Podcasts about Chinese New Year

Last time we spoke about the battle of Nanjing. In December 1937, as the battle for Nanjing unfolded, terror inundated its residents, seeking safety amid the turmoil. General Tang Shengzhi rallied the Chinese forces, determined to defend against the advancing Japanese army. Fierce fighting erupted at the Gate of Enlightenment, where the determined Chinese soldiers resisted merciless assaults while tragedy loomed. By mid-December, the Japanese made substantial advances, employing relentless artillery fire to breach Nanjing's defenses. Leaders called for strategic retreats, yet amid chaos and despair, many young Chinese soldiers, driven by nationalism, continued to resist. By December 13, Nanjing succumbed to the invaders, marking a tragic chapter in history. As destruction enveloped the city, the resilience of its defenders became a poignant tale of courage amidst the horrors of war, forever marking Nanjing as a symbol of enduring hope in the face of despair.   #168 The Nanjing Massacre 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. So obvious disclaimer, today we will be talking about, arguably one of if not the most horrific war atrocities ever committed. To be blunt, it may have been worse than some of the things we talked about back during the fall of the Ming Dynasty, when bandit armies raped and pillaged cities. The Nanjing Massacre as its become known is well documented by both Chinese and foreign sources. There is an abundance of primary sources, many well verified. Its going to be extremely graphic, I am going to try and tell it to the fullest. So if you got a weak stomach perhaps sit this one out, you have been warned. Chen Yiding began evacuating his troops from the area surrounding the Gate of Enlightenment before dawn on December 13. En route to Xiaguan, he took the time to visit a dozen of his soldiers housed in a makeshift hospital located in an old cemetery. These men were too severely injured to participate in the evacuation, and Chen had to leave them with only a few words of encouragement. Little did he know, within days, they would all perish in their beds, victims of the Japanese forces. Upon arriving in Xiaguan later that morning, Chen was met with grim news: his divisional commander had crossed the Yangtze River with his chief of staff the previous afternoon. Now, he was on his own. He didn't linger near the riverside chaos, quickly realizing there was nothing he could do there. Instead, he chose to move downstream, hoping to find a secure spot for himself and his soldiers to wait out the next few days before devising an escape from the war zone.  He was fortunate, for soon the Japanese would live up to their notorious reputation developed during their advance from Shanghai; they were not inclined to take prisoners. That afternoon, several hundred Chinese soldiers arrived at the northern end of the Safety Zone. The committee responsible for the area stated that they could offer no assistance. In a misguided attempt to boost morale, they suggested that if the soldiers surrendered and promised not to engage in combat, the Japanese would likely show them "merciful treatment." This optimism was woefully misplaced. Later that same day, Japanese troops entered the zone, dragging out 200 Chinese men, the majority of them soldiers, for execution just outside the city. On December 13, Japanese soldiers started patrolling the riverbank, shooting at anything and anyone floating downstream. Their comrades aboard naval vessels in the river cheered them on, applauding each time they struck another helpless victim in the water. Civilians were not spared either. While traveling through downtown Nanjing as the battle concluded, Rabe observed dead men and women every 100 to 200 yards, most of them shot in the back. A long line of Chinese men marched down the street, numbering in the hundreds, all destined for death. In a cruel twist, they were compelled to carry a large Japanese flag. They were herded into a vacant lot by a couple of Japanese soldiers and as recalled by American correspondent Archibald Steele "There, they were brutally shot dead in small groups. One Japanese soldier stood over the growing pile of corpses, firing into any bodies that showed movement." The killings commenced almost immediately after the fall of Nanjing. The victorious Japanese spread out into the city streets, seeking victims. Those unfortunate enough to be captured faced instant execution or were taken to larger killing fields to meet a grim fate alongside other Chinese prisoners. Initially, the Japanese targeted former soldiers, whether real or imagined, but within hours, the scope of victims expanded to include individuals of all age groups and genders. By the end of the first day of occupation, civilian bodies littered the streets of downtown Nanjing at a rate of roughly one per block. The defenseless and innocent were subjected to murder, torture, and humiliation in a relentless spree of violence that persisted for six harrowing weeks. At the time of the attack, Nanjing felt eerily abandoned, houses stood boarded up, vehicles lay toppled in the streets, and the once-ubiquitous rickshaws had vanished. However, hundreds of thousands remained hidden indoors, seeking refuge. The most visible sign of the city's new rulers was the display of the Japanese flag. On the morning of December 14, the Rising Sun flag was hoisted across the city, seen in front of private homes, businesses, and public buildings. Many of these flags were hastily made, often a simple white sheet with a red rag affixed, hoping to be spared. As the days progressed, horrifying accounts of violence began to emerge. A barber, the sole survivor among eight people in his shop when the Japanese arrived, was admitted to a hospital with a stab wound that had nearly severed his head from his body, damaging all muscles at the back of his neck down to his spinal canal. A woman suffered a brutal throat wound, while another pregnant woman was bayoneted in the abdomen, resulting in the death of her unborn child. A man witnessed his wife being stabbed through the heart and then saw his child hurled from a window to the street several floors below. These are but a few stories of individual atrocities committed. Alongside this there were mass executions, predominantly targeting young able-bodied men, in an effort to weaken Nanjing and deprive it of any potential resistance in the future. American professor, Lewis Smythe recalled “The disarmed soldier problem was our most serious one for the first three days, but it was soon resolved, as the Japanese shot all of them.” On the evening of December 15, the Japanese rounded up 1,300 former soldiers from the Safety Zone, binding them in groups of about 100 and marching them away in silence. A group of foreigners, permitted to leave Nanjing on a Japanese gunboat, accidentally became witnesses to the ensuing slaughter. While waiting for their vessel, they took a brief walk along the riverbank and stumbled upon a scene of mass execution, observing the Japanese shooting the men one by one in the back of the neck. “We observed about 100 such executions until the Japanese officer in charge noticed us and ordered us to leave immediately”. Not all killings were premeditated; many occurred impulsively. A common example was when Japanese soldiers led lines of Chinese POWs to holding points, tightly bound together with ropes. Every few yards, a Japanese soldier would stand guard with a fixed bayonet aimed at the prisoners as they trudged forward. Suddenly, one of the prisoners slipped, causing a domino effect as he fell, dragging down the men in front of and behind him. The entire group soon found themselves collapsed on the ground, struggling to stand. The Japanese guards lost their patience, jabbing their bayonets into the writhing bodies until none remained alive. In one of the largest massacres, Japanese troops from the Yamada Detachment, including the 65th Infantry Regiment, systematically executed between 17,000 and 20,000 Chinese prisoners from December 15 to 17. These prisoners were taken to the banks of the Yangtze River near Mufushan, where they were machine-gunned to death. The bodies were then disposed of by either burning or flushing them downstream. Recent research by Ono Kenji has revealed that these mass killings were premeditated and carried out systematically, in accordance with orders issued directly by Prince Asaka. A soldier from the IJA's 13th Division described killing wounded survivors of the Mufushan massacre in his diary “I figured that I'd never get another chance like this, so I stabbed thirty of the damned Chinks. Climbing atop the mountain of corpses, I felt like a real devil-slayer, stabbing again and again, with all my might. 'Ugh, ugh,' the Chinks groaned. There were old folks as well as kids, but we killed them lock, stock, and barrel. I also borrowed a buddy's sword and tried to decapitate some. I've never experienced anything so unusual”. Frequently, the Japanese just left their victims wherever they fell. Corpses began to accumulate in the streets, exposed to the elements and onlookers. Cars constantly were forced to run over corpses. Corpses were scavenged by stray dogs, which, in turn, were consumed by starving people. The water became toxic; workers in the Safety Zone discovered ponds clogged with human remains. In other instances, the Japanese gathered their machine-gunned or bayoneted victims into large heaps, doused them in kerosene, and set them ablaze. Archibald Steele wrote for the Chicago Daily News on December 17th “I saw a grisly scene at the north gate, where what was once a group of 200 men had become a smoldering mass of flesh and bones, so severely burned around the neck and head that it was difficult to believe he was still human.” During the chaos in the beginning, whereupon the Japanese had not yet fully conquered the city, its defenders scrambled desperately to escape before it was too late. Individually or in small groups, they sought vulnerabilities in the enemy lines, acutely aware that their survival hinged on their success. Months of conflict had trained them to expect no mercy if captured; previous experiences had instilled in them the belief that a swift death at the hands of the Japanese would be a fortunate outcome. On December 12, amid intense artillery fire and aerial bombardment, General Tang Sheng-chi issued the order for his troops to retreat. However, conflicting directives and a breakdown in discipline transformed the ensuing events into a disaster. While some Chinese units successfully crossed the river, a far greater number were ensnared in the widespread chaos that engulfed the city. In their desperation to evade capture, some Chinese soldiers resorted to stripping civilians of their clothing to disguise themselves, while many others were shot by their own supervisory units as they attempted to flee.Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of individual escape stories emerged from this period. In some rare instances, entire units, even up to divisional strength, successfully infiltrated Japanese lines to reach safety. For others, such as the 156th Division, there were detailed plans outlining escape routes from Nanjing. Several soldiers and officers adhered to this three-day trek, skillfully evading Japanese patrols until they reached Ningguo, located south of the capital. Nonetheless, these cases were exceptions. The vast majority of soldiers from China's defeated army faced significant risk and were more likely to be captured than to escape. Some of Chiang Kai-shek's most elite units suffered near total annihilation. Only about a thousand soldiers from the 88th Division managed to cross the Yangtze safely, as did another thousand from the Training Division, while a mere 300 from the 87th Division survived. Even for units like the 156th Division, the escape plans were only effective for those who learned of them. These plans were hurriedly disseminated through the ranks as defeat loomed, leaving mere chance to determine who received the information. Many stayed trapped in Nanjing, which had become a fatal snare. One day, Japanese soldiers visited schools within Nanjing's Safety Zone, aware that these locations sheltered many refugees. They called for all former soldiers to step forward, promising safety in exchange for labor. Many believed that the long days of hiding were finally coming to an end and complied with the request. However, they were led to an abandoned house, where they were stripped naked and bound together in groups of five. Outside, a large bonfire had been ignited. They were then bayoneted and, while still alive, thrown onto the flames. Only a few managed to escape and share the horrifying tale. The Japanese were of course well aware that numerous soldiers were hiding in Nanjing, disguised as locals, evidenced by the piles of military uniforms and equipment accumulating in the streets. Consequently, they initiated a systematic search for soldiers within hours of taking control. The Safety Zone was not spared, as the Japanese Army suspected that Chinese soldiers had sought refuge there. On December 16, they raided Ginling College, despite a policy prohibiting the admission of men, except for elderly residents in a designated dining room. The soldiers brought axes to force open doors that were not immediately complied with and positioned six machine guns on the campus, prepared to fire at anyone attempting to escape. Ultimately, they found nothing. In cases where they did encounter young men of military age, the soldiers lined them up, scrutinizing for distinct telltale features such as close-cropped hair, helmet marks, or shoulder blisters from carrying a rifle. Many men, who had never served in the military but bore callouses from hard manual labor, were captured based on the assumption that such marks indicated military experience. As noted by Goerge Fitch the head of Nanjing's YMCA “Rickshaw coolies, carpenters, and other laborers are frequently taken”. The Japanese employed additional, more cunning tactics to root out soldiers. During an inspection of a camp within the Safety Zone, they struggled to get the approximately 6,000 men and women to surrender. Before leaving, they resorted to one last trick. “Attention!” a voice commanded in flawless Chinese. Many young men, conditioned by months or years of military training, instinctively responded. Even though most realized their mistake almost immediately, it was too late; the Japanese herded them away. Given the scale of the slaughter, efforts were soon organized to facilitate the killing and disposal of as many individuals as possible in the shortest time. Rows of prisoners were mowed down by machine-gun fire, while those injured were finished off with single bullets or bayonets. Much of the mass murder occurred near the Yangtze River, where victims could be disposed of easily by being pushed into the water, hoping the current would carry them away.As the weeks progressed and the Japanese grew increasingly concerned about the possibility of former soldiers still at large, the dragnet tightened. Beginning in late December, Japanese authorities implemented a registration system for all residents of Nanjing. At Ginling College, this process lasted about a week and resulted in scenes of almost indescribable chaos, as the Japanese also decided to register residents from the surrounding areas on campus. First, the men were registered, followed by the women. Often, women attended the registration to help save their husbands and sons, who would otherwise have been taken as suspected former soldiers. Despite these efforts, a total of 28 men were ultimately seized during the registration process at Ginling College. Each individual who registered received a document from the authorities. However, it soon became clear that this paper provided little protection against the caprices of the Japanese military. That winter in Nanjing, everyone was a potential victim. While systematic mass killings primarily targeted young men of military age, every category of people faced death in the days and weeks following the Japanese conquest of Nanjing. Reports indicated that fifty police officers from the Safety Zone were executed for permitting Chinese soldiers to enter the area. The city's firefighters were taken away to meet an uncertain fate, and six street sweepers were killed inside their dwelling. Like an uncontrollable epidemic, the victors' bloodlust seemed to escalate continuously, seeking out new victims. When the Japanese ordered the Safety Zone committee to supply workers for the electricity plant in Xiaguan to restore its operations, they provided 54 individuals. Within days, 43 of them were dead. Although young men were especially targeted, the Japanese made no distinctions based on age or sex. American missionary John G. Magee documented numerous instances of indiscriminate killings, including the chilling account of two families nearly exterminated. Stabbings, shootings, and rapes marked the slaughter of three generations of innocents, including toddlers aged four and two; the older child was bayoneted, while the younger was struck in the head with a sword. The only survivors were a badly injured eight-year-old girl and her four-year-old sister, who spent the following fortnight beside their mother's decaying body. The violence was often accompanied by various forms of humiliation, as if to utterly break the spirit of the conquered people. One woman lost her parents and three children. When she purchased a coffin for her father, a Japanese soldier tore the lid off and discarded the old man's body in the street. Another soldier, in a drunken stupor, raped a Chinese woman and then vomited on her. In yet another incident, a soldier encountered a family of six huddled over a pot of thin rice soup; he stepped over them and urinated into their pot before continuing on his way, laughing heartlessly. The atrocities committed at Nanjing were not akin to something like the Holocaust. Within places like Auschwitz killings became industrialized and often took on an impersonal, unemotional character. The murders in Nanjing had an almost intimate quality, with each individual perpetrator bearing the blood of their victims on their hands, sometimes literally. In this sense, the Nanjing atrocities resemble the early Holocaust killings executed by German Einsatzgruppen in Eastern Europe, prior to the implementation of gas chambers. How many died during the Nanjing Massacre? Eyewitnesses at the time recognized that the Japanese behavior had few immediate precedents. Missionary John Magee compared the situation to the Turkish genocide of the Armenians during World War I, which was still fresh in memory. Despite this, no consensus emerged regarding the exact number of fatalities, a state of affairs that would persist for nearly eight decades. In his first comprehensive account of the atrocities following the conquest of the capital, New York Times correspondent Tillman Durdin reported that 33,000 Chinese soldiers lost their lives in Nanjing, including 20,000 who were executed. Foreign correspondent Frank Oliver claimed in a 1939 publication that 24,000 men, women, and children were put to death during the first month of the city's occupation. As time progressed, much larger figures began to circulate. After returning to Germany in 1938, John Rabe held a lecture where he cited European estimates that between 50,000 and 60,000 people had died. In February 1942, Chiang Kai-shek stated that 200,000 were slaughtered within one week. The Nanjing tribunal established by Chiang's government to try Japanese war criminals in 1946 and 1947 reported that more than 300,000 lives had been lost following the city's fall. The highest estimate recorded comes from a Chinese military expert, who put the death toll at 430,000. Currently, the figure most commonly accepted in official Chinese media is 300,000, a number also cited by various authors sympathetic to China's contemporary regime. The debate over the Nanjing death toll has been a complex and extensive discussion, likely to remain unresolved to everyone's satisfaction. As missionary and Nanjing University teacher Miner Searle Bates remarked when he testified before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in July 1946, “The scope of this killing was so extensive that no one can provide a complete picture of it.” On December 16, American missionary Minnie Vautrin witnessed a truck passing by Ginling College, loaded with eight to ten girls. When they saw the Western woman, they cried out, "Jiu ming! Jiu ming!" which means “Help! Help!” Vautrin felt powerless, fully aware of the fate that awaited them. As early as Tuesday of that week, she had documented rumors of girls being raped. The following night, women were taken in large numbers from their homes. Another missionary, John Magee wrote to his wife “The most horrible thing now is the raping of the women, which has been going on in the most shameless way I have ever known”. A tentative list compiled by Lewis Smythe detailed instances of rape occurring soon after the Japanese Army entered Nanjing: four girls at noon on December 14; four more women that evening; three female refugees on December 15; and a young wife around the same time. The accounts revealed chilling individual horrors. A 15-year-old girl was taken to a barracks housing 200 to 300 Japanese soldiers and locked in a room, where she was raped multiple times daily. Victims ranged from as young as 11 to over 80. American correspondent Edgar Snow recalled “Discards were often bayoneted by drunken soldiers,. Frequently, mothers had to witness their babies being beheaded, only to then be raped themselves.” Y.M.C.A. head George Fitch reported the case of a woman whose five-month-old infant was deliberately smothered by a soldier to silence its cries while he raped her. Such acts were a gruesome form of humiliation, designed to demonstrate that the vanquished were powerless to protect their own families. Japanese soldier Takokoro Kozo recalled “Women suffered most. No matter how young or old, they all could not escape the fate of being raped. We sent out coal trucks to the city streets and villages to seize a lot of women. And then each of them was allocated to fifteen to twenty soldiers for sexual intercourse and abuse. After raping we would also kill them”. Women were frequently killed immediately after being raped, often through horrific mutilations, such as being penetrated with bayonets, long bamboo sticks, or other objects. For instance, one six-months-pregnant woman was stabbed sixteen times in the face and body, with one stab penetrating her abdomen and killing her unborn child. In another case, a young woman had a beer bottle forcibly inserted into her vagina after being raped, and was subsequently shot.  