Podcasts about coughing

This week, Aebhric O'Kelly speaks with Jason Jarvis, a former Special Forces medic and current PhD student, about his experiences in military medicine, the evolution of prolonged field care, and the development of the 'SHEEP VOMIT' mnemonic for patient care in austere environments. They discuss the importance of nursing care, the practical applications of medical knowledge in the field, and the challenges medical practitioners face in remote settings. This conversation delves into critical aspects of patient care, particularly in prolonged field care settings. It emphasises the importance of managing pressure points, understanding vital signs, monitoring core temperature, maintaining oral hygiene, preventing DVT, and ensuring proper input and output monitoring. The discussion also highlights the significance of turning, coughing, and deep breathing for patient recovery, culminating in the legacy of the 'sheep vomit' concept in medical training.TakeawaysJason Jarvis has a master's in infectious disease and is pursuing a PhD.Military experiences shaped his interest in tropical medicine.Prolonged field care is a systematic approach to patient care in remote settings.The 'SHEEP VOMIT' mnemonic was developed to aid in prolonged field care.Skin protection is crucial in austere environments.Hypothermia prevention is a key focus in field care.Patient mobility and exercises are essential for recovery.Checklists help ensure comprehensive patient care.The evolution of medical mnemonics reflects advancements in field medicine. Pressure sores develop in specific areas when supine.Vital signs must be documented and trended over time.Core temperature is crucial for assessing trauma patients.Oral hygiene prevents infections that can lead to pneumonia.DVT prevention is essential for immobilised patients.Urine output is a key indicator of hydration and health.Turning and coughing help maintain lung function.The 'SHEEP VOMIT' concept aids in prolonged field care training.Training should prepare providers for practical challenges.Community impact is a goal of medical training.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Jason Jarvis 00:46 Jason Jarvis: Background and Current Work02:37 Military Experiences and Deployments05:58 Transitioning to Civilian Life and DMI09:52 Prolonged Field Care: Concepts and Evolution13:45 Developing the Sheep Vomit Mnemonic18:35 Understanding the Sheep Vomit Mnemonic21:58 Practical Applications of Prolonged Field Care26:12 Exercises and Patient Mobility29:35 Managing Pressure Points in Patient Care30:05 Understanding Vital Signs and Their Importance31:10 The Role of Core Temperature in Patient Assessment32:40 Oral Hygiene and Its Clinical Significance36:02 Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in Immobilised Patients40:44 Monitoring Input and Output: A Vital Sign49:04 The Importance of Turning, Coughing, and Deep Breathing55:00 The Legacy of Sheep Vomit in Medical Training

Nathan Baker breaks down Friday's slate of streamers, and offers some advice on trading sell-high players. SUBSCRIBE, Rate and Review on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Twitter: @EthosFantasyBB Follow us on Bluesky: @ethosfantasymlb Join our Fantasy Sports Discord Server: https://discord.gg/jSwGWSHqaV

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has ended but not without a few bumps along the way, including a full city power outage just hours before the Closing Ceremony. AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello (along with a handful of contributors) were on the ground, watching the films that will soon be hitting future festivals and cinemas near you. On episode 288, we discuss our impressions of this year's fest as a first-timer (Ryan), a second-timer (Sophia) and a fourth-timer (Erik) from the city, the food, and of course, the films. And the coughing. So. much. coughing. We break down our favorites that we saw (and a few we really didn't like) like Sentimental Value, The Mastermind, Highest 2 Lowest, The History of Sound, Pillion and more, plus we look at the winners as chosen Academy Award-winning French actress Juliette Binoche and her jury, including Academy Award-winning American actress and filmmaker Halle Berry, Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia, Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, Congolese director, documentarist and producer Dieudo Hamadi, Korean director and screenwriter Hong Sangsoo, Mexican director, screenwriter and producer Carlos Reygadas and American actor Jeremy Strong. We had to talk about the NEON of it all, winning its sixth Palme d'Or in a row with Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident, and buying up the lion's share of In Competition contenders to help shore that up. We look at how these wins could factor into the upcoming Oscar race as Cannes has become the new kickoff of awards season. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h24m. We'll be back next week with the first part of our Best Actress Rankings.

Welcome to Vet Tales! Join Dr. Natalie Keith and Dr. Josiah Dame as they delve into the world of pet allergies and asthma. Discover why allergies are a lifelong management task rather than a condition that can be cured. Learn about the prevalence of allergies in different regions, like Oklahoma, and how environmental factors like crosswinds and pollen can exacerbate these conditions. Understand the differences in allergy presentation between humans and pets, and how conditions in dogs and cats manifest in unique ways. The episode covers methods of identifying whether a pet's symptoms are due to allergies or other causes, and strategies for effective management of these conditions. It highlights the importance of thorough examination and diagnosis, including when to opt for skin tests, blood tests, or allergy shots to determine and manage the allergens affecting your pet. Furthermore, Dr. Keith and Dr. Dame discuss various allergens, from common foods to environmental irritants like dust and smoke, and offer insights into how to mitigate these factors. The conversation also spans feline asthma, the challenges of diagnosis, and the role of immunotherapy in treatment. Whether your pet is dealing with itchy skin, coughing, or any other allergy-related symptom, this episode serves as a valuable resource for understanding and managing pet allergies effectively. Don't miss the tips and experiences shared, which could provide relief and better quality of life for your furry friends.

How serious is whooping cough? Is whooping cough going around? How long does whooping cough last? What is the pertussis vaccine? What are the symptoms of whooping cough? Discussing pertussis in adults, treatment for whooping cough symptoms, pertussis vaccines and more with Alyssa Kuban, MD, associate medical director at Texas Children's Pediatrics Cypress. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

I have a slight cold.

GreenRanger records an episode in the middle of a coughing fit. God bless those who make it through this episode. #YGODuelLinks #YGOMasterDuel #duellinks #yugioh #podcast

