Podcasts about confined

“Get thee up into the high mountain.” — Isaiah 40:9 Our knowledge of Christ is somewhat like climbing one of our Welsh mountains. When you are at the base you see but little: the mountain itself appears to be but one-half as high as it really is. Confined in a little valley, you discover scarcely […]

Some wounds leave scars. Others stay hidden. They live inside first responders, veterans, military families, and the people who spent years running toward emergencies while quietly carrying their own pain. In this powerful episode of The MisFitNation, Army Veteran Rich LaMonica sits down with Ashlea Dillard — former firefighter, paramedic, licensed professional counselor, clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapist, and host of Sit Around the Fire. Ashlea spent nearly a decade answering emergency calls, walking into crisis, and helping people through some of the worst moments of their lives. But eventually, she had to face a difficult truth: The rescuer needed healing too. This conversation dives deep into the invisible weight carried by first responders and veterans:

In this episode of Ukrainian Jewish Heritage, we explore the origins, purpose, and lived reality of the Pale of Settlement. Created by Catherine II in 1791 after the partitions of Poland, this vast territory confined the largest Jewish population in the world to 25 western provinces of the Russian Empire. Many of these provinces lay on captive Ukrainian lands the empire had already colonized — ruled by force, stripped for resources, and kept under tight military control. Several of those same areas lie within modern Ukraine's borders today, including regions now under Russian occupation.The episode traces the long Jewish presence in these lands, the shifting political forces that shaped their fate, and the alternating cycles of restriction, limited autonomy, and violent repression under successive Russian rulers.It also highlights the cultural, educational, religious, and economic life that flourished despite hardship, and the events that ultimately brought the Pale to an end in 1917.The geographic overlap between the former Pale and today's occupied Ukrainian territories underscores how imperial patterns of control and repression continue to echo in the present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(May 15, 2026) The state education department found the Salmon River school district confined at least five children with disabilities in wooden boxes last year. But the state and the school board still haven't released the investigation's findings to the public. Also: Lawmakers had to pass another budget extender as state budget talks will stretch into next week.

The Devil's Footprints of 1855 remain one of the most unsettling "mass sightings" in history because the mystery wasn't confined to a single witness or a grainy photograph. It was a physical trail, nearly 100 miles long, that appeared overnight across the snowy landscape of South Devon, England. To the Victorian mind, it was evidence of a supernatural visitation; to the modern investigator, it remains a staggering biological and meteorological anomaly that defies every attempt at a conventional explanation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Trafford Metro's Chris Malpass chats about life in the early stages of recovery from knee surgery. Confined to the sofa rather than the pool, he shares the realities of rehab, adapting training, and the mental resilience needed to stay motivated when everything stops.Helen Gorman digs into the bigger picture; what it really means for masters swimmers to keep pushing limits in their 40s and beyond and uncovers that this is far from Chris's first setback.Listen in for honest reflections and a few philosophical detours covering snooker, camper vans and crocodiles.Visit our Instagram channel @freestyle_media_swimming for lots of great video clips from our weekly podcasts.

Two Irish people are among nearly 150 passengers and crew confined to cabins on a cruise ship off Cape Verde, following an outbreak of Hantavirus. Treasa spoke to Farranfore-based GP Dr Eamonn Shanahan, about the virus.

The Confined, the Blind, and the Divine Please turn in your Bibles to John 5:1-18. We'll find in these verses that Jesus was back in Jerusalem. He and his disciples were there for one of the annual feasts. While there, Jesus met a man who had been significantly disabled for 38 years. Jesus then healed him. You'll hear that the Jewish leaders didn't like that at all. As I read, listen for the reasons why they wanted to kill Jesus. Reading of John 5:1-18 Prayer Several years ago, I was in Tel Aviv for a conference. Tel Aviv is a modern city in Israel (you know, the nation state). Well, my trip spanned a weekend, so I was there on a Saturday. Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath - their day of rest. And I remember walking out of my hotel room on Saturday morning. And when I got to the elevators, there was a strange thing. One of the elevators was in "Sabbath mode." What I came to find out was that the elevator would go up or down one floor at a time and open on each floor. Its purpose was so that orthodox Jews wouldn't need to press any elevator buttons. Turns out, pressing an elevator button was a Sabbath violation. But, they could get on the Sabbath elevator and just ride it up or down until they reached their destination floor. I didn't remember anything in the Old Testament about elevator buttons, so I looked it up and it turns out that they have all these additional rules on what can or can't be done on a Sabbath. You are not supposed to handle money or get a haircut or turn on lights or add water to a vase. But you can hire a "sabbath guy" to do some of those forbidden things for you. None of these legalistic laws are new. No, it's been going on for thousands of years. And that is what we come across in our text this morning. The guy who was healed broke the Sabbath by carrying his mat. Jesus himself broke the Sabbath by healing him. And those things caused the Jews to be enraged. They were so angry at Jesus that they wanted to kill him. All of it revealed a few things. It revealed the hypocrisy of the Jewish establishment, and it revealed who Jesus truly is. Not only that, in the bigger trajectory of John's Gospel, this text introduces the tension between Jesus and the Jews. That tension will ultimately culminate in the cross. So, in other words, there are a lot of layers in these verses - healing, matters of the Sabbath, Jesus' identity, Jewish motivations, and broader redemptive historical things. In order to peel the layers back, we'll work through the different people involved and see how they interact. That will reveal a lot. So, we'll consider these verses by looking at the three main characters. #1 the confined, #2 the blind, and #3 the divine. The confined meaning this disabled man. The blind meaning the Jews. And, of course, the divine, meaning Jesus. 1. The Confined So, #1 - the confined. We learn up front that this man had endured some kind of serious debilitating condition. I'm hesitant to call him paralyzed because it could have been some other condition that prevented him from walking or really even moving much at all. And this guy had endured this condition for 38 years. That's a long time. We learn that he and others with life-long disabilities would spend time at one of the city pools. This particular pool was north of the temple mount near the Sheep Gate. By the way, the Sheep Gate was likely named that because livestock could enter the city and the temple area without dealing with a long set of stairs. Well, nearby the Sheep Gate was a public pool called Bethesda. It was a large pool. It had 5 colonnades, which were covered porches or porticos and which allowed people to take cover under the shade. Interestingly, archeologists believe they found this exact pool. It was unearthed in the late 19th century adjacent to this northern gate - at the very location where this narrative occurred. And it turns out it had exactly 5 porticos. It had two levels of pools, one upper and one lower with 5 total colonnades. It's likely that one or both of the pools was fed by an underground spring that would bubble up at times. The water in the pool was thought to have some kind of healing power. Some have even suggested that the healing was associated with a pagan god. That's undetermined, but because of the supposed healing, the pool attracted a crowd of people with different conditions. Moreover, the healing was thought to be the greatest when the water was stirring. At certain times the spring or springs or perhaps another water source would bubble up. That would cause the water to be stirred up and that was the precise time when you wanted to be in the pool if you wanted to be healed. That helps to explain verses 6 and 7. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed. We expected this man to say yes. But he didn't have in mind that Jesus could actually heal him. What he had in mind was getting into the water when it was stirred up… when its healing power was supposedly the greatest. That's why when he answered Jesus, he said, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up." In other words, yes, I want to be healed, but I can't get into the water. And if I try to work my way down, someone gets in front of me. He was confined by his condition. Although he wanted to experience the so-called healing power of the water, he just couldn't get in. He was stuck on his bed mat. But then something tremendous happened. Jesus said to him, "get up, take up your bed and walk." And immediately, as verse 9 tells us, he was healed. He took up his bed and walked. It's hard to even imagine all that this man felt when that happened. We learn a few verses later that Jesus had withdrawn from the crowd. So, this man couldn't even identify at the time who healed him! But he was healed. And then he carried his mat around. Maybe carrying his mat was a reminder to himself and others that he had been unable to walk, but now he could. Ok, I want to note something important here. This miracle is not associated with this man's faith. Did you notice that? Furthermore, the events immediately before or after the miracle did not involve Jesus conveying some kind of spiritual message. No, in the leadup to the healing, Jesus did not identify himself nor was he teaching. He was just there; he asked a question, then healed the man, then retreated into the crowd. Look down at verse 14. At some point later, Jesus found the man in the temple court. And look what Jesus said to him. It's very interesting. "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” That may seem out of place but it's simply there to emphasize that this man's greater need was to be reconciled to God. He'd been healed, yes, but what he really needed was to be saved from hell. Hell would be worse than the 38 years of his disability. Jesus was not saying that some former sin caused his paralysis. Nor was Jesus saying that if the man continued to sin that he would have some other worse disability. No, Jesus was just warning the man of the coming judgment. What I am saying is that the purpose of this miracle was not a spiritual object lesson …like the healing of the official's son. Rather, the purpose of this miracle was to expose the Jewish establishment's hypocrisy and unbelief… and to reveal the one who is Lord of the Sabbath. 2. The Blind Which bring us to #2 The Blind. You probably noticed, there's nobody physically blind in this story. No, but the Jewish elite here were spiritually blind. That is very clear. I think it will become even more clear as we go through this. As I mentioned earlier, it was the Sabbath. And back in Jesus' day, the Sanhedrin had come up with a list of 39 forbidden tasks on the Sabbath. Just like today's additional Sabbath laws, this list was the invention of these ruling Rabbis. They thought that by adding rules, over and above the Scripture, that they were helping the people. But in reality, it was merely turning people's hearts to external things and away from the very purpose of the Sabbath - worship and rest. Even worse, if you broke one of these extraneous laws, there were severe punishments. You could be publicly shamed, or excommunicated, or even put to death. Rule 39 stated that it was forbidden to carry your load between your domains - like between your home and your work. That rule is actually derived from Jeremiah 17:21, but it expanded on it. Instead of just avoiding bringing your work burden home, this extra law prevented you from carrying anything. I bring this up because when this man picked up his sleeping mat, he violated command 39. He pushed the elevator button. And for the Jews, that was a big problem. That's why they told him in verse 10 that it was unlawful for him to carry his bed. And look at his response in verse 11. "The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.'” Well, that stirred the pot even more. Who is this guy? Who is the one who told you to break the Sabbath laws? We want to know! Did you notice… they did not care that he was healed. The man made a point to say that the guy who healed him told him to pick up his mat. But the Jews ignored that point. Look at verse 12. They asked, who is the man who told you to do this… to break the Sabbath. They didn't say, "who was the man who healed you." This man had been an invalid for 38 years. He had been around. People knew he was disabled. But there he was walking around. He even had enough energy to carry his mat! It was amazing! But they showed no excitement for him. They weren't even curious about how it happened. Rather, all they cared about was that he broke the rules. You see, they were blind. They were spiritually blind. They cared not about the miracle nor this man. In fact, when the man later learned that it was Jesus who healed him, he pointed Jesus out to them. And again, he emphasized that Jesus was the one who healed him. But again, they ignored that part. Instead, they were furious. Why were they angry? Because Jesus had been doing these things on the Sabbath. Again, it doesn't even mention the healing. Rather, Jesus and this man …had broken their laws. This spiritual blindness was not just about being blind to the healing. No, they were blind to the purposes of the Sabbath, they were blind to God and the Scriptures… and they were blind to Jesus himself. It didn't even cross their minds that perhaps Jesus was the Messiah. They were so blind to Jesus, they wanted to kill him. We're going to get to Jesus in a minute. But before we do, I want to ask you two things. First, are there areas in your life where you are spiritually blind? I suppose that if you are blind to them, you don't even know what they are. The question is really, what are you blind to? Are there patterns of sin that you are unwilling to confess or address? Are you unwilling to let the Lord lead you in certain areas of your life? And let me point out, it was not just the Jews that are blind here. We're not given any sense that this healed man responded to Jesus with faith. After Jesus warned him, the first thing he did was point out to the Jews who Jesus was. We don't know for sure, but perhaps he never heeded Jesus' warning about forsaking his sin and about judgment. Again, we don't know for sure, but we should heed Jesus words to him as a warning for us. The second thing I want to ask is about how you treat the Sabbath. The Jews had suppressed the whole purpose of the Sabbath. It is supposed to be about worship and rest. It is supposed to be about our hearts and minds turning to God to give him glory. Their added laws undermined that purpose. I am not saying that God's laws are the problem. No, disobeying God's law reveals hearts that are turned away from him. But obedience needs to come from hearts of faith. We set aside this day for worship because we desire to worship God. Telling someone they can't carry a bed or telling someone that they can't push an elevator button distracts from the Sabbath's very purpose. So I ask, where is your heart in regard to the Sabbath? Is this day a going-through-the-motions day? Or are you striving to look to and honor the Lord with a heart of faith? Just to be sure, neither your spiritual blindness nor your understanding of the Sabbath is the focus of these verses. But as you read the Word, like these verses, are you striving to search your own heart? Are you looking to see whether the examples or warnings or the call to believe apply to you? I know that's a little off topic, but those are important questions to ask. 3. The Divine Ok, returning to the text, let's move on to point #3. The Divine. One clear emphasis in these verses is Jesus' divinity. These verses testify to Jesus' nature as God in the flesh. Certainly, Jesus' divinity is displayed through the healing of this man. For 38 years he had been unable to walk, but Jesus healed him immediately. But an even greater emphasis of Jesus' divinity is found in how he responded to the Jews. And they knew it. We read in verse 16 that after the Jews found out who healed the man, they were angry. Jesus was violating the Sabbath. We don't know how, but it says that in some way, they were persecuting Jesus. It's most likely that they were verbally attacking him about violating the Sabbath. And how did Jesus respond to their accusations? Verse 16 “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” Now, you may be wondering, is that true? Is God the Father working? After all, on the seventh day of creation, which they were in and we are in, Genesis 1 says that God rested. When it says that God rested does that mean he no longer works? In other words, on days 1-6, God certainly had been working… He established the universe; he hung the stars and planets in their places; he formed the earth and populated it with plants and birds and fish. He created man in all his glory as an image bearer. He did all those things, but that does not mean that God is not still at work, even on the Sabbath! His work, rather, has moved from establishing the order of creation to providentially maintaining his creation. God is still upholding his creation even on the Sabbath, which for us is on Sunday, the resurrection day. Every day, including the Sabbath, God is turning hearts to him. Babies are born. God is receiving his own into heaven when they pass from this life. He is hearing our prayers and guiding his people and enacting his providential care… and judging the unjust. Those works continue every day of the week, including the Sabbath. When Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, he was furthering the work of God. He was fulfilling his calling as God the Son in whom is found dominion and power… and through whom and for whom are all things created. Though the Jews were blind to him, yet before them stood the one in whom is all life. He is the preeminent one in all the universe… He is the very one who upholds the universe by the Word of his power. The act of healing this disabled man was only a glimpse of his glory and power. And in him, all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell. As God the Son, Jesus could say to them that he was working just as his Father was working. In saying that, not only was Jesus giving the reason he could heal on the Sabbath, but he was also testifying that he was indeed God in the flesh. And do you know what? The Jewish establishment knew exactly what he was saying. And for that very reason they wanted to kill him even more. As we learn in verse 18, to them not only was Jesus breaking the Sabbath, but as it says, he was making himself equal with God. It was blasphemy. It was claiming to be God or equal to God. And the punishment was death. All the more they wanted to kill him. They were blind to him and to his healing ministry and divinity. Their hearts were so hard, that they couldn't even consider that Jesus was God. But he clearly claimed to be and displayed his divine power. Now, if you were a first-century Jew reading this Gospel, you would be very unsettled by this passage. Yes, the chapters before were reframing your understanding of Jewish intuitions and the Messiah. But this chapter in particular would put you in a difficult place. You wouldn't be able to read these verses without realizing you were in a predicament. Do you believe that this man Jesus is who he claimed to be? Or do you believe the Jewish establishment that he was a blasphemer, who justly deserved to be hung on a cross? There's really no middle ground. What do you believe? In fact, the rest of this chapter seeks to establish the case that Jesus is indeed God. Next week and the week after, we'll see that he has divine authority and he has witnesses which testify to him. Conclusion So, the confined, the blind, and the divine. A man trapped in 38 years of helplessness, now healed. A religious establishment so blinded by their rules and darkened hearts that they couldn't see the miracle right in front of them. And the Son of God, who continues the work of his and our Father. May we see Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath, the healer of our souls, and truly equal with the Father. And may we bow to him and worship him with hearts and minds desiring to honor him… every day of the week and especially the Sabbath.

AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports on an AP investigation into adopted children confined into for-profit institutions

Analyze why elevators and stairwells rank among the highest-risk environments in law enforcement, military, and civilian self-defense scenarios, focusing on forced proximity, limited mobility, multiple threat angles, and fatal funnel dynamics in confined-space combat.
Explore evidence-based tactical considerations, positioning strategies, and risk mitigation techniques drawn from CQB principles to enhance situational awareness and operational effectiveness in these vertical threat zones.
Essential listening for law enforcement officers, military personnel, security professionals, and responsible civilians seeking practical insights into urban combat dynamics, personal safety, and high-stakes decision-making in high-risk architectural environments.

Content warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains sensitive material, audio descriptions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, graphic discussion of deaths in custody.On this week's Show Marisa yarned with Susanna Day, Ceo of The Torch, Daniel Laird First Peoples Art mentor and Aaron H who is an artist with the program. Susannah is Martu/Darlot woman. Daniel is a proud Wiradjuri Ngiyampaa man. Aaron is a Barkindji man. The Torch presents 'Confined 17' which provides a dedicated space for First Nations people who have experienced incarceration in Victoria to share their stories culture and lived experiences through the artworks they produce. The event will be held at the Glen Eira city Council gallery. They discussed the personal journeys of the artists, and how art provides healing for First Peoples.

What does it really take to survive being stuck in a tight space with strangers… for days on end? On East Coast Breakfast, Big Brother Mzansi Season 6's Ashay Sewlall shares his real-life insights on staying calm, managing conflict, and keeping your sanity when there's no escape Webpage

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY. GUEST. Professor Haym Benoy discusses the daunting physical and psychological challenges of establishing a lunar outpost, highlighting microgravity's effect on bone mass and the extreme stress of living in confined quarters. (1)May 1953

The EU Ambassador to the U.S. Jovita Neliupšienė addresses the European Union's growing role as a key defense actor. Framed within the broader context of EU-U.S. relations and NATO, the discussion focuses on shifting European security concerns, particularly in response to Russian aggression. The conversation highlights the EU's strategic perspective and defense dynamics, and showcases its commitment to increased defense spending. About the speaker: Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė. She became the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States on January 1, 2024. Before that, she was a Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from September 2022, where she was responsible for the coordination of European Affairs, European bilateral and regional issues, as well as national sanctions coordinator. From 2020-2022, she was Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania, tasked with investment and export promotion, international cooperation, including policy coordination of state-owned enterprises, as well as chairing the interagency commission for export control. In 2020, she held the post of Chancellor and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. This position included responsibility for staff coordination, legal and consular affairs. Between 2015-2020, she served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU. These years were marked by the migration crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2009-2015, she worked as an advisor and chief foreign policy advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Ms. Dalia Grybauskaite. She was responsible for foreign policy coordination, inter-institutional relations, as well as the role of sherpa/EU advisor, and in this respect took a leading position in preparing and coordinating the Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council in 2013. In 2014, she was awarded the State Decoration Order ""For Merit to Lithuania"" Commander's Cross. Rear Admiral Henning Faltin. Previous to his posting as military attaché for the EU Delegation, he served as a German Flotilla Commander and Director of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters. **Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academics/graduate-degree-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3

At age four, Hope Nightingale complained of severe pain in her legs.  At first, her parents thought she was just being a hypochondriac.  That changed when she fell off her scooter and broke the distal femur in her left leg.  The following year, 2011, this led to a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.  After a regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy featuring cisplatin and doxorubicin, Hope underwent a surgical procedure, a vascularized fibula transplant.  Her left femur was removed, and her right fibula was inserted in its place.  Confined to a wheelchair and then crutches at such a young age, Hope underwent extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation so that she could relearn how to walk despite her left leg being 2cm shorter than her right leg.  Hope has survived and is training to compete in a half marathon!   Hope says as a four-year-old she was often accused of overreacting to just about everything.  So, when she complained of pain in her legs, her parents did not take the complaints seriously.  That changed when she fell off her scooter, couldn't get up and her parents discovered she had broken her left leg.  She had her distal femur x-rayed.  That led to a biopsy, and, at age five, a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.   Treatment was to begin with neoadjuvant chemotherapy aimed at shrinking the tumor.  Hope said unlike many people, outside of hair loss, she suffered few nasty side effects.   Next was a vascularized fibula transplant.  The cancerous left distal femur was removed and was replaced by her right fibula.  A result of this surgery was the loss of both her quadricep muscles.   Hope returned to school, but in a wheelchair with casts on both legs.  This did not go unnoticed by her classmates, most of whom wanted to know what happened.  Hope says her diagnosis was not a blessing, but she felt blessed that her diagnosis took place at such a young age, when she was unable to process it in full.  She said physically, it was tough being in a wheelchair, but emotionally it was tougher because at recess, she wanted to join her friends, running around and playing.  Hope said it was amazing that sometimes her chums would halt their activities and gather around her to include her in their fun.    Hope eventually got out of the wheelchair and was on crutches, but that, too, was frustrating because she wanted to be ambulatory, like her friends.   At this time, Hope Nightingale had to relearn how to walk, which involved extensive physiotherapy rehabilitation.  As if that were not tough enough, the surgery left her left leg 2cm shorter than her right leg.  She went to a specialist who gave her a wedge to put in her left shoe, removing the discrepancy in the length of her legs.   These days, Hope leads an active lifestyle.  She enjoys going to the beach near her hometown of Cape Town and to the mountains and vineyards outside of town.  Not only is she walking, but Hope is training to run a half marathon.   Additional Resources:   Support Group:   Cancer Association of South Africa  https://www.cansa.org.za        

Hello to you listening all over these still United States! Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga. I'm a long-time fan of the TV series, The Big Bang Theory. No matter how many times I've re-watched an episode I always learn something. Like the time Raj and Howard helped Amy with a dating app for her phone. Howard commented that one day there would be something to choose a date for her. AI was hovering in the wings. Two of the characters are physicists. In physics every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When it doesn't work because the laws of nature are broken by corrupt, power-mad, ego-maniacal psychopaths you end up where we are. In unprecedented threatening chaos. This aberration of power must have an equal force to not only keep it in check but to keep it confined. We the People are the Force acting to knock this wannabe king and all the king's men (and women) off the throne once and for all. Story Prompt: Remember a time when you felt that a situation was unjust, you were forced to act, and your actions made a difference for the good. Write that story and tell it out loud!  You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. AND!  Stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website, check out the Communication Services, email me (info@quartermoonstoryarts.net) to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as Quarter Moon Story Arts on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts Music: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.  If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.

What makes the fae such enduring figures in fantasy? How do you write in the present tense without it feeling awkward? And can a fantasy story work in a confined setting instead of a vast world?In this episode, I'm joined by author Rym Kechacha to talk about her new novel The Apple and the Pearl. We dive into the strange allure of the fae in fantasy fiction, explore the craft of writing in the present tense, and discuss how powerful stories can unfold in smaller, more contained settings.Rym shares insights into her writing process, including the idea of “vibe writing” — letting the tone and atmosphere of a story guide you as you discover the narrative. We also talk about taking inspiration from artwork and paintings, and how visual sources can shape characters, mood and worldbuilding.One of the most interesting aspects of The Apple and the Pearl is its setting. Rather than a sprawling epic landscape, much of the story unfolds within the confined environment of a train. We discuss how limitations like this can actually strengthen tension, character development and narrative focus.If you're a fantasy writer or reader, this conversation offers a fascinating look at craft, inspiration and the creative decisions behind a unique fantasy novel.In this episode, you'll learn:How writing in the present tense can make a story feel immediate and active Why the fae remain one of the most compelling forces in fantasy fiction How to create characters readers genuinely care about The idea behind “vibe writing” and discovering your story as you write How artwork and paintings can inspire story ideas and atmosphere Why confined settings can create powerful fantasy storiesAbout The Apple and the Pearl The Apple and the Pearl blends myth, atmosphere and character-driven storytelling, drawing on fae folklore and rich visual inspiration to create a unique fantasy experience.Whether you're interested in folklore-inspired fantasy, writing craft, or the creative process behind a novel, this episode offers plenty of insight.Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations with fantasy authors, writing advice and behind-the-scenes discussions about storytelling.Get it here > https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/800526/the-apple-and-the-pearl-by-rym-kechacha/About Rym KechachaRym Kechacha is a fantasy author and teacher whose work blends folklore, art, and literary fantasy. She is the author of Dark River, To Catch a Moon, and the new novel The Apple and the Pearl. Her debut novel Dark River was shortlisted for the British Fantasy Awards for both Best Novel and Best Newcomer.Website https://rymkechacha.squarespace.comX / Twitter https://x.com/rymkechachaInstagram https://www.instagram.com/rymkechacha/

