstofcrisis de energietransitie vertraagt. En: wat intussen wél met sprongen vooruitgaat244 - Frans Timmermans over klimaatbeleid, geopolitiek en weerbare democratie106 - Diederik Samsom over het Europese klimaatbeleid en het crisisherstelplan36 - Wopke Hoekstra: EU moet geopolitieke machtsfactor worden***Tijdlijn00:00:00 – Deel 100:46:23 – Deel 200:57:52 – Deel 301:06:41 – Einde Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome To Horror Presents: “The We Have Been Watching Invasion of Earth”. It's time for our semi-regular round up of all the entertainments we've been sticking into our brains for the past few weeks (and no laughing at the word “semi” please, we're all grown ups). This time round there's quite an international flavour as we discuss Soviet masterpiece “Viy” (1967); 2 movies from South Korea in modern classic “Train to Busan” (2016) and the “Tucker & Dale…” reimagining “Handsome Guys” (2024); fantastic Norwegian comedy “Troll Hunter” (2010); and the breathtaking 1922 Danish/Swedish silent documentary “Häxan” (and it's William Burroughs narrated 1968 version, “Witchcraft Through the Ages”). We also cover hit podcast “Broken Veil” (2025), 1982's “The Slumber Party Massacre”; “Hellboy: The Crooked Man” and “The Book of the Witch” (both 2024). Plus there are honourable mentions for “Battle Beyond the Stars”; and the anthology shows “Tales of Unease” and “Armchair Thriller”. There should be no need to prep for this ep, but listeners beware, as here be (possible) spoilers and (definite) swearing. Join us!

At a certain point, most of us settle into a groove with our pop culture consumption. We know what we love and what we're not into. But sometimes, all it takes is one great outlier or a willingness to step outside our comfort zone to make us reconsider what we don't like. Today we're talking about our pop culture revelations, including Friday Night Lights, Train to Busan, the poetry of Mary Oliver, and Watchmen.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of The Killer Point Of View Podcast, we dive into the hauntingly quiet world of John Krasinski's 2018 horror film A Quiet Place. We kick things off by asking: what are some of the most unforgettable opening scenes in horror history—and does A Quiet Place earn a spot on that list?From there, we explore the film's massive impact on the genre, discuss whether we'd survive in a world where sound equals death, and how such a terrifying reality would change our everyday lives. Is A Quiet Place just another monster movie, or is there a deeper meaning hidden beneath the silence?We also break down the film's most intense moments, debate whether we'd rather live in a soundless world or a zombie-infested one like Train to Busan, and ask: has this film changed the way you think about sound?Plus, we share some behind-the-scenes facts, ratings, our personal recommendations, and announce what film we're covering next. Don't make a sound… just hit play.