Chapter 15: Tim & Stephanie go on a date, and some hard truths are revealed.By LiminallySpaced. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.It was a Wednesday night, and I was sweating.The windows of my car were opaque with thick, wet fog from labored breaths, and my grunts mingled with high pitched squeals of pleasure as my hard cock drove in and out of Stephanie's tight, slick cunt.Stephanie was the girl who lived upstairs, my step sister's best friend, the older girl who tortured me all through puberty. Now here she was in my back seat, bent over with her ass in the air, panties pulled to the side, moaning in delight as her tight body consumed my cock over and over.Body always moving, slithering and gyrating, her moans and cries of pleasure made my dick even harder if it was possible. Tonight her moans were louder, throatier, as it was the first time I had ever fucked her from behind, and my thick cock was pressing into depths of her cunt neither of us had ever felt before.Her cunt milked me. Her moans encouraged me. The vision of this statuesque beauty folded in half, writhing in front of me as I sunk my cock into her, her ass flared out to a perfect heart shape, put me over the edge.As if she knew, her voice cut through the steam with a dusky, exhausted "Cum for me, Timmy, cum for me!" and that was all it took. My balls jerked and shuddered, my cock began to pulse wildly, and with one final, deep push my dams broke. I erupted in a guttural growl as geyser after geyser of hot cum shot up into Stephanie's body.It had been a hell of a week so far.Last saturday, after receiving the incredible strip tease and world-rocking blowjob Stephanie gifted me as a graduation present, I had asked Stephanie if she would go out on a date with me. We had been hooking up for weeks, and it was incredibly fun, but in that moment of post-nut clarity I realized there was something missing.Earlier that day I had gone to lunch with my best friend Tara. I had learned the night before (in shockingly explicit detail) that Tara was in a relationship with Sarah, the girl who lived next door to me and also happened to be my longest teenage crush. But unexpectedly, at lunch Tara admitted to me that they weren't just hooking up with each other, they were actually dating.Tara had hooked up with plenty of people, male and female, but I had never known her to be in an actual relationship. When I saw how happy she was in this new experience, how fulfilling she found it, I honestly got a little jealous.I began to think about my relationship with Stephanie. It was messy, it was confusing, it was sexual, but was there anything more there? I felt like I might be falling for her; I had to know if it was more than just sex. I had to know if she possibly felt the same.So I just blurted it out.By the way her eyebrows arched I could tell I caught her off guard; kneeling on the floor with what seemed like a pint of my cum dripping down her naked chest, my question gave Stephanie pause. She looked at me for a moment, inspecting me, silently interrogating whether or not I was joking.Without answering, Stephanie chuckled. Sighing, she got up, leaned forward, and kissed me."You're cute, Timmy," she said before padding off in search of a towel to clean up.I sat there alone, my sticky dick cooling in the night air, trying to figure out what the fuck just happened.The ride home was quiet. There was no tension, just a quiet calm. She rode with her back to the door, her feet propped up on my thigh. It used to feel like a move of dominance when she did this, but now it felt more loving. My hand rested on her leg, rubbing her bare ankles gently. It was nice."Where did you guys go last night?" I asked, trying not to betray the pang of jealousy I felt."Where did who go last night?" She answered flatly."Alexa was in a pretty clear state of disrepair this morning, I just assumed you guys went out partying after I left."There was a long silence.I looked over at Stephanie, and she had a saddened expression on her face."Stephanie?" I asked, trying to bring her back to Earth."Nah, I was home all night," she said with sigh, "I don't know where she went."Something was going on between them, but I had no idea what. Stephanie seemed surprised to learn Alexa had gone out without her.I parked in the shadows by our building and turned the car off."Thanks for tonight," I said as Stephanie sat up. She kissed me quick before exiting the car, giving my balls a soft squeeze. As she leaned toward the door I finally spoke up."Wait," I said, before she could disappear. She turned back toward me. "When can we do this again?" I asked, with a slight desperation to my tone."Like I said, Timmy," she smiled, "school's out."I skipped church the following day. With all that was going on with Stephanie I was definitely not ready to see Christine again yet. The pastor's daughter had hungrily sucked my life out through my cock not too long ago, with an implication that it wasn't just a one-time thing. I was not ready to deal with that yet.Truth was I Did want it to happen again, but between her desire to resist temptation, and my budding relationship with Stephanie, it didn't seem like a good idea for either of us. As far as I was concerned my cock belonged to Stephanie right now, and I didn't want to hurt her.Besides, I don't even know if I would have had anything left for Christine after what Stephanie had been doing to me. We had two weeks left before Stephanie left for college, and we were determined to make them count. School was out, alright, but boy was I learning a lot.Stephanie didn't have work on Sunday, but her parents had errands to run, so on the pretense of going out for a run I slipped up the back stairs to Stephanie's unit, and managed to give her two loads of cum before they got home.Monday I picked her up from work, and minutes after I arrived I was on my knees. I ate her cunt till I heard that short-short-long reverie of her orgasm, and then she rode me hard and milked out another white explosion with her freshly-pleasured cunt.Tuesday she wasn't closing up the store, so when I picked her up she asked that we "take the long way home," which translated into a slow, languid session of road head that ended with Stephanie getting a mouthful of my hot jizz that she gleefully swallowed down.Wednesday was a bit trickier. Neither of us had anything on the books, so she told her parents she was going to the mall, and I told my step mom Kelly I was going to Tara's. I picked her up at a predetermined spot, and we went out to The Spot for the hot, sweaty fuckfest described above where I took her from behind for the first time.It had so far been a week of intense carnal pleasures, but as I pulled my softening cock out of her well-fucked cunt, I just couldn't get one thing out of my mind."So, have you given any thought about what I said the other night?" I said between sweaty, ragged breaths.She unfolded from her coital position and slumped back against the back door, her tits heaving as she huffed and puffed herself."About what?" She said, clearly pretending she didn't remember."About going out on a date."After a moment of contemplation she crawled over to me, her tits swinging seductively. "Why, you wanna take me to the movies so I can suck you off in the back row of the theater?" She purred, dipping her head down and taking my slick, softening cock back into her mouth to suckle on."No, no," I laughed, pulling her off my sore, swollen manhood, "I just, I wanna spend time with you."She laughed."It's not like we just met, Timmy," she laughed, "Plus, do you know how much of your cum I've had inside me this week? I'd say we know each other pretty well!""I know, and don't get me wrong, I love this," I chuckled, the laughter quickly dissipating to something more sincere, "but, do you remember when you asked me what I wanted? Well nothing has changed. In fact I mean it even more now. I want, more.""You just want to fuck me in the ass, don't you?" She said seductively, deflecting my statement"No!" I said with an exasperated laugh, "I want You. I want to take you out on a date. A Real date."Stephanie's demeanor changed."I'm gonna be gone in less than two weeks, Tim," she said, finally matching my own sincerity, "I'm going to college, you're going to college, it doesn't make sense for this to be anything more than it already is.""I'm not asking for next week, or next month, or next year, Stephanie," I said honestly, "I'm just asking for right now. And right now what I want is to take you on a date."She smiled meekly."And if ass stuff is on the table still after that, sure, I'd love to fuck you in the ass!" I joked. She laughed heartily and slapped me on the legShe looked at me for a moment, then looked away, almost embarrassed."Oh boy, this is a bad idea," she said under her breath before looking back at me and saying "sure, Tim, you can take me on a date."My face broke into a huge grin. She tried to stifle a smile of her own but did a terrible job of it.I leaned in, and she pulled me close for a long kiss. My cock hardened as our bodies mingled. I gently slipped back inside her perfect cunt, and we gripped each other tight as we made slow, passionate love. Soon her orgasm washed over her, and as that wonderful chorus of hers began, so did my own orgasm; as those two short moans escaped her lips my balls pulled up towards my body, and with her final, long moan the spring inside me snapped, and I once again filled her body with my seed.We decided on dinner Friday night, and agreed it was a good idea to take Thursday off to recharge ourselves. I was excited. Nervous. Most importantly I needed someone to talk to about all this. So I picked up a pizza and went over to Tara's.We laughed, we caught up; it felt good. Of course our conversation veered toward the sexual, as it always did, and all of a sudden I felt the room get very hot, and my pants start to tighten, as Tara regaled me with the details of how she fucked Sarah with a strap on for the first time the other night. I had witnessed the two of them lick each other to orgasm with my own eyes, but even so, the thought of my best friend fucking my biggest crush with a thick strap on dildo brought my soldier to attention.Not to be outdone, I saw her tale of sapphic penetration and raised her the story of my graduation present. Now it was Tara's turn to squirm, her legs rubbing together, her finger getting lost in the hem of her shirt, her breath getting ever so shallow. As I told her the details of my messy finish on Stephanie's chest, I saw Tara's demeanor change. The pale, flat of her chest that was visible under the cut-wide neck of her heavy metal t-shirt began to flush, and she started to fidget, as though she was trying to shoo away some unwanted feeling."Well, what about your dare?" She said finally, after a long, thick silence.At lunch with Tara last weekend, during a game of truth or dare, she had dared me to take a video of me and Stephanie fucking and send it to her. In her mind it was evening the playing field since I had seen her and Sarah fucking the night before. My horny, hormone-adled brain seemed to agree to that logic, and amazingly I said I'd do it.I had all but forgotten about it until Tara mentioned it."I don't know, Tara," I said, trying to navigate the thick tension in the room, "I don't think it's right.""I didn't know you were such a chicken, Miller" she chuckled, a devilish smile on her face."I know what you're trying to do, Satan," I said, playfully making the sign of the cross with my index fingers, "but things are going really well with Stephanie, and I don't want to ruin it."Fair's fair, you know," she said with a mock sadness."I know," I responded, then dropped my tone into sincerity, "I just can't have any more deception between us.""Fine, fine, I understand," she said with a long sigh. "It's too bad," she continued as I took a sip of my own drink, "I bet you look great when you fuck."I choked, I sputtered, and ended up with most of my mouthful of drink on the front of my shirt.Tara burst out laughing, and after a minute to catch my breath I joined her.This girl was something else.Friday rolled around and I was nervous. Nervous and excited. Sure, Stephanie and I had spent plenty of time exploring each others' bodies at this point, but we hadn't just sat and talked like two normal people for a very long time.I was looking forward to it.I tried to make myself look presentable and adult, doing my best to hide the fact that I was just a dumb, horny 18 year old. I chose slacks and a nice shirt with a blazer, but stopped short of going full tie. I thought I looked pretty good, all things considered.While putting the finishing touches on in the bathroom, I glanced out the window toward Sarah's. The room was dark. I wondered where she was. I wondered where Tara was, and if they were there together.Suddenly her light popped on. Caught in the middle of a giggle fit, Sarah tumbled into view. Following close behind her, equally overcome with giggles, was Tara.I was transfixed as the two beauties drew close to each other, embraced, and began softly kissing between fits of laughter.I felt my balls begin to tingle, and blood rush toward my cock.The two fell onto the bed, and then Sarah pushed herself up and pulled off her loose-fitting sweater. Her hand reached back and popped the clasp on her bra.My hand drifted toward my zipper,no!Snapping myself out of it, I shook it off, left the bathroom, and turned off the light. Tonight was about me and Stephanie.

The NETwork continues the battle. Frey has a shocking revelation, Uther helps Malice find the humor in the situation, and Stynexx gets a sinking feeling about Johnson's survival.Find us on the The Actual Playce Discord ServerHit us up with any questions or comments:Insta @crittalkerspodcastFacebook: crittalkerspodcastX: @Crittalkerspodor drop us an emailthecast@crittalkerspodcast.comBritt H. Plays Frey the RogueShane F. plays “Sir” Uther the BardChris A. plays Stynexx the ArrificerMusic/Sound Effects Include:Recap voice acting by Jennifer Millard, written by Jake PrewittFrey is played by Britt H.Uther is played by Shane FStynexx is played by Chris A."Camera Flash" by MalarBrush"The Details Intro" by Ryan S."The Details Long" by Ryan S."Rest of The Fallen" by GuilhermeBernardes via Pixabay"Comedy - Detective" by Onoychenkomusic via Pixabay"Chamber Strings" by SigmaMusicArt via Pixabay"Dizzy ellectric bolt spell 1" by FxProSound via PixabayAdditional Royalty free Music and SFX Credits that were found via Pixabay: Dark Industrial by TazDev_musicCrossbow Firing by freesound_community"Robot Heavy Mechanical Footsteps" by DavidDumaisAudio Magic glitter wand 5 by FxProSoundAction Epic Cinematic Victory by Good_B_Musiccoughing man by oceaneyes91Static Electicity by SoundRealityCold and Coughing by FNX_SoundCoughing by freesound_communityShirt Clothing Movement by freesound_communityEnergy Sword by freesound_communityMagical Spell Cast by DavidDumaisAudioproximity by freesound_communityhitting the wall with a stick by freesound_communitySad by Music_For_VideosTense Suspense Background Music by HitsLabBreaking ice by freesound_communityWind blowing sfx by JCI-21

The Gala has turned into an all out brawl. Frey involuntarily huffs farts, Uther becomes an unwilling surgical patient, and Stynexx decides to slow it down. Find us on the The Actual Playce Discord ServerHit us up with any questions or comments:Insta @crittalkerspodcastFacebook: crittalkerspodcastX: @Crittalkerspodor drop us an emailthecast@crittalkerspodcast.comBritt H. Plays Frey the RogueShane F. plays “Sir” Uther the BardChris A. plays Stynexx the ArrificerMusic/Sound Effects Include:Recap voice acting by Jennifer Millard, written by Jake PrewittFrey is played by Britt H.Uther is played by Shane FStynexx is played by Chris A."Camera Flash" by MalarBrush"The Details Intro" by Ryan S."The Details Long" by Ryan S."Rest of The Fallen" by GuilhermeBernardes via Pixabay"Comedy - Detective" by Onoychenkomusic via Pixabay"Chamber Strings" by SigmaMusicArt via Pixabay"Dizzy ellectric bolt spell 1" by FxProSound via PixabayAdditional Royalty free Music and SFX Credits that were found via Pixabay: Dark Industrial by TazDev_musicWoooooaah! by Alex_JaukBottle Swishing by freesound_communityCrossbow Firing by freesound_communityMetal crunch by u_y3wk5ympz8Robot Noises by freesound_communityHard Robo Dance by SnailLab"Robot Heavy Mechanical Footsteps" by DavidDumaisAudio via Pixabayenergy hum by freesound_communityHit Flesh 02 by u_xjrmmgxfruCosmic Serenity by UniversfieldCrystals by SergePavkinMusicMy Goal by Good_B_MusicLightmetal_armor by freesound_community085594_Potion by freesound_communityGlass Bottle Smash by UniversfieldDragon Breathes Fire 2 by floraphonicburp by freesound_communityLion / Powerful Trap Background Music by SoulProdMusicKnife / Foley by Lucas_lescslashkut by freesound_communitysucked into classroom by freesound_communityMagic Descend 2 by BenKirbthe horror realisation by freesound_communitylight switch by freesound_communityHis Dark Embrace -- Gothic Spooky Dance Instrumental by melodyayresgriffithsSmoke Bomb by freesound_communityFantasy lucid forest...part two by Placidplacegame teleport by freesound_communityEpic Suspense Tension Background Music by DELOSoundTense Suspense Background Music (30 Seconds Version) by HitsLabTake Shape - Breakbeat Action Cinematic Techno by RockotBottle elastic band by freesound_communityKnocking on the Board by LeobathroFart 3 by freesound_communityBLACK BOX - Fart by BLACKBOXHorror Dark Spooky Piano by NikitaKondrashevGhost Whispers by freesound_communitycoughing man by oceaneyes91Static Electicity by SoundRealityCold and Coughing by FNX_SoundCoughing by freesound_communitySoulsweeper by ItsWatRWood Crack 1 by freesound_community30 seconds of random deep vibration patterns by freesound_community075681_Electric Shock by freesound_communityExplosion by freesound_community052165_Ear Ringing Long (Extended Falloff) by freesound_communityWoman scream by freesound_communityHorror Body Drop by imagne_impossible

