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Quaranteam-Northwest: Part 6 Lab Results and Quarantines Based on a post by Break The Bar. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.   The Docs signed off, leaving me alone in the little meeting room again. Not knowing when I would be able to leave, I decided to try and fall back on one of my old military instincts; sleep when you can. So I got comfortable in the chair, closed my eyes, and let myself drift into a fitful, not-quite-soothing sleep. "Harri," someone said, and I woke with a start as my shoulder was touched. "Urm," I grunted, and sniffed in a breath as I blinked rapidly and looked around. I was still in the room, and Miriam was smiling at me. She was dressed in fatigues here in the military office complex instead of her service dress blues and her hair was up in a standard military bun hidden beneath the standard issue cap. "Just like a grunt to take any reason for a nap," she grinned at me. "Come on. We can talk in my office." I stood, yawned and stretched, feeling something pop in my back and my shoulder from the uncomfortable position I'd been in. "Lead the way, Lieutenant Colonel," I said. She rolled her eyes at me a little but didn't say anything, just opening the door and walking through. I followed her back into that hallway where Brent had clocked me. He wasn't in the waiting room at the end of the hall. "Is Brent,” I started to ask. "He's waiting on another floor," Miriam said. "Refuses to leave until he sees his daughter is alright. It's making operations slow down over at the construction site, but I can't blame him." "Neither can I," I said, touching the tenderness of my black eye. Miriam led me through several very plain corridors lined with doors. None of them had windows to see in, and most had nameplate mounts but lacked names, and instead were labelled with numbers. It struck me as secretive, and that meant I was probably in the Air Force part of the building and not the Vaccine Test Center part. If they were trying to make people feel at ease joining an experimental program, these plain walls and doors forming a maze were not the way to do it. Confounding an enemy trying to sneak through this part of the building, though? It was perfect. I followed Miriam until she stopped at a seemingly random door and opened it, leading me into a large office. It had a large bank of windows, but extra-heavy curtains had been hung over them and were drawn shut to the point I wondered if they were nailed in place. One wall was entirely covered in a whiteboard with all sorts of coded writing on it. There were two desks in the room; the main desk was scattered with papers and a computer terminal, with a plush office chair tucked in behind it. The second desk had more stuff on it, but in neater piles, and Captain Bloomberg was sitting behind it at work. She glanced up at us as we entered and gave me a slightly judgmental look, before going back to the printout she was reading. The rest of the office space was dominated by file shelving units, a gun safe, and a leather couch that looked uncomfortable but was probably soft as hell. "Captain, could you give us five?" Miriam asked. "Of course, Ma'am," she nodded, set down the papers face-down and stepped around her desk to the door. She shot Miriam a quick look, and Miriam gave her one back, and the Captain left. If I had to guess it was to do with the fact that the office was probably full of classified material and information and the Captain was silently reminding her superior officer not to let me poke around or leave me alone in there. "Sit, please," Miriam sighed once the door was closed and we were alone, gesturing at the couch. I did, instantly sinking into it, and she sat on the other end and turned to me. "So, now that we know it's not life-threatening, you feel ready to get teased yet?" I snorted a little and scratched at my beard. "It's still a little raw," I admitted. "Just like how you fucked her?" Miriam asked with a grin. "Sorry, that's the only one." I shook my head and chuckled. There were few kinds of people who could be as morbidly crude and insulting, and mean it in the best way, as a military friend. "Seriously, Harri," she said. "I got a briefing on it. She's fine, you're fine. No one is in trouble." "Tell that to her father," I said. "And I can't blame him for probably wanting to kill me." "Yeah, well, tough shit for him," Miriam said. "We've expanded his Need to Know status and gave him some more info on the vaccine to calm him down. He's not happy, but he's not worried anymore. Seriously though, did you have to go and fuck my lead civilian contractor's daughter?" "We were friendly with her," I said, and let out a long breath. "Erica said she thought Vanessa might be a little interested. I don't think either of us expected her to show up on our proverbial doorstep and ask for a foursome." "I always did think Erica was a smart woman after we met," Miriam said. "Though I figured you'd lost a few brain cells since you weren't dating her at the time." "There's a whole story behind that," I said, waving her off. "I'm sure there is," Miriam smiled. "Doesn't mean it's a good excuse though." "Well, Vanessa seems to think you have a crush on me after she met you for all of two minutes," I shot back at her. Miriam flushed for a moment but didn't look away from me, still in command in her own office. "Vanessa might have been doing a bit of projecting," she said. "I'm not into hillbillies with bushy beards and big guts." "Ouch," I laughed, holding my stomach. Sure, I wasn't in the peak physical form I'd been in coming out of the military, but I hadn't gone that soft. Miriam and I continued to chat and laugh for a few more minutes until the Captain came back and then Miriam let me borrow some sound-cancelling headphones and hang out on their couch while they were working. They had food ordered in and Miriam and I ate dinner together while Captain Bloomberg ate as she kept working at her desk. It wasn't until I noticed that the faint bit of light leaking around the edges of the curtains was dimming that it had been a long day and I hadn't been able to contact Erica and Ivy. I asked Miriam if I could have my phone back just to update them, and she and the Captain had to discuss it for a long moment before they decided they could probably do the texting for me, but for security protocols I couldn't be given control of the phone. When my phone powered on it took a long moment for it to connect to service, and then it started buzzing like crazy and a bunch of messages came in. Miriam was holding it, and her eyes went a little wide as the message notification scrolled by. "Um," she said. "Well, it looks like you and your partners are... happy together." "Oh no," I groaned. "What did they send?" "Well, you have a whole bunch of messages from Brent Peters chewing you out, so there's that," Miriam said. "But, uh, well, there are photos from your partners." "Sorry," I shrugged, once again finding my face heating up at the exposure of my sex life. "It's fine," Miriam said. "It was my idea to do the texting anyways." She tapped around on the phone for a moment. "Alright, I'll just say 'Harri isn't allowed to use his phone right now. This is Miriam Abarbanel. He is fine, no trouble. Vanessa is also fine and healthy. They will return tomorrow.'" "That's fine," I said with a nod. I would have liked to tell them more, and that I loved them. And that they shouldn't have been trying to send me whatever scandalous photos they had considering I was in military custody at the moment. Miriam hit send and a minute later another text came through and she opened it, immediately rolling her eyes and setting my phone down. "What?" I asked. "Erica sent another photo, and I think it was for me," she said. "What? Really?" I asked. Miriam opened the photo again and turned my phone around to show me. Erica and Ivy were both sunbathing in the chairs, topless. The third Adirondack had a name tag written on a piece of paper and taped to the back of the chair that red 'Vanessa.' Beside it, they had put out another lawn chair and had quickly put another nametag on it that said 'Miriam.' I couldn't help the little snort of laughter that came out of me, and I covered my mouth to try and stop from giggling a bit. "I'm sorry," I said. Miriam laughed once and set my phone down. "You know, Erica is the right kind of trouble for you I think," she said. "You haven't spent enough time with Ivy," I countered. "That girl is mischievous. I bet the Vanessa one was Erica's idea to try and cheer her up, and the other one was Ivy." "If you've got any pictures from that Danielle woman, I wouldn't mind checking those out," Captain Bloomberg said from over at her desk. "Laura," Miriam said, a little shocked. "What? I told you when we first saw her, that woman could turn a bigoted granny gay," Laura said. "That's fair," Miriam said thoughtfully. "Hey, no arguments from me," I said. Miriam and the Captain ended up finishing their work days, though Miriam told me that she was on call 24/7 anyways and they stayed in apartments lower in the building. She offered to try and find me a free one to rest overnight, but I asked her if I could see Vanessa and stay in whatever medical room she was in. I didn't want her to wake up from the process and be alone. This started a silent conversation of sharp looks between Miriam and Laura, until Laura sighed. "She's not alone. Her father hasn't left her side since we let him see her. This is... let's call it a legal grey area at the moment. Technically you're not even extended family, so he would get precedent on deciding who can be there," she said. "But under the circumstances of the Vaccine imprinting, there's been some debate going around the legal circles of what constitutes a civil union. The matter's still up in the air, but there's a case to be made that you and she are now more intimately connected than she and her father. So I guess the question is do you want to push the issue?" "Oh, fuck," I groaned, and had to massage the bridge of my nose. "On the one hand, yes I want to see her. On the other, Brent deserves to be pissed at me and worried about her. Can I just talk to him?" "Honestly, Harri," Miriam said. "I think you should probably leave that whole conversation to Vanessa and how she wants to have it. Doesn't matter how much you defend yourself, you're still the guy that fucked that man's daughter in a pretty... degenerate seems too strong, but pervy is too weak. Anyways, you fucking her like that brought her here, and he's now aware that she's going to be intimately connected to you for a while." I puffed out my cheeks and let the air blow out slowly, unsure of what to do. "I can try talking to him," Laura offered. "But honestly, I don't know if it would do any good." "It's fine," I finally conceded. "He can be there, just find me another room where I can crash, and let me know when she's awake?" "I'll leave a standing order with the nurses," Miriam nodded. So, as Miriam and Laura finished up for the day, they sent for the night sentry who patrolled the floor and let him know I would be in the staff break room and was allowed to eat out of the cupboards and use the washrooms. Once the airman was gone Laura excused herself and left me with Miriam. "It was nice having you around, Harri," she grinned, dropping her command facade again. She put her hand on my upper arm and grinned, giving me a wink. "And I was joking when I called you fat." "Yeah, well, you really hurt my feelings," I fake-cried, making her laugh. "I'll see you tomorrow before you leave, alright? And I still expect that beer next time I'm up at the site," she said and gave me a peck on the cheek. "You got it," I said, and pecked her back. "And thank you for all of this today, by the way." "Happy to help," she said, and then escorted me to the room where I would spend the next seven hours. The sentry woke me up around four in the morning. I had Cheeto dust on my shirt and fingers, the bag I'd found in the staff room cupboard almost empty and crumpled up on my chest. "Sir, I've been asked to bring you down to the medical wing," he said. "Fuck," I said, blinking awake and standing up. "Uh, give me a second." I went into the men's washroom and quickly washed my hands and my face, and tried to get myself straightened out. Looking in the mirror, I could tell that I'd been running on empty for a bit, but I didn't look as bad as I might have if I hadn't been getting in some light napping at least. The airman brought me to the elevator and punched a button for about a dozen floors down, and when we stepped off of it, it was clear that we were in a more public-facing area, though the number of armed airmen on guard was actually higher. The floor was still quiet, this early in the morning, and generally featured a lot more stuff. There were glass panes and windows everywhere and the place looked like what I would picture a medical bay would in a not-too-distant future medical show. There were a few nurses around, but most of the rooms and beds were empty. We passed by one room that was sealed up with a little yellow light near the handle flashing 'Quarantine Active.' That got me gulping and moving. We turned a corner and I saw her. Vanessa was sitting up in a hospital bed, an IV drip hooked in to one arm. She was in a hospital gown and didn't have any of her usual makeup on, so she looked... sick wasn't the right word. She looked different enough that I noticed it, but it was like seeing Erica without her makeup that first time. It was different but I liked seeing the natural her. "Vanessa, I'm,” I started, but then she threw a magazine at my head. "Harri, I swear to God if you try and apologize to me, I'll throw another one," Vanessa said. She had a stack of a few of them on a little rolling bedside stand, where she also had a tray from a shitty cafeteria meal. "You look good, Vee," I said, changing my mind. She blushed and smiled. "No, I don't. Liar." "Okay, you look as good as someone in a hospital bed can," I said. "Come sit, Harri," she said, shifting herself in the bed and patting beside her. I did, and she took my hand in one of hers and lifted the other to brush a finger