Podcasts about Fearing

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe world is continually paying the [CB]s more and more of their hard earned labor. In Germany the people are taxed 42%, almost half of their income. Fed inflation indicator reports no inflation, Truinflation reports inflation is at 1.2%.BoA and Citibank are in talks to offer 10% credit card. Trump says US will the crypto capital of the world. Globalism/[CB] system has failed, the power will return to the people. The patriots are sending a message, DOJ 2.0 is not like DOJ 1.0, same with the FBI, you commit a crime you will be arrested. The message is clear, the protection from these agencies are gone. Bondi arrest the Church rioters. Trump’s message at DAVOS is clear, the [DS] power and agenda is no more. Trump is now in control and the world will begin to move in a different direction, either you are on board or you will be left behind. The power belongs to the people.   Economy https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/2014289396112011443?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Fed’s Favorite Inflation Indicator Refuses To Show Any Signs Of Runaway ‘Trump Tariff’ Costs The Fed’s favorite inflation indicator – Core PCE – rose 0.2% MoM (as expected), which leave it up 2.8% YoY (as expected), slightly lower than September’s +2.9%…   Bear in mind that this morning’s third look at Q3 GDP printed a +2.9% YoY for Core PCE. Under the hood, the biggest driver of Core PCE remains Services costs – not tariff-driven Goods prices…   In fact, on a MoM basis, Non-durable goods prices saw deflation for the second month in a row…   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/truflation/status/2014322072286302619?s=20 – Food – mostly Eggs – Household durables – particularly housekeeping supplies – Alcohol & tobacco – mostly alcoholic beverages Our number is derived by aggregating millions of real-time price data points every day to calculate a year-over-year CPI % rate. It is comparable but not identical to the survey-based official headline inflation released monthly by the BLS, which was 2.7% for December. Bank Of America, Citigroup May Launch Credit Cards With 10% Rate Two weeks after Trump shocked the world by demanding lenders cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, Bank of America and Citigroup are exploring options to do just that in an attempt to placate the president.  Bloomberg reports that both banks are mulling offering cards with a 10% rate cap as one potential solution.  Earlier this week, Trump said he would ask Congress to implement the proposal, giving the financial firms more clarity about what exact path he's pursuing. Bank executives have repeatedly decried the uniform cap, saying it'll cause lenders to have to pull credit lines for consumers.  Source: zerohedge.com Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over alleged ‘political’ debanking The lawsuit claims JPMorgan’s decision ‘came about as a result of political and social motivations’ to ‘distance itself’ Trump and his ‘conservative political views’  President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon in a $5 billion lawsuit filed Thursday, accusing the financial institution of debanking him for political reasons. The president's attorney, Alejandro Brito, filed the lawsuit Thursday morning in Florida state court in Miami on behalf of the president and several of his hospitality companies.  “ Source: foxnews.com https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013984082640658888?s=20  WEF Finance/Banking Panel – If Independent National Economies Continue Rising, Global Trade Drops and We Lose Control Globalism in its economic construct is a series of dependencies. If those dependencies are severed, if each country has the ability to feed, produce and innovate independently, then the entire dependency model around globalism collapses. Within the globalism model that was historically created there was a group of people, western nations, banks, finance and various government leaders, who controlled the organization and rules of the trade dependencies.  The action being taken for self-sufficiency, in combination with the approach promoted by President Trump that each nation state should generate their own needs, then the rules-based order that has existed for global trade will collapse. If nations are no longer dependent, they become sovereign – able to exist without the need for support from other nations and systems. If nations are indeed sovereign, then globalism is no longer needed and a threat of the unknown rises. How will nations engage with each other if there is no governing body of western elites to make the rules for engagement?  The need for control is a reaction to fear, and it is the fear of self-reliance that permeates the elitist class within the control structures.   If each nation of the world is operating according to its individual best interests, the position of Donald Trump, then what happens to the governing elite who set up the system of interdependencies. This is the core of their fear. If each nation can suddenly grow tea, what happens to the East India Tea Company.  Who then sets the price for the tea, and worse still an entire distribution system (ships, ports, exchanges, banks, etc.) becomes functionally obsolescent. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com  Political/Rights TWO-TIERED JUSTICE: Conservative Journalist Kaitlin Bennett Charged and Fined for Interviewing Democrats in Public — While Don Lemon Storms Churches With Zero Consequences The United States now operates under a blatantly two-tiered justice system, where conservative journalists are criminally charged for speech in public spaces, while left-wing media figures face zero consequences for harassing Americans and disrupting religious services. Conservative journalist Kaitlin Bennett revealed this week that she was charged with a federal crime and fined by the National Park Service in St. Augustine for the so-called offense of asking Democrats questions on public property. According to Bennett, federal agents targeted her while she was conducting on-the-street interviews, a form of journalism protected by the First Amendment. Despite being on public land, Bennett says she was cited and punished simply for engaging in political speech that the Left finds inconvenient. Bennett addressed the incident directly in a post on X, writing: https://twitter.com/KaitMarieox/status/2014174254799958148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014174254799958148%7Ctwgr%5Ef4a6650cd0c60d38edfea018c5665c2cc2fe5199%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Ftwo-tier-justice-conservative-journalist-kaitlin-bennett-charged%2F When asked by another local journalist exactly what “lawful order” Bennett had disobeyed, the ranger reportedly could not provide a straight answer. WATCH: Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2014322865848406370?s=20   Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child's safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias.   Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration's immigration enforcement. Parents can take control of their departure and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way. https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2014049440911303019?s=20   inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. An immigration judge issued him a final order of removal in 2019. In a dangerous attempt to evade arrest, this criminal illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement. Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots. The criminal illegal alien was not hit and attempted to flee on foot. He was successfully apprehended by law enforcement. The illegal alien was not injured, but a CBP officer was injured.  These dangerous attempts to evade arrest have surged since sanctuary politicians, including Governor Newsom, have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest and provided guides advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest. Our officers are now facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks. This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming.   https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2014063905413177637?s=20  CNN Panelist Issues Retraction and Apology After Going Too Far in On-Air Trump Attack    footage of CNN's “Newsnight with Abby Phillip” was posted to social media platform X featuring 25-year-old leftist activist Cameron Kasky alongside panel mainstay Scott Jennings. A moment between the two went viral when Kasky casually declared that President Donald Trump had been involved in an international sex trafficking ring. Jennings wasn't going to let that remark go unchallenged by host John Berman. The topic of conversation had been Trump's interest in Greenland and the Nobel Peace Prize, but Kasky threw in a jab at Trump with an allusion to the president's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — an allusion Kasky's now trying to walk back. “I would love it if he was more transparent about the human sex trafficking network that he was a part of, but you can't win 'em all,” he blurted out. https://twitter.com/overton_news/status/2013455047288377517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2013455047288377517%7Ctwgr%5E20edbbd712c7076d1aafdac2d1e39d7eb8307263%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcnn-panelist-issues-retraction-apology-going-far-air%2F   Berman asked Jennings a follow-up question about Greenland, but instead of addressing that, Jennings circled back to Kasky's remark. “You're gonna let that sit?” Jennings asked Berman. “Are we going to claim here on CNN that the president is part of a global sex trafficking ring or …?” After assuring Jennings that he would do the fact-checking, Berman asked Kasky to repeat what he'd said about the global sex-trafficking ring. “That Donald Trump was … probably … very involved with it,” the arrogant young man replied, with perhaps a touch less confidence. To Berman's credit, and the CNN legal team's, he immediately said, “Donald Trump has never been charged with any crimes in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.” https://twitter.com/camkasky/status/2013760245298864477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2013760245298864477%7Ctwgr%5E20edbbd712c7076d1aafdac2d1e39d7eb8307263%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcnn-panelist-issues-retraction-apology-going-far-air%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2014189561002291385?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/brentdsadler/status/2014311942119137584?s=20  important as these agreements cover the entirety of the Chagos group of islands/features. Critical as future third party presence in those areas proximate Diego Garcia could in practical terms render those U.S. military facilities operationally impractical (ie useless). The current deal under consideration in the UK parliament in a rushed vote as soon as 2 February is ill advised. And it likely would break the decades long understanding with the U.S. government. See: Active U.S. treaties: https://state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Treaties-in-Force-2025-FINAL.pdf 1966 Foundational Understanding: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20603/volume-603-I-8737-English.pdf 1972 Understanding regarding new facilities on Diego Garcia: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20866/volume-866-I-8737-English.pdf 1976 Understanding and concurrence on new communications facilities on Diego Garcia and references as foundational the 1966 Understanding: https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/data/Library2/pdf/1976-TS0019.pdf?utm_source https://twitter.com/HansMahncke/status/2014150131247874267?s=20 The EU-Mercosur deal is a major free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Negotiated for over 25 years, it aims to create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, covering more than 700 million people and reducing tariffs on goods like cars, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.  It includes commitments on sustainability, labor rights, and environmental protections, but critics argue these are insufficient to address issues like Amazon deforestation and unfair competition for European farmers. The agreement was politically finalized in 2019 but faced delays due to environmental concerns and opposition from countries like France and Austria. It was formally signed on January 17, 2026, after EU member states (with a qualified majority, despite opposition from five countries including France) greenlit it on January 9.  The Stupidity of Davos Explained Using an Example of Their Own Creation China is manufacturing a product to create a carbon credit certificate in response to the demand for carbon credits from all the world auto-makers.  Any nation that has a penalty or fine attached to their climate goals is a customer. Those are nations with fines or quotas associated with the production of gasoline powered engines if the auto company doesn't hit the legislated target for sales of electric vehicles. In essence, EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car companies buy Chinese car company carbon credits, to avoid the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN fines.  The Chinese then use the carbon credit revenue to subsidize even lower priced Chinese EVs to the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car markets, thereby undercutting the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car companies that also produce EVs. China brilliantly exploits the ridiculous pontificating climate scam and has an interest in perpetuating -even emphasizing- the need for the EU/AU/RU/ASEAN countries to keep pushing their climate agenda.  China even goes so far as to fund alarmism research about climate change because they are making money selling carbon credit certificates on the back end of the scam to the western fear mongers.  This is friggin' brilliant.   The climate change alarmists are helping China's economy by pushing ever escalating fear of climate change.  You just cannot make this stuff up. What does the outcome look like? Well, in this example we see hundreds of thousands of unsold BYDs piling up in countries that emphasize climate regulations with no restrictions on the import of EVs (which most don't even manufacture), which is almost every country.  Big Panda doesn't care about the car itself; they care about generating the carbon credit certificate to sell in the various carbon exchanges. Put this context to the recent announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about his new trade deal with China to accept 49,000 EVs this year. Prime Minister Carney bragged about getting the Chinese to agree to only super low prices for the Canadian market.  Mark Carney was very proud of his accomplishment to get much lower priced vehicles for Canadian EV purchasers.   No doubt Big Panda left the room laughing as soon as Carney made his grand announcement. 1. China sells EV's in Canada, creating credits available on the carbon exchange scheme. Europe et al will purchase the carbon credits because Bussels has fines against EU car companies. 2. With a foothold already established in Europe, China will then take the money generated by the carbon credit purchases and lower the prices of the Chinese EV cars sold in Canada. It's gets funnier. 3. Carney bragged about forcing China to only sell low price EV's as part of the trade agreement. The low price of the EV's in Canada will be subsidized by Europe. China doesn't pay or lose a dime. But wait…. 4. Carney can't do anything about the scheme he has just enmeshed Canada into, because Canada has a Carbon Credit exchange in law.

RADICAL PARTIES AND THE POPULAR FRONT STRATEGY Colleague David Pietrusza. Roosevelt contends with fringe parties, including the Socialists led by Norman Thomas and the Communists led by Earl Browder. Browder, selected by Stalin for being pliant and non-Jewish, navigates the "Popular Front" strategy. Fearing a Republican victory might aid Hitler, the Communists run a separate candidate but tacitly support Roosevelt to keep him in power. In the upper Midwest, radical agrarianism presents another challenge, with figures like Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson operating in a violent political landscape. Roosevelt must manage these splinter groups to prevent them from costing him electoral votes in key states. NUMBER 41936 CHILE AT THE OLYMPICS

Do you feel paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision? Decision anxiety can make even small choices feel permanent, risky, and overwhelming. In this episode, you will learn why the mind treats decisions as threats, how fear of uncertainty keeps you stuck, and why most choices are not traps but opportunities for clarity. This episode explores how to stop overthinking decisions, how to recognize the difference between a truly limiting decision and an adjustable one, and why movement, not certainty, leads to alignment and confidence. You will also be guided through a simple reflection exercise to help you move forward without needing guarantees. If you are struggling with career decisions, relationship choices, or fear of change, this episode offers practical insight, reassurance, and a gentler way to trust yourself again. Topics include: • Decision anxiety and overthinking • Fear of making the wrong choice • How to stop feeling stuck • Trusting yourself in uncertainty • Why clarity comes after movement • Letting go of perfection and certainty Listen now and remember, most decisions give you information, not a verdict on your future. Poem: Decisions Decisions are not often standing at the edge of ruin. Decisions usually stand at the edge of movement. Our fear tells us this step is final, that one choice will close every other door, that if we get it wrong, we will never recover. But life does not move in straight lines. It bends. It pauses. It circles back with new information. Our decisions are not verdicts. They are not definitions of who we are. They are simply conversations with the unknown. We are allowed to learn. We are allowed to change our minds. We are allowed to arrive somewhere and discover it is not where we want to stay. There is no single moment where everything is decided. There is only the next step and the courage to take it. And if this choice does not become what we hoped it would be, there is still the hope and possibility that we can have the life we want from this day forward. Lastly, you can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you are interested in my work, please check out my books, The Gift of Maybe: Finding Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times (including a new audiobook), A Year Without Men: A 12 Point Guide To Inspire and Empower Women and my new Audiobook,  Maybe Everything Is Okay, A Parent's Guide To Less Stress and Worry. Also you can check out my new Maybe Cards: A Path to Stress-Free Living or my new digital Maybe Journal. Above all, my heartfelt hope is that this podcast has supported your journey of personal growth, helped shift your mindset, reduce stress, built emotional resilience, and brought you less suffering and more joy, clarity, and peace.  