Today, we're venturing into a topic that many of us might not think about — parasite and worm infections. These unseen invaders can wreak havoc on your health, yet often go unnoticed for a long time. And, despite all the supplements and peptide therapies we might be using to optimize our health, we may still be missing something very important: a potential parasite or worm infection. In this episode, we'll explore the signs and symptoms of these infections, how you can acquire them, and why we should consider them even if we're doing everything "right" in terms of diet and wellness. Let's get into it! First things first—what are parasites and worms, and how are they different?. A parasite is any organism that lives on or inside another organism, known as a host, and benefits at the host's expense. Parasites can be microscopic or visible to the naked eye. Parasites can take many forms, including: Protozoa (single-celled organisms like Plasmodium that causes malaria) Helminths (worms like roundworms, tapeworms, and flatworms) Ectoparasites (organisms like fleas, lice, or ticks that live on the host's skin or surface). They usually don't infect other parts of your body. When people refer to worm infections, they are typically talking about helminth infections. Helminths are a specific type of parasite, and they are multicellular organisms that can be categorized into three main types: Roundworms (e.g., hookworms, pinworms, and threadworms) Tapeworms Flukes (flatworms) So, all worm infections are parasitic, but not all parasites are worms.   What are the symptoms of parasitic infections?   So, how can you tell if you have a parasite/protozoa or a worm infection? Let's talk about signs and symptoms. Signs of a parasite infection can be a bit tricky because they often mimic other illnesses or conditions. You might experience: Diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus) Stomach cramps or bloating Fatigue Unexplained weight loss Skin rashes or itching Nausea or vomiting Fever Visible worms in stools or around the anus Itchy anus (especially with pinworm infections) Coughing or chest pain (in the case of certain lung-dwelling worms) Parasites can also affect your mood and mental health, causing things like anxiety or brain fog due to the toxins they release in your body. While some worm infections can be obvious, others may linger for years without being detected, causing slow, gradual damage to the body. How do you get parasitic infections? So, how do we acquire these infections? There are several ways you can pick up a parasite or worm, and it often depends on where you live, what you eat, and what activities you engage in. Let's break it down: Traveling: Traveling to areas with poor sanitation increases the risk of contracting Giardia and Cryptosporidium, two protozoan parasites commonly found in contaminated water or food. These parasites can lead to traveler's diarrhea, causing symptoms like severe stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, and frequent watery diarrhea. In some cases, infections can lead to dehydration and fatigue, making it important to take precautions like drinking bottled water and avoiding undercooked food while traveling.   Eating undercooked meat or fish: Undercooked pork or fish can harbor parasitic larvae, such as Trichinella in pork and Anisakis (Anne-e-sakis) in fish. When consumed, these parasites can survive in the digestive system and begin to infect the body. For example, Trichinella can cause trichinosis, leading to symptoms like muscle pain and fever, while Anisakis can cause abdominal pain and nausea. Properly cooking these meats to safe temperatures can kill the parasites and prevent infection. Contaminated Soil: Certain parasites, like hookworms, can enter your body through small breaks or pores in the skin if you walk barefoot on contaminated soil. Areas where you are most likely to encounter hookworms in soil include Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America (especially Central and South America), Caribbean Islands, and Southern United States (especially in areas with poor sanitation). Insects: Mosquitoes and other insects can transmit diseases caused by parasites, such as Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for malaria. Similarly, ticks can carry parasites like Babesia (buh-bee-zee-ah), which causes babesiosis (buh-bee-zee-OH-sis) Close contact: Some parasites are spread through human-to-human contact, especially in crowded or unsanitary conditions (e.g., schools, daycares, campgrounds, public restrooms, and nursing homes). For example, pinworms can be contracted by anyone, though they are most often seen in children. They are highly contagious, and you can acquire them through contact with contaminated surfaces or even from sharing bedding. How are parasitic infections diagnosed? Healthcare providers look for the parasites themselves or signs of them, such as their eggs, in your body fluids or tissues. To check for parasites, your provider might take samples from different areas, including: Your stool  Blood Skin or any affected tissue Phlegm (sputum) Fluid around your brain and spinal cord (CNS fluid) In some cases, your provider might also use imaging tests like X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to help diagnose a parasitic infection, depending on what symptoms you're experiencing. Now, this all ties into a bigger picture. Many people are investing heavily in their health these days—through supplements, peptide therapies, and cutting-edge wellness routines. And while these are all beneficial, they can't always protect us from hidden invaders like parasites and worms. What's more, many of the symptoms of a parasite or worm infection can mimic other conditions, and because we often don't think about these infections, they can go undiagnosed for years.  If you're dealing with ongoing digestive issues, fatigue, skin problems, or even unexplained brain fog, it might be time to consider that a parasite or worm infection could be behind it—especially if you've recently traveled.   Thanks for listening to The Peptide Podcast. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. And as always, have a happy, healthy week. We're huge advocates of elevating your health game with nutrition, supplements, and vitamins. Whether it's a daily boost or targeted support, we trust and use Momentous products to supercharge our wellness journey.  Momentous only uses the highest-quality ingredients, and every single product is rigorously tested by independent third parties to ensure their products deliver on their promise to bring you the best supplements on the market.

Join Alli and Mandy for a fun and enlightening episode of the Soul Star Podcast where they unlock the secrets of your inner psychic! In this lively discussion, they explore how everyone has intuitive abilities and share exciting ways to develop and test them. From playful intuition challenges to energy readings and remote viewing, you'll learn simple yet powerful tools to enhance your psychic potential. Whether you're just beginning your spiritual journey or looking to level up, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical tips.The duo also delves into synchronicities and signs from the universe that can affirm your intuitive hits, plus they dive deep into telepathy, astral travel, and dream exploration. And don't miss the light-hearted book chat at the end where Alli and Mandy recommend must-read magical books to inspire your spiritual practice. This episode is perfect for anyone seeking to tap into their inner magic and strengthen their connection with the universe!Episode Highlights:00:00 Welcome to the Soul Star Podcast00:32 Exploring Psychic Abilities01:14 Fun Intuition Games to Play04:38 Energy Readings and Intuitive Practices05:57 Validating Your Intuitive Hits08:51 Everyday Intuition Exercises for Personal Growth22:30 Receiving Messages Through Music25:05 Coughing and Carrying On (Signs from the Universe)25:23 Scrying and Crystal Ball Fun26:42 Zoning Out and Telepathy Exploration29:51 Astral Traveling and Remote Viewing33:44 Book Talk: Spicy Spiritual Reads!41:59 Astrological Events and Energies to Tap Into45:07 Final Announcements and Farewell

Duji is still coughing. Unplugging dashcams. Trump supports Tesla. Duji needed to let JLR in because he doesn't have his key card. Jeffrey's car broke down on the way to the fence company.

Duji is still coughing. Unplugging dashcams. Trump supports Tesla. Duji needed to let JLR in because he doesn't have his key card. Jeffrey's car broke down on the way to the fence company. Can Rover go five days without a car? Acidnine ideas. Four people have been charged with the death of the 5-year-old who died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion. Widow sues hotel after her husband was found dead after having a prostitute in his hotel room. A few used cars Rover can buy for JLR. insurance costs. An embalmer in Texas is in trouble for stabbing a corpse in the groin, cutting off the genitals, and stuffing it into the corpse's mouth. Rover had the Yarbo map the yard. Rover's door trim doesn't match. Does Jeffrey know what being a "muff diver" means? How much does Rover pay for car insurance annually for his one vehicle in Florida? Andrew Tate.

Duji is still coughing. Unplugging dashcams. Trump supports Tesla. Duji needed to let JLR in because he doesn't have his key card. Jeffrey's car broke down on the way to the fence company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duji is still coughing. Unplugging dashcams. Trump supports Tesla. Duji needed to let JLR in because he doesn't have his key card. Jeffrey's car broke down on the way to the fence company. Can Rover go five days without a car? Acidnine ideas. Four people have been charged with the death of the 5-year-old who died in a hyperbaric chamber explosion. Widow sues hotel after her husband was found dead after having a prostitute in his hotel room. A few used cars Rover can buy for JLR. insurance costs. An embalmer in Texas is in trouble for stabbing a corpse in the groin, cutting off the genitals, and stuffing it into the corpse's mouth. Rover had the Yarbo map the yard. Rover's door trim doesn't match. Does Jeffrey know what being a "muff diver" means? How much does Rover pay for car insurance annually for his one vehicle in Florida? Andrew Tate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast, I discuss whether believers should incorporate coughing prayer instead of joining a monastery or nunnery.

AP correspondent Donna Warder has an update on Pope Francis' medical condition.

A big apology for being an American in Europe because President Musk has damaged the reputation of omce-proud USA. I ramble about teaching AI and Digital Transformation and offer listeners free passage into the last six AI for Productivity sessions I'm teaching this semester. The cover art shows what my work station looks like today. Hat tip to Simon Toon for being so consistent as an Audiobooster. Reach me @topgold on good social networks.

TTO-214 John Clones John, Sentient Toilet, Sorting Hat Choose Loves or Hate Poop, Like Hentai, Tentacle Doctor Husker Player, Controlling Toddler, Shit Your Pants this Year, Coughing and Shitting Pants, Waffle Stomp, Toe in Missouri River, Cleavage Field, Foot in the Funde, Suck Her Toes, Check Out These Monsters, Balls, 6 lb cheese butter, oozing hand, Florida Man, AI Slurring Objectify Robot Girlfriends, Abusing Machines, Chat Box People Toxic, Cat Guy Lady Upset, Home Base Pussy, Nice, Mennonites, Pizza Trade Beer, Beets Dirt, Root Beer Fight, Buy A Car, Tariffs Taxes, Blue Hair Snowflake, Scarred, Lego Offensive, Ass or Avocado Everything Bagel, Poop Soup

NYC's co-founder of Biovanta Dr. Nazlie Latefi talks about how she founded the company innovating the field of cold care and discovering the breakthrough amid the bird flu outbreak! Dr. Nazlie began her career graduating from Northwestern Univ. in neuroscience studying adhesion molecules and describes how Biovanta works differently than other over-the-counter products by strengthening the respiratory lining reducing inflammation getting to the root cause of the problem using bioactive ingredients while reducing the severity of the symptoms including congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and more! For those that have the common cold and are looking for an alternative to ordinary medicine, check out Dr. Nazlie Latefi and Biovanta at www.biovnta.com today! #drnazlielatefi #cofounder #NYC #commoncold #biovanta #birdflu #northwesternuniversity #imflammation #respiratory #coughing #sneezing #overthecounter #bioactive #spreaker #iheartradio #spotify #applemusic #youtube #anchorfm #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerdrnazlielatefi #themikewagnershowdrnazlielatefi    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mike-wagner-show--3140147/support.