This episode we will discuss various embassies to and from Yamato during the reign of Takara Hime, with a particular focus on the embassy of 659, which occured at a particularly eventful time and happened to be extremely well-recorded fro the period by Iki no Hakatoko, who was apparently on the mission to the Tang court itself. For more, check out our blog post at: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-123 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua, and this is episode 123: Embassy Interrupted.   Iki no Hakatoko sat in his room, gazing out at the city.   It was truly an amazing place, filled with all kinds of people from around the world.  And yet, still, after 9 months of confinement, the place felt small.  Sure, there he hadwere visits from ranking nobles and dignitaries, but even the most lenient of house arrests was still house arrest. But that didn't mean that he had nothing to do.  There were books and more that he had access to—many that had not yet made it to the archipelago, and some of which he no doubt hoped he could bring back with him.  And of course, there was paper, brush, and ink. And then there were the experiences he and others had acquired on this mission to the Great Tang.  From the very beginning the missionit washad been plagued with disaster when they lost half of their ships and company mission to rogue winds on the open seas.  Now they were trapped because the Emperor himself wouldn't let them return home.  They had experienced and seen so much, and that provided ample material for one to catalogue. As the seasons changed, and rumors arrived that perhaps his situation would also something would change soon, Iki no Hakatoko spread out the paper on the desk in front of him, dipped his brush in the ink, and began to write.  He wrote down notes about his experiences, and what had befallen him and the others.  He had no idea who It is unclear whom he thought might read it, and if he was intending this to be an official or personal record, but he wrote it down anyway. Hakatoko He couldn't have known then that his words would eventually be captured in a much larger work, chronicling the entire history of Yamato from its very creation, nor that his would be one of the oldest such personal accounts records to be handed down.  His Itwords  wwould only survive in fragments—or perhaps his writing was simply that terse—but his words they would be preserved, in a format that was still being read over a thousand years later.     Last episode we finished up the story of Xuanzang and his Journey to the West—which is to say the Western Regions -- , and thence on to India, or Tianzhu, where he walked in the footsteps of the historical Buddha, studied the scriptures at the feet of venerable teachers, such as Silabadhra at the Great Monastery of Nalanda, and eventually wound up bringingbrought back hundreds of manuscripts to Chang'an to , which he and others be translated and disseminated, impacting Buddhist thought across East Asia.  HisXuanzang's travels lasted from around 629 to 645, and he was still teaching in Chang'an in the 650s when various student-monks from Yamato  arrived to study and learn from him, eventually bringing back his teachings to the archipelago as part of the Faxiang, or Hossou, school of Buddhism. Before that we talked about the visitors from “Tukhara” and “Sha'e” recorded in the Chronicles.  As we noted, these peopley were morest likely from the Ryukyuan islands, and the names may have been conflated with distant lands overseas – but regardless, .  Whether or not it was a mistake, this it does seem to indicated that Yamato had at least an inkling of the wider world, introduced through the continental literature that they had been importing, if not the direct interactions with individuals from the Korean peninsula and the Tang court. This episode, we're going to talk about some of the relations between Yamato and the continent, including the various embassies sent back and forth, as well as one especially detailed embassy from Yamato to the Tang Court that found itself in a bit of a pickle.  After all, what did you do, back in those days, when you were and ambassador, and your country suddenly went to war?  We'll talk about that and what happened. To reorient ourselves in time, we're in the reign of Takara Hime, called aka Kyogoku Tennou during her first reign, who had reascended to the throne in 655, following the death of her brother, Prince Karu.  The Chroniclers would dub her Saimei Tennou in her second run on the throne. From the very beginning of her second reign, Takara Hime was entertaining foreign envoys.  In 654, the Three Han of the Korean Peninsula—Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—all sent ambassadors to express their condolence on the death of her brother, and presumably to witness her ascension.  And in the 8th month of her reign, Kawabe no Maro no Omi, along with others, returned from Chang'an.  He Kawabe no Maro no Omi had been the Chief Ambassador to the Tang on an embassy sent , traveling there in the 2nd month of the previous year.  Originally he had been He was under the command of the controlling envoy, Takamuku no Obito no Kuromaro, but Kuromaro who unfortunately died in Chang'an and so Kawabe no Mari no Omi took over his role. That same year, 655, we know that there were about 100 persons recorded in Yamato from Baekje, along with envoys of Goguryeo and Silla.  These are likely the same ones we mentioned back in episode 117 when 150 Baekje envoys were present at court along with multiple members of the Emishi. Silla, for their part, had sent to Yamato a special hostage , whom we know as something like “Mimu”, along with skilled workmen.  Unfortunately, we are told that Mimu fell ill and died.  The Chronicles are pretty sparse on what this meant, but I can't imagine it was great.  After all, the whole idea of sending a hostage to another nation was as a pledge of good behavior – the idea being that the hostage was the idea that they werewas valuable enough that the sending nation wouldn't do anything too rash.  The flip side of that is if the hostage died, Of course, if they perished, the hosting country lost any leverage—and presumably the sending nation would be none too pleased.  That said, people getting sick and passing away was hardly a hostile action, and likely just considered an unfortunate situation. The following year, in 656, we see that Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla again all sent ambassadords were all sent to offer “tribute”.  The Chronicles mention that dark purple curtains were drawn around the palace site to entertain the ambassadors—likely referring to the new palace site at Asuka no Wokamoto, which probably was not yet fully built out, yet.   We are given the name of the Goguryeo ambassador, Talsa, and associate ambassador, Ilchi,  in the 8th month, Talsa and Ilichi, with 81 total members in the Goguryeo retinueof the embassy.  In seeming response, Yamato sent an embassy was sent to Goguryeo with the likes of Kashiwade no Omi no Hatsumi as the Chief Ambassador and Sakahibe no Muraji no Iwasuki as the Associate Ambassador.  Other names mentioned include We also see the likes of Inugami no Shiromaro, Kawachi no Fumi no Obito—no personal name is given—and Ohokura no Maro.  We also see thea note in the Chronicles that Yamato ambassadors to the quote-unquote “Western Sea”—which seems to refer to the Tang court, but could possibly refer to anything from the Korean Peninsula west—returned in that same year.  The two are named as Saheki no Muraji no Takunaha and Oyamashita no Naniha no Kishi no Kunikatsu.  These are both families that were clearly involved in cross-strait relations , based on how they are frequently referenced in the Chronicles as being associated with various overseas missions.  but  However, we don't seem to have clear evidence of them when these particular individualsy leavingft on this mission.  “Kunikatsu” mightay refer to an earlier ambassador to Baekje, but the names are different, so that is largely just speculation.  In any case, Uupon their return, they are said to have brought with them a parrot.  This wasn't the first parrot the court had seen—that feathery traveler had arrived in 647, or at least that is the first parrotinstance  we have in the written record -- .  Aand that one came from Silla as part of that embassy's gifts. Continuing on, in 657, The following year there was another group of ambassadors returned coming  from the “Western Seas”, in this case coming back from—or through—Baekje.  Thisese wasere Adzumi no Muraji no Tsuratari and Tsu no Omi no Kutsuma.  The presents they brought back were, of all things:  one camel and two donkeys.  And can you imagine bringing a camel back across the sea at this point?  Even if they were using the larger ships based on continental designs, it still must have been something else to put up with a camel and donkeys onboard, animals that are not exactly known for their easy-going and compliant nature. Speaking of boats, we should probably touch on what we *think* they were usinghas been going on here.  I say *think* because we only get glimpses  of the various boats being used in the archipelago, whether from mentions in or around Yamato, archaeology, or artistic depictions, many of which came from later periods., and wSo while it is generally assumed that they the Yamato were using Tang style vessels by the 8th and 9th century, there does not appear to be clear evidence of exactly what kind of boats were being used during the early earlier periods of contact. A quick note on boat technology and navigation: while travel between the Japanese archipelago and the Korean Peninsula, and up the Yellow Sea, wasn't safe, it would have been possible with the vessels of the time.  Japan sits on the continental shelf, meaning that to the east where the shelf gives way to the Pacific Ocean with the Phillippine Sea to the south, the waters are much, much deeper than they are to the west.  In deep waters, waves are not necessarily affected by the ocean floor, meaning they can build up much more energy and require different kinds of technology to sail.  In shallower areas, such as the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea or the Korean Straits to the west of the archipelago, there's more drag that dampens out the wave effect – it's not that these areas are uniformly shallow and calm, but they are calmer and easier to navigate in general.  Our oldest example of boats in the archipelago of any kind are dugout canoes, .  These are logs that are hollowed out  and shaped. , and tThese appear to be what Jomon era populations used to cross to the archipelago and travel between the various islands.  Though they may be considered primitive, without many of the later innovations that would increase stability and seaworthiness—something I'll touch on more a bit later—, they were clearly effective enough to populate the islands of the Ryukyuan chain and even get people and livestock, in the form of pigs, down to the Hachijo islands south of modern Tokyo.    So they weren't ineffective. Deep waters mean that the waves are not necessarily affected by the ocean floor.  Once it hits shallower water, there is more drag that affects larger waves.  This means that there can be more energy in these ocean waves.  That usually means that shallower areas tend to be more calm and easier to navigate—though there are other things that can affect that as well. We probably should note, however, that Japan sits on the edge of the continental shelf.  To the west, the seas are deep, but not nearly as deep as they are to the east, where continental shelf gives way to the Pacific ocean, with the Philippine Sea to the south.  These are much deeper waters than those of the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, or the Korean Straits.  The Sea of Japan does have some depth to it, but even then it doesn't compare in both size and depth. Deep waters mean that the waves are not necessarily affected by the ocean floor.  Once it hits shallower water, there is more drag that affects larger waves.  This means that there can be more energy in these ocean waves.  That usually means that shallower areas tend to be more calm and easier to navigate—though there are other things that can affect that as well. All this to say that travel between the Japanese archipelago and the Korean Peninsula, and up the Yellow Sea, were all things that were likely much easier to navigate with the vessels available at the time, but that doesn't mean that it was safe. Later, we see a different type of vessel appear: .  This is a built vessel, made of multiple hewn pieces of wood.  The examples that we see show a rather square front and back that rise up, sometimes dramatically, .  There are with various protrusions on either side. We see examples of this shape , and we've seen examples in haniwa from about the 6th century, and we have some corresponding wooden pieces found around the Korean peninsula that pretty closely match the haniwa boat shapesuggest similar boats were in use there as well, .  Nnot surprising given the cultural connections.  These boats do not show examples of sails, and were likely crewed by rowers.  Descriptions of some suggest that they might be adorned with branches, jewels, mirrors, and other such things for formal occasions to identify some boats as special -- , and we even have one record of the rowers in ceremonial garb with deer antlers.  But none of this suggests more than one basic boat typevery different types of boats. In the areas of the Yellow and Yangzi rivers, area of modern China, particularly in the modern PRC, the boats we see are a little different.  They tend to be flat bottomed boats, possible evolved from  which appear to have been designed from rafts or similar .   These vessels would have evolved out of those used to transport goods and people up and down the Yellow and Yangzi rivers and their tributaries.  These boats y had developed sails, but still the boats wwere n'ot necessarily the most stable on the open ocean.  Larger boats could perhaps make their way through some of the waves, and were no doubt used throughout the Yellow Sea and similar regions.  However, for going farther abroad, we are told thatcourt chronicles note that there were other boats that were preferred: . These are sometimes called  the Kun'lun-po, or Boats of the Kunlun, or the Boats of the Dark-skinned people.  A quick dive here into how this name came to be. Originally, “Kunlun” appears to refer to a mythical mountain range, the Kunlun-shan, which may have originated in the Shan-hai-jing, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and so may not have referred to anything specific terrestrial mountain range, ally.  Italthough the term would later attach be used to describe to the mountain chain that forms the northern edge of the Tibetan plateau, on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin. However, at some point, it seems that “Kunlun” came to refer to people -- .  Sspecifically, it came to refer to people of dark complexion, with curly hair.  There are Tang era depictions of such people, but their origin is not exactly known: it might .  It is thought that it may have have equally referred to dark-skinned individuals of African descent, or possibly referring to some of the dark-skinned people who lived in the southern seas—people like the Andamanese living on the islands west of modern Thailand or some of the people of the Malay peninsula, for example. It is these latter groups that likely were the origin, then, of the “Kun'lun-po”, referring to the ships of the south, such as those of Malay and AsutronesianAustronesian origin.  We know that from the period of at least the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and even into the early Tang, these foreign ships often , which were often plyingied the waters from trade port to trade port, and were the preferred sailing vessels for voyages to the south, where the waters could be more treacherous.  Indeed, the Malay language eventually gives us the term of their vessels as “Djong”, a term that eventually made its way into Portuguese as “Junco” and thus into English as “junk”, though this terms has since been rather broadly applied to different “Asian” style sailing vessels. So that leaves us with three ship types that the Yamato court could have been using to send these embassies back and forth to the continent: .  Were they still using their own style of native boat as seen on haniwa,, or were they adopting continental boats to their needs?   If so, were they using the flat-bottomed boats of the Tang dynasty, or the more seaworthy vessels of the foreign merchants?. Which were they using?  The general thinking is that IMost depictions I have seen of the kentoushi, the Japanese embassies to the Tang court, depict them as t is generally thought that they were probably using the more continental-style flat-bottomed, riverine vessels.  After all, they were copying so much of what the Sui and Tang courts were doing, why would they not consider these ships to likewise be superior to their own?  At least for diplomatic purposes.  I suspect that local fishermen did their own were keeping their own counsel as far as ships are concernedthing, and I also have to wonder about what got used they were using from a military standpoint for military purposes.  Certainly we see the Tang style boats used in later centuries, suggesting that these had been adopted at some earlier point, possibly by the 650s or earlier. Whatever they used, and while long-distance sailing vessels could Sailing vessels could be larger than short-distance riverine craft, this was not a luxury cruise.  , but conditions on board were not necessarily a luxury cruise.  From later accounts we know that they would really pack people into these shipspeople could be packed in.  It should be noted that individual beds and bedrooms were a luxury in much of the world, and many people probably had little more than a mat to sleep on.  Furthermore, people could be packed in tight.   Think of the size of some of these embassies, which are said to be 80 to 150 people in size.  A long, overseas journey likely meant getting quite cozy with your neighbors on the voyage.  