against my bruised eye. "The night nurse told me what happened when I woke up." I opened my mouth to apologize again but remembered what she'd said and clicked it shut. She smirked and squeezed my fingers. "Good, you're learning." "So you're not pissed off?" I asked. Vanessa leaned her head back on the pillows propping her up, taking a deep breath. "Maybe at the world, a little. But at you? Or Erica and Ivy? No. I went in there knowing what I was asking for, and you told me the risk. I decided getting off with you three was worth it." She broke into a small smile. "And from what I remember, it was pretty fantastic." "It was," I chuckled. "I mean, wild and filthy, but fantastic." She was looking at me, searching my face for something. I couldn't tell if she found it or not. "I spoke to my Dad. He told me he decked you pretty good but I wasn't expecting a full-on shiner." "He definitely got me," I said, touching my eye. "Wasn't as bad as I felt I deserved." "Yeah, well I told him if he does it again I'll deck him," she said. "And that if he tries to take any revenge on you, he's just punishing me." "Does that mean what I think it means?" I asked. She brought my hand up to her chest and put it over her heart. "Harri, I'm stuck with you no matter what at this point, but if you guys will have me I'd like to move into your crammed RV life. I thought you and Erica were cool since we met, and we know we're sexually compatible. The way I see it, I can either fight this thing just for the sake of fighting, or I can get on board the Harrison train and enjoy the ride." "Vanessa, I; God, I wish I had my phone right now," I said. "There's a picture the girls sent that you'll want to see." Vanessa rolled her eyes and her smile grew. "Oh, I got several pictures," Vanessa said. "I've already seen them. Why don't you have your phone?" "I was up on a secure floor," I said. "Lieutenant Colonel Abarbanel was actually the one to see them when she helped me message back that we were Okay." "Then you have some surprises waiting for you I think," Vanessa grinned. "But for now, you're all mine." She pulled me towards her and guided me into a kiss. Then she whispered into my lips as our noses rubbed against each other. "Pull the privacy screen around us." "Here? Really?" I asked. "My nurse actually encouraged it," Vanessa said. "She said we just need to try and keep it down." I stood up and went to the curtain built into the rolling track around Vanessa's bed and pulled it around us, blocking out the rest of the room, and the hallway beyond the glass observation doors. When I turned back to her, Vanessa was shrugging out of her hospital gown, her cute little tits jiggling. I kicked off my shoes and got up on the hospital bed with her, picking her up a bit and sliding her down into a laying position and tucking my head down to suck on one of her nipples. "Oh, Harri," she crooned, her hand running through my hair. Her nipples got hard quickly as I played my tongue over them, feeling the little boob around it tug and pull as I moved around. I popped off and raised my lips to hers again, giving her a kiss. "I didn't get to spend that much time telling you how beautiful and sexy I think you are," I said between kisses. "Harri, you don't need to lie," she said. "My boobs are tiny. I'm used to; Ah, fuck!" I cut her off by grabbing the tit I hadn't sucked on, squeezing it hard enough to make her hiss a little bit. I'd seen she liked a little rough pawing and play during the foursome, so I used it now to make a point. "If you ever tell me these aren't perfect, I'll spank you so hard you'll have my handprint on your ass for a week." "Fuck, Harri; Fuck," she groaned as I let my grip on her tit loosen, and then bent down and took that nipple into my mouth as well. "Fine. You like my tits. I believe you." "Don't just believe me," I said. "Vanessa, you said you thought Erica and I were cool when we first met. Well, I thought you were fascinating. This gorgeous, tough woman who knew how to take charge and make things happen. Beautiful from head to toe even when you were trying to downplay it for work. Now, you're going to lay back so that I can explore every inch of your gorgeous, perfect body." She looked like she was somewhere between beaming happily and crying, but she nodded. I started back up at her lips and kissed around her jaw and down her neck to her collar bone. Then down to her chest, where I teased her nipples some more, rolling one between my fingers while I tongued and lightly nibbled on the other. Once they were both standing proud and weren't about to go down, I helped her pull the hospital gown off until it was hanging from the arm with the IV in it, revealing the rest of her body to me. I kissed down her stomach to her bellybutton and pressed my forehead against her, kissing her fit stomach softly, then moving lower. I got to the point between her belly button and her mound where her scar was, and the Strength tattoo. I took my time there, kissing it, and tracing my finger along the letters of the tattoo. I turned back to look up at her face and she was pensive, staring at me with this worried look like I was going to change my mind about her. "Perfect," I told her again, "And strong as hell." My lips went further, down onto her mound where a smattering of hairs were poking out. She'd obviously shaved herself in the past, but not as recently as I bet she would have liked. But I didn't care, and I kissed along the stubble of her pubic hair, letting it play against my lips as my beard played against her skin. She spread her legs for me, and I slipped around on the bed so I was laying between them on my stomach, looking up at her. "Do you want me to do this here?" I asked her. "Harri, I want your cock inside me like nothing else," she said. "We'll get there," I grinned, and began to explore her cunt with my lips and tongue. I took my time, softly kissing and licking, searching every nook and cranny of her outer and inner labia. Then I did it again, sucking a little harder, nibbling just a touch, finding the sweet spots that made her legs quiver or her breath catch in a hiccup or gasp. Then I went deeper, peeling her open with my fingers to see the soft pink of her hole, and tasted and teased her. She mewled for me, clawing at the bed. I kept needing to move her leg back as it came up and wanted to curl in towards me until I just planted my hand on her thigh and pushed her open, holding her leg wide. Then I did the same to the other leg, pushing them back further, and I slowly licked from her hole up her lips to her clit hood, teasing the tip of my tongue under it before pushing it back with my upper lip and prodding her clit softly. "Making me... ugh!" Vanessa grunted with a girlish tone, gasping for air. I did it again and watched as another little orgasm rolled through her, her cunt flexing as her abdominal muscles clenched. Moving lower I kissed the inner curve of her ass cheek and looked up from between her legs to meet her gaze. She watched me, a little surprised, as I practically buried my nose in her cunt so that I could drive my tongue against her asshole. Her brow furrowed as I did it, and one eye twtiched as I teased the outer ring, then centered on it and nudged the tip of my tongue a little deeper. "Not here," she gasped suddenly, and I stopped. "I; not here," she said again. "Okay," I said, moving up from her ass and kissing the crook of her thigh. "Just like that?" she asked. "What kind of guys have you been seeing that don't stop when you say no?" I asked back. She blinked. "The kind who don't eat ass, and rarely eat cunt," she said. "So the wrong kind." "Then let me ask you; what do you want me to do now?" She closed her eyes and blew out a long breath through pursed lips, before opening them. "Get your pants off and fuck me while we make out. I want to feel you on top of me." I grinned and slipped off the bed, undoing my belt and kicking my pants off. I was already hard, and she was wet from my exploratory oral, so I got back up on the bed and got over her in a standard missionary position. "Like this?" I asked her. She reached down and got my cock in position, and wrapped a leg around my waist and ass to pull me into her. "Like this," she said with a grin as I slowly penetrated deeper into her. Vanessa was hot and clenched my cock in a rippling sensation as I drove in, slowly fucking into her until I was buried to my root. She grabbed my beard in her hand and pulled me into a kiss as we stayed still and connected. "Ow," I muttered into the kiss. "Sorry," she laughed, releasing my beard. "It's fine," I said and kissed her deeply. We made out, our tongues doing more work than my cock for a long moment, until we started grinding against each other. The rhythm built up slowly, less a pounding than a sensuous back and forth that felt more like dancing. Well, the best kind of dancing where my cock was inside of a beautiful woman. Our kiss broke as we panted against each other. "More," she gasped. "More what?" "More weight," she said. "I want to feel you." I lowered myself from my elbows, letting my body press down against hers like a too-heavy weighted blanket. "Umm," she groaned somewhere at the back of her throat. Her body felt tense under mine, but slowly loosened. I kissed the side of her neck, and she ran the heel of her foot down my leg and then back up to my butt. The soft whoosh of the glass door opening outside of the privacy curtain made us both stop moving. "Vanessa, you good in there?" asked a woman. "Yep," she said. "So good. Perfect." There was a long moment of silence, and then, "Oh. Sorry for interrupting. If you and Mr. Black can finish up, your Father was hoping to see you. I can stall him for ten minutes?" "Thanks," Vanessa called back, biting her lips. Two soft footsteps and the door whooshed again, settling closed. "Oh my God," Vanessa groaned. "I can do a lot in ten minutes," I said with a grin. "No, we have less than that," she sighed. "I need to get cleaned up and dressed first, and you need to be out of here before he gets here. But first I need you to fuck me hard and fast and give me your cum." So that's what I did. I raised up higher again to gain the leverage I needed and I started pounding into her with hard, steady strokes. Vanessa gasped, and soon we were back in that rolling rhythm of our hips except it was way more fucking than dancing. Our eyes never left each other, and when I went in for another kiss she bit my lip as she started to come. That pushed me towards my own edge, and I got myself there by reaching down and strumming my thumb against her clit just as she was coming down, pushing her right back into a second wave of orgasm as her body clenched and I released. "Fuck," I growled, thrusting my hips forward and emptying my balls into her. "Fuck, Vanessa!" She arched her back, silently screaming before she exhaled hard and released the tension. We both lay there panting for a long moment. "I really want to fuck you again," I said. "Right now. I'm still hard as a rock for you." "I can feel that, you fucking caveman," Vanessa laughed, cock drunk for the moment. "But I need to clean up and you need to go." "One more thing," I said, and kissed her again. I got my clothes on first and then helped her find and put on her pants. She hadn't worn underwear when she had come to visit us the morning before when this whole thing kicked off, so now she was going to be leaking my cum into her jeans. Her shirt was there as well, but she was still hooked up to the IV, which meant I had to leave the room and send a nurse to help her. I stopped at the edge of the privacy curtain, looking back at her. "Go," she motioned to me. "I'm not leaving. You can see my tits any time you want." Maybe I was cunt drunk, but I wanted to tell her I loved her. I just grinned and blew her a kiss and a wink before slipping out. Once she couldn't see me, I shook my head. I thought orgasms were supposed to give you post-nut clarity, I thought. I almost blurted that out, and no matter how compatible we were sexually I knew that wasn't the right thing to say at the moment. I found the nurse, who went to help Vanessa, while another one brought me back to the elevator where I was met by the night sentry again. He brought me back up to the waiting room I'd been in before, and I flopped onto the couch. "Harri. Harri, we need to stop meeting like this," Miriam said, and I blinked awake again as she was standing over me and smirking. "Fuck," I grunted. "What time is it?" "Just past 0600," she said. "We've got a couple of cars ready to drive you back home." "A couple?" I frowned. "Brent left earlier in his own vehicle," Miriam said. "But we're sending you back with two more partners for your friend Leo. I already spoke with Vanessa and she said she wanted to ride with them to try and help them stay calm through their vaccination." I closed my eyes again as I parsed what she was saying. "Okay, hold on. Leo is getting two new partners?" "From what I red they are a bisexual couple who wanted to stay together," Miriam said. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and sucked in a big breath through my nose. "Well, at least mine isn't the only RV that's going to be packed to the gills." Miriam brought me down to the underground garage for the building and handed my phone back to me. Two black SUV were idling, the windows all tinted to the point that I couldn't see a single thing inside including the drivers. I turned back to Miriam. "Just another day?" I asked her. "Hell no," she smirked. "You, Harrison Black, as the biggest pain in my ass since I took this posting." Then she pulled me into a hug. "But I wouldn't change a God damn thing about it. I'll see you once our on-site office is up and running." "I'm looking forward to it," I said, giving her a squeeze back. "Lieutenant Colonel." "That's Miriam to you, soldier," she said, pulling back with a smirk and kissing me on the cheek. The elevator bingled and I was shocked, or really mildly surprised, to see Agent Sourpuss leading two women bundled up in hooded jumpsuits with masks on. Sourpuss took one look at me and sneered, directing the two women to the front SUV and climbing in with them. "What was that about?" I asked. "Oh, she's pissed off because she keeps getting seconded to us for transportation detail," Miriam said. "I have no idea why, but she isn't happy about it." "No; Technically I'm pretty sure that was my fault, actually. But I meant the whole bundled up get up." "First, why am I not surprised you're a pain in the ass for other people as well? And second, it's new protocols coming up from California and the first testing area. I guess there have been some questions around whether vaccinated but unbonded women could contract or become carriers for the virus. It's the latest back and forth between the scientists." "Speaking of which," I said. "I know why I don't need to be all bundled up, but why don't you? Are you imprinted on someone?" "Me? No," Miriam said. "Not yet, anyway. I'll do it when they push the order out, for now we're still technically in the testing phase for a bit longer. Everyone who leaves the building and re-enters without being vaccinated is getting blood tested and quarantined; it sucks, but it leaves us able to work functionally instead of talking to each other through hazmat suits." The elevator bingled again, and this time it was Vanessa who stepped out as a sentry gestured her towards the front SUV. She saw me immediately and veered off course, coming to me. I wrapped her up in a hug and noticed Miriam giving me a hard-to-read look. "Hey," I said to Vanessa. "I hear you're playing therapy animal for Leo's new partners." "They asked me to," Vanessa said. "From what I understand, the nurses don't think the woman who is supposed to be doing it does a very good job at calming nerves." Miriam snorted a little but covered it with a cough, looking at me. "Well, I feel like I'm missing out on some more alone time with you, but I understand why," I said. "Do me a favor and try and feel them out a bit, see what they're like." "I will," she smirked and went on her tiptoes to give me a peck on the lips. "They're going to be our neighbors, after all." "Yes they are," I grinned and patted her butt. "See you at home?" "Fuck. Home," Vanessa said, backing away from me. "I haven't had one of those in a while. It's gonna be weird." She turned and strode to the SUV and got in the back. "That one might be trouble," Miriam said. "They're all trouble," I laughed. "See you sooner than later?" "Sooner than later," she grinned and winked. I went to the back SUV, which was apparently my personal chauffeur for the sole reason that Agent Sourpuss couldn't find an ounce of empathy in her. Hopefully there's a partition between the front and the back, I thought. I can check those pictures Erica and Ivy were sending me. When I opened the back door of the SUV to get in I had to stop. "Ah," I said. "That explains a lot." I slid in and shut the door. "Agent Grierson." The craggy-faced Agent smirked and nodded. "Harrison. When I heard there was an anomalous vaccination issue, I decided to check it out and lo and behold, it's my favorite redneck." "Did you just come to check-in, or are you looking to offload some more government cash on me?" I asked. The SUVs started moving, pulling out of the garage and into downtown Portland. "Kid, you know I don't need to come to see you to check in," he said. "And I don't have the time to just come shoot the shit, no matter how much I'd enjoy a good fuckin' day off once in a while. I'm here to ask a favor." "Well now you're just being coy," I said. "You know that I know you didn't have to let that lease thing through instead of a flat purchase, so you've got me cornered." "Well, the good news is that I'm not asking you to do anything underhanded," Grierson said. "I noticed you've recently taken on a security consulting contract and your clearance has been restored. I'm going to open it up a little bit more here, if that's alright with you." "Playful, then coy, then asking my permission? Jesus fuck, what are you about to ask me to do?" "Alright, kid. Here's the deal," Grierson sighed. "Sometime in the next few days you're going to get a new partner delivered to you. What I need you to do is keep an eye on her. She's the daughter of the Ambassador from the Philippines, and officially we've run her through the Oracle matching system as a diplomatic courtesy. What no one else knows, including people in that building we just left, is that her Oracle results didn't matter. I'm placing her with you, and scattering a few other Filipino nationals in safe little corners of the country, as a deal with the NICA." "Wait, that's the..." I had to wrack my brain going back to my Military Police training. "Isn't that the CIA of the Philippines?" "A much lesser version, yes," Grierson said. "On the official unofficial paperwork, it's a spy deal. We're going to take care of some of their valuable people who are here, and they're going to take care of some of our valuable people who are over there. The unofficial unofficial deal is that we don't have anyone over there, and the government of the Philippines is going to let us stage our latest espionage attempts into China from their shores. There's a fucking information blackout coming out of China right now, and other than satellite images we've got nothing on what's going on in there." "Okay, hold on," I said. "So am I taking in this Ambassador's daughter as payment for the US Government?" "No, you're taking her in because Kyla Bautista is also secretly a spy who just graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in dance, and while she was there we suspect she turned at least four different Professors and research assistants into assets for NICA for Intellectual Property espionage. I'm scooping her up and putting her with you because you're so far off the radar that no one would think you're keeping an eye on her, and so that the Chinese can't find her if they figure out what's going on and want some revenge. But most of all, I'm putting her with you because, despite your record and stupid career choices after you left the military, you have the mindset to keep an eye on her without her or anyone else knowing that's what's going on." "This is all well and good, Grierson," I said. "But I've got three women imprinted on me already, one of them by mistake. How the hell am I supposed to add a fourth woman into the mix?" Grierson snorted. "Kid, I got news for you. By this time next year, I'd bet all that money I just put into your bank account that you'll look back and think what a naive question that was." I sighed and shook my head slowly. "What does her father think of her getting matched off like that? Does he even know?" "Oh, he was pissed until he got cut in on an early vaccination as well for his wife, along with his long-time second in command who he's been having an affair with, and his additional American mistress who is very black and very formidable, neither of whom the wife knows about. He seems to think it'll be fine." "Jesus," I sighed, shaking my head. "So what, is the OGA offering to pay me for spy sitting?" "No," Grierson said. "But there is an upside." "What's that?" "Like I said, Kyla Bautista graduated with a degree in dance. If I wasn't too fucking busy being ethical, I'd have just put her in my house. The woman is something else." "That's gross," I said, my face twisting in mild disgust. "It's reality, kid. Game it out; people need to fuck to save their lives. Even before this shit show people put a value on beauty over pretty much anything else. What do you think it's going to be like when the entire country is getting matched up?" "I don't know," I sighed. "That's; I don't even want to think about it." "And that's why they pay me and my people the big bucks," Grierson said. He tapped on the glass partition that separated us from the front seat, and the SUV began to pull over. "I'm not asking you to do anything you wouldn't have anyways. Just keep an eye on her for me, alright?" "Fine," I said. "But if she takes one look at me and asks for someone else, I can't do anything about that. I'm not forcing some woman into this." "Won't be a problem," Grierson said. The SUV came to a stop, and he stepped out. "Grierson," I said, and he turned back. "Miriam said someone pulled some strings to get her assigned where she is. Was that you?" "What?" Grierson raised an eyebrow. "You think I like you that much, kid?" "That wasn't an answer," I said. "Well, if it was me, I think maybe you owe me another one still," he said, then shut the door. Another car had pulled up behind us, which he got into, and it pulled a big U-turn in the middle of the empty street and drove back the way we'd come. The driver of my ride pulled back onto the street and sped up to catch the other SUV in our mini convoy, and I was left to my thoughts. I sighed and opened my phone. I didn't want to think about this Grierson thing. If it happened, then it happened and we'd deal with it. I went to my messages and opened the ones from Erica and Ivy. "Fucking hell," I sighed, looking at the lewd pictures and knowing that Miriam had seen them. "What am I going to do with three women?" Or four? Or more? I was going to need a bigger bed, and quickly. I stretched, feeling several somethings in my back and shoulders pop, as I got out of the back of the nondescript black SUV and felt the gravel of the construction site crunch under my boots. The place was bustling since we'd arrived mid-morning, and I saw more than a few of the workers taking looks over at me and starting to talk to each other. The rumor mill must have been burning hard since Vanessa had gotten carted off in a military helicopter and flown away. First things first, however, was to not unload two vaccinated-but-unbonded women into the middle of a construction site. I flashed a quick thumbs up through the passenger side window at whoever my driver had been; I'd never seen a face or heard a voice; and jogged up to the other vehicle and knocked on the passenger window. Agent Sourpuss rolled it down a moment later, scowling at me from the driver's seat. "What?" "I know you haven't been here for a bit," I said. "But if you drive around to the right over there you'll see our RVs and our little compound. Dropping the ladies off there would probably cause less of a, uh, scene." I could tell she wanted to argue with me but knew I was right. Instead of answering she just stabbed her finger down on the window button beside her and closed it in my face, then pulled the SUV around and headed in the direction I'd pointed. I walked along behind, and we rounded the second big bunkhouse building that was looking just about finished now and headed towards our compound. By the time Agent Sourpuss put the vehicle in park Erica and Ivy were already ducking out from behind the sheets hung between the corner of the RV and the storage container that we'd deemed the 'front door.' Leo and Danielle were right behind them. I wanted to go to my women, but I held myself back and instead opened the rear door of the SUV. Inside I saw that Vanessa was sitting in the middle row bucket seat, and I leaned in and kissed her quickly before offering her a hand down. "Don't go getting all chivalrous on me now, Harri," Vanessa grinned as she accepted my hand and swung out onto her feet. She looked back into the vehicle. "Come on, ladies. Leo's out here waiting for you." The two women, practically swimming in their baggy, hooded coveralls and masked up to boot, unbuckled and started climbing between the seats. I, however, was suddenly a little busy as I was hugged from behind by a small form that could only be Ivy. Beside me, Erica was pulling Vanessa into a hug as well. "I'm so sorry, hon," Erica said, squeezing the shorter woman tightly. "If I'd had any reasonable idea that this would happen,” "It's fine, Erica," Vanessa said, squeezing her back and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Seriously. We'll talk about it, but I'm Okay with it if you are." "Hey you," I said in the meanwhile, turning at the waist to wrap my arm around Ivy's shoulder and hug her to me. "Hello, mon amour," Ivy sighed. "I missed you." "I missed you too, I've," I said, and leaned down and gave the short blonde a quick kiss. The first of the women had reached the door of the car, and Ivy let me go so that I could offer her a hand down. All I could see of her were her eyes and the skin around them; she was white but tanned heavily, and had soft grey eyes that were flicking around. "Let me help, miss," I said. She accepted, her gloved hand taking mine for a moment to step down, and I ushered her directly towards Leo and Dani. "This is Leo, and his better half Danielle." "Hey," Leo scolded me playfully, giving me a little punch on the arm as he grinned. "Hey, hon," Dani said, pulling the woman into a hug that seemed to surprise her. I turned back and Erica was helping the next woman down; she was white and paler than the first, and had dark green eyes. Soon she was getting the same hugging welcome as the first from Dani, as Leo looked both a little bashful and a little excited. "How about we head in and talk?" Erica suggested to everyone. "Ladies, Leo is my brother so I might be biased, but you're in good hands. And if he ends up sucking, then Dani's got you." "Hell yeah I do," Dani chuckled, nudging Leo with an elbow. "I wouldn't mind getting handled by either of you," the tan woman said through her mask. "God damn, girl. Your tits don't quit." "Thanks for noticing," Dani grinned and winked. She took both women by the hand and started leading them into the compound. "Come on, let's get you two fucked and settled." "Now that's one hell of a welcome offer," the other woman laughed. I laughed a little too, hearing the two as Leo quickly jogged ahead to hold the fabric door open for them. "Seriously, those two are gonna be something else," Vanessa said, shaking her head. "You got to talk with them?" Erica asked. "The whole ride here," Vanessa said. "Their names are Aria and India. Aria seems a little sweeter and the more rational one, while India is a hippy kid from hippy parents. They said they've been girlfriends for three years, and up until last year they 'worked' as sugar babies while Aria was finishing up her master's of communications." "Jesus," Erica sighed with a rueful smirk. "They're going to eat Leo alive."