A full jam packed pod this week! In our heads this week! Rambling beginnings  Nasal hair awake!  Back Before 9 Review!  Barbara cake!  Bad Back Jem Poo samples Kids telling Jokes  Kindergarten cop Funnier Sing 2? Boxed in comedy Comedy to family Anthrax island Coughing (again) Checklist of age!  Girl on a train Set design Drop us a line and say hello! bwtbpod@gmail.com Join our Patreon for exclusive episodes and early access here! https://www.patreon.com/bwtbpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Super Game Brothers, a family-friendly video game and board game podcast. The weekly agenda covers the board games and video games we played in the last week, industry news, and the games in crowdfunding that stand out to us. This week, we end the show by talking about our most-anticipated video games coming out in 2025. Thanks for listening and laughing with us! Make sure to check us out on Patreon for exclusive episodes, early access, and other perks. Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/SuperGameBrothers  Timestamps:  00:00:00 - Intro, movies, golf simulators, episode 40, and more. 00:43:36 - Patreon shoutout & show start 00:44:43 - New video games to subscription services 00:52:25 - David's Video Game Update / Nine Sols and Case of the Golden Idol 01:03:33 - Devin's Video Game Update / Nine Sols and Clash Royale 01:04:59 - David's Board Game Update / Trio, SCOUT, Welcome to the Moon, and Pumafiosi 01:16:23 - We're Most Excited About... Kelp and Ender Magnolia 01:24:44 - Video Game Industry News 01:37:52 - Board Game Industry News... All about Finspan 01:40:59 - Our Top 10 Most-Anticipated Video Games of 2025 02:10:57 - Wrap-up Join our giveaway at https://www.supergamebrothers.com. The links below help support our show, without costing you any more: Video games we talked about:  Nine Sols Case of the Golden Idol The Stanley Parable Board games we talked about:  Kelp Tidal Blades: Banner Festival SCOUT Welcome to the Moon TRIO Thanks so much for stopping by! Your support is what makes our show possible.

This week the guys discuss Indiana Jones, Wicked and the Wizard of Oz movies, the best video games of 2024, the best movies of 2024, 2025 resolutions, and so much more!! – http://linktree.com/thegmgpod – All of our links can be found on the LinkTree link including our audio podcast (Apple, Spotify, etc.), YouTube, Twitch streaming channels, Discord, Patreon, GMG Merchandise, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and E-Mail. – Listen as Lucas, Patrick, and Ryan also talk about video games, TV, movies, sports, Jesus, but most importantly, life...the greatest and most difficult game of all. And you shouldn't go at it alone, so we are gonna do it with you on this fine morning.

WEDNESDAY HR 2 RRR Trivia - 23 Years ago today Wendys founder passes away. What was his name? Hulk Hogan continued fallout of getting boo'd. Getting sick

In the 8 AM Hour: Julie Gunlock and Hans Von Spakovsky discussed: WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - CURTIS HOUCK - (how-ck) - Managing Editor at NewsBusters SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/CurtisHouck Prisoner CNN helped free from Syrian prison was actually notorious Assad regime torturer: report President-elect Trump holds first press conference. President-elect Donald Trump held his first post-election news conference on Monday, touching on a number of issues ranging from drones, RFK JR, pending lawsuits, the crisis in the Middle East to the controversy surrounding one of his cabinet picks WMAL Guest: 8:35 AM - INTERVIEW - GORDON CHANG - author of “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America” – on the debate over TikTok and the mysterious drones. Biden’s Coughing Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 / 8 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coughing and wheezing at Christmas? No, it's not a lump of coal in your stocking - it's just your indoor air quality! Adams Heating & Cooling has penned a report to teach you how to boost your IAQ for the better. Info: https://adamsheatingandcoolinginc.com/articles/b/signs-home-poor-indoor-air-quality Adams Heating & Cooling City: Tuscaloosa Address: 3415 Hargrove E Rd Website: https://adamsheatingandcoolinginc.com/ Phone: +12053396540

