Podcasts about Ecuador

Amazon ‘Fiction': Part 1 The adventure begins. Based on a post by Farmer Jill, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. It all started with one woman's desire to prove that Amazons existed. Yes, that's right those legendary female warriors. Her name was Sylvia Riesling, the heiress to the Riesling billions. She was completely obsessed with the Amazons. Sylvia had commissioned a big international conference on the Amazons in Frankfurt Germany. I, Nelson James, was the keynote speaker. I am a professor of Anthropology at an Ivy League university. I was nothing special, just another academic in an obscure field toiling away to feed my wife and three sons. My area of interest was the Amazon River basin and the primitive people still living there. Sure, I had heard rumors of Amazon's, but never really was that interested until that blockbuster movie Amazon World came out. Sheer genius it was, a story of how the legendary women warriors got fed up with the patriarchal world and emerged from their self-seclusion to overthrow it. Plenty of women wanted to see it because it had a good plot, of course the defeat of all the male governments. (This was a movie so there were zero female world governments at the time to overthrow) and the lead actresses were all A-list. Men went with their wives and girlfriends because of all the Amazon warriors in their skimpy battledress were former Playboy bunnies or cheerleaders. Another attraction for many was the first-rate special effects. Let's face it action movies with babes sell. I heard about the movie when it started production and knew what I had to do. I was in the running for a full professorship, and this could be my way in. I knew my obscure area of study would have a brief time in the limelight and I had to take full advantage. Immediately I researched an academic paper on the Amazons. It would be published in the usual dull Anthropology Journal. That would provide me with the material to write an article in regular English for the New York Times and any other media outlet that wanted to pick it up. This would get me promoted. One theologian of the nineteenth century proffered a hypothetical from the biblical text of Genesis. He cited a Garden of Eden, but separated from the ‘civilized world' by a global flood. A flood caused by a traumatic shift of the polar rotation, causing seasons, a depletion of hydro shielding of the atmosphere, and a resulting penetration increase in ultraviolet radiation. The major plates of the earth radically broke apart, causing a large ocean between the South American and African plates. The theologian believes it plausible that the Garden of Eden is the Amazon and Ecuadorian South Pacific region. He cites the Galapagos irregularities and species of Tortoises that have perhaps 3 times the lifespan of humans. Could all life forms excel greater, and live longer; in the ‘garden region'? Then the theologian sites the Nephilim giants, offspring of when spirit beings mating with human women. The text of Genesis 6: 4; 4 The Nephilim giants were on the earth in those days, and also afterward; when the spirit beings went to the human women. They seduced the women and had children by them. The offspring became powerful. They were the heroes of old, men of renown human folklore. The biblical references are several, but European civilizations have not seen evidence in many centuries, thus the idea has been discredited as superstition.  The theologian speculates that these mythical Amazons are perhaps superior in body and mind, and irreverent to the creator's order. The original Spirit beings designed to set up a civilization where women perverted the creator's order, and made human males into slaves of women. Whereas in other civilizations the offspring men conquered and terrified the world, in the Amazon regions, their superior intellect and science was used to alter genetics in favor of the females. The offspring females were genetically capable of longer life, superior intellect, and godlike in physical attributes. Male offspring, however; were genetically cursed to the limitations of all other humankind. Academia condemned the theologian's speculations, and it was not allowed to be taught at any credible university. Only bible colleges even entertained it as plausible.  For my academic career's sake, I went with the consensus theories of the leading universities and published a secular research. I called it Amazons: Fact or Fiction. The Times was interested, and I retained the syndication rights after they had the first exclusive release. In order to write the paper though, I had to get access to the journal of Francois Canard. He was the famous 19th century explorer whose journal documented his discovery of the Amazons. Unfortunately, no one believed Francois at the time, and they declared him mad and institutionalized him. He was known to the Amazon crowd as Bizarre Canard. His family detested that name, and what happened to him. They were always trying to rehabilitate his name and this movie, Amazon World, would bring his name to the forefront. I contacted the family and flew to France to meet with the heir, Jean Paul Canard. I promised to set the record straight on Francois. They would have right to reject anything I wrote before publication, and I would give them a portion of any profits I made, to pay legal fees to have the official record changed. ln exchange, I would have full access to his journal and any other records the family held. For some reason, Jean Paul felt I was trustworthy and agreed to my offer. The movie came out and broke records on its first weekend. My article came out on the Saturday of that weekend and on Monday was reprinted and reposted all around the world. The university loved the publicity, and I was given the full professorship. Moreover, the syndication money was greatly appreciated by my wife Connie. She was great at making our money stretch, but it always was tight. This is where Sylvia came in. With all the hype about the Amazons, she held her conference. Since I was acknowledged as a "world renowned Amazon "expert" I was selected keynote speaker. No expense was spared. Sylvia even paid for Connie and the boys to accompany me. We made a holiday of it and Sylvia had one of her staff tour guide us around Germany for a week. It wasn't all altruistic though. She wanted me to go to the Amazon River basin on an expedition she was funding. Again, no expense would be spared, in the quest to prove the existence of the Amazons. However, there was a problem with me going on the expedition. I had promised Connie no more trips to the Amazon until the boys were through their teen years. Connie had not complained about my previous trips when they were younger; when I was building my career but now she now she wanted my help at home. I had the professorship, so I was pretty secure, and I liked staying home. I loved Connie and being a father. Sylvia was tenacious however, at our first meal together before the conference she had mentioned the expedition and my role in it. I had explained that I had made a promise to Connie but would be glad to help with the preparations. Connie was very happy with my response and showed me her appreciation that night. Sylvia however was relentless, and by the end of our trip in Germany Connie had not only released me from my promise but was encouraging me to go! That conversation would replay over and over again in my mind, over the next year. I suspect it haunted Connie as well. Connie had it all figured out, "Nelson I know you made a promise to me, and you keep your promises. You are a great husband and father; I love being married to you. You are a great provider, working hard to give us what we need, and more. Sylvia has offered you an amazing sum to go on this expedition, This is your reward for all your years of hard work. If it is successful you will receive an even larger bonus. This would make us set for life. Sylvia thinks you will be gone a month, maybe two at the outside. I will be fine for that long; both of our parents will help. I really think you should go." I would have stuck to my promise but also I did want to go, it would cement my reputation and place at the university. The money was a stupid amount, one million dollars. I did also want to stay with my family. I could stay home and still milk my expert status at the same time. Yet Connie was pushing me to go so I agreed. Sylvia had no time to waste, a group was assembled and outfitted in a month. The leader of the expedition would be Lori Becker a self-made millionaire. She came from the wrong side of the tracks and had never failed at anything she had tried. Of course, our leader had to be a woman so she could speak on equal terms with the Amazons we hopefully would meet. Francois had mentioned this in his journal. His expedition included some women, and he made one of them the "leader," since the Amazons would not speak to him. Then there was the two security women, Alesha Murray, and Estelle Rodrigues. They were former special forces and from what I could see, the two women were the real deal. There were plenty of primitive locals, robber barons, and other assorted bad guys in the Amazon River basin so we needed protection. Again, women warriors made sense for the obvious reasons. Then there was Paulo and Mateus and their river boat. They would provide the grunt labor for the group as well as run the boat. They both were very handy and knew parts of the river. They also knew many of the main characters, among the legitimate and illegitimate goings on in this part of the basin. Finally, there was me, the expert advisor, and hopefully with the help of Bizarre Canard's journal the navigator. From my previous experience, this was a good size group for an Amazon river exploration. Small enough to be effective, but not too big to be unwieldy and attract too much unwanted attention from anyone. The three women and I would fly into Iquitos and meet up with Mateus and Paulo. We then would head down the river toward Ecuador, as outlined by Canard in his journal. The first few days were uneventful but soon enough we had left the vestiges of civilization behind. We kept a sharp eye out for the indigenous peoples, and others who didn't like outsiders on their turf. It was a beautiful part of creation, with so many vibrant colors and exotic plants and animals. We continued down the river and had the feeling that we were being watched. This increased with every mile. Estelle was convinced attack was imminent. Alesha not so much, the attack was coming but not yet. We were almost into the mountains, and she was sure it would occur then. There was no doubt in anyone's mind however, that we were being watched and that the watchers had changed. Originally it had been the indigenous who were watching us. They were great at camouflage and concealment, but the high-tech gadgets of Estelle and Alesha could pick out their heat signatures among other things. Now someone else was watching us. The high-tech equipment couldn't pick them up and neither could the naked eye. These people were masters of the hunt. Yet Alesha and Estelle were convinced we were still being watched. When we entered the mountains the river increased in speed but decreased in depth and width. We knew that we would soon have to leave the boat and move forward on foot. Then we saw the arch mentioned in Bizarre Cunard's journal. Everyone was excited that we seemed to be on the right path. Soon after that we stopped for the night at what we thought was a secure location. It was a sand bar with the river on one side and sheer mountain walls on the other side. While we set up camp, Estelle was on guard duty, and she was sharp noticing the stranger first. The person was dressed in a wet suit complete with a mask and carried what looked like a bow in their hand. The person had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, but must have come out of the river. Estelle ordered the person to stop moving and identify themselves. It was at this moment I knew that the expedition had succeeded, but would we live to tell the tale? The stranger spoke, "It is you who should not move; any movement will be met with deadly force. You shall identify yourselves and your purpose here immediately." I could not place the voice. It clearly was translated by a machine. I couldn't see the face of the person who had spoken, but I was sure that the translation did not convey the menace of the threat implied. Estelle started to raise her gun, but an arrow flashed out of nowhere and Estelle went down. After a moment to process what just happened, Lori Becker spoke for us, "We have come in peace; we are on an expedition to find the legendary Amazon warriors." Captives The person in the wet suit did not reply immediately. The silence was painful, Estelle was bleeding out from the arrow in her chest. It looked like it had pierced her heart, and she wasn't moving. I think all of us were holding our breaths waiting for a reply. Then we were stunned when it came. "You have found what you are looking for. Now listen very closely, any deviation from these instructions will result in your death." I hoped everyone else took that to heart, after Estelle I certainly did. As she spoke, a door opened up in the sheer mountain. She continued, "Very slowly you will strip naked, then you will enter the mountain, taking nothing with you." Soon enough the five of us were naked and travelling on foot through a mountain tunnel. I never looked back to see if we were being followed by the person in the wet suit. I did hear the door close. I could see light ahead of us and we all just walked toward the light. Once we reached it we could see a valley before us. There also was a woman warrior standing in front of us. She had on a breast plate of some kind of metal, forearm guards and a skirt that also looked like armor. There were sandals on her feet. There was some kind of sword on her hip. She did not look very welcoming. "Stop, look down and you will see some amulets. Put them on, they will allow us to communicate." We picked them up and put them around our necks, Lori was quick to try her's out. "I am Lori Becker, leader of this expedition." Lori's speech was cut off at the knees, "Silence, you are nothing until we decide what you are! Anyone who speaks again without being asked, will die. Follow me." The woman was not wearing an amulet but had raised her left arm to speak into her arm guard. We would learn later that these vambraces were a highly sophisticated smart phone, supercomputer, and weapons system, all in one. She then turned and started walking. Now we had lesson number two, and while processing that we followed her. Loud and clear, do what they say without question and remain silent. After an hour of walking, we entered farmland. There were men working in the fields. The men had on loincloths and sandals, nothing else. No one looked at us and our guide did not speak to anyone. Then we approached a village with a wall around it. There was a guard at an opening in the wall. She was dressed identically to our guide. They nodded a greeting to one another, and we moved into the village. She led us to a nondescript building that look like it was made of some kind of spray concrete. There was what looked like a toilet and sink in one corner. The floor was some kind of flexible material. There were two windows in addition to the opening. There was nothing else in the room. I estimated that it measured about 20 by 30. She stopped in the center of the room and looked us over. "You will remain here until you are summoned." Then she left. As she went through the opening a door materialized. We all looked at one another. Mateus was the first to speak. "I guess we found your Amazons, Nelson. Not a very friendly bunch." Paulo snorted at that and went to use the toilet. Alesha slowly circled the room seemingly taking in every detail. She looked out the windows but touched nothing. Lori put on a brave face and addressed us, "I'm not sure what we are facing here, however they seem to be a people of violence and few words. We just have to hang on and see what happens, eventually they will have to let us speak to them and explain ourselves." I wasn't so sure about that, but I had nothing to add so after also using the toilet I just lay down on the floor to rest. The others did the same and were soon lost in our own thoughts about the predicament we were in. We were surprised when the opening appeared, and two men came in carrying trays of food. They put them down inside the opening and left. No one dared speak to them and they said nary a word. The food was good and once we had eaten, and the sun had gone down outside. I did my Tia Chi forms. This was something I did every day. My parents had met through Tia Chi and all of us kids had grown up doing it. It certainly helped me stay calm and focused. As well it kept me in shape and flexible. Then I went to sleep. Paulo and Mateus sat together speaking in Portuguese before they also went to sleep. Alesha did some stretches and then also went to sleep. Lori just sat there looking forlorn. She had always been in control and now she was lost for what to do. I hoped she would get some rest. I awoke as the sun came through the windows. Alesha, Mateus, and Paulo were already awake. Lori looked like she hadn't moved an inch or slept a wink since last night. We didn't have to wait long for our warrior from the previous day to arrive. She strode into the room, "Follow me." Definitely a people of few words. We followed her to another building made of the same materials. Once inside it was obvious it was a medical building. We were led to a room with two large men and one woman in a lab coat. The men had on the same type of loincloths as the men we saw working in the fields yesterday. The two men advanced on Mateus and grabbed his right arm. The woman then took a blood sample. I immediately just raised my right arm as the men grabbed Paulo. Alesha and Lori did the same as me and the men didn't touch us as our samples were collected. The woman then took the five samples and left. The men also left. We were afraid to move but we didn't have long to wait, and our "doctor" reappeared with the men. The men were pushing a bed that looked like an operating table. They picked up Paulo and strapped him to the table. The doctor sprayed something on his groin. She then used a scapple to cut open his scrotum and remove his testicles. Paulo screamed through the entire process. I suspected that the spray was for healing and to avoid infection. These women seemed to enjoy inflicting pain. Once Paulo was a eunuch she sprayed the incision with something else. The wound never bled and appeared closed, healed even. Paulo was then released from the table. He collapsed to the floor, covered in sweat. Mateus and I also were sweating. Who was next? I didn't see any way to escape this and neither did he, we were stuck awaiting our fate. Mateus was next. It went exactly the same except Mateus tried not to cry out. That didn't make the operation any less brutal and Mateus passed out from the pain. Then it was my turn, and I was forced onto the table. The doctor did something different this time. She sprayed where my incision was for my vasectomy. After our third boy was born Connie and I decided we were done having kids and I had the snip. Well, the doctor proceeded to reverse that operation. I didn't know for sure but that's what it seemed like to me. It hurt like hell, and I also tried not to cry out. After she had finished the operation she sprayed the area she worked on. Then she produced a needle and injected it into my leg. That hurt like hell too. Then she was done, and I was removed from the table. Our guide then took us back to our prison. When we arrived, there was another meal awaiting us. Once we had finished eating, two men appeared to take away the dishes and they gave me what was obviously a sample jar. It was bigger than the one I had been given after my vasectomy. It was pretty obvious they wanted a sample. We had been naked around one another for a day now, and their was no privacy in the room. We were not allowed to speak so the four of them wordlessly turned their backs on me so I could produce the sample. I wondered if I could get it up but as soon as I touched my penis it became hard. It seemed harder then it ever had been, I figured it was just because I hadn't had sex for the last 2 weeks. When I ejaculated into the jar I filled it up. Wow, I never had cum so much in my life. I found out much later the injection I was given was a fast-acting, long-lasting sexual stimulant. It meant I would get hard fast the first and subsequent times as required. I also would produce much more sperm than normal. It even contained fertility drugs to facilitate impregnation. These Amazons sure had some advanced medical technology! The men left and within what seemed like an hour our guide was back. She ordered us to follow her. We ended up in the middle of the village. I immediately recognized the set up. It was prepared for a slave auction. There was a raised platform in the center of the open space with a woman warrior standing on it. There were many other women dressed identically, arriving from the rest of the village. Soon the five of us were all beside the platform waiting as the last of the women warriors arrived. I figured that all the Amazons, a few hundred in the village, were now present. Mateus was prodded onto the platform and the Amazon already on it spoke, "Fresh from the outside, we have a laborer. It is gifted with old mechanical technology knowledge and a strong body. Unsuitable for breeding but useful for service." I guess my blood sample showed I was suitable as a breeder and Mateus and Paulo's were not. I learned late that they like men who had had vasectomy's. As long as there were no hereditary issues the men who'd been snipped made good proven breeders and with their advanced technology it was easy to reverse the operation. Then the bidding began. Soon enough Mateus was bought by one of the Amazon's in the square. The auctioneer then pointed her right arm at Mateus and a laser came out of the vambrace to brand him on the right butt cheek. Mateus was given to his new owner, and Paulo was moved onto the platform. "Also fresh from the outside, another similar type for service. This one is younger but otherwise the same." Paulo was sold, branded, and given to his new owner. Clearly these Amazons were into object lessons. The auctioneer then left the platform, and two men placed a throne on it. What I could only image was the leader of the Amazon's then sat on the throne. She was dressed the same as the others except while the other's armor was silver her's was gold. The two men then used hoes to make a circle in front of the platform. Once they were done the leader addressed Alesha and Lori. "I am queen Zenoba and now we shall see if you two things are warrior women or not." Lori was then prodded into the circle. From the other side of the circle came one of the Amazons. She had removed her breastplate and was now bare chested. Seeing her proud firm breasts had me immediately hard. It was pretty clear to me that Lori was expected to fight this woman to see if she was suitable Amazon material. I wasn't sure how this would go. Lori was a strong confident woman, but I was unsure about her fitness level or of her fighting skills. The woman advance on Lori and threw a fake punch, followed by a leg sweep. Lori went down hard. I heard some of the other Amazon's in the crowd say "one." Lori