There is $1.8 trillion in outstanding student loan debt in the U.S., and the Trump administration is actively changing the ways borrowers can repay that debt. Laurel Taylor, the CEO and founder of a student-loan-focused fintech startup called Candidly, spoke to ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath about what these changes mean for borrowers and how she's navigating the turbulent political environment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In THE HEADACHE: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction-and a Search for Relief (Mariner Books; on sale 7/15/2025), veteran science journalist Tom Zeller Jr. delivers a deeply reported journey into the world of headaches-equal parts gripping memoir, cutting-edge science, and insightful exploration of what it means to live with severe, unexplained, and recurrent head pain.For decades, Zeller has battled excruciating cluster headaches, a disorder so painful it is sometimes described as "suicide headache" in the scientific literature. But instead of succumbing to despair, he used his unique skills as a journalist to dig deeper. THE HEADACHE chronicles his personal quest for answers-from experimental drug trials to groundbreaking research on brain function, and even the unexpected possibilities of psychedelic therapy. Zeller's captivating narrative explores the history of headache treatment, the science behind the nervous system, and how modern medicine is finally starting to take these conditions seriouslyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Justin, Rob, and Wos are here on Day 4 of free agency before this holiday weekend to talk about the most confounding and confusing teams in the league right now. Intro (0:00) Bucks (3:08) Kings (23:10) Heat (30:05) Warriors (36:35) Raptors (45:20) Suns (55:20) Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto and Jomi Adeniran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Findings from the SERENA-6 trial, which examined switching therapies in patients with breast cancer ahead of disease progression, made headlines during the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. However, big questions remain. “I don't know for sure if the approach is practice changing yet. I think the approach is practice confounding,” said Stephanie Graff, MD, director of breast oncology at Brown University Health Cancer Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Graff discussed the high-profile data with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology. The trial showed a progression-free survival benefit when patients switched from an aromatase inhibitor to camizestrant, based on circulating tumor DNA information. And yet, issues with the study's design may make taking the results into clinic challenging. “We don't have clear evidence on how changing based on molecular therapy changes overall survival,” said Dr. Graff. “I think we're going to get there, but I don't know that the point we are at with SERENA-6 has us there.”