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Gámez-Cuéllar family, including their two sons who are members of the acclaimed McAllen High School mariachi troupe, were released by ICE yesterday after a significant public outcry: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/09/texas-antonio-gamez-cuellar-monica-de-la-cruz-ice/Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar was one of four Congressional Democrats to vote against a blocking of Donald Trump's Iran war funding last week - that resolution would have passed with the party solidarity of those four: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/south-texas-democrat-henry-cuellar-helps-kill-resolution-to-end-u-s-involvement-in-iran/Donald Trump, irked at media anticipation of his endorsement of John Cornyn and goaded by Ken Paxton's pledge to step down should the Senate pass the SAVE America Act, is now again withholding this endorsement as a bargaining tool for a legal tool he could use to neutralize millions of American voters ahead of the midterm election: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/09/trump-is-delaying-texas-senate-endorsement-to-pressure-gop-senators-on-save-america-act-00819991An official search of the former Zorro Ranch - formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein but never searched despite his crimes, and now owned by Texas Republican Comptroller candidate Don Huffines - has begun in New Mexico: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/epstein/new-mexico-department-of-justice-begins-search-of-epsteins-zorro-ranch/article_697b6470-861c-4c33-b8e4-1d0c308c006f.htmlWhile Democrats and progressives have celebrated record turnout in the primary, their polar opposites in the House Freedom Caucus appear poised to add a new group of extremist right-wingers to the Texas delegation: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/10/steve-toth-brandon-herrera-house-freedom-caucus-texas-republican-primaries-2026/...One of them is Brandon "The AK Guy" Herrera, who once demonstrated on his YouTube channel the rifle used to kill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by shooting at a target resembling Dr. King: https://meidasnews.com/news/texas-gop-candidate-recreated-mlk-assassination-reviewed-shooters-rifleProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KPFT-FM in Houston⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and to our Spanish expansion ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of the AgNext Podcast, Kim and John are joined by Dr. Juan Vargas a Research Scientist at AgNext. Dr. Vargas discusses two of his recent publications where he measured emissions of animals in both confinement and in grazing systems. About AgNext at Colorado State University: AgNext is a research collaborative at Colorado State University dedicated to advancing the science of sustainable animal agriculture. Founded in 2020, AgNext works across disciplines and departments, leveraging expertise from across the university. Through strong partnerships with producers, industry leaders, and policymakers, AgNext identifies and scales science-based innovations that support animal and ecosystem health, economic viability, and resilient food systems. Learn more at ⁠agnext.colostate.edu⁠⁠. Credits: Host(s): Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson and Dr. John Ritten Guest: Dr. Juan VargasProducer: Erica Giesenhagen Artwork: Julia Giesenhagen Music: “Dusting the Broom” by Tony Petersen (via Artlist)

Dr Lucy Hone is a New Zealand based resilience expert whose TED talk has been viewed more than nine million times. In it she recounts her own journey as a grieving mother following the death of her 12-year-old daughter Abi in a car crash. Her latest book, How Will I ever Get Through This?, is touted as a practical guide for getting through tough times, based on the premise that grief is not confined to bereavement. It offers advice for anyone following divorce, illness, estrangement, redundancy, infertility or other upheaval.

Join us in our first service with Dr. Billy VanCamp as he delivers the message "Confined by Limitations"CCLI: CSPL170728 Size B.

A tight, historic cellar. Arched ceilings. Long corridors. Tiny shafts. We faced a design wall: to keep routes tenable, we needed twice the extraction that the building could carry. At that point, I've failed as an engineer - I've reached my limit and could not find a solution.Some time later, a solution appeared in my head from nowhere —what if the fan changed with the fire? Not in a crude on-off way, but by tracking temperature, exploiting density changes, and chasing constant mass flow instead of fixed volume.We unpack the moment this clicked, the fan physics behind it, and why hotter smoke can actually make extraction easier if you use the margin correctly. You'll hear how we oversized the fan, ran it at a lower frequency in ambient, then ramped as temperatures rose to keep kilograms per second steady. That adaptive control boosted cubic meters per second right when the layer needed support, eased plug-hole entrainment, and stabilised makeup air velocities. We walk through the thermodynamics, the electrical and pressure implications, and how these pieces form a practical control strategy for retrofits and new builds.To ground the idea, we share two paths to proof. First, CFD with user-defined control that reads gas temperature each time step and updates fan frequency with smoothed delays to prevent oscillations—capturing the real feedback loop between fire and system. Then, full-scale container burns with live control showed the same trends from 20 to over 500 degrees: falling duct pressures, lower fan power at heat, and the headroom to increase volumetric extraction without breaking limits. Thinking about it now, this idea is a part of many other concepts that I describe together. To show a way how we come from the simple framework—Smoke Control 1.0 (empirical, static), 2.0 (CFD-informed, still static), into a new smoke control 3.0 (adaptive, feedback-driven)—and explore how this thinking can reshape underground venues, car parks, tunnels, pressurisation, and natural ventilation.If you care about safer evacuation, smaller shafts, lower velocities, and systems that work with physics rather than against it, this story is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague who designs smoke control, and leave a review with your toughest question so we can tackle it next.Reading material:- Can smoke control become smart?- Transient characteristic of the flow of heat and mass in a fire as the basis for an optimised solution for smoke exhaust- Smart Smoke Control as an Efficient Solution for Smoke Ventilation in Converted Cellars of Historic Buildings----The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.

In this episode of the 30 Screams or Less podcast we review ‘It Ends', written and directed by Alex Ullom and starring Mitchell Cole (Tyler), Akira Jackson (Day), Noah Toth (Fisher), and Phinehas Yoon (James). The plot of the movie is friends on a late-night food run become trapped on an infinite highway with otherworldly terrors lurking beyond. Confined in their Jeep Cherokee, they must decide whether to accept their... The post 30 Screams or Less 140: It Ends appeared first on Shining Wizards Network.

In this episode of the 30 Screams or Less podcast we review 'It Ends', written and directed by Alex Ullom and starring Mitchell Cole (Tyler), Akira Jackson (Day), Noah Toth (Fisher), and Phinehas Yoon (James). The plot of the movie is friends on a late-night food run become trapped on an infinite highway with otherworldly terrors lurking beyond. Confined in their Jeep Cherokee, they must decide whether to accept their fate or attempt escape.Sponsored By:Beard Octane: Use the code 30SCREAMS10 at checkout for 10% off your order. https://beardoctane.com/Follow Us on Social Media: https://solo.to/30screamsorless

Adam works with a client who wants to leave the world of employment and be their own boss. Adam uses a metaphor of a caged tiger that could get an opportunity to live in a large safe zoo, before making a choice whether to escape what is safe for what represents freedom. To access a subscriber-only version with no intro, outro, explanation, or ad breaks and 24 hours earlier than everyone else, tap 'Subscribe' nearby or click the following link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/adam-cox858/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A submarine is one of the most demanding workplaces on Earth. Confined, tense, and utterly dependent on trust and focus. William Spears has spent his career in that world, learning how to lead and think clearly when everything around him demands perfection. His journey led him to Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches emotional discipline, clarity, and responsibility. In this episode, William explains how the same ideas that once guided ancient philosophers can help today's service members, veterans, and families face the stress of modern life. He talks about the link between Stoicism and modern therapy, how the idea of total responsibility changes how we lead and parent, and why writing down our thoughts can be one of the most powerful tools for mental clarity. This conversation is a practical guide to keeping your balance when life feels like it's closing in. Timestamps: 00:07:00: How Stoicism became a modern tool for resilience 00:13:00: The connection between ancient philosophy and therapy 00:21:00: Redefining responsibility and control 00:29:00: The "Responsibility Heuristic" and how it applies to leadership 00:49:00: The journaling habit that builds steadiness and focus Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://williamcspears.com/ Follow William Spears on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-spears-89130443/ Stoicism as a Warrior Philosophy Book: https://a.co/d/j09noDt How to Think Like a Roman Emperor Book: https://a.co/d/cJagK5C Transcript View the transcript for this episode.

RED BUBBLE STORE: https://rdbl.co/2BXMEkq DISCORD: https://discord.com/invite/uWZkb2a   3:11 - Read It On Reddit NGL the new format makes time stamping the rest pretty hard... Anyway...    36:39 - Podnapping - Higher or Lower (again)   AMA - readitpodcast@gmail.com - Ask Us Anything!

RED BUBBLE STORE: https://rdbl.co/2BXMEkq DISCORD: https://discord.com/invite/uWZkb2a   3:11 - Read It On Reddit NGL the new format makes time stamping the rest pretty hard... Anyway...    36:39 - Podnapping - Higher or Lower (again)   AMA - readitpodcast@gmail.com - Ask Us Anything!

Scrubs and Subpoenas: Documentation Dilemmas - A Shocking TurnSUMMARY: Scrubs and Subpoenas: Documentation Dilemmas is a podcast bundle that explores the critical role of documentation in healthcare and its impact on patient safety and malpractice claims. Through real-life stories of medical errors and malpractice cases, this series provides insights into the consequences of inadequate documentation and the steps needed to improve practices. Each episode serves as a cautionary tale and a guide to fostering a culture of accountability, empathy, and excellence in healthcare.   She thought the worst was over. Confined to the sterile walls of the prison infirmary. But with each antibiotic, the infection seemed to recede. Cleared and deemed healthy, she returned to the normalcy of her cell. But the clock was ticking, and the fight for survival had just begun. Join Dr. Sally Miller, expert witness, for shocking patient story with an unexpected twist. ---Nurses may be able to complete an accredited CE activity featuring content from this podcast and earn CE hours provided from Elite Learning by Colibri Healthcare. For more information, click hereAlready an Elite Member? Login hereLearn more about CE Podcasts from Elite Learning by Colibri HealthcareView this podcast course on Elite LearningSeries: Scrubs and Subpoenas: Documentation Dilemmas