So how much more so with a camel and two donkeys on board a vessel that was likely never meant to carry them?  Not exactly the most pleasant experience, I imagine – and this is not really any different than European sailing vessels during the later age of exploration.. So, from the records for just the first few years of Takara-hime's second reign, we see that there are lots of people going back and forth, and we have a sense of how they might be getting to and from the continent and peninsula.  Let's dive into Next, we are going to talk about one of the most heavily documented embassies to the Tang court, which set out in the 7th month of the year 659.  Not only do we get a pretty detailed account of this embassy, but we even know who wrote the account: as in our imagined intro, , as this is one of the accounts by the famous Iki no Muraji no Hakatoko, transcribed by Aston as “Yuki” no Muraji. Iki no Hakatoko's name first appears in an entry for 654, where he is quoted as giving information about the status of some of the previous embassies to the Tang court.  Thereafter, various entries are labeled as “Iki no Muraji no Hakatoko says:”, which   This would seem to indicate that these particular entries came are taken directly from another work written by Iki no Hakatoko and referred to as the “Iki Hakatoko Sho”.  Based on the quoted fragments found in the Nihon Shoki, itthis appears to be one of ourthis oldest Japanese travelogues.  It , and spends considerable time on the mission of 659, of which it would appear that Iki no Hakatoko was himself a member, though not a ranking one.  Later, Iki no Hakatoko would find himself mentioned in the Nihon Shoki directly, and he would even be an ambassador, himself. The embassy of 659 itself, as we shall see, was rather momentous.  Although it started easily enough, the embassy would be caught up in some of the most impactful events that would take place between the Tang, Yamato, and the states of the Korean peninsula. This embassy was formally under the command of Sakahibe no Muraji no Iwashiki and Tsumori no Muraji no Kiza.  It's possible In the first instance it is not clear to me if this isthat he is the same person as the previously mentioned associate envoy, Sakahibe no Iwasuki—but the kanji are different enough, and there is another Sakahibe no Kusuri who shows up between the two in the record.  However, they are both listed as envoys during the reign of Takara Hime, aka Saimei Tennou, and as we've abundantly seen, and it wouldn't be the first time that scribal error crept in. has taken place, especially if the Chroniclers were pulling from different sources. The ambassadors took a retinue with them, including members of the northern Emishi, whom they were bringing along with them to show to the Tang court.  TheThey also  embassy ttook two ships—perhaps because of the size of the retinue, but I suspect that this was also because if anything happened to the one, you still had the other.  A kind of backup plan due to the likelihood something went wrong.  And wouldn't you know it, something did go wrong.  You see, things started out fine, departing Mitsu Bay, in Naniwa, on the 3rd day of the 7th month.  They sailed through the Seto Inland Sea and stopped at Tsukushi, likely for one last resupply and to check in with the Dazai, located near modern Fukuoka, who would have been in charge of overseeing ships coming and going to the archipelago.  They departed from Ohotsu bay in Tsukushi on the 11th day of the 8th month. A quick note: Sspeedboats these were not.  Today, one can cross from Fukuoka to Busan, on the southeast corner of the Korean peninsula, in less than a day.  The envoys, however, were taking their time.  They may have even stopped at the islands of Iki and Tsushima on their way.  By the 13th day of the 9th month—over a month from leaving Kyushu behind -- , the  ships finally came to an island along the southern border of Yamato's ally, Baekje.  Hakatoko does not recall the name of the island, but o On the following morning, around 4 AM, so just before sunrise, the two ships put out to sea together to cross the ocean, heading south, towards the mouth of the Yangzi river.  Unfortunately, the following day, the ship Iwashiki was on met with a contrary wind, and was driven away from the other ship – with nothing known of its fate until some time afterwards.  Meanwhile, the other ship, under the command of Tsumori no Muraji no Kiza, continued on and by midnight on the 16th day, it arrived at Mt. Xuan near Kuaiji Commandary in the Yue district, in modern Zhejiang.  Suddenly a violent northeast wind blew up, and p.  Tthey were saileding another 7 days before they finally arrived at Yuyao.  Today, this is part of the city of Ningbo, at the mouth of the Qiantang river, south of Shanghai and considered a part of the Yangzi Delta Region.  This area has been inhabited since at least 6300 years ago, and it has long been a trade port, especially with the creation of the Grand Canal connecting between the Yangzi and the Yellow River, which would have allowed transshipment of goods to both regions. The now half-size Yamato contingenty  left their ship at Yuyao and disembarked, and made their way to Yuezhou, the capital of the Kuaiji Commandary.  This took them a bit of time—a little over a month.  Presumably this was because of paperwork and logistics: they probably because they had to send word ahead, and I suspect they had to inventory everything they brought and negotiate carts and transportationfigure out transportation., since   Tthey didn't exactly have bags of holding to stuff it all in, so they probably needed to negotiate carts and transportation.  The finally made it to Yuezhou on the first day of the 11th intercalary month.  An “intercalary” month refers to an extra month in a year.  It was determined by various calculations and was added to keep the lunar and solar years in relative synch. From Yuezhou, things went a bit more quickly, as they were placed on post-horses up to the Eastern Capital, or Luoyang, where the Emperor Tang Gaozong was in residence.   The Tang kept a capital at Luoyang and another to the west, in Chang'an.  The trip to Luoyang was long—over 1,000 kilometers, or 1 megameter, as it were.  The trip first took them through the Southern Capital, meaning the area of modern Nanjing, which they entered on the 15th day of the month.  They then continued onwards, reaching Luoyang on the 29th day of the 11th month.  The following day, on the 30th day of the 11th intercalary month of the year 659, the Yamato envoys were granted an audience with Emperor Tang Gaozong.  As was proper, he inquired about the health of their sovereign, Takara Hime, and the envoys reported that she was doing well.  He asked other questions about how the officials were doing and whether there was peace in Yamato.  The envoys all responded affirmatively, assuring him that Yamato was at peace. Tang Gaozong also asked about the Emishi they had brought with them.  We mentioned this event previously, back in Episode XXX117 , how the Emishi had been shown to the Tang Emperor, and how they had described them for him.  This is actually one of the earliest accounts that we have describing the Emishi from the Yamato point of view, rather than just naming them—presumably because everyone in Yamato already knew who they were.  From a diplomatic perspective, of course, this was no doubt Yamato demonstrating how they were, in many ways, an Empire, similar to the Tang, with their own subordinate ethnicities and “barbarians”. After answering all of the emperor's questions, the audience was concluded.  The following day, however, was something of its own. This was the first day of the regular 11th lunar month, and it also was the celebration of the Winter Solstice—so though it was the 11th month, it may have been about 22 December according to our modern western calendars.  The envoys once again met with the emperor, and they were treated as distinguished guests—at least according to their own records of it.  Unfortunately, during the festivities, it seems that a fire broke out, creating some confusion, and .  Tthe matters of the diplomatic mission were put on hold while all of that went on. We don't know exactly what happened in the ensuing month.  Presumably the envoys took in the sites of the city, may have visited various monasteries, and likely got to know the movers and shakers in the court, who likely would have wined and dined them, inviting them to various gatherings, as since they brought their own exotic culture and experiences to the Tang court. Unfortunately, things apparently turned sour.  First off, it seems clear that the members of this embassyy weren't the only Japanese in the court.  There may have been various merchants, of course, but and we definitely know that there were students who had come on other missions and were still there likely still studying, such as those who had been learning from studying with Master Xuanzang, whose journeys we mentioned in the last several episodes.  But Wwe are given a very specific name of a troublemaker, however:  Kawachi no Aya no Ohomaro, and we are told that he was aa servant of Han Chihung, who .  Han Chihung, himself, is thought to have possiblymay have been of mixed ethnicity—both Japanese and ethnic Han, and may .  Hhe may have traveled to the Tang court on or around 653. , based on some of the records, but it isn't entirely clear. For whatever reason, on the 3rd day of the 12th month of the year 659, Kawachi no Aya no Ohomaro slandered the envoys, and although .  Wwe don't know exactly what he said, but the Tang court caught wind of the accusations and found the envoys guilty.  They were condemned to banishment, until the author of our tale, none other than Iki no Hakatoko himself, stepped up, .  He made representation to the Emperor, pleading against the slander.  , and tThe punishment was remitted, .  Sso they were no longer banished.  However, they were also then told that they could no't return home.  You see, the Tang court was in the middle of some sensitive military operations in the lands east of the sea—in other words they were working with Silla to and invadeing the Kingdom of Baekje.  Since Yamato was an ally of Baekje, it would be inconvenient if the envoys were to return home and rally Yamato to Baekje's defense. And so the entire Yamato embassy was moved to the Western Capital, Chang'an, where they were placed under individual house arrest.  They no doubt were treated well, but they were not allowed to leave, and .  Tthey ended up spending the next year in this state. of house arrest. Unfortunately, we don't have a record of just how they passed their time in Chang'an.  They likely studied, and were probably visited by nobles and others.  They weren't allowed to leave, but they weren't exactly thrown in jail, either.  After all, they were foreign emissaries, and though the Tang might be at war with their ally, there was no formal declaration of war with Yamato, as far as I can make out.  And so the embassy just sat there, for about 9 months. Finally, in the 7th month of 660, the records tell us we are told thatthat tThe Tang and Silla forces had been successful: .  Baekje was destroyed..  The Tang and Silla forces had been successful.   News must have reached Chang'an a month later, as Iki Hakatoko writes that this occurred in the 8th month of the year 660.  With the Tang special military operation on the Korean peninsula concluded, they released the envoys and allowed them to return to their own countries.  They envoys began their preparations as of the 12th day of the 9th month, no doubt eager to return home, and left were leaving Chang'an a week later, on the 19th day of the 9th month.  From there, it took them almost a month to reach Luoyang, arriving on the 16th day of the 10th month, and here they were greeted with more good news, for here it was that they met up once again with those members of their delegation who had been blown off course. As you may remember, the ship carrying Iwashiki was blown off-course on the 15th day of the 9th month in the year 659, shortly after setting out from the Korean peninsula.  The two ships had lost contact and Tsumori no Muraji no Kiza and his ship had been the one that had continued on.   Iwashiki and those with him, however, found themselves at the mercy of the contrary winds and eventually came ashore at an island in the Southern Sea, which Aston translates as “Erh-kia-wei”.   There appears to be at least some suggestion that this was an island in the Ryukyuan chain, possibly the island of Kikai.  There, local islanders, none too happy about these foreigners crashing into their beach, destroyed the ship, and presumably attacked the embassy.  Several members, including Yamato no Aya no Wosa no Atahe no Arima (yeah, that *is* a mouthful), Sakahibe no Muraji no Inadzumi (perhaps a relative of Iwashiki) and others all stole a local ship and made their way off the island.  They eventually made landfall at a Kuazhou, southeast of Lishui City in modern Zhejiang province, where they met with local officials of the Tang government, who then sent them under escort to the capital at Luoyang.  Once there, they were probably held in a similar state of house arrest, due to the invasion of Baekje, but they met back up with Kiza and Hakatoko's party. The envoys, now reunited, hung out in Luoyang for a bit longer, and thus .  Thus it was on the first day of the 11th month of 660 that they witnessed war captives being brought to the capital.  This included 13 royal persons of Baekje, from the King on down to the Crown Prince and various nobles, including the PRimiePrime Minister, as well as 37 other persons of lower rank—50 people all told.  TheThese captives y were delivered up to the Tang government and led before the emperor.  Of course, with the war concluded, and Baekje no longer a functioning state, while he could have had them executed, Tang Gaozong instead released them, demonstrating a certain amount of magnanimity.  The Yamato envoys remained in Luoyang for most of the month.  On the 19th, they had another audience with the emperor, who bestowed on them various gifts and presents, and then five days later they departed the Luoyang, and began the trek back to the archipelago in earnest. By the 25th day of the first month of 661, the envoys arrived back at Yuezhou, head of the Kuaiji Commandery.  They stayed there for another couple of months, possibly waiting for the right time, as crossing the sea at in the wrong season could be disastrous.  They finally departed east from Yuezhou on the first day of the fourth month, coming to .  They came to Mt. Cheng-an 6 days later, on the 7th, and set out to sea first thing in the morning on the 8th.  They had a southwest wind initially in their favor, but they lost their way in the open ocean, an all too commonall-too-common problem without modern navigational aids.  Fortunately, the favorable winds had carried them far enough that only a day later they made landfall on the island of Tamna, aka Jeju island. Jeju island was, at this point, its own independent kingdom, situated off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula.  Dr. Alexander Vovin suggested that the name “Tamna” may have been a corruption of a Japonic or proto-Japonic name: Tanimura.  The island was apparently quite strange to the Yamato embassy, and they met with various residents natives of Jeju island.  They, even convincinged Prince Aphaki and eight other men of the island to come with them to be presented at the Yamato court. The rest of their journey took a little over a month.  They finally arrived back in Yamato on the 23rd day of the fifth month of 661.  They had been gone for approximately two years, and a lot had changed, especially with the destruction of Baekje.  The Yamato court had already learned of what had happened and was in the process of drawing up plans for an expedition back to the Korean peninsula to restore the Baekje kingdom, and pPrince Naka no Oe himself was set to lead the troops. The icing on the cake was: Tthe reception that the envoys received upon their return was rather cold.  Apparently they were had been slandered to the Yamato court by another follower of Han Chihung—Yamato no Aya no Atahe no Tarushima—and so they weren't met with any fanfare.  We still don't know what it was that Tarsuhima was saying—possibly he had gotten letters from Chihung or Ohomaro and was simply repeating what they had said. Either way, the envoys were sick of it.  They had traveled all the way to the Tang capitals, they had been placed under house arrest for a year, and now they had returned.  They not only had gifts from the Tang emperor, but they were also bringing the first ever embassy from the Kingdom of Tamna along with them.  The slander would not stand.  And so they did what anyone would do at the time:  They apparently appealed to the Kami.  We are told that their anger reached to the Gods of the High Heaven, which is to say the kami of Takamanohara, who killed Tarushima with a thunderbolt.  Which I guess was one way to shut him up. From what we can tell, the embassy was eventually considered a success.  Iki no Hakatoko's star would rise—and fall—and rise again in the court circles.  As I noted, his account of this embassy is really one of the best and most in depth that we have from this time.  It lets us see the relative route that the envoys were taking—the Chronicles in particular note that they traveled to the Great Tang of Wu, and, sure enough, they had set out along the southern route to the old Wu capital, rather than trying to cross the Bohai Sea and make landfall by the Shandong peninsula or at the mouth of the Yellow River.  From there they traveled through Nanjing—the southern “capital” likely referring, in this instance, to the old Wu capital—and then to Luoyang.  Though they stayed there much longer than they had anticipated, they ended up living there through some of the most impactful events that occurred during this point in Northeast Asia.  they And that is something we will touch on next episode.  Until then, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. 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