got up slowly and I think it had now dawned on her that she was in the fight of her life or more aptly the fight for her life. Lori tried to assume a fighting stance. The Amazon advanced on her again going in for a grapple. I wanted to shout out for her not to engage, but we were told to be silent. Lori engaged in the grapple. They locked hands and the Amazon soon had Lori on her knees grimacing in pain and then kicked her square in the chest, knocking her back. I heard the "twos" from the crowd and silently prayed Lori would do better. The Amazon advance again, Lori tried to rush her, and the Amazon side stepped and grabbed Lori's arm. Lori cried out as the Amazon applied pressure. As more pressure was applied Lori started to beg for mercy. The queen then spoke, "Enough." The Amazon immediately let go of Lori's arm and Lori collapsed to the ground. Her shoulder was probably dislocated, and Lori was moaning in pain. A knife was then handed to the Amazon fighter who grabbed Lori by the hair, pulled her head back exposing her neck and slit her throat. More lessons for us. Fight hard to win and don't show pain. The two men dragged the body out of the circle. It now was Alesha's turn. A new Amazon entered the circle also bare chested. Alesha let the Amazon get close and when she tried a feint with a fake punch Alesha stepped into it. She caught the Amazon's fist with her left arm and then brought up her right knee slamming it into the Amazon's thigh. Alesha followed up with a brutal kidney punch. Alesha then let go of the arm and the Amazon went down on one knee. Her eyes narrowed and her face flushed. Alesha had embarrassed her, and hate emanated off of the Amazon. Alesha stepped back and said "one." This caused the crowd to murmur and the Amazon to charge forward at Alesha. Alesha turned to present a smaller target, but the Amazon jumped at her. Alesha was not expecting that move and the Amazon had amazing agility. She flew into Alesha's chest knocking her back. Alesha knew she was going down on her back and reached out for the Amazon's hair. As they hit the ground Alesha pulled the Amazon's hair as hard as she could. She followed up with a punch to the throat as the Amazon pulled her head back. Alesha then rolled away and stood up. Her chest and back was hurting from the landing but the Amazon was in worse shape. Rubbing her throat the Amazon was now so enraged when Alesha said "two" she launched herself again at Alesha. They grappled briefly but Alesha's special forces training was superior to the Amazon's skills and Alesha now had the Amazon in an arm bar. Alesha did not hold back and felt the arm dislocate before looking at the queen. Alesha then applied more pressure to the point of almost breaking the Amazon's arm. "Enough." Alesha let go of the Amazon as the queen spoke. The Amazon had never cried out or even moaned and never fell to the ground either. She stood up and faced her Queen lowering herself to a kneeling position. I thought for sure she was getting her throat slit. However, I was wrong, as I would learn these Amazons respected effort and the ability to tolerate pain. The Queen left her in that position for what seemed an eternity. The defeated Amazon was clearly in pain and discomfort but tried her best not to show it. "Rise Reyana, you fought a warrior and lost. Yet you never gave up or showed weakness. The warrior you fought is clearly a skilled fighter, and now our sister. Learn from her and your loss." Then the queen looked at Alesha who had assumed the same position as the woman she had defeated. "What is your name noble warrior?" "My name is Alesha; how may I be of service?" Although you had to be quick to see it a ghost of a smile appeared on the Queen's face. Clearly Alesha had impressed her. The Queen regarded Alesha as if seeing her for the first time. "Alesha, you have earned the right to be one of us, the Amazons of Fire Valley, do you pledged undying allegiance to your Queen?" Alesha was no dummy. She was quickly figuring out how to survive here. "Yes my Queen, I pledge my undying allegiance to the Queen of the Amazon's of Fire Valley." Then rise my new warrior, go with Reyana, and learn our ways. Then the Queen got up and left the platform. The crowd dispersed, leaving me and my original guide. She gave me a searing look. I was getting the hang of these people too and I did not flinch. I just looked back at her with the blandest look I could muster. After a minute or two she smirked at me, "I'm sure you can find your own way back to your accommodations." I'm sure this was another test, and I wanted to live so I walked the most direct route back to my prison. No one paid any attention to me. As I stared straight ahead I tried to also take in what was happening around the village. Basically, I saw a few men working at various tasks. I also saw a few Amazons, but they were doing nothing of significance. Everything was clean and tidy. When I entered my prison I noticed in the middle of the room was now an operating room table just like back in the medical building. It was complete with plenty of restraints. I could by now begin to guess what it was for. Yet there was no sense in worrying about it and instead I went through my Tai Chi forms. Lunch was brought to me by two large men and once I was done eating they pointed at the table. I climbed onto it laying on my back. They secured me in what I learned was called the Amazon position. I had my knees bent and pulled into my chest. One of them then jabbed me with a needle, another injection. My thoughts went to Connie and the boys. In particular I reflected on Connie and my conversation about joining this expedition. I wonder if Connie would still want me to go if she had of known I would become a sperm donor to a bunch of Amazons. Clearly, they were going to breed themselves on this table. The two men left and one of the Amazons entered my prison. She deftly stripped off her armor and clothing. She looked amazing, if you like athletic women. Firm perky tits and long-toned legs. Her vulva had a trim patch of hair on it that did nothing to hide the fact she was aroused. My arousal was also evident as my cock was hard as granite and she wasted little time impaling herself on it. She then used me for her satisfaction. She must have cum twice before I unloaded into her womb. She then go off and dressed. A few minutes after she left another Amazon entered the room. The exact same thing happened. For the next month or so I would be used by about 100 of these Amazon women. I'm pretty sure it was about one third of the total who lived in the village that took their turn. Obviously, they couldn't all get pregnant, some had to be able to defend the tribe. Neither Alesha nor the Queen came and used me. The routine was the same every day. The two men would arrive with breakfast, when I was done they then secured me to the table and gave me the injection. Amazons would come and go riding me until I came into their wombs. Some were pretty rough about it; none were even remotely loving. I learned later that they came as they entered their fertile times. With the fertility drugs and increased amount of sperm, the odds of pregnancy increased dramatically. If what I learned later was true I impregnated between two thirds and three forths of the Amazons who used me. I wonder what my sons would think of the fact that they would soon have 60 to 75 siblings, mostly girls. Apparently, they had mostly figured how to effect the gender outcome too, but it didn't always work. I knew the day's breeding was over when the men would reappear and release me from the table. They would also bring me another meal. The rest of the time was my own, but I couldn't leave the prison. The door appeared and disappeared for the male servants and the Amazons but not me. I would do my Tai Chi forms and sleep. Then came the day when I was taken out of my prison and brought back to the central square. The Queen was sitting on her throne on the platform, all of the other Amazons were standing around another circle before her. I was placed in the circle. One of the Amazons entered the circle from the other side. She was bare chested but otherwise dressed just like the warriors Alesha and Lori had fought. I was still naked. I had not worn any clothes since the day I was captured. It was pretty clear that I was going to have to fight for my continued existence. I had served my purpose, and I figured this was a test, for what I didn't really know. I was certain however I needed to win to avoid dying. I also knew I was at a serious disadvantage, not only were my balls exposed and vulnerable, but I had received my injection that day and my cock was hard. The Amazon warrior before me I definitely remembered from when she used me. She had been rough, biting, and scratching me. After I had cum in her she had spit in my face. This was not going to be easy. I remembered Alesha's words to me back while we were still free. "Tai Chi is nice, but it has become a sport with rules and traditions. Fights are real but they are not do or die. If you ever get in a fight in this jungle, no rules, no etiquette, fight to win. Do whatever it takes to win. And most of all, all this goes double if you are up against a woman." The Amazon warrior began to advance on me, and I adopted the ready position. She had a look of arrogance about her, I wondered if she ever lost? She advanced on me, and we traded blows. The Tai Chi helped me put up a great defense. I was mostly on the defensive and tried to see if I could get an opening at some point. I also had to protect my vulnerabilities. After a few minutes of sparing, she slightly lost her footing and that was all I needed. I swept her legs out from under her, and she completely lost her balance, but she didn't land hard. She was fit and flexible and recovered in a crouch. I moved back hoping to hear the word "one." It was music to my ears when I heard it from the crowd. Obviously, my opponent was infuriated and charged at me, we traded blows again and it was all I could do to keep her blocked. I made a mistake, and she moved in at that point to grab my balls but luckily I was sweating so hard she couldn't quite get a grip. It gave me an opening to knee her in the crotch. I hit her as hard as possible, and it stunned her. I followed up with a couple of jabs to her breasts. This caused her to lower her defenses for just a moment at this and I punched her hard in the head. She staggered back and I took two formal steps back praying to hear a "two." I almost smiled when I heard it from the crowd. I also heard the murmurs of the crowd; it encouraged me as much as it further enraged my opponent. She pressed in for the attack and she was relentless. I decided to stop trading blows and get mobile moving away from her. Around the circle, we went, her looking for an opening and me trying to survive. Then I made a mistake, I moved too close to the edge of the circle. One of the Amazons in the crowd gave me a shove towards my opponent. She bared her teeth in delight and moved to crush me. I did the only thing I could think of, I used my momentum to drop and roll. The Amazon dodged out of the way and then leapt to pin me on the ground. As I rolled I grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into her face, hoping to hit her eyes. It worked, and while she was distracted I was able to jump back to my feet. She recovered with almost unbelievable speed and moved in to grab me. I used the opportunity to ram my forehead into her nose. Blood sprayed everywhere as her nose shattered. Yet there was no time to lose, I took her to the ground in a full nelson and pressed my knee into her back. It was an uncomfortable position for me, but it was brutal for her. She tried to get out of it, but I increased the pressure, I fully intended to keep going until I incapacitated her or killed her but then the Queen stopped the match. "Enough." I immediately let go and moved away from the Amazon who struggled to her feet. She then moved in front of the platform and knelt before the queen. I moved into the same position behind and to the right of the Amazon. I guessed that it was the right thing to do but wasn't sure. The Queen made us wait and sweat just like after Alesha's fight. "Deianira, you lost to a man, you have failed your name (Deianira means man destroyer) and your Queen. You are no longer one of us." The Amazon called Deianira was then pulled to her feet by two of the Amazons. Her clothing was stripped from her, and she was led away. I would learn later that she was then banished from the tribe. Expelled from the valley naked and vulnerable likely to die. That left me wondering what was going to happen to me. The Queen let me wait some more before ordering that I be taken to her room. I guess I earned the right to breed the Queen, but it was not quite that easy. Lucky for me the two male slaves that took me to her quarters risked the rath of the Amazons to warn me. In a whisper the one on the left said, "Thank you for beating Deianira, she was evil to us all. To survive mating with the Queen you must fight." Great, out of the frying pan and into the fire! The Queen's bed chamber of all things had a bed in it. Crazy that. After sleeping on the floor for a month a bed would be nice, but something told me that if I survived there would be no sleeping in this bed. There would be no snuggles and a second round in the morning either. I almost laughed out loud at my predicament. Then I remembered my conversation back in Germany with Connie. I wondered if this was the reward that Connie was thinking about when she encouraged me to leave? All thoughts left my mind as the Queen entered the room. She was naked and clearly in amazing shape. Below her proud firm breasts was a six pack any body builder would envy. She had toned thighs and walked with the grace of a panther. The slaves said I had to fight; this woman was going to tear me in half! I wondered if it was like honeybees, the Queen mates with you and then kills you. Oh well I thought at least I will try to give a good showing. The Queen advanced on me, and I assumed the ready position. Again, I was at a disadvantage. My cock was rock hard and my balls were unprotected. I decided to gamble on a move she probably wasn't expecting. It looked like she wanted to grapple so I stepped in, put my arms around her and pulled her face toward mine. She might not have been expecting it, but she reacted like lightning. Instantly her two arms shot up and broke my hold on her head, her knee came up to hit me in the balls. I was anticipating this and twisted my waist to take the blow on my thigh while darting my face forward to give her a kiss. She was clearly surprised by my move and allowed the kiss but at the same time wrapped her arms around me and flung me onto the bed. I rolled to my knees as she dove after me. We grappled and soon she had me pinned to the bed. I could not believe how strong she was. Without releasing my hands that were held by her own she maneuvered herself onto my cock and began to ride me. I did not resist and waited for my chance. As her first orgasm hit her I quickly broke her grip on me and rolled her onto her back. I grabbed her throat with both hands and began pounding into her as my cock had not slipped out during my roll. She hit the side of my head with a right and then the other side with a left. It hurt like hell, and I feared a concussion, but I held on tighter. She then pushed her two hands between my arms and literally ripped them from her throat. I once again could not believe her strength. She then rolled me back over onto my back and grabbed my nipples as she impaled herself on me. The pain was intense, but I quickly reached in and grabbed her nipples. I literally tried to rip them off her tits as I could feel the blood start to flow from her nails digging into the flesh on my chest. As all of this was happening she continued to slam herself down on my cock. It was a battle of wills and as I also drew blood from one breast I could feel my climax building. The Queen increased the amount of force she was using, and it felt like I was going to black out from the pain. I fought the darkness and reached deep down for my own renewed strength and her other nipple started to bleed. At this point we were sweating and grunting. Then she had an orgasm with the force of a tsunami! The Queen's vagina clamped down on my cock as she came and this in turn cause me to erupt. I never knew I was into pain but the orgasm that hit me took my breath away. It seemed to have the same effect on her. We both relaxed our grips on each other's nipples as we rode out the orgasmic ecstasy. I seized the opportunity to pull her down for another kiss. I bit her lip and then snaked my tongue into her mouth. She sent her tongue to meet mine and wrestle it into submission. I used the kiss as a distraction to once again roll her over, so I was on top. My cock was still hard as diamonds, so I slammed it back into her. I had never felt a vagina like hers and the sensations were incredible. However, I was so wrapped up in the moment that I started to lose focus on the fight. She seized the opportunity to then roll me back onto my back and pinned me into the Amazon position. She then rode me hard through two more of her own climaxes before I came again filling her womb. At this point I was exhausted but I knew it wasn't over, so I rolled out from under her and got off the bed. I then went down on one knee and bowed my head. I didn't know what to expect next but what I didn't expect at all was that the Queen would laugh. "Go back to your accommodation worthless man I am done with you." I had survived. I didn't know why she laughed until much later when one of the Amazons explained it to me. Only women were required to assume the position of submission before the Queen. By definition men were only servants so submission was assumed. She had laughed at my attempt to be a woman. I made it back to my prison and found a meal waiting. I ate and then did my forms. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. I had finished my meal and was reflecting on two things. Firstly, the immense pain in my chest from Queen Zenoba abusing my nipples. I hoped she was feeling the same discomfort, but I imagine she had some magic spray available to her. It was probably already all healed. Secondly, I was wondering what they were going to do with me. I had been forced to breed about a third of the woman warriors and the Queen. Was I going to be made a eunuch and sold to one of the women, or something else? No sense worrying about it. To take my mind off of the pain I did my Tai Chi forms. My previous instructors might not have been happy with my performance in my fight with Deianeira, but I didn't care. I had won and I thanked my parents for getting me into Tai Chi. Certainly the flexibility and balance had served me well. Obviously, my style had been more Tai Chi/brawler but thanks to Alesha's advice it had won me victory. That was the important part and there was no way I was going to forget it. This made me think about Alesha and the fact I had not seen her since she had won her fight and become an Amazon warrior herself. Then my prison door opened, and a man entered, I assumed to take away the supper dishes. He was there for that, but he also had a can of spray magic and aimed it at my bloody nipples and sore chest. By the time he had gathered up the dishes and left the wounds were healed and the pain was gone. Amazing stuff! The sun had gone down, and I was tired out from the day's exertions, so I lay down and went to sleep. I was awakened early by a man with my breakfast. When I was done one of the Amazons I had not met yet entered my prison. She ordered me to follow her. She led me to the opening in the wall around the village. At the opening we met another Amazon who had what looked like a lap top bag with her. She fell in behind me and the three of us walked down the trail that I figured was to the west. At first we passed farms but soon we left them and the village behind. We walked all day through the rainforest and then we stopped for the night. I was given some travel food. It looked like the rations you get in the army. Yet it was the perfect temperature and tasted delicious. No one had said anything all day. It was no different after our meal. One of the Amazons was clearly on sentry duty and the other one lay down to rest. I followed suit and soon was asleep. It was a quite night and in the morning was shaken awake by one of the Amazons. After another meal and my injection, we were back on the trail. Judging from the sun it was about noon when we apparently reached our destination. It was a large open field carved out of the rainforest. It seemed about the same size as a football field. We were on one of the long ends and there was a post in the ground that they tied me too. I was tied only around my waist with my hands and feet free. Diagonally across from me on the other side was a similar post. Minutes after I was secured, 3 people emerged from the forest on the other side. 2 were clearly Amazons, the only difference in attire from the Amazons with me was a blazing sun on their breastplates. The other person was a man, naked like me and soon tied to the post. One of the Amazons then walked 10 paces from the post to the right and stopped. The other one started walking to toward me. My two Amazon's did the same thing. One walked 10 paces from the post to the left and stopped. The other walked toward the naked man. The Amazons walking toward the tied men had the small bags with them. Once the Amazon with the blazing sun arrived in front of me she produced a needle from the bag and took a blood sample. She then opened the bag up revealing some kind of machine. The blood sample needle was inserted into the side, and she injected the blood into the machine. I could not see any screen or light to show a result, but after a moment she stood up and handed me a sample jar. It was all becoming clear to me what was going on. If I passed the medical tests I was to be traded for the other guy undergoing the same tests. This was a simple swapping of bulls or studs. The injection served it's purpose because I became instantly hard when I touched my cock. I then filled the container. The Amazon took the container and poured the contents into another opening in the machine. After a moment she drew a knife from her belt and turned to face the other side of the field. The Amazon on the other side of the field finished what I assumed was the same process with the other man. She also drew a knife and faced us. At this point, both of the Amazons turned and cut the bindings of the man on the pole in front of them. I didn't need to be told what to do I just followed the blazing sun Amazon back across the field. We met at almost exactly the halfway point of the field, but no greetings were shared. This was obviously a highly ritualized process that I had not read about in Canard's journal. In Canard's journal there had been only one group or tribe of Amazons occupying four valleys. Something definitely had changed. I suspected the four valleys now were occupied by competing factions. This didn't mean Canard was wrong, Canard had been here over 150 years before, it just meant things had changed. So far Canard had been accurate about the arch by the river, as well as the dress of the Amazons we had met. Canard also had reported on the sophistication of the Amazon's technology and that clearly was still true. To be continued in part 2. Based on a post by Farmer Jill, in 3 parts, for Literotica.