Mrs. Bateman's Cougar Club: Part 2 The Women of '77 Changed My Life. Based on a post by Sel Wync Dog. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Discrete Services. "Wait; Mrs. Bateman; she paid to have sex with me?" "Yes, Todd." "I don't believe it; She's beautiful, I'd have fucked her for free! Any guy would!" "True, but she's married and discretion is of vital importance. That is half of what she's paying for. A great fuck is the other half. And she said it was worth every penny. In fact she wants to come back next Friday, same time." As I stood there trying to come to grips with this revelation, Mrs. Bateman knelt on the bed, her face pressed into the wet sheets. She inhaled the scent and moaned. I glanced over and saw far enough under her skirt to see she was wearing thigh high stockings rather than pantyhose. I stepped closer and lifted her skirt. She was panty-less. I touched her pussy and found she was very wet. Management Appreciation. "God, Mrs. Bateman, your pussy is soaking wet! Would you like me to fuck it?" I said playfully. "Would you, Todd? That would be so nice." I fucked her from behind as she cooed encouragement. "Oh, that's so good Todd. You have such a big cock. You really are such a nice boy. Yes, just like that. Fuck me, Todd, fuck me good. Oh yes." Despite the vigorous sex with Diane, I had no trouble getting stiff for my mentor, which is what I realized she was. And I was thoroughly enjoying fucking her. Holding her hips and thrusting into her was nice and I could watch my cock sliding in and out. I could see her pussy stretching to accept my cock and when I pulled back, it was covered in her wetness. "Spank me, Todd." "What?" "Spank me!" she said more forcefully. "Spank my ass with your palm." I did and she swore. "Harder!" I smacked her and she yelped. "Yes! That's it! Again! Yes! Not too hard and not too often, okay? You start with a small, light smack and wait to see if she likes it. God, you feel good. Okay, slow it down a bit. That's it, that's it; Yes; Now, I want you to pull out and then press it in slowly. Oh yes, just like that. No, don't shove it in, just ease the tip in; and out; and in...Oh yes, that good. Keep that up for a bit." This felt incredible! The sensation of repeated penetration was amazing but the stimulation was going to make me cum. "I'm going to cum, Mrs. Bateman!" She turned and faced me, grabbing my cock and thrusting it into her mouth and her hands stroked and caressed me. I shot my load into her mouth as she locked her eyes with mine. It was wild, cumming as I stared into her eyes. This time when she'd drained me, she leaned back a bit lifting and cradling her tits. She opened her mouth. Cum flowed over her lips, down her chin, and dripped onto her tits. As I watched she played with it. She ran her fingers through it and then rubbed it into her skin like lotion. And she was smiling wickedly the whole time. We showered, put on robes, and had dinner. Later I changed and went home to await Mom's nightly check-in. After that, I returned to Mrs. Bateman's and we slept in her bed. No sex, just cuddling, kissing, and talking. And it was wonderful. The next morning I awoke with my typical morning woodie and my first thought was to try and fuck the woman sleeping next to me. However she had other ideas and gave me my first titty-fuck. She sucked my cock a bit, licked it up and down, then wrapped her titties around it and stroked. It was fun. Then she laid down and I straddled her, placing my cock between her tits which she then pressed together. As I thrust back and forth she giggled and encouraged me. In a few minutes I came. She grasped my cock, closed her eyes, and directed my spurts of cum to completely cover her face. She then rubbed it around and even licked and swallowed some. She forced her eyes open and stumbled to the dresser mirror. Looking at her image she laughed. "God, that's a lot of cum!" she giggled. "It's weird I know, but I love it so!" She washed her face and shooed me off. A little later as we ate breakfast she said, "You and I are not fucking today. You need to rest up for this evening." "Why?" Sue's Asian Erotics. "You have another client coming over." "Oh?" I said, my eyebrows raising. That afternoon I went to service the Caddy and when I returned there was another car there. I went in, they were again sitting in the living room. "Good! You're here, come on in," she gestured at the other woman, "This is Sue." I noticed she did not elaborate, no last name given. "Sue, this is Todd." Sue looked at me and smiled, "Hello Todd." I smiled, "Hello." Sue was Japanese and it was difficult to guess her age but she had to be in her late thirties or early forties. She was pretty and wore her black hair long and gathered in the back. She had a nice smile and her dark eyes were obviously sizing me up. It felt awkward. Finally she stood and approached me. I stood still as she circled me, one hand gently gliding across my chest, then my back. Sue was probably 5'3". She had a rather petite figure but possessed an air of sophistication and authority. She was wearing a dark blue dress. "Yes, I believe he'll do." she said, then paused and looked at me again. "He understands what; is required? This is all discrete of course;" "Of course," Mrs. Bateman replied and fixed me with an icy stare. "He has far too much to lose." Sue nodded and headed for the stairs. Mrs. Bateman put her arm around me and kissed my neck. "Okay Todd, this is going to be a little different. Sue has fantasies. Many women do. Her's is being taken. Not raped, but you must use a little force to overcome her reluctance. Nothing brutal or violent. She will resist a little and you press on, ignoring it. But if she says 'No' or 'Stop', by god you'd better stop immediately. Do you understand?" "Yeah, I think so. She wants to pretend to resist but really wants it." "Yes." Nervously I went upstairs and knocked on the guest room door. It opened and I stepped in. Sue closed the door behind me and I heard it lock. She had removed the dress and draped it across the chair. Now she wore a small silky white camisole and panties (I would later learn they were called tap panties and resembled running shorts). She said nothing but walked slowly around and climbed onto the bed. Nervously, I began to strip. It wasn't until I was naked and turned to face that she spoke. "Olivia was right! You are big!" she said as she reached out to grasp my swelling cock. I moaned as she squeezed and tugged gently. She rose onto her knees and we kissed. She moved her head from side to side and her kisses grew more intense. I slipped my hands under her camisole but she pushed them away. "Not yet!" "Okay, no rush." I said and she backed away. "You know what to do? What I want?" "Yes, Mrs. Bateman explained." She closed her eyes and was quiet for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, begin." I rose from the bed and walked towards her. Sue turned and faced the wall. I reached out and gripped her shoulders, she flinched and said something in Japanese. I pulled her to me and she resisted. I wrapped my arms about her and kissed her neck. Sue repeated the word, it sounded like 'bango', but short and harsh. I began to slide my hands down and around her waist, she kept her arms clenched tightly over her chest. I kissed the other side of her neck and my kisses slowly climbed up into her hair, behind her ear. I whispered. "I want you; you are so beautiful; give yourself to me, please;" Sue muttered something I couldn't understand. I slid my hands around, onto her belly, my left moved up, under her camisole until her arms stopped me just below her breasts. My right then slid down into her panties. She said something like "Shinaide kudasai;" and tried to pull away. I leaned into her and pressed her against the wall. My hand had reached her mound and I felt her fur. Sue dropped one hand to grasp my wrist. My left hand slid up until it cupped her right breast. It was small but firm and she gasped. I pushed further with my right hand and my fingers found and explored her folds. She whimpered and mumbled words I couldn't make out. I continued to kiss her neck and ear. I continued to gently rub her pussy but didn't try to penetrate her for another minute or two. Slipping my hands free I grasped her shoulders and spun her around. I held her head in both hands and kissed her. She resisted, but only after a moment, turning her head. I then kissed that side of her face, her neck and shoulder. Her chin rose as she mumbled something at the ceiling. I kissed her exposed throat and she seemed to tremble a little. I kissed further down her throat to her chest, as far as the camisole . My hand sliding down to her waist, over her hips and onto her thighs.     Then, very slowly, my kisses rose upwards to her throat and mouth. This time when I kissed her lips she didn't resist. She didn't participate in the kiss, she merely allowed it. My hands, as they rose from her hips slid under her camisole and it lifted. She tried to back away but was against the wall. As my hands reached her armpits I lifted her arms over her head, the camisole following, her breasts exposed as the silk covered her face. Sue was petite and her breasts were small but firm. Her nipples seemed abnormally large in comparison and were stiff and erect in the center of small, dark red areola. I lowered my head and covered them in kisses. Sue continued to mutter in Japanese as I held her arms up. My kisses then roamed higher, up her throat. I kissed her mouth again, shielded by the silk. This time she hesitated then participated in the kiss, her lips moving with mine. I began to slide my hands higher carrying the camisole over her head ever so slowly. I stopped with the silk covering her eyes but our lips met. The kiss was longer and deeper and ever so slowly she seemed to yield more and more. I now had a raging hard on and wanted her badly. I lifted the camisole higher and she pulled her arms free, immediately covering her breasts. I scooped her up and spun, dropping her on the bed. Before she could react, I grabbed her panties and pulled them down and off. She clamped her legs together with one hand over her pussy, the other arm over her breasts. Sue was pleading in Japanese as I grasped her knees and forced her legs open. I peeled her hand away and kissed her dark furred mound, then nuzzled my way down to her wet folds. And Sue was wet. Very wet. As my tongue worked its way in between her lips to lap her juices, Sue moaned loudly. I forced myself to slow down and remember my lessons. I focused on exploring her pussy, ignoring her clitoris. I licked her slit from bottom to top and teased her by trying to thrust my tongue into her. Sue had one hand on my head as if to push me away, though she didn't try very hard. She continued to mutter and mumble and even squeeze with her legs as I caressed her thighs and hips. Finally she ceased altogether as I brought her clitoris into play. Her moans grew louder and her hips started rocking. I waited until she seemed really close and then started sucking on her clit, and flicking it rapidly with the tip of my tongue. Sue started babbling and pawing at my head with both hands. Then her legs began to tremble and quiver, she thrust her hips upwards and cried out. "Hai! Hai! Hai! Ah!" She tensed up, her body rigid yet her muscles trembling, then collapsed. Seizing the opportunity I grabbed my cock and pressed the tip between her lips. Sue's eyes flew open. "Dame, dame, dame!" she begged. I thrust into her and we both cried out. Damn she was tight. Soaking wet but tight. I pulled back and thrust again. Again Sue cried out, I pulled back and thrust again and again and again as she cried and squeezed her breasts. As I thrust faster and faster she panted, the first words in English since we started. "Too much! Oh god! Too much, too much! Oh god!" I was afraid she was about to stop me but she didn't. Instead she grasped my right hand and placed it on her throat. I didn't expect this and, confused, I slowed down. Sure reached up and grabbed me by the throat with both hands. "Fuck me!" she whispered then uttered a stream of harsh sounding Japanese. Okay, well if this is what she wants; I thrust harder and faster and her grip weakened and then failed. I forcibly kissed her without any reaction from her. I was pounding her pussy and she was wailing and crying. She didn't say anything but suddenly I felt her body stiffen and her pussy spasmed around my cock. It was like a fist was squeezing it. I exploded, my cum spurting out and filling her. After what seemed ages, she went limp. I sat up and as I pulled out, a flood of cum flowed out and down. I watched it for a moment then lay down next to her. After a few minutes she stirred. Her hands explored her body, down to her pussy. She rolled to face me. Scooting close she whispered in my ear. "That was incredible; But I have one more favor to ask." "What's that?" "To conclude my fantasy, I need you to bathe with me." Okay... The guest bedroom we were using had its own full bath which included a big tub. Sue and I bathed together and even fucked again, albeit nice and slow. She dressed and then paused at the door. Turning she cupped my face in her hand. "This; was very important to me. I cannot explain why. Just know you have pleased me. Greatly. I will not be back; but I am happy to have had this; affair. Goodbye Todd." She handed me a thick envelope and left. I waited a minute and then dressed and went downstairs. Mrs. Bateman was sitting at the kitchen table. "She said you were perfect. She said she was happy, satisfied and sore." "What was all that about?" I asked. "I believe she was exorcising a demon from her past." Mrs. Bateman replied. "Something she wanted to revisit." "Well it sure was different." "Tell me everything, Todd, and while you do I'll fix you some dinner." Later I dashed home for Mom's 9PM call and then went back to Mrs. Bateman's. We slept together but didn't fuck. She did end up giving me a great blow job before I fell asleep. Mammary Mary. The next couple of days were spent working on her rent house for a few hours and then after dinner, fucking. She showed me new positions and taught me different techniques. We also worked on my foreplay and oral skills. My next client came on Wednesday. I was introduced to an older woman named Mary. She looked me over and, nodding, handed an envelope to Mrs. Bateman. Instead of preceding me up to the room, she took me by the hand and led me upstairs. Mary was older than anyone I had considered having sex with. She was easily fifty or fifty five. But when she dropped her dress I saw only a very sexy woman. Mary stood 5'7" in her high heels, had dark brown hair and brown eyes and an amazing figure. She stood there facing me in black stockings, panties, garter belt and bra. As she strutted across the room to me her eyes never left mine. I felt like she was stalking me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. The first kiss was about five or six seconds, the second was much longer and open mouthed. Then came tongue, but not closed mouthed French kissing. Rather it was open mouthed, her tongue teasing and enticing, dancing just out of reach. She laughed and reached down to rub my crotch. Grabbing my belt she pulled me to the bed. Mary sat and unfastened my belt and jeans then tugged them down, along with my underwear. She toyed with my swelling cock, looked up at me and smiled. She paused to remove her bra. Her tits were probably D cups but sagged, her nipples pointing downward more. Her areola were so pale they were almost invisible but her nipples were nice and long. She still said nothing at all but started stroking my cock. She had magic hands. I'd never felt anyone milk my cock like she was. Mary had a technique that was incredible and in no time I was ready to cum. I warned her that I was close, but she just smiled. "Come on then! Give it to me! Give it to me!" I grunted and came, spurting rope after rope of cum onto her chest and tits. Mary continued to milk my cock until the last drop was deposited on her skin. She stood up and stepped over to the mirror on the dresser. She stood there, admiring her image and smiling for a moment then did something totally surprising. She reached into her bag and pulled out a camera. I recognized it as a Rolleiflex. "Do you know what this is?" she asked. "Yes, my Dad has one." "Do you know how to use it?" "Sure;" "Good," she handed it to me. "Take a few pictures of my spunk covered titties." I opened the camera, took a couple, then suggested she lie on the bed and adjusted the lamp to a better angle and took a few more. She then began to run her fingers through the cum, and told me to take more pictures as she played with it. Finally she pulled her panties off and had me take a couple of photos of her pussy. Now her pussy was crowned with short, dark hair but her pussy itself was almost bare, covered only by a little fuzz and her lips were long and dark. I took a few photos and tried to get really close, but the camera wouldn't focus really close. She sat up and took the camera and placed it back in her bag. She turned and pointed to the bed. I laid down and she squatted and sat on my face, gripping the headboard. I tasted her, she wasn't as sweet as Diane but okay. I went to work and as I did she proceeded to hum. Soon she was rocking her hips a bit, then more and more. She was at last producing a fair quantity of fluids and paused to finger herself.     Satisfied, she scooted down until she was over my cock, grasped it and inserted it. She short-stroked a few times until everything was good and wet and then started taking it all the way in long, slow strokes. She seemed to really like it slow and, well, what the heck? It was sex after all. So what if she was older with weird habits and tastes? I relaxed and savored the feeling of her slow ride as I caressed and squeezed her tits. "You have such a nice cock, Todd," she said and sighed as she took it all. "So nice. You like my titties? Everyone does. Go ahead and suck on them, suck hard, I don't mind. In fact I want you to suck on them till it hurts. Yes; now the other one; oh; yes; Would it shock you to know that I like it rough? That I like a little pain?" As I sucked on her tit I spanked her. Mary yelped then grinned. "Yes, please!" "Harder;" Smack. "Harder!" Whack! "Yes!" Whack! "More! Please!" Whack! Acting on impulse I grabbed her hips and rocked her forward onto her knees. With her weight off of me I started driving my cock in and out of her faster and faster. Mary's voice rose an octave or two. "Ah!" As I fucked her, my hands were squeezing her ass and I felt her puckered asshole beneath my middle finger. I pushed on it. "Oh My God! Yes! Yes! Do It!" she cried out. I pushed harder and the tip of my finger penetrated her to my first knuckle. "Oh! Oh god, oh god, oh god;" she moaned. "Spank me! Bite me! Fuck me!" I sucked as much of her tit into my mouth as possible and bit down, albeit lightly, just enough for her to feel my teeth, as I spanked her with my left hand. She yelped and jerked and my finger slid in up to the second knuckle. I could feel my dick sliding in and out I pressed down towards it. ""Oh God! Gah!" she screamed and climaxed. Her body shook and tears filled her eyes. Soon she collapsed on top of me and sobbed. A few minutes passed and she regained her composure. My cock had slipped from her and slowly she rolled off and lay next to me. I rose on one elbow and brushed the hair from her face. "Are you okay?" I asked. Her mascara was streaked and her eyes were red. She sniffed and smiled. "Yes." She sighed and then took a deep breath. "I suppose I owe you an explanation;" "No. Not at all." I answered. "I want to please you and that means doing whatever you want." Mary stared at me as if I had grown horns or turned blue. She blinked a few times and shook her head. "I don't believe it. I-I thought you wanted to fuck and cum like all young guys. No one has ever been focused on me, on my wants. That's why I decided to hire a lover. But I still expected you to want to finish;" "Oh, I do. If you want to, that is. But if you get dressed and leave right now, that's okay too. I won't starve for sex." Mary smiled and touched my cock. "No, I don't suppose you would." She snuggled in close and was quiet for a minute. "Todd, if you're really telling the truth about pleasing me; Well, there is something I want to do." "Okay; What is it?" Mary got up and rummaged in her bag. She came back to the bed with her camera and a bottle of lube. "I want you to take a photo of my pussy with your cock in it." "Um; okay." "I have my own darkroom and develop all my photos myself. These photos allow me to uh; pleasure myself when I'm without a lover." Mary laid down and I played with her pussy. She encouraged me to use some lube and it did help. Then after fucking her for a minute or two, I sat up and took the photos as she'd instructed. A few with my cock all the way in, a few with it barely in, and a few with it out, just touching her lips. Mary took the camera and set it aside. She caressed and squeezed her breasts, smiling at me. "Okay, dear boy, you've been so patient and understanding. I owe you a good time. I want you to fuck me, any way you want, just as long as you cum. I want to feel you cum deep inside me, filling me with your hot spunk!" I grinned and leaned forward and picked up speed. Mary was kissing me and encouraging me. "Oh that's so good! Yes! Oh god, what a good fuck! Go on Todd, fuck me, fuck me, fuck me!" I kissed her then whispered in her ear, "Do you like it? Is it good?" "Yes!" she responded. "Are you going to climax again?" "I; I don't know;" "I want you to climax again. I want to feel you climax as I fuck you." She was quiet for a moment. "Mary, you said everyone loves your titties;" "Yes!" "Do you?" "Yes!" "Show me. Suck on them!" I rose up as she gathered her titties and began to suck on first one and then the other. I grabbed her ankles and held them up as I thrust in and out. I watched her suck and squeeze them and felt myself getting close. I drove my cock in deep and hard and held it as I came. Confined as it was, my cock struggled to spurt forth its load. With the thrust and first spurt Mary gasped. "Oh god! I'm cumming!" We stared into each other's eyes as we climaxed. It was amazing. When I'd finished and got up, Mary lay there for a minute. When she finally sat up she was smiling. "That was great, Todd." she touched my cheek gently. "You are really an amazing young man and a great lover." She stood and walked into the bathroom. "Can I see you again?" she asked, turning to face me. I looked her over. "Maybe;" I said grinning. "Answer a few questions first." Mary stepped into the bedroom and stood facing me. "Okay." "How old are you?" "Fifty-six." "What is your bra size?" "Thirty-six double D." "Did you really like it when I fingered your ass?" "Yes, absolutely. It was wild, out of bounds, scary and exciting all at once." "Mrs. Bateman says that some women like to have anal sex, especially when on their monthly; Have you tried it?" Mary bit her lip. "No; but I've thought about it." "You want to try?" "Now?" "Sure! Why not?" Mary bit her lip and shook her head. "No; I don't think I could take it. Maybe someday, but not right now." "Okay, fair enough. One last question." "Really? Oh, okay." "What do you want to do next time?" "Oh! You!" she exclaimed and threw herself on me. Mary held me down and smothered me with kisses and smashed her big titties in my face. Then she got up and went into the bathroom. I really, really needed to pee and decided to slip on my clothes and go to the master bedroom and bath. When I'd finished, Mary had gone. Mrs. Bateman handed me the envelope. I tore it open. Two hundred and fifty dollars. Holy cow! "She said you were incredible. She wants to come back in two weeks and said you'd earned a tip." Mrs. Bateman handed me another one-hundred dollar bill and kissed me. "I am proud of you Todd. You are becoming a great lover for one so new at it all. Now, I'll bet you have worked up an appetite. Come to the kitchen and tell me all about it while I fix you a steak." Sadly though, my parents returned from their vacation and although I was able to find ways to meet my clients, it became very awkward at home. Dad was clueless but I think Mom suspected something was going on. But by the end of that summer I had been able to make love to seven different women, five of them multiple times. I reluctantly packed my bags and went off to college. I settled into the dorm life and tried to focus on adjusting to this new life and new challenges. Classes were not as bad as I'd feared and the only real issue was my roommate. I just didn't like having a roommate at all. Due to my wild summer, I didn't feel the need to chase girls, and that allowed me to relax. For a while. One evening in early December, as I was walking from the Library to my dorm, I saw a brown '73 Caddie, Coupe de Ville idling in the parking lot. As I neared, the door opened and Mrs. Bateman got out. I met her and she hugged and kissed me. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Well two things, first my bed is empty and my pussy is lonely. I want you, Todd. I want you to fuck me all night long; and leave me exhausted, and sore." "I would love that, but I can't take you into my dorm;" "That's why I rented a hotel room." she replied. "Okay, let's go!" I said eagerly. We got in her car; and as she drove, I asked, "What was the second reason for your coming out here?" Mrs. Bateman grinned. "Well, I am trading my home for a nice big house out here. I haven't moved yet, but when I do, I was wondering if you would like to set up a room there?" I smiled. "Well, I might set up a room to entertain guests, but I'd rather spend most of my time in the Master Bedroom." Mrs. Bateman grinned evilly at me. "I was hoping you'd say that. I'd also like for you to call me Olivia." Based on a post by Sel Wync Dog, for Literotica