Nuestro cinéfilo Juanma González comenta los candentes estrenos de la semana: Una ballena, Sting y Revelación en Netflix. ¡Dale al play! Juanma González ha compartido sus impresiones sobre los principales estrenos cinematográficos de la semana en el programa Es la Mañana de Fin de Semana, junto a María Díez Rovira y Jaume Segalés. En esta ocasión, las películas comentadas tienen un marcado tono simbólico, fantástico y hasta arácnido. Juanma no se ha guardado nada y ha dejado perlas para entender cada título. ‘Una ballena': thriller con atmósfera lynchiana Sobre Una ballena, Juanma ha destacado su tono inclasificable. Aunque la sinopsis podría hacer pensar en un thriller al uso, la película ha sorprendido por su atmósfera inquietante y surrealista: "Esto se va por territorio lynchiano desde el principio". La ha descrito como "una película totalmente atmosférica", protagonizada por Ingrid García-Jonsson, a la que ha definido como "un fantasma etéreo". Ha asegurado que la película "se adentra en lo fantástico, aunque a lo mejor no lo sea… o quizás sí", y la ha comparado con títulos como Carretera perdida o Mulholland Drive. "Si no te gusta Mulholland Drive, que no vayas", ha advertido con humor. También ha elogiado su factura técnica y las interpretaciones, especialmente la de Ramón Barea: "Te construye un personaje que no es malo, ni bueno, que es lo interesante". ‘Sting, araña asesina': diversión arácnida De tono mucho más ligero, Sting ha sido definida por Juanma como "una peli divertida" con espíritu de videoclub ochentero. "Es una araña de un puñetero meteorito", ha bromeado. Ha explicado que la historia se ambienta en un edificio neoyorquino donde una niña entabla una relación especial con la criatura, en una mezcla de E.T. con humor negro: "Lo mismo que E.T., pero pervertido". Aunque ha reconocido que no es una película ambiciosa, ha valorado su ejecución: "Está bien hecha, tiene atmósfera. El edificio es feo asqueroso. Y los efectos especiales, sin ser caros, funcionan". También ha señalado una posible lectura simbólica: "La araña parece una proyección del ego de la cría. Va aniquilando a todos los que le molestan". Para Juanma, el valor de la cinta está en su capacidad de entretener: "Me dan un asco supremo las arañas. Y me gusta pasar un rato divertido y malrollero en el cine". ‘Revelación': el thriller coreano que desarma la moral Con Revelación, thriller surcoreano del director de Train to Busan, Juanma ha elogiado su ritmo y complejidad narrativa. "Te presentan personajes que no tienen nada que ver y luego ves cómo están interconectados", ha señalado. La ha comparado con historias de descenso a los infiernos como Taxi Driver o Joker: "Es un personaje que pierde el sentido de la realidad". Ha destacado también la ambigüedad moral del film: "La película humaniza a un delincuente sexual y deshumaniza a un pastor religioso". Y aunque ha admitido que la trama es inverosímil, ha defendido su efectividad: "Es un soberano lío, pero la película, al final, funciona". Antes de terminar, ha mencionado The Studio, serie de Apple TV+ que espera poder comentar próximamente: "Habla del cine que yo veo y que yo mamo, para bien y para mal".