El boom de la gastronomía latinoamericana es innegable. Chefs latinoamericanos están tocando el cielo con una multiplicación de estrellas Michelin y los rankings mundiales premian la creatividad de la región. En la edición 2025 de los 50s best, los 50 mejores, diez restaurantes latinoamericanos se destacan.  La gastronomía peruana y mexicana siguen dominando, pero otra cocina también compite en las grandes ligas: la ecuatoriana. Ecuador exporta menús de primera hasta París, capital del buen comer por excelencia. Y precisamente de buen comer vamos a hablar con el chef ecuatoriano Raúl Meza que abrió hace poco "Le Vertueux", el Virtuoso en español. El amor por la cocina de Raúl Meza no empieza en los fogones, nace más bien con la televisión: "Todo comenzó a los 12 o 13 años cuando recién llegamos a París, a Francia con los primeros concursos televisivos de cocina como Masterchef o Topchef". Si en casa la comida era simple y el menú poco o nada ecuatoriano, al chef Meza le gusta recordar la "ratatouille" de su madre. Este plato muy simple preparado con berenjenas, calabazas y tomate que requiere ingredientes muy frescos y algo de arte. "Es un pilar de la gastronomía francesa", dice. La llegada a Francia tan jovencito fue un choque al paladar que lo llevó a interesarse por la cocina de su nuevo país, estudiar gastronomía y aprende con los mejores. Se formó con Michel Rostang - dos estrellas Michelin- trabajó también con Alain Senderens- tres estrellas Michelin. Desde abajo como aprendiz y luego hacia arriba, ocupa todos los puestos que se deben y pueden ocupar en una brigada durante el aprendizaje. De esos años codeádose con chefs reconocidos le queda el gusto por la "precisión", amistades duraderas y la curiosidad por la mezcla de influencias sin olvidar "ser constante y amar lo que haces, porque si no lo amas realmente con el trabajo es muy duro". Un viaje hacia las raíces En ese entonces, los ingredientes ecuatorianos no forman parte de su repertorio. Pero en las cocinas donde trabaja le piden cada vez más que proponga platos sudamericanos, "pero me eran poco conocidos". Un viaje por su natal Ecuador en 2015 y luego un periplo por los países vecinos de tres años le abrirán un mundo de sabores: "Tuve la suerte de estar en la Amazonía, en Galápagos también viajé por toda la Cordillera de los Andes, conociendo la papa, el maíz, las variedades inmensas que hay de papa, las variedades inmensas de maíz. El verde. El plátano. Todo lo que es el pescado, la manera de cocinarlo muy diferente acá, los gustos. Esos sabores que poco a poco fui aprendiendo a lo largo de mis viajes".  Al regresar a París se incorpora en otro restaurante de prestigio, pero la semillita de abrir un restaurante propio ya estaba plantada. En el famoso Georges V observa cómo el chef- casado con una mexicana- incorpora las influencias de esa cocina. De todo ese caminar surge la idea de proponer una experiencia gastronómica en París inspirada de la comida ecuatoriana.  Un boom de cocina latinoamericana en París Le Vertueux abre en marzo del 2025 con foie gras escalfado en cacao de Perú acompañado de su condimento de maracuya o fruta de la pasión, camarón carabinero encocado y gnocchis de banano verde: "Tenemos productos sudamericanos, cacao, café, productos que van a venirse a mezclar con los productos típicos franceses de aquí. La gente que ha probado le ha gustado esa mezcla entre el amargo del café, lo ácido del maracuyá". La apertura de este restaurante se inscribe en un boom de restaurantes gastronómicos y no gastronómicos latinoamericanos en París: "Poco a poco la cocina sudamericana se está haciendo conocer mucho más. Cambia un poquito también de la influencia asiática que había antes aquí en París y ayuda a descubrir sabores, productos, frutos interesantes con gustos mucho más fuertes, mucho más ácidos que a los ecuatorianos y a los franceses les está gustando mucho más." La pregunta que se plantea es si la fusión es una obligación para acercar al público francés a esta gastronomía: "Nosotros hicimos muchos test antes de lanzar los menús, no es necesario utilizar el foie gras. Podemos utilizar la comida un poquito más natural, como hacemos en América Latina. Pero sí, lo que sí hay es que adaptar los gustos, porque muchas veces lo que tuvimos es que los gustos eran demasiado fuertes o no bien acogidos. Entonces poco a poco vamos regulando los sabores, lo ácido más que todo para llegar al paladar francés, que sí está ávido de encontrar,nuevos gustos, pero al mismo tiempo quieren también tener la armonía que conocen en los platos".    #EscalaenParís también está en redes sociales Un programa coordinado por Melissa Barra y Julia Courtois, realizado por Hadrien Toureaud y Guillaume Buffé