After fleeing Shadowrock, the Horde Hunters journey across the desert, now with someone to protect.

This week Wade talks about cleaning the bathroom and how fat effects your brain. Links are down below.Email us stuff at punandgame@gmail.com Merch:https://teespring.com/stores/punandgamePromo Code: NWTPOD for free shippingYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@comicwadetaylorTwitter:@PunandGameInstagram:@WadeTaylor_WGAFThis Week's Links:· https://www.newscientist.com/article/2496947-where-you-store-fat-may-influence-the-effect-it-has-on-your-brain/· Intro & Outro By Teknoaxe Royalty Free Music https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtgf00GvfFQVsYBA7V7RwUw

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Matthew 28:16-20Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. We are party deprived. That's the argument Ellen Cushing makes in a wonderful little article in The Atlantic earlier this year. On any given weekend or holiday, only 4% of Americans hosted or attended a social event. Polling shows most people like the idea of parties, but nobody wants to host them. Maybe that sounds familiar.None of this should surprise us. More than any other time in modern history, adults spend less time with friends and more time alone—and we're strangely okay with it. In fact, we often prefer it. Confined to our couches, transfixed by our phones, feeding on the stories our screens serve us. Simply put: we need more parties.And yes, that's part of my response to today's question: is the church a mission center or a social club? This is the second-to-last week of our Asking for a Friend series. And we have covered lots of big topics. But today the question is both what should the church with a capital C—the universal body of Christ across all time and space—be, but also the lowercase c church: Cross of Grace. What are we? A mission center or a social club?Someone was looking at the list of questions a couple weeks ago and began laughing out loud. Oh no, I thought, we made a typo. But then they turned to me and said “who's preaching on the 14th?”. I lied and said I don't know because depending on why they laughed I might have changed it. But this person said well because it'll be the easiest answer of them all. I said “why is that?” and they said because the answer is yes!It is both a mission center and a social club. I'm sure many of you think so, too. But if I had to guess, most would say the church needs to be a mission center:the place that equips, educates, empowers, and then sends out not just people but disciples to share the gospel in word and deed. That's what Jesus commands in the Great Commission: Go, baptize, make disciples.Here at Cross of Grace, that language is familiar. Nearly 25 years ago, when we were just getting started in the school and knocking on doors, we called ourselves a mission center—even without a building. It's also why we call ourselves Partners in Mission, not members. Members join to consume. Think wellness center, country club, or book club. But partners engage to participate. And this mission of sharing the grace of Jesus Christ, with no strings attached, depends on your participation.It just so happens that church is also a social club. And sometimes we feel guilty about that—like fellowship is less important than mission, or just a by-product of “real” church work. But here's the problem: too often we treat mission and worship like consumers. We show up, get what we think we need, and leave. That makes faith transactional—something we “use” to make ourselves better.So maybe the real question is: should mission always come first, and fellowship second? I don't think so. I don't think that's what the Bible shows us, either. Which is why today I want to come to the defense of church as a social club, because fellowship is not secondary. It's essential.Keep in mind, when we talk about church as a mission center or social club, we're talking in metaphors. And metaphors are helpful—they give us new ways of seeing something familiar. But no single metaphor ever tells the whole story. Take the old saying that the church is a “hospital for sinners.” It sounds good, but if we lean on it too hard, church becomes just a place you visit when you're sick, get patched up, and leave until the next problem. Every metaphor has limits. Whether we call the church a hospital, a mission center, a social club, or one of the thousand other metaphors we use. At best, they point us toward the deeper truth: the church is a community of flawed people, gathered by God, given the gift of grace in Jesus Christ.This gift of grace doesn't just forgive us; it transforms us. It places us in relationship with God, and that changes who we are. As Isaiah says, we become a light that reveals the source of our gift, a lens that offers a new way of seeing the world. We become liberators for those held down by oppression. That is what Jesus did, and that becomes our mission too—not because we have to, but because we can't help but share what we ourselves have received.But that kind of work is never easy. It is hard, long, dangerous, and exhausting. Which is why the grace of God doesn't just send us out—it also gathers us in. It gives us each other. Because if we're going to live into this mission for any length of time, we will need fellowship.That's exactly what we see in Acts. After hearing Peter proclaim the grace of Jesus, the people were moved. But notice what they did next: they didn't scatter to form food pantries or community centers. Instead, they devoted themselves to eating and praying together. In just five verses, Acts gives us five reminders of the early church's desire simply to be with one another. Fellowship wasn't an afterthought, and it didn't come after mission. The two rose up together, side by side, as the Spirit's gift to the church.To me, the bigger miracle of Pentecost wasn't that people suddenly spoke in languages they had never learned. The real miracle was that people actually wanted to be with one another. Can you imagine such a thing in the year of our Lord 2025? Fellowship be damned—we'd rather be alone. Or maybe the deeper truth is we don't really know how to be together anymore. And that's exactly why I want to defend the Church—this church—as a social club for this moment in time. Because if we don't know how to be together, then practicing fellowship is the mission. At a time when political violence is rising, when fear of our neighbors is the default, when anxiety and loneliness feel normal—and we're largely okay with that—the work the church is called to right now is fellowship itself.And if you think that's not biblical, Jesus should did spend a lot of time eating and drinking with people… so much so that he was known as a glutton and a drunk. And the people weren't just his disciples, but those who were different from him in every imaginable way.Maybe if we spent more time together, if we ate and drank more together, if we learned how to talk and listen to one another, if we began to see the image of God in each person, we wouldn't feel the need to tear each other apart over political disagreements. I know that's an over simplification, but I also believe it's true. What's really happening at our social gatherings—brew club, Mardi Gras, Oktoberfest, moms' night, or anything else—is that the grace of Jesus Christ is shaping us. It's teaching us to be a people who want to be together.This desire is not soft sentimentality. It's the work of the Spirit: forming in us a determination to care for our neighbors and seek their good, even when they are different, indifferent, or opposed to us. Grace gives us the desire—and the courage—to be in the company of one another. And when we do, we begin to see the face of God in every person, whether a Partner in Mission, a neighbor, a friend, a Democrat, a Republican, a president, pundit, and more.The Church is constantly reforming how we meet the needs of our neighbors and the world around us. Right now that looks like more parties and more fellowship—especially with people who don't look, act, think, believe, or behave like us. Yet, what never changes is what we offer. The church, this church, always offers the grace of Jesus, with no strings attached. We offer it at the font, at the table, through the resources we share, and yes, through the fellowship that binds us together in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Program notes:0:53 Who needs a beta blocker after MI1:53 Those with mild reduction of ejection fraction2:53 Confined to those with 40-50% ejection fraction3:15 Revascularization in NSTEMI4:20 Composite outcome5:20 Closes gap, do FFR6:20 May not be physiologically significant6:40 Is lifelong anticoagulation needed after ablation7:41 Occurred less in those who stopped8:30 RSV, cardiac events and hospitalizations9:30 Lower hospitalization in those who got the vaccine10:30 Acute respiratory illness hospitalization11:30 Less benefit with existing CVD or immunocompromise12:15 Several RSV vaccines13:16 End