On todays pod: Laura's nightmare party, The chicken blew away, Christmas clean, Christnas hacks, Marmite Cheese, Message from Phoebe, Coughing and trumping We love you! Please become a member here https://plus.acast.com/s/the-laura-becky-show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can't miss totality if it's made for us via satellites. We talk artificial solar eclipses, the ruling on the Mukwonago cell phone citation hearing last night, and what we now know about the man who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Promises To Keep. In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected.. Note to readers: There is a bit of mangling of the Iliad going on. My apologies to Homer and the countless singers before him who carried the Iliad down through the dark centuries until the Greeks figured out how writing works. “Never judge a friend by what they give, but of how much of themselves they give.” (From the floor of Katrina's office) First thoughts,  I was on the floor where I had fallen, surrounded and being manhandled in the tenderest way. That was a romantic means of relating to my mummification. Those little Band-Aids that had been applied when I woke up from my coma had failed the 'Cáel is a Smeckle-head' test. All the crud they had pumped into my system and amperage they had channeled through my muscles was not the same as eating and exercise. Having a sexual romp with two ladies? My Goddess made plans for my body that my caloric bank account couldn't afford, thus me passing out. Unlike my time with Miyako and Estere, I had a feeling my two sofa-buddies were ovulating. Fatherhood was on the way. How my infant would survive the continuous poisonous assault on the augur's lymphatic system was beyond me. Her guardian, let's just say I dealt with sneaky bitches/Dot on a regular basis and leave it at that. "He is awake," Tadêfi alerted the room. "You must leave so I can deliver my message to him in the privacy he requested." "I am almost done," a different Amazon voice stated. She was the medico dealing with my wounds. By the aroma, she had slathered on two coats of the healing goo that was becoming as comfortable to my nostrils as my soap-on-a-rope. A few more rounds of adhesive tape and the exodus from the room began. I hadn't opened my eyes because I was unprepared for the looks of anger, disappointment and concern surely leveled my way. The door shut and my eyes opened. "The Conqueror, the Champion, the Friendless and the Foe have all escaped the Land of the Endless Black Sands and returned to the Sunlit Realm," Tadêfi whispered upon my lips. Huh? That was it? Seriously, four freaking titles without, And here came the rest, faces. Faces with eyes and eyes with a purpose. Names, not names I wanted to hear at the moment. Bad fucking news all around. It couldn't be something helpful like the identity of the next High Priestess, No, that would be good fucking news. Okay, time to turn this frown upside down. I could make this work for me. How, I wasn't sure. "Thank you," I responded to Tadêfi's plea of understanding. Outside of having impregnating sex with me, the Sex-Master, Timothy was going to Nerf-shoot me for that, she'd endured spiritual, mental and physical grief and torment to be with me here today. She waited, kneeling beside my head. "Kiss me," I requested. It was a moist act, full of compassion and understanding. I racked my mind for the names and their importance. "Who was Shammuramat?" "I don't know, but this helps, right?" Tadêfi expressed her need to make the reward for the sacrifices to make sense. Five dead sister-augurs. They had to find that son-of-a-bitch! "Tadêfi, we are back in the fight," I grinned. "You and your sisters have given the Host a mighty weapon in the upcoming struggle." I knew that to be true because I knew who and where the Conqueror was, I knew he wasn't ready to be revealed, his enemies were closing in and he was ignorant of that fact. I was going to have to rain on his parade to save his life. The five augurs hadn't died futilely. The Weave of Fate had shielded the man and it took the augers' fanatical devotion to cut the threads and expose the truth the Host needed most. The Champion, hell, I knew who he was. I chuckled. Tadêfi was confused. The Champion was coming to kill me, me and a bunch of other Amazons, because blood feuds tend to run both ways. The Foe. He was easy enough. Granddad. The Bastard just wouldn't stay dead. I had a clue to what was going on now. I wasn't sure how useful that knowledge would be. Still, knowledge is knowledge. That thing crawling around inside my brain? No help there. That left Shammuramat. That name was familiar. Even when I finally placed it, I didn't understand her role in things. Why her? "Krasimira," I called out. I struggled to sit up and with Tadêfi's help, I did so. The Keeper and two guardians entered as well. One, Sikia, hovered over her companion/augur. "What is the link between Shammuramat and the Host?" I inquired. I saw no recognition in the Keeper's eyes. "She was the first ever "independent" queen of a nation-state, Assyria." Krasimira sat on the sofa and retrieved her tablet from inside her robes. She began working with the electronic history of the Amazon race. "9th Century BCE," I added. Slowly others migrated back into the room. Buffy, Katrina (not good and not happy), Elsa (really not good) and Desiree. Pamela leaned against the door sill, neither in nor out. Katrina sat behind her desk. The phone came out and whispered conversations began in earnest. I had shoved us straight into a war which looked like a free for all at the moment. No one trusted anyone. No one could afford to. I had to change that. The only saving grace was that it appeared no Secret Society had planned for the Protocols to abruptly end a week and a half ago. "Ah, I found it," Krasimira spoke up. Because I'm me, it was at that moment I finally realized that someone had put me in my biking shorts in an effort to provide me a modicum of modesty, with the benefit of blood being smeared on the inside. "She abandoned the Host, she was put under a death sentence for killing her twin sister who was chosen to lead House Anat over her." "Anat?" I queried. "The other dead First House," Krasimira sighed. "They were renowned for their berserkers. Some would drape themselves in the entrails of their enemies in the midst of battle to increase their ferocious appearance." "Oh, how sweet, what was Ishara known for?" I was surprised I'd never asked. "Ishara were the emissaries of the Host," Krasimira informed me. With the Amazon practice of killing embassies sent their way, the extinction of my house made much more sense. "What does this mean?" Desiree took charge of matters since Katrina was still busy on the phone. In a few short weeks, Desiree's prestige had definitely increased. Katrina was her sister in more than name now. "Where to begin,  Fine, why don't we refer to the Mycenaeans by their proper Amazon name?" Everyone but Buffy was glancing about nervously. "You used the name, didn't you?" Elsa rubbed the bridge of her nose, dreading the response. "Yes, " I answered. "Because no one warns him of shit," Pamela huffed. "You assume an Amazon education with no basis in reality. You act like he grew up with our fairy tales and phantasmal histories. Everyone in this room, but Buffy," she acknowledge my First, "knew he spoke our language and the accompanying risk. Still, no one warned him." "You didn't warn him," Desiree skewered Pamela with a glance. "Not my job, Buttons," Pamela chuckled. "I relish the rest of you being made to look like idiots too much to be useful to Cáel unless it really matters. So he invoked an ancient malediction. What is the worst that could happen?" "I'm going to make a huge deductive leap, am I the reason the Achaean hero Ajax and his boys are back from the dead and coming after us for some Ako-level vengeance?" I groaned. (That's the 47 Ronin for us Westerners) Silence. "That's not your fault, Sport," Pamela snorted. "Mano-man, was I a dumbass for doing nothing. I'll take the blame for that one ladies. Damn Cáel, you would have to pick the Unconquered One, wouldn't you?" "Who is this guy and why does he hate us?" Buffy interjected. Pause. "Our ancestors poisoned his wine so that, in his angry haze, he mistook his own men for his enemies and slaughtered them all, back during the Trojan War. Afterwards, he committed suicide in anguish over his crime, Death opened his eyes at the last, he saw our treachery and managed to curse us as he died," Krasimira informed the lot of us. "And my using that word brought him back? That sounds, weak," I grunted. "The word would not have been enough," Tadêfi comforted me. "There must have been some sort of rift in the curtain of Reality that allowed the others to slip through. I don't understand how, oh no," she gasped as the pieces came together. "I'm willing to believe that was the price of doing business," I petted Tadêfi's cheek. "Please enlighten us," Elsa grumbled. "I need to find the Earth  and  Sky ambassador and set up a new meeting. Using what Tadêfi has gifted me with and the sacrifice of her fellow augurs, I can secure an alliance for us if only I can make up for the whole stunt Troika played," I grinned. "Any ideas?" "We could call them," Pamela produced my phone. "Seems some lady named Hana Sulkanen has been trying for days to get in touch with you. She hunted down the owner of the necklace, they talked about your current physical state, courtesy of Odette, and the owner of the necklace has expressed a continued interest in meeting you, and only you. It would appear that they really don't trust the rest of our merry little band since your first disappearance." Hana, and here I had killed her step-brother, the one she despised. An unexpected benefit of civil discourse, my People's chance of survival had doubled. Pamela lobbed my phone and I caught it. "What of the other two?" Tadêfi pushed down on my euphoria. "Was the Foe dead as well?" A quick look at Pamela told me she knew the answer to that. "The Foe is complicated," I lied. "His return was an inevitability, so we count that as a draw. The Champion, bad news. Let's put Shammy in the 'maybe' column and the Conqueror is a win for our side." A Berserker Queen, fresh from the Underworld, who we were honor-bound to kill,  or the 'other lost heir to a dead House' that was going to make us cobble together some nonsense to bring her back into the fold. If I wasn't the male leader of a spiritually significant All-Girls social club/paramilitary outfit, I might have been daunted by my prospects of achieving the latter. "The thing going on inside your head?" Elsa asked. That explained her presence. My mental capacity was still suspect. Was I still me? Could I flip out with no warning? "It is still there. I still have no idea what happened to me, or what the results might be. This means I'm going into battle wounded and that's that," I stated. "Are you acting in the best interest of the Host," Elsa studied me. "I am not sure," I confessed after half a minute's introspection. "So many of you are fuck-nuts; I'm not sure what acting responsible is for this set," I added jokingly. "As it stand, you lack the authority to pass judgment on me, Elsa. I promise you that if I feel I'm losing control, I will turn myself in." "Saint Marie would feel better if you stayed here," Elsa insisted. "Is the SD declaring war on House Ishara?" Buffy rose to the challenge. "We (by that she meant my fellow Isharans) have discussed the matter and talked to our best neuroscientist. She cannot definitively tell us Cáel isn't Cáel, so there is no reason to constrain him." Whoa. In our best prospect's educated opinion I was not-not me. Legions of English teachers weren't going to like that. "I have the answer for that," Katrina spoke up. "I owe Cáel and I would pay that debt now. He expressed a desire to see my niece, Aya. Do you still wish that Cáel Ishara?" "More than ever, but the Council is meeting," I sighed. "Buffy is your (dead word spoken), your apprentice," Katrina suggested. "Appoint someone to stand with her." That was more than good advice. Buffy was a woman and, to those who knew of her, as fierce an Amazon as ever lived. That was what Katrina was telling me without telling me. "I choose Daphne Pile, if she will accept, to stand by Buffy's side," I announced. Buffy would need someone who was passionate for my cause and who spoke Old Kingdom Hittite. Buffy still didn't, and the chance of the Council speaking English on her behalf was non-existent. "That is Daphne of House Cotyttia," Pamela corrected me. Who Cotyttia was? I had no idea. I was stupid to think Daphne's actual Amazon surname was Pile. Daphne wasn't even around. Executive Services was functioning fine without me and that meant Daphne had a work queue. "The Thracian Goddess of Sex, Orgies, War and Slaughter," Krasimira gracefully filled in my ignorance. Another whoa, why wasn't she my matron goddess? Tadêfi hauled off and slapped me. The action seemed to take everyone, Tadêfi included, by surprise. "I don't know why I did that," Tadêfi wailed out in despair. I did. It didn't take telepathy to figure out what I had been thinking. To prove my point, Pamela laughed. I cupped Tadêfi's jaw. "Worry not," I cooed. "I had that coming, Dot Ishara," I dodged another one, "isn't happy with me right now." Recall, Tadêfi was hooked up to an old-fashioned party line with the Beyond. "Animaniacs," Pamela snorted. "I so love you. It is my deep and abiding pleasure to have you as my Grandson." "I'm not your grandson," I countered. "Well, I say you are. Now be quiet and accept the shame," Pamela's eyes danced with amusement. "That makes me, Daphne and Brielle incest," I pointed out. "Amazons don't have an incest taboo," Pamela retorted. Duh. They are all women, no chance of seven fingered, Cyclops babies. "Ah, women, misunderstanding and pain, Buffy, would you check out Quebec and see if I'm still wanted in that province for bestiality. It could be important later," I commanded. "Bestiality?" only one woman failed to mutter, sputter or exclaimed. "The complainant in question is not that pissed at you anymore," Katrina's rolodex mind kicked in. "I believe she expressed a desire to question you about some missing accoutrements though." My splitting headache meant I had to think about that, ah yes, her dress uniform. It was/had been Canada Day, thus her having an official function and thus me cheating with the girl from across the hall in the Mountie's bed. I'm an idiot alright and my ability to keep an eye on the clock needs improvement. My last image of her, frothing at the mouth (she was a tad more possessive than I had anticipated) as she screamed out insults in Quebecois French concerning my lineage, personality failings and the treasured parts of my anatomy. She punctuated various parts of that deranged episode by hurling articles of her clothing over the border at me as I turned (once I had good Ole US soil/pavement under my feet) and tried to get us back together. Yes, I had them, just not in my Box of Failed Romances. Acting on hopes of reconciliation, I had the uniform dry cleaned, placed in a dress bag, and the boots polished; both currently occupying space in my closet. At least the Alburgh-Noyan Crossing guards (it is a dual Canadian-American post) appreciated me evading/begging forgiveness long enough for them to see her in only her bra and panties. I imagine they didn't normally get much excitement there. "Katrina, " I began. "Yes, Maya forgives you too, though she scored an 'At Risk' for reliability. Anais sounded genuine," Katrina related. Anais was the Mountie. Maya was the Guyane Française university student from across the hall, the one I was caught cheating with. I had told her I was Anais's brother. Maya was also a super-exceptional cook. "Cáel Ishara, who are these women we are talking about?" Sikia demanded. 'We', that didn't take long. We were now a 'we', which in Amazon meant 'male, you're my property'. "I have a sideline job as an Amway distributor," I replied. "I give crappy customer service." "You give awesome customer service," Katrina riposted. "That's the problem." "Sikia, you are not the first Amazon Cáel has stuck his dick into. You are probably not the tenth," Elsa dripped with frustration. Quick count: Rhada, Buffy, Oneida and Gael, I was only going to count the penile-vaginal penetrations. "They are only numbers five and six, thank you very much," I defended myself. "So much for your 'intern, no sex' policy," Desiree muttered. "Cut me some slack, I work with stone-cold, Olympic level athlete foxes 24/7," I griped. "I am a sexual being too, I have needs." "What about the 'End of Internship' hunting shindig?" Desiree pulled a flawless 'Katrina'. "Oh, it is still on. With my 'do or die' learning curve, it is going to be so much more fun," I grinned. "And, okay, no more Amazon sex until then, sorry Rachel." "Except for house members," Buffy insisted. "No exceptions," Elsa demanded. "I'll keep an eye on him," Pamela resolved the issue. "No more Amazon boinking for him." She was such a liar. She was also a highly accomplished liar because everyone bought it. On with my life. Stage one: exit Katrina's office. Done deal, no problems. Stage two: set up meeting with the Earth  and  Sky. They wanted to meet on their ground. Since I was the uncertain factor in these negotiations, I agreed. I was bringing one, Pamela raised four fingers, four people with me. Who? Outside of Pamela, I had no idea. Stage three: going to medical and putting on my business suit, it was a new one and very, very nice. I was moving up into serious majestic magnate territory. I also picked up buddy number two, FBI Special Agent Virginia Maddox. Why had I chosen a federal agent to accompany me to a meeting between two secret societies? I hadn't a clue. Sometimes you have to roll with these things. In the lobby, I picked up number three, Delilah, Mom's MI-6 operative/baby-sitter. Compassionate, caring people were surrounding me all the time. It gave me this sensation of a 'down home' environment no matter where I went, if down home was Gaza, or Donetsk. I think my entourage/lifestyle observation teams had grown to encompass six cars. I was in no condition for riding my bike, so that recourse was denied me. Taxi? One, most were hard-working stiffs like my family who didn't deserve to be caught in a noontime, drive-by assassination attempt. Besides, with my luck I'd meet the guy from Qatar again, the one with the sister with cute eyes. That reminded me, I gave Nicole a call. "How are you doing?" she quickly inquired. "Good," I lied to a past master of shattering perjury. Pause. "I'm surrounded by girls with guns, tailed by your clients, some part of a Federal Task force and some people who I don't know yet. Hold on." I put my hand over my phone. "Delilah, are you packing heat?" I asked softly. She opened her jacket revealing paired revolvers in shoulder holsters. I didn't recognize them so the Brit gave