El boom de la gastronomía latinoamericana es innegable. Chefs latinoamericanos están tocando el cielo con una multiplicación de estrellas Michelin y los rankings mundiales premian la creatividad de la región. En la edición 2025 de los 50s best, los 50 mejores, diez restaurantes latinoamericanos se destacan.  La gastronomía peruana y mexicana siguen dominando, pero otra cocina también compite en las grandes ligas: la ecuatoriana. Ecuador exporta menús de primera hasta París, capital del buen comer por excelencia. Y precisamente de buen comer vamos a hablar con el chef ecuatoriano Raúl Meza que abrió hace poco "Le Vertueux", el Virtuoso en español. El amor por la cocina de Raúl Meza no empieza en los fogones, nace más bien con la televisión: "Todo comenzó a los 12 o 13 años cuando recién llegamos a París, a Francia con los primeros concursos televisivos de cocina como Masterchef o Topchef". Si en casa la comida era simple y el menú poco o nada ecuatoriano, al chef Meza le gusta recordar la "ratatouille" de su madre. Este plato muy simple preparado con berenjenas, calabazas y tomate que requiere ingredientes muy frescos y algo de arte. "Es un pilar de la gastronomía francesa", dice. La llegada a Francia tan jovencito fue un choque al paladar que lo llevó a interesarse por la cocina de su nuevo país, estudiar gastronomía y aprende con los mejores. Se formó con Michel Rostang - dos estrellas Michelin- trabajó también con Alain Senderens- tres estrellas Michelin. Desde abajo como aprendiz y luego hacia arriba, ocupa todos los puestos que se deben y pueden ocupar en una brigada durante el aprendizaje. De esos años codeádose con chefs reconocidos le queda el gusto por la "precisión", amistades duraderas y la curiosidad por la mezcla de influencias sin olvidar "ser constante y amar lo que haces, porque si no lo amas realmente con el trabajo es muy duro". Un viaje hacia las raíces En ese entonces, los ingredientes ecuatorianos no forman parte de su repertorio. Pero en las cocinas donde trabaja le piden cada vez más que proponga platos sudamericanos, "pero me eran poco conocidos". Un viaje por su natal Ecuador en 2015 y luego un periplo por los países vecinos de tres años le abrirán un mundo de sabores: "Tuve la suerte de estar en la Amazonía, en Galápagos también viajé por toda la Cordillera de los Andes, conociendo la papa, el maíz, las variedades inmensas que hay de papa, las variedades inmensas de maíz. El verde. El plátano. Todo lo que es el pescado, la manera de cocinarlo muy diferente acá, los gustos. Esos sabores que poco a poco fui aprendiendo a lo largo de mis viajes".  Al regresar a París se incorpora en otro restaurante de prestigio, pero la semillita de abrir un restaurante propio ya estaba plantada. En el famoso Georges V observa cómo el chef- casado con una mexicana- incorpora las influencias de esa cocina. De todo ese caminar surge la idea de proponer una experiencia gastronómica en París inspirada de la comida ecuatoriana.  Un boom de cocina latinoamericana en París Le Vertueux abre en marzo del 2025 con foie gras escalfado en cacao de Perú acompañado de su condimento de maracuya o fruta de la pasión, camarón carabinero encocado y gnocchis de banano verde: "Tenemos productos sudamericanos, cacao, café, productos que van a venirse a mezclar con los productos típicos franceses de aquí. La gente que ha probado le ha gustado esa mezcla entre el amargo del café, lo ácido del maracuyá". La apertura de este restaurante se inscribe en un boom de restaurantes gastronómicos y no gastronómicos latinoamericanos en París: "Poco a poco la cocina sudamericana se está haciendo conocer mucho más. Cambia un poquito también de la influencia asiática que había antes aquí en París y ayuda a descubrir sabores, productos, frutos interesantes con gustos mucho más fuertes, mucho más ácidos que a los ecuatorianos y a los franceses les está gustando mucho más." La pregunta que se plantea es si la fusión es una obligación para acercar al público francés a esta gastronomía: "Nosotros hicimos muchos test antes de lanzar los menús, no es necesario utilizar el foie gras. Podemos utilizar la comida un poquito más natural, como hacemos en América Latina. Pero sí, lo que sí hay es que adaptar los gustos, porque muchas veces lo que tuvimos es que los gustos eran demasiado fuertes o no bien acogidos. Entonces poco a poco vamos regulando los sabores, lo ácido más que todo para llegar al paladar francés, que sí está ávido de encontrar,nuevos gustos, pero al mismo tiempo quieren también tener la armonía que conocen en los platos".    #EscalaenParís también está en redes sociales Un programa coordinado por Melissa Barra y Julia Courtois, realizado por Hadrien Toureaud y Guillaume Buffé

5 “Sleeper Hit” Gay Cities to Retire Abroad (Affordable, Safer, and Surprisingly Fabulous)What if your dream retirement is hiding in a gay city you've never even thought to look at?In this episode, we're going off-script and sharing five surprising gay cities for retiring abroad—places that are shockingly affordable, quietly queer-friendly, and built for real life (not just a two-week vacation).No, these aren't the usual suspects like Lisbon, Mexico City, or Valencia. These are the gay cities that deliver on what most LGBTQ+ retirees actually want: safety, healthcare access, affordability, and community—without the “big-city price tag.”✅ What you'll get in this episode5 unexpected gay cities that are great for retiring abroadRent + cost-of-living reality checks (with U.S. city comparisons)The real queer vibe: low-key, inclusive, livableVisa + residency options for Portugal, Ecuador, Italy, Spain, and ThailandWhy we're overweighting affordability in our gay cities research (because… math)

Mini podcast of radical history on this date from the Working Class History team.Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/todayBrowse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/dateCheck out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.comCheck out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.comIf you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