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Fort Worth Rep. Nicole Collier spent the night last night on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives, refusing a Texas DPS tail that Republicans have required for all of the Democratic quorum breakers to leave the Capitol: https://abc7ny.com/post/democratic-texas-state-rep-nicole-collier-slept-house-floor-protest-refusing-demand-law-enforcement-escort/17584775/...A nonviolent protest and solidarity gathering on behalf of Rep. Collier is happening tonight (Tuesday 8/19) at the Capitol: https://www.mobilize.us/handsoffcentraltexas/event/830948/...At least four of Collier's supporters were arrested last night after refusing to leave their vigil: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNhc65Ju5LX/?igsh=Y3czYnhocGV2ZTI0...A new analysis of the Trump map shows that it will extend what is already a disproportionate level of Republican representation in Texas relative to the popular vote: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-redistricting-maps-charts-analysis/?_bhlid=8e069a6f680e3d5c42668d3fccf9cea202d76672...A coalition of legal defense groups are preparing their challenge to the new Texas map: https://thehill.com/homenews/5458835-democratic-aligned-nonprofit-civil-rights-groups-ready-to-sue-over-texas-congressional-map/Those new Ten Commandments posters plastered all over your kid's school are causing tension: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2025/08/19/tensions-rise-in-texas-as-students-return-to-school-under-new-ten-commandments-law/The notoriously conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down West Texas A&M's ban on drag shows: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/08/19/court-blocks-West-Texas-AM-drag-ban/9401755573254/Dallas/Fort Worth friends: Join Progress Texas Institute and the Legal Defense Fund in Dallas for a live podcast taping, featuring Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, at the DEC Network Center—honoring the years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act and a review of where voting rights stand today, amid redistricting threats. Admission is free! ⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/vra_event_2025⁠⁠⁠Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-drive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Text us your questions or comments!You want to lead? Serve. You want to be great? Get low. Humility isn't for the weak—it's for the dangerous. This episode hits where pride lives and teaches you how to kill it with action. If you can't kneel, you can't lead.Serving isn't soft—it's savage. Humility isn't weakness—it's war on your pride. If you can't kneel, you can't lead.Check out, Confined space coffee: use promo code DANGEROUSBREW10 for 10% off your first order.ORDER HERE: https://www.confinedspacecoffee.com/QOTD: “Only the strong can stoop low and stay there.” – AnonymousSOTD: Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."Tactical Action Steps1. Do invisible things:Do one invisible act of service today—no recognition, no credit.2. Hold your tongue:Let someone else speak. Don't insert your opinion. Just honor.3. Kill Pride at the Root:Ask this dangerous question: “How can I serve you better?” and Then actually do it.Dangerous Focus for the Week:Carry the towel. Every day this week, serve one person in a way that costs you something. Time, pride, attention. If it's easy, it doesn't count.Support the show TDMP SITE: https://dangerousmanpodcast.com/ Grab some DANGEROUS GEAR in our shop https://dangerousmanpodcast.com/shop/ Support the show for as little as $3 a month https://www.buzzsprout.com/2080275/supporters/new Follow us on X for more shenanigans https://twitter.com/TDMPodcast603 Follow us on Instagram for extra shenanigans https://www.instagram.com/thedangerousmanpodcast/ Connect with Matt Fortin & Rory Lawrence Email us at: thedangerousmanpodcast@gmail.com Remember men... Stop trying & start training! Top Men's Podcast for 2024... https://podcasts.feedspot.com/mens_podcasts/

What drones can pilots choose based on their requirements and what are some of the best drones across multiple domains. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's In-Person training. This is our five-day boot camp that includes a one-day Flight Mastery + Videography Training, followed by 4 days of Desktop and Cloud Based Mapping training. In this unique training event, we cover desktop and cloud based mapping techniques. Our Desktop-Based Mapping Class is designed for drone professionals looking to gain expert-level skills in processing, analyzing, and manipulating mapping data. This intensive course utilizes Pix4DMapper, Pix4DReact, and Pix4DMatic, providing a comprehensive hands-on experience in advanced drone mapping techniques. Cloud-Based Mapping Class is designed to give you a complete, hands-on experience with modern drone mapping techniques using Site Scan by Esri. Over the course of 1.5 intensive days, you'll learn how to create high-quality 2D maps, orthomosaics, and geo-referenced models while mastering the essential principles of data acquisition and processing We have classes in July, August and September, Click HERE to book your seat today !! On today's episode we discuss all about the best drones that pilots need to know to ensure they utilize the best drones for their business. We discuss specifics of the drone requirements pricing and features of American vs Chinese drones notably drones such as DJI, FreeFly Astro and other American offerings in the market. We also discuss best drones for specific use cases and share our list of the best drones for each use cases and why we believe the drones are best bang for the buck. Tune in today on this short information packed episode !! 5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables. Grow My Drone Business Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Click here for access to Skywatch for all your drone insurance purposes ! Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneuADU 1382: Build my own drone to do photogrammetry work? Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps: [2:09] - Learn all about Rob and Paul's recent travel and visit to Drone U events [6:39] - Right questions to ask to determine the best drone for your purpose [7:39] - FreeFlyAstro drones and their characteristics and which model is best for your requirement [11:59] - Best drones for mapping dams and bridges and into things [21:14] - Learn about the opportunities for American drones in the US [22:29] - Fixed wing drones and their advantages for data acquisition [27:12] - Comparison of FreeFly drones and DJI drones [30:42] - Drones for Confined space [37:00] - Drones that carry LiDAR [41:35] - New drones and their offerings for pilots and their limitations [45:52] - The one DJI drone we are excited about - Mini5 Pro

Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

Acts 28:30-31, Philippians 1:12-14 / July 3-4, 2025 Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll the key to contentment and how to live above your circumstances. From the Series: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit read more

Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

Acts 28:30-31, Philippians 1:12-14 / July 3-4, 2025 Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll the key to contentment and how to live above your circumstances. From the Series: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit read more

Acts 28:30-31, Philippians 1:12-14 / July 3-4, 2025 Discover with Pastor Chuck Swindoll the key to contentment and how to live above your circumstances. From the Series: Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit read more

In this episode, Beth introduces and personally invites you to join MISSION 05: STORIES of the Sea, the latest adventure from STORIES of Space — and it's unlike anything she's done before. Beth and her crew are heading to Jules' Undersea Facility, to live, work, and explore from beneath the ocean's surface, bringing YOUR stories along with!  Why? Because space and sea have more in common than you might think. Confined environments, exploration, isolation, teamwork — it's a powerful, immersive experience that connects us more deeply to our planet... and to each other. Here's where you come in: The STORIES of Space team are carrying every story ever received on this mission — from space to sea — and would be honored to bring yours along, too. Whether it's a short note, a memory, a dream, a white paper, or a heartfelt message about space, the ocean, or what it means to be human — our mission is to carry it with us as we become aquanauts. Don't wait! Submit your story by July 8 at storiesofspace.comThis is the only underwater mission of the year — and a chance to be part of something that's never been done before. So let's explore our Earth's oceans and tell this story together! Because exploration begins with the stories we share.

“Get thee up into the high mountain.” — Isaiah 40:9 Our knowledge of Christ is somewhat like climbing one of our Welsh mountains. When you are at the base you see but little: the mountain itself appears to be but one-half as high as it really is. Confined in a little valley, you discover scarcely […]