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.comToday, we'll be discussing Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Ae Sun and Park Bo Gum as Gwan Sik. We discuss:The song featured during the recap: “Neoyeong Nayeong” by Ahn Eun Kyung and Eunyong Sim, a haunting blend of traditional and modern sound, sung in the Jeju dialect and about young love.How the show is beautifully infused with Jeju-specific language, culture, and music.Our heartfelt shoutouts to listeners, including Ellen's birthday and Joanna's meetup with Akiko in Tokyo.The folk tale of the honest woodcutter and its metaphorical significance for Ae Sun's comparison of Gwan Sik to a steel axe.The heartbreak of Ae Sun pushing Gwan Sik away—not out of lack of love, but to set him free.The injustice of Ae Sun's expulsion from school while Gwan Sik only gets suspended, a commentary on gender and social status.Gwan Sik melting down his doljanchi rings to make a ring for Ae Sun—rings full of cultural symbolism and maternal sentiment.The chilling portrayal of Ae Sun's potential suitor, a widower looking more for unpaid labor than a partner.Gwan Sik's dramatic decision to swim back to Ae Sun after hearing her cries at the harbor—an epic open water swim of love and determination.Our leads' emotional reunion, wedding, and the symbolism of Ae Sun's wide-brimmed hat and new ring.The support of the haenyeos and their reference to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl folktale, a beautiful metaphor for star-crossed love.The reveal that Ae Sun was pregnant from their night in Busan, explaining the early birth of their daughter and the "conception dream" of Gwan sik's grandmother.The bittersweet final scene, where Ae Sun and Gwan Sik acknowledge that while they gave up dreams of poetry and athletic stardom, they have no regrets about choosing each other.Our deep dive into IU's stellar career as a singer, actress, and philanthropist—highlighting why she's beloved by so many around the world.Next week, we'll recap and analyze Episode 4 of When Life Gives You Tangerines and talk about the handsome and talented Park Bo Gum!ReferencesKnown as the “Poet of Flag,” Yu Chi-hwanFolk songs of JejuThe Honest WoodcutterThe Weaver and the Cow Herdsman: A tale of two lovers whose deep affection triumphed over loneliness

In this conversation, Beany, podcast producer and SWA instructor, shares her experience as an environmental advocate supported by Surf with Amigas. She recently attended the United Nations Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations in Busan, South Korea, where delegates from 175 countries sought to find a solution to reducing global plastic pollution. We discuss her experience there and some major takeaways from the event, including the challenges of navigating environmental issues, the bureaucracy of large-scale legislative change, and greenwashing. Finally, we emphasize the need for hope, collaboration, and clear communication when moving forward with these issues. We challenge listeners to think about how they can create effective change and reduce plastic pollution in their personal lives.Connect with us at https://surfwithamigas.com/ or @surfwithamigas.Episodes produced and edited by Emma Roggenkamp.

Héctor le ha dado al botón de #Netflix en el mando de la tele y desde la comodidad de su sofá ha visto #Revelación (#Revelations), el nuevo thriller de Yeon Sang-ho, el responsable de la aclamada "Train to Busan". ¡Escuchad y opinad, Amig@s! También nos podéis encontrar aquí: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52i1iqZ56ACal18GPkCxiW Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/los-tres-amigos/id1198252523 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zK2XsnpHDGRujSTWHpL8Q Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0b56d4f-4537-47e0-a252-9dfe56b5a490/los-tres-amigos Grupo de Telegram: https://t.me/LosTresAmigos https://www.facebook.com/LosTresAmigosPodcast/ Instagram: lostresamigospodcast Bluesky: @los3amigospodcast.bsky.social X / Twitter: @tresamigospod Threads: lostresamigospodcast Letterbox: https://letterboxd.com/LosTresAmigos/ #movies #thriller

On this episode of The Project Endure Podcast, Joe Rinaldi sits down with Matt Choi to talk about passionate storytelling, building soft skills through sport, the truth that it takes hard work to make it look easy, using social media to download new software, the New York City Marathon mishap, getting banned from the world's biggest marathon, making mistakes and being human, learning to process criticisms, you only lose if you quit, running 300 miles over 10 days in South Korea (ending in Busan), writing our stories one decision at a time, other people making us feel at home, building our faith, realizing that we're all just asses carrying Jesus, learning to see our struggle as a gift and so much more. Give this episode a listen as we dive deep into Matt's life and learn about what persistence, perspective and endurance mean to him.   If you found value in this episode and would like to help us grow, please leave the podcast a review on your platform of choice and share it with a friend(s). We appreciate your support!   Follow Matt (here)   Follow Project Endure (here) Project Endure Coaching (here) Join The Hard Things Club (here) Shop Project Endure (here)   Follow Joe (here) Read Joe's Blog (here)

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.comToday, we'll be discussing Episode 2 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU (Lee Ji-eun) as Ae Sun and Park Bo-gum as Gwan-sik. We discuss:The song featured during the recap: Ode to the Green Spring by Chu Da Hye, a hauntingly beautiful piece that blends traditional Korean folk styles with modern sensibility.The background of Chu Da Hye and her mastery of Seodo Sori, a North Korean regional singing style known for its mournful and emotive qualities.The incredibly moving moment when Gwan-sik silently puts Ae Sun's shoes on her feet, a gesture of deep love, reminiscent of Cinderella and symbolic devotion.Ae Sun's bravado and vulnerability during their walk through Jeju, leading to their emotional first kiss amidst the canola fields.Gwan-sik's poetic confession and Ae Sun's long-awaited admission that she's been ready for love since she was 14.The complex family dynamics that drive Ae Sun to run away: her stepfather's betrayal, her uncle's cold dismissal, and Gwan-sik's grandmother's harsh judgment.Ae Sun's strength in rejecting the guilt trip from her uncle, refusing to work in a factory or support a family that never cared for her.The historical context of 1968 South Korea, including the May 16 coup and the Blue House Raid involving North Korean commando Kim Shin-jo.The suspenseful scene on the boat to Busan when Ae Sun bluffs her way past a suspicious captain, boldly claiming she and Gwan-sik are married.Their failed attempt to pawn stolen jewelry and the significance of the gold frog as a family heirloom and symbol of wealth.The betrayal by the innkeepers who drug and rob them, leaving them penniless and desperate.Ae Sun and Gwan-sik's decision to sneak back into the inn and recover their belongings, only for their plan to go awry when Ae Sun insists on retrieving her precious flower hairpin.The thrilling ending: Ae Sun is tackled, Gwan-sik prepares a flying kick, and the episode ends on a cliffhanger.A flash forward to 1993 hints at Ae Sun's future as a mother, but the father's identity is deliberately obscured—leaving us wondering if it's Gwan-sik.The fantastic cinematography, especially the wide shots in the canola fields and the immersive market scene.Insights into the mystery of the writer Lim Sang-choon and a deep dive into the many women behind K Drama screenwriting.ReferencesSsing Ssing's Tiny Desk Concert on NPRJindo Arirang[Daily JOKOer] We Can Speak Korean with Just Numbers? Simple Korean Beeper Codes Top 5┃언어문화NGO 조인어스코리아Korean drama - WikipediaHong sisters - WikipediaKim Eun-sook - WikipediaPark Ji-eun - WikipediaKim Soon-ok (screenwriter) - WikipediaHwang Dong-hyuk - WikipediaHow to Tell if a Korean Name is Male or Female | TOPIK GUIDEWhat makes a Korean name masculine or feminine?When Life Gives You Tangerines Offer Comfort To Those Who Need ItNostalgia by Jung Ji YongDol hareubang - Wikipedia

It's that time of year again, when we dawn our greenest greens, drink our darkest beers, and follow the rainbow to the Grave Plot of gold! Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us as we discuss two horror films straight from the Emerald Isle of Ireland! First up, we discuss a Real World Horror story about a Philadelphia area town's mysterious "Box Demon." In Horror Business, we talk about Nicolas Cage's war on surfers, a potential sequel to a cult classic, and the latest creepypasta to hit the big screen. We also break down the latest from the director of Train to Busan as well as a new adaptation of Resident Evil. We then take our ceremonial shots of Irish whiskey as we delve into our reviews. Up first is the vampire comedy Let the Wrong One In, followed by the isolationist film... um... Isolation. So may you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows you're dead! Sláinte!

Ever wanted to go cycling in Japan? Well this week I am sharing a story from Terri Jockerst who tells us about one day of her adventures in this country.  Terri has also written a fabulous book about this adventure called Biking to Busan. You can find it and her other books here. Be sure to follow Terri via instagram - @footloosefreckle and also on her YouTube channel.I am also sharing an update from the road by our intrepid adventurer Rebecca Gross. She and her partner Javi are currently taking their big bike adventure from Austria to the Pamirs. Every few weeks I will be sharing updates from Rebecca letting you know how the journey is going so far. THi sis her first update since leaving home. You can follow Rebecca on instagram  - @rebecca_grb and also her partner Javi via @hacker.bikepackerBig thanks to our sponsor Old Man Mountain for continuing to support the podcast. Be sure to check out their new Hemlock Bags with FLiP Cages - via www.oldmanmountain.com/seektravelride - clicking this link helps me out as it lets them know you heard about them on the podcast. Support the showBuy me a coffee and help support the show!Sign up to the Seek Travel Ride NewsletterFollow us on Social Media!Instagram - @SeekTravelRideWebsite: Seek Travel RideFacebook - Seek Travel RideLeave me a voicemail message Seek Travel Ride Music Playlist available now on both Spotify or Apple Music Thank you to RedShift Sports for supporting the show! - Check them out here

Reviews: Blade Forger #1, The Herculoids #1, Daredevil: Born Again, Plankton: The Movie ​Back with more reviews! Thanks to Marta and Melissa for contributing. And our news anchor Emily returns too! (Sorry for the technical issue, E!). News includes: Kevin Smith goes to Riverdale, a Jack Kirby documentary is coming, Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho has a new zombie movie on the way and more! Some great recommendations in the Top 3!  Also, get a hold of us! Thanks for listening!

Show Notes In our final episode of the season, we're talking Train to Busan from 2016. In a film that mashes 28 weeks later and Snow piercer had a baby we follow the adventures of Bad Dad, Bad Ass, and Baseball Boy, along with their respective women, trying simply to survive both zombies and capitalists while hurtling through space on a train. We find out what makes a good person and if your job speaks to your morality (hint: it might).   Recommendations: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman (Disney +)   Next up: Bit of a break and then NEW SEASON – Season 7: Disney Animation – We'll see you in April!     Email us at latecomers@gmail.com Find Amity @ www.amityarmstrong.com Our Facebook group is here for those who consent: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1754020081574479/

This week's K League United Podcast turns its attention to K League 2 and takes a look at the five biggest talking points of the first two rounds. Matthew Binns, Paul Neat and Andrew Farrell feature on the podcast this week, reviewing the opening rounds of Korea's second division.   We take a look at the red cards in the clash between Incheon United and Suwon Samsung Bluewings, why there's hope for Seongnam FC, and also a look at league leaders Bucheon FC 1995. There's even time to dwell on the predicament Busan IPark seem to be in.   The conclusions then continue over on Patreaon where we give our extended thoughts on Busan's manager Jo Sung-hwan as well as take a look at the Korea Cup first round in the latest episode of Time Added On.   [PATREON: Jo Sung-hwan's Managerial Career & Korea Cup First Round]   Finally, there's also still time to enter our latest kit giveaway. In celebration of 10 years of K League United, we look to give away a match-worn home shirt from our website's first interviewee, FC Anyang's Austin Berry. To stand a chance of winning this 2015 Anyang kit, simply follow us and reshare the related social media post of this podcast, or share this page with @KLeagueUnited tagged, for your chance to enter the draw with the prize set to be drawn in March.   [WIN: A 2015 FC Anyang Home Shirt worn by Austin Berry]    All this and more on The K League United Podcast!  