In this episode, we listen to an intriguing way of communicating an awaited information, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 160, penned by Kumizhi Gnaazhalaar Nappasalaiyaar. The verse is situated amidst the sandy shores of the ‘Neythal’ or ‘Coastal landscape’ and conveys the change in the man’s manner and what it means to the lady’s life. ஒடுங்கு ஈர் ஓதி நினக்கும் அற்றோ?நடுங்கின்று, அளித்து, என் நிறை இல் நெஞ்சம்.அடும்பு கொடி சிதைய வாங்கி, கொடுங் கழிக்குப்பை வெண் மணற் பக்கம் சேர்த்தி,நிறைச் சூல் யாமை மறைத்து ஈன்று, புதைத்தகோட்டு வட்டு உருவின் புலவு நாறு முட்டைபார்ப்பு இடன் ஆகும் அளவை, பகுவாய்க்கணவன் ஓம்பும் கானல்அம் சேர்ப்பன்முள் உறின் சிறத்தல் அஞ்சி, மெல்லவாவு உடைமையின் வள்பின் காட்டி,ஏத் தொழில் நவின்ற எழில் நடைப் புரவிசெழு நீர்த் தண் கழி நீந்தலின், ஆழிநுதிமுகம் குறைந்த பொதி முகிழ் நெய்தல்,பாம்பு உயர் தலையின், சாம்புவன நிவப்ப,இர வந்தன்றால் திண் தேர்; கரவாதுஒல்லென ஒலிக்கும் இளையரொடு வல் வாய்அரவச் சீறூர் காண,பகல் வந்தன்றால், பாய்பரி சிறந்தே. This trip to the coast provides a glimpse of the teeming life in this domain and takes us in the presence of the confidante, as she says these words to the lady: “O maiden with well-set, moist tresses, is it the same for you too? My pitiable, unfulfilled heart is shivering! Ruining the beach morning glory vines by pulling it, the pregnant turtle clears the heap of white sand in the backwaters and then hides itself before laying eggs. Then it buries the flesh-reeking eggs in the shape of ivory dice. Its mate with a split open mouth guards with devotion, until these eggs turn into hatchlings, in the orchards by the picturesque seashore in the domain of the lord. Fearing that if thorny goads are used, it would leap, his horse with an elegant gait, which has learnt the art of pouncing like an arrow, is gently directed to slow down, with the hold of the bridle. Since his chariot comes striding through the cool and lush backwaters, the sharp wheels sever the blooming clusters of the blue lotus, making them wilt, and akin to the hoods of snake, these bob up in the waters. The lord's sturdy chariot used to arrive this way in the quiet of the night. But now, without any restraint, with uproarious helpers, letting our small town with strong mouths see, he arrives by day, speeding on his pouncing horses!” Time to take a dip in the cool waves of the shore and know more! The confidante starts by declaring that her heart is shell-shocked and she questions the lady if she feels the same way too. Without explaining a thing, she goes on to describe the man’s domain and to do that, first she brings in a mother turtle in the middle of laying its eggs, amidst the sand beneath the beach morning glory vines, in a well-hidden way. Later, the confidante points to us how these eggs are being guarded by the father turtle, which apparently takes care of these, until they turning into hatchlings. A moment to consider this statement about father turtles guarding eggs. In our current world, there are no instances of paternal involvement, when it comes to protecting turtle eggs. There may be a few species in which the mother offers a little protection, but that too would mostly be in the nesting stage, and after that, the baby turtles would normally have to fend for themselves, with no support from either parent. So, either the Sangam folks are mistaken in their understanding or perhaps there was some unknown species of turtle, which had this characteristic, and one, which has possibly gone extinct now. In any case, at the core, there’s the element of projecting human values on the behaviour of this animal. Returning, we find the confidante turning the spotlight from the man’s domain to the man’s actions. First, she talks about how he used to come so quietly at night, taming the intensity of his horses, and wielding his chariot silently through the waters, severing some blue lotuses in the process. Then, she concludes by contrasting this discreet way of visiting the lady to how he has now come, attracting a lot of attention from their townsfolk with gossiping mouths, led by his boisterous helpers and speeding on his horses, in the bright light of day. Now, we can connect it to the confidante’s statement about her heart stopping at this sight, and understand this is her way of telling the lady, ‘Your man has come to seek your hand. All’s well now’! Even in that scene of the male turtle guarding the eggs, the confidante hides a subtext of how the man has ensured that precious egg of the secret love relationship between him and the lady has turned into the hatching of a happy married life. In essence, the confidante has simply spiced by the story with a little drama in the beginning about her poor heart and ended with the news that’s sure to make the lady’s heart brim over with joy!