[Editor's note: The following contains spoilers through the Season 3 finale of Ginny & Georgia.]Brianne Howey's had her hands quite full playing Georgia in Netflix's smash hit Ginny & Georgia since day one, but things take an especially dark turn in Season 3, which involves a sharp tonal shift and even more dire circumstances for the characters to power through. When the series kicked off in 2021, Howey began tackling the challenge of playing a highly likable character who does bad things, but without undermining the severity of her crimes. Not only did she start off strong in that respect, but for three seasons now, she's consistently backed Georgia's most complex decisions with maximum humanity. While you may not agree with every choice the character makes, Howey ensures you always understand them and that Georgia has your heart every single step of the way.Season 3 begins with Georgia behind bars after being arrested at her own wedding for the murder of Cynthia's (Sabrina Grdevich) husband, Tom (Vincent Legault). While she is able to go home under house arrest for the duration of the trial, her existence is rocked in every respect. Confined to her home, her world becomes smaller than ever, the situation upends her relationship with Paul (Scott Porter), it puts Zion (Nathan Mitchell) in an especially tough position, Austin (Diesel La Torraca) will undoubtedly be changed forever, and Ginny's forced to decide how far she's really willing to go for her mother.What does it look like when a devout mother sees her relationship with her children threatened? What does it look like when a confident conwoman is stripped of her power? What does it look like when someone who has successfully hidden gruesome secrets for years has them all exposed? That's what I dug into with Howey on a new edition of Collider Ladies Night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  Last time we spoke about the Xi'an Incident. In December 1936, tensions in China erupted as Nationalist General Chiang Kai-shek faced a revolt led by his commanders, Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng. Disillusioned by Chiang's focus on battling communists instead of the Japanese invaders, the generals swiftly captured him in a coup. Confined in Xi'an, Chiang initially resisted their demands for a united front against Japan but eventually engaged in negotiation with Zhang and the Chinese Communist Party. As public sentiment shifted against him, Chiang's predicament led to urgent discussions, culminating in an unexpected alliance with the communists. This pact aimed to consolidate Chinese resistance against Japanese aggression, marking a critical turning point in the Second Sino-Japanese War. By December 26, Chiang was released, and this uneasy collaboration set the stage for a more unified front against a common enemy, though underlying tensions remained between the factions.   #152 China Prepares for War 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. Before we jump into the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945, which I honestly have no idea how long will take us, I thought it would be a good idea to dedicate two episodes to how both China and Japan prepared themselves for war.  Going all the way back to the 1910s, Chinese intellectuals began to view an outright conflict between Japan and China was inevitable. In the discussions about China's strategic options, Jiang Fangzhen pioneered a strategy of protracted warfare, a concept that would later shape China's approach during the Sino-Japanese War. Having studied in Japan during his youth, Jiang developed a keen understanding of the Japanese government and military. As early as 1917, he predicted that China and Japan would become embroiled in a long-term conflict, with the battleground likely to be west of the Peiping–Wuhan and Guangzhou–Wuhan railways. In his work titled "Guofang Lun" or “On National Defense”, Jiang reiterated the importance of protracted warfare as a means to thwart Japan's aspirations for a swift victory. He argued that China should leverage its vast population and extensive territory to extend the conflict, gradually wearing down Japanese strength and turning the situation to its advantage. Jiang recommended that China not focus on defending its coastal regions but instead confront the enemy west of the Peking–Wuhan Railway.   Chiang Kai-shek would eventually come to share Jiang's belief that “the longer the war drags on, the more advantageous it will be for China.” Despite significant public criticism, both the Nationalist government and General Zhang Xueliang, decided against military resistance when Japan invaded Manchuria in September 1931 and attacked Shanghai in 1932. Chiang was particularly hesitant to engage Japan directly, as he was also dealing with a Communist insurgency in central China. He feared that Chinese forces would suffer quick defeat, predicting that Japan would capture key coastal areas and critical infrastructure within just three days, crippling China by dismantling its military and economic lifelines. Following the invasion of North China Chiang was forced to adopt a firmer stance. The Nationalist government proposed a dual strategy of pursuing peace and security while simultaneously preparing for war. If peace proved impossible, China would mobilize its resources for ultimate victory through prolonged conflict. This approach was formalized in the National Defense Plan, which China adopted by prioritizing protracted warfare as its core strategy. After the Sino-Japanese clash in Shanghai on January 28, 1932, the Military Affairs Commission devised a plan that divided China into four defense areas along with a preparation area. While some troops were assigned local security, commanders were directed to concentrate their remaining forces for potential confrontations with Japan. That year, the Military Affairs Commission issued General Defense Guidelines that outlined two strategic responses to a potential Japanese invasion. The first, conservative approach focused on maintaining key positions and utilizing protracted warfare to impede the enemy. The second strategy advocated for decisive battles in key regions to thwart Japan's ambitions and protect China's territorial integrity, prioritizing disengagement from Japanese forces along the Yangtze River and coastline. In August 1935, German military adviser General Alexander von Falkenhausen provided recommendations to Chiang Kai-shek based on his predictions of Japanese advance routes into China. He identified three main routes: one from northern Hebei to Zhengzhou, the second from Shandong toward Xuzhou, and the third crossing the Yangtze River to Nanjing and onwards to Wuhan. He suggested treating the Yangtze River as the primary combat zone and highlighted Sichuan as a possible retreat area. Taking all of this into consideration. in 1936, a draft of a new National Defense Plan divided the country into four zones: a war zone, a defense zone, an internal security zone, and a preparation area. The war zone encompassed ten provinces and established strategies for retreating to predetermined defensive positions when necessary, with Sichuan designated as the main base for the war. In January 1937, the Chinese General Staff Department introduced its annual War Plan, outlining three possible military conflict regions between China and Japan. It proposed two main strategies: Proposal A emphasized sustained combat and retreat to fortified positions if the situation became unfavorable, aiming to eventually go on the offensive against Japan. Proposal B focused on repelling Japanese invasions along the coast and from the north, prioritizing counter offensives against Japanese units stationed near key locations. To prepare, the NRA completed several critical projects outlined in its plans, establishing military supply depots in Nanjing, Bengbu, Xinyang, Huayin, Nanchang, and Wuchang to manage logistics for supplies across various strategic railways. These depots were equipped to sustain the military, with ample ammunition and provisions, including 60 million rounds of small-arms ammunition and food for hundreds of thousands. Despite these preparations, not all projects were completed by the time war broke out in July 1937. In contrast to the Japanese military's tactics, Chinese forces prioritized defensive strategies. For example, at the Mount Lushan Military Officer Training Camp in July 1934, Chiang Kai-shek outlined four possible approaches against Japan, favoring a defense-as-offense strategy. Other options included building fortifications, tenaciously defending key positions, and employing guerrilla warfare through irregular forces to constrain enemy advances. Chiang stressed the importance of national mobilization for the war effort.  There was a significant disparity in equipment between the Japanese and Chinese armies. To give you an idea, each Japanese division included a mechanized group featuring thirty-nine light military vehicles and 21 light armored cars, supplemented by 6,000–7,000 horses, 200–300 automobiles, and specialized troops such as poison gas teams. In contrast, Nationalist divisions lacked any of these capabilities, a typical nationalist division theoretically had an armored regiment, but this unit was equipped with fewer than 72 armored vehicles. Another major weakness of the Nationalist forces was their insufficient artillery. In 1936, a division was officially assigned one artillery battalion, which was divided into three batteries totaling twelve guns. It also included a mechanized cannon company with four direct-fire weapons. By comparison, a Japanese division boasted four infantry regiments and one mountain artillery or field artillery regiment, with each artillery regiment comprising three field artillery battalions and one howitzer battalion. The infantry regiment itself included a mountain artillery section with four mountain guns, while the infantry battalion had one Type 70 mountain gun section with two guns. In total, a Japanese division possessed sixty-four artillery pieces of various calibers, four times the number of a Chinese division and of significantly higher quality. In reality, in 1936, twelve of the twenty elite Chinese “reformed divisions” still lacked artillery battalions. The ordnance available in the “reformed divisions” mostly consisted of the outdated Type 60 mountain gun. Nationwide, very few of the 200 divisions were equipped with any artillery, and those that did often used obsolete field artillery pieces or mountain artillery provided to local forces. Some units even relied on trench mortars as a makeshift solution. The artillery weapons came from various countries, but they frequently lacked necessary observation and signal components, and were often low on ammunition. The majority of mountain guns and field artillery were of the Type 75, which, while capable of providing fire support, had limited range and inflicted minimal damage. To give you an idea of the striking inadequacy of the Chinese artillery, during the Shanghai fighting in 1937, the mountain artillery of the Guangxi 21st Army Group could only reach targets within 1,200 yards, while Japanese field artillery had an effective range of 8,000 yards. Chinese-made mountain artillery suffered due to inferior steel-making technology; the gun shields were constructed from low-quality steel, and the barrels often overheated after firing just a few rounds, increasing the risk of explosions. Additionally, the equipment of local forces varied greatly in quality. In fact, some local units had superior equipment compared to Nationalist units. For example, before the Sino-Japanese War, troops from Yunnan were equipped with French antitank guns and heavy machine guns, which were better than the German water-cooled machine guns used by the Nationalist forces. However, the majority of local troops relied on inferior equipment; the 122nd Division under Wang Mingzhang from Sichuan, noted for its brave defense of Tengxian County during the Xuzhou Battle, was armed with locally produced light and heavy machine guns that frequently malfunctioned, and their Type 79 rifles, also made in Sichuan, were often outdated, with some dating back to the Qing Dynasty. These weapons had limited range and sometimes malfunctioned after fewer than one hundred rounds. Now before the war, both Nationalist and local forces acquired weaponry from diverse foreign and domestic sources. Even domestically produced weapons lacked standardization, with those made in Hanyang and Manchuria differing in design and specifications. Arms manufactured in Germany, France, Russia, Japan, and Italy were similarly inconsistent. Consequently, even within a single unit, the lack of uniformity created significant logistical challenges, undermining combat effectiveness, particularly in the early stages of the war. Despite Nationalist ordnance factories producing over three million rounds of small-arms ammunition daily, the incompatibility of ammunition and weapons diminished the usable quantity of ammunition. Chinese communications infrastructure was inadequate. In the Nationalist army, signal units were integrated into engineering units, leading to low-quality radio communications. In emergencies, telegrams could remain undelivered for days, and orders often had to be dispatched via postal services. By 1937, the entire country boasted only 3,000 military vehicles, necessitating heavy reliance on horses and mules for transport. To effectively equip twenty Nationalist divisions, 10,647 horses and 20,688 mules were needed, but by the end of 1935, only 6,206 horses and 4,351 mules were available. A statistic from 1936 indicated a 5 percent mortality rate among military horses, with some units experiencing a rate as high as 10 percent. The distribution of weaponry led to disputes during army reorganization efforts following the Northern Expedition. Although Chiang Kai-shek's forces were part of the regular army, the quality of their equipment varied significantly. Domestic production of weapons was limited, and imports could not close the gap. Priority was given to small arms; through army reorganization, Chiang aimed to diminish the influence of forces less loyal to him. Nationalist army staff officers observed that troops loyal to Chiang received the best weapons. Northwest and Northeast forces, having cultivated good relations with the KMT, were similarly better equipped, while Shanxi troops received inferior supplies. Troops associated with the Guangxi Clique were given even poorer quality weapons due to their leaders' stronger political ambitions. Troops regarded as “bandit forces,” such as those led by Shi Yousan, Li Hongchang, and Sun Dianying, were naturally assigned the least effective weaponry. This unequal distribution of arms increased some local forces' inclination to align with the KMT while alienating others, which inadvertently led to additional turmoil in the aftermath of the Northern Expedition. Logistical accounting within the Nationalist military was severely lacking. Military expenditures accounted for a significant portion of government spending, roughly 65.48 % in 1937, with personnel costs being the largest component. However, military units prioritized boosting their own resources over accurate accounting. Surpluses were not returned but rather utilized to reward military officers and soldiers for merits in battle, care for the wounded, or to create a reserve. Conversely, if deficits arose, troops would resort to “living off vacancies,” a practice in which they would fail to report desertions promptly and would falsely claim new soldiers had arrived. Military leaders typically appointed their most trusted subordinates to serve as accountants and logistic officers. As the war commenced, these issues became readily apparent. During the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, frontline soldiers sometimes went days without food and went months without pay. Wounded soldiers and civilians had to search tirelessly for medical treatment, and when main forces relocated, they often abandoned grain, ammunition, weapons, and petroleum along the way. General Chen Cheng, the commander in chief during the Battle of Shanghai, noted, “This phenomenon clearly revealed our inability to supply frontline troops, indicating that China remains a backward country with poor management.” Many logistical shortcomings severely impacted troop morale and combat effectiveness. In a 1933 speech, Chiang Kai-shek acknowledged that poor food, inadequate clothing, and ineffective logistics contributed to widespread desertion. Soldiers were further demoralized by reduced or embezzled salaries. A lack of professional medical staff and equipment hampered healthcare efforts, leading to high disease and mortality rates. According to official statistics from 1936, approximately 10 percent of soldiers fell ill annually, with a mortality rate as high as 5 percent. Japanese military authorities reported that one in three wounded Japanese soldiers died, while a Dutch military officer present during the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War observed that one in every two wounded Nationalist soldiers perished. Due to inadequate equipment and limited transport options, Nationalist forces were compelled to recruit farmers and rent vehicles, as they lacked essential facilities such as tents. This reliance on local resources inevitably led to frequent conflicts between military personnel and civilians. China is clearly a vast nation with an extensive coastline, requiring the construction of several significant fortresses during the modern era. These included Wusong, Jiangyin, Zhenjiang, Jiangning, and Wuhan along the Yangtze River, as well as Zhenhai, Humen, and Changzhou along the seacoast. Except for the Wuhan fortress, built in 1929-1930, all other fortifications were established during the late Qing Dynasty and featured uncovered cannon batteries. These fortresses suffered from inadequate maintenance, and many of their components had become outdated and irreplaceable, rendering them militarily negligible. Following the January 1932 Shanghai Incident, the Japanese military destroyed the Wusong forts, leaving the entrance to the Yangtze River completely unfortified. Consequently, there were no defenses along the coastline from Jiangsu to Shandong, allowing the Japanese to land freely. In December 1932, the Military Affairs Commission established a fortress group tasked with constructing fortresses and defensive installations, seeking assistance from German military advisers. After the North China Incident in 1935, the Nationalist government accelerated the construction of defensive structures in line with national war planning, focusing particularly on Nanjing. The Nationalists prioritized building fortifications along the seacoast and the Yellow River, followed by key regions north of the Yellow River. The government also ordered a significant quantity of heavy artillery from Germany. This included several dozen pieces of flat-fire antiaircraft and dual-purpose heavy artillery, which were installed at fortifications in Jiangyin, Zhenjiang, Nanjing, and Wuhan. By the summer of 1937, the construction of nine fortified positions was complete: Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Jiangyin, Ningbo, Humen, Mawei, Xiamen , Nantong, and Lianyungang. In total, China had established 41 forts and equipped them with 273 fortress cannons. Some defensive installations were poorly managed, with many units assigned to their perimeters lacking training and access to proper maps. The barbette positions in the fortresses were not well concealed and could hardly store sufficient ammunition. Troops stationed at these fortresses received little training. Despite these shortcomings, the fortresses and fortifications were not entirely ineffective. They bolstered Chinese positions along the defense line stretching from Cangxian County to Baoding and from Dexian County to Shijiazhuang, as well as in southern Shandong.  