Show Notes Ready, set, drive! This week we watched Mad Max – Fury Road, a diesel soaked naked prey in an the apocalyptic future vision out of the mind of George Miller. Rictus Erectus, Vuvalini, Immortan Joe, Furiosa, the Doof warrior, Splendid, Capable, Nux, The Dag and … Max, the gang's all here. Stunts galore – explosions and crashes and motorcycles and sand storms – it's got everything you could want.   Next up: Train to Busan(2016) (Amazon Prime)     Email us at latecomers@gmail.com Find Amity @ www.amityarmstrong.com Our Facebook group is here for those who consent: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1754020081574479/

Last time we spoke about Gokokujo and Collaborators. In September 1931, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters aimed to contain the Mukden Incident but faced resistance from the Kwantung Command. Led by General Honjo, Japanese forces quickly overwhelmed Chinese troops, seizing key cities in Manchuria. Despite Tokyo's disapproval, military leaders acted independently, invoking the Emperor's authority. Amidst the chaos, local Chinese leaders cooperated with the invaders, leading to a swift Japanese victory. As the military expanded its power, the civilian government struggled to regain control, illustrating the complexities of Japan's political landscape. In 1931, the Kwantung Army's officers, led by Ishiwara and Itegaki, aimed for a military occupation of Manchuria, initially allowing local officials autonomy. However, Tokyo's rejection of annexation forced them to claim Manchurian independence. Amidst confusion and infighting, Komai Tokuzo emerged as a key figure, manipulating local elites to establish control. The Japanese employed violence and persuasion, swiftly occupying cities while puppet leaders maintained a facade of governance. As resistance brewed, Zhang Xueliang and others sought to reclaim their homeland from Japanese dominance.   #140 The Jiangqiao Campaign: The Resistance of Ma Zhanshan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. For quite some time we have spoken about countless variables involved with the conquest of Manchuria. More or less we broke down three sorts of players in this invasion: those Chinese who chose to collaborate with the Japanese, those who tried to act neutral and sit upon the fence and then there were those who resisted. The resistance against the Japanese was not unified, often it was pockets of groups trying to hold out as long as possible. The resistance took on various forms for various reasons. One of the resistance stories I always found more interesting than the rest was the story of Ma Zhanshan. Ma Zhanshan was born in 1885 in Gongzhuling of Jilin province to a poor shepherding family. Ma was of Manchu heritage as stated by his grandson Ma Zhiwei who became a member of the Chinese Peoples' political consultative conference. At a very young age, Ma joined a bandit group in Heihushan. This bandit group gradually was incorporated into some troops of Huaide county yamen. During the Russo-Japanese War, Ma was one of the many local soldiers who served under the Japanese. At the age of 20, as a result of his exceptional marksmanship and equestrianism, Ma was promoted to Guard Monitor of the 4th security Guard Battalion under Wu Junsheng. Wu Junsheng commanded the Tianhou Road Patrol and defense battalion for Mukden in 1908. In 1913 Ma was appointed as Major and Company commander over the 3rd company, 3rd regiment, 2nd Brigade of the Central Cavalry Army of Republic China. By 1920 he was promoted to Colonel and followed his superior Wu Junsheng who became a warlord. He gradually found himself serving Zhang Zuolin's Northeastern Army, serving as a brigade commander of the 5th cavalry brigade, 17th cavalry division. By 1927 he was transferred to Heilongjiang where he became a garrison commander at Heihe, along the Soviet border. After Zhang Zuolins death in 1928 Ma was nominated as Heilongjiang's Provincial Bandit Suppression Commander and the provincial cavalry commander in chief. During the Mukden Incident of September 18th, 1931, General Xie Ke, the deputy commander in chief of Qiqihar took a series of strategic measures to block the Japanese and their Chinese collaborationist troops from invading their territory. Xie Ke dispatched two battalions of infantry and an artillery regiment to defend Qiqihar under Park Bingshan; a regiment led by Zhu Fengyang from Xiaohaozi station to Tailai to guard in the direction of Taonan; the first cavalry brigade of Wu Shongli from Baiquan to Qiqihar; a guard regiment under Xu Baozhen, with a battalion of artillery, a company of engineers and a company of baggage, roughly 2000 people to take up a position north of Jiangqiao where they began building fortifications, laid minefields south of the critical Nenjiang bridge there and mounted 100 Czech made light machine guns to the front lines.  Now when the Mukden Incident broke out, the Governor of Heilongjiang province, Wan Fulin was in Beiping leaving no one of real authority in the province to take charge of its defenses against the Japanese. Meanwhile Liaoning and Jilin were basically trampled upon without much incident. From Beiping Zhang Xueliang telegraphed the Nanjing government to ask for instructions as what he should do, but in the meantime he appointed Ma Zhanshan as acting Governor and Military commander in chief of Heilongjiang Province on October 10th, 1931. Now a full General, Ma Zhanshan arrived at the capital Qiqihar on the 19th and began personally inspecting the troops and defensive positions. By this point Chiang Kai-Shek had made it known the stance of Nanjing was one of passiveness, to wait for negotiations to unfold to settle the matter. Zhang Xueliang loyally followed said commands, but multiple parties within Manchuria sought to either surrender, openly collaborate or resist the Japanese. Under the circumstances, Ma Zhanshan told his troops “I am appointed as Chairman of the Province, and I have the responsibility to defend the Province and I will never be a surrendering general". Thus Ma Zhanshan chose to disobey the Kuomintang's orders not to resist the Japanese. Meanwhile also during the month of October, General Zhang Haipeng of the 2nd Provincial Defense Brigade at Taonan had just been approached by the Japanese seeking collaboration. Zhang Haipeng had been a Honghuzi irregular cavalry commander during the first sino-japanese war. He later became a mercenary during the Russo-Japanese War and went on to study at the Northeast Military academy. After the Xinhai revolution he was assigned command of an infantry regiment, but was one of the morons who supported Zhang Xun's attempt to restore the Qing Dynasty in 1917. After that debacle he went to work for Zhang Zuolin and in 1923 was appointed a commissioner of the Chinese Eastern Railway. When the Japanese asked him to collaborate, Zhang Haipeng immediately seized command of the local forces including the Xing'an Reclamation Army to declare the district independent from China. He did this in return for a shipment of military supplies from the IJA. Upon taking charge on October 23, Zhang Haipeng dispatched 3 regiments from Baichengzi to attack Jiangqiao led by General Xu Jinglong. Xu Jinglong's advance guard with an engineering company was attacked by forces led by General Dou Lianfang defending the north bank around the Nenjiang Bridge. During the battle, Ma Zhanshan had his forces use dynamite to damage the Nenjiang railroad bridge. The Japanese began to repeatedly demand Ma Zhanshan allow them to repair the bridge, but he continuously refused and had his forces defend the area near Daxing preventing Zhang Haipengs men from proceeding north. By October the 15th, the Japanese provided some fighter-bomber support, but Zhang Haipengs forces suffered heavy casualties and were counterattacked until they retreated. At this time Ma Zhanshan was traveling from Heihe to Qiqihar. By the 20th Ma officially took office as the acting chairman of Heilongjiang and went to the front lines to encourage the men. He issued a reward for the head of Zhang Haipeng and announced the establishment of the Heilongjiang Army Provincial HQ. Xi Ke became his chief of staff and deputy commander. On October 22nd, Ma Zhanshan issued a declaration in response to the Japanese massing forces along the border of Heilongjiang. "In this difficult time for the country, two of the three provinces have been lost. Those who have a little conscience will all sleep on straw and taste gall, and swear to survive. Although our Heilongjiang is still a clean piece of land... From now on, anyone who invades our province will fight to the death." Ma Zhanshan then went to work, grabbing reports from his generals such as Xie Ke about the state of their defenses. He immediately began adjusting the deployment of forces: He appointed Pu Bingshan as the commander of the provincial capital garrison to enhance the defense of the area. Wang Nanping was designated as the commander of the Heihe garrison, taking over from Ma Zhanshan. Additionally, he organized three infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery battalion from the Northeast Reclamation Army into the 1st Infantry Brigade, positioning them south of Daxing. The cavalry unit was deployed to the west of Fulaerji to secure the Jingxing direction. By October 29, 1931, the establishment of three defensive positions, extending approximately 40 kilometers in depth and 10 kilometers in width from Jiangqiao to Yushutun and Ang'angxi, was largely completed, with the railway serving as the central axis. Liu Wankui, the former head of the Ning'an Public Security Bureau, led over 1,000 troops to be reorganized west of Ning'an on the 15th, forming the 5th Independent Regiment of the Self-Defense Army. Following the defeat of Zhang Haipeng's rebels, the Kwantung Army was prepared to deploy troops directly. They viewed the destruction of the Nenjiang Bridge by the Chinese army as a prime justification for action. Consequently, they decided to establish the Nenjiang Detachment, consisting of one infantry battalion, one artillery battalion, and an engineering squadron from the 16th Regiment of the 2nd Division, supported by the 8th Independent Flying Squadron. Their plan was to use military force to secure the bridge repair, incite trouble, and launch an attack. However, the Japanese Army Ministry and General Staff Headquarters were still wary of the Soviet Union at that time and did not endorse the Kwantung Army's offensive. Kanaya Nobumitsu sent a telegram to the Kwantung Army stating, "You may proceed to repair the river bridge. However, you are not permitted to deploy troops to North Manchuria, far from the Nenjiang River, without my approval, regardless of the circumstances." However, when Hirota Koki, the Japanese ambassador to the Soviet Union, learned from Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Kajiekan on October 29 that the Soviet Union would not support either side in the conflict and would maintain a "strict non-interference policy," the stance of the Japanese Army Ministry shifted, leading them to back the Kwantung Army. On November 2, 1931, Honjo Shigeru instructed Hayashi Yoshihide, the head of the Qiqihar Japanese secret service, to deliver an ultimatum to Ma Zhanshan. The ultimatum demanded that Ma Zhanshan's troops withdraw to a location at least 10 kilometers from the Nenjiang Iron Bridge by noon on the 3rd, and refrain from entering the area until the Japanese army had completed repairs on the bridge. If these conditions were not met, the Japanese army would resort to force.  On November 4th Ma Zhanshan sent subordinates to accompany Major Hayashi Yoshihide “so that the Japanese might begin work, and so that I could order my army to start to retreat”. Ma Zhanshan gave assurances the Japanese repairing operation would not be interfered with, meanwhile teelgraming his subordinates “paint all Manchuria red with the blood of Japanese troops”. A force of 800 Japanese led by Major General Shogo Hasebe with repair crews came to the area to find Daxing a warzone. Shogo found Ma Zhanshans subordinate on the ground, Xu Baozhen and demanded the fighting cease so they could repair the bridge. Xu Baozhen said he never received any orders to cease fighting. The Japanese claim the nearby 2500 Chinese forces of Ma Zhanshan began opening fire upon them using rifles and machine guns. The Japanese retaliated likewise and Japanese aircraft began strafing the Chinese forcing them to retreat towards Qiqihar. The Chinese suffered 120 casualties, the Japanese 15. That day the Japanese Nenjiang Detachment's advance squadron moved northward from Jiangqiao Station, supported by aircraft. After crossing the Nenjiang Bridge, they launched an assault on the Chinese army positions south of Daxing Station. At that time, Xu Baozhen's and Zhang Jingdu's troops from Ma Zhanshan's Guard Regiment, totaling 2,700 soldiers, rose to confront the enemy and successfully repelled them. In the afternoon, the Japanese forces, now numbering around 4,000 and led by Colonel Hamamoto, attacked Jiangqiao with the support of aircraft, tanks, and heavy artillery. They initially penetrated the left flank of Jiangqiao before launching a fierce assault on the main Daxing Line position in front of the town. Despite the Chinese defenders' resistance, the Japanese managed to breach their positions, leading to intense hand-to-hand combat. Despite this the Japanese forces were forced to retreat to the riverbank, where they were ambushed by Chinese troops concealed in the reeds. As reinforcements for the Japanese arrived, they were quickly flanked by the defending cavalry, forcing them to retreat once more. By 20:00, the Japanese forces had completely pulled out, leaving behind over 400 casualties. That night, following a sustained artillery bombardment, the Japanese attempted a surprise boat attack. As their boats neared the northern bank, the Chinese troops hidden in the reeds opened fire, resulting in many Japanese soldiers falling into the water, either killed or wounded, while the remainder retreated. On that day, the Chinese army suffered over 300 casualties, while the Japanese and their puppet forces incurred more than 1,000 losses. Despite concentrating their forces and launching continuous attacks with air and artillery support, the Japanese were ultimately repelled by the defenders. Lieutenant Shinichiro Ojin, a Japanese pilot flying low and dropping bombs, was also injured during the conflict. The Japanese sent word to Ma Zhanshan, demanding he make true on his promise, but Ma Zhanshan responded that of his 15,000 troops he could only nominally control a third. Ma Zhanshan then sent a telegram to the League of Nations reading this “I am helpless. I have exhausted all attempts to preserve peace. I have strictly instructed my commanders to act only on the defensive, and that they must not attack. But Major Hayashi has seen this behavior by the Japanese military, and not only has not stopped it but, on the contrary, wants our army to withdraw from Heilongjiang province, so that they can carve up the whole lot... Since the 4th, the Japanese army has started to attack our army . . . They are coordinating land and air attacks, carrying out utterly horrible bombings!”  On the morning of the 5th, the Japanese army focused all its efforts on launching another assault. At 6 am., the Japanese forces bombarded the defenders' positions with numerous cannons. By 7 am, over 8,000 Japanese and puppet troops crossed the river via the central route, while additional puppet forces advanced from the left and right, shielded by artillery and aircraft. As the boats reached the midpoint of the river, the Chinese army mounted a vigorous counterattack. Despite suffering significant casualties, the Japanese and puppet troops persisted in their attempt to cross. By 10 am, the Japanese army had taken the frontline positions on the riverbank, forcing the defenders to retreat to the flanks. The Japanese then launched an assault on the second line of defense at Daxing, where they faced staunch resistance from the defenders. At noon, Ma Zhanshan arrived at the front lines to direct Wu Delin's and Xu Baozhen's regiments in a counteroffensive, urgently sending the Sabli Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Brigade to encircle the Japanese forces from both sides. The brutal fighting continued from 3pm until dusk. The Japanese acknowledged, "The Chinese army executed an encirclement counterattack using infantry and cavalry. The Japanese army suffered heavy losses and was compelled to retreat" . The Japanese forces were forced to shift from an offensive to a defensive stance, with many of their support units annihilated by our cavalry. In this engagement, the Chinese army incurred over 200 casualties, while the Japanese army lost 167 soldiers and sustained more than 600 injuries. That night, a battalion from the 29th Regiment of the Japanese Army arrived as reinforcements. Upon their arrival, they immediately launched an attack but were quickly surrounded by Ma Zhanshan's forces. In response, Honjo Shigeru urgently dispatched an infantry battalion and three artillery squadrons from the 16th Regiment to assist. On the morning of the 6th, Japanese reinforcements arrived and launched a vigorous assault, supported by aircraft that conducted strafing and bombing runs in an attempt to rescue the encircled Japanese forces. On that day, Ma Zhanshan personally visited the front lines to oversee the battle. Both sides incurred significant casualties. Despite the fierce resistance from Ma Zhanshan's troops, the Japanese offensive struggled to gain ground. In response, Honjo Shigeru ordered Tamon Jiro of the 2nd Division to lead the 29th Regiment, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, the Temporary Field Heavy Artillery Battalion, the Engineer Squadron, and a battalion from the 39th Mixed Brigade in the Shenyang area to rush to the vicinity of Kaijiang Bridge. Their objective was to reinforce their forces, attack the defenders, and capture the key position at Daxing. The Chinese army fought desperately, with the sounds of hand-to-hand combat echoing loudly as they repeatedly recaptured lost positions. That day, the Chinese forces suffered over 1,850 casualties, while inflicting more than 2,000 deaths on Japanese and puppet troops and shooting down one aircraft. The Japanese Hamamoto Detachment was nearly annihilated, and the Gaobo Cavalry Team sustained almost total losses. After three days and two nights of continuous fighting without reinforcements, the soldiers were extremely fatigued, and the Daxing position had been heavily damaged. General