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger Picture[WEF]/[CB] agenda is now coming true, it is no longer a conspiracy, they are controlling the cars in Germany remotely. Kamal Harris climate warrior buys house on the ocean.Remove the illegals and the cost for everything goes down. People are now seeing the truth about sound money compared to fiat. Trump tariffs system is taking off. The [DS] is now pushing their war to the next level. They know that soon the people of this country will see the crimes they have committed against the people and to this country. They are fighting back and they are testing Trump to see what he will do. At the same time Trump is testing them, watch and observing their movements. When the time is right the Insurrection Act will be invoked nationwide, but now he might test it in a local area. Trump has given the warning to the insurrectionists.   Economy https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/2011712915963859403?s=20  Toyota used remote access to turn off the pre heating, which is used to heat up the cars before driving. You would turn it on, 10 minutes before driving somewhere, so your car is warm and de-iced already.   Toyota spokesman Ralph Müller: “The pre-air conditioning is a free function of the MyToyota app or Lexus Link Plus App. This function is still available for all pure electric vehicles and plug-in vehicles. For vehicles with conventional drive, this only works when the combustion engine is running. The legislator considers this an unnecessary running of the engine or an avoidable exhaust gas pollution, which is prohibited. This is not known to many users. In Europe, there is no uniform legal situation, about which we have informed with a corresponding note in the app. In order to protect the vehicle user from fines, we have deactivated the function on these vehicles.” Climate Change Warrior Kamala Harris Buys New Mansion Near The Ocean in Malibu  Kamala Harris just bought a new $8 million mansion in Malibu near the beach. She must be deeply concerned about climate change. Have you noticed this pattern? Democrat elites, the people most likely to lecture others about climate change and to claim that it's an existential threat to humanity and the planet, sure do love to buy homes on the coast. Just look at Obama. Where are his homes? Martha's Vineyard and Hawaii. Does that sound like a man who is worried about climate change? The New York Post reports: Kamala Harris upgrades LA real estate portfolio with $8M mega mansion in Malibu's celeb-packed Pt. Dume Source: thegatewaypundit.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2011568614898614645?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011548021511897343?s=20 https://twitter.com/thencamekevin/status/2011562742029959291?s=20  face value. Four of these quarters might have the face value of $1.00 but, THEIR ACTUAL VALUE IS $64! The stackers were right. . . Political/Rights https://twitter.com/VinceDaoTV/status/2011540393947775098?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical    https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2011598672929440042?s=20 Vice President Vance Casts Tie-Breaking Vote To Kill Venezuela War Powers Resolution in the Senate Two Republicans who previously voted to advance the bill flipped after pressure from Trump Vice President JD Vance had to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate on Wednesday night to kill a Venezuela War Powers Resolution that sought to prevent another US attack on the country without congressional authorization. The Senate was deadlocked at 50-50 on a point of order vote to strip the War Powers Resolution of its privileged status to block a final vote. President Trump and his top officials put significant pressure on five Republicans who voted to advance the legislation last week, and two of the GOP senators — Josh Hawley (MO) and Todd Young (IN) — flipped and voted against the bill. Source: news.antiwar.com https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2011803374807547909?s=20   President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. Through close coordination with our colleagues in the Departments of War, State, and Justice, our heroic Coast Guard men and women once again ensured a flawlessly executed operation, in accordance with international law. As we've now demonstrated through multiple boardings, there is no outrunning or escaping American justice — period. Our resolve is unshakeable and our mission coordination has never been better. America’s Coast Guard remains Always Ready to apply the full force of its unique authorities and specialized capabilities against this threat anywhere, anytime.    War/Peace https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2011817852290895915?s=20  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2011576169918054597?s=20 https://twitter.com/ABC/status/2011788458042540303?s=20 Zelensky to declare state of emergency after strikes cripple power grid    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector. This measure aims to address disrupted power supplies following sustained Russian attacks on the country’s infrastructure. Source: .independent.co.uk  https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2011757910041452892?s=20 President Trump Identifies the Roadblock to a Ceasefire Between Ukraine and Russia In an interview with Reuters, President Trump was asked why the Russia/Ukraine negotiations appear to have stalled.  President Trump responded with one word, “Zelenskyy.” WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that Ukraine – not Russia – is holding up a potential peace deal, rhetoric that stands in marked contrast to that of European allies, who have consistently argued Moscow has little interest in ending its war in Ukraine. In an exclusive interview in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to wrap up his nearly four-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskiy, the U.S. president said, was more reticent. “I think he's ready to make a deal,” Trump said of the Russian president. “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.” Asked why U.S.-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe's largest land conflict since World War Two, Trump responded: “Zelenskiy.”   Source: theconservativetreehouse.com  https://twitter.com/zeroDEIUSA/status/2011211989847326747?s=20  this point, dictated that Canada, Denmark, and NATO generally are allowed to sit on their collective asses vis a'vis Defense. Poland and Hungary are the exceptions since they rarely conform to WEF dictums. But we also know something else: This administration doesn't see the world and this hemisphere through a WEF lens. Those differences in world view, opinion, policy, and sense of urgency between America and our allies are bubbling up publicly. I don't think the friction is or will be inconsequential. In fact, I would posit that the hairline cracks we hear about, in terms of NATO cooperation and membership, will inevitably become full fledged fissures. There are any number of pressure points between this administration and our ANO's (allies in name only) most notably the UK. Saber rattling has become the norm in communiques from Germany, the UK, and the EU. Calls for a “European only” Army and Navy have come from the upper and middle echelons of the military in several NATO member nations in Europe. The Europeans are shocked and outraged by our statements and concerns about Greenland. Now I could be wrong; but it seems that NATO's members are viewing our actions in Venezuela as well as Trump's position that Ukraine is largely a Euro problem, and his vision that the “Donroe” doctrine should be a precursor to a solid military defense strategy as well as a strategic trading block composed by countries in the Western Hemisphere as an emerging existential threat. And indeed it is. We have all seen examples that, by now prove conclusively, that Trump and his advisers are some of the best “tea leaf” readers ever. I honestly think this administration sees the rapid cultural, political, and social deterioration in Europe (Germany, Austria, France, the UK) and other Western nations (Australia and NZ) as harbingers and not one off's. And as such, I believe Trump and his team have concluded that these EU countries have reached a point of no return in every measure that matters. I believe the head butting will, by the end of Trump's term, deteriorate or accelerate to locking horns with former allies and our eventual departure from them as a bloc in favor of the Western Hemisphere as a replacement block. The “Donroe” doctrine says as much. I believe Trump would prefer to capitalize on Geography. That is to say a land mass that stretches from the Arctic circle to the Antarctic circle with North America and South America in between. I believe he sees that as something America can control, protect, and develop. How this will play out, I'm not sure. But I believe he is quietly preparing an exit ramp for our departure from NATO per se. It will be interesting. He will leave office and hand this massive initiative to Vance and Rubio; confident in their judgment and ability to execute. Medical/False Flags President Trump Announces “The Great Healthcare Plan” President Donald J. Trump's Great Healthcare Plan is a broad healthcare initiative that will slash prescription drug prices, reduce insurance premiums, hold big insurance companies accountable, and maximize price transparency in the American healthcare system. This plan will deliver money directly to the American people, not insurance companies, big pharma and special interest groups—putting patients over industry leaders' profits, just as he promised. The Great Healthcare Plan also builds on the successes of his first term by promoting competition, eliminating wasteful spending, and putting consumers back in control. [The Great Healthcare Plan] Source: theconservativetreehouse.com [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/Patri0tContr0l/status/2011502712819761455?s=20 https://twitter.com/gatewaypundit/status/2011821087911231924?s=20 https://twitter.com/philthatremains/status/2011763419293368576?s=20 https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2011705622249816580?s=20 https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2011695320112251315?s=20     https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2011634818375958782?s=20     https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/2011644187708371237?s=20 https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2011632198000976086?s=20    into a parked car. The subject then fled on foot. The law enforcement officer caught up to the subject on foot and attempted to apprehend him when the subject began to resist and violently assault the officer. While the subject and law enforcement were in a struggle on the ground, two subjects came out of a nearby apartment and also attacked the law enforcement officer with a snow shovel and broom handle. As the officer was being ambushed and attacked by the two individuals, the original subject got loose and began striking the officer with a shovel or broom stick. Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life. The initial subject was hit in the leg. All three subjects ran back into the apartment and barricaded themselves inside. The attacked officer and subject are both in the hospital. Both attackers are in custody. This attack on another brave member of law enforcement took place while Minnesota's top leaders, Governor Walz and Mayor Frey, are actively encouraging an organized resistance to ICE and federal law enforcement officers. Their hateful rhetoric and resistance against men and women who are simply trying to do their jobs must end. Federal law enforcement officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest criminals and lawbreakers. https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/2011711533014036932?s=20 Antifa are teaching illegals that they can attack federal law enforcement.    https://twitter.com/DAGToddBlanche/status/2011620198751597028?s=20  and Frey – I'm focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It's a promise. https://twitter.com/StandUpForElonn/status/2011591809114210333?s=20   TORCHED. For once, the IRS is being deployed FOR AMERICANS FIRST — not against working families. Follow the money. Audit everything. Prosecute whoever broke the law.    protection from the Fake News Media but, it will end, as we, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Joy Behar of The View: Trump Will Use ICE Protests in Minneapolis to Declare Martial Law and Cancel the Midterm Elections (VIDEO) This week on The View, Joy Behar suggested that she is worried that Trump is planning to use the ICE protests in Minneapolis and elsewhere to declare martial law and cancel the 2026 midterm elections. Think about what she is suggesting here. She is saying that Trump will override local jurisdictions, put the military in charge, and then cancel elections. It is pure BlueAnon lunacy. And remember that The View falls under the ABC ‘News' division. FOX News reports: Joy Behar claims Trump seeking to declare martial law to stop midterm elections amid ICE protests     ABC News should be held accountable for pushing this madness on the air. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2011606173993353376?s=20 https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/2011613524251066484?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2011628944877883438?s=20   is EXTREMELY dangerous stuff. Not only is he lying about what's happening, but not once did he tell his constituents to stay out of the way of federal law enforcement officers. He is actively encouraging them to obstruct ICE agents, as a means to cover up the massive fraud and criminality in his state. This is 1860's type stuff we are dealing with here, and you can see it on Walz's face, especially at the end. He knows the severity of what he just did. The Dems are in open rebellion against the Trump administration, while harboring illegal aliens in their Unconstitutional “sanctuary cities”, which they use to steal elections. This is irregular warfare. Things are about to get real. We are witnessing something historic.   https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2011525886630379525?s=20 https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2011802180710289546?s=20   President Trump's Plan   https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2011799570041250146?s=20  This authority can be invoked unilaterally by the President without congressional approval, though it includes specific procedural requirements.  The Act has three main triggers for invocation: At a state’s request (§251): When a governor or state legislature requests federal aid to suppress an insurrection within the state.   To enforce federal authority (§252): When unlawful obstructions, combinations, assemblages, or rebellion make it impracticable to enforce U.S. laws through ordinary judicial processes.   To address domestic violence or rights deprivations (§253): When insurrection, domestic violence, or conspiracy hinders the execution of laws or deprives citizens of constitutional rights, and state authorities are unable, fail, or refuse to act. For the Minnesota scenario described in the post (involving federal agents and no mention of a state request), §§252 or 253 would likely apply, allowing action without state consent. Next Steps for InvocationIf President Trump decides to proceed, the process is straightforward but must follow statutory requirements. Here’s a step-by-step outline based on the law and historical precedents: Assess and Determine Applicability: The President (or advisors) evaluates whether the situation meets one of the Act’s criteria, such as rebellion against federal authority or obstructions to law enforcement. This is an internal executive decision, often informed by reports from agencies like DHS, DOJ, or DOD. No formal public step is required here, but it sets the legal justification.  Issue a Presidential Proclamation (§254): Before deploying forces, the President must publicly issue a proclamation ordering the “insurgents” or obstructors to disperse and return home peacefully within a specified time limit (e.g., hours or days). This serves as a formal warning and is a mandatory prerequisite under the law. The proclamation is typically published in the Federal Register and announced via White House channels.  Failure to issue this could make any deployment unlawful. Monitor Compliance and Issue an Executive Order for Deployment: If the proclamation is ignored, the President can issue an executive order authorizing the deployment of federal troops or federalizing the National Guard. This order specifies the scope, duration, and rules of engagement. Troops can then be mobilized to enforce laws, restore order, or protect federal operations (e.g., supporting ICE in this case). Deployment is not automatic upon invocation; it’s at the President’s discretion. Oversight and Termination: Once invoked, the deployment continues until the President determines the crisis is resolved. Congress can potentially override or limit it through legislation, but this is rare. The Act requires reporting to Congress “as soon as practicable” on the reasons and measures taken. https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2011886917311414381?s=20 Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-At-Large) challenged former Justice Department prosecutor Michael Romano on whether any participants in the January 6th protest in 2021 had been convicted under the federal insurrection statute. It was a question that led Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8) to attempt to interject, to no avail. https://twitter.com/BreitbartNews/status/2011604461412663618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2011604461412663618%7Ctwgr%5Ecfabd7c33610a57fe0964ce3add2ff2ab7586c34%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2026%2F01%2F15%2Fwatch-raskin-shut-down-after-hageman-exposes-insurrection-myth-at-new-j6-committee-n2198161 https://twitter.com/ChiefSund/status/2011625686289494153?s=20  the requests and denials GOP Rep. Neal Dunn Announces Retirement After Five Terms — Triggering Critical March 10 Special Election  Republican Congressman Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) has announced he will retire after five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, opting not to seek re-election in 2026. The Panama City physician-serving lawmaker said he wants to spend more time with his family, but his departure comes at a perilous moment for the GOP as Republicans cling to a razor-thin House majority. Dunn's decision to step away from the House after a decade of service leaves Florida's 2nd Congressional District wide open and adds to a growing list of incumbents abandoning their posts ahead of one of the most consequential midterm cycles in recent memory. https://twitter.com/DrNealDunnFL2/status/2011092421866930495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2011092421866930495%7Ctwgr%5E90201f9195637f0f3c794268082281e562876921%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fgop-rep-neal-dunn-announces-retirement-after-five%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com UPDATE: Pam Bondi Reveals Classified Leaker Behind Trump's Venezuela Operation Was Pentagon IT Contractor   Pam Bondi revealed that the classified leaker was a Pentagon IT contractor who has been arrested and jailed for endangering U.S. military operations and national security. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has unmasked the traitor behind the illegal leak of classified information about President Trump's bold Venezuela operation. Pam Bondi revealed Wednesday night that the individual responsible for leaking classified information about President Trump's Venezuela operation was an IT contractor for the Department of War and he is now sitting in jail. The disclosure came during an explosive interview with Sean Hannity, where Bondi confirmed that the Trump DOJ and FBI are aggressively pursuing those who leak classified military intelligence and the media figures who obtain and publish it. Source: thegatewaypundit.com   https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2011673479813222821?s=20   https://twitter.com/MikeBenzCyber/status/2011574493966188556?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2011860087313154089?s=20   https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2011565907110224263?s=20  “These two individuals have been particularly egregious in their contempt of the President and putting their personal views in front of their duty as judges to carry out the jobs that they hold.” UPDATE: Pam Bondi Says Minnesota Prosecutors Didn't Quit — “I FIRED THEM ALL” After Refusing to Cooperate with ICE and Demanding Taxpayer-Funded Paid “Vacation” Till April Pam Bondi appears on Fox News' Hannity announcing that Minnesota prosecutors who refused to cooperate with ICE were fired. The narrative pushed by the corporate media has officially collapsed. After early reports claimed that at least six prosecutors in the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney's Office had “resigned in protest” over the Justice Department's actions following the fatal shooting of ICE protester Renee Nicole Good, Attorney General Pam Bondi stepped in and set the record straight.  According to The New York Times, the group of ousted attorneys includes Joe Thompson (Former Acting U.S. Attorney) Harry Jacobs Melinda Williams Thomas Calhoun-Lopez Ruth Schneider Tom Hollenhurst Source: thegatewaypundit.com HUGE WIN FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY: Supreme Court Greenlights Lawsuits Against Late Mail-In Ballots — Opens Door to Nationwide Challenges to Democrat Schemes The Supreme Court handed a crushing blow to the radical left's ballot-harvesting machine on Wednesday. In a stunning 7-2 decision, the High Court ruled that Republican Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL) has the legal standing to challenge Illinois's unconstitutional law that allows mail-in ballots to be counted up to 14 days after Election Day. This ruling reverses the Seventh Circuit and sends the case back to the lower court—where Illinois' late-ballot scheme will now be evaluated on the merits This is the game-changer we have been waiting for. For years, Democrats and their media allies have relied on “late-arriving ballots” to shift the results of elections days or even weeks after the polls close. We all remember what happened in 2020. We remember the “pauses” and the late-night spikes. But now, the Supreme Court has finally opened the floodgates for Republicans to sue to stop it. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, made it clear: candidates have a “personal stake” in the rules governing their elections. This destroys the liberal argument that Republicans can't sue unless they can prove a specific fraudulent ballot cost them the race. The following states accept ballots that arrive late, as long as they have a valid postmark: Alaska California District of Columbia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New York Oregon Texas (Note: Must be received by 5:00 PM the day after Election Day) Virginia Washington West Virginia Note on Territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam also typically accept late-arriving ballots if postmarked by Election Day. Several states that previously accepted late-arriving ballots have recently passed laws requiring ballots to be in the hands of election officials by the time polls close on Election Day, regardless of when they were mailed. Kansas (Changed in 2024/2025) North Dakota (Changed in 2025) Ohio (Changed in 2025) Utah (Changed in 2025) In all other states (e.g., Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona), your ballot must be received by the county election office by the close of polls on Election Day. Source: thegatewaypundit.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Hairy Harry Couldn’t Hurry: An Imaginarium Of Imaginactions That Take Place In The Hot Days Of Summer by Victor Bello https://www.amazon.com/Hairy-Harry-Couldnt-Hurry-Imaginactions/dp/1963851846 Dr. Victor M. Bello is an ophthalmologist who wrote this children’s book inspired by the sensibility of his two young boys Victor and Vincent. They were playing in the back yard at their tree house when papa observed them looking intently at one of the corners of the treehouse. Fearing that they could be looking at a wasp nest, father went at once to investigate. What Papa saw was the moment of inspiration to write about it. A spider web, under the rays of the sun, Filtering though the leaves of the trees, made it sparkle. I conceived the idea of writing about it and wanted to get them involved. They came up with great ideas to embellish the story. We called our descriptions “Imaginactions”. Essentially, I meant that the ideas from the fertile young minds were put into action in the story. They were 2.5 and 4 years old at the time. An “Imaginarium” was created. It was very rewarding to engage the boys in the production of this book. Dr. Bello has adopted the pen name “Bello” and that is how “Hairy Harry Couldn’t Hurry” was born. More episodes are in the making and the reader is certain to enjoy the development of more adventures of our friendly ageless spider and Victor and Vincent. Dr. Bello now lives in Mobile, Alabama where he works part time in his beloved specialty of ophthalmology.

The Rev’d Ethan Magness, Rector

Hour 2 of the Chris Hand Show | Tuesday 01-13-26See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anti-ICE protests continue nationwide, with White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt defending ICE officers and calling agitators misguided; President Trump warns Supreme Court ruling against tariffs could cost trillions and create chaos; articles of impeachment drawn up against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Somali fraud scandal; Sen. Mark Kelly sues over Hegseth accusations; FBI staffing losses remain minimal under new leadership; Gen Z reading crisis hits colleges; RFK Jr. exposes Pfizer trial data showing higher all-cause deaths; Shabbos Kestenbaum delivers powerful anti-retardation closing argument on Israel debate.   The A.M. Update, anti-ICE protests, Caroline Leavitt, Trump tariffs, Supreme Court, Tim Walz impeachment, Somali fraud, Mark Kelly lawsuit, FBI staffing, Gen Z reading crisis, RFK Jr Pfizer, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Israel debate

THE BRUTALITY OF INVASION AND THE FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE Colleague Professor Eugene Finkel. Batchelor and Finkel discuss the historical roots of Russian cruelty in Ukraine, citing a 1932 letter from Stalinfearing the loss of Ukraine. Finkel argues that Russian leadership, from the Tsars to Putin, views human life as cheap and uses violence to maintain control over the land, regardless of casualties. Regarding the 2022 full-scale invasion, Finkel suggests Putin was isolated in an echo chamber of yes-men and myths, expecting a quick policing operation rather than a war. The invasion was driven by the refusal to accept Ukrainian statehood, not legitimate fears of NATO. NUMBER 71920 SOVIET UKRAINE

FEAR OF MANPrioritizing... self?Pleasing others (needing their approval)Impressing others (wanting their praise)Fearing others (fearing their opinion, their power)Protection from others (stuck in their influence, their wounding)FREEDOM in CHRISTChrist over us.Christ in us. Christ as us.