Before the war, China's political and economic center was situated along the seacoast and the Yangtze River. As Japanese influence expanded, the Nationalist government was compelled to establish bases in China's inner regions, very similar to how the USSR pulled back its industry further west after Operation barbarossa.The Japanese attack on Shanghai in 1932 prompted the Nationalists to relocate their capital to Luoyang. On March 5, during the Second Plenary Session of the KMT's Fourth Congress, the Western Capital Preparation Committee was formed to plan for the potential relocation of all governmental bodies to Xi'an in the event of full-scale war. In February 1933, the Central Political Conference approved the Northwest Development Bill, and in February 1934, the National Economic Commission set up a northwestern branch to oversee development projects in the region. On October 18, 1934, Chiang Kai-shek traveled to Lanzhou, recording in his diary that “Northwest China has abundant resources. Japan and Russia are poised to bully us. Yet, if we strengthen ourselves and develop northwest China to the fullest extent, we can turn it into a base for China's revival.” Interestingly, it was Sichuan, rather than the northwest, that became China's rear base during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. In October 1934, the Communist army evacuated its Soviet base in southern China, initiating the Long March that would ultimately end in the northwest. By this time, Chiang Kai-shek had decided to designate Sichuan as the last stronghold for China. In January 1935, the Nanchang Field Headquarters of the Military Affairs Commission, responsible for combatting the Communists and serving as the supreme military and political authority over most provinces along the Yangtze River and central China, dispatched a special advisory group to Chongqing. Following this, the Nationalist army advanced into Sichuan. On February 10, the Nationalists appointed a new provincial government in Sichuan, effectively ending the province's long-standing regionalism. On March 2, Chiang traveled to Chongqing, where he delivered a speech underscoring that “Sichuan should serve as the base for China's revival.” He stated that he was in Sichuan to oversee efforts against the Communist army and to unify the provincial administration.  After the Xinhai revolution, the Republic of China was still suing the Qing Dynasty's conscription system. However, once in power, the Nationalist government sought to establish a national military service program. In 1933, it enacted a military service law, which began implementation in 1936. This law categorized military service into two branches: service in the Nationalist army and in territorial citizen army units. Men aged eighteen to forty-five were expected to serve in the territorial units if they did not enlist in the Nationalist army. The territorial service was structured into three phases: active service lasting two to three years, first reserves for six years, and second reserves until the age of forty-five. The Ministry of Military Affairs divided China into sixty divisional conscription headquarters, initially establishing these headquarters in the six provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, and Hubei. By December 1936, approximately 50,000 new soldiers had been drafted. The military service law disproportionately favored the middle and upper classes. Government personnel were exempt from enlistment, allowing privileged families to register their children with government agencies. Similarly, students in middle and higher education were excused from service, while youth from poorer backgrounds often felt compelled to enlist due to financial constraints that limited their educational opportunities. Village and town leaders were responsible for executing the recruitment process and frequently conspired with army recruiters. Recruitment principles often favored wealthier families, with guidelines stating that one son should be drafted for every three sons, two for five sons, but no drafts if there was only one son. Wealthy families could secure exemptions for all their male children, while poor families might see their only son conscripted if they were unable to provide the requisite bribe. Town and village heads wielded significant power in recruitment. This new recruitment system also created numerous money-making opportunities. Military personnel assigned to escort draftees to their units would often allow draftees to escape for a fee. Additionally, draftees could monetize their service by agreeing to serve as substitutes for others. For some, being drafted became an occupation. For example, in 1936, 600 individuals were drafted in the Wuhu area of Anhui province, and accounts from regional administrators indicated that every draftee had either been traded, replaced, or seized. Beginning in 1929, the Nationalist government also instituted military training for high school students and older individuals. Students were required to participate in one theoretical class and one practical class each week, totaling three hours. Starting in 1934, students had to complete a three-month military training program before graduating. Graduates of military academies were employed as military instructors. By the end of 1936, over 237,000 high school students had undergone military training. This student military training was overseen by the Society for the Implementation of the Three People's Principles of Sun Yat-sen, which also provided political education and sometimes gathered information on students' political beliefs.  Although the Nationalists made significant efforts to improve the military training of both officers and troops, they inherited deep-seated challenges that they were unable to completely overcome. A lack of facilities, outdated training manuals, low regard for military instructors, and the ongoing influence of regionalism and warlordism hindered progress. The Japanese would also later exploit these shortcomings of the Nationalist army. The Central Military Academy, which evolved from the Whampoa Military Academy established in 1923 in Guangzhou to train officers for the Northern Expedition, became the primary training institution for junior military officers. The academy offered a basic course, lasting eighteen months, which included general education, specialized training in various subjects, and field practice. This was followed by a two-year cadet training program focused on developing the skills necessary for junior military officers. Seventeen classes were admitted before the outbreak of war. Admission to the academy was highly competitive, with military officers receiving attractive salaries. For instance, in 1935, the academy received 10,000 applications for the twelfth class, but only 7% were accepted. Upon graduation, cadets were typically assigned to divisions within the Nationalist army loyal to Chiang Kai-shek. Their training, influenced by German advisors, resulted in a high-quality cadre. In modern China, most sergeants were veterans. While some units provided training for sergeants, a lack of formal education led to their diminished status. Truly qualified sergeants were rare. During his tenure as Minister of Military Training, General Bai Chongxi proposed establishing a sergeant school and creating a professional noncommissioned officer system; however, the Ministry of Military Affairs opposed this on financial grounds. While commanding officers enjoyed rapid promotions, military instructors did not. Furthermore, there was no system for transferring instructors to field commands or assigning commanders to military academies for extended periods. Despite minor updates to cover modern warfare concepts such as tank warfare and machine guns, Qing Dynasty military manuals were still in use at the Central Military Academy at the start of the war. Yeah, 1937 they were still rocking the old Qing books. Following the establishment of the Ministry of Military Training, a bureau for military translation was set up to evaluate existing course materials and translate military manuals, but its contributions were limited. Another significant shortcoming of military instruction focused on theory at the expense of practical application.  To enhance the quality of military officers, the Nationalist army instituted specialized schools for artillery, infantry, transport, engineering, and signals starting in 1931. These institutions were considered to have high-quality administrators and facilities. The Nationalists adopted German military training models, replacing the previously used Japanese models. They appointed German advisors to oversee instructor training at military academies and established three instructional divisions. By the onset of the Sino-Japanese War, 15,000 students had graduated from programs with a German military influence, resulting in the creation of about fifty combat divisions from these instructional units. However, the progress of other Nationalist army units was limited because their training was not aligned with contemporary battlefield realities. Before World War I, troops operated in close formations due to limited firepower. The widespread introduction of machine guns after World War I necessitated a shift to dispersed formations. Although a new drill manual issued by the Ministry of Military Training in 1935 introduced small-group tactics, few units adopted these methods. General Chen Cheng highlighted another underlying issue in 1938, commenting on the outmoded focus on parade ground drills and formal military manners. He noted, “We have paid too much attention to stereotypical formality and procedures of no practical use. Sometimes, even though soldiers could not get a haircut or take a bath for several months, their camps had to be in order. They underwent intensive training in close-order drill but learned little about gun handling, marksmanship, or maneuvering. This was inappropriate in peacetime, yet we continued this practice even after the Sino-Japanese War started, even using it on highly educated youth.” In contrast, the Communist army simplified training, emphasizing two essential skills: live-fire exercises and physical endurance, which significantly enhanced troop effectiveness in the challenging terrain characteristic of the Sino-Japanese War. Ultimately, the Nationalist army's training did not reach all soldiers. Only about half of all combat soldiers received adequate training, while the rest were neglected. According to statistics from the time, there were approximately five million military personnel during the Sino-Japanese War, with three million serving in logistics. Most of these logistics personnel had received little training, leading to disastrous consequences for overall combat effectiveness. As warfare has become more complex, the role of highly trained staff officers has become increasingly important. Napoleon developed operational plans close to the front and communicated orders via courier. During World War I, military commanders collected information at their headquarters and utilized telephones and automobiles to relay orders to the front lines. In World War II, with the battlefield expanding to include land, sea, and air, senior commanders often made decisions from headquarters far from the action, relying on a significant number of staff officers with specialized skills to keep them informed. In China, however, the staff officer system was underdeveloped. By 1937, only about 2,000 commanders and staff officers had received training. Prior to the Sino-Japanese War, most commanders managed staff work themselves, with staff officers serving primarily as military secretaries who drafted orders, reports, and maps. Many staff officers had no formal military training, and as a whole, the branch lacked respect, causing the most talented officers to avoid serving in it. The situation was even more dire for staff officer departments within local forces. For example, in March 1937, Liu Ziqing, a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy, was appointed as the director of political instruction in the Forty-fourth Army, a unit under Sichuan warlord Liu Xiang. Liu Ziqing's account illustrates the dysfunction within the ranks: “The commander in chief was not supposed to manage the army and even did not know its whereabouts... But he could appoint relatives and former subordinates—who were officials and businessmen as well—to the army. Each month they would receive a small stipend. At headquarters, there was a long table and two rows of chairs. Around ten o'clock in the morning, senior officers signed in to indicate their presence. Those with other business would leave, while the remaining officers sat down to leisurely discuss star actresses, fortune-telling, business projects, mah-jongg, and opium. Occasionally they would touch on national affairs, chat about news articles, or share local gossip. In the afternoons, they primarily played mah-jongg, held banquets, and visited madams. Most mornings, the commander usually presided over these activities, and at first, I reported for duty as well. But I soon realized it was a waste of time and came very rarely. At headquarters, most staff members wore long gowns or Western-style suits, while military uniforms were a rare sight.” Most senior military personnel were trained at the Baoding Military Academy during the early republic. 2/3rds of commanders in chief, 37 %of army commanders, and 20 % of division commanders were Baoding graduates. Higher-ranking officers were more likely to have launched their careers there. In contrast, only 10 % of division commanders and a few army commanders were graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. Additionally, commanders trained in local military schools and those with combat experience accounted for 1/3rd of all commanders. While the prevalence of civil war provided opportunities for rapid promotion, it also hindered officers' ability to update their training or gain experience in different military branches. German advisors expressed their concerns to Chiang Kai-shek, emphasizing that officers should first serve in junior roles before taking command. During one battle in 1938, Chiang noted, “Our commanders in chief are equivalent only to our enemy's regiment commanders, and our army and division commanders are only as competent as our enemy's battalion and company commanders.” Despite not viewing high-ranking Japanese officers as great strategists, Nationalist officers respected them as highly competent, diligent, and professional commanders who rarely made critical errors. The infantry was the primary component of the Nationalist army, with middle and junior infantry officers constituting over 80 %of all army officers. A 1936 registry of military officers listed 1,105 colonels and 2,159 lieutenant colonels within the infantry, demonstrating a significant outnumbering of Baoding graduates at ranks below lieutenant colonel. However, the quality of middle and junior infantry officers declined during the Sino-Japanese War; by 1944, only 27.3 % of these officers were from formal military academies, while those promoted from the ranks increased to 28.1 %. In 1937, 80 % of officers in an ordinary infantry battalion were military academy graduates, but this percentage dropped to 20 % during the war. Its hard to tell how educated soldiers were before the war, but it is generally believed that most were illiterate. In 1929, sociologist Tao Menghe surveyed 946 soldiers from a Shanxi garrison brigade and found that only 13 percent could compose a letter independently, while the rest had either never learned to read or were unable to write. In contrast, in August 1938, General Feng Yuxiang found that 80 percent of a regiment in Hunan were literate. Regardless, during the Sino-Japanese War, the quality of recruits steadily declined. More than 90 percent of soldiers were illiterate, and few possessed any basic scientific knowledge, which hindered their ability to master their weapons. On the battlefield, they heavily relied on middle and junior officers for guidance.  In autumn 1933, General Hans von Seeckt, the architect of the post World War I German army, visited China at the personal invitation of Chiang Kai-shek. In his recommendations for military reform, he identified China's greatest problem as its excessively large forces drawn from diverse backgrounds. He stated, “At present, the most pressing goal is to... establish a small, well-equipped army with high morale and combat effectiveness to replace the numerous poorly armed and trained forces.” He suggested forming an army of sixty divisions and recommended the establishment of a training regiment for military officers to equip them with the skills needed for modern warfare. Chiang Kai-shek accepted von Seeckt's proposals, and on January 26, 1935, he convened a National Military Reorganization Conference in Nanjing. On March 1, the Army Reorganization Bureau was established in Wuchang, under the leadership of General Chen Cheng. In the same month, General Alexander von Falkenhausen took charge of the German Military Advisors Group. Before war broke out, around nineteen divisions, roughly 300,000 troops received training from German advisors and were equipped with German-style weapons. At the onset of the Sino-Japanese War, the forces stemming from the First Army of the National Revolutionary Army and the Whampoa cadets, who had fought in the Northern Expedition, held the highest reputation and were referred to as the “core central forces” by the Japanese. Other notable forces included the Guangxi Army, Northwestern Army, Northeastern Army, some Uyghur units, the Guangdong Army, and the Shanxi Army. In contrast, provincial forces such as the Yunnan Army and Sichuan Army were viewed less favorably. Nationalist forces were generally far inferior to those of the Japanese enemy. In 1937, General He Yingqin noted that Nationalist forces had failed to prevail in 1932 and 1933, even when outnumbering the Japanese by 4-1.  In November 1937, during a national defense conference, Chiang Kai-shek stated, "In recent years we have worked hard, prepared actively, and achieved national unification. By the time of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, we were in a better domestic situation and had improved military preparedness compared to before. Since 1935, our strength has doubled. It increased by more than two to three times since January 1932 or September 1931 [when Japan attacked Shanghai and Mukden]. If peace had been achievable, we should have delayed the war for two or three years. Given an additional three years, our defensive capabilities would have been drastically different... Now, if we merely compare the military strength of China and Japan, we are certainly inferior." However, such assessments were overly optimistic, as Chiang failed to recognize that Japan's military capabilities would not have stagnated. 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. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek certainly was dealt a difficult hand of cards for the upcoming poker match he was to play. Yet the Chinese were resilient and they had to be for the absolute horror that would be inflicted upon them from 1937-1945. Until this point, their enemies had been far more lenient, the Empire of Japan would show no mercy.