The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, whose package in exchange included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and picks, leaving the Suns with an out-of-balance roster.

Terry Mattingly of Rational Sheep Rational Sheep Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture GetReligion.org The post A New York Times Article, “Amy Coney Barrett Is Confounding the Right and the Left” – Terry Mattingly, 6/18/25 (1692) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Menopausal hormonal therapy should not be a blanket recommendation for everyone going through menopauseWeight management in women is influenced by hormonal changes throughout life stages.Retrospective analyses can provide insights but have limitations.The wellness industry often oversimplifies complex medical issues.Hormonal replacement therapy may have subtle benefits for weight management.Confounding factors like SSRIs can complicate weight loss efforts.A holistic approach is essential for managing women's health during menopause.Education and awareness are crucial for women navigating menopause.Future research should focus on randomized controlled trials for better clarity.Understanding individual patient experiences is key to effective treatment.Click here to see her studyClick here to follow Dr. Tchang on XClick here to join Dr. Spencer's clinic Vineyard 

Aubrey converses with Stanley Beckett, author and consultant at changecreatorsa, about the book "The psychology of money". Stanley discussed chapter 4 of the Psychology of Money entitled "Confounding Compounding" - How can something small grow into something massive without anyone noticing—until it's too late? THE AUBREY MASANGO SHOW BOILERPLATE The Aubrey Masango Show is presented by late night radio broadcaster Aubrey Masango. Aubrey hosts in-depth interviews on controversial political issues and chats to experts offering life advice and guidance in areas of psychology, personal finance and more. All Aubrey’s interviews are podcasted for you to catch-up and listen. Thank you for listening to this podcast from The Aubrey Masango Show. Listen live on weekdays between 20:00 and 24:00 (SA Time) to The Aubrey Masango Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and on CapeTalk between 20:00 and 21:00 (SA Time) https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk Find out more about the show here https://buff.ly/lzyKCv0 and get all the catch-up podcasts https://buff.ly/rT6znsn Subscribe to the 702 and CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfet Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve breaks down South Carolina big man Collin Murray-Boyles in this episode. Tune in to hear about Murray-Boyles's stellar defense and offensive limitations.

In this episode, Andy and Patrick finally get around to talking about Buckaroo Bonzai

Join Janice and Comedian, Author, and Actor Dan Kulp on today's episode of the Journey with Janice Podcast!Dan has appeared on Good Morning America twice and is author of “Confounding the Wise: A Celebration of Life, Love, Laughter, Adoption and the Joy of Children with Special Needs.” He shares his humor at banquets, conferences, churches, camps, colleges, special needs organizations, schools and comedy clubs all around the U.S.In our chat today, we talk about Dan's journey in the comedy and music worlds, living out our God-given purpose, finding love again after divorce, how adoption has impacted his life and so much more!We pray this episode encourages and inspires your heart to live the life God created you for!Connect with Dan Kulp:www.kulponline.com and on all social media platforms @comediandankulp Links: Facebook.com/dankulpYoutube.com/@comediandankulpInstagram.com/comediandankulpTiktok.com/@comediandankulpX.com/comediandankulp

Luke 20:1-8

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been undermining public trust in vaccines and overseeing crippling cuts to research across American science. And yet his “make America healthy again” highlights themes more familiar in liberal circles: toxins in the environment, biodiversity, healthy eating. Kennedy has put junk food at the center of the political conversation, speaking about ultra-processed foods and their established links to chronic disease—despite President Donald Trump's well-known reverence for fast food of all kinds. Marion Nestle, a leading nutrition researcher and the author of “Food Politics,” has written in depth on how money and politics affect our diet and our health, and about the ways that American science research has been hampered by limited funding. She tells the physician and contributing writer Dhruv Khullar, who's been reporting on the American diet, that “it would be wonderful if R.F.K., Jr., could make the food supply healthier. I just think that in order to do that, he's going to have to take on the food industry, and I don't think Trump has a history of taking on corporations of any kind. . . . I'll believe it when I see it.” Kraftwerk—the pioneering electronic music group that débuted more than half a century ago —has been touring the U.S., with stops planned in Europe this year. The staff writer Kelefa Sanneh calls them one of the most influential bands of all time, playing a formative role in hip-hop, techno, EDM, and much of popular music as we know it. Sanneh picks tracks from Kraftswerk's repertoire and demonstrates how those sounds trickle out through music history, from Afrika Bambaataa to Coldplay. 

When Jesus looks at the world he sees only two types of people. There are people who are blessed by God (see verses 20-23) and there are people who are cursed by God (see verses 24-26). Those who embrace Jesus by repentance and faith are the blessed recipients of God's favor, while those who do not are the cursed recipients of his righteous judgment. In this sermon by Jesus in Luke 6:20-26, he teaches us what these two different types of people look like and he points us to what their final outcome will be, both of which comprise quite a surprising reversal. As you listen, let me encourage you to consider which of these two descriptions that Jesus gives best fits your life. Are you the one to whom Jesus is saying "Blessed are you who..." or are you the one to whom Jesus is saying "Woe to you who...?" If, after listening, you find that you are in that second category, then my prayer to you is that this sermon would lead to you to the type of godly sorrow over sin that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 7:10 - "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret."This episode is a sermon that was originally given by Jackson Hankey at Bethel Baptist Church in Park River, ND, on April 13th, 2025.