Ma Zhanshan then ordered the main forces to withdraw to the secondary position at Sanjianfang, located 18 kilometers from Daxing Station, to reorganize defenses alongside the 1st Cavalry Brigade and the 1st Infantry Brigade. On the morning of the 7th, a significant force of Japanese and puppet troops, supported by ten aircraft, launched an attack on the Nantangchi area of Sanjianfang. In response, a combined regiment from Zhang Dianjiu's Brigade and Su Bingwen's Brigade quickly mobilized to counterattack, successfully repelling the enemy by the afternoon. The Chinese forces incurred over 300 casualties, while the Japanese suffered more than 600 casualties, along with over 1,000 from the puppet troops. Notably, and take this one with a heavy grain of I am using a PRC source grain of salt quote “despite ongoing enemy air assaults and the lack of anti-aircraft artillery, the courageous soldiers displayed remarkable ingenuity by lying on the ground in groups of 20 and firing their rifles upward, ultimately managing to shoot down an enemy aircraft”. Upon inspection, the wreckage revealed 26 bullet holes in both wings, marking the first enemy plane downed in China's war against Japan. As a result, Japanese aircraft became hesitant to fly at low altitudes in subsequent battles. Observing the heavy losses inflicted on his forces, Honjo Shigeru ordered Duomen Jiro to halt their advance and return to their original positions. To conceal the reality of their defeat, the Japanese army circulated rumors claiming that the Soviet Union supplied ammunition to the defenders in Heilongjiang. They also propagated various falsehoods to downplay the number of Japanese casualties, worried that anti-war sentiments in Japan would gain momentum. In response, Ma Zhanshan sent a telegram to counter the Japanese army's claims. The Japanese army experienced significant losses during the initial phase of the battle. To resolve the stalemate quickly, they deployed additional troops and made every effort to prepare for a renewed attack. Simultaneously, they issued an ultimatum to Ma Zhanshan, pressuring him to resign, relinquish power, and withdraw Chinese forces from Qiqihar, but Ma Zhanshan firmly refused. The Kwantung Army recommended that the Japanese Army Central Department expedite the deployment of an extra division. In response, Honjo Shigeru ordered the "2nd Division to gather in Daxing with full force." By the 11th, the Japanese army had assembled the Hase Brigade Headquarters, the 16th Infantry Regiment, the 4th Regiment , the 1st Battalion of the 29th Regiment, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, and the 2nd Squadron of the 28th Regiment, along with the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment and the 2nd Engineer Squadron on the north bank of the Nenjiang River. On the south bank, they had the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Field Artillery Regiment and a Temporary Field Heavy Artillery Battalion, totaling over 30,000 troops. In response to the Japanese army's troop deployment, Ma Zhanshan convened a military meeting on the evening of the 7th to discuss strategies for countering the enemy and to reorganize troop placements, establishing three lines of defense. The first line of defense was located in Tangchi, Wunotou, and Xinlitun, with front-line positions at Houyiriba, Qianguandi, and Houguandi, defended by two regiments from Wu Songlin's 1st Cavalry Brigade. After the 14th, Lu Zhiyuan's 2nd Cavalry Brigade was fully deployed to engage in combat in Tangchi and surrounding areas. The second line of defense was situated in Yinglaofen, Sanjianfang, Daxingtun, Xiaoxingtun, and Huotuoqi, serving as the primary position for the black army's frontal defense. This line was manned by four regiments from Yuan Chonggu's 1st Brigade, Wu Delin's 2nd Infantry Brigade, Li Qingshan's 3rd Infantry Brigade, Wang Kezhen's 1st Cavalry Brigade, as well as Park Bingshan's artillery regiment and various engineering and support units. Following the 14th, Sun Hongyu's 1st Infantry Brigade and 2,000 personnel from the Suihua Security Battalion joined the frontal defense efforts. The third line of defense was established in Zhujiakan, Fulaerji, Ang'angxi, and Yushutun, defended by two regiments from Zhang Dianjiu's 1st Infantry Brigade, the entire 2nd Cavalry Brigade, and the Guard Regiment, totaling over 13,000 troops. Sanjianfang is a station located on the railway line from Taonan to Ang'angxi, situated 70 li north of Qiqihar and 60 li south of Nenjiang Bridge. It served as a crucial defensive site for the Chinese army in protecting the capital of Heilongjiang Province. For the Japanese army to take control of Heilongjiang Province, capturing Sanjianfang was essential for a direct route to Qiqihar. Consequently, the struggle for Sanjianfang became a central point in the second phase of the Battle of Jiangqiao. On the morning of the 12th, a vanguard of 500 Japanese infantry and cavalry launched an assault on Ma Zhanshan's frontier positions at Qianguandi, Houguandi, and Zhanghuayuan. The defending forces under Wu Songlin mounted a counterattack. By 1:00 pm, the Japanese army had taken control of the positions, forcing over 600 defenders to retreat to the front lines. At 5:00 am on the 13th more than 500 Japanese soldiers, supported by two aircraft, attacked Xinlitun, but they faced a strong counteroffensive from the defenders. By 10:00 am, the defenders had successfully repelled the attack. At noon that day, the damaged Nenjiang Bridge was repaired, creating advantageous conditions for a large-scale Japanese offensive. At this time, Kwantung Army commander Honjo Shigeru issued a third reinforcement order: "Deploy the remaining troops of the 2nd Division, along with three infantry battalions from the 39th Mixed Brigade and the rescue squad, to the vicinity of Daxing." He also instructed Lieutenant General Duomen, the commander of the 2nd Division, to lead the Nenjiang Detachment. In response, the Japanese headquarters hastily dispatched three air squadrons to Heilongjiang Province and redirected the 4th Mixed Brigade, initially set to land in Dalian, to Busan, Korea, for a swift deployment to Heilongjiang. In the afternoon, over 3,000 Japanese infantry and cavalry, supported by artillery, launched a vigorous attack on Tangchi, Unotou, and Xinlitun. The defenders fought back fiercely until midnight, when the Japanese finally occupied Unotou. On the morning of the 14th, the Japanese army launched an attack on the Tangchi position, supported by two aircraft and heavy artillery, but they were repelled by the forces of Ma Zhanshan. Around 10 a.m., over 2,000 Japanese troops, led by Hase, split into two units—infantry and cavalry—and employed a strategy of large encirclement to assault Tangchi from both the left and right flanks. The cavalry engaged in combat but eventually retreated. The intense fighting continued until the morning of the 15th, when the Japanese army targeted Shuanma. By this time, Ma Zhanshan had already dispatched two cavalry regiments to quietly encircle the enemy's flanks. At his command, the front guard regiment charged into the Japanese positions first, while the cavalry regiments surged from both sides, forcing the Japanese to retreat hastily. Ma Zhanshan's forces captured two artillery pieces and 70 horses, killed 300 Japanese soldiers, and took 200 prisoners, while the puppet army suffered over 2,000 casualties and fled with their weapons. To bolster their defensive capabilities, the defenders organized the 2,000 members of the Suihua Security Battalion into an independent regiment and integrated them into the frontline. On the 15th, following orders from Japanese Army Minister Minami Jiro, Honjo Shigeru presented three demands to Ma Zhanshan: that Ma's troops withdraw from south of the Chinese Eastern Railway, that the area be administered by the Taomao Bureau, and that Ma refrain from interference. However, Ma Zhanshan rejected these demands. At 7:30 a.m. on the 15th, Lieutenant General Tamon, the commander of the Japanese 2nd Division, led the main contingent of his division to the Daxing front. By 11:00 am on the 16th, with the backing of 10 aircraft, heavy artillery, and tanks, 4,000 Japanese infantry and cavalry launched a vigorous assault on positions including Xinlitun and Sanjiazi. The defenders fought valiantly and managed to repel the Japanese forces by 3:00 pm, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. At 10:10 a.m. on the 17th, Honjo Shigeru received orders from the Chief of Army General Staff to "advance north of Qiqihar and attempt to destabilize the enemy with bold maneuvers, and have the 2nd Division  capture Qiqihar in one decisive strike." He also instructed the 39th Mixed Brigade to "mobilize all remaining troops in Daxing, except for one infantry company and an engineering company, placing them under the command of the 2nd Division leader." At 1:00 p.m., Division Commander Duomen ordered the Japanese troops stationed at the Houyiriba train to launch a full-scale assault on the Black Army, particularly targeting Sanjianfang. By 10:00 pm on the 17th the Japanese forces, having received supplies and reinforcements, split into three groups and mounted a fierce attack on the Mabu position. Under Amano's command, the right-wing troops advanced from Wunotou to assault the left-wing positions in the Xinlitun area. Despite the Wu Songlin Brigade being exhausted from several days of fighting, they fiercely resisted the numerically superior enemy, repelling more than ten Japanese attacks. However, by early morning, most of the defenders' trenches had been destroyed, and their positions were compromised in numerous locations, forcing a retreat to the second line in the Daxingtun area. At 10:40 pm on the 17th, the left-wing Japanese forces, commanded by Hase, attacked the right-wing positions in the Tangchi area, where the Cheng Zhiyuan Brigade fought tenaciously. By 2:00 am the following day, the Japanese intensified their assault, deploying 8 tanks and over 30 artillery pieces. Unable to sustain their defense, the defenders retreated to the main position at Sanjianfang. At 3 am on the 18th, the Japanese army mobilized various units and moved to the designated staging area as planned. By 6:30, aircraft and artillery began a one-hour bombardment of the front-line positions at Sanjianfang, to which the defenders responded with their own artillery fire. The booming of the cannons echoed across the entire Shuobei wilderness. At that time, Japanese heavy artillery had a range of 30 kilometers, while the Ma army's heavy artillery could only reach 15 kilometers, resulting in significant losses. Around 8 o'clock, the Japanese forces launched a full-scale attack, supported by tanks. Despite the fierce fighting from the defenders, the Japanese advance was initially repelled. At 9:20, Duomen ordered reinforcements from the reserves and initiated another aggressive assault. By 10 o'clock, although the defenders on the right flank fought valiantly, they were unable to hold their ground and retreated to Mao Mao Creek. At 10:30, the left flank position at Xiaoxingtun fell, forcing the troops to fight their way back to Hongqiyingzi and Yushutun. At this point, Hase directed the infantry and cavalry to assault the main position at Sanjianfang with support from aircraft and tanks. The defending troops, including the Yuan Chonggu Brigade and Zhang Dianjiu Brigade, put up a fierce resistance. By 14:00, the Japanese 39th Mixed Brigade, followed by a regiment from Sanjiazi to the west of Sanjianfang, joined the fight. Together with the Hase Brigade launching a direct assault, they executed a coordinated pincer movement. After 15:00, the Japanese forces added 12 aircraft, 12 tanks, and over 30 artillery pieces, bombarding the trenches with intense fire. Due to insufficient reinforcements, the Japanese army captured Qiqihar on the 19th. Ma Zhanshan's army was on the brink of starvation after Japanese planes bombed their food storage facilities. The Chinese defenders, battling fiercely despite their empty stomachs, were undeterred by their enemy's overwhelming numbers. They engaged in hand-to-hand combat, fighting to the death, their battle cries echoing through the ground. Fighting in the Sanjianfang area continued throughout the night. Although the Chinese troops shared a common hatred and displayed "extraordinary bravery," many had gone several days without sleep due to relentless fighting, and their food supplies had been cut off, leaving them without reinforcements. The ammunition available at that time was part of a long-term stockpile from the Heilongjiang defenders, with much of it rendered unusable due to mold. Meanwhile, the invading forces were continuously bolstered by fresh supplies and reinforcements, creating a dire imbalance between the strong enemy and the weakened defenders. Furthermore, the position had been heavily damaged and was "truly unable to sustain" the fight. On the afternoon of the 18th, Ma Zhanshan was forced to make the difficult decision to order a withdrawal. By the 19th, over 5,000 Japanese troops had taken control of Qiqihar, marking the end of the Battle of Jiangqiao. The civilian population had pushed Ma Zhanshan to pull out, a long held Chinese tradition that did not mean losing face, but rather living to fight another day. On November the 18th, Ma Zhanshans forces evacuated Qiqihar and by the 19th he led them east to defend Baiquan and Hailun. His army suffered tremendous casualties, possibly up to 3000, with the Japanese claiming 300 casualties for themselves. Ma Zhanshans forces then retired to the Nonni river valley and eventually over the Soviet Border. The Japanese began an occupation of Qiqihar, thus securing the control of all three Manchurian provincial capitals. They quickly established a collaborist government under General Zhang Jinghui and secured control over the central section of the Chinese eastern railway. However the eastern section of the railway was still under the control of General Ting Chao operating in Harbin. Ting Chao would follow Ma Zhanshans example, inspiring local Chinese to aid and enlist in the resistance efforts.  Ma Zhanshan drew international attention through a series of telegrams he sent describing his campaign of resistance against the Japanese in Heilongjiang. His stand along the Nonni river near Qiqihar lionized him amongst the Chinese nationalists who sought to use his public image to shame Chiang Kai-shek into action against the Japanese.  During the Battle of Jiangqiao, Ma Zhanshan fought independently without any assistance from the Northeast Army based in Jinzhou. Although Zhang Xueliang instructed Ma to hold his position, the troops in Jinzhou were "not ready for combat." Following the battle, Zhang Xueliang faced significant public backlash. The Shanghai National Salvation Federation stated that "Ma's forces in Heilongjiang Province fought valiantly against the Japanese and demonstrated loyalty on the battlefield, while Zhang Xueliang failed to provide support." The Citizens' Federation sent a telegram to the National Government, accusing Zhang of "neglecting his responsibilities while allowing the Japanese invaders to attack the Northeast, leading to national humiliation and territorial loss." Additionally, the National Student Anti-Japanese National Salvation Federation sent a telegram urging the government to "severely punish Zhang Xueliang and deploy troops immediately." Chiang Kai-shek sent multiple telegrams to praise Ma Zhanshan for his brave resistance and instructed Zhang Xueliang to quickly provide reinforcements. For instance, on November 12th,, Chiang Kai-shek sent a message to Ma Zhanshan stating: "Japan has once again invaded Heilongjiang Province under the pretext of repairing the Jiangqiao Bridge. Our defensive actions were justified. Fortunately, due to your careful leadership and the bravery of the soldiers, we managed to defeat the relentless enemy and protect our territory. I was furious upon receiving the telegram. You and your comrades have brought honor to the party and the nation, fighting for our survival. The entire Chinese populace is inspired. The people's spirit remains unbroken, justice prevails, and the future is hopeful. We pledge to unite in our efforts. I shed tears in the wind and snow, unable to express all my thoughts. Chiang Kai-shek." Additionally, on the 19th, Chiang Kai-shek wrote to Ma Zhanshan: "I have read your telegram and am filled with sorrow and anger that words cannot capture. Our army has fought valiantly for days, bringing glory to our nation. Our reputation has spread widely, earning admiration both domestically and internationally, which is truly commendable. I have urged Deputy Commander Zhang to send troops to assist you. I miss you dearly as I write this message. Chiang Kai-shek." All major domestic newspapers covered the Jiangqiao Anti-Japanese War prominently, and various sectors of society conveyed their condolences to the frontline soldiers in numerous ways. Life Weekly, backed by Zou Taofen, remarked, "This spirit of defending the nation and refusing to surrender even in death is crucial for the future of the Chinese people. It demonstrates to the world that our soldiers are not entirely dishonorable and have restored significant pride for the nation." The Shanghai Fuchang Tobacco Company even created "General Ma Zhanshan Cigarettes," promoting the slogan, "May everyone emulate General Ma." On November 17th,, the Binjiang Times published an editorial stating, "The Chinese soldiers in Heilongjiang fought valiantly against the brutality of the Japanese army. The blood shed along the Nenjiang River is the legacy of our brave men. The Chinese army in Heilongjiang represents the true warriors defending the nation. After the September 18th Incident, we began to doubt how many Chinese soldiers could confront the enemy, and we were deeply disappointed. Fifty days after losing Liaoning and Jilin provinces, we realized that Ma Zhanshan in Heilongjiang truly deserves the title of Chinese soldier." People across the country spontaneously formed groups for condolences and support, donating money and supplies to aid Heilongjiang's resistance efforts. Many young students set aside their studies to join the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Thus ended the Jiangqiao Campaign. General Ma Zhanshan proved himself quite a formidable rebel leader in the face of pretty overwhelming odds. His name was propagandized heavily by the Chinese press to boost morale and try to awaken the Chinese that a fight for their very existence was at hand, but China simply did not have the means yet to face such an enemy. 