In this episode, we perceive an attempt at persuading another, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 156, penned by Aavoor Moolankizhaar. The verse is situated amidst the lush fields of the ‘Marutham’ or ‘Farmlands landscape’ and talks about the wealth and faith in this domain. முரசுடைச் செல்வர் புரவிச் சூட்டும்மூட்டுறு கவரி தூக்கியன்ன,செழுஞ் செய் நெல்லின் சேயரிப் புனிற்றுக் கதிர்மூதா தின்றல் அஞ்சி, காவலர்பாகல் ஆய்கொடிப் பகன்றையொடு பரீஇ,காஞ்சியின் அகத்து, கரும்பு அருத்தி, யாக்கும்தீம் புனல் ஊர! திறவிதாகக்குவளை உண்கண் இவளும் யானும்கழனி ஆம்பல் முழுநெறிப் பைந் தழை,காயா ஞாயிற்றாக, தலைப்பெய,”பொய்தல் ஆடிப் பொலிக!” என வந்து,நின் நகாப் பிழைத்த தவறோ பெரும!கள்ளும் கண்ணியும் கையுறையாகநிலைக் கோட்டு வெள்ளை நால்செவிக் கிடாஅய்நிலைத்துறைக் கடவுட்கு உளப்பட ஓச்சி,தணி மருங்கு அறியாள், யாய் அழ,மணி மருள் மேனி பொன் நிறம் கொளலே? This is one of those rare songs where though the landscape is defined in one way, the theme tends in a totally different direction. Here, we listen to the confidante say these words to the man, when she brings over the lady for a tryst with him: “Appearing akin to the lifted yak-fur fans, fastened to heads of horses, belonging to wealthy lords with victorious drums, are the tender, red-streaked stalks of paddy in the fertile fields. Fearing that an old bull would feed on and ruin these stalks, guards pluck beautiful vines of bitter gourd along with the rattlepod, and using that, tie the bull to the trunk of a portia tree, and feed it sugarcane stems in your town, filled with sweet streams, O lord! When I had come with her, who has exquisite kohl-streaked eyes, akin to lush blue lilies, adorned in attires of green leaves and flawless flowers of field lilies, when the sun was not scorching, so that we could play in the pond and delight, we made the mistake of smiling at you, O lord! Even after offering toddy and garlands, along with a white male goat with hanging ears and sturdy horns as sacrifice, to the god who guards the river shore, with the right chants from the heart, seeing no relief whatever, her mother cries, as her sapphire-hued skin continues to be covered in a golden hue!” Let’s take a stroll on the banks of the town’s fields and river shore and learn more! The confidante starts by describing the man’s fertile farm town, and to do that, she compares the lush paddy crop to the uplifted yak-fur fans tied to the horses of the wealthy. These yak-fur fans were quite the rage in the ancient world, known by the Tamil term ‘Saamaram’, and it was also used as a manual fan in the royal courts. Returning, we see how the paddy stalks look lush and tender, and no doubt, wanting to protect their crop, fearing that the old cow in their farm would run amok and ruin the stalks, the guards tie up the animal using cords of bitter gourd and rattlepod and distract it with sugarcane stalks. After that description of the man’s rich riverine town, the confidante turns to the past and declares the lady and herself had made the mistake of smiling at the man, when they had come to bathe in the pond, at a time when the sun was not raging yet. The confidante then ends with the explanation for this cryptic statement saying that the lady’s mother had done offerings to the river god with toddy, garlands and even a strong ram, but there seemed to be no respite to the golden-hued pallor spreading on the shining dark skin of the lady. While the lady was happy when the man came around, she was pining for him whenever he left, leading to the attack of pallor and the consequence of mother’s worry, implies the confidante. This statement about offering to a river god would remind us of the ‘Veriyattam’ scenes in the Kurinji landscape, where a girl’s problems were attributed to ‘God Murugu’ and he is appeased with offerings and prayer. In this landscape, a river God takes the role of ‘Murugu’. As in those situations we have seen many a time, God is of no help, when the cure is in the hands of the man. The confidante understands this well and by subtly revealing the situation at hand, she nudges the man to let go of the temporary trysting and choose the path of a permanent union with the lady. In that metaphor of tying the old cow and preventing it from feeding on the tender paddy stalks, the confidante places a metaphor for her hope that the man would bind the mouths of the slanderous townsfolk and offer them the sweet sugarcane of a happy wedding with the lady. Lands may change, Gods may change, yet the confidante remains the steadfast friend who knows what’s what and what needs to be done for the happiness of all concerned! If you ask me, a friend like that is the true God in one’s life!

What if the biggest barrier to your business growth isn't your vision, but your refusal to look at the numbers?In this episode of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, Erica Rooney sits down with Danielle Hendon, founder of Four Corners CFO. After a decade in corporate finance, Danielle realized that many entrepreneurs are brilliant at their craft but paralyzed by their books. She's on a mission to turn founders into confident financial leaders by simplifying complex "money talk" into actionable strategy.Join them as they discuss why you can't lead where you don't look, how to stop letting your bank account define your self-worth, and the vital mindset shift needed to move from a "stagnant pond" to a "flowing river" of wealth.Inside the Episode:The Music to Math Pipeline: Danielle shares her unconventional journey from aspiring opera singer to CPA, explaining the scientific mesh between musical patterns and numerical data.The Judgment Trap: Why women often feel like their financial statements are a "grade" on their performance as a human, and how to start viewing numbers as neutral tools for decision-making.Forecasting as Leadership: Danielle breaks down why the goal of a budget isn't necessarily to hit it—it's a roadmap to help you understand the "why" behind your business's story.The "Stagnant Pond" vs. "Flowing River": A powerful visual analogy for shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, and why you must "spend money to make money."The Power of Profit: Why paying yourself first is not selfish, but a requirement for sustainable growth and the ability to eventually delegate tasks.Sticky Floors of Delegation: Danielle opens up about her own struggle with hiring and "letting go," revealing why the first revenue-generating hire is the hardest yet most necessary step to shatter your glass ceiling.Pricing for Value: A look at why hourly billing often penalizes expertise, and why shifting to flat-fee pricing allows you to profit from your own efficiency.If you've been putting your head in the sand when it comes to your business finances, this episode is the clarity and encouragement you need to step into the power of profit.

What if the biggest barrier to your business growth isn't your vision, but your refusal to look at the numbers?In this episode of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, Erica Rooney sits down with Danielle Hendon, founder of Four Corners CFO. After a decade in corporate finance, Danielle realized that many entrepreneurs are brilliant at their craft but paralyzed by their books. She's on a mission to turn founders into confident financial leaders by simplifying complex "money talk" into actionable strategy.Join them as they discuss why you can't lead where you don't look, how to stop letting your bank account define your self-worth, and the vital mindset shift needed to move from a "stagnant pond" to a "flowing river" of wealth.Inside the Episode:The Music to Math Pipeline: Danielle shares her unconventional journey from aspiring opera singer to CPA, explaining the scientific mesh between musical patterns and numerical data.The Judgment Trap: Why women often feel like their financial statements are a "grade" on their performance as a human, and how to start viewing numbers as neutral tools for decision-making.Forecasting as Leadership: Danielle breaks down why the goal of a budget isn't necessarily to hit it—it's a roadmap to help you understand the "why" behind your business's story.The "Stagnant Pond" vs. "Flowing River": A powerful visual analogy for shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset, and why you must "spend money to make money."The Power of Profit: Why paying yourself first is not selfish, but a requirement for sustainable growth and the ability to eventually delegate tasks.Sticky Floors of Delegation: Danielle opens up about her own struggle with hiring and "letting go," revealing why the first revenue-generating hire is the hardest yet most necessary step to shatter your glass ceiling.Pricing for Value: A look at why hourly billing often penalizes expertise, and why shifting to flat-fee pricing allows you to profit from your own efficiency.If you've been putting your head in the sand when it comes to your business finances, this episode is the clarity and encouragement you need to step into the power of profit.

Summary In this episode, Cultivating Curiosity host Jeff Ikler reflects on his love of year-end "Best Books" lists and why reading sits at the heart of his podcast and personal life. He welcomes lists from institutions like The New York Times and the New York Public Library, seeing them as both a defense against book banning and a source of discovery, connection, and generosity. For Ikler, books spark curiosity, deepen empathy, and create bonds—whether through gifting or thoughtful conversation with authors. He also underscores podcast hosts' responsibility to read their guests' work in full, arguing that preparation honors both listeners and writers. Ultimately, Ikler finds himself drawn to books that slow him down through careful observation and reflection, or expand his understanding through deeply researched history, reinforcing reading as both nourishment and refuge. Three Major Takeaways Reading lists are acts of resistance, curiosity, and connection—not just recommendations. Thoughtful reading is essential to meaningful conversation, especially in podcasting. The most rewarding books either sharpen our attention to the present or deepen our understanding of the past. Jeff's favorite books in 2025 Crossings – How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet by Ben Goldfarb. Quoting from the book jacket, "Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food and mates; invasive plants hitch rides in tire treads, road salt contaminates lakes and rivers; and the very, very noise of traffic chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat." In this beautifully crafted book, Goldfarb makes the case that overpasses and underpasses are essential for reducing the deaths of animals and humans who inevitably come into brutal contact with one another. One of the chief takeaways in our era of divisiveness is that road ecologists and other scientists, insurance companies, and government officials are working collaboratively to solve problems. They have different goals for doing so, but they're working effectively at the intersection. You can access my two-part podcast interview on Getting Unstuck–Cultivating Curiosity with Ben in episodes 347 and 348. The Comfort of Crows – A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl. This title came from one of last year's best books, and it did not disappoint. Quoting from the book jacket, "Margaret Renkl presents a literary devotional: fifty-two chapters that follow the creatures and plants in her backyard over the course of a year." How often do you read a chapter or passage because the writing is so moving? If you're interested in slowing down and seeing more of your immediate world, this is a great place to start. This small volume is a course in observation and reflection. Challenger – A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham. Like many Americans who watched the Space Shuttle Challenger break apart just seventy-three seconds into its mission, I thought I knew the story, but I was so wrong. As the book jacket explains, "…the Challenger disaster was a defining moment in twentieth-century history–one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told." I was moved to head-shaking anger after reading how decisions were made and bungled. Higginbotham's explanation of a highly complicated topic is beautifully presented. The book is a primer on the dangers of overly complex and competing bureaucracies and ego. Remember Us – American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II by Robert M. Edsel with Bret Witter. Remember Us documents twelve lives connected to the American Military Cemetery near the small village of Margraten, Netherlands. Approximately 8,300 Americans who helped liberate the Netherlands from the Nazis and the grip of fascism during World War II are buried there. One of these was a Black American soldier who, along with a company of other Black Americans, dug the graves under the harshest weather conditions. The cruel irony is that Black soldiers worked in segregated and mostly non-combat roles in a war fought to eliminate tyranny and oppression. The cemetery is remarkable because local Dutch citizens have taken it upon themselves to adopt each grave and visit it weekly. This practice reflects the citizens' ongoing gratitude, and their visits ensure that the soldiers are always remembered for their sacrifice. There is a waiting list of citizens who wish to adopt a grave. Raising Hare—a Memoir by Chloe Dalton. This title has made almost every list I've come across. From the jacket cover, "…Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how difficult it is to rear a wild hare." Dalton deftly and wisely navigates caring for the hare as a house guest versus a pet, a choice that lets the hare move between the wild of the nearby woods and the security of her home. Like Renkl, Dalton has a keen eye for observation, one that put me in her home and garden as a witness to their interactions. Origin — A Genetic History of the Americas by Jennifer Raff. When I was growing up, I watched or read with almost religious fervor anything National Geographic produced featuring Louis Leakey, a paleoanthropologist and archaeologist. I was in awe of how he dug through the layers of time to find bones and artifacts from our earliest ancestors. Leakey's work was critical in demonstrating our human origins in Africa. So, when my friend Annette Taylor, a researcher of evolutionary psychology and biology, shared an article featuring Professor Jennifer Raff, an anthropologist and geneticist trying to rewrite the history of human origins in the Americas, I knew I had to invite her on my podcast. As a history enthusiast, I found it especially rewarding to co-host, along with Annette, a discussion with Professor Raff on podcast episode 358 about how and why early peoples migrated to and within North America. Raff has a talent for simplifying complex topics and making listeners comfortable with uncertainty. Scientists have theories and are constantly testing and revising them. We don't yet know for sure how early peoples arrived here or why they migrated, but that's the beauty of science and history. There is always more to discover. If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name by Heather Lende. I read this book decades ago and was as captivated then as I was this year by Heather Lende's storytelling ability. Adapted from the back cover, "As both the obituary writer and social columnist for the local newspaper (in Haines, Alaska, population about 2,500), Heather Lende knows better than anyone the goings-on in this breathtakingly beautiful place. Her offbeat chronicle brings us inside her — and the town's — busy life." Why read about a small town in Alaska? Maybe because it helps us look critically at our own lives. Like Renkl and Dalton, Heather Lende has an eye for detail, but also the humanity beneath the detail. She has graciously agreed to be my guest in podcast episode 400 this coming February. The most interesting books read in 2025 by his friends and colleagues Steve Ehrlich – The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul by Connie Zweig.  Zweig writes from a Jungian perspective that is accessible to anyone who thinks about old and new agendas, internal and external, as we transition to later life, and reflect on what we want to hold on to, and what we're prepared to let go of to live an authentic life.   Cindy House – What Just Happened by Charles Finch. It's one person's experience of the terrible year that was the pandemic lockdown, with all the fear, uncertainty, and strangeness I had forgotten. I loved his cultural observations and witty take on one of the weirdest years of our lives. I am so glad this particular record exists.  By Edgington – The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. I first read the book in 2013, then again in '24, and now I read and refer to it every year. Singer's book is what propelled me to join his Temple of the Universe, where Mariah and I now live on the grounds. It's filled with inspiration and simple, almost homely wisdom: "The moment in front of you is not bothering you; you're bothering yourself about the moment in front of you!" Spencer Seim – To Possess the Land by Frank Waters. It follows the life of Arthur Manby, who came to the New Mexico territory in 1885 from England. He quickly tried to cash in by calling parcels of land his own. He quickly ran into resistance, often by force, and had to learn the hard way that the land of New Mexico in those days was a bit more complicated. Charlotte Wittenkamp – Shift by Ethan Kross. Kross examines Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning and the notion that we always have the freedom to choose how we respond - even to the atrocities Frankl had to put up with in a WWII concentration camp. Kross examines and supports, with scientific findings, various ways we can shift our perspectives to gain easier access to that freedom of choice. Paul McNichols – E-Boat Alert by James F. Tent. The book offers a nearly forensic yet highly readable analysis of the threat posed by the E-Boats of the German Kriegsmarine to the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944. It covers the development, use, strengths, and limitations of these fast, maneuverable craft, as well as their impact on the Normandy landings on D-Day and the weeks thereafter. The most interesting part is the chain of events that ultimately led to their neutralization. Annette Taylor – My Name is Chellis, and I'm in Recovery from Western Civilization by Chellis Glendinning. Chellis writes affectionately and respectfully about eco-psychology and nature-based peoples from whom members of Western Civilization could learn a lot. Sue Inches – The Light Eaters – How the unseen world of plant intelligence offers a new understanding of life on earth by Zoe Schlanger. A thrilling journey that leads the reader from an old paradigm of plants as separate inanimate objects, to the true nature of plants as sensing, alive beings who communicate with the world around them. An inspiring example of how human understanding of the world around us is making progress! Rich Gassen – The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Priya teaches us how to have better parties, events, and relationships through her writing. I used this book's information (along with her podcasts) to plan a better 10-year anniversary party for the Campus Supervisors Network community of practice I lead at UW-Madison — making it exclusive, inviting, and tailored to those who attended. Mac Bogert – Renegades by Robert Ward. After some time as a college professor, Bob decided to try journalism. He spent twenty years interviewing folks from Waylon Jennings to Larry Flynt, and, damn, he's good at it! Hunter Seim – Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of antihero Captain Yossarian, a U.S. Air Force B-25 bombardier. The term "Catch-22" itself refers to a paradoxical situation in which contradictory rules or circumstances trap a person. In the novel, Yossarian discovers that he can be declared insane and relieved from duty if he requests it, but by requesting it, he demonstrates his sanity. Remarkably accurate in describing organizational dysfunction and bureaucratic absurdity. It was the perfect book to read in 2025. Bill Whiteside – I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally. I wondered whether this memoir by a New York restaurateur (who hates the word "restaurateur" and much else), who suffered two strokes and survived a suicide attempt, would live up to its social media hype. It does.