On December 19, 1937, the Reverend James M. McCallum wrote in his diary “I know not where to end. Never I have heard or read such brutality. Rape! Rape! Rape! We estimate at least 1,000 cases a night and many by day. In case of resistance or anything that seems like disapproval, there is a bayonet stab or a bullet... People are hysterical... Women are being carried off every morning, afternoon and evening. The whole Japanese army seems to be free to go and come as it pleases, and to do whatever it pleases”.  Rabe wrote in his diary dated December 17 “wo Japanese soldiers have climbed over the garden wall and are about to break into our house. When I appear they give the excuse that they saw two Chinese soldiers climb over the wall. When I show them my party badge, they return the same way. In one of the houses in the narrow street behind my garden wall, a woman was raped, and then wounded in the neck with a bayonet. I managed to get an ambulance so we can take her to Kulou Hospital... Last night up to 1,000 women and girls are said to have been raped, about 100 girls at Ginling College...alone. You hear nothing but rape. If husbands or brothers intervene, they're shot. What you hear and see on all sides is the brutality and bestiality of the Japanese soldiers”. In a documentary film about the Nanjing Massacre, In the Name of the Emperor, a former Japanese soldier named Shiro Azuma spoke candidly about the process of rape and murder in Nanjing. “At first we used some kinky words like Pikankan. Pi means "hip", kankan means "look". Pikankan means, "Let's see a woman open up her legs." Chinese women didn't wear under-pants. Instead, they wore trousers tied with a string. There was no belt. As we pulled the string, the buttocks were exposed. We "pikankan". We looked. After a while we would say something like, "It's my day to take a bath," and we took turns raping them. It would be all right if we only raped them. I shouldn't say all right. But we always stabbed and killed them. Because dead bodies don't talk”. Without anyone to defend them, the women of Nanjing resorted to desperate measures for their safety. The young and attractive cut their hair and smeared soot on their faces to diminish their allure. Others donned boys' clothes or the garments of elderly women. However, the Japanese were well aware of these tactics and were not easily deceived. As American correspondent Snow described, it was an orgy of unprecedented debauchery, involving not only the lower ranks of the Japanese military but also officers who turned their quarters into harems, bedding a new captive each night. Open-air sexual assaults were common. During the first ten days of occupation, groups of Japanese soldiers entered the Ginling campus ten to twenty times daily, brandishing fixed bayonets stained with fresh blood. So overwhelmed, Vautrin decided to prioritize saving lives over salvaging possessions, spending those early days frantically moving across campus to prevent marauding soldiers from taking away women. A particularly tense situation unfolded on the evening of December 17, when Vautrin and other staff members at Ginling College were called to the front of the campus to confront a group of Japanese soldiers. Earlier, Vautrin had received documentation from another officer affirming that the area was a legitimate refugee camp. The soldiers torn up the document in front of her. For hours, with armed Japanese soldiers encircling them, Vautrin and her colleagues were left standing or kneeling, uncertain of what awaited them. Gradually, it became clear that they had been lured to the front gate so that other soldiers could enter through a side entrance and abduct twelve women. As Vautrin recalled “Never shall I forget the scene. The dried leaves rattling, the moaning of the wind, the cries of women being led away.” The staff remained at the entrance until 11:00 pm, fearing that hiding soldiers might fire on them if they moved. This was the only time that Vautrin was unable to prevent rape, a failure that would haunt her for the rest of her life. Some Japanese soldiers, seeking young girls, ordered a middle-aged Chinese woman to assist them in finding targets. When she either could not or would not comply, they shot a rifle across her abdomen, narrowly missing and taking away “three handbreadths of flesh.” When the Japanese Army entered Nanjing, little damage had been inflicted on the buildings, as noted by U.S. missionary James McCallum at the end of December. On the first day of their occupation, Japanese soldiers immediately dispersed into Nanjing in small groups, breaking shop windows and looting the goods within. They carried away their spoils in crates and stolen rickshaws. Initially, the looting was partly a makeshift response to the poor logistics of the Japanese Army. Combat soldiers had arrived well ahead of their supply lines and faced severe food shortages until the roads reopened and the Yangtze River became navigable.  Every building in Nanjing was looted and turned upside down. Everything not nailed down was stolen: doors and window frames were removed, safes opened with rifle shots or grenades. Japanese soldiers often pillaged property while the owners were present, threatening them with bayonets. Abandoned cars littered the streets, typically overturned and stripped of useful items, including batteries. Like Russian soldiers in Berlin seven and a half years later, the rank-and-file soldiers displayed a particular interest in watches. As the scale of plunder grew, transportation became scarce. By the end of December, looting was being conducted using trucks. When vehicles were unavailable, Japanese soldiers resorted to wheelbarrows and even children's prams. Mules, donkeys, and people were also commandeered. Just as during their advance from Shanghai to Nanjing, the Chinese were forced to assist in looting their own homes. A common sight was a Japanese soldier leading a group of Chinese down the street, laden with stolen goods. While Chinese soldiers had also engaged in some looting during their evacuation of Nanjing, it was nothing compared to the scale of the Japanese victors' plunder. The Chinese forces had deliberately avoided breaking into foreign buildings, a distinction that the Japanese disregarded. The American, British, and German embassies, along with the ambassadors' residences, were ransacked, stripped of everything from bedding and money to watches, rugs, and artwork. The American School was looted, and its wall breached to remove the piano. As the Japanese stripped the city, they also began to burn it. While the winter sky could have been sparkling, it was instead filled with smoke from thousands of fires across the city. Some fires resulted from carelessness, such as when soldiers cooked meat from a stolen cow over a bonfire, accidentally igniting an ancient building. Others were acts of mindless vandalism. The Nanking Music Shop saw all its instruments and sheets piled in the street and set ablaze. The extent of the massacre can, to some degree, be linked to a breakdown in discipline among Japanese soldiers. Released from weeks or months of hardship on the battlefield, many soldiers experienced an intoxicating sense of freedom, resembling misbehaving boys. The deterioration of order among Japanese soldiers astonished those familiar with the stories of the stringent discipline within Japan's armed forces. Observers commented on soldiers laughing at proclamations from their own officers or tearing up orders and tossing them to the ground. Some foreign witnesses speculated that this lack of discipline was exacerbated by the absence of visible individual numbers on soldiers, making it challenging to identify wrongdoers. The issue also stemmed from the quality of the Japanese officer corps and their ability to manage a large army of young men, many of whom were experiencing freedom from societal constraints for the first time. Not all officers rose to the occasion; Vautrin witnessed an officer almost fail to prevent a soldier from raping a girl. Even worse, some officers transitioned from passive bystanders, guilty by inaction, to active participants in prolonged rape sessions. While a few attempted to instill discipline among their troops, their efforts often fell short. A Japanese colonel, for instance, slapped a soldier attempting to rape a Chinese woman. Another general was seen striking a private who had bayoneted a Chinese man and threatened two Germans, raising questions about how much of this discipline was merely performative for the benefit of foreign observers. Ultimately, disciplinary measures had little impact. As Rabe noted in his diary dated December 18th “The soldiers have almost no regard for their officers”. The absence of effective higher leadership during this critical period likely exacerbated the problem. General Matsui had been suffering from malaria since November 3, which left him largely incapacitated from December 5 to 15. A subordinate later testified that he had been informed of "incidents of stealing, killing, assault, and rape and had become quite enraged.” Although Matsui may have been displeased by the unruly behavior of his soldiers, it is conceivable that his inaction led to even greater levels of atrocity than might have occurred otherwise. He insisted on holding a victory parade on December 17, immediately after recovering from his illness, which likely triggered a security frenzy among Japanese officers concerned about the safety of Prince Asaka, uncle to Emperor Hirohito. This reaction likely prompted a surge in searches for, and executions of, suspected former Chinese soldiers. The Japanese high command in Tokyo was also aware of the unraveling discipline. On January 4, 1938, Army Headquarters sent Matsui an unusually direct message ordering him to restore control among his troops: Our old friend Ishiwara Kanji bitterly criticized the situation and placed the blame on Matsui “We earnestly request enhancement of military discipline and public morals. The morale of the Japanese had never been at a lower level.” A detachment of military police eventually arrived in Nanjing, leading to some improvements, though their presence was mixed. Some officers stationed outside the Safety Zone ignored atrocities occurring before them and, in some cases, participated directly. At Ginling College, the experience with military police was decidedly uneven. The first group of about 25 men tasked with guarding the college ended up committing rape themselves.  Despite frequent visits from Japanese soldiers in search of loot and victims to assault, the Safety Zone was perceived as successful. Many believed that both the zone and the work of its managing committee were responsible for saving countless lives. W. Plumer Mills, vice chairman of the committee, noted that the zone “did give some protection during the fighting…but the chief usefulness of the Zone has been the measure of protection it has afforded to the people since the occupation.” Shortly after the Japanese conquest, the population of the Safety Zone swelled to a quarter million people. Around 70,000 of these were organized into 25 pre-arranged camps, while the majority sought accommodation wherever possible. Makeshift “mat-shed villages” sprang up in vacant areas throughout the zone. Nanjing quickly became informally divided into two distinct cities. Outside the Safety Zone, the atmosphere was ghostly, with a population dwindling to around 10,000, while within the zone, bustling activity thrived. Shanghai Road, which ran through the center of the zone and had once been a wide boulevard, transformed into a hub of barter and trade, resembling a festive market during Chinese New Year, overflowing with makeshift stalls, tea shops, and restaurants, making it nearly impossible to traverse by vehicle. The Japanese held a degree of respect for Westerners, although this sentiment was not universal and did not always offer protection. Many foreigners tried to safeguard their homes by displaying their national flags outside, but they often found that Japanese soldiers would break in regardless. To protect Ginling College, American flags were displayed at eight locations around the compound, and a large 30-foot American flag was spread out in the center. However, this proved to be “of absolutely no use” in preventing Japanese soldiers from entering the area. Despite this, there was some limited outright hostility towards Americans. Stronger negative sentiments were directed towards the Russians and the British, who were viewed as representatives of nations with competing interests against the Japanese Empire. The Japanese displayed particular reverence for one nationality, the Germans. Rabe would shout “Deutsch” or “Hitler” to command respect from unruly Japanese soldiers or show them his swastika armband, indicating his allegiance to the Nazi Party. Germany was seen as a rising power and rapidly becoming one of Japan's closest allies, a fellow outcast in global politics. However, as time passed, the limits of this respect became evident; individual soldiers began searching for women within the German embassy compound, and eventually, nearly all German buildings were broken into. Despite all the challenges, there was no doubting that foreigners offered a form of protection unavailable elsewhere. Within days of the Japanese conquest, women and children began appearing in large numbers outside Rabe's home, kneeling and knocking their heads on the ground as they begged to be let into his already overcrowded garden.  At 1:00 pm on January 1, the Chinese were proclaimed rulers of their own city, or at least this is what Japanese propaganda sought to convey. On the first day of the new year, a puppet government was established in a ceremony held just north of the Safety Zone. A new five-bar flag, the one associated with the early Chinese republic was raised, signaling a patriotic spirit in a gesture that felt unconvincing. As the new leaders took office, vowing to resurrect their city, buildings burned all around them. The ceremony marked the culmination of two weeks of preparatory work. As early as December 15, General Matsui met with a local Chinese leader, referred to in the Japanese commander's diary only as Chen, who had been selected to assist in forming this new puppet government. Chen had been present in the northern port city of Tianjin two years earlier when Matsui helped establish the Chinese chapter of the Greater Asia Association. He subscribed to Matsui's concepts of “Asia for Asians,” but cautioned that Chinese fears of the Japanese would complicate the governance of the conquered territories.   The new government aligned with the Japanese army to implement a system of indoctrination centered on conservatism, primarily targeting the youth, who were perceived as most likely to resist. The indoctrination included messages like, “You must follow the old custom in marriage, letting your parents make arrangements for you. You must not go to theaters or study English, etc. China and Japan must become one, and then the nation will be strong.” Few were deceived by these attempts to win hearts and minds. The government-sanctioned newspaper, the Xinshengbao, or New Life Journal, was immediately dismissed as a crude vehicle for propaganda. Additionally, the government made minimal progress in more urgent tasks, such as restoring peacetime conditions and revitalizing Nanjing's economy, a challenge made formidable by Japanese brutality. Given the fate of the first group of volunteers at the electricity plant after the conquest, no one could be found to fill the needed 40 to 45 worker slots. The same was true for firefighters. The predictable outcomes followed. Water and limited power were restored to parts of the city by January 2, but within two days, the city was plunged back into darkness. By January 13, the waterworks were still non-operational, and the power supply remained intermittent while fires continued to blaze well into January. The government was not taken seriously, struggling even with the Japanese. It quickly built a reputation for being venal and corrupt. One of its names was the Nanjing Autonomous Government, which a clever member of the foreign community humorously rebranded as the “Automatic Government,” reflecting its actual role as a puppet regime devoid of autonomy.  While Nanjing endured its own nightmarish reality, the city's inhabitants had little understanding of the events transpiring beyond its walls. The first radio news that reached foreign residents came on January 7, reporting Japanese air raids on Wuhan. There were also unconfirmed rumors suggesting that Hangzhou was experiencing similar horrors to those in Nanjing, but details were scarce. It was perhaps expected that reports from afar would be limited in wartime, yet information about situations closer to Nanjing was similarly scarce, and the horrific truth gradually dawned on the city's populace. A Westerner who managed to escape east from Nanjing in early January reported that all villages within a 20-mile radius had been burned to the ground. Outside the city, Japanese soldiers were randomly shooting civilians, including children. A German who drove an hour from Nanjing encountered no living souls. After the conquest, Chinese who managed to leave Nanjing reported that every pond between the city and Juyong was filled with the decaying corpses of people and animals. Many of the atrocities committed during this time appeared to stem from boredom and a search for cheap thrills. American missionary Magee witnessed a young farmer who had sustained severe burns on his upper body. After the soldiers demanded money from him and he failed to comply, they doused him in kerosene and set him ablaze. Similarly, a young boy suffered horrific burns after he failed to lead a group of soldiers to his “mama.” People in the rural areas surrounding Nanjing faced danger from numerous directions. Not only were they potential targets for marauding Japanese soldiers, but they were also at risk from bands of Chinese outlaws, who preyed on the large influx of refugees on the roads and the few souls who remained at home despite the fierce conflict raging nearby. Magee encountered a 49-year-old woman whose home was invaded by bandits looking for money. “When she and her husband said they had none they battered her head and breast with a stool and burned her feet until she revealed their savings of between four and five dollars.” In the absence of a formal government, informal authority was often wielded by secret societies. For instance, the “Big Sword Society” reportedly offered protection not only against Japanese soldiers and local bandits but also against small groups of Chinese troops seeking to escape back to their lines and resorting to theft for survival. What a blast from the past eh?   Rumors began to circulate in early January 1938 that the Chinese Army was preparing to retake Nanjing and that Chiang Kai-shek's soldiers had already been spotted inside the city walls. Many of the small makeshift Japanese flags that had appeared outside private homes in mid-December suddenly vanished, and some Chinese residents who had been wearing Japanese armbands hastily removed them. There was even talk of launching an attack on the Japanese embassy. Word spread that the Japanese were becoming frightened and were searching for Chinese clothing to disguise themselves as civilians in the event of a retreat. In reality, none of this was true. The Chinese Army was still reorganizing after the costly campaign that had forced it from Shanghai to Nanjing and then further into the interior. However, this did not imply that the Japanese had achieved complete control over the city. After six weeks of terror, Nanjing began to reassert itself. Japanese soldiers faced fatalities and injuries in skirmishes with members of secret organizations like the “Yellow Spears” and the “Big Sword Society.”  After the New Year, the population within the Safety Zone began to dwindle. A week into 1938, the number of refugees at Ginling College, which had peaked at more than 10,000, fell to around 5,000. Less than a month after the conquest, many former residents started returning to their homes during the day and then coming back to the college at night. Still, the city was far from safe, and even for those whose homes were located within the Safety Zone, Vautrin believed it was unwise to stray too far from her refugee camp. One month after Japanese forces had surged through its gates, Nanjing was a thoroughly devastated city, with fires still being set every day and night. By mid-January, estimates suggested that more than half the city had been burned down, with the main shopping district completely gone, as well as the entertainment area surrounding the Confucius Temple. Nevertheless, slowly but surely, the shell-shocked city began to pull itself together and started the long process of renewal. Vautrin considered opening an industrial school offering four-month courses for women to help compensate for the loss of labor resulting from the indiscriminate killing of men. Chinese New Year fell on January 31, 1938. Celebrated throughout Asia, it was also recognized by the Japanese. It was a “dismal, muddy” day, and as many feared, soldiers who appeared “too happy” from excessive drinking attempted to enter the Safety Zone in search of women but were stopped. The sound of thousands of firecrackers filled the air, fulfilling the age-old purpose of scaring away evil spirits. Refugees in Rabe's compound presented him with a large red silk banner adorned with a gold Chinese inscription. His Chinese friends translated the message for him “You are the living Buddha For a hundred thousand people”. 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. In December 1937, the battle for Nanjing left its residents in terror as the Japanese army advanced. Following the invasion, a horrific massacre began, with thousands targeted in brutal killings, torture, and humiliation. Civilians and soldiers alike were indiscriminately slain, and the Japanese military showed no mercy. To this day the Nanjing Massacre stands as a testament to the unbelievable evil man holds within him.