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: award-winning comedian Alex Edelman! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-Jesse's Lawnmower is Confounding the Experts but It's Getting Tuned Up!-The B-105 Instant Spring Break is Real and James Can Vouch!-The Dad Joke of the Day-Lining Up Some Lenten Sacrifices: Door Dash, Toxic People and Listening to Your Wife! LOL-The Cincinnati Kid Calls it a Career-Good Vibes: The Burger King Chair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

-Jesse's Lawnmower is Confounding the Experts but It's Getting Tuned Up! -The B-105 Instant Spring Break is Real and James Can Vouch! -The Dad Joke of the Day -Lining Up Some Lenten Sacrifices: Door Dash, Toxic People and Listening to Your Wife! LOL -The Cincinnati Kid Calls it a Career -Good Vibes: The Burger King Chair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you ready to put your noggin to the ultimate test and embark on a mind-bending adventure? Well, you're in for a treat because we've got just the video that'll sizzle your synapses and have you scratching your head in delightful confusion! Join us in this electrifying video filled with confounding riddles that will make you question everything you thought you knew. We're talking brain-burners that'll leave you pondering, giggling, and maybe even facepalming at their cleverness.

Title: Episode 5 - Bias and Confounding Target Audience This activity is directed to physicians who take care of hospitalized children, medical students, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants working in the emergency room, intensive care unit, or hospital wards. Objectives: Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: 1.      Review bias in research. 2.      Review confounding in research. Course Directors: Tony R. Tarchichi MD — Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC.) Paul C. Gaffney Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine. No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed. Rebekah Miller MLIS - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Research & Instruction Librarian No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: No other planners, members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose. Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.   Disclaimer Statement: The information presented at this activity represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses. Released 2/20/2025,  Expires 2/20/2028 The direct link to the course is provided below: https://cme.hs.pitt.edu/ISER/app/learner/loadModule?moduleId=25578&dev=true

Michael O'Flynn, Chairman and CEO of the O'Flynn Group and was a member of the Irish Housing Commission and Barra Roantree, Director of the MSC in Economic Policy at Trinity College, Dublin

Recorded February 2, 2025   Another new month another new week of Caps hockey. One regulation win. Two overtime losses. Easy enough to count. See where we're going here? No? Listen and find out.....and enjoy while we recap all of the action.   #ALLCAPS #SportsOTHP #Sucram'sCapitalsOffTheirChain #JenayaTalksCaps #LockedOnCapitals #TheOfficialCapsChirpPodcast

In this week's episode Patrick and Greg explore the fascinating world of suppressor variables which have the nearly magical, yet fully understandable, distinction of being unrelated to the dependent variable yet serving to enhance the predictive utility of other variables in the model. Along the way they also discuss  getting the giggles, giving away our secrets, Sigmund Freud, repressed variance, Greg's defense mechanisms, Keyser Soze, the Cookie Monster, squirrel proof bird feeders, World War II, street magicians, Paul's corpse, and before zero was invented.  Stay in contact with Quantitude! Web page: quantitudepod.org TwitterX: @quantitudepod YouTube: @quantitudepod Merch: redbubble.com

Confounding the wisdom of the world, Jesus Christ became God in the flesh and dwelt among His creation. God's glorious salvation arrived, full of grace and truth. In this message from John 1, Pastor Lutzer shows how Jesus is the divider of humanity, giving us a choice between light and darkness. Without Jesus, we will only manage our darkness. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

Confounding the wisdom of the world, Jesus Christ became God in the flesh and dwelt among His creation. God's glorious salvation arrived, full of grace and truth. In this message from John 1, Pastor Lutzer shows how Jesus is the divider of humanity, giving us a choice between light and darkness. Without Jesus, we will only manage our darkness. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

The killing of a healthcare executive in New York has brought Americans' dissatisfaction with the U.S. healthcare system to the fore. Many have taken to social media to vent their frustration and to share stories of exorbitant bills and denials of coverage. Reset talks with healthcare journalist Dan Weissmann, host and executive producer of “An Arm and A Leg” podcast and Reset listener Jackie Covarrubias. Her family has had challenges getting medications and treatments covered by insurance.

Follow Nutrition Science Daily, our new 5-minute weekday morning podcast delivering the latest in nutrition, fat loss, and health science... plus simple tips to help you optimize your diet, build muscle, and improve your health—all before your high-protein breakfast!—If you've experimented with supplements or recovery protocols and struggled to determine what's actually working versus what's just wishful thinking...Learn how the engineering concept of Confounding Variables reveals why most self-experiments fail to give clear answers – and how to design better ones.Using my real experience with BPC-157 for shoulder recovery as a case study, discover why changing multiple factors at once creates a "messy dataset" that can mask or amplify results.Whether you're evaluating a supplement, modifying your training, or testing any health intervention, understanding this framework will transform how you approach self-experimentation.Main Takeaways:Why controlling variables matters for supplement evaluationHow diet changes can mask or amplify recovery resultsThe hidden benefit of "messy" real-world experimentsA systematic approach to learning from imperfect dataEpisodes Mentioned:Testosterone, Hormone Therapy, and Peptides for Health and Longevity with Dr. Rand McClainPeptides, Hormone Therapy, Medical Aesthetics, and Personalized Wellness with Kristin Gemme→ Follow Nutrition Science Daily, our new 5-minute weekday morning podcast!

Proudly sponsored by PyMC Labs, the Bayesian Consultancy. Book a call, or get in touch!My Intuitive Bayes Online Courses1:1 Mentorship with meOur theme music is « Good Bayesian », by Baba Brinkman (feat MC Lars and Mega Ran). Check out his awesome work!Visit our Patreon page to unlock exclusive Bayesian swag ;)Takeaways:CFA is commonly used in psychometrics to validate theoretical constructs.Theoretical structure is crucial in confirmatory factor analysis.Bayesian approaches offer flexibility in modeling complex relationships.Model validation involves both global and local fit measures.Sensitivity analysis is vital in Bayesian modeling to avoid skewed results.Complex models should be justified by their ability to answer specific questions.The choice of model complexity should balance fit and theoretical relevance. Fitting models to real data builds confidence in their validity.Divergences in model fitting indicate potential issues with model specification.Factor analysis can help clarify causal relationships between variables.Survey data is a valuable resource for understanding complex phenomena.Philosophical training enhances logical reasoning in data science.Causal inference is increasingly recognized in industry applications.Effective communication is essential for data scientists.Understanding confounding is crucial for accurate modeling.Chapters:10:11 Understanding Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)20:11 Application of SEM and CFA in HR Analytics30:10 Challenges and Advantages of Bayesian Approaches in SEM and CFA33:58 Evaluating Bayesian Models39:50 Challenges in Model Building44:15 Causal Relationships in SEM and CFA49:01 Practical Applications of SEM and CFA51:47 Influence of Philosophy on Data Science54:51 Designing Models with Confounding in Mind57:39 Future Trends in Causal Inference01:00:03 Advice for Aspiring Data Scientists01:02:48 Future Research DirectionsThank you to my Patrons for making this episode possible!Yusuke Saito, Avi Bryant, Ero Carrera, Giuliano Cruz, Tim Gasser, James Wade, Tradd Salvo, William Benton, James Ahloy,

In 1986, Columbus police responded to a horribly mutilated body being found in a dumpster near the Ohio State University campus. It turned out to be David Hadaway, a local 19-year-old All-American boy next door with no history of trouble. To this day, police have not been able to find out a motive, a crime scene, or even a suspect. www.ohiomysteries.com feedback@ohiomysteries.com www.patreon.com/ohiomysteries www.twitter.com/mysteriesohio www.facebook.com/ohiomysteries Additional music: New Horizon - Aderin; Audionautix- The Great Unknown; The Great Phospher- Daniel Birch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah is an incredibly powerful and dramatic story. Being swallowed by a fish for three days and surviving sounds crazy and miraculous. However, that isn't the most incredible facet of Jonah's story. The most powerful part of the story is God's mercy and redemption of a people so lost, so broken, that God describes them as "not knowing their right from their left." God committed an act of mercy so incredible that Jonah was actually offended by it, and thought it was God who should repent of showing so much grace!