https://bbvproductions.co.uk/products/Faction-Paradox-The-Confession-of-Brother-Signet-AUDIO-DOWNLOAD-p389922366 The first season of the American science fiction horror drama television series Stranger Things premiered worldwide on the streaming service Netflix on July 15, 2016. The series was created by the Duffer Brothers, who also serve as executive producers along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen. This season stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine, with Noah Schnapp, Joe Keery, and Shannon Purser in recurring roles. The first season of Stranger Things received critical acclaim, in particular for its originality, homages to the 1980s, characterization, tone, visuals, and performances (particularly those of Ryder, Harbour, Wolfhard, Brown, Heaton and Modine). Premise The first season begins on November 6, 1983, in a small town called Hawkins. Researchers at Hawkins National Laboratory open a rift to the "Upside Down," an alternate dimension that reflects the real world. A monstrous humanoid creature escapes and abducts a boy named Will Byers and a teenage girl. Will's mother, Joyce, and the town's police chief, Jim Hopper, search for Will. At the same time, a young psychokinetic girl who goes by the name "Eleven" escapes from the laboratory and assists Will's friends, Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, and Lucas Sinclair, in their efforts to find Will.[1] Cast and characters See also: List of Stranger Things characters Main cast Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers[2] David Harbour as Jim Hopper[2] Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler[3] Millie Bobby Brown[3] as Eleven ("El") Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson[3] Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair[3] Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler[3] Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers[3][4][5] Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler[6] Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner[7] Recurring Noah Schnapp as Will Byers Joe Keery as Steve Harrington Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland[8] Joe Chrest as Ted Wheeler Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers[9] Rob Morgan as Officer Powell John Paul Reynolds as Officer Callahan Randy Havens as Scott Clarke Catherine Dyer as Connie Frazier Aimee Mullins as Terry Ives[10] Amy Seimetz as Becky Ives Peyton Wich as Troy[11] Tony Vaughn as Principal Coleman Charles Lawlor as Mr. Melvald Tinsley and Anniston Price as Holly Wheeler Cade Jones as James Chester Rushing as Tommy H. Chelsea Talmadge as Carol Glennellen Anderson as Nicole Cynthia Barrett as Marsha Holland Jerri Tubbs as Diane Hopper Elle Graham as Sara Hopper Chris Sullivan as Benny Hammond Tobias Jelinek as lead agent Robert Walker-Branchaud as repairman agent Susan Shalhoub Larkin as Florence ("Flo") Episodes See also: List of Stranger Things episodes No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 1 1 "Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 On November 6, 1983, in Hawkins, Indiana, a scientist is attacked by an unseen creature at a U.S. government laboratory. 12-year-old Will Byers encounters the creature and mysteriously vanishes while cycling home from a Dungeons & Dragons session with his friends Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair. The following day, Will's single mother Joyce Byers reports his disappearance to the police chief Jim Hopper, who starts a search but assures Joyce that almost all missing children are quickly found. The lab's director, Dr. Martin Brenner, investigates an organic substance oozing from the lab's basement, claiming that "the girl" cannot have gone far. A nervous young girl wearing a hospital gown wanders into a local diner. The owner, Benny, finds a tattoo of "011" on her arm and learns that her name is Eleven. Brenner, monitoring the phone lines, sends agents to the diner after Benny calls social services. The agents kill Benny, but Eleven manages to escape using telekinetic abilities. Joyce's phone short circuits after receiving a mysterious phone call that she believes is from Will. While searching for Will in the woods, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas come across Eleven. 2 2 "Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street" The Duffer Brothers The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 The boys bring Eleven to Mike's house, where they disagree on what to do. Mike formulates a plan for Eleven to pretend to be a runaway and seek help from his mother, Karen. Eleven refuses, however, revealing that "bad men" are after her. Will's brother Jonathan visits his estranged father Lonnie in Indianapolis to search for Will, but Lonnie rebuffs him. Hopper's search party discovers a scrap of hospital gown near the lab. After recognizing Will in a photograph and demonstrating her telekinesis, Eleven convinces the boys to trust her, as they believe she can find Will. Using the Dungeons & Dragons board, Eleven indicates that Will is on the "Upside Down" side of the board and is being hunted by the "Demogorgon" (the creature). Mike's sister Nancy and her friend Barbara 'Barb' Holland go to a party with Nancy's boyfriend Steve Harrington. Searching for Will near Steve's house, Jonathan secretly photographs the party. Joyce receives another call from Will, hears music playing from his stereo, and sees a creature coming through the wall. Left alone by the swimming pool, Barb is attacked by the Demogorgon and vanishes. 3 3 "Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly" Shawn Levy Jessica Mecklenburg July 15, 2016 Barb awakens in the Upside Down: a decaying, overgrown alternate dimension. She attempts to escape but is attacked by the Demogorgon. Joyce believes Will is communicating through pulses in light bulbs. Hopper visits Hawkins Lab, and the staff permits him to view doctored security footage from the night Will vanished, leading Hopper to investigate Brenner and discover his involvement with Project MKUltra and that a woman named Terry Ives alleged years earlier that Brenner took her daughter. Eleven recalls Brenner, whom she calls "Papa," punishing her for refusing to hurt a cat telekinetically. Steve destroys Jonathan's camera after discovering the photos from the party. Nancy later recovers a photo of Barb, simultaneously realizing that Barb is missing. Returning to Steve's house to investigate, Nancy finds Barb's untouched Volkswagen and encounters the Demogorgon but manages to escape. Joyce paints an alphabetic board on her wall with Christmas lights, allowing Will to sign to her that he is "RIGHT HERE" and that she needs to "RUN" as the Demogorgon comes through the wall. Believing Eleven knows where Will is, the boys ask her to lead them to him. Eleven leads them, to their frustration, to Will's house. From there they follow emergency vehicles to a nearby quarry just as Will's body is recovered from the water. 4 4 "Chapter Four: The Body" Shawn Levy Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Joyce refuses to believe that the body found at the quarry is Will's. Mike feels betrayed by Eleven until she proves that Will is still alive, channeling his voice through Mike's walkie-talkie. The boys theorize that Eleven could use a ham radio at their school to communicate with Will. Nancy notices a figure behind Barb in Jonathan's photo, which Jonathan realizes matches his mother's description of the Demogorgon. Nancy tells the police about Barb's disappearance. She later fights with Steve, who only cares about not getting in trouble with his father. Hopper has suspicions regarding the authenticity of the body found in the quarry when he learns that the usual coroner was sent home. Hopper confronts the state trooper who found it and beats him until he admits he was ordered to lie. The boys sneak Eleven into their school to use the radio, while Joyce hears Will's voice through her living room wall. Tearing away the wallpaper, she sees him. Eleven uses the radio to channel Will talking to his mother. Hopper goes to the morgue and finds that the body is a fake, and, suspecting that Brenner is responsible, breaks into the lab. 5 5 "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat" The Duffer Brothers Alison Tatlock July 15, 2016 Hopper searches the lab before being knocked out by the lab's guards. The boys ask their science teacher, Mr. Clarke, if it would be possible to travel between alternate dimensions, to which he answers that there could be a theoretical "gate" between dimensions. Hopper awakens at his house and finds a hidden microphone, realizing that Joyce was right the whole time. The boys follow their compasses, searching for a gate that could disrupt the Earth's electromagnetic field. Eleven recalls memories of being placed in a sensory-deprivation tank to telepathically eavesdrop on a man speaking Russian; while listening, she came across the Demogorgon. Fearing another encounter with the Demogorgon, Eleven redirects the compasses. Lucas misinterprets this as an act of betrayal, leading Mike and Lucas to fight and Eleven to telekinetically fling Lucas away from Mike. While Dustin and Mike tend to the unconscious Lucas, Eleven runs off. Nancy and Jonathan formulate a plan to kill the Demogorgon. While searching in the woods, they come across a small gate to the Upside Down. Nancy crawls through it but inadvertently draws the Demogorgon's attention. Jonathan unsuccessfully tries to look for Nancy, as the gate to the Upside Down begins to close. 6 6 "Chapter Six: The Monster" The Duffer Brothers Jessie Nickson-Lopez July 15, 2016 Jonathan pulls Nancy back through the gate. That night, Nancy is afraid to be alone and asks Jonathan to stay in her bedroom. Steve, attempting to reconcile with Nancy, sees them together through her bedroom window and assumes they are dating. Joyce and Hopper track down Terry Ives, who is catatonic and tended by her sister Becky. Becky explains that Terry was a Project MKUltra participant while unknowingly pregnant and that Terry believes Brenner kidnapped her daughter Jane at birth due to her supposed telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Nancy and Jonathan stockpile weapons to kill the Demogorgon, theorizing that it is attracted by blood. Steve is brutally beaten up in a fistfight with Jonathan after he insults Will and calls Nancy a slut. Jonathan is arrested and held at the police station for beating up Steve and inadvertently punching one of the responding officers in the face. Eleven walks into a grocery store and shoplifts several boxes of Eggo waffles. Searching for Eleven, Mike and Dustin are ambushed by two bullies but are rescued by her, as she uses her powers to break one bully's arm after he attempts to kill Mike. Eleven collapses and recalls being asked by Brenner to contact the Demogorgon and, in her terror, inadvertently opening the gate. She tearfully admits to Mike that she is responsible for allowing the Demogorgon to enter this dimension. Lucas sees agents, who have tracked down Eleven, preparing to ambush Mike's house. 7 7 "Chapter Seven: The Bathtub" The Duffer Brothers Justin Doble July 15, 2016 Lucas warns Mike that agents are searching for Eleven. Mike, Dustin, and Eleven flee the house. Eleven telekinetically flips one of the vans that block their path as the kids escape. Lucas reconciles with Mike and Eleven, and the kids hide in the junkyard. Nancy and Jonathan reveal their knowledge of the Demogorgon to Joyce and Hopper. Hopper also learns that Eleven is with the kids. The group contacts the kids, and everyone meets at the Byers' house. Joyce and Hopper realize that Eleven is Jane Ives. The group asks Eleven to search for Will and Barb telepathically, but her earlier feats have weakened her. They break into the middle school and build a makeshift sensory deprivation tank to amplify Eleven's powers. After telepathically entering the Upside Down again, Eleven finds Barb dead and Will alive, hiding in the Upside Down version of his backyard fort. Realizing that the gate is in the basement of the lab, Hopper and Joyce break into the lab and are apprehended by security guards. Nancy and Jonathan sneak into the police station to retrieve the weapons they purchased previously, planning to lure and kill the Demogorgon. In the Upside Down, the Demogorgon breaks into Will's fort. 8 8 "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down" The Duffer Brothers Story by : Paul Dichter Teleplay by : The Duffer Brothers July 15, 2016 Hopper, haunted by the death of his daughter Sara from cancer years earlier, gives up Eleven's location to Brenner, who in exchange allows Hopper and Joyce to enter the Upside Down to rescue Will. Nancy and Jonathan cut their hands to attract the Demogorgon at the Byers' house. Steve, intending to apologize to Jonathan about their fight, arrives just as the Demogorgon appears. Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan fight the Demogorgon and light it on fire, forcing it to retreat to the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Eleven and the boys hide in the middle school when Brenner and his agents arrive to kidnap Eleven; she kills most of them before collapsing from exhaustion. As Brenner and his remaining agents pin Eleven and the boys down, the Demogorgon appears, attracted by the dead agents' blood, and attacks Brenner and the remaining agents as the boys escape with Eleven. Hopper and Joyce enter the Upside Down's version of the Hawkins library, where they encounter several corpses of the Demogorgon's victims, including Barb, and find Will unconscious with a tendril down his throat. Hopper revives him using CPR after removing the tendril. The Demogorgon corners the kids, but Eleven recovers from her exhaustion and disintegrates it, causing them both to disappear. Will recovers in the hospital, reuniting with his family and friends. One month later, it is Christmas and Nancy is back together with Steve, and both are friends with Jonathan. Will coughs up a slug-like creature and has a vision of the Upside Down, but hides this from his family. Production Development Ross (left) and Matt Duffer, the creators of the series Stranger Things was created by Matt and Ross Duffer, known professionally as the Duffer Brothers.[12] The two had completed writing and producing their 2015 film Hidden, which they had tried to emulate the style of M. Night Shyamalan, however, due to changes at Warner Bros., its distributor, the film did not see a wide release and the Duffers were unsure of their future.[13] To their surprise, television producer Donald De Line approached them, impressed with Hidden's script, and offered them the opportunity to work on episodes of Wayward Pines alongside Shyamalan. The brothers were mentored by Shyamalan during the episode's production so that when they finished, they felt they were ready to produce their own television series.[14] The Duffer Brothers prepared a script that would essentially be similar to the series' actual pilot episode, along with a 20-page pitch book to help shop the series around for a network.[15] They pitched the story to a number of cable networks, all of which rejected the script on the basis that they felt a plot centered around children as leading characters would not work, asking them to make it a children's show or to drop the children and focus on Hopper's investigation in the paranormal.[14] In early 2015, Dan Cohen, the VP of 21 Laps Entertainment, brought the script to his colleague Shawn Levy. They subsequently invited The Duffer Brothers to their office and purchased the rights for the series, giving full authorship of it to the brothers. After reading the pilot, the streaming service Netflix purchased the whole season for an undisclosed amount;[16] the show was subsequently announced for a planned 2016 release by Netflix in early April 2015.[17] The Duffer Brothers stated that at the time they had pitched to Netflix, the service had already been recognized for its original programming, such as House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, with well-recognized producers behind them, and were ready to start giving upcoming producers like them a chance.[15] The brothers started to write out the series and brought Levy and Cohen in as executive producers to start casting and filming.[18] The series was originally known as Montauk, as the setting of the script was in Montauk, New York and nearby Long Beach locations.[17][19] The brothers had chosen Montauk as it had further Spielberg ties with the film Jaws, where Montauk was used for the fictional setting of Amity Island.