Adam's Paternity Leave is near its end, but while we still have a few weeks left of it, let's look at the first of a pair of episodes (we'll pick up the second installment next week) featuring a key Emmy presenter from last night. A few resourceful new Munchies have figured out a work-around where you can join as a free member and upgrade from there to a paid account which charges you for one month and unlocks the back catalog behind the respective tier of the paywall. After that first payment, you won't be charged again until we're dropping new content (which we'll warn everyone is coming), so if you want more of this it can be had, along with access to the fully uncut episodes from 100 to present and Movie Club episodes.Hot on the heels of an episode that nearly broke our rating scale, the Munchie Boys watched Part 1 of a two-parter featuring Ray Romano's kooky brother Robert from the hit turn-of-the-century sitcom for olds, Everybody Loves Raymond. Fans of that show will remember that the actor in question, Brad Garrett, is really, REALLY tall. This causes the kind of continuity problems that only SVU can create. We're obviously talking about complex genital geometry problems. We would, of course, be remiss if our discussion stayed on topic, so expect to hear about Chinese New Year, more car talk from Josh, Rikers Island, and Predator.Sources:A Look Inside Rikers - NY TimesMusic:Divorcio Suave - “Munchy Business”Thanks to our gracious Munchies on Patreon: Jeremy S, Jaclyn O, Amy Z, Diana R, Tony B, Barry W, Drew D, Nicky R, Stuart, Jacqi B, Natalie T, Robyn S, Amy A, Sean M, Jay S, Briley O, Asteria K, Suzanne B, Tim Y, John P, John W, Elia S, Rebecca B, Lily, Sarah L, Melsa A, Alyssa C, Johnathon M, Tiffany C, Brian B, Kate K, Whitney C, Alex, Jannicke HS, Roni C, Erin M, Florina C, Melissa H, and Olivia - y'all are the best!Be a Munchie, too! Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/munchmybensonBe sure to check out our other podcast diving into long unseen films of our guests' youth: Unkind Rewind at our website or on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcastsFollow us on: BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit (Adam's Twitter/BlueSky and Josh's BlueSky/Letterboxd/Substack)Join our Discord: Munch Casts ServerCheck out Munch Merch: Munch Merch at ZazzleCheck out our guest appearances:Both of us on: FMWL Pod (1st Time & 2nd Time), Storytellers from Ratchet Book Club, Chick-Lit at the Movies talking about The Thin Man, and last but not least on the seminal L&O podcast …These Are Their Stories (Adam and Josh).Josh discussing Jackie Brown with the fine folks at Movie Night Extravaganza, debating the Greatest Detectives in TV History on The Great Pop Culture Debate Podcast, and talking SVU/OC and Psych (five eps in all) on Jacked Up Review Show.Visit Our Website: Munch My BensonEmail the podcast: munchmybenson@gmail.comThe Next New Episode Once We're Back from Adam's Paternity Leave Will Be: Season 16, Episode 14 "Intimidation Game"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/munch-my-benson-a-law-order-svu-podcast--5685940/support.