Allen, Joel, and Rosemary break down the Trump administration’s sudden halt of five major offshore wind projects, including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind and parts of Vineyard Wind, over national security claims the hosts find questionable. They also cover the FCC’s ban on new DJI drone imports and what operators should do now, plus Fraunhofer’s latest wind research featured in PES Wind Magazine. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by Strike Tape, protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit strike tape.com. And now your hosts, Alan Hall, Rosemary Barnes, Joel Saxon, and Yolanda Padron. Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Allen Hall: Podcast. I’m your host, Alan Hall, and I’m here with. Rosemary Barnes in Australia and Joel Saxon is down in Austin, Texas. Yolanda Padron is on holiday, and well, there’s been a lot happening in the past 24 hours as we’re recording this today. If you thought the battle over offshore wind was over based on some recent court cases, well think again. The Trump administration just dropped the hammer on five major offshore wind projects. Exciting. National security concerns. The Secretary of the Interior, Doug Bergham announced. The immediate pause affecting projects from Ted Eor, CIP and Dominion Energy. So Coastal [00:01:00] Virginia, offshore wind down in Virginia, right? Which is the one we thought was never gonna be touched. Uh, the Department of War claims classified reports show these giant turbines create radar interference that could blind America’s defenses. Half of vineyard winds, turbines are already up and running, producing power, by the way. Uh, and. I guess they, it sounds like from what I can see in more recent news articles that they turn the power off. They just shut the turbines off even though those turbines are fully functioning and delivering power to shore. Uh, so now the question is what happens? Where does this go? And I know Osted is royally upset about it, and Eor obviously along with them, why not? But the whole Denmark us, uh, relationship is going nuclear right now. Joel Saxum: I think here’s a, here’s a technical thing that a lot of people might not know. If you’re in the wind industry in the United States, you may know this. There’s a a few sites in the northern corner of Colorado that are right next to Nebraska, [00:02:00] and that is where there is a strategic military installations of subsurface, basically rocket launches and. And in that entire area, there is heavy radar presence to be able to make sure that we’re watching over these things and there are turbines hundreds of meters away from these launch sites at like, I’ve driven past them. Right? So that is a te to me, the, the radar argument is a technical mute point. Um, Alan, you and I have been kind of back and forth in Slack. Uh, you and I and the team here, Rosemary’s been in it too, like just kind of talking through. Of course none of us were happy. Right. But talking through some of the points of, of some of these things and it’s just like basically you can debunk almost every one of them and you get down to the level where it is a, what is the real reasoning here? It’s a tit for tat. Like someone doesn’t like offshore wind turbines. Is it a political, uh, move towards being able to strengthen other interests and energy or what? I don’t know. ’cause I can’t, I’m not sitting in the Oval Office, but. [00:03:00] At the end of the day, we need these electrons. And what you’re doing is, is, is you’re hindering national security or because national security is energy security is national security, my opinion, and a lot of people’s opinions, you’re hindering that going forward. Allen Hall: Well, let’s look at the defense argument at the minute, which is it’s, it’s somehow deterring, reducing the effectiveness of ground radars, protecting the shoreline. That is a bogus argument. There’s all kinds of objects out on the water right now. There’s a ton of ships out there. They’re constantly moving around. To know where a fixed object is out in the water is easy, easy, and it has been talked about for more than 15 years. If you go back and pull the information that exists on the internet today from the Department of Defense at the time, plus Department of Interior and everybody else, they’ve been looking at this forever. The only way these turbines get placed where they are is with approval from the Department of Defense. So it isn’t like it didn’t go through a review. It totally did. They’ve known about this for a long, long time. So now to bring up this [00:04:00] specious argument, like, well, all of a sudden the radar is a problem. No, no. It’s not anybody’s telling you it’s a classified. Piece of information that is also gonna be a bogus argument because what is going along with that are these arguments as well, the Defense Department or Department of War says it’s gonna cause interference or, or some degradation of some sort of national defense. Then the words used after it have nothing to do with that. It is, the turbines are ugly, the turbines are too tall. It may interfere, interfere with the whales, it may interfere with fishing, and I don’t like it. Or a, a gas pipeline could produce more power than the turbines can. That that has nothing to do with the core argument. If the core argument is, is some sort of defense related. Security issue, then say it because it, it can’t be that complicated. Now, if you, if you knew anything about the defense department and how it operates, and also the defenses around the United States, of which I know a little bit about, [00:05:00] having been in aerospace for 30 freaking years, I can tell you that there are all kinds of ways to detect all kinds of threats that are approaching our shoreline. Putting a wind turbine out there is not Joel Saxum: gonna stop it. So the, at the end of the day, there is a bunch, there’s like, there’s single, I call them metric and intrinsic, right? Metric being like, I can put data to this. There’s a point here, there’s numbers, whatever it may be. And intrinsic being, I don’t like them, they don’t look that good. A pipeline can supply more energy. Those things are not necessarily set in stone. They’re not black and white. They’re, they’re getting this gray emotional area instead of practical. Right. So, okay. What, what’s the outcome here? You do this, you say that we have radar issues. Do we do, does, does the offshore substation have a radar station on it for the military or, or what does that, what does that look like? Allen Hall: Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, but if the threat is what I think it is, none of this matters. None of this matters. It’s already been discussed a hundred times with the defense [00:06:00] department and everybody else is knowledgeable in this, in this space. There is no way that they started planted turbines and approve them two, three years ago. If it was a national security risk, there is no chance that that happened. So it really is frustrating when you, when you know some of the things that go on behind the scenes and you know what, the technical rationales could be about a problem. And that’s not what’s being talked about right now that I don’t like being lied to. Like, if you want to have a, a political argument, have a political argument, and the, if the political argument is America wants Greenland from Denmark, then just freaking say it. Just say it. Don’t tie Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, new J, all, all these states up until this nonsense, Virginia, what are we doing? What are we doing? Because all those states approved all those projects knowing full well what the costs were, knowing how tall the turbines were, knowing how long it was gonna take to get it done, and they all approved them. This [00:07:00] is not done in a vacuum. These states approve these projects and these states are going to buy that power. Let them, you wanna put in a a, a big gas pipeline. Great. How many years is that gonna take, Doug? How many years is that gonna take? Doug Bergham? Does anybody know? He, he doesn’t know anything about that. Joel Saxum: You’re not getting a gas pipeline into the east coast anytime soon whatsoever. Because the, the east, the east coast is a home of Nimbyism. Allen Hall: Sure, sir. Like Massachusetts. It’s pretty much prohibited new gas pipelines for a long time. Okay. That’s their choice. That is their choice. They made that choice. Let them live with it. Why are you then trying to, to double dip? I don’t get it. I don’t get it. And, but I do think, Joel, I think the reason. This is getting to the level it is. It has to do something to do with Greenland. It has something to do with the Danish, um, uh, ambassador or whoever it was running to talk to, to California and Newsom about offshore tournaments. Like that was not a smart move, my opinion, but [00:08:00] I don’t run international relations with for Denmark. But stop poking one another and somebody’s gotta cut this off. The, the thing I think that the Trump administration is at risk at is that. Or instead, Ecuador has plenty of cash. They’re gonna go to court, and they are most likely going to win, and they’re going to really handcuff the Trump administration to do anything because when you throw bull crap in front of a judge and they smell it, the the pushback gets really strong. Well, they’re gonna force all the discussion about anything to do with offshore to go through a judge, and they’re gonna decide, and I don’t think that’s what the Trump administration wants, but that’s where they’re headed. I’m not sure why Joel Saxum: you’d wanna do that. Like at the end of the day, that may be the solution that has to come, but I don’t think that that’s not the right path either. Right? Because a judge is not an SME. A judge doesn’t know all of the, does the, you know, like a, a judge is a judge based on laws. They don’t, they’re, they’re not an offshore wind energy expert, so they sh that’s hard for them to [00:09:00] decide on. However, that’s where it will go. But I think you’re correct. Like this, this is more, this is a larger play and, and this mor so this morning when this rolled out, my WhatsApp, uh, and text messages just blew up from all of my. Danish friends, what is going on over there? I’m like, I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m not in the hopeful office. I can’t tell you what’s going on. I’m not having coffee in DC right now. I said, you know, but going back to it, like you can see the frustration, like, what, why, why is this the thing? And I think you’re right though, Alan, it is a large, there’s a larger political play in, in movement here of this Greenland, Denmark, these kind of things. And it’s a, it’s. It’s sad to see it ’cause it just gets caught. We’re getting caught in the crossfire as a wind industry. Yeah. It’s Allen Hall: not helping anybody. And when you set precedents like this, the other side takes note, right? So Democrats, when they eventually get back into the White House again, which will happen at some point, are gonna swing the pendulum just as hard and harder. So what are you [00:10:00] doing? None of, none of this matters in, in my opinion, especially if you, if you read Twitter today, you’re like, what the hell? All the things that are happening right now. RFK Jr had a post a few hours ago talking about, oh, this is great. We’re gonna shut off this off shore wind thing because it kills the whales. Sorry, it doesn’t. Sorry. It doesn’t, if you want, if you wanna make an argument about it, you have to do better than that. A Twitter post doesn’t make it fact, and everybody who’s listened to this and paying attention, I don’t want you to do your own research, but just know that you got a couple of engineers here, that that’s what we do for a living. We source through information, making sure that it makes sense. Does it align? Is it right? Is it wrong? Is, is there something to back it up with? And the information that we have here says. It is. It’s not hurting anything out there. You may not like them, but you know what? You don’t want a coal factor in your backyard either. Delamination and bottomline failures and blades are difficult problems to detect [00:11:00] early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. C-I-C-N-D-T are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become expensive burdens. Their non-destructive test technology penetrates deep to blade materials to find voids and cracks. Traditional inspections completely. Miss C-I-C-N-D-T Maps. Every critical defect delivers actionable reports and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cic ndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions. Joel Saxum: When it comes down to sorting through data, I think that’s a big problem. Right? And that’s what’s happening with a lot of the, I mean, generalizing, a lot of the things that are happening in the United States in the last 10 years give it. Um, but people just go, oh, this person said this. They must be an authority. Like, no, it’s not true. We’ve been following [00:12:00] a lot of these things with offshore wind. I mean, probably closer than most. Uh, besides the companies that are developing those wind farms, simply because it’s a part of our day job, it’s what we do. We’re, we’re, we’re looking at these things, right? So. Understanding the risks, uh, rewards, the political side of things. The commercial side. The technical side. That’s what we’re here to kind of feed, feed the information back to the masses. And a lot of this, or the majority of all of this is bs. It doesn’t really, it doesn’t, it doesn’t play. Um, and then you go a little bit deeper into things and. Like the, was it the new Bedford Light, Alan, that said like, now they’re seeing that the turbines have actually been turned off, not just to stop work for construction. They’ve turned the turbines off up in Massachusetts or up off of in the northeast area? No, that they have. Allen Hall: And why? I mean, the error on the side of caution, I think if you’re an attorney for any of the wind operations, they’re gonna tell you to shut it off for a couple of days and see what we can figure out. But the, the timing of the [00:13:00] shutdown I think is a little unique in that the US is pretty much closed at this point. You’re not gonna see anything start back up for another couple of weeks, although they were doing work on the water. So you can impose a couple hundred million. Do, well, not a hundred million dollars, but maybe a couple million dollars of, of overhead costs in some of these projects because you can’t respond quick enough. You gotta find a judge willing to put a stay in to hold things the same and, and hold off this, uh, this, uh, b order, but. To me, you know, it’s one of those things when you deal with the federal government, you think the federal government is erratic in just this one area? No, it’s erratic in a lot of areas. And the frustration comes with do you want America to be stronger or do you want nonsense to go on? You know? And if I thought, if that thought wind turbines were killing whales, I’d be the first one up to screaming. If I thought offshore wind was not gonna work out in term, in some long-term model, I would be the first one screaming about it. That’s not Joel Saxum: reality. [00:14:00] Caveat that though you said, you’re saying if I thought, I think the, the real word should be if I did the research, the math and understood that this is the way it was gonna be. Right? Because that’s, that’s what you need to do. And that’s what we’ve been doing, is looking at it and the, the, all the data points to we’re good here. If someone wanted to do harm Allen Hall: to the United States, and God forbid if that was ever the case. That wouldn’t be the way to do it. Okay. And we, and we’ve seen that through history, right. So it, it’s, it doesn’t even make any sense. The problem is, is that they can shield a judge from looking at it somewhat. If they classify well, the judge isn’t able to see what this classified information is. In today’s world, AI and everything on the internet, you don’t think somebody knows something about this? I do. And to think that you couldn’t make any sort of software patch to. Fix whatever 1965 radar system they have sitting on the shorelines of Massachusetts. They could, in today’s world, you can do that. So this whole thing, it [00:15:00] just sounds like a smoke screen and when you start poking around it, no one has an answer. That is the frustrating bit. If you’re gonna be seeing stuff, you better have backup data. But the Joel Saxum: crazy thing here, like look at the, the, the non wind side of this argument, like you’re hurting job growth. Everybody that goes into a, uh. Into office. One of the biggest things they run on all the time, it doesn’t matter, matter where you are in the world, is I’m gonna bring jobs and prosperity to the people. Okay. How many jobs have just been stopped? How many people have just been sent home? How much money’s being lost here? And who’s one of the biggest companies installing these turbines in the states? Fricking ge like so. You’re, you’re hurting your own local people. And not only is this, you stand there and say, we’re doing all this stuff. We’re getting all this wind energy. We’re gonna do all these things and we’re gonna win the AI race. To the point where you’ve passed legislation or you’ve written, uh, uh, executive order that says, Hey, individual states, if you pass legislation [00:16:00] that slows or halts AI development in your state, the federal government can sue you. But you’re doing the same thing. You’re halting and slowing down the ability for AI and data centers to power themselves at unprecedented growth. We’re at here, 2, 3, 4, 5% depending on what, what iso you ask of, of electron need, and we’re the fastest way you could put electrons to the grid. Right now in the United States, it’s. Either one of those offshore wind farms is being built today, or one of the other offs, onshore wind farms or onshore solar facilities that are being built right now today. Those are the fastest ways to help the United States win the AI race, which is something that Trump has loud, left and right and center, but you’re actively like just hitting people in the shins with a baseball bat to to slow down. Energy growth. I, I just, it, it doesn’t make any logical sense. Allen Hall: And Rosemary just chime in here. We’ve had enough from the Americans complaining about it. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. I mean, it’s hard for me to comment in too much detail about all of the [00:17:00] American security stuff. I mean, defense isn’t, isn’t one of my special interests and especially not American defense, but. When I talk about this issue with other Australians, it’s just sovereign risk is the, the issue. I mean, it was, it’s similar with the tariffs. It’s just like how, and it’s not just for like foreign companies that might want to invest in America. American companies are affected just, uh, as equally, but like you might be anti wind and fine. Um, but I don’t know how any. Company of any technology can have confidence to embark on a multi-year, um, project. Now, because you don’t know, like this government hates wind energy, but the next one could hate ai or the next one could hate solar panels, electric cars, or you know, just, just anything. And so like you just can’t. You just can’t trust, um, that your plans are gonna be able to be fulfilled even if you’ve got contracts, even if you’ve got [00:18:00] approvals, even if you are most of the way through building something, it’s not enough to feel safe anymore. And it’s just absolutely wild. That’s, and yeah, I was actually discussing with someone yesterday. How, and bearing in mind I don’t really understand American politics that deeply, but I’m gonna assume that Republicans are generally associated with being business friendly. So there must be so many long-term Republican donors who have businesses that have been harmed by all of these kinds of changes. And I just don’t understand how everyone is still behind this type of behavior. That’s what, that’s what I struggle to understand. Joel Saxum: This is the problem at the higher levels in. In DC their businesses are, are oil and gas based though. That’s the thing, the high, the high power conservative party side of things in the United States politics. The, the lobby money and the real money and the like, like think like the Dick Cheney era. Right. That was all Weatherford, right? It’s all oil and gas. Rosemary Barnes: So it’s not like anybody [00:19:00] cares about the, you know, I don’t know, like there’d be steel fabricators who have been massively affected by this. Right? Like that’s a good, a good traditional American business. Right. But are you saying it’s not big enough business that anyone would care that, that they’ve been screwed over? Joel Saxum: Not anymore Allen Hall: because all that’s being outsourced. The, the other argument, which Rosemary you touched upon is, is the one I’m seeing more recently on all kinds of social medias. It’s a bunch of foreign companies putting in these wind turbines. Well, who the hell Joel Saxum: is drilling your oil baby? This is something that I’ve always said. When you go go to Houston, Texas, the energy capital of the world, every one of those big companies, none of ’em are run by a Texan. They are all run by someone from overseas. Every one of ’em. Allen Hall: You, you think that, uh, you know, the Saudis are all, you know, great moral people. What the hell are you talking about? Are you starting to compare countries now? Because you really don’t wanna do that. If you wanna do that into the traditional energy marketplace, you’re, you’re gonna have [00:20:00] a lot of problems sleeping at night. You will, I would much rather trust a dane to put in a wind turbine or a German to put in a wind turbine than some of the people that are in, involved in oil and gas. Straight up. Straight up. Right. And we’ve known that for years. And we, we, we just play along, look. The fact of the matter is if you want to have electrons delivered quickly to the United States, you’re gonna have to do something, and that will be wind and solar because it is the fastest, cheapest way to get this stuff done. If you wanna try to plant some sort of gas pipeline from Louisiana up to Massachusetts or whatever the hell you wanna do, good luck. You know how many years you’re talking about here. In the meantime, all those people you, you think you care about are gonna be sitting there. With really high electricity rates and gas, gas, uh, rates, it’s just not gonna end well. Speaker 5: Australia’s wind farms are growing fast, but are your operations keeping up? Join us February 17th and [00:21:00] 18th at Melbourne’s Poolman on the park for Wind energy o and M Australia 2026, where you’ll connect with the experts solving real problems in maintenance asset management. And OEM relations. Walk away with practical strategies to cut costs and boost uptime that you can use the moment you’re back on site. Register now at W OM a 2020 six.com. Wind Energy o and m Australia is created by wind professionals for wind professionals because this industry needs solutions. Not speeches if Allen Hall: you don’t have enough on your plate already. Uh, the FCC has panned the import and sale of all new drone models from Chinese manufacturers, including the most popular of all in America, DJI, uh, and they clo. They currently hold about 70% of the global marketplace, the ban as DGI and Autel Robotics to the quote unquote covered list of entities deemed [00:22:00] a national security risk. Now here’s the catch. Existing models that are already approved for sale can still be purchased. So you can walk down to your local, uh, drone store and buy A DJI drone. And the ones you already own are totally fine, but the next generation. Not happening. They’re not gonna let ’em into the United States. So the wind industry heavily relies on drones. And, and Joel, you and I have seen a number of DJI, sort of handheld drones that are used on sites as sort of a quick check of the health of a, or status of a blade. Uh, you, you, I guess you will still be able to do that if you have an older dj. I. But if you try to buy a new one, good luck. Not gonna happen. Joel Saxum: Yeah. I think the most popular drone right now in the field, of course two of ’em, I would, I would say this, it’s like the Mavic type, you know, the little tiny one that like a site supervisor or a technician may have, they have their part 1 0 7 license. They can fly up and look at stuff. Uh, and then the [00:23:00] other one is gonna be the more industrial side. That’s gonna be the DJ IM 300. And that’s the one where a lot of these platforms, the perceptual robotics and some of the others have. That’s their base because the M 300 has, if you’re not in the, the development world, it has what’s called a pretty accessible SDK, which software development kit. So they’re designed to be able to add your sensors, put your software, and they’re fly ’em the way you want to. So they’re kind of like purpose built to be industrial drones. So if you have an M 300 or you’re using them now, what this I understand is you’re gonna still be able to do that, but when it comes time for next gen stuff, you’re not gonna be able to go buy the M 400. And import that. Like once it’s you’re here, you’re done. So I guess the way I would look at it is if I was an operator and that was part of our mo, or I was using a drone inspection provider, that that’s what comes on site. I would give people a plan. I would say basic to hedge your risk. I would say [00:24:00]basically like, Hey, if you’re my drone operator and I’m giving you a year to find a new solution. Um, that integrates into your workflows to get this thing outta here simply because I can’t be at risk that one day you show up, this thing crashes and I can’t get another one. A lot of companies are already like, they’re set and ready to go. Like all the new Skys specs, the Skys specs, foresight, drone, it’s all compliant, right? It’s USA made USA approved. Good to go. I think the new Arons drone is USA compliant. Good to go. Like, no, no issues there. So. Um, I think that some of the major players in the inspection world have already made their moves, um, to be able to be good USA compliant. Um, so just make sure you ask. I guess that’s, that. Our advice to operators here. Make sure you ask, make sure you’re on top of this one so you just don’t get caught with your pants down. Allen Hall: Yeah, I know there’s a lot of little drones in the back of pickup trucks around wind farms and you probably ought to check, talk to the guys about what’s going on to make sure that they’re all compliant. [00:25:00] In this quarter’s, PES Win magazine, which you can download for free@pswin.com. There is an article by Fran Hoffer, and they’re in Germany. If you don’t know who Fran Hoffer is, they’re sort of a research institution that is heavily involved in wind and fixing some of the problems, tackling some of the more complex, uh, issues that exist in blade repair. Turbine Repair Turbine Lifetime. And the article has a number of the highlights that they’ve been working on for the last several years, and you should really check this out, but looking at the accomplishments, Joel, it’s like, wow, fraud offer has been doing a lot behind the scenes and some of these technologies are, are really gonna be helpful in the near future. Joel Saxum: Yeah. Think of Frown Hoffer of your our US com compadres listening. Think of frown Hoffer as and NRE L, but. Not as connected to the federal government. Right. So, but, but more connected to [00:26:00] industry, I would say. So they’re solving industry problems directly. Right. Some of the people that they get funding research from is the OEMs, it’s other trade organizations within the group. They’re also going, they’re getting some support from the German federal government and the state governments. But also competitive research grants, so some EU DPR type stuff, um, and then some funding from private foundations and donors. But when you look at Frow, offerer, it’s a different project every time you talk to ’em. But, and what I like to see is the fact that these projects that they’re doing. Are actually solving real world problems. I, I, I, Alan and I talk about this regularly on the podcast is we have an issue with government funding or supportive funding or even grant funding or competitive funding going to in universities, institutions, well, whoever it may be, to develop stuff that’s either like already developed, doesn’t really have a commercial use, like, doesn’t forward the industry. But Frow Hoffer’s projects are right. So like one of the, they, they have [00:27:00] like the large bearing laboratory, so they’re test, they’ve tested over 500 pitch bearings over in Hamburg. They’re developing a handheld cure monitoring device that can basically tell you when resin has cured it, send you an email like you said, Alan, in case you’re like taking a nap on the ropes or something. Um, but you know, and they’re working on problems that are plaguing the industry, like, uh, up working on up towel repairs for carbon fiber, spar caps. Huge issue in the industry. Wildly expensive issue. Normally RA blade’s being taken down to the ground to fix these now. So they’re working on some UPT tile repairs for that. So they’re doing stuff that really is forwarding the industry and I love to see that. Allen Hall: Yeah. It’s one of the resources that. We in the United States don’t really take advantage of all the time. And yeah, and there’s a lot of the issues that we see around the world that if you were able to call f Hoffer, you should think about calling them, uh, and get their opinion on it. They probably have a solution or have heard of the problem before and can direct you to, uh, uh, a reasonable outcome. [00:28:00] That’s what these organizations are for. There’s a couple of ’em around the world. DTU being another one, frow Hoffer, obviously, uh, being another powerhouse there. That’s how the industry moves forward. It, it doesn’t move forward when all of us are struggling to get through these things. We need to have a couple of focal points in the industry that can spend some research time on problems that matter. And, and Joel, I, I think that’s really the key here. Like you mentioned it, just focusing on problems that we are having today and get through them so we can make the industry. Just a little bit better. So you should check out PES WIN Magazine. You can read this article and a number of other great articles. Go to ps win.com and download your articles today. That wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate all the feedback and support we receive from the wind industry. If today’s discussion sparked any question or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Just reach out to us on LinkedIn and please don’t forget to subscribe so you [00:29:00] never miss an episode For Joel, Rosemary and Yolanda, I’m a hall. We’ll catch you next week on the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