[20] After deciding to change the narrative of the series to take place in the fictional town of Hawkins instead, the brothers felt they could now do things to the town, such as placing it under quarantine, that they really could not envision with a real location.[20] With the change in location, they had to come up with a new title for the series under the direction from Netflix's Ted Sarandos so that they could start marketing it to the public. The brothers started by using a copy of Stephen King's Firestarter novel to consider the title's font and appearance and came up with a long list of potential alternatives. Stranger Things came about as it sounded similar to another King novel, Needful Things, though Matt noted they still had a "lot of heated arguments" over this final title.[21] Writing The idea of Stranger Things started with how the brothers felt they could take the concept of the 2013 film Prisoners, detailing the moral struggles a father goes through when his daughter is kidnapped, and expand it out over eight or so hours in a serialized television approach. As they focused on the missing child aspect of the story, they wanted to introduce the idea of "childlike sensibilities" they could offer and toyed around with the idea of a monster that could consume humans. The brothers thought the combination of these things "was the best thing ever". To introduce this monster into the narrative, they considered "bizarre experiments we had read about taking place in the Cold War" such as Project MKUltra, which gave a way to ground the monster's existence in science rather than something spiritual. This also helped them to decide on using 1983 as the time period, as it was a year before the film Red Dawn came out, which focused on Cold War paranoia.[14] Subsequently, they were able to use all their own personal inspirations from the 1980s, the decade they were born, as elements of the series,[14][22] crafting it in the realm of science fiction and horror.[23] The Duffer Brothers have cited as influence for the show (among others): Stephen King novels; films produced by Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Robert Zemeckis, George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro; films such as Alien and Stand by Me; Japanese anime such as Akira and Elfen Lied; and video games such as Silent Hill and The Last of Us.[21][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] With Netflix as the platform, The Duffer Brothers were not limited to a typical 22-episode format, opting for the eight-episode approach. They had been concerned that a 22-episode season on broadcast television would be difficult to "tell a cinematic story" with that many episodes. Eight episodes allowed them to give time to characterization in addition to narrative development; if they had less time available, they would have had to remain committed to telling a horror film as soon as the monster was introduced and abandon the characterization.[15] Within the eight episodes, the brothers aimed to make the first season "feel like a big movie" with all the major plot lines completed so that "the audience feels satisfied", but left enough unresolved to indicate "there's a bigger mythology, and there's a lot of dangling threads at the end", something that could be explored in further seasons if Netflix opted to create more.[32] While explaining their intentions for the show, the Duffers adamantly stated their intentions to not explain the mythology in the show so they could leave a mystery and lot for the audience to speculate over their lack of understanding by the season finale, which they accepted but asked to be explained about at the very least, which they found like a really good exercise as they spent quite a bit of time with their writers' room figuring out exactly what the Upside Down would actually consist for, writing a 20-page mythology document whose details wouldn't be clarified for the audience until the show's fifth and final season.[33] Regarding writing for the children characters of the series, The Duffer Brothers considered themselves as outcasts from other students while in high school and thus found it easy to write for Mike Wheeler and his friends, and particularly for Barbara "Barb" Holland.[21] Joyce Byers was fashioned after Richard Dreyfuss's character Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as she appears "absolutely bonkers" to everyone else as she tries to find her son Will Byers.[34] Other characters, such as Billy in the second season, have more villainous attributes that are not necessarily obvious from the onset; Matt explained that they took further inspiration from Stephen King for these characters, as King "always has really great human villains" that may be more malicious than the supernatural evil.[35] Casting The Duffers cast David Harbour as Sheriff Hopper believing this was his opportunity to play a lead character in a work. In June 2015, it was announced that Winona Ryder and David Harbour had joined the series as Joyce and as the unnamed chief of police, respectively.[2] The brothers' casting director Carmen Cuba had suggested Ryder for the role of Joyce, which the two were immediately drawn to because of her prominence in 1980s films.[14] Levy believed Ryder could "wretch up the emotional urgency and yet find layers and nuance and different sides of [Joyce]". Ryder praised that the show's multiple storylines required her to act for Joyce as "she's out of her mind, but she's actually kind of onto something", and that the producers had faith she could pull off the difficult role.[36] Upon being offered the role, Ryder felt intrigued at being given the pilot's script due to know knowing what streaming was and finding it "terrifying", with her sole condition to the Duffers for accepting the role being that, if a Beetlejuice sequel ever materialized as she and Tim Burton had been discussing since 2000, they had to let her take a break to shoot it, a condition the Duffers agreed and ultimately proved to work out when Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was greenlighted years later.[37] The Duffer Brothers had been interested in Harbour before, who until Stranger Things primarily had smaller roles as villainous characters, and they felt that he had been "waiting too long for this opportunity" to play a lead, while Harbour himself was thrilled by the script and the chance to play "a broken, flawed, anti-hero character".[21][38] Additional casting followed two months later with Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Millie Bobby Brown in an undisclosed role, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, and Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers]].[3] In September 2015, Cara Buono joined the cast as Karen Wheeler,[6] followed by Matthew Modine as Martin Brenner a month later.[7] Additional cast who recur for the first season include Noah Schnapp as Will,[3][5] Shannon Purser as Barbara "Barb" Holland,[8] Joe Keery as Steve Harrington,[39][5] and Ross Partridge as Lonnie Byers,[9] among others. Actors auditioning for the children's roles read lines from Stand By Me.[14] The Duffer Brothers estimated they went through about a thousand different child actors for the roles. They noted that Wolfhard was already "a movie buff" of the films from the 1980s period and easily filled the role, while they found Matarazzo's audition to be much more authentic than most of the other audition tapes, and selected him after a single viewing of his audition tape.[15] As casting was started immediately after Netflix greenlit the show, and prior to the scripts being fully completed, this allowed some of the actors' takes on the roles to reflect into the script. The casting of the young actors for Will and his friends had been done just after the first script was completed, and subsequent scripts incorporated aspects from these actors.[32] The brothers said Modine provided significant input on the character of Dr. Brenner, whom they had not really fleshed out before as they considered him the hardest character to write for given his limited appearances within the narrative.[34] Filming The brothers had desired to film the series around the Long Island area to match the initial Montauk concept. However, with filming scheduled to take place in November 2015, it was difficult to shoot in Long Island in the cold weather, and the production started scouting locations in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area. The brothers, who grew up in North Carolina, found many places that reminded them of their own childhoods in that area, and felt the area would work well with the narrative shift to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[20] The filming of the first season began on September 25, 2015, and was extensively done in Atlanta, Georgia, with The Duffer Brothers and Levy handling the direction of individual episodes.[40] Jackson served as the basis of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.[41][42] Other shooting locations included the Georgia Mental Health Institute as the Hawkins National Laboratory site, Bellwood Quarry, Patrick Henry High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, for the middle and high school scenes,[43] Emory University's Continuing Education Department, the former city hall in Douglasville, Georgia, Georgia International Horse Park, the probate court in Butts County, Georgia, Old East Point Library and East Point First Baptist Church in East Point, Georgia, Fayetteville, Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, Palmetto, Georgia, and Winston, Georgia.[44] Set work was done at Screen Gem Studios in Atlanta.[44] The series was filmed with a Red Dragon digital camera.[34] Filming for the first season concluded in early 2016.[41] While filming, the brothers tried to capture shots that could be seen as homages to many of the 1980s references they recalled. Their goal was not necessarily to fill the work with these references, but instead to make the series seem to the viewer like a 1980s film.[21] They spent little time reviewing those works and instead went by memory. Matt further recognized that some of their filming homages were not purposely done but were found to be very comparable, as highlighted by a fan-made video comparing the show to several 1980s works side by side.[14][45] Matt commented on the video that "Some were deliberate and some were subconscious."[14] The brothers recognized that many of the iconic scenes from these 1980s films, such as with Poltergeist, was about "taking a very ordinary object that people deal with every day, their television set, and imbuing it with something otherworldly", leading to the idea of using the Christmas light strings for Will to communicate with Joyce.[21] The brothers attributed much of the 1980s feel to set and costume designers and the soundtrack composers that helped to recreate the era for them.[14] Lynda Reiss, the head of props, had about a $220,000 budget, similar to most films, to acquire artifacts of the 1980s, using eBay and searching through flea markets and estate sales around the Atlanta area. The bulk of the props were original items from the 1980s with only a few pieces, such as the Dungeons & Dragons books made as replicas.[46] Visual effects To create the aged effect for the series, a film grain was added over the footage, which was captured by scanning in film stock from the 1980s.[34] The Duffers wanted to scare the audience, but not to necessarily make the show violent or gory, following in line with how the 1980s Amblin Entertainment films drove the creation of the PG-13 movie rating. It was "much more about mood and atmosphere and suspense and dread than they are about gore", though they were not afraid to push into more scary elements, particularly towards the end of the first season.[34] The brothers had wanted to avoid any computer-generated effects for the monster and other parts of the series and stay with practical effects. However, the six-month filming time left them little time to plan out and test practical effects rigs for some of the shots. They went with a middle ground of using constructed props including one for the monster whenever they could, but for other shots, such as when the monster bursts through a wall, they opted to use digital effects. Post-production on the first season was completed the week before it was released on Netflix.[14] The title sequence uses closeups of the letters in the Stranger Things title with a red tint against a black background as they slide into place within the title. The sequence was created by the studio Imaginary Forces, formerly part of R/GA, led by creative director Michelle Doughtey.[47] Levy introduced the studio to The Duffer Brothers, who explained their vision of the 1980s-inspired show, which helped the studio to fix the concept the producers wanted. Later, but prior to filming, the producers sent Imaginary Forces the pilot script, the synth-heavy background music for the titles, as well as the various book covers from King and other authors that they had used to establish the title and imagery, and were looking for a similar approach for the show's titles, primarily using a typographical sequence. They took inspiration from several title sequences of works from the 1980s that were previously designed by Richard Greenberg under R/GA, such as Altered States and The Dead Zone. They also got input from Dan Perri, who worked on the title credits of several 1980s films. Various iterations included having letters vanish, to reflect the "missing" theme of the show, and having letters cast shadows on others, alluding to the mysteries, before settling into the sliding letters. The studio began working on the title sequence before filming and took about a month off during the filming process to let the producers get immersed in the show and come back with more input. Initially, they had been working with various fonts for the title and used close-ups of the best features of these fonts, but near the end the producers wanted to work with ITC Benguiat, requiring them to rework those shots. The final sequence is fully computer-generated, but they took inspiration from testing some practical effects, such as using Kodalith masks as would have been done in the 1980s, to develop the appropriate filters for the rendering software. The individual episode title cards used a "fly-through" approach, similar to the film Bullitt, which the producers had suggested to the studio.[48] Music Main articles: Music of Stranger Things and Stranger Things (soundtrack) The Stranger Things original soundtrack was composed by Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon of the electronic band Survive.[49] It makes extensive use of synthesizers in homage to 1980s artists and film composers including Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Goblin, John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder, and Fabio Frizzi.[50] According to Stein and Dixon, The Duffer Brothers had been fans of Survive's music, and used their song "Dirge" for the mock trailer that was used to sell the show to Netflix.[49][51] Once the show was green-lit, the Duffers contacted Survive around July 2015 to ask if they were still doing music; the two provided the production team with dozens of songs from their band's past to gain their interest, helping to land them the role.[49] Once aboard, the two worked with producers to select some of their older music to rework for the show, while developing new music, principally with character motifs.[51] The two had been hired before the casting process, so their motif demos were used and played over the actors' audition tapes, aiding in the casting selection.[51][52] The show's theme is based on an unused work Stein composed much earlier that ended up in the library of work they shared with the production staff, who thought that with some reworking would be good for the opening credits.[49] The first season's original soundtrack, consisting of 75 songs from Dixon and Stein split across two volumes, was released by Lakeshore Records. Digital release and streaming options were released on August 10 and 19, 2016 for the two volumes, respectively, while retail versions were available on September 16 and 23, 2016.[53][54] In addition to original music, Stranger Things features period music from artists including The Clash, Toto, New Order, The Bangles, Foreigner, Echo and the Bunnymen, Peter Gabriel and Corey Hart, as well as excerpts from Tangerine Dream, John Carpenter and Vangelis.[54][55] In particular, The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" was specifically picked to play at pivotal moments of the story, such as when Will is trying to communicate with Joyce from the Upside Down.[54] Music supervisor Nora Felder felt the song "furthered the story" and called it an additional, unseen, main character of the season.[56]