Tariffs, shifting trade policies, and unpredictable order patterns are creating a “stop–go” manufacturing environment in China. For buyers, this means unexpected quality issues, capacity crunches, and supply chain instability. In this episode of China Manufacturing Decoded, Renaud Anjoran and Adrian from the Sofeast team break down the real-world impact of the US–China trade war as of August 2025. Drawing from first-hand observations in Chinese factories, they explain how rapid swings in orders, staffing changes, and material substitutions can put your product quality and timelines at risk, even if you're not selling to the US. If you source from China or work with Chinese manufacturers, this discussion makes you aware of the hidden risks caused by market instability, and offers strategies to protect your interests.   Episode Sections: 00:00 – Introduction and why China's manufacturing sector is unstable right now 01:01 – How US–China tariffs create a “seesaw” effect: front-loading orders, sudden slowdowns, and ripple effects through the supply chain 05:02 – Inside the factory: whiplash in capacity, fixed costs, and the risks of unplanned subcontracting 11:16 – Factory cost-cutting responses: wage cuts, temporary workers, and seasonal hiring challenges 18:39 – Order bunching, Chinese New Year parallels, and the quality risks of untrained staff and inspectors 25:00 – Material substitutions without buyer approval, visibility in the supply chain, and controlling quality under instability 32:45 – Building stronger relationships, smoothing production, and financing suppliers to maintain stability 37:45 – Wrap-up and buyer takeaways   Related content... Inside China's fast-fashion factories as a US trade war looms - Guardian podcast China factories cut shifts and workers' pay as US tariffs bite - Reuters Read about product quality inspections Get help to check on your suppliers, wherever they are in Asia or beyond Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB

The future of China-United States relations lies with young people, President Xi Jinping said in a recent reply to teachers and students of the US youth pickleball cultural exchange delegation from the US state of Maryland. In April, the delegation from public schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, visited China for pickleball exchanges as part of the initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over a five-year span for exchange and study programs. The delegation later wrote a letter to Xi, thanking him for proposing the study and exchange initiative, which was first announced by Xi during his trip to the US in 2023.In the letter, the delegation members described their experiences during their visit to China and their participation in the pickleball exchange program. They said the trip enabled them to forge unforgettable friendships with their Chinese counterparts and that they hope to invite Chinese youths to visit the US.In his reply, Xi congratulated them on the success of their visit to China and said he is very happy to see pickleball become a new bond bridging the youths of China and the US. Xi said that he hopes the delegation members will become a new generation of ambassadors of friendship between the two nations and make greater contributions to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.Pickleball, a rapidly growing sport in the US, is a hybrid of tennis, badminton and table tennis. From April 10 to 20, the delegation of 44 students and teachers from 13 schools in Montgomery County visited Shanghai, Shenzhen in Guangdong province, and Beijing, according to Xinhua News Agency. "Through pickleball, it is very easy to make friends. It's great for creating bonds that will last forever," Ryan Corkery, a student with the delegation, told Chinese reporters during the trip. "This journey has been amazing," he added. "We have tasted so many new foods, had so many new experiences, everything is just fantastic."Ian Harper, another student with the delegation, said: "It is awesome just seeing both how different everything here is and how much similar it is. I think both of those were really shocking to me. It has been just an incredible, life-changing, amazing, awesome experience."As part of his consistent support for China-US youth exchanges, President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, replied on Jan 1 to a Chinese New Year greeting card from teachers and students of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, extending best wishes for the Year of the Dragon. Xie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the US, told a cultural event on Jan 11 that nearly 15,000 youths from all 50 US states and Washington, DC, had so far visited China under the initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchanges. From Wednesday to July 18, Fu­zhou, the capital of Fujian province, and Beijing will provide venues for the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-US Youth Choir Festival — another major China-US youth exchange event. The event is expected to bring together outstanding choirs from China and the US, including over 500 young people from US states including Utah, Washington and California.

There is an urgent threat facing public media in the United States: a proposed federal budget cut that would not only threaten its future, but also "claw back" funding that's already been awarded to public television and radio stations across the country. Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website. Adrian McIntyre opens with a personal anecdote about the impact of public media on his family, setting the stage for a critical discussion on the ramifications of potential funding cuts. Alice Ferris and Abbie Fink discuss the wide-ranging implications for communities that rely on the rich tapestry of content and services provided by public media. Defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will have far-reaching negative effects. Alice explains how public media also provides educational resources for classroom teachers and the national emergency alert system. She highlights the importance of localized storytelling and the unique programming offered by regional stations in rural and tribal areas. Contrary to the Trump Administration's claims, research shows that public media outlets like PBS and NPR are highly trusted and respected by the majority of Americans. Alice urges us all to reflect on our personal connections to public media and the pivotal role it plays in community and cultural education, and then to take action to voice our support. Here's what you can do RIGHT NOW: go to Protect My Public Media or the American Coalition for Public Radio, where you'll find fast, simple ways to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to save your public media stations. Key Takeaways Public media faces a significant threat due to proposed federal funding cuts that aim to reclaim previously allocated budgets. Public media is a vital national resource, offering educational tools and content to enrich classroom learning experiences, as well as the emergency alert system. Local public media stations, particularly in rural and underserved areas, would be severely impacted, risking the loss of crucial community-based programming and services. The defunding proposal is part of a larger attack on fact-based news reporting by the current administration, which perceives NPR and PBS as biased against the President--despite recent scientific studies proving their trustworthiness and value. YOU can take action TODAY to help save public media, and we encourage you to contact your congressional representatives via ProtectMyPublicMedia.org About the GuestAlice L. Ferris, MBA, CFRE, ACFRE, is founding partner of GoalBusters Consulting with over 30 years of fundraising experience, specializing in strategic planning, campaign development, and public media support. She got her start at PBS Wisconsin, blowing bubbles during Lawrence Welk Show pledge breaks, and now appears on-air for Arizona PBS and national PBS fundraising programs, including Masterpiece. Alice teaches at the University of Denver and is an Associate Member of Rogare, the international fundraising think tank. She also hosts epic Chinese New Year parties, is a slow runner, and is a retired competition ballroom dancer.Follow the podcastIf...

Chinese New Year by Chloe by 826 Valencia

Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTHCassandra comes back from a hike and turns on the news, catching an interview with Dr. Susie, who helps her realize that she always picks the wrong men to date. She heads to work at the advertising agency. Her assistant Dana is getting married, but Cassandra's boyfriend, Peter, refuses to go to the wedding with her because he thinks weddings are boring.At the wedding, Cassandra is seated at a table full of children—except for one other adult, a man named Robert. They really hit it off, but she leaves before they can exchange any contact information.Later, she's hanging out with her mom and sister, who help her see that Peter isn't right for her. It becomes painfully obvious when, on a date to the batting cages, she just watches him hit balls the entire time—until she finally leaves.One day, while walking down the street, she sees Dr. Susie doing a book signing. Her sister insists they go in, and Cassandra is once again taken with Dr. Susie's advice.The next day, while walking her dog, Cassandra bumps into Robert—who is also walking his dog. Sparks fly, and he asks her out on a date!They go play putt-putt and then transition to pool. They have the best time, and she kisses him on the cheek.The problem? There are too many sparks—something Dr. Susie warns against. According to her, Cassandra should choose someone boring and dependable.Luckily, she soon meets a boring guy named George and decides to give it a shot.So, she starts spending time with both men. With Robert, it's all fun and excitement—he even brings her and her mom to an REO Speedwagon concert. With George, it's formal dinners and predictability.While discussing her dilemma with her mom and sister, opinions are split: Mom is Team Robert, but her sister believes Robert contradicts everything Dr. Susie preaches.Eventually, Cassandra makes her choice and brings George to meet the family. It's serious.But then she bumps into Robert at the mechanic. While waiting for their cars, they go bowling—and end up kissing. Cassandra panics and runs off.Trying to make things work with George, she kisses him too—but realizes there's no real spark and breaks up with him.She throws away Dr. Susie's book and rushes to find Robert at the town's Chinese New Year celebration. They kiss and enjoy the fireworks together.

In this episode, Andrew welcomes Matt O'Mara, CEO and founder of Whimsy Intermodal and Whimsy Trucking. Matt's journey into the transportation industry began in 1994 when he worked as an owner-operator for a trucking company. When that company was acquired and its drivers let go, Matt seized the opportunity to start Whimsy Intermodal in 1996 and hired many of those drivers. Today, Whimsy has about 50 company drivers, 145 owner-operators, and 150 trucks. Andrew and Matt also cover:Whimsy's organic business growth and unique capability in handling challenging freight, the importance of finding consistency, and Whimsy's focus on execution, including how they add value beyond transportation.The significant challenges Matt ran into of implementing new TMS systems in a legacy company, the importance of team buy-in, and the eventual success of digitizing and going paperless, including leveraging AI for order entry and real-time driver coaching.Treating drivers with respect and providing robust support as the key to retention, highlighting the reason why Whimsy has a waiting list for owner-operators.The importance of transparency, leading by example and avoiding hypocrisy, and the critical role of communication, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness in leadership.Current market conditions, the lack of impact from Chinese New Year, potential tariff effects, and the critical need for robust infrastructure and processes.Follow The Freight Pod and host Andrew Silver on LinkedIn.*** This episode is brought to you by Rapido Solutions Group. I had the pleasure of working with Danny Frisco and Roberto Icaza at Coyote, as well as being a client of theirs more recently at MoLo. Their team does a great job supplying nearshore talent to brokers, carriers, and technology providers to handle any role necessary, be it customer or carrier support, back office, or tech services. Visit gorapido.com to learn more. A special thanks to our additional sponsors: Cargado – Cargado is the first platform that connects logistics companies and trucking companies that move freight into and out of Mexico. Visit cargado.com to learn more. Greenscreens.ai – Greenscreens.ai is the AI-powered pricing and market intelligence tool transforming how freight brokers price freight. Visit greenscreens.ai/freightpod today! Metafora – Metafora is a technology consulting firm that has delivered value for over a decade to brokers, shippers, carriers, private equity firms, and freight tech companies. Check them out at metafora.net. ***

Talk Chineasy's resident special guest Josh learns how to say “orange” in Chinese. Find out why the Chinese love to eat a lot of oranges, especially during Chinese New Year. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.

What's Really Driving Rates? Global Market Signals, Front-Loading Trends & Red Sea Fallout.In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen dive into what's happening behind the headlines—from softening spot rates and post–Chinese New Year seasonality to the real impact of front-loading and the latest on Red Sea routing.Lars breaks down why demand data might be misleading, how inventory levels are shaping up, and what the declining cost of marine fuel could mean for shippers. Plus: What's happening with the USTR's proposed vessel fees on Chinese-built ships, and why smaller ports and niche carriers may be hit hardest.We wrap with a hard look at Red Sea disruption, asymmetric conflict risk, and why stability—not speed—is top of mind for global carriers right now.Join the conversation and stay informed—subscribe, listen, and watch at nyshex.com/podcast

In this episode we cover:Amazon PPC strategies to lower costs and maximize profitsInventory planning to avoid stockouts and extra feesHow to differentiate your product and compete against Chinese sellersWhy knowing your numbers is critical for long-term successAI-powered automation to optimize advertisingIf you want to build a real Amazon business (not just a side hustle), this episode is a must-listen!

Welcome to the PowerHouse Feng Shui Podcast with your host, Patricia Lohan! Get ready to transform your home and your life with the Power of Feng Shui. In this special episode, I'm sharing a sneak peek into my exclusive Free Trainings, designed to help you harness the energy of the Chinese New Year and create a home that truly supports your dreams. The momentum is already building, with an incredible community taking action, sharing insights, and stepping into the magic of Feng Shui! Expect live energy, real transformations, and powerful insights into how your environment shapes your success, relationships, health, and abundance. Whether you're just discovering Feng Shui or have dabbled in it before, this series will help you align your space for more joy, ease, and prosperity.