NotiMundo al Día - Michelle Maffei - Ecuador cierra el año más violento de su historia by FM Mundo 98.1

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Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan covers a massive FBI investigation into Somali fraud networks in Minnesota, the Trump administration's accelerating deportation and surveillance strategy, the growing political fight over prices and the Senate filibuster, improving drought conditions in the western United States, and major global developments from Africa, Latin America, China, and Australia. FBI Expands Probe into Somali Fraud Networks: FBI Director Kash Patel surged agents and resources into Minnesota following evidence of roughly nine billion dollars in suspected fraud tied to Somali-run daycare centers, Medicaid programs, food banks, and autism services. Investigators are now examining whether state officials and Democratic politicians enabled the schemes by shutting down early warnings. Bryan explains how viral footage showed dozens of fake daycare centers with no children enrolled, yet receiving massive public funds. Political Fallout and Questions for Democrats: Reports indicate that some Somali donors involved in the fraud also contributed to Democratic campaigns across multiple states. Governor Tim Walz previously halted fraud investigations after activists claimed discrimination. Bryan raises questions about whether these networks were used to generate political donations and votes, calling the potential scale of abuse "almost unimaginable." Trump Escalates Immigration Enforcement: ICE expanded highway operations targeting illegal migrant truck drivers in multiple states, while also arresting migrants at court check-ins who then skipped hearings, making them automatically deportable. The administration is deploying advanced tools, including facial recognition, license plate readers, and data from the IRS and Social Security Administration, to locate illegal migrants. Trump also increased the voluntary self-deportation bonus to $3,000, with airfare included, if migrants leave by December 31. Surveillance Tools Target Extremists: The same tracking systems are now being used to identify Antifa members and left-wing agitators under investigation for violence. DOJ officials say the effort responds to intelligence showing left-wing terrorism is now more prevalent than right-wing violence in the United States. Prices and the Filibuster Fight: President Trump warned that inflation and pricing will decide the 2026 midterms. With another government shutdown looming in January, he urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to pass healthcare reform. A new GAO audit found widespread Obamacare fraud, including subsidies paid to deceased individuals and duplicate Social Security numbers. Western Drought Conditions Improve: California's drought has eased significantly, boosting agricultural water supplies. Lake Mead rose by three feet following recent storms, adding roughly seventy-two billion gallons of water, more than southern Nevada's projected annual usage. U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria: The Pentagon launched missile strikes on ISIS training camps in northern Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian government. Democrats criticized the strikes, while the White House rejected claims of racial motivation. Bryan warns that Islamist groups are attempting to establish a caliphate across central Africa. Trump Expands Influence in Latin America: The United States will reopen a strategic base in Manta, Ecuador, to counter narcotics trafficking and monitor Chinese influence. Conservative allies backed by Trump also won elections in Honduras, strengthening U.S. leverage across the region. China Signals Military Threats: Photos released by Chinese media show ballistic missiles concealed in cargo ship containers, a tactic that could be used to attack U.S. forces or ports during a conflict. Bryan says the images were deliberately leaked and amplified by Chinese bots as a warning to the West. Australia Downplays Islamist Attack: Australian officials claimed a recent ISIS-inspired attack on Jews was not religiously motivated, drawing sharp criticism. Bryan argues that refusing to acknowledge the crisis within Islam mirrors decades of Western denial and will lead to more violence. Listener Questions Close the Episode: Bryan answers questions on Ukraine's mineral deals, fuel supply risks tied to California refinery closures, and whether the American republic still exists. He argues the United States now functions more like a parliamentary democracy and explains why the filibuster debate reflects that deeper shift.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: FBI Somali fraud Minnesota, Kash Patel investigation, Tim Walz daycare Medicaid scandal, ICE deportation surveillance tools, self deportation bonus Trump, Antifa terrorism DOJ tracking, Obamacare fraud GAO audit, Lake Mead drought recovery, U.S. Nigeria ISIS airstrikes, Ecuador Manta base Trump, Honduras election Asfura, China cargo ship missiles, Australia ISIS attack denial, filibuster healthcare reform debate

Imparables es un documental de la Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI) que recoge historias reales de superación en cuatro países (Argentina, Brasil, Ecuador y Honduras), mostrando cómo la educación y la cultura pueden transformar vidas y comunidades enteras. Hoy nos acompañan dos de sus productores María Bensadón y Jair Esquiaqui. Escuchar audio

The Elephants are back! After a 12-year hiatus, Ivory Coast returns to the global stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In this episode, we explore how manager Emerse Faé turned AFCON despair into a tactical masterpiece and whether captain Franck Kessié can lead this squad past the likes of Germany and Ecuador in Group E.We dive deep into the numbers behind their incredible qualifying run—including that legendary ten-game clean sheet streak—and analyze the explosive potential of stars like Amad Diallo. Join us as we discuss if this is finally the year Les Éléphants stampede into the knockout rounds for the first time in history. Ivory Coast World Cup 2026, Franck Kessié, Emerse Faé, African football predictions, Les Éléphants soccer

#ElGranMusical | Santiago Basabe. ¿Cómo termina el Ecuador en este 2025? by FM Mundo 98.1

Cierra el 2025, un año de importantes definiciones en la política en América Latina, marcado por profundos cambios electorales, levantamientos de protestas, movilizaciones migratorias y importantes debates sobre políticas públicas y derechos ciudadanos. Una de las tendencias más destacadas, en este balance político fue el avance electoral de fuerzas conservadoras en varios países como Argentina, Honduras, Chile y Bolivia. Por ejemplo, en Argentina, la Libertad Avanza partido de Javier Milei consolidó un fuerte respaldo en las elecciones legislativas, ampliando su presencia en el Congreso y confirmando el giro político del país hacia políticas económicas liberales. Asimismo, aunque por un estrecho margen destaca el caso de Honduras, el candidato conservador Nasry Asfura ganó la presidencia en un proceso electoral marcado por controversias y acusaciones de influencia externa, lo que simboliza una tendencia regional hacia el fortalecimiento de líderes de derecha y centro-derecha.Destaca el caso de Bolivia, con un importante cambio político tras la elección de Rodrigo Paz. Una ruptura histórica con la hegemonía del Movimiento al Socialismo, así como también el caso de Chile con la rotunda victoria de José Antonio Kast, marcando una reconfiguración política a las tendencias ya tradicionales de izquierda en la región. De igual manera, merecen atención especial la participación cívica demostradas en los referendos y consultas populares en Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala y Panamá, logrando canalizar la polarización y el descontento por medio de mecanismos institucionales. Lo cual se hizo presente también en la histórica elección judicial en México. Si bien el voto sigue siendo el principal instrumento de cambio y contestación con el poder, este mecanismo ya no representa una garantía de estabilidad y mejoramiento democrático. Altas cotas de polarización, sistemas de partidos fragmentados, creciente desarticulación intra-regional, precarización burocrática, violencia política, corrupción administrativa y altos niveles de inseguridad ciudadana, han sido los problemas que ha documentado buena parte de los estudios demoscópicos de este año.Todo lo cual ocurre en un año como el 2025, en el que los EEUU redefine su Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional de forma notable, poniendo nuevamente al hemisferio americano en el centro de su reforzamiento geopolítico con todas las implicaciones que traen consigo. Teniendo en su despliegue militar en el Caribe contra el "narco-régimen" de Maduro en Venezuela, su principal ejercicio práctico del nuevo corolario Trump de la Doctrina Monroe. Un incremento de tensiones durante meses que ha reconfigurado reacomodos, alianzas y profundas implicaciones hemisféricas para los primeros meses del 2026. En suma, tenemos un 2025 que será recordado como un año de cambios políticos profundos, alta crispación y redefinición de agendas públicas, que marcarán las nuevas rutas para el futuro político de América Latina.Analistas:Manuel Alcántara SáezMaría Puerta RieraEdición y Conducción:Xavier Rodríguez Franco

Esta medida ha implicado el despliegue de personal militar en 10 pasos estratégicos identificados en la jurisdicción de la brigada, aunque el coronel advirtió que el número estimado de pasos ilegales, conocidos comúnmente como "trochas", asciende a cerca de 73. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hoy analizaremos la supergripe que ya circula en Ecuador y haremos un análisis Constitucional. Eso y más con Ismael Quintana, abogado constitucionalista y Andrés Carrazco, subsecretario de Vigilancia y Control de la Salud.

7-day FREE trial of our Intermediate Spanish course, Spanish Uncovered: ⁠⁠www.storylearning.com/podcastoffer⁠⁠Join us on Patreon: ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/storylearningspanish⁠⁠Glossaryparientes: relativesamistad: friendshipceviche: raw fish marinated in lemon juice, a typical dish from Ecuador and Perunoticiero: newstítulo: headlineconductora: TV hostperiodista: journalistcamisa: shirtreubicadas: relocatedsurgir: to ariseFollow us on social media and more: ⁠⁠www.linktr.ee/storylearningspanish

Solemos pensar que el nuevo año traerá grandes cambios; sin embargo, muchas veces las metas o propósitos que nos proponemos se abandonan en la segunda semana. Los problemas reaparecen y, una vez más, terminamos perdiendo toda esperanza. Entonces, ¿qué podemos hacer para generar un cambio real? ¿Cómo podemos recibir el nuevo año y caminar con firmeza frente a cada circunstancia o problema que se presente?Support the show

Send us a textWe end Season 5 with an episode about New Years' Eve in  Ecuador.  In 2002 Grandpa Edward Jeffrey Hill, Grandma Juanita Ray Hill, and five children (Abby, Hannah, Emily, Amanda, and Seth) were working in orphanages in Cuenca.  In keeping with Ecuadorian customs we made an effigy out of straw and old clothes. We had a lot of excitement on New Years as we kicked and kissed and burned our effigy. We learned that whether the old year was happy or sad was unimportant.  The new year is full of possibilities!! Happy New Year!  May 2026 be your best year ever!