As November grows colder and the food more scarce, the mood of the Utopians is dark. Discontent rises to the surface and tempers flare. Both Mara and Brandon try to encourage the others but it's too little, too late. Andy returns from hunting for acorns to find Mara and Brandon embroiled in a heated argument. Mara grabs at Brandon, causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock. Fearing that she killed him, Mara runs away with all her gear. Andy is left alone -- the last of the Utopians. Show Mic you are enjoying this story.  Buy him a cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee -- maybe two!. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the next chapter of the fourth novelette -- Refuge Mountain. Become a member, and you can read it too! 

MCNAMARA, THE KENNEDYS, AND JACKIE'S PLEA Colleague William Taubman. Fearing a political challenge from Robert Kennedy in 1964, Johnson used McNamara to monitor the Kennedys' intentions, specifically sending him to determine if Jackie Kennedy would publicly support an RFK nomination. Despite acting as Johnson'sagent, McNamara maintained a deep, emotionally complex relationship with Jackie, serving as a father figure to her children and comforting her after the assassination. This bond created a conflict for McNamara, as Jackie eventually pounded on his chest during a private meeting, desperately pleading with him to stop the slaughter in Vietnam. NUMBER 6 1966

In this week's episode  we're talking about why your willingness to hear "no" may be the key to getting more yeses — and living a fuller, braver life. Lori shares a powerful story about Girl Scouts who earned a trip to Greece by selling nearly 6,000 boxes of cookies — and how every "yes" they earned required hearing countless "no's" first. That lesson applies far beyond cookie sales. Drawing on research around psychological flexibility, rejection sensitivity, and growth mindset, this episode breaks down why avoiding rejection shrinks our self-expression — and how learning to tolerate discomfort can unlock more confidence, creativity, and opportunity. If you've ever thought "Wouldn't it be cool if…" and then stopped yourself from trying, this episode is your invitation to stretch just a little further. If you would like some help with figuring out how to transform your life! I can help you create a vision for a life that you absolutely love living. Click here to arrange a session with me. If you're enjoying the podcast, please share the show with a friend or, even better, leave a review to ensure others can benefit from it too! WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THE EPISODE Why fear of rejection limits confidence and fulfillment How learning to hear "no" helps you get more yeses Why rejection is information — not a verdict How to start "collecting no's" as a practice for growth FEATURED ON THE SHOW: If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd love to hear from you! Please share the show with a friend or even better, leave a review to ensure others can benefit from the podcast.

PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT UNILEVER AND THE ANGLO-GERMAN FELLOWSHIP Colleague Charles Spicer. Corporations like Unilever, fearing war and seeking to protect massive profits, formed the Anglo-German Fellowship to maintain dialogue with Berlin. Spicer explains how business leaders, hoping to "civilize" the Nazis, misinterpreted events like the Night of the Long Knives as signs of a stabilizing, less brutal regime. DECEMBER 1945 WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL NUREMBERG GERMANY: THE ACCUSED PRIDONERS

The Fearing Tavern Museum is located in Wareham, Massachusetts and has original parts that have stood for 335 years. It's history is rooted in the incorporation of the town, which was considered the "Gateway to Cape Cod" and has had literally thousands of people pass through its doors. The name comes from the family who kept it and managed it for over 200 years. The tavern is considered by paranormal investigators to be one of the most haunted locations on the South Coast. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Fearing Tavern.  Check out the website: http://historygoesbump.com Music used in this episode: Main Theme: Lurking in the Dark by Muse Music with Groove Studios Outro Music: Happy Fun Punk by Muse Music with Groove Studios Other music in this episode: Creepy Asian Theme created and produced by History Goes Bump Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We're sharing episodes this month from another Pushkin podcast we think you'll enjoy. In Deep Cover: The Truth About Sarah, Jake Halpern and acclaimed investigative journalist Jess McHugh unravel an epic six-year deception that upended lives of countless people. Sarah Cavanaugh was many things: A decorated veteran. A Marine who saved her comrades. A young woman fighting cancer. She was stoic, humble, tough. In short: a hero. Sarah was everything people wanted her to be—until she wasn’t. Turns out, no one knew the real Sarah. Not her comrades. Not her wife. No one. Jake and Jess interview all of the key sources—including Sarah, herself—to tell this sprawling tale.Episode 4: (08:30) A former Marine and media personality asks questions and publicly challenges Sarah Cavanaugh’s credentials. Behind the scenes, law enforcement is already investigating Sarah; but the surge of media attention forces their hand. Fearing she might destroy evidence, federal agents move quickly to search Sarah’s home.We’re committed to making Medal of Honor even better, and you can help! Leave your feedback for the show by filling out our listener survey at bit.ly/mohsurvey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OHIO STATE shows us alot about their recruiting philosophy by the DJ Jacobs commitment Ryan Day was huge in this one Ohio State lost 2 high profie EDGE recruitments recently and they ended up with 2 better players

What does it mean to fear God? Are we supposed to live in fear of being struck down because of our sins? No! In today's message, Pastor Mark teaches that fearing God is a respect and understanding of reverence for the creator of the universe! It is knowing who He is and what He is capable of! Fearing the Lord isn't supposed to make us live an anxious life; it is supposed to keep us humble. Yes, at any moment God can stick us down. But, because of what Jesus did, we can live in right standing with God! We are forgiven from ALL our sins and can live holy by the blood of Jesus Christ!

Our mortal path is determined by how we see God and see ourselves. This happens in three main stages. From Fear to Covenant to Love.

HALSEY'S AGGRESSION AND STRATEGIC DEBATES Colleague Craig Symonds. Fearing the loss of Guadalcanal, Nimitz replaced the cautious Ghormley with Bill Halsey, whose aggressive "Kill Japs" attitude boosted morale. While Nimitz valued Halsey's pugnacity for "cavalry charges," he recognized the risks of his temperament. Halsey surprisingly bonded with General Douglas MacArthur, despite the rivalry between the Navy's Central Pacificstrategy and the Army's push to return to the Philippines. This strategic divide required a summit with President Roosevelt in Hawaii to resolve whether to island-hop toward Formosa or support MacArthur's pledge to liberate the Philippines. NUMBER 4 1945 1ST MARINES.OKINAWA

POST-WAR REFLECTIONS AND REGRETS Colleague Evan Thomas. In the war's aftermath, Henry Stimsonretired feeling guilty, fearing that scientific progress, exemplified by the bomb, had outpaced human morality. General Spaatz was similarly haunted by his role in killing civilians, with his granddaughter recalling him moaning in his sleep. Conversely, Shigenori Togo, despite being sentenced to 20 years in prison, died with a clear conscience knowing he fought for peace. Thomas concludes by noting that Togo remains largely unhonored in modern Japan, a nation that remains ambivalent about its responsibility for the war. NUMBER 8 1945 OKINAWA