Welcome to the Powerhouse Feng Shui Podcast! I'm your host, Patricia Lohan, we're celebrating the Chinese New Year as we step into the powerful energy of the Year of the Snake. In this episode, I'm sharing insights from a deep dive training I recently hosted for our community, covering what this year signifies, how you can harness its energy, and powerful journaling prompts to set your intentions. But that's not all—my team and I have been working on something brand new that I can't wait to share with you: a free Feng Shui training series designed to help you take action and create powerful shifts in your life!

Today, we visit the intersection of arts, culture, and sports, in San Francisco. The year of the snake meets the NBA All Star Game with a new sculpture. Then, one music venue in West Oakland holds the neighborhood's history… and its future. It's a visit to Esther's Orbit Room. 'Warrior Serpent' celebrates Chinese New Year and the NBA All Star Game Esther's Orbit Room builds on its history as a Black cultural hub in West Oakland

Join me in this episode of Feng Shui living where we dive deeper into goals and aligning your home to provide inspiration in meeting those goals. We'll discuss viewing your home as if you're a guest, clutter clearing tips and more. If you missed my Chinese New Year, Year of the Snake episode go here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209887/episodes/16464591If you want to listen to my manifestation episode go here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2209887/episodes/16523030Thanks so much for listening to Feng Shui Living!Hosted by Lisa MortonMake sure you subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more and follow Lisa here:www.purelivingwithlisamorton.comwww.instagram.com/purelivingwithlisamortonwww.facebook.com/purelivingwithlisamortonwww.pinterest.com/purelivingwithlisamortonLearn with Elevated Living School of Holistic Design & Feng Shuihttps://www.elevatedlivingschool.com/Thanks to our secondary show sponsor:Good Chi - Balance your energy and space

6a-7a National guitar day, in Superbowl aftermath: Philly fans go nuts again, Jalen Hurts goes to Disney World, Taylor leaves under umbrellas and Mahomes apologizes to fans. All Star and Chinese New Years activities this weekend and the top ways to scare someone off this Valentines Day.

Episode 207. In this week's episode of Till the Dirt, Tommy and MJ dive into the excitement of the Super Bowl, recount Shams's milestone of getting his first cavity, and discuss the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. They chat about what kind of party is best for a 6-year-old's birthday, as well as give an exciting preview of MJ's new podcast, Heal 2 Feel. Plus, with Valentine's Day around the corner, they sprinkle in some love and relationship talk. Tune in for all this and more in their latest episode! Sponsors: Our listeners get 20% off your entire order when you use code THEDIRT at laundrysauce.com The Best Hug in The World, written by Tommy Feight My Two Cents, A parents Journal written by Tommy Feight   The Till the Dirt Patreon is LIVE! https://www.patreon.com/tillthedirt?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan   Hey Dirties, do you want to be featured on the pod? DM us at @tillthedirtpodcast on Instagram for a chance to have your question answered by Tommy and MJ.   Till the Dirt Merch is here! https://tillthedirtpodcast.com/merchandise/   Hey Dirties, do you want a personalized video from MJ or Tommy?! Check out their cameo links below: https://www.cameo.com/mercedesjavid https://www.cameo.com/tfeightnyc   If you would like to donate, send books or pick books from Tommy's Amazon wish list visit https://feightclub.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Content warning: Death of a pet, mentions of institutionalization and electroconvulsive treatment Beatrice Leong is a Malaysian entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker. After a lifetime of mental health challenges and misdiagnoses, she was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 35, bringing clarity to her lifelong struggles. Beatrice founded AIDA (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group), an autistic-led advocacy group based in Asia that promotes inclusion and self-representation of the autistic community. She actively participates in shaping policies to improve the lives of autistic individuals. During this episode, you will hear Beatrice talk about: Filming a short commercial for Chinese New Year based on her struggles growing up as an autistic girl, and how girls and women from all backgrounds related to her story What her life was like before she was diagnosed with autism  Struggling to find accurate information and support resources for autistic women in Malaysia, and how this inspired her advocacy work and activism  The power of bravely sharing your own story – and how she's sharing her candid personal story in her feature film, The Myth of Monsters Follow Beatrice on Instagram and check out her films: RHB CHINESE NEW YEAR 2024: ACCEPTANCE (an autism awareness-themed commercial commissioned by RHB Banking Group) The Myth of Monsters (Beatrice's feature film under development) Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes. Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

In addition to the typical seasonal tailwinds from the Chinese New Year, three key factors are also driving the recent rally in Chinese equity markets: the better-than-feared impact of US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, growing domestic optimism following the release of China's DeepSeek AI, and rising policy expectations ahead of the National People's Congress in March.Join Richard Tang, China Strategist and Head of Research for Hong Kong at Julius Baer, and Hong Hao, Partner and Chief Economist at GROW Investment Group, as they dive each of these key developments shaping China's market landscape.

Episode: 3266 Fireworks, Firecrackers, and Lunar New Year.  Today, we ring the new year in with a bang.

After our lonnnnnnnnng winter break, we're back!! And boy are we back with a bang – we have a seriously packed and very special episode of Newsy Pooloozi – The New Pod for Kids. First up, we have two special – and touching – on-the-ground reports from both sides of the divide in the Israeli war. Plus, climate change is drastically impacting education with more kids missing school than ever before because of extreme weather. Millions celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake. We'll give you the lowdown on what that means. In India a strange court case brings up a bizarre debate in the world of sports: is a horse an athlete or just part of the equipment? We discuss! And finally, scientists are bottling old bones. Yep. But you gotta listen to the pod to find out what this wacky practice has to do with solving crime!

How often do you get to meet a sitting president? Well, last week, I did just that when I had the incredible opportunity to meet Santiago Peña, the President of Paraguay. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on two major experiences from the past week—my in-person interview with Panamanian immigration officials as I work toward citizenship and an exclusive luncheon where I met President Peña. First, I'll take you inside my recent interview with Panamanian immigration officials, a key step in my citizenship process. And yes, I had to do it entirely in Spanish. Then, I'll share how I managed to slip away from Chinese New Year's celebrations with my family to attend a luncheon with the President of Paraguay, plus what I learned about the growing ties between Panama and Paraguay—two fantastic Plan-B destinations for expats. Enjoy the episode, and I'll see you back here next Wednesday! THE WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE IN PANAMA MARCH 14-15 Join us in Panama for the inaugural Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference, our first-ever large conference event, taking place in Panama City, Panama, March 14-15, 2025!  This is your chance to gain invaluable insights, connect with like-minded freedom seekers, and, most importantly, connect with 20+ of the most trusted partners necessary to secure a prosperous life offshore. Our VIP Tickets are already sold out, and only general admission tickets remain. Seating is very limited, so head to ExpatMoney.com/Conference to learn more and secure your spot right away! STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE EXPAT WORLD Sign up for any of our newsletters, like the EMS Pulse and the Expat Sunday Times, to stay up-to-date with a steady stream of news and my opinions on the expat world. Download my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships,” today, and you'll be signed up for both! RELATED EPISODES 336: Update: Panama Citizenship & Brazil Trip 299: Expat News: Panama's New President, Millionaires Fleeing The US 283: Panama Healthcare: A Personal Case Study Report

Vintage Treasures, NEW Ormonde Jayne, Opalescent Luxury, & a Dewy Rose Nicola found a treasure-trove of vintage fragrance jewellery to swoon over @alfiesantiques, and we talk about which of the pieces we most covet [Spolier: ALL of them!] plus we're discussing the latest launch in the @ormondejayne Montabaco collection – a Sandalore-infused beauty Suzy went mad for; and which previous carnival-esque release Nicola fell in love with.Then we're in raptures over the Chinese New Year inspired scent from @boadiceathevictorious: Opal – a luxurious pure perfume that shimmers with pearlescence on a base of velvety darkness. Plus, there's a brand new Med-Essence fragrance from @templespa – a dewy, sparkling rose we think listeners who love joyous, floral-arched garden-party scents will absolutely adore.We're also answering a listener's question about finding her cousin a stunning amber-rich fragrance that won't break the bank. Can we hit the olfactory spot with the suggestions we give?And finally for this week's perfume-packed episode, we're reminiscing over the glories of the original @agentprovocateur signature scent (which Nicola's desperate to get her hands on again), and Suzy tempts further with memories of the sassy @chantaltomass fragrance (which she might have to purchase again, too. Oh dear...) On this week's show: @ormondejayne Montabaco Aruba  @ormondejayne Montabaco Rio  @boadiceathevictorious Opal  @templespa Med-Essence (£50 for 50ml edt) #listenerprescription for @victoriaczul  @jeroboamperfumes Ambra @calvinklein Obsession @rochasofficial Femme @lataffa_parfume Eternal Oud We also mention:@agentprovocateur (original EDP) @chantalthomass (EDP)

Whether it's the comforting aroma of homemade dumplings or the vibrant red lanterns illuminating the streets, Chinese New Year is more than just a holiday. It represents the largest family reunion for the Chinese people—a time to reconnect, rejuvenate, and celebrate togetherness.What makes family reunions during the Chinese New Year so special?On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

Jill takes time this week to discuss the power of shedding old identities, embracing transformation, and reconnecting with our most authentic selves! The Year of the Snake is here, bringing forth wisdom and an invitation to release the masks that we have been wearing for far too long. Join Jill as she explores what it really looks like to let go of the limiting beliefs that no longer serve us. She talks about why it is that we unconsciously shape ourselves to be more "palatable" for others and what it takes to break free from that. This episode of Be YOU isn't just about reflection, though; it's about ACTION, so Jill lists some ways to truly put transformation into motion via journaling, movement, meditation, and deep self-inquiry. You can also expect to hear a powerful message about self-worth, the importance of surrender, and why you don't need to "fix" yourself (hint: there was never anything wrong with you in the first place!) If you have been feeling stuck or are simply curious about the energy of this new year, then you will definitely want to join Jill for this episode and not miss it!   Show Notes: [1:55] - Many of us unknowingly mask our true selves and shape our personalities based on society's expectations. [3:38] - The Year of the Snake encourages transformation, shedding old identities, and embracing your intuition. [6:28] - Jill argues that change can't be avoided and that true control comes from surrendering to it rather than resisting it. [7:55] - Honoring your intuition over what others expect of you allows for personal growth. [10:37] - You have already done enough; your presence, love, and wisdom are gifts to the world! [12:54] - Real transformation happens when you shed external expectations and fearlessly embrace your intuition. [16:24] - Jill explains how suppressing emotions only ultimately strengthens them. [19:17] - Being confident in your self-worth requires never lowering your value to accommodate other people's expectations. [20:36] - Jill discusses how group coaching options help make transformation more accessible. [22:16] - Exploring the Chinese New Year's meaning can help provide insight, guidance, and inspiration for personal growth! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Be You Podcast!” ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps the podcast reach more people just like you. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” I know there was something in this episode that you were meant to hear. Let me know what that is! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow Be You Podcast. There is a new episode every single week, and if you're not following, there's a good chance you'll miss out.  