Join us this week on Chuddle the Pod: A Horror Movie Club as we board the thrilling Train to Busan (2016). Dive into this intense zombie masterpiece filled with heart-pounding action, emotional depth, and relentless undead chaos! Join the Club! Join the Patreon! Chuddle the Website! Follow the Chuddlers on social media! Discord: Chuddle the Discord Chuddle the Pod: Slasher - @chuddlethepod IG - @chuddlethepod  Sam on Letterboxd - @chuddlethesam Ross on IG - @RossPurvis Email: chuddlethepod@gmail.com  

Our friends over at Plug It Up discussed the monstrous feminine side of this film. There's a point where the pantheon transitions from Demi Moore's voice over career to the problematic parts of 90s Disney films, and McFly kept it all in! This final topic of February Made Me Shiver will be Train to Busan (2016).

@PermissionToStanPodcast on Instagram (DM us & Join Our Broadcast Channel!) & TikTok!NEW Podcast Episodes every THURSDAY! Please support us by Favoriting, Following, Subscribing, & Sharing for more K-POP talk!STAYC world tour 2025AESPA & JENNIE @ Billboard Women in Music AwardsMarch comebacks: STAYC, LE SSERAFIM, YEJI, NMIXX, THE BOYZ, Feb comebacks: OLIVIA MARSH, JISOO, ILLIT, ZB1, HEARTS2HEARTS (Debut), GDRAGONMVs: ATEEZ HONGJOONG, JACKSON WANG, LISA ft. DOJA CAT & RAYE, ROSENEWJEANS to NJZ? The never ending saga & drama with Ador escalates furtherHANNI visa problemsJOCO's NEWJEANS / NJZ worries and frustrationsSEVENTEEN DK does a real life Chill Guy meme to the membersZEROBASONE releases song trailers designed like video gamesKICKFLIP MINJE sounds like FELIX when they covered "Lalala"JISOO on DEX's Fridge Interview: Flirting, tells her ideal type, talks about BLACKPINKLE SSERAFIM JINZUHA Trip (YUNJIN x KAZUHA) rides in Busan & Mukbang in DaeguBTS JHOPE ticket dropBOYNEXTDOOR fan club membership kit releaseBOYNEXTDOOR x Tom & Jerry collab and song!?STRAY KIDS HYUNJIN brand ambassador for Givenchy & magazine cover with kiwi headHYUNJIN trolls BANGCHAN on LiveAll members drops spoilers on theirs LivesSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/permission-to-stan-podcast-kpop-multistans-andamp-weebs/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeers and then cheers at, and then for, Electronic Intifada founder and editor, Ali Abunimah, being abducted and imprisoned, and then being released by the local Zurich gestapo at the direction of a deranged Swiss Zionist and government official.Condoms out for Hamas. Do you condom Hamas or not??Trump's immaculate real estate brain generates ideas for the Gazan coastline, dismisses his very own epic ceasefire deal, and pivots towards doing a deep "cleaning" of that very unkempt land.Magical "deals" continue be posted about by the new POTUS and he threatens BRICS nations with at least 100% tariffs including any nation he thinks may be a part of it.Another of Biden's many spiteful little "dabbing on us" gestures as he wanders out the door, batting Cuba's embargoed status back n forth between himself and Trump like two senile drool-stained alley cats.Gustavo Petro pens an epic missive to Trump and casts the mold for how people should sort his ass out when being on the receiving end of his wrath.Denmark's fed up about this Greenland shit and ready to leverage its power over the US by withholding some of its favorite things: Ozempic and Lego products.USA's AI bubble meets the inscrutable Chinee's DeepSeek. NYSE hemorrhages record breaking levels of investment, panic and schadenfreude follow.Bernie grills RFK Jr over his support of certain styles of baby onesies + RFK squirms like the worm in his damn brain.Trump's Big Freeze and its maelstrom of cascading effects.The profoundly dystopian Laken Riley Act.Doubling down on Nazism + SiegHeilGate: The Sequel.MAGA Communism seems a bit sus if you ask...nearly anyone.Recorded on Saturday, February 1st, 2025 around 12:00 PM Korea Standard TimeCommiserate on Discord: discord.gg/aDf4Yv9PrY (Join in order to access occasional bonus audio content.)Support: patreon / buzzsproutNever Forget: standwithdanielhale.orgGenral RecommendationsJosh's Recommendation: Check out Soban Vegan Restaurant (소반 비건식당) in the beautiful southeast coastal metropolis of Busan, South Korea. Not too far from Busan Station and Chinatown where one of the most famous and influential Korean films of all time—Old Boy—was filmed in part.Tim's Recommendation: Make Deadwood Season 3 Unwoke Again PlzMore From Timothy Robert BuechnerPodcast: Q&T ARE / violentpeople.co Tweets: @ROHDUTCHLocationless Locationsheatdeathpod.comEvery show-related link is corralled and available here.Twitter: @heatdeathpodPlease send all Letters of Derision, Indifference, Inquiry, Mild Elation, et cetera to: heatdeathodtheuniversepodcast@gmailSend us a textSupport the show

Join Captain Jeff, Dr. Steph, Captain Nick, Producer Liz, Nick Camacho, AJ (Alpha Juliet). Enjoy! APG 649 SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS AND PICS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:05:43 NEWS 00:06:00 Washington National Airport, Midair Collision 00:53:17 Air Busan A321 at Busan, Fire During Departure Preparations 00:57:26 GETTING TO KNOW US 01:26:22 Plane Tale - RAF Form 414 - Volume 32 01:48:11 FEEDBACK 01:49:36 Sam - Buson 01:54:10 Shane - Jeju Crash Question 01:56:00 Sam - We've Come a Long Way, Baby 02:02:37 Michael - Never Heard of This One! 02:08:46 Sean - Don't You Dare Go Around 02:16:57 Peter - 717 “Voice” 02:21:27 WRAP UP Watch the video of our live stream recording! Go to our YouTube channel! Give us your review in iTunes! I'm "airlinepilotguy" on Facebook, and "airlinepilotguy" on Twitter. feedback@airlinepilotguy.com airlinepilotguy.com ATC audio from https://LiveATC.net Intro/outro Music, Coffee Fund theme music by Geoff Smith thegeoffsmith.com Dr. Steph's intro music by Nevil Bounds Capt Nick's intro music by Kevin from Norway (aka Kevski) Doh De Oh by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100255 Artist: https://incompetech.com/ Copyright © AirlinePilotGuy 2025, All Rights Reserved Airline Pilot Guy Show by Jeff Nielsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Episode 160 - all notes from the show can be found at www.zippingaroundtheworld.com on the home page.  Scroll to find Episode 160.   Don't forget to subscribe to the show!  Tell your friends and social media. Help the show, at no cost to you! Use my travel credit card links, which are always found on my website show notes. Leave me a comment on my website under the comments tab if you have ever used any of my travel tips or locations.  Also, leave me a rating and kind comment in Itunes as well.

Episode Notes Get ready for an exciting episode of This Korean Life! This episode, we're joined by Andrew Murphy, an Eastern Canadian with a big heart and an even bigger personality, who has made Busan his home for nearly two decades. Andrew is a father of two boys, a dynamic radio personality, a respected university teacher, a passionate hockey player, and a dedicated advocate for men's health. For over a decade, Andrew has participated in the Movember fundraiser, raising awareness and funds for important causes, all while balancing his many roles.

Overwhelming swarm of Trump 2.0 odd 'n' sods—inauguration, absurd beyond all reckoning SiegHeilGate reactions, meme coin and AI scams, executive orders, Jan 6 and Silk Road pardons, foresaking John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, swearing in little blood-sluts like Rubio, Hegseth et al., turning Manifest Destiny ambitions towards Latin American perennial targets like Cuba and Venezuela, immediately abandoning even the fiction of the ceasefire—a list so long we couldn't possibly get to everything in our two hour recording window. Stay tuned next week in order to edge closer to completion and to take in whatever new fresh hell awaits.   Recorded on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 around 12:00 PM Korea Standard TimeCommiserate on Discord: discord.gg/aDf4Yv9PrY (Join in order to access occasional bonus audio content.)Support: patreon / buzzsproutNever Forget: standwithdanielhale.orgGenral RecommendationsJosh's Recommendation: 1) Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me - Teresa Banks and the Last Seven Days of Laura Palmer 2) Check out Soban Vegan Restuarant (소반 비건식당) in the beautiful southeast coastal metropolis of Busan, South Korea. Not too far from Busan Station and Chinatown where one of the most famous and influential Korean films of all time—Old Boy—was filmed in part.Tim's Recommendation: DeadwoodFurther Reading, Viewing, ListeningShow notes + Full list of links, sources, etcOutro Music: KNOWER - I'm the President (Lyrics, Credits, Link)Credit to @pleasuresystems for the "Falling Musk" episode artwork.More From Joshua Nomen-MutatioSome Fiction WritingLydia's DriveThe Form AwardsMore From Timothy Robert BuechnerPodcast: Q&T ARE / violentpeople.co Tweets: @ROHDUTCHLocationless Locationsheatdeathpod.comEvery show-related link is corralled and available here.Twitter: @heatdeathpodPlease send all Letters of Derision, Indifference, Inquiry, Mild Elation, et cetera to: heatdeathodtheuniversepodcast@gmailSend us a textSupport the show

Join us this week on Chuddle the Pod: A Horror Movie Club as we dive into the animated prequel Seoul Station (2016). Explore the chaos and emotion of this gripping story that sets the stage for the Train to Busan universe! Join the Club! Join the Patreon! Chuddle the Website! Follow the Chuddlers on social media! Discord: Chuddle the Discord Chuddle the Pod: Slasher - @chuddlethepod IG - @chuddlethepod  Sam on Letterboxd - @chuddlethesam Ross on IG - @RossPurvis Email: chuddlethepod@gmail.com  

In this Scene N Nerd Presents Blerd Trek episode, host Will Polk welcomes the fantastic Subrina Wood from the SyfySistas and CinnCine Goes SyFy podcast. Dive deep into the world of Star Trek as they reminisce about their favorite series, from the original to Deep Space Nine. Subrina shares her love for classic films and the birth of her alter ego, the Cinnamon Cinephile. Explore the nuances of sci-fi storytelling, the impact of social commentary in the genre, and the importance of consistent narrative in film and TV. The conversation spans across directors like William Wyler and Christopher Nolan, and movies that have shaped the landscape of sci-fi, including a fascinating discussion on the allegorical depth of Godzilla. As they gear up for the second season of Subrina's podcast, expect a global perspective on sci-fi films, featuring titles like "The Wandering Earth 2" and "Train to Busan." They also tease a potential Charlton Heston trilogy episode, exploring his iconic roles in dystopian classics. Join the  @syfysistas  in supporting the Hollywood Food Coalition through Trek Talks, and look forward to more exciting content as they return to the Trek Geek Network. Don't miss out on the vibrant discussions and insightful reviews that make Scene N Nerd a must-listen for every sci-fi enthusiast. Hollywood Food Coalition: https://www.trektalks.net/ *Note this was recorded before the devasting wildfires in Los Angeles, California. Follow the Trek Talks link to support relief efforts in the area.*

Rena Cohen has concocted a fine Monday crossword for your enjoyment, one that checks all the boxes:Cute theme? (check!)Not too hard (check, check!)Entertaining? (check, check, check!)In short, we won't be checking any doubts at the door, this is definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.Show note imagery: BUSAN, South KoreaWe love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Syria's anti-government rebels launched a massive offensive last week, taking most observers by surprise and gaining control over  the largest city, Aleppo. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad has responded by conducting aerial attacks on Aleppo city and Idlib province. Also, the president of the International Criminal Court lashed out at the US and Russia for interfering with its investigations as the institution's annual meeting opened on today. And, a gathering of more than 200 nations convened in Busan, South Korea, to reach a landmark agreement on ending plastic pollution, but left without achieving its goal after pressure from oil-rich nations. Plus, Hong Kong launches its “PANDA GO! FEST HK” festival with 2,500 panda statues made of recycled rubber barrels to be put on display this month.Listen to today's Music Heard on Air.We're thankful for listeners like you who power our newsroom! Donate today to keep The World fully powered all year long.