me the 4-1-1. "Ruger Alaskans," she grinned. Bing! Now I recalled them. The girl who taught me to shoot once read some reviews of that beast on her laptop while I gave her a slow, passionate screw from behind. She became all hot and bothered, wiggling, squirming and generally having a grandiose time with my cock deep within. I repeat, this girl really loved guns, a huge cerebral G-spot for her. Oh yeah, the Ruger Alaskan is what you get if you are worried about Grizzly bears popping their heads through the tent flaps late at night. Delilah was probably packing 4 80's. Her guns would turn 250 kilograms of pissed off ursine into an excellent throw-rug in about two shots. In an urban environment,  well, maybe she thought the New York Giants were actually giants, or something like that. Two were overkill, unless you expected someone needing to borrow one. "Just checked. I remain the only one unarmed in my personal carnival of carnage, " my words trailed up to an unintelligible mumble. I was mumbling because suddenly four handguns were casually offered up for my use (Tiger Lily was holding one over her shoulder as she drove), in the same way you'd offer up some Nicorette to a man jonesing for a smoke. Rachel was kind enough to hand me my familiar Glock-22 and Ruger 38 caliber with their accompanying holsters. Two spare clips followed, then I stashed the lot. I scratched my calf. It took me a second to realize I was reaching for my pistol. No, not the one at my hip, or my ankle, but the one, in my boot? "Now that you've been handed firearms of dubious origin, can I get back to questioning you," the FBI agent intruded upon my ruminations. "We were discussing that list of people that are visiting a morgue instead of a court room. What can you tell me?" "Bye Nicole. Miss you. Being interrogated by a blonde FBI lady with a whips scar on her eyebrow and eyes that could scare a badger back into its hole. Later," I cut of my lawyer's fierce demand that I keep my mouth shut. "Nothing useful that wouldn't implicate myself and others in a criminal conspiracy," I answered her. "There is no way I'd name anyone else I suspect of involvement. I feel no guilt over what has happened, so no remorseful confession, and that is based on my belief that cosmic justice has been achieved." "You can't create lists of people for execution," Maddox persisted. "That negates the whole justice system and the principle of innocent until proven guilty." Wow! Except for the two of us, every other person in the car snorted their derision of Maddox's presumptive naiveté. "Do you even believe the tripe spilling from your pie-hole?" Delilah mocked Maddox. "I'm in law enforcement. That means I enforce the laws, not interpret them, or choose which ones I want to obey and which ones to ignore," Virginia fought back. "Love, that's crap and you know it. You are an agent of the US government. You bomb, drone-strike, overthrow lawfully elected governments and assassinate in your nation's best interests," Delilah countered. "You selectively enforce your Constitution when it suits you." "I'm law enforcement, not the military or foreign affairs. Know the difference," Maddox glared. "The pay master is the same,  you willingly collect your thirty pieces of silver; get off your high horse because you are in the shat now, Agent Maddox. I haven't known this crowd an hour and I know for a fact that you are the only US citizen onboard," Delilah chortled. "I don't know their bleeding nationality, but I doubt it is on the UN Charter." Maddox turned to me. "That was succinct and rather accurate," I murmured. "Special Agent Maddox, I have the sneaking suspicion that you are with us because FP (federal prosecutor) Castello feels you can handle this, Umm, unusual set of circumstance. I promise you this, it is going to get worse." "Why don't we test this quaint theory?" FBI Lass challenged us. "Jail, bail, and I'm waking up in Rio de Janeiro in two days," I sighed. "I have a few thousand in the bank, live in a hole and own my father's home, when it clears probate. Only you know I'm flight risk. A dozen people will vouch/lie about my character and that's that. All you've succeeding in doing is making enemies when you need friends." "There is still a matter of multiple people dead under suspicious circumstance," she said. "Imagine for a second that Cáel admits to creating a hit list," Pamela began. "He would never give up the names of the other people involved. He didn't kill anyone, or say 'kill them'. Now what? You still have an abysmal case to put before a judge. Add to that, the mitigating factor of a raped girl. You get to break her down until she's a cooperating witness because she's the only one who can provide you with Cáel's motive," my mentor continued. "Good for you and your team. She gets to betray the man who tried to save her. Cáel promised horrific retribution if any of those in the now-dead crowd hurt her. That is rather unlike him, he normally forgives when given the least excuse. I don't give a damn about women's rights, or the rights of rape victims. I really could give a shit about human rights for that matter. Wronging me is the surest way to early retirement. It is not a matter of strong versus weak, or right versus wrong. What matters to me is who I can trust. I don't know you, thus I don't trust you. I trust your government to be so much chicken shit. I base this on the lack of public torture and execution. I want the families of dying criminals paraded in front of those cock-suckers before the condemned finally perish in agony. I want to see thieves get their forearms hacked off, trial by combat, and respect for your elders. I want to see public officials being sacrificed upon the altar of Jehovah when they leave office. I want to see a system of justice with a soul, not law books thicker than an aircraft carrier's hull. A government 'of the People, by the People, for the People' should be the sole guiding force for your culture and we both know that's never going to happen. I admire your soldiers; not because they are brave and combat effective, they are. I admire them because they are fighting and dying for elected officials and a population that can't locate Afghanistan, or Iraq on a map, can't tell the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim, and thinks 'Pashtun' is an exotic piece of furniture. I admire them because they are better human beings despite you, not because of you," Pamela was coming to her crescendo. "Basically you people, by that I mean most of the human race, are dangerous in your idiocy, arrogance and pride in your ignorance. Not one of you should be allowed to use weapons, or play with fire. For you, unrestricted voting is a crime right up there with inventing, disease prevention, bilingualism and anything that perpetuates your educational system." "Lady, why are you so angry with the world?" Maddox studied Pamela intensely. I wished her luck with divining and then unwrapping that lady's mind. "I hold dear to my heart anyone's hunger to learn, honesty when it hurts and love no matter what the cost, so I find myself alone most of the time," Pamela grinned. "Above even those, I adore humor in the face of ridicule, condemnation and adversity. You can dodge bullets and parry knives. Humor always strikes home," she finished. "It is the perfect weapon." "Liar," I smiled. "You like high performance automobiles too." Did she? I didn't know. "Only with a 2X4 pressing the accelerator as it races toward the lip of a canyon," Pamela bantered back, "with Ursula K. Le Guin strapped in the back seat." "Who?" I inquired. "She's an author. I take exception to some of her work and unwillingness to appreciate the fusion of exceptional feminine characteristics with power positions," Pamela answered. "And your critique of her life's work is an exploding car at the bottom of a cliff?" I smiled. "Starting uncontrolled wildfires and littering, two of my favorite activities," she laughed. "I'll stick with blondes and brunettes, and red- and raven-haired, bald has its own appeal, green and purple have their own kink going on, " I joked. "Wait! We were talking about people being murdered and you two are cracking jokes?" Maddox rumbled. "I had a dream about tying them together with nylon cord and tossing them off the back ramp of a transport aircraft, and watching them fall, and fall," Rachel sighed dreamily. "Atta girl," I play-punched Rachel's shoulder. "What is your part in all of this?" Maddox turned to Rachel. "I'm the head of his bodyguard detail," Rachel gave her confession of the damned. "And you want to kill him, " Virginia struggled to keep up. "Given time, you will too," Rachel promised. "According to his pre-employment records, only one woman he's had a sexual relationship with hasn't wanted to at least hurt him," glaring at me, "badly." "The nun doesn't want me dead!" I vocally protested. "It is so wrong that you are proud that of over 200 women you've slept with, TWO have not, at some point in knowing you, wanted to maul you and one of those is in the 'forgiving' business," Rachel chastised me. Virginia had an answer for my madness. Her phone came out and she hit speed-dial, work. "Ms. Castello, this is Special Agent Maddox, do you have a moment?" Virginia calmly asked when she finally wrangled my current-favorite fed's attention. "You do now? Thank you. I'd like to know what the fuck have you done to me? This assignment is nuts. Either I'm part of some elaborate prank, or I'm in an S U V with escapees from the looney bin." Ten seconds later Maddox gave me the phone. "Stop it. I've upheld my end of the bargain, so behave," Javiera ordered. Man, she'd shot me straight to the core and we hadn't even slept together yet. Clever, clever girl. "Yes Ma'am," I swore. "I'll do my best to buffer Special Agent Maddox from the truth." "I'll have to accept that," Javiera conceded. "Give Maddox the phone back." A brief conversation later and Maddox was no better off than when she started. Thankfully we parked in front of the Kazakhstan Consulate in New York, giving us all an excuse to face facts. Maddox was feeling compelled to ask questions she didn't want the answers to, and that we didn't want to answer. Saved by work. "Kazakhstan Consulate? Why are we here?" both Virginia and Rachel asked. "Oh! This is going to be good," Pamela leaned forward excitedly. "Change the course of human history," I answered with a great deal of confidence I didn't feel. See, I had knowledge critical to the Earth  and  Sky. That knowledge was also something they wanted kept compartmentalized, so they might take exception to it being possessed by an outsider. Oh,  so that's why Pamela earlier insisted on four ladies being with me, so we could shoot our way out if things turned ugly. I hugged my mentor. "Thank you, Pamela." "You are coming along nicely, Mr. Potter," Pamela patted my cheek. "Your praise leaves me suspicious, Professor Snape. Besides, if I'm going to die, it helps me to know you'll go first ." "That was uncalled for," Pamela chided me. It was the 'Snape' role she rejected. "Snape gave up his life for Harry, Dumbledore died for Draco," I countered. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that," Pamela shone with joy and pride. "You act like I have a choice," I sighed. "Touché," Pamela nodded. "I see what you mean about these two," Maddox addressed Rachel. "Oh my God," Delilah laughed. "You wove Harry Potter into a life and death conversation and it made sense. I am probably going to die, but I'll die knowing I have lived." "Not you too?" Maddox glared at Delilah. Rachel just shook her head. We exited the car, settled ourselves out. Rachel took point, Delilah took one flank while Pamela took the other. By happenstance, I ended up in the middle, yeah right, with Virginia covering my back. "You stay here," Pamela put a hand on Rachel's shoulder. "You'll need to lead the team in if someone 'pumps up the volume'." Interesting euphemism for 'when people start killing people'. "What are we doing today?" Miyako 'appeared'. She'd been walking down the sidewalk toward us, the Kazak Consulate was a townhouse, but her presence hadn't registered. "I require your pledge of silence on what is to transpire. No death is intended," I stated calmly to Miyako. "I didn't know you were versed in ninja contracts, much less spoke Japanese?" Miyako responded. Blink. "I didn't know I spoke it either, " I mumbled. "No sweat," Pamela tried to hustle us along. "He's a quick study." Yeah. I didn't feel it apropos to point out I hadn't heard myself speaking Japanese, or understood that my words had some secret meaning. "How important is this to my people?" Miyako asked. Now that I was paying attention to it, I could make out that she was speaking in her native tongue. "If they don't think we can be trusted to not speak of what is to transpire for a week, they are going to kill us," I related my suspicions. "My mind and heart are joined in this decision." "I give you my pledge," Miyako nodded. She looped her arm in mine. "Does anyone care to enlighten me?" Maddox prodded. Whoa. It seemed that, beside me and Miyako, only Pamela spoke Japanese. "Special Agent Maddox, no matter what, don't give up your gun, when we say run, run, and shoot to kill because they will be trying to kill us," I informed her. "Does the term 'extraterritoriality' mean anything to anyone here?" Maddox snapped. Her nervousness was totally understandable. I stopped at the top of the steps, looking over my shoulder. I nodded. Pamela, Delilah and Miyako nodded as well. "Hold on, I can't believe I'm saying this. Does anyone have a back-up I can use?" Maddox groaned. Rachel quick-stepped forward and handed over a 22 automatic pistol then a spare clip with a smooth, practiced motion that suggested that SD swapped weapons all the time. Maddox didn't miss the casualness of the gesture. The firearm and magazine disappeared. "Fine, we will never discuss the laws we just butchered, ever, and if I die and any of you make it out alive, I will seek revenge at whatever cost FROM WHEREVER I AM," FBI girl growled. "One of us," Pamela smirked at me as I touched the doorbell. It opened promptly. We weren't on a crowded street, we were on their stoop and a security camera was pointed right at us. We were invited in and two rather Caucasian-looking gentlemen (Kazaks are a mixed bag of Turks and Cumans) were waiting with the doorman. They looked tough in that they took personality lessons from saddle leather. "You will place your weapons there," the more charismatic of the two spoke up. He was pointing to a side table that looked large enough for the task. "No," was the most courteous response I could muster. He didn't look surprised. He didn't look much like he was breathing, or blinking either. "Go," he pointed to the door. I looked to Pamela. "Well, that didn't take long," I grinned. I felt out the necklace under my shirt and pulled it over my head. "Please return this to its owner in the spirit it was given." He took it. The doorman opened the door and out we went. Rachel was back in our GL550, using the door as possible cover. She said we could take our seats and away we rolled. Maddox looked apoplectic. She had prepared herself for the Wild, Wild West, not a doe-see-doe at the door. In her mind, I had wound her up for nothing. My phone rang. "Cáel Ishara, there seems to have been a diplomatic miscommunication," a male native Turkish-speaker said in heavily accented English. "The person you are meeting must be approached in the spirit of peace." "No, I understood you perfectly," I assured him. "We aren't the Brownies, or the Girl Scouts, Buddy. I don't know, or trust you and you don't know, or trust me, yet. I will compromise though. I will respect your traditions. I will enter your home unarmed. In turn, everyone in the building will line up outside on the street except for the person I'm supposed to meet. Is that acceptable?" Pause. "Do you hate these people, or like them?" Maddox grumbled. "With you, I can't quite tell." "That would not be acceptable," the man finally responded. "Perhaps an alternative. You come in, alone yet armed." "Nope. Due to the efforts of people far smarter than me, I know pretty much who I am meeting, so I am either very rude, insane, or bear a message that is worth my life," I countered. "Your personal safety is guaranteed," was the counter-offer. "That is a false promise, not because you lack honor, or respect for me, but because you are from a wise and noble lineage with a historical propensity of cutting to the heart of any problem." By that, I meant they'd cut my heart out. "What I expect is for every one of you to hold the future of the Earth  and  Sky above any such concepts as personal promises, hospitality, and honor. I am even putting my faith in your willingness to put the survival of the Earth  and  Sky over your own well-being," I riposted. "If the message is so crucial, you should be willing to come alone," back at me. "It isn't important to me," I stated. "Listen, a war is about to break out. Unless we both want to be found all alone in the outhouse masturbating when the headsman comes, one of us has to blink. Today, it is you. Tomorrow you may be able to return the favor and mess with my head." Pause. "Your koumiss is getting warm." "We'll be right there. We apologize for the delay. Traffic is murder these days, or a close facsimile thereof," I gave a little back in the humility department. "Tiger Lily, " "On it, Ishara, Wakko Ishara. I've been circling the block," Tiger Lily had anticipated my antics. Sure, I acted like I had no game plan, but I never wasted people's time. Maybe if I developed an actual game plan I could do even better. "Wakko Ishara?" it was Delilah's and Maddox's turn to share a 'what the?' moment. "May I explain the sacred names?" Rachel requested of me. "I have a feeling these two might become a fixture." "By all means, Rachel. Our trust runs deep," I trusted Rachel with more than my life; I trusted her with my future. "Wakko, as in you're the nutty one?" Delilah made a stab at our arcane nomenclature. If you use small words does that make it gnomenclature? Pamela winked at me, psychic twin grandmother powers activate! "We need complementary rings," Pamela remarked. Sweet! "Cáel Ishara is differentiated as Wakko Ishara, Ishara, first of House Ishara, is Yakko Ishara, and, " Rachel began. "The Animaniacs? Your code names are the Warner Brothers and their sister Dot?" Maddox gasped. "You are beyond nuts." "And the Goddess Ishara is named, by House Ishara and House Ishara alone," Rachel made some warding appeal against divine punishment, "as Dot Ishara." Maddox's face shown with disbelief. "Following Cáel Ishara into battle has been one of my greatest pleasures," Rachel stared at Maddox. "I never knew insanity could be so liberating, or that laughing at death could be such an aphrodisiac." "When did you two go into battle?" Delilah wondered. "In a morgue, fighting to retrieve the body of his fallen father so that our enemies could not desecrate it," Rachel