Welcome to the Chinese New Year edition of Round Table! In this edition, we explore a specific aspect of the economy during the holiday season: Spring Festival consumption, which encompasses shopping, tourism, entertainment, and more! On the show: Heyang, Steve Hatherly & Yushan

I begin today by discussing a few things that are important to me (AsiaHarvest.org, Crosspolitic News), followed by some seemingly random Chinese news of murder, execution, and illegal immigration. At some point, I explain why everything you’ve ever heard about China is true, and why many Chinese men really like President Trump! We also hear from a Chinese evangelist on why we should pray for China, and finish with a few final thoughts on the Chinese New Year. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us), and check out all of the other things we are involved in @ PrayGiveGo.us! Asia Harvest: 2024 Year in Review https://www.asiaharvest.org/2024-year-in-review-proclaiming-god-s-works-in-our-200th-newsletter New @ CrossPolitic News: Deported by China, Prosecuted by Biden, Pardoned by Trump https://www.crosspoliticnews.com/news/deported-by-china-prosecuted-by-biden-pardoned-by-trump Also see: D-Day: Dusty Deevers Goes to War https://www.crosspoliticnews.com/news/d-day-senator-dusty-deevers-on-restoring-moral-sanity-no-abortions-no-pornography-no-drag-no-fault-divorce Chinese Man Executed for Car Ramming https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy1k2rx724o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70kz32l98do Protests Turn Violent After Student Falls to His Death https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/11/china/china-protest-pucheng-student-death-intl/index.html Have We Misrepresented Most Illegal Chinese Migrant Men? https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-promises-to-take-back-illegal-migrants-after-trump-threats https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/trumps-reported-plans-deport-undocumented-chinese-men-first-rcna183824 Pray for China (PrayforChina.us) https://chinapartnership.org/blog/2025/01/why-global-believers-should-pray-for-china/ A Brief History of Chinese Dumplings https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2025/01/19/dumplings-brief-history-ahead-cny The Evolution of the Snake in Chinese Culture https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2025/01/slithering-through-time-the-evolution-of-the-snake-in-chinese-culture/ The Tension Asian Christians Feel at Chinese New Year https://cfc.sebts.edu/faith-and-culture/the-tension-asian-christians-feel-at-chinese-new-year/ If you enjoy this podcast, follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Luke 10:2!

Kim tells the story of the twelve animals which represent the Chinese New Year. As the Lunar New Year approaches, each animal wants it to be named after them, but no one can agree which animal is most deserving. The Jade Emperor steps into solve the problem by proposing a race. Listen to this lively story and discover who wins, and who loses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look at London Grammar headlining Lido Festival plus new music from FKA Twigs who plays Rough Trade East this February.Ben Smith from London The Inside brings us some alternative Valentines idea's while we look ahead to the Chinese New Year celebrations hitting London this weekend.For more info and tracklisting, visit: https://thefaceradio.com/hoxton-live/Tune into new broadcasts of Hoxton Live, LIVE, Fridays from 7 - 9 AM EST / Midday - 2PM GMT.//Dig this show? Please consider supporting The Face Radio: http://support.thefaceradio.com Support The Face Radio with PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/thefaceradio. Join the family at https://plus.acast.com/s/thefaceradio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Year of the Snake is here! But how did a legendary tale of twelve animals shape Chinese astronomy and culture for over 3,000 years?In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor John Steele from Brown University to dive into the origins of the Chinese Zodiac to mark the Chinese New Year. They uncover how this ancient zodiac, associated with 12 animals, ties into Chinese astronomy and philosophy. Professor Steele explains the intricate cycles of 12 earthly branches and 10 heavenly stems that form a 60-year pattern deeply embedded in Chinese culture. Discover the mythical origins, the influence of lunar calendars, and the evolution of this zodiac from the Shang dynasty to today. Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.Theme music from Motion Array, all other music from Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here.

Episode 325: You might know her as the trash truck girl and now part of the O3 Crew. Nina Lee is in the studio to celebrate CNY with us for a crazy episode you don't want to miss. Follow Nina: https://www.instagram.com/n.nina666/?hl=en Thank you to our sponsor McDonalds: https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/full-menu/mcvalue-menu.html Our Patreon: https://patreon.com/funwithdumb Business Inquiries: dfd@dumbfoundead.com More FWD: https://linktr.ee/funwithdumb Hosted By Jonnie "Dumbfoundead" ParkqmELK Dumbfoundead: @dumbfoundead  https://www.instagram.com/dumbfoundead                 Follow Rick: https://www.instagram.com/yox_rick Follow Steffie: https://www.instagram.com/steffiebaik Intro Animation by: @yeetheeast Intro Song by: @sweater_beats Fun With Dumb Podcast Producers:  Jonnie "Dumbfoundead" Park Dave Wu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join me and the amazing Vicki Iskandar as we dive into the magical energy of 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake!

We assess president Donald Trump’s attempted halt of federal funding, pop into the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø and assess Thailand’s image crisis as large numbers of tourists from mainland China cancel trips for this week’s Chinese New Year. Then: Pew’s latest survey on religion and politics across 36 countries. Plus: Monocle’s chairman, Tyler Brûlé, joins the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Year of the Snake, everyone! As things slow down in Hong Kong and people take the time to spend quality time with their families and loved ones, we chat about a range of topics, including our recent gig hosting The Aftermath's 6th birthday party, Mohammed's dog's recent "panic disorder" diagnosis, and we do a full predictions chart of what kind of Chinese New Year we are going to have.   Get tickets for Backstage Comedy shows: https://linktr.ee/backstagecomedy Subscribe to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hohopod Leave us a review: (please!) https://www.ratethispodcast.com/hohohkpod Follow Mohammed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theothermohammed/ Follow Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funnyvivek/

Join Magdalena Grace for her monthly New Moon report and ritual to help you ride the waves of the Aquarian New Moon and Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake What will you experience in this show? -Explanation of the new moon energies in Aquarius and the Chinese New Year of the Snake and how to harness them for your intention to guide you thru the next 2 weeks to 6 months -Rune reading with an astrology twist on past/present/future riding the waves of this new moon -write out your new moon intention - hit the pause button if needed -Listen or sing with Magdalena the healing positive song of the month ahead Magdalena is a Mind/Body/Spirit Alchemist working with many tools in her 24 year career toolbelt as a healing practitioner and yogi to help you achieve your best health, wealth and relationships in business and life! Going inward is key for 2025 more than ever If you want support in going deeper within with meditation, breathwork, yoga, shadow work and nutrition guidance, you can partake in her 5 core fundamentals inside of her Healthy N Wealthy N Wise Academy - join at www.MagdalenaGrace.com You can also learn more about her at www.KundaliniFallbrook.com Namaste and much love to you as you start a new month and new year!

Markets have had a busy week as we approach the Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake. The US Dollar index started to move lower after President Donald Trump appeared to soften his stance on China. Meanwhile, the US economy remains robust, and US equities are jumping on earnings wins by the most since 2018.In Asia, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.5% on the back on domestic wage pressures and core inflation which remains firmly above the 2% target. Over in Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore eased monetary policy for the first time since 2021.This episode is presented by Magdalene Teo, Head of Fixed Income Asia at Julius Baer.

Chinese New Year is coming up in a few days and if you're relatively new to the e-commerce game, there's a few things you should know about the big holiday. Dave is back on the podcast to cover the impact Chinese New Year has on e-commerce sellers and manufacturers, the significance of the Zodiacs, and the common equivalent for those who aren't aware.  Let's be real – email marketing isn't flashy, but that's what makes it great. Who needs chaos when you can have steady, reliable results? That's where Omnisend email and SMS comes in. Check it out today and use code ECOMCREW. Ever wonder why all of China basically closes down every January for Chinese New Year? You're not alone.  Chinese New Year seems like the one time each year that China (and by extension, a lot of the neighbouring asian countries) goes on holiday for a few weeks.  As an e-commerce seller, you probably know by now to place your orders well in advance to prepare for the holiday. But there's a few extra things you should know about that could maintain and keep you in the good graces of your factory.  Luckily, Dave is on the podcast today to break down what exactly you need to know and how the holiday impacts you specifically. The Big Takeaway Chinese New Year is comparable to Christmas in significance. Chinese New Year happens on the second New Moon in the lunar calendar after the Winter's Solstice (December 20th).  Zodiac symbols can influence business decisions in China. Quality control tends to take a dip if orders are shipped before Chinese New Year. Suppliers may have varying deadlines for orders before they close for the holiday. Expect delays in shipping and logistics post-New Year as every company that's importing from China will also be placing orders in advance of the holiday. Be considerate to suppliers during the holiday period. Freight prices tend to dip after the New Year rush, as demand declines. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Omnisend Ad  2:17 - What is Chinese New Year? How big is the holiday?  3:28 - The traditions around Chinese New Year 4:28 - When exactly is Chinese New Year? 6:07 - Zodiac symbols and how they can affect business 8:40 - Why is it called the Spring Festival?  9:41 - Tip #1: Deadlines for Chinese New Year orders  11:06 - Tip #2: Days off during Chinese New Years  13:19 - Tip #3: Quality control during Chinese New Year 15:08 - Tip #4: Delays  17:05 - Tip #5: Being considerate As always, if you have any questions or anything that you need help with, reach out to us at support@ecomcrew.com if you're interested.  Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes if you enjoy our content. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@ecomcrew.com. We'd love to help you in any way we can.  Thanks for listening! Until next time, happy selling!