El meridiano de Greenwich, una línea imaginaria que une los polos y pasa por el Real Observatorio de Greenwich en Londres, sirve como referencia para medir la longitud geográfica y establecer los husos horarios. Se fijó en 1884 durante la Conferencia Internacional del Meridiano. Se impuso a otros observatorios como el de París. El GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) fue el estándar internacional hasta su reemplazo por el UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), ya basado en relojes atómicos, aunque, eso sí, ambos están vinculados a este meridiano. La idea de fijar un meridiano principal data del siglo III a.C. cuando Eratóstenes de Cirene midió la circunferencia terrestre con una precisión notable. Observó las sombras que proyectaban los obeliscos en Asuán y en Alejandría en el mediodía del solsticio de verano y, tras hacer un experimento, demostró la esfericidad de la Tierra. Sobre ella trazó una cuadrícula imaginaria compuesta por paralelos y meridianos. La latitud es fácil de fijar. Se mide desde el Ecuador con líneas paralelas a distancias constantes. La longitud carece de una referencia natural y además los meridianos convergen en los polos por lo que se van estrechando. Eratóstenes fijó el primer meridiano y, a partir de él, cada cultura eligió su propio meridiano. Esto no importó demasiado hasta que comenzaron los viajes oceánicos de portugueses y españoles en el siglo XV. Pero calcular la longitud requería medir el tiempo de forma precisa, algo que no fue posible hasta bien entrado el siglo siglo XVIII. Fue un inglés llamado John Harrison quien resolvió el problema con un cronómetro marino de una precisión extraordinaria. La Revolución Industrial trajo nuevos ingenios como los barcos de vapor, los ferrocarriles y el telégrafo. Eso exigía una medida igual para todo el mundo. Y así es como delegados de 25 países se reunieron en Washington en 1884 para escoger el lugar de referencia para el meridiano cero. El elegido fue Greenwich por su observatorio, la tradición náutica británica y la pericia de sus cartógrafos. Francia se opuso y resistió hasta 1911. Durante esos años se referían al meridiano de Greenwich como "tiempo de París retrasado". Desde el meridiano cero se puede dividir la Tierra longitudinalmente con otras líneas imaginarias, las de los husos horarios. Pero ahí más que las matemáticas lo que ha terminado primando es la política. Cada país ha adaptado los husos a sus propias necesidades, de ahí que encontremos tantas anomalías, algunas realmente llamativas como el hecho de que un país tan extenso como China tenga el mismo horario, el de la capital, Pekín, que está en el extremo oriental del país. Algo similar sucede con la línea internacional de cambio de fecha, que oficialmente nunca se ha fijado. Discurre en torno al paralelo 180º en el centro del océano Pacífico, pero luego cada uno de los países de esa parte del mundo decide si prefiere estar en el hoy o en el mañana. El sistema de horarios y fechas tiene mucho de arbitrario, pero es funcional y ha conseguido que todos sepamos qué día y qué hora es en cualquier lugar del mundo. En La ContraRéplica: 0:00 Introducción 3:42 Historia del meridiano 1:17:12 Vikingos en el norte de España Bibliografía: “La historia del tiempo” de Diego Vega Ramírez - https://amzn.to/3MONnZT “Historia del tiempo” de Carlos Blanco Vázquez - https://amzn.to/48XbkXC “Historiones de la geografía” de Diego González - https://amzn.to/49iwjTI “On The Line: The Story of the Greenwich Meridian” de Louise Devoy - https://amzn.to/45pO3uS · Canal de Telegram: https://t.me/lacontracronica · “Contra el pesimismo”… https://amzn.to/4m1RX2R · “Hispanos. Breve historia de los pueblos de habla hispana”… https://amzn.to/428js1G · “La ContraHistoria del comunismo”… https://amzn.to/39QP2KE · “La ContraHistoria de España. Auge, caída y vuelta a empezar de un país en 28 episodios”… https://amzn.to/3kXcZ6i · “Contra la Revolución Francesa”… https://amzn.to/4aF0LpZ · “Lutero, Calvino y Trento, la Reforma que no fue”… https://amzn.to/3shKOlK Apoya La Contra en: · Patreon... https://www.patreon.com/diazvillanueva · iVoox... https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-contracronica_sq_f1267769_1.html · Paypal... https://www.paypal.me/diazvillanueva Sígueme en: · Web... https://diazvillanueva.com · Twitter... https://twitter.com/diazvillanueva · Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/fernandodiazvillanueva1/ · Instagram... https://www.instagram.com/diazvillanueva · Linkedin… https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-d%C3%ADaz-villanueva-7303865/ · Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/147276463@N05/?/ · Pinterest... https://www.pinterest.com/fernandodiazvillanueva Encuentra mis libros en: · Amazon... https://www.amazon.es/Fernando-Diaz-Villanueva/e/B00J2ASBXM #FernandoDiazVillanueva #meridiani Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Send us a textMerry Fresh-mas!

Hola mi gente! Today we are going to read, translate and listen about the Christmas in some Latin American countries and we are going to listen some interesting facts and traditions. I will be reading in Spanish very slowly and you will try to understand word by word. You will be learning some interesting words and new vocabulary and also you will be improving your listening skills in Spanish. I will translate the song in English and then read in Spanish again in a normal speed but explaining some words at the same time.. You can support me and my podcast if you want:Donate with PayPal:https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/spanishwithdennisYou can buy me a cup of coffee here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spanishwithdennisArgentinaEn Argentina, la Navidad se vive bajo el sol, pues sucede durante el verano. Al ser un país con fuerte influencia europea, específicamente de Italia y España, los argentinos suelen reunirse en Noche Buena para disfrutar de un asado argentino como platillo principal, y para la sobremesa suelen comer panettone, un  pan italiano de temporada. Finalmente, a la medianoche se congregan en la iglesia para la clásica "misa de gallo".BrasilEn Brasil, los brasileños también disfrutan del clima veraniego durante las festividades navideñas, por ello, sus tradiciones para la temporada también giran entorno a las actividades al aire libre y la convivencia familiar. En el centro de Laguna Rodrigo de Freitas de Río de Janeiro se levanta el impresionante "árvore de natal da lagoa", un árbol de Navidad de aproximadamente 85 metros de altura. ColombiaEn Colombia la Navidad comienza el 07 de diciembre con el "Día de las Velitas". Se trata de un festejo que se lleva a cabo en la víspera de la celebración de la Inmaculada Concepción, donde los creyentes salen a las calles con velas que llenan las puertas de los hogares para guiar el camino de la Virgen.PerúCada año en Cusco se organiza el mercado de Navidad también conocido como Santuranticuy o Venta de los Santos, donde comerciantes de todo Perú se reunén en la Plaza de Armas para vender sus productos religiosos, textiles navideños o comidas típicas.VenezuelaSe lleva a cabo una curiosa celebración llamada "las patinatas". En ella, avenidas enteras son cerradas para que niños y adultos puedan salir a patinar, ya sea en bicicleta, patines o patinetas. Mientras patinan, la gente disfruta de los villancicos que hacen que el ambiente se sienta súper festivo.ChileAl igual que en los otros festejos navideños latinos, en Chile también celebran esta fecha junto a seres queridos, pero algo especial que hacen los niños es abrir sus regalos justo a la media noche y salir a la calle a mostrarlos a sus amigos.EcuadorEn la capital de Ecuador se hacen las tradiciones esenciales, como las Novenas o la Misa de Noche Buena, así como la cena. Sin embargo, en las múltiples provincias del país las celebraciones son muy variadas. Por ejemplo, en Carchi adornan el árbol de Navidad natural más grande del país, y en Cañar organizan un desfile el 24 de diciembre al que algunos niños asisten vestidos de varios personajes bíblicos.PanamáDebido a que también en Panamá se celebra la Navidad bajo el sol de verano, la estética de la celebración es más bien de colores llamativos y flores tropicales. Por ello, días antes de las fechas importantes, los residentes acostumbran a pintar las fachadas de sus casas. Además, es una preparación especial para el Desfile de Navidad Anual My new Youtube channel: Spanish with Dennishttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVuRUMQGwtzBIp1YAImQFQMy new Discord server and chat and you can already join and write to me there:https://discord.gg/HWGrnmTmyCMy new Telegram channel and you can already join and write to me or comment there:https://t.me/SpanishwithDennisJoin my Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/spanishwithdennisSupport me by joining my podcasts supporter club on Spreaker:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/slow-spanish-language--5613080/supportDonate with Boosty:https://boosty.to/spanishwithdennis/donateDonate with Donation Alerts:https://www.donationalerts.com/r/dennisespinosaDonate with Crypto currency:Bitcoin (BTC)1DioiGPAQ6yYbEgcxEFRxWm5hZJcfLG9V6USDT (ERC20)0xeb8f678c0b8d37b639579662bf653be762e60855USDT (TRC20)TXoQwsaiTGBpWVkyeigApLT8xC82rQwRCNEthereum (ETH)0xeb8f678c0b8d37b639579662bf653be762e60855If you have any other suggestions or recommendations on what other platform you can support me and my podcasts, please let me know. You can write to me on telegram.Thanks in advance!! Gracias por adelantado!My other podcasts you can find it on different platforms and apps:1-  Comprehensible Spanish Language Podcast2 - Crazy Stories in Spanish Podcast3 - TPRS Spanish Stories

Laura's back from a wonderful trip.

Wednesday December 24, 2025 Ecuador Told to Pay $220 Million to Chevron

The US import tariffs for shrimp are redefining cost structures and market access for major suppliers. As the American buyers restructure and rebalance their origin portfolio, major suppliers, India and Ecuador, are dealing with the domino effect. The podcast discusses how the tariff frictions could reorder global trade flows and influence farmgate pricing and stocking decisions in India and Ecuador. Join S&P Global Energy's Asim Anand, manager, agriculture & food pricing, Max Bouratoglou, principal analyst, Proteins, Elvis John and Felipe Peroni, price reporters for agriculture & food, in a discussion about the intricacies of the global shrimp trade amid these tariffs.

Buenos días. Estamos en vísperas de Navidad y mientras seguramente se ocupa de los preparativos de la cena y los regalos, El Líbero continúa informándole lo más importante del acontecer nacional. El Presidente electo José Antonio Kast concluyó ayer su visita a Ecuador y desde ya tiene previsto viajar a Perú en enero. La puesta en marcha de un corredor humanitario para el manejo de la migración irregular y la creación de un bloque regional contra el crimen organizado marcaron su agenda. "Tiene una visión en términos de política internacional de largo plazo, pero también con un sentido de urgencia" que "destraba situaciones que parecían muy difíciles de resolver", dijo en entrevista con El Líbero el excanciller Roberto Ampuero, quien esta semana estuvo entre quienes se reunieron con el republicano. También fue noticia la captura en pleno centro de Santiago de Nicolás Piña Palomera, condenado a 10 años de cárcel por por haber lanzado una bomba molotov a un carro policial con al menos nueve carabineros dentro en febrero de 2021. Estaba prófugo desde octubre de 2023, cuando se dictó la sentencia en su contra.

14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defeats in Ecuador, Argentina,1910 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF BRAZIL

SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1941 HICKAM FIELD 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from adversaries. 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-value assets. 3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. 4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exposes China's lack of maritime projection and energy vulnerability, as Beijingcannot legally contest the seizures of illicit shadow fleet vessels. 5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striking desert warehouses when ISIS cells have moved into urban areas, suggesting the strikes were primarily symbolic domestic messaging. 6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanesegovernment is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective tripwire, as Hezbollah continues to rebuild infrastructure and receive funding right under international observers' noses. 7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISISremains viable, with recent facilitated attacks in Australia indicating a resurgence in capability beyond simple "inspired" violence. 8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals as proof of untrustworthiness, exploiting the US tendency to fight short-term wars against enemies planning for decades. 9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached 50%. 11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americans constructed myths portraying themselves as blameless victims while ignoring their own Indigenous allies and British betrayals regarding land rights. 12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown. 13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This systemic lying leads to overconfidence in Putin's strategy, though Ukraine also faces challenges with commanders hesitating to report lost positions to avoid forced counterattacks. 14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defeats in Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. 15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name China as an adversary or define clear goals for defending allies in Asia and Europe against great power rivals. 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most reliable partners for protecting American security and values, making cooperation essential despite resource constraints and political disagreements.

In questo episodio del nostro Simple Italian Podcast vi porto con me a Cuenca, Ecuador. Ci siete mai stati?Buon ascolto!▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

What if your next big adventure did more than give you a view, what if it gave you perspective?In this episode, Kelly sits down with Frank Castro, founder of Adventure International, a luxury adventure outfitter known for high-end trekking and mountaineering experiences rooted in ethical guiding, fair wages, and deep respect for the local teams who make expeditions possible.Frank shares how his early years operating in Tanzania sparked a mission to raise the standard for Kilimanjaro outfitting, not just through elevated logistics and top-tier gear, but through meaningful investment in guides, porters, cooks, training, and long-term community impact.From there, Adventure International expanded into the Himalayas, Peru, and Ecuador, later growing into eco-dome glamping, conservation-driven safari camps, luxury surf travel, and privately guided U.S. National Parks experiences.This conversation explores what makes a truly exceptional adventure DMC, why risk management is everything in high-altitude travel, and why more travelers are seeking experiences that reset the nervous system and reconnect them to what matters.You will learn:How Adventure International began as a high-level Kilimanjaro operator grounded in ethical labor practicesWhy luxury adventure travel sits at the intersection of challenge and comfortWhat travel advisors should look for in an adventure DMC, especially for high-risk itinerariesHow Adventure International expanded from Tanzania into Nepal, Peru, and EcuadorWhy eco domes, glamping, and conservation-led travel are shaping the futureWhat families should consider when planning adventure travel across age rangesWhy nature-based travel is becoming essential in a screen-heavy worldHow North America is emerging as a powerful adventure destination post-COVIDWe talk about:00:00 Intro 01:00 Travel Kinship, DMCs, and the role of ethical operators02:00 The origin story, Tanzania, Kilimanjaro, and “doing it the right way”04:00 Ethical operations, wages, training, and industry shifts06:00 Expanding into Nepal, Peru, and Ecuador09:00 Eco domes, safari camps, and conservation impact12:00 Luxury surf travel and concierge-style itineraries13:30 COVID, U.S. National Parks, and family adventure travel16:00 What makes a great adventure DMC and risk management realities21:00 Setting expectations for iconic treks and crowd realities23:00 Building balanced itineraries with elevated extensions25:00 Why adventure travel is rising as nervous system medicine28:00 Transformational moments and shared humanity on the trail32:00 Family travel guidance and age considerations35:00 Slowing down, North America focus, and full-circle travel39:00 Closing reflections and next stepsResources & Links:Ready for your next adventure? Click here to view our Trip Planning Packages & 2025 Pricing: https://transform-with-travel.captivate.fm/packages Connect with Adventure InternationalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/100063483463682/info/#YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/AdventureIntnlInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventureinternational/Website:

Manuel Iris served as Poet Laureate of Cincinnati, Ohio, and as Writer-in-Residence at both the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and Thomas More University. In 2021, he was named a member of Mexico's National System of Art Creators, one of the country's highest honors for artists. Author of six poetry collections, Iris has been awarded the Mérida National Poetry Prize (2009) for Cuaderno de los sueños and the Rodulfo Figueroa Regional Poetry Prize (2014) for Los disfraces del fuego, a book that was also a finalist for Ecuador's International Poetry Prize Ciudad de la Lira. In 2025, Iris received the Ambroggio Prize from the Academy of American Poets for his book The Whole Earth is a Garden of Monsters/Toda la tierra es un jardín de monstruos. Manuel Iris has given readings, lectures, and talks across Mexico, the United States, and Europe. He currently resides and writes in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find more on Manuel here: https://manueliris.com/ As always, we'll also include the live Prompt Lines for responses to our weekly prompt. A Zoom link will be provided in the chat window during the show before that segment begins. For links to all the past episodes, visit: https://www.rattle.com/page/rattlecast/ This Week's Prompt: Think about the biggest improvement you've made as a poet this year and write a poem that showcases your skill. Include what you've learned in the notes with your submission. Next Week's Prompt: Write a villanelle that involves a trip. The Rattlecast livestreams on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, then becomes an audio podcast. Find it on iTunes, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

¡Tenencia gratis! Edomex dará subsidio si pagas entre enero y marzo  Ciencias del Agua y la Tierra, nueva carrera en la UIEMMilitares en Ecuador reciben condena por desaparición de menores afrodescendientesMás información en nuestro Podcast

World news in 7 minutes. Wednesday 24th December 2025.Today: CAR election. Uganda Starlink ban. Congo cobalt. Sweden Thunberg arrested. Britain farm tax. Ukraine security talks. Hong Kong K-Pop. India lynching protests. Venezuela piracy law. United States battleships. Ecuador soldiers sentenced. United States powerball jackpot. AI actor.With Juliet MartinSEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week. Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week. We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Niall Moore and Juliet Martin every morning. Transcripts, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated stories in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org

NotiMundo Estelar - Gabriela Sommerfeld, FF.AA. de Estados Unidos en Ecuador; nueva gira presidencial, hitos 2025 y proyecciones 2026 by FM Mundo 98.1

In this episode we travel to Ecuador to discover a beautiful and meaningful legend: La leyenda del colibrí. Learn why this tiny, colorful bird is considered a powerful symbol of love, hope, and connection, and how—according to legend—the colibrí became the secret messenger of thoughts and feelings between people. This story reminds us that you don't have to be big to be important.If you enjoy the podcast, please support us by rating and reviewing, and share this episode with someone who loves legends and Spanish stories. Your support helps the podcast grow ❤️ Transcript HERE!Click here if you want information for my virtual Spanish class!