This is episode 196 and we're covering the movement towards sef-government and the first Cape Constitution which included what's known as a qualified Franchise. A trend had been sweeping British colonies by the mid-nineteenth century where the coming commonwealth was intent on running its own affairs on a country-by-country basis. The first self-governing colony of the British Empire you could say was Massachussett's in 1630 showing how long the Americans had been tugging at the British leash before they began their war of independence. But to be strictly accurate it was really the Province of Canada in 1841, and all colonies of British North America became self governing between 1848 and 1855 — except Vancouver Island. Australia was a bit more complex, there were six settler colonies which each achieved self-governing status over quite a long period, between 1852 and 1901. Well Seven if you include New Zealand, sorry Kiwis, the English system kind of lumped Australasia together. There had been a tension growing between the mother-country with it's erratic political system, and the colonies. The plethora of politics that blew back and forth on the headlands of the British voter was head spinning - but by 1850 the British bureaucracy began to gain prominance and in the halls of power, it was whispered that public jobs were going to be based on merit rather than patronage. As this liberalisation of the system back home began to shake the dusty and cobweb strewn hallways of ancient Britain, the philosophy drifted outwards, like an informed mist, towards the distant colonies. The problem for the colonists was the liberals wanted black people to have rights, the conservatives vacillated. Settlers almost to a man preferred indigenous people of the colonised territories to avail themselves as labour without recourse to the same rights as themselves. You'll remember last episode we met new Cape Attorney General William Porter, an Irish democrat who wanted to extend the rights afforded white colonists to all who lived in the Cape. He arrived in Cape Town in 1839 and was acutely aware of the changing winds back home when it came to bureaucracy. Confounding a quick solution to the debate about who should be allowed to vote was the fact that officials in the Cape couldn't get along. Chief Justice Wylde wanted to have a seat on the proposed lower house of a new Cape Legislature, even though he was a technocrat. Porter himself hankered after a seat in the House of Assembly proposed as Attorney General that officials should be allowed to stand for election without being held responsible to Parliament for their official acts. Everyone agreed however that the concept of a franchise system was important, and the franchise must be low enough so that everyone had a shot of being allowed to vote. Disallowing coloureds the vote had been the major reason at least two Colonial Secretaries had delayed self-government in South Africa. This was known as the Cape Qualified Franchise. What we must keep in mind is that the ideology of utilitarianism mixed with evangelicalism was characteristic of the new order. However, it was tempered by fear. There were two factions debating this in 1850 through to 1853. One faction sought a narrowly based electorate to be achieved by high property qualification, and the other a widely based electorate to be achieved by a low property qualification. Speaking of the war, it was about to come to an end. Burned itself out so to speak. When Lieutenant Colonel Cathcart had arrived in the Eastern Cape, his initial strategy of ending the war was to do what other British commanders had done, start building fortified posts.

There are 3 broad categories of Chandrachud rulings: those where rhetoric matched impact, those that were high-minded but not too impactful, and those where the impact contradicted the rhetoric.  

We're just more than a week out from the trade deadline, and we've already seen a number of impact deals. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dream up a few more that we could realistically see on this Week 8 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Bills-Seahawks, the Bears defense, Eagles-Bengals and a whole lot more.RundownVikings-Rams recapBills-Seahawks previewDeAndre Hopkins to the ChiefsRealistic trades we'd like to seeUnder the Hood: The non-Caleb parts of the Bears 4-2 startBummed out by the Colts and Texans offensesThe Eagles and Bengals aren't playing serious football—especially the EaglesHuge game in the NFC SouthWhat Do We Wanna Know?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're just more than a week out from the trade deadline, and we've already seen a number of impact deals. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dream up a few more that we could realistically see on this Week 8 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Bills-Seahawks, the Bears defense, Eagles-Bengals and a whole lot more. Rundown Vikings-Rams recap Bills-Seahawks preview DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs Realistic trades we'd like to see Under the Hood: The non-Caleb parts of the Bears 4-2 start Bummed out by the Colts and Texans offenses The Eagles and Bengals aren't playing serious football—especially the Eagles Huge game in the NFC South What Do We Wanna Know? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for this episode with Dr. Casey Kelley, a renowned expert in integrative medicine, to dive into the complexities of Lyme disease. She debunks some of the biggest myths surrounding Lyme, explaining why it's often under-diagnosed and misunderstood. She sheds light on what we should know about testing--highlighting both the limitations and advancements in current diagnostics. Dr. Kelley also shares her integrative approach to treatment, which goes beyond antibiotics to include lifestyle changes, nutrition, and immune system support. This conversation is essential for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of Lyme disease and the holistic options available for managing it.Since the beginning of her medical career, Dr. Casey Kelley, M.D. continually asked questions about health, longevity, and healing that conventional medicine didn't answer. Seeking those answers, she began studying Functional Medicine to complement her traditional medical studies. Utilizing this multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Kelley has been at the forefront of Integrative Medicine, devoting her career to treating patients in a highly personalized manner that focuses as much on overall health and wellness as it does on specific issues and diagnoses.Board Certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Kelley was among the first physicians to add a board certification in Integrative Medicine as well. She has studied the causes, effects, and treatments of Lyme Disease extensively, and lectures nationally on this and other topics.Dr. Kelley graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed her residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago. She has been a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) for over ten-years and a former Treasurer of The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS). Dr. Kelley is on the faculty at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.SHOW NOTES:0:51 Welcome to the show!4:20 Dr. Casey Kelley's Bio5:12 Welcome her to the podcast!6:34 Her journey into addressing Lyme8:36 Symptoms to look for with Lyme10:58 The biggest myths around Lyme15:08 What variables worsen Lyme?16:45 Why Lyme is under diagnosed17:42 Renee's story18:19 How accurate is testing?25:24 Supporting a Herxheimer Reaction27:29 *Cycle Care Ad*30:03 Should Lyme be completely eradicated?32:33 Jim Brewer stand-up 33:59 How do we empower our immune system?36:52 Vagus Nerve support & hacks40:04 Why do we get stuck in fight or flight?44:28 Treatment options for Lyme48:20 Dietary Support50:34 Underlying infections & toxicities59:48 Dr. Kelley's final piece of advice1:00:42 Where to find her1:01:15 Thanks for tuning in!RESOURCES:Website: Case Integrative HealthFacebookInstagram: Case Integrative Health, @drcaseykelleyPrimal TrustThe Amp CoilBiOptimizers Cycle Care - code: biohackerbabes10Our Sponsors:* Check out Puori and use my code BIOHACKERBABES for a great deal: puori.com* Check out Timeline and use my code BABES20 for a great deal: www.timeline.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/biohacker-babes-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