— IN THE TRANSITS: — January 27   (Mon) Mercury ingress Aquarius (8:53 pm): Higher Octave *Sandy's Astro-Interesting Day*January 29   (Wed) Mercury conjunct Pluto: Research It January 29   (Wed) New Moon at 9° Aquarius: Wood Snake Moon January 30   (Thu) Uranus stations Direct: What's New Pussy Cat January 30   (Thu) Sun trine Jupiter: Signal (Central Time for all dates & times)  Follow along with these transits personally! Download your Natal Chart: https://intentionbeads.com/chart — ON THE HORIZON: — SIGN UP TODAY CWS Patreon Community Sign up on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/chattingwiththestars⁠ September 15 - 22, 2025 2025 Greece Retreat Sign up here: https://intentionbeads.com/pages/retreat-page-greece-2025 October 4 - 11, 2025 Tuscany, Italy Retreat Sign up page coming soon… email sandy@intentionbeads.com — OUR HOUSE: — Sandy & Alex are heading back out of town to celebrate a special 93rd birthday!

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake. In this episode, we'll explore the fascinating world of zodiac animals in Chinese culture, uncovering its unique meanings, traditions, and stories. On the show: Niu Honglin & Steve. (05:26) Do you know your Chinese zodiac animal?(08:58) Learn how to talk about zodiac animals in Chinese and impress your friends with your knowledge!

FE vs lines of longitude. Chinese New Year. Trump: "clean out" Gaza? Calls on living in a liberal world, love, and false identity — including a BHI!The Hake Report, Monday, January 27, 2025 ADTIMESTAMPS* (0:00:00) Start* (0:00:51) Topics* (0:04:32) Hey, guys!* (0:06:38) Lines of Longitude, FE, Russia time zones* (0:10:38) Chinese New Year / "Lunar"* (0:21:50) Trump: "clean out" Gaza?* (0:32:07) BRYAN, MI, "1st": Longitude, FE debate* (0:43:16) BRYAN: Gaza, Jewish people, Israel* (0:51:56) DANIEL, TX: FE vs Fact Checkers, Advertisers* (1:00:01) DANIEL: DEI, damage is done, conserva-tardism, pride* (1:08:09) DANIEL: Battle of Vicksburg book* (1:08:44) STEPHEN, MD: Uniting the races?* (1:12:16) STEPHEN: Octopuses or Octopi?* (1:14:06) STEPHEN: Asking JLP for advice?* (1:16:56) STEPHEN: How he wrote his books?* (1:19:12) TERRI, OR: No phone case!* (1:20:52) TERRI: Ideology for religion, Sinful identity vs God* (1:28:21) TERRI: Churches "welcoming," "love is love"* (1:32:05) JOHN, KY: "Love"* (1:35:51) JOHN: Transgenders, Love/Emotions* (1:41:14) JOHN: BHI and "true Jews," not Africans* (1:48:08) JOHN: Confirmation bias… Jesus* (1:49:54) "Ojitos Mentirosos" - Tropicalísimo Apache - 1999(?)LINKSBLOG https://www.thehakereport.com/blog/2025/1/27/the-hake-report-mon-1-27-25PODCAST / Substack HAKE NEWS from JLP https://www.thehakereport.com/jlp-news/2025/1/27/hake-news-mon-1-27-25Hake is live M-F 9-11a PT (11-1CT/12-2ET) Call-in 1-888-775-3773 https://www.thehakereport.com/showVIDEO YouTube - Rumble* - Facebook - X - BitChute - Odysee*PODCAST Substack - Apple - Spotify - Castbox - Podcast Addict*SUPER CHAT on platforms* above or BuyMeACoffee, etc.SHOP - Printify (new!) - Spring (old!) - Cameo | All My LinksJLP Network:JLP - Church - TFS - Nick - Joel - Punchie Get full access to HAKE at thehakereport.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode I explore the energy of the Aquarius New Moon and the themes of the year of the Wood Snake in Chinese Astrology. The Aquarius New Moon will take place on Wednesday, January 29 at 11:35 pm (Sydney), 12:35 pm (London) and 7:35 am (New York).Celestial StorytellingThe Ultimate Manifestation Visualisation MeditationSubscribe to the Lunar Lover newsletterBook in for a Natal Chart Reading with JordannaOrder a copy of All Signs Point To YouInternational readers order here.  Lunar Lover is always grateful for your generosity towards keeping this podcast running. Get Bonus episodes and exclusive workshops when you become a paid subscriber https://plus.acast.com/s/lunar-lover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Astrology, Kabbalah, Mythology & Storytelling that Empowers Your Life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode OverviewWe're thrilled to bring you a special episode in celebration of the Chinese New Year coming up this February! This year marks the Year of the Snake, which also happens to be my sign (lucky me!). Our guest, Letao Wang, joins us to dive deep into the energetic themes of this powerful year.Letao Wang is a professional astrologist, tarot specialist, and the founder of the Healing Kingdom. With years of experience providing astrology, tarot, and numerology readings locally in Hong Kong and internationally since 2015, he's also the astrology columnist for Hong Kong Living Magazine since 2022.Key HighlightsWhat the Year of the Snake means energetically and what's in store for 2025.Personalized Chinese zodiac readings for each sign (make sure you know your sign before listening!).Letao's approach to spiritual counseling and how he helps clients align with their higher selves.A glimpse into Letao's beautiful oracle card decks Resources & LinksLearn more about Letao Wang and the Healing Kingdom: [Website Click here]Check out Letao's oracle cards: [Oracle cards] Oracle of the Mythic HerosFind your Chinese zodiac sign: [Chinese zodiac guide link]Did this episode inspire you? Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend! Connect with UsWebsite: www.simplyjessskincare.comWebsite: www.learningtoglow.comInstagram: @simplyjessskincareFind Jess below!Website: Simply Jess Skincare SIMPLY JESS SKINCARE:Each and every product is naturally derived, highly concentrated and most importantly, super performing! Every product was born out of a need to have a truly pure product that met my high standards for efficacy. You can take 20% off Your Order of our all natural skincare line with code PODCAST Shop Now! Wellness Coaching: Click HERE Email Us! jess@learningtoglow.comFollow us! Instagram Tik Tok

Welcome to Banter-ville USA, population Madi, Gabby, and you. We do eventually get to Folktales though, and they go like this:Story 1 | Chinese New Year: here's a nice quick, straightforward one, we genuinely have no idea why we were so confused... but this is the story of the origin of Chinese New Year celebrations! You can expect a problematic (albeit only once a year) monster, a "newcomer", and a homeowning granny.Story 1.5 | Gabby's Off-the-Dome Chinese Zodiac Story: we will for sure come back to this one later, but here's a little sneaky-peaky. We love a freestyle here at Spill the Mead.Story 2 | The White Bear King: WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN AND IS THIS BEAR HOT?! In this Norwegian tale, we go for a gosh darn ride you guys... The bear is hot (we think), the princess is a dreamer, the twist is plural. The big take away here is, you can't just be a bear at some point in your life, and then not be hot if you're in human form. Right? RIGHT???Join our Patreon for extra WEEKLY content!https://www.patreon.com/c/spillthemeadYou can purchase Spill the Mead merchandise https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpilltheMeadPodcast/Music is composed by Nicholas Leigh nicholasleighmusic.comFind us on Instagram, and Facebook @spillthemeadpodcastFind Madi @myladygervais on InstagramFind Betsy @betsy.hegge on InstagramFind Coco @spill_it_coco on InstagramFind Gabby @so_dym_gabulous on Instagram Find Chris @chrisrileyhistory on InstagramFind Taylor @tjonesarmoredamma on Instagram

Louise discusses the astrological significance of the January 29, 2025, Aquarius New Moon, which coincides with the Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake. She highlights the Yin energies of the nine and three, emphasizing endings and new beginnings. The Wood Snake year is associated with personal growth, spiritual discovery, and stability. Financial markets in 1965, the last Wood Snake year, showed a minor downturn. She notes the importance of learning to say no and the expansive, intuitive energy of the nine-degree Aquarius New Moon. She also mentions the direct stations of Uranus and Jupiter and the significance of Venus's retrograde phase, urging participants to embrace change and co-create a future focused on love, community, and personal growth.For more from Louise, subscribe to this channel and check the bell to receive notifications when new content is uploaded. Subscribe to Louise's Substack blog for FREE or PAID for daily written updates and more. https://cosmicowlastrology.substack.com/Check out Louise's Amazon store for books and other products I love and recommend! https://www.amazon.com/shop/cosmicowlastrology-louiseedingtonWork with the Cosmic Owl:Book a consultation. https://bookme.name/louiseedington/astrology-consultationFollow Louise at her website louiseedington.com.Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CosmicOwlLouiseEdington/Louise's fave numerology resource is http://numerology-thenumbersandtheirmeanings.blogspot.com////FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY /// FYI I READ EVERY COMMENT AND DELETE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS /// This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cosmicowlastrology.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Powerhouse Feng Shui Podcast with your host, Patricia Lohan!

Jimmy and Judith are sent on a mission to visit the Chinese Restaurant and bring back a feast to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Why is Chinese New Year celebrated with Dragons & Firecrackers? What is the Chinese Zodiac? Do you possess the animal traits from the year you were born?  Have you started your FREE TRIAL of Who Smarted?+ for AD FREE listening, an EXTRA episode every week & bonus content? Sign up right in the Apple app, or directly at WhoSmarted.com and find out why more than 1,000 families are LOVING their subscription! Get official Who Smarted? Merch: tee-shirts, mugs, hoodies and more, at Who Smarted?

"Happy New Year" is a super useful phrase in Mandarin Chinese and can be used to congratulate each other at the Western New Year and Chinese New Year. In this special edition, Jesse and Josh Edbrooke from Transition join ShaoLan in London to learn and to share about their most memorable New Years. ✨ BIG NEWS ✨ Our brand new Talk Chineasy App, is now live on the App Store! Free to download and perfect for building your speaking confidence from Day 1. portaly.cc/chineasy Visit our website for more info about the app.