explained. Ah, the walls of Troy, fighting over the spoils of the dead. "You mean when I face-planted?" I grinned at Rachel. "Even without a weapon, your instincts were good, forcing our enemy to commit to multiple angles of coverage even though your efforts were foiled by a footing failure. Your rushing their leader was even more heroic in that you were unarmed and using your body as a decoy, knowing your enemy's superior skill would stop him from shooting you," Rachel smiled my way, sex. "Let me get this straight," Miyako finally spoke up. "You charged an enemy unarmed then stumbled and failed. They were armed?" "Yes, with a 3 57 Magnum revolver and a 10 gauge sawed-off automatic shotgun, in tight confines and close range, oh, and no cover." Maddox replied, then to me, "I read the report." "Then you repeated the action a few minutes," Miyako. "Less than a minute later," Maddox clarified. "A minute later, wow! You are as fearless as we've heard. Please don't die before we have a baby," Miyako gave me a quick hug. If you cover a zeppelin with uranium paint, can it still fly, or does it sink to the center of the Earth? Ninja babies, We had returned to the stairs at the Consulate. This time the door swung open upon our approach. "Is there some drug you are all taking to bask in this shared fantasy life?" Maddox mumbled. "One of us," Pamela retorted. "One of us." "One of us," I joined in. It helped cut the tension. The bodyguards were present right where we'd them last time. They ushered us up the stairs to a second floor sitting room that ate up half the floor. There were two men there; radiating that subtle assurance that a half-dozen killers were close by. The man standing was Iskender, the E and S emissary from Dad's funeral. I broke all decorum, strode to the man, locked arms, hugged him tight and patted him on the back. "Thank the spirits you are here," I whispered, "all this lack of dick is making me a bit stir-crazy." "Ah, yes, it is good to see you again too," Iskender imparted as we broke our embrace. His boss, the guy on the sofa, shot me and my Kyrgyz buddy a sharp look. The Main Man was clearly Mongolian and must have thought blank, white walls exhibited too much empathy. "Koumiss," the boss offered. I sipped it from a simple, yet regal drinking mug that probably hit the kiln 200 years ago. "Mare, or yak?" I inquired as I handed the cup around. Iskender came first, but it was clearly my intention that we all partake. It was more a matter of the host's pledge of sanctuary than me wanting to share the koumiss. It tasted like thin, lightly chilled, bitter beer with a vanilla-almond milk shake-chaser. "Mare, of course. Please sit," he offered. He defined the suggestion by slipping off the sofa onto the layered carpet rug. He was semi-reclined, so we followed suit. "We should pray for the protection of the spirits," was the suggestion that wasn't a suggestion. It was his itinerary. He clapped his hands and from beyond a curtained partition came this really sensual Mongolian chick carrying a large brass bowl. She flicked her eyes at me and an instant connection was formed. She liked to bark like a dog under the full moon, okay, I'm not sure where that came from. "Nice woman," I told the leader. "She looks like she has seen many winters." Whoa! Where the fuck did that come from? I got a shocked reaction from Iskender. The Leader looked pissed, if a flake of paint on the white wall indicated anger. The girl blushed like what I said was an incredible turn on. "She is my daughter," the Leader pointed out. Way past swallowing my foot. My ankle was tasty. "My name is Oyuun Tömörbaatar. My faithful Iskender, you know. This is my daughter T. Sarangerel. She is studying at N Y U and is not entertaining marriage proposals at this time," he slapped down his boundaries. Somehow 'I only want to sleep with her' didn't sound like the right response. Wait! Saying his 'daughter had many winters' was a marriage bargaining opening move. What the fuck! "What I meant was that surely many men have died trying to come before you," I back-pedaled. More happy looks from the daughter. More paint peeling from the dad. Pamela made sure more koumiss was going around. Getting drunk could hardly hurt at this juncture. Sarangeral placed the bowl between us. It was filled with clear, cold water undoubtedly collected from a mountain-fed glacier. "Let us cleanse our hands in the water so that we may speak with clarity," O. Tömörbaatar said. We dipped our fingers and, for a second, I saw him. Not 'O', but HIM. "It is good to finally meet you Ferko Ishara Cáel Nyilas," the man said. My Spidey senses told me he was feeling less 'good' about this meeting every second. "How can your people and mine better get along?" 'Let me impregnate your daughter', would probably get my skull split open. "No time for that," I replied. "I know where HE is. The Seven Pillars have found a way to search the Weave and are closing in. You must act with haste." Whether it was disbelief, or old schooled Ku Chun in the art of gambling, the older man gave no outward reaction. "Where is he?" O. Tömörbaatar asked in a gentle tone. "I can do you one better," I steeled myself for the unknown forces I was invoking. I put my hands on the bowl's lip and looked in. Several seconds later, he did as well. For a moment, nothing. It was like a ripple in reverse. The first earth tremor I barely noticed. The ripples grew and grew until I felt the whole row of townhouses would come crashing down. Wind snapped the locks on the windows, flinging them wide open and tearing at the curtains like streamers in a hurricane. Then we saw HIM clearly. HE stopped driving this old, beat-up Peugeot and was pulling to the side of a desolate stretch of highway. HE could sense something yet couldn't pinpoint the source of his unease. We definitely got the impression this wasn't his first taste of this experience, the Seven Pillars. He was young, maybe my age. He looked like an educated man turned vagabond/boundless traveler. HIS eyes, his eyes had a depth that were a microcosm of what I'd glimpsed in Ishara, Dot Ishara's unshielded glance when we first met. All lingering doubts vanished in my mind. "I know that place," O T muttered, his eyes fixated on the only feature in the vacant expanse, a road sign, in Chinese. Yikes. "I know that place." The image faded. Our meeting venue was intact. Whatever I felt transpire, I had shared with O. Tömörbaatar alone. "You have work to do," I stated as I cleared my throat. "I will leave you to it." I stood. "What do you wish for this gift?" O T reached out and touched my sleeve. "When the time comes, maybe you can help us," I replied. "A man who asks for nothing can expect anything," O T smiled for the first time. "Go." I did not take a fear-free breath until the cars started up and we pulled away. He'd let us live. Even with that priceless piece of magical insight, he'd let us live. "I'm still stunned we got out alive," I sighed. "I wasn't really sure he'd take the news as well as he did." No one said anything for a minute. "Why would he have killed us?" Delilah inquired. "You, I understand. I don't know what you communicated to that young lady, but the old guy wasn't happy about it. He was going to kill us over that?" Pause. "What did the rest of you see and hear?" I looked around the cabin. Pamela appeared worried. "I didn't know you spoke Chagatai," Miyako smiled at me. "You are full of surprise. I only caught a word, or two, and none of it made sense." "MRI," I groaned. "Magnetoencephalography," Pamela said in the same breath. "Mine is better, Boyo." "What is going on?" Rachel upped her alertness level. "We need to take Cáel to a hospital that has a Magnetoencephalography device," Pamela insisted. "He's spontaneously speaking languages he didn't know moments earlier, " Maddox put things together first. The rest nodded at her assessment. "We'll need to have his records from Havenstone sent over as a baseline." Poor Virginia, the absurdity of my life was sucking her in. "I'll call Katrina," Rachel informed us. I was a mental case once more. At least my input was still being solicited. "How many guns do you have on you?" Pamela zinged me. The answer was obvious, two. My Glock and my back-up. That didn't seem right. "Ah, two?" I responded. "Yeah, something is happening to your muscle memory as well," Pamela shook her head. "What exactly does that mean, and what's wrong with Cáel's brain?" Delilah studied the group. "It means he could spontaneously pull out his gun and start shooting us?" Pamela confessed her uncertainty. "I don't know. We'd better figure out which impulses are his guiding light right now before that happens." "I don't even know how to begin reporting this," Maddox muttered. "Cheer up. Our Cáel is still currently in charge. Did you appreciate how he lured in that young Mongolian girl? That's classic Cáel," Pamela comforted the crowd. I was saved from a straightjacket because I was a 'Playa'. (Meadowlands Medical Center in far off New Jersey) I'm not political. For me, that means I am completely and utterly dedicated to whatever doctrine that the cutest political campaigner in front of me endorses. Fifteen minutes on the internet and you can fake it like a pro. Be careful to be with the winning team when the results come in. Nothing makes a political chick go wild like sneaking into the candidate's office and screwing her on the newly elected/re-elected figure's desk. Let her scream out her idol's name. Odds are neither of you will be welcomed back afterwards anyway. Why politics now? Javiera called some people. I had a sneaking suspicion that someone I knew and trusted got in touch with my 'Aunts' as well. All I knew for sure was the Hospital's Administrator's phone began ringing off the hook and I'd become the hospital's number one priority. The hospital staff was visibly irritated with the clout raining down on their heads for about an hour. Once they digested my Havenstone records, all of that changed. Holy 'Published in The New England Journal of Medicine', someone had drilled a micro-surgical hole in my skull in the middle of a wrestling match with no resulting cerebral scarring. THEN this unknown device shot into my skull with pinpoint accuracy and pumped a ghastly amount of energy into my cerebrum. They were fascinated. They were so fascinated I heard two medical technicians mutter about where the Zombie Survival Guide could be found. They triple checked my vital signs, again. I was still as much alive as when I checked myself in. There was a rumor that a fire ax disappeared from a stairwell close by, but not one confessed to the deed. I was speaking in languages I had no reason to know? They were surprised I could contain my mouth drool. It was somewhat disheartening to hear three seasoned physicians discuss what probable scenarios could explain me still being in a non-vegetative state,  or alive for that matter. Some poor nurse had to ask. "Do you feel an unnatural, interest in human brains?" she whispered when she though no one was close by. "I'm not sure what you mean," I whispered back. "I always respect a woman's intelligence. Sex is a cerebral passion. What's the point if you can't communicate with your partner?" Pamela slapped me upside my head. That disturbed just about everybody else in the vicinity and my mentor was promptly exiled from the room. I was curious about what havoc she was perpetrating on this establishment. My condition had gotten her past all the heavy security and I knew without seeing that someone high ranking had misplaced their ID badge. Maybe Pamela was the love-child of Batman and Cat woman. Before you think that's comic fanboy talk, recall what my life was like at that moment. Tests ensued. The staff decided that Havenstone employed a bunch of quacks and snake charmers. Two hours later, they found out they were wrong. Larger battery of tests, same results. I was the second coming of Christ, back from the dead, or a zombie living in a convincing state of denial. Some folks wouldn't let that go. Pamela had proved to be prophetic. Her pet gizmo finally provided a new picture of what my neural pathways were up to. If there is any doubt, 'I've never seen that before' is not what you want to hear one of North America's experts in the field of neuroscience say. The first educated opinion was that I suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that meant I was hit in the head a lot. Normally that diagnosis comes in the midst of an autopsy. I was having paralytic seizures. They had me juggle a squeeze-ball, then two and finally three. My perfect performance frustrated them. Women find relatively simple carnival tricks to be seductive. Pluck a card from a girl's bra gets you both to some dark corner, hungrily looking for the rest of the deck, I speak from experience. Next up at bat: 'I was possessed', I shit you not. Holistic medicine was right on board with the team. Was I influenced by a supernatural power? Yes I was. So claimed the majority of people on Earth. Did I receive specific instructions? Yes, and so did practitioners of Voodoo/Vodun on three continents. I added that I attempted to evade said instructions when I could. Did I have 'evil' impulses to hurt myself, or others? Huh? For starters, my matron goddess was more of a 'fucker' than a 'fighter' and her instructions were always suitably vague, the same way a Philosophy professor would give you a ten word pointless sentence on Friday and expect you to have a 250 page doctrine on Monday morning. That hit home. Too many normally smart people take a philosophy class in college hoping for an easy-A. Some teachers love dissolving those delusion, sitting back and watching your hopes and dreams of task-free weekends go down the drain. The more obscure the discipline, the more perverse the desire. That is why you always pick a teacher of the opposite gender (if in doubt, use a gay/lesbian test) and keep 'sex for grades' on the menu. Was I suffering from optical illusions, or phantom noises? Straight to the point, yes, I saw and talked with ghosts. So did the Long Island Medium, the casts of Ghost Hunters, Paranormal Witness plus George Anderson and Chip Coffey. To my credit, I didn't do it for profit, or in order to influence people. Was I seeing ghosts now? I was in hospital, so odds weren't bad. I had every non-ghost raise their left hand. No ghosts. Was my paranormal dementia pre- or post-brain trauma? Did seeing a college student being called before his class and successfully accused of plagiarism on his senior thesis, turning him into one of the Restless Dead count? No? My 'disputed' abilities were all post-college employment, thank you very much. Did the ghosts possess me/tell me to do things? I was not possessed and, discounting sexual bondage and my current work venue, had never been possessed. From my limited exposure, ghosts wanted to not be alone in the afterlife, to be guided to a final resting place with others of their kind/family/friends. None had taught me languages, asked me to steal something, or kill anyone. Had any done so, I would have denied them. Such actions were immoral and I could still freely differentiate between right and wrong. I preferred to commit wrong on my own initiative and making me do good was a chore most sane people abandoned after a few days. I took a Rorschach test. The results were predictable because I had taken old 'R' several times before. Just like every other time, I'd mixed up sexual innuendo with a psychological test to seduce the test-giver,  everything reminded me of intercourse. I changed it up with this girl. I gave her numbers. Sometime after I was long gone, they were going to figure out the ink blots were numbered after whichever erotic positions from the Kama Sutra I was reminded of at the time. I knew that wasn't being helpful and I was certain I wasn't a brain specialist. I also knew Rorschach wasn't the key to solving my woes. Final remaining hypothesis, I was utilizing 30 % of my brain capacity with three independent patterns emerging, not the usual 5 %. For that to work, my brain had to be oozing out my ears because brains generate a terrific amount of heat. My temperature was a steady 37.3 C (99 F) and my ear channels were free of obstruction. Hey man, cleaning your ears is quick and easy. Don't risk turning off a date with misfortunately located ear-hair and wax. How was my brain shedding the heat? Their solution, let's do a Spinal Tap. No way. I'd seen that band and they were all extremely fucked up, even for old guys. I wasn't going down that road. They insisted. I suggested that I consent to the procedure with the condition that I received no pain killers/sedatives of any kind and I got to grab and hold onto the testicles of my two, current, least favorite doctors. When they realized I was deadly serious and immovable on the issue, they came up with a new plan, no Spinal Tap. Gutless sissies. Into this vacuum of information, a brainstorm emerged (besides my inexplicable one). They would talk to me, no more interrogations, an actual verbal exchange. They couldn't come over and start flapping their gums like some punk rock band with no talent. They were suddenly worried about 'concerning' me and 'agitating my unstable state'. I pray to Goddess Ishara that one day soon they play back the tapes of their early hours working on me and pay close attention to my facial expressions of shock, horror, fear and depression as they clearly and openly talked about me as if I was the Fiji Mermaid. But hey, a few of them were kinda cute, so in the final analysis all that emotional trauma worked its way out. Hospital highlights: (Understand, I was lying on a table while various specialists prodded and talked about me as if I wasn't there. To strike back at reality, I throbbed my penis every time this cute Parasitologist looked at it. Finally ) Female Chief of Neurosurgery: "Did anyone think to study changes in is body's nervous system?" (Guilty looks all around) Neuro Surgeon: "What are all these needle marks?" Havenstone Medico, "Those are muscle stimuli insertion sites. They kept his musculature from atrophying while he was in a coma." Neuro Surgeon: "Let me get this straight. This man had a lightning bolt go off in his head and part of your healthcare regimen was to run a constant current of electricity throughout the rest of his body." (Scathing looks at the Medico from everyone else, jackals) HM: "He has retained excellent muscle tone." Neuro Surgeon: "Have you even taken the Hippocratic Oath?" HM: (offended) "Of course not, he's Greek." Neuro Surgeon: "What does my patient being Greek have to do with anything?" HM: "Not him (pointing at me). Hippocrates, he was a Greek. Cáel is Magyar/Irish Gaelic." Neuro Surgeon: "Helpful, that's not. He seems to have a great deal of bruises and scarring, some of it certainly received over an extensive period of time. Is this your work?" HM: (in a positive note) "No. It has not been my pleasure to spar with Cáel yet." Neuro Surgeon: "Isn't he a bit, big for you?" &