Brand new to you shows start tomorrow; Bari Weiss facing major blowback over pulling 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelans deported to Ecuador; right-wing grift; Epstein files release; divorce rates increasing in rural America; state GOP leaders not handing over fraud evidence; Trump indicates support for Mike Lindell as governor nominee; Michael Brodkorb previews and reviews…

Analizamos las causas y consecuencias de la espiral de violencia en la que se encuentra sumida Ecuador. Lo hacemos hablando con Elizabeth Dickinson, subdirectora del programa para América Latina y el Caribe de Crisis Group, sobre el informe que han publicado en el que señalan que Ecuador ha pasado, en menos de una década, de ser uno de los países más seguros de Sudamérica al más violento.En nuestro repaso a la actualidad hablamos de Venezuela, de Haití y de los países que iban a firmar el acuerdo con el Mercosur. Y, para terminar, entrevistamos a Ana Posas, oficial de Agricultura para la oficina regional de la FAO, para charlar sobre posibles soluciones para poner fin a la inseguridad alimentaria que existe en América Latina.Escuchar audio

The man was busy harvesting onions when we prayerfully approached him during the home visits we were conducting on our mission trip in Ecuador. In broken Spanish, I told him my friends and I’d like to briefly speak to him about the Bible. He paused to listen as we shared our testimonies with him. One of my teammates took out his Bible and started reading Scripture aloud (in English). What a sacred moment it was to hear Scripture being read on the side of the Andes mountains and to see the man reading along in Spanish with the booklet we had given him! We talked with him and his family who’d been working off in the distance, prayed for them, and continued to the next house. As we walked along the mountainside reading Scripture and talking to people about Christ, I thought of Jesus and His disciples walking along the hills and valleys of Israel during His earthly ministry. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” The prophet was referring to the time when God’s people would return to their homeland after years in exile, but it still applies to us today whenever we share the Good News of Jesus with others. Our opportunities may not be in the spectacular Andes, but wherever God has placed us, the Holy Spirit can help us share the message of salvation with those He puts in our path.

Fuerzas Especiales refuerza seguridad en Sinaloa: Sedena  Detectan en Ecuador primer caso de influenza AH3N2 variante K  ¿Sabes cuál es el símbolo nacional de Escocia? Aquí te decimos  Más información en nuestro podcast

What is a call? How does a person know if God is calling them to mission service? Join in a discussion as these and other questions are addressed.

Pick a controversial topic. Whether it's immigration, race, climate change, the role of religion, or the economy, many of our assumptions that we view as completely reasonable can seem whacky or wrong to others. This may well include very smart, thoughtful people, who've had very different life experiences than our own.Our guest for this episode is Chauncey Williams, a Democratic-leaning Braver Angels volunteer in Denver.He was shocked when Donald Trump was first elected President in 2016. But instead of retreating into his political silo, Chauncey began a unique project. On different occasions he set up a table with two chairs in local parks, and invited total strangers to have conversations about important public matters. “One of the important things I came to realize is that I walk into a lot of those conversations with a host of assumptions about folks that aren't always true,” Chauncey told us. “I've often been fascinated and humbled by realizing my own limitations in knowledge, and having that revealed,” he said. “I've had this happen on more than one occasion… As uncomfortable as it is, I also welcome it.”In our revealing interview Chauncey shares what he learned from his “chats in a park” project. We hear two audio extracts from his nuanced conversations— one with an outspoken conservative who challenged Chauncey on his views of drop boxes during elections, and another with a recent immigrant from Ecuador who explained what diversity meant to him and his family.Chauncey Williams lives in Colorado where he is involved with the Southern Front Range and Denver Alliances. This year, he helped launch a "Share Your Story" event to learn how others came to their views on specific political topics and on politics, generally. He is a member of Braver Angels Denver Alliance.“How Do We Fix It?” reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the cross-partisan citizen's movement that brings red, blue, and other Americans together in a working alliance. Braver Angels is building new ways for Americans to talk to one another, and act as courageous citizens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keywords entrepreneurship, humanitarian mission, business lessons, personal development, integrity, relationships, adversity, collaboration, startups, economic bridging Takeaways Jackson's journey began with a humanitarian mission in Ecuador. Education can come from unexpected places, including personal experiences. Business success often requires learning from failures and setbacks. Integrity is a crucial component of successful business relationships. Missionary work can provide valuable life and business skills. Parenting and relationships require continuous learning and adaptation. Adversity can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of purpose. Perspective is key in navigating life's challenges and successes. Collaboration is essential for sustainable business growth. Startups require a balance of innovation and ethical practices. Summary In this episode, Mitch Beinhaker interviews Jackson Calame, who shares his journey from a challenging academic background to becoming a successful entrepreneur focused on bridging economic gaps between North and South America. Jackson discusses the importance of integrity in business, the lessons learned from his humanitarian mission, and the value of collaboration over competition. He emphasizes the role of adversity in personal growth and the need for a shift in perspective to navigate life's challenges. Jackson also shares insights from his experiences with startups and the importance of providing ethical and sustainable business practices. Titles From Humanitarian to Entrepreneur: Jackson Calame's Journey Bridging Economies: The Vision of Jackson Calame Sound bites "I had a 0.37 GPA." "I was thrust into business." "Integrity is key in business." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jackson's Journey 02:50 The Call to Humanitarian Work 05:57 From Academic Struggles to Business Ventures 08:52 Sales and Networking: Lessons Learned 11:56 The Impact of Missionary Work on Business Skills 14:51 Navigating Personal Relationships and Growth 17:53 The Importance of Adversity in Shaping Character 20:35 Finding Purpose Through Helping Others 23:44 Reflections on Resilience and Perspective 25:03 Navigating Life's Challenges 26:07 Making a Dent in the Universe 27:33 The Journey to Self-Acceptance 29:03 The Power of Small Changes 30:36 The Myth of the One Thing 32:34 Collaboration Over Competition 37:34 Startup Experiences and Lessons Learned 43:22 Building a Visionary Business 51:04 The Abundance Mindset

On today's show, host Esty Dinur is joined by scholar Marc Becker to talk about the Trump Administration's rapidly escalating attacks on Venezuela. He puts the strikes on boats allegedly trafficking drugs in the context of Venezuela's oil economy and Latin American politics. Venezuela is considered to have the world's largest oil reserves which leads many mainstream news sources to call the country the wealthiest in Latin America. But Becker says that wealth is poorly distributed. Under the presidency of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela was successful at redistributing that oil wealth. However, the US has worked to remove Chavez and more recently Nicolás Maduro from power. Even the media circulates narratives that these left-wing leaders have “illegitimate” power.   They also talk about how the US embargo has had a catastrophic effect on the Venezuelan economy, how the US might be gearing up for attacks on Cuba, Chinese policy in Latin and South America, and the Ineligibility of María Corina Machado in the recent Venezuelan elections.  Marc Becker is professor of history at Truman State University. He studies the Latin American left with a particular interest in race, class, and gender within popular movements in the South American Andes. Among other works, he is the author of Contemporary Latin American Revolutions (Rowman and Littlefield, 2022); The CIA in Ecuador (Duke University Press, 2020); The FBI in Latin America: The Ecuador Files (Duke University Press, 2017); and Indians and Leftists in the Making of Ecuador’s Modern Indigenous Movements (Duke University Press, 2008. He has served on the executive committees and has been web editor of the Peace History Society (PHS) and Historians for Peace and Democracy (H-Pad). Becker is currently working on a project on Philip Agee and the CIA in Ecuador in the early 1960s. Featured image of a mural outside a Venezuelan state-owned oil and gas company from 2009 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate hereThe post Oil Motivates US Attacks on Venezuela appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

Send us a textWhile Mike is off playing Santa in Ecuador, the Fresh Bunch goes delightfully off the rails in this laugh-out-loud filler episode. From the biggest (and quirkiest) flower trends of 2025 to the words that defined the year, we recap the moments, events, and conversations that kept popping up all year long—yes, including how many times we somehow circled back to tariffs. We also dive into our creative 3D-printed holiday gift ideas, talk about the rise of small flower farms, and explore sustainability in floristry, all while embracing plenty of totally off-topic moments. It's light, it's fun, and it's guaranteed to keep you smiling from start to finish. 

Viajar por Latinoamérica es una experiencia increíble, pero el tema del dinero puede generar muchas dudas:

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Matt Schweiker. Matt has shared his adventures with us many times. This week we wanted to talk about a 7 month trip Matt took through South America in 2015. The Countries he covered were; Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and a small part of Chile. This might have been the trip that got Matt racing and adventuring on the bike world wide. Matt Schweiker is an adventure bike packer and ultra endurance racer. He's completed the Bikepacking Triple Crown: Tour Divide, Arizona Trail 800 and Colorado Trail. He's raced internationally completing the Silk Road Mountain Race, Trans Balkan and Hellenic Mountain Race. His travels on bike have taken him to over 25 countries. He lives in Chattanooga TN and currently serves as the race director for the Cohutta Cat Bikepacking event. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) President Trump prepares to address the nation tonight, fueling speculation about what he may announce. Bryan walks through the most likely possibilities, from the economy and falling inflation to explosive new revelations showing the Biden DOJ pushed ahead with the Mar-a-Lago raid despite FBI warnings that no probable cause existed. Trump may also signal major changes on marijuana policy or escalate pressure on Venezuela, as the White House orders a blockade of oil tankers that could trigger cascading unrest in Caracas and Havana. Abroad, China hardens its grip on the Panama Canal by blocking US-led efforts to reclaim port operations, raising the stakes for American naval access. Trump counters Beijing's influence by naming Peru a major non-NATO ally, part of a broader strategy to lock down South America's Pacific coast alongside new conservative governments in Chile and Ecuador. In Europe, the Green Revolution falters as Brussels backs away from banning combustion engines and Ford writes down nearly $20 billion after abandoning its electric truck push. The episode closes with remarkable scientific news from Japan, where researchers discovered a bacteria found in the Japanese tree frog that eradicated tumors in mice with a 100 percent success rate, offering new hope for future cancer treatments.    "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump national address, US economy data, Mar-a-Lago FBI raid documents, DOJ lawfare, marijuana reclassification, Venezuela oil blockade, Panama Canal China, Peru non-NATO ally, South America strategy, EV collapse Europe, Ford EV losses, combustion engine reversal, Japanese tree frog cancer research

Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa analyze Latin America's rightward shift, citing Chile's rejection of a leftist constitution and election disputes in Honduras. They attribute leftist defeats to the failure of socialism and credit the "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine for encouraging democratic changes against regional narco-regimes. CHILE, ECUADOR, BOLIVIIA

The Andean Condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world. With a wingspan that can stretch over 10 feet across, the condor doesn't flap so much as sail, using rising thermals to glide across the Andes for hours. Once revered in Inca mythology as a messenger of the gods, the Andean Condor now graces the coat of arms of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. But like many scavengers, condor populations are declining due to threats like lead poisoning and habitat loss.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chevron has been awarded $220 Million in the Ecuadoran Amazon pollution case. The award comes from the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system, part of Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. From 1964-1992, Texaco polluted thousands of acres of Amazonian rainforest and poisoned its residents. In 1993, those residents took Texaco to court. In 2001, Chevron acquired Texaco and took its debts (including the billions it owes Amazonian residents). In 2011, an Ecuadoran court awarded the residents $9.5 billion in damages for the pollution and poisoning. Since then, Chevron has waged a legal and public relations against the Indigenous people of the Amazon and their lawyers. This award is part of a 16 year process through the ISDS system. In our latest, Scott talks with Paul Paz y Mino (@paulpaz.bsky.social) about Chevron's history in Ecuador and this case. Bio// Paul Paz y Mino- Deputy Director at Amazon Watch.Paul has lived in Chiapas, Mexico and Quito, Ecuador, promoting human rights and community development and working directly with Indigenous communities. ----------------------