Michigan Weather and Women: Part 4 Finding real love, at last. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Connected. Driving home the next day felt like waking up from some kind of dream until I pulled into our driveway and Munchkin came running out to greet me. As I was getting out to reassure him that he hadn't been abandoned, the reality of my life settled right back in. I went inside, and Lane and Mary grunted their hellos without looking up. Ah, home. I texted Erin that I made it back safely, and she replied almost immediately saying what a great night she had, and how much she missed me already. It was going to be a long three weeks until she rotated back to the hospital in Petoskey. Luckily, life was as busy as always, and time flew by. For the first time since I was a child, I could honestly say that I was happy. My happiness lasted until the day before Erin was scheduled to return. I got my first inkling that something might be wrong when I called to see if Wilma wanted me to pick up any groceries for her from town. She didn't answer, which was strange, and the call went to voicemail. Even if she was napping, she was a very light sleeper and would normally answer by the third ring. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, so I went straight to Wilma's to make sure she was alright. Everything seemed fine when I pulled into the yard, but there was no answer when I knocked on her door. I tried again, but there was nothing but an eerie silence. Fearing the worst, I grabbed the spare key from its hiding place and went inside. I called Wilma's name and, hearing no reply, went quickly through the house trying to find her. When I got to her bedroom, I could hear a low moaning sound from the attached washroom. I ran in and found Wilma collapsed by the bathtub. She had slipped and hit her head, injuring her hip and arm in the process. She didn't have her phone with her when she fell and had been unable to move, so who knows how long she had been lying there. I called 911 for an ambulance and then called Erin and suggested that she meet us at the hospital. It took forever for the paramedics to arrive, and longer still to get Wilma loaded into the ambulance. By the time I got to the hospital, she was already being triaged by their emergency team. I took a few minutes while I waited for an update on Wilma's condition to call the rest of the family and give them the news. Alison came directly to the hospital after class, and Sharon brought Mary and Lane as soon as they got home from school. Erin arrived a few hours later and broke down when she saw me. Finally, just after nine, the doctors gave Erin an update. Wilma was in rough shape; she was badly dehydrated and had a moderate concussion, a fractured wrist, and a bone bruise on her hip. It would take her weeks to recover in the hospital. The good news was that she would make a recovery, given enough time and support. Erin and Mary decided to stay with Wilma in the hospital while Sharon dropped Alison at her dorm and drove Lane back to the house. By midnight, Mary had nodded off in a chair in the corner of Wilma's room, while I waited outside with Erin. "You should go home, Davis. There's nothing else you can do tonight. Thank God, you found her; I am not sure what I would have done if you hadn't. I already lost Grampy; I am not ready to lose Gran as well. They are all I have." I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her close. "You have me, now, too. And the girls. And you know Lane would do anything for you, you just need to ask. I was serious about what I said in Grand Rapids, Erin. I love you." Erin pulled me closer but didn't reply. The following week was a rollercoaster of emotions. Wilma was improving far quicker than the doctors had anticipated, but she would still be in rehab for at least another two weeks. It was impossible to hide Wilma's accident from the rest of the family, and they descended on the hospital like vultures; or, more accurately, their lawyers descended on the hospital while, for the most part, they stayed far away where it was warm. The one exception was Erin's stepfather, who flew in the next day. "For Christ's sake, Erin. Haven't you done enough harm as it is? Do you want your Gran to die alone on the floor of that dingy old shack of hers? It's time for her to move into a care facility that can look after her. Be reasonable!" When he failed to persuade Erin to act on his behalf, his attorneys requested an emergency court order, alleging that Wilma lacked the capacity to make her own medical decisions, that Erin was not acting in her best interests, and that one of Wilma's children should be appointed as her legal guardian. Wilma was furious when she learned of his actions, but there was little she could do to stop him until she was discharged from the hospital. Both sides knew that her doctor's recommendation would hold a lot of weight with the judge, and it was not good news for Wilma when it came. "If Mrs. Anderson is to return home, she will require around-the-clock care and company. If such care can't be arranged, then I recommend that she be placed in a long-term assisted-living facility that can treat any lingering effects from her fall, and from her late-stage cancer." Erin took the news like a physical blow, and she staggered backward to a chair. We didn't have the resources for 24-hour nursing, and it would be impossible to arrange it with such short notice even if we did. "I'm sorry, Davis. I need to be alone for a while to think." She left without looking back or saying goodbye to Wilma, and I just let her go. I wanted to ease her pain, but I knew that there was nothing I could do. She had lost, and her family had won. I was despondent as I made my way towards the exit, so much so that I nearly ran into Alison who was finishing up her shift at the hospital. "You look terrible, Brother, what happened? Is Wilma alright?" I explained to her about the doctor's recommendation and Erin's reaction. "No one has had the heart to tell Wilma, yet. She's recovered from the fall, but this news is going to kill her." Alison looked at me for a minute, before her mouth quirked upwards in a smile. "I'll do it." "What do you mean? "I'll do it. I'll look after Wilma. I am wrapping up my clinical practicum tomorrow, and I was planning on working this summer. I will look after Wilma instead. Mary can move in with us as well, and I can teach her what she needs to know to care for her when I'm not there. Once her school year is done in June, she and I can spell each other off, and I can still pick up some shifts here and there." It was an amazing offer, but I couldn't let her do it. "Alison, I can't ask you to give up your job for the summer. You need that money for your living expenses at school." "You're not asking; I'm offering. And since you've paid for my tuition so far, I am debt-free and can take out a loan to cover my last term." "I didn't cover the tuition, it was your;" "Davis. Really? Our mother, who never met a five-dollar bill she couldn't snort or inject, left me a college fund? Please. I am not an idiot. I love you, Big Brother, and I love what you have done for me and the others, but it's my time to step up now as well. Let me do this." I felt a heaviness lift from my chest as I hugged Alison and lifted her off her feet. I tried to reach Erin to let her know about Alison's offer, but I drove to her apartment, and she wasn't there, and she must have turned her phone off. I figured she must have gone to Wilma's, so I headed that way. I pulled in just as the sun was setting and found her SUV parked in the laneway, crosshatched by the lengthening shadows of the trees. I parked and saw a lone figure at the end of the dock, still wearing her scrubs. I could see whitecaps on the waves as they smashed into the dock, and I knew she must be freezing, so I grabbed my jacket out of the back of the truck and went to join her. The footing was treacherous, with patches of ice hidden by the gloom and spray, but I made my way carefully to Erin and wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. She closed her eyes and leaned back against me. "Am I doing the right thing, Davis? Gran could have died. She would have died if not for you. Can we risk that happening again? Am I just holding on to the past?" When she was finished, Erin lapsed into silence. "You are doing what Wilma asked you to do. I know your stepfather says that she isn't mentally competent, but I tell you, if she's not mentally competent then none of us are." "But it doesn't make a difference anymore. You heard what the doctor said, and I can't go against her recommendation." "You don't have to, Erin. Alison has offered to move in with Wilma to look after her, and she will teach Mary to look after her as well. Between the two of them, Wilma can stay in the house until the fall, at least, and then we can see." Erin turned towards me in her excitement but lost her footing on the slippery dock and fell backward into the water, pulling me with her. Now, in the summer, that kind of accident might be cause for some laughter and an embarrassing story around the dinner table. In late April, however, spending any time in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan could rapidly prove fatal. The shock from the cold when Erin hit the water caused her to gasp involuntarily, and she took in a mouthful. I had a half-second longer to prepare myself and managed to keep my mouth closed as I submerged, but I could immediately feel the cold in my extremities. The ladder that would normally have been at the end of the dock had been taken out for the winter, so we had no choice but to make for shore. Time compressed as I struggled to pull us through the water while Erin coughed and vomited. Finally, we dragged ourselves onto the shore, wet and shivering. I felt clumsy and weak from the cold, and my clothes felt like they weighed a hundred pounds, but I wrapped my arm around Erin's waist, and we started stumbling toward the house. By the time we got there, we were both shivering uncontrollably and my hands were numb from the cold. I knew we needed to get warm, but it was like my brain was in a fog and I couldn't get my limbs to move the way they were supposed to. So, I did the first thing that came to mind, and started feeding paper and kindling into the fireplace, while Erin went to the linen closet and grabbed a stack of towels. She stripped off her wet scrubs while I got the fire started, and then she helped me get undressed as well. When I felt a little feeling return to my fingers, I fed a larger log onto the fire and then went and got a large comforter which I wrapped around us as we shivered in front of the fire. Eventually, our shivering subsided as our bodies warmed up, and Erin laid her head back against my chest. "I'm not ready for her to go. I'm not ready to be all alone again." "You're not alone anymore; not unless you want to be. I love you, Erin." I felt her relax back against me. "I love you too, Davis, and I'm sorry." "For what?" "For pulling you into the lake like a dumbass; fuck, that was cold." Chapter 6. Wilma's family insisted on taking their emergency petition to court, over Wilma's continued objections, but once the judge learned that Alison, a trained nurse, was going to be staying with her, their decision was an easy one. And let me tell you, Wilma's mind was still sharp as ever, and she made it clear both to her doctors and, eventually, to her family and the judge, that she wanted to go home. Erin's stepfather was beside himself with anger after they lost the hearing. "Why do you insist on delaying the inevitable like this? Wilma is dying. We know it, she knows it, the doctors know it. You're the only one who won't accept it. She would get better care in a facility with real nurses here in town, rather than relying on a student, a little girl, and whatever time you can give her at home. The next time she has a crisis maybe we won't get so lucky, and it will be on your head." Outwardly, Erin looked as smooth and unbothered as glass as her stepfather screamed at her, but her hand was squeezing mine so hard that I thought she might break a bone. Luckily, before I could say anything to make matters worse, Wilma intervened. "What is it that makes you so damn sure that you know what's best for everyone else? You're right, I'm dying. There is nothing that anyone can do about that. If I happen to fall again and speed the process along, so be it. But don't you dare pretend that you care one iota about my health or happiness, or your stepdaughter's happiness for that matter. The only thing you care about is getting your wife's inheritance faster. Is your business doing so badly that you can't wait until I die? It seemed like she had scored a direct hit, as his face turned solid red as he started to stammer out a response, but she dismissed him before he could even begin. "Now go away and leave us in peace. You will be back here for my funeral soon enough, and no one wants you hovering around, hoping to speed it up." A week later, Wilma was released from the hospital, and we brought her back home. Alison moved in right away, along with Munchkin, and Mary soon followed. On most days, James would come by to pick Mary up for school and then drop her back afterward. Alison stayed with Wilma during the day, and Mary covered most of the evenings. Erin came by to help whenever she could, and I did my best to keep them stocked with supplies. It wasn't perfect, but it worked and, more importantly, it made Wilma happy. She didn't talk much about her cancer, but it was clear that it was getting worse. Mary noticed that she was eating less and resting more and that she had begun to take her pain pills in the morning as well as in the evening before she went to bed. Wilma was still adamant that she wanted to stay in her home, however, and continued to teach Mary all she could about art and life. In early June, I had stopped by to visit Wilma and the girls late in the afternoon and I was still there when James dropped Mary off from school. He escorted her into the house but then stood awkwardly in the entranceway rather than leaving. "Mr. Crawford, could we talk for a minute, if you have the time?" I shook my head in amusement. No matter how many times I told him to just call me Davis, Mr. Crawford, I remained. "Sure, I was just finishing up with Wilma," I replied as I gave Wilma a gentle hug. She felt more like a bird at that point than a person, just skin hanging on fragile bones held together by her indomitable will. James looked worried as we went outside. "This may not be any of my business, but yesterday, when I got home from school, Calum and my dad were on a conference call with some officials from the county and Wilma's son and one of her granddaughters, the lawyer. I didn't mean to eavesdrop or anything, but they were on speaker, and it was loud enough that I could hear them in the kitchen. "They were saying that when Wilma dies, her estate is being divided up equally amongst all of the children and grandchildren, but there is a part of the will that states that the land by the lake can't be sold or developed. From the sounds of it, however, once Wilma is gone, the county is going to seize that land, using eminent domain, to create a public boat launch, since Wilma's dock is the only four-season dock for at least ten miles in either direction. They will fix it up and then sell the rest of the land to the McDougals for development. "So, Wilma's family will get their money when the county forces the sale, and the McDougals will get their land. The only person left who might make a fuss would be Erin, but they figure she will fall in line once she sees the big fat check from the county." Listening to James' story made my blood boil. I hated the kinds of rich pricks who used their money and their purchased politicians to run roughshod over the rest of us. I just wasn't sure if there was anything that we could do to stop them. I thanked James for the heads up and went to speak with Wilma once he left. I expected Wilma to be as filled with rage at her family's treachery as I was, but she seemed remarkably calm about the whole thing. "Thank you for sharing this with me and thank James for his candor. He must have been deeply conflicted between his loyalty to his family, and his desire to do the right thing. Now, as to what we are going to do about this, we are going to do nothing. I don't want you to mention this to Erin or Mary, it will just worry them and make them upset. And you have more important things to do than to rage against a bunch of duplicitous assholes. Leave this one with me. "Now, why don't you go outside, take that shirt off, and start chopping some wood or something equally manly? Erin will be here soon, and you know how she likes to see you when you have worked up a sweat." I didn't know exactly what Wilma had planned, but for the next few days, she spent a lot of time on the phone. Towards the end of June, a very well-dressed older man in a tailored suit was leaving her house just as I was pulling in. It was clear that he had been there before since Munchkin ignored him and came over to give me an enthusiastic greeting instead. The man gave me a friendly smile as he put his briefcase in his top-of-the-line Lexus SUV before walking over to introduce himself. "Brantford Sage," he said holding out his hand. "You must be Mr. Crawford. Wilma has told me a lot about you. With everything she said, I was kind of expecting you to be seven feet tall and wearing a cape." I laughed at the image. "It's nice that she thinks so highly of me, but she gives me too much credit. And please call me Davis." "Well, Davis, and please call me Brantford, I have known Wilma for more years than you have been alive, and I have never heard her talk about anyone the way that she talks about you, except for Phillip, of course. And we all know how she felt about Phillip." I knew that it was none of my business why Mr. Sage was visiting Wilma, but my desire to protect her overrode any hesitation on my part about speaking out. "I am sorry if it's rude of me to ask, Mr. Sage, but what is your business here with Wilma? As you may know, her own family, along with a local family of some prominence, have been waging a campaign to get Wilma to sell this land. You are not here on their behalf, are you?" "I can assure you, Davis, that I am only here as a favor to Wilma. I normally split my time between our offices in Detroit, New York, and London, but when Wilma calls, I make it a priority to answer. I am sorry that I can't say more about my business here, attorney-client privilege, but you can ask her yourself if you would like." "It's all good. Wilma is still sharp as a tack, and even if she has lost a step or two, she is still twice as smart and four times as wise as I will ever be." "Well, I should be going. But sadly, I am sure I will see you again, soon enough." By the end of the summer, it