As the Re-Slayers delve into the depths of Ügelberg, they encounter a familiar evil that entangles them in a bewildering and relentless challenge. The Re-Slayers Take is the story of six misfit mercenaries that are rejected from the elite monster hunting group, The Slayer's Take who band together, forming the second-coolest monster hunting group; The Re-Slayers Take battling supernatural creatures across the rugged continent of Issylra. Listen to new episodes of The Re-Slayer's Take every Monday anywhere you stream podcasts! Listen to this audio adventure two weeks early and uninterrupted by ads with Beacon! Sign up for a Beacon Membership today at https://beacon.tv/join! Game Masters: Nick Williams and George Primavera Cast Members Jasmine Bhullar, Caroline Lux, Jasmine Chiong Created by Nick Williams & George Primavera Produced by George Primavera, Nick Williams, and Kirby Winslow Logo Art by Jordyn Torrence Character Art by Elaine Tipping || https://elainetipping.com/ || @TriaElf9 (Twitter) || @triaelf9 (Instagram) “80s” Theme Song by Chill Carrier Additional Music by Zach Carlson “Famous Friend” || @famousfriend (Instagram) Norbert Klott by Xander Jeanneret (Guest Character) Various NPCs by Nick Williams and George Primavera Learn more about Hero Club: https://heroclubpodcast.com/ Follow us! Website: https://www.critrole.com Newsletter: https://critrole.com/newsletter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalrole Twitter: https://twitter.com/criticalrole Instagram: https://instagram.com/critical_role TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@criticalrole Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Simon, I'd like to lose some weight before my next Ironman event. I'm going keto!”   Believe it or not, I hear this on a regular basis and it makes me anxious for the individual. Keto diets have been very successful in helping individuals lose weight although that's mostly due to the body needing to store less water from the reduced carbohydrate intake. True keto is also very restrictive and difficult to sustain for more than a few weeks. It is also stressful on the body. Training for an Ironman is also stressful on the body, which is why attempting both at the same time has the potential for disaster. Having said that, I'm sure there are folks who have done this successfully and if you are one of them, I'd love to hear your story.   The truth is that there are much healthier options for losing weight, if indeed you really need to lose any at all. My guest today is Registered Dietitian, Lexi Kelson, who's making her fourth appearance on the show. She has a  Master's degree in Applied Nutrition with a focus on fueling for sports performance and is the perfect person to help us to understand the best approaches for endurance athletes to lose weight.   In the world of social media there is a lot of noise, and it is difficult to work out what is nonsense and what to believe. So, if you are interested in getting to your race weight in a health and sustainable way for next season, by the end of this episode you will have a step by step process to help you do exactly that. We talk about: Do you really need to lose weight, and if so, why? Confounding factors which influence performance and weight Balancing health and performance goals How to track and monitor weight loss Strategies for sustained weight loss Influences of behaviour and culture Some considerations for aging athletes Balancing training and nutrition Guidance for peri & menopausal females regarding weight gain/weight loss Are meal replacements (such as Huel) a suitable alternative to real food? To follow Precision Fuel & Hydration please use these social media links: Instagram: @precisionhydration Facebook: @precisionhydration Twitter: @thesweatexperts YouTube:  www.youtube.com/c/precisionhydration LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/precisionhydration Here is some other cool stuff you might be interested in: Metabolic adaptation explained:  Ponzer study:  Are you fueling adequately to maintain health and performance? RED-S:  Optimal bodyweight for racing: is lighter really better? https://www.precisionhydration.com/performance-advice/hydration/racing-body-weight/#the-danger-of-focusing-on-weight-loss    Free online sweat test: https://sweattest.precisionhydration.com/pages/why-personalise-your-hydration-strategy Quick carb calculator: https://www.precisionhydration.com/products/precision-fuel-sample-pack/#thecarbcalculator Athlete Case Studies: https://www.precisionhydration.com/athletes/case-studies/triathlon/ **To get a free copy of my personal daily mobility routine, please click HERE** To contact Beth regarding Life Coaching, please visit her website at BethanyWardLifeCoaching.uk. Sports Nutrition questions - if you have a sports nutrition question that you would like answered on the podcast, please email it to me via Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.   Join our SWAT/High Performance Human tribe using this link, with a happiness guarantee! You can watch a brief video about the group by going to our website here, and join our SWAT High Performance Human tribe here. Purchase a copy of my High Performance Human e-book featuring more than 30 top tips on how to upgrade your life. If you would like to help offset the cost of our podcast production, we would be so grateful. Please click here to support the HPH podcast. Thank you! Visit Simon's website for more information about his coaching programmes. Links to all of Simon's social media channels can be found here.  For any questions please email Beth@TheTriathlonCoach.com.  

On this episode,  We discuss large moves expected for the election and Friday's unemployment report We talk time vs. Greeks We look at how earnings season volatility is impacting this market. We share our thoughts on overall options volume trends What we see in the RIA space and outlook for retail adoption of options We answer listener questions about long straddles, leap options, and taking advantage of high skew stocks like meme stocks And much more. With your hosts: Mark Longo - The Options Insider Media Group Matt Amberson - Option Research & Technology Services

On this episode,  We discuss large moves expected for the election and Friday's unemployment report We talk time vs. Greeks We look at how earnings season volatility is impacting this market. We share our thoughts on overall options volume trends What we see in the RIA space and outlook for retail adoption of options We answer listener questions about long straddles, leap options, and taking advantage of high skew stocks like meme stocks And much more. With your hosts: Mark Longo - The Options Insider Media Group Matt Amberson - Option Research & Technology Services

He Bai '24 tells us about how she chose math and statistics as her fields at Reed, what drew her to Reed in the first place, and how the Squidward Constant came to be in her thesis. Reed community members can read He's thesis, "Extending Targeted Function Balancing to Models without Linear Representations," online in the Electronic Theses Archive: https://rdc.reed.edu/i/1cbbc623-aafc-4804-a88f-508edf824c69 Explore more interviews with Reed College alumni on our website: reed.edu/burnyourdraft

PREVIEW: PRC: Josh Rogin of the Washington Post presents three American citizens "illegally detained" in Chinese jails: Li, Lin, Swidan, and the puzzling and confounding resistance by the Chinese State to respond to the negotiation efforts by Ambassador Nicholas Burns and other US officials. More later. undated Shanghai

7.16.24 | "Confounding The Darkness" | Children's Pastor Naeem Hammond by The Rock Church of Fort Myers

Freedom is frequently misunderstood. A false narrative of freedom can cause us to become egocentric and self-absorbed. This notion seeks to isolate and separate people into autonomous beings. Left unchecked,… The post The Confounding Nature Of Freedom first appeared on Broken Door Ministries. The post The Confounding Nature Of Freedom appeared first on Broken Door Ministries.

Fox 40's Sean Cunningham, Brenden Nunes from the Kings Pulse Podcast and The Kings Beat's James Ham join forces for coverage of the exciting Sacramento Kings. Topics include the Kings' big win over the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by a tough loss to the Miami Heat, inconsistency still an issue, defense starting to show signs of improvement, as well as another edition of The Business of Basketball centered around whether the Kings should go all in on Keegan Murray's development. Thanks for joining us on this adventure! Big shoutout to Paul Jinkerson (@paulitition) for creating a new intro and outro for the podcast and to Brenden for creating our new overlay for the podcast. The Kings Beat merchandise shop: https://thekingsbeat.myshopify.com/ Jump on board with a premium subscription to The Kings Beat: https://kings-beat.beehiiv.com/upgrade Or start out with a free subscription to The Kings Beat: https://kings-beat.beehiiv.com/subscribe Want to advertise on The Kings Beat Podcast? We're taking sponsorship inquiries: https://airtable.com/shrEpprMxX1AF1U6U Link to Prize Picks: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/ivHR/KINGSBEAT Password: KINGSBEAT #BlueWireVideo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People use numbers to convince, persuade, and even sometimes to manipulate or fool others. This mini-series will help you recognize them! When you can recognize the foolishness, you won't get fooled by it! Want to test yourself on how well you can recognize fallacies in real life? Take the Meme Fallacy Quiz! www.filteritthroughabraincell.com/quiz Learn more about Crazy Thinkers: www.filteritthroughabraincell.com/crazy Here's how you can purchase the Logical Fallacies ebook: https://www.filteritthroughabraincell.com/offers/z6xbAcB2 Send me any questions, comments or even the fallacies you're seeing around you! think@filteritthroughabraincell.com Or, tag me on Instagram: @filteritthroughabraincell Sign up on my email list at: www.filteritthroughabraincell.com/contact To take the YouScience Talent Assessment: Website: https://www.wellspentsolutions.com/discoverregistration Get 20% off with discount code FILTERIT20 Thank you to our sponsor, CTC Math! Website: https://www.ctcmath.com/?tr_id=brain Homeschool page: https://www.ctcmath.com/how-it-works/home-school?tr_id=brain Free trail: https://www.ctcmath.com/trial?tr_id=brain Special offer! Get 1/2-off discounts plus bonus 6-months free! https://www.ctcmath.com/purchase/homeschool50?tr_id=BRAIN

Consumer sentiment is down in the dumps, but consumer spending certainly doesn’t reflect that. We’ll examine the disconnect that’s causing some economists to scratch their heads. Plus, folks on Medicare will start seeing discounts on some meds in the new year, and affordable housing is being hammered by rising insurance rates. Also on the show: Could this stock market rally be a bubble?

Consumer sentiment is down in the dumps, but consumer spending certainly doesn’t reflect that. We’ll examine the disconnect that’s causing some economists to scratch their heads. Plus, folks on Medicare will start seeing discounts on some meds in the new year, and affordable housing is being hammered by rising insurance rates. Also on the show: Could this stock market rally be a bubble?

#CANADA: Confounding "woke" language from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada & What is to be done? Conrad Black, National Post. https://nationalpost.com/opinion/conrad-black-physicians-college-embraces-social-justice-lunacy 1893 Ottowa

In early 1978, five young men went out for a fun night together watching college basketball. On the way home they disappeared into the dark late-winter wilderness, high in the mountains of Yuba County, California. What followed was a tense investigation, devastating discoveries, and over 40 years of unanswered questions. What led them out there that night? Where were they going? And why didn't they turn back? This Week's Sponsors: Miracle Brand- Go to TryMiracle.com/STRANGE and use the code STRANGE to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Embrace Pet Insurance- Head to EmbracePetInsurance.com/STRANGE and sign up for pet insurance today. Lumi Labs Inc- To learn more about microdosing THC go to Microdose.com and use code: STRANGE to get free shipping & 30% off your first order.