On today's MJ Morning Show: Cyber Trucks stainless steel isn't so stainless? Morons in the news "Swatting" calls arrest made Porn website's traffic hits a new high thanks to Mattel Monkey update Sara update Coughing fit causes crash in parking garage Update: Email about Roxanne's appearance on "The Morning Blend" E-mail from listener about cleaning lady MJ has a 'friends problem' MJ's Thanksgiving may need to figure out the cornbread Another episode of 'Make Dave Laugh' Tyson/Paul fight.... 'The slap' Toilet paper scam Study: Cannibis may lead to cancers Congressman detained in airport after mixing Ambien and alcohol Rays make decision to play season at Steinbrenner Field Cheese stretch from Chili's Insurance fraud over a bear costume Christmas movie getting baaaaaad reviews Cza regretting BBL Zac Bryan not facing charges Martha Stewart didn't come through for her prison bestie

I'm back from London and feel like ass, quite honestly. But it was worth it because I partied my little heart out at Hayu Fest with Austen and Craig and the Bravo gang. And a surprise caller took the edge off my demise. Later, a round of steroids a plastic crown really turned my week around. Also, I wear a crown now. For more interviews and behind-the-scenes tea, tune in to Andy Cohen Live weekdays on Radio Andy by subscribing to SiriusXM. Use my link https://sxm.app.link/AndyCohen for a free trial! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.

Cáel's tombstone: For the love of women, women put him here.In 25 parts, edited from the works of FinalStand.Listen and subscribe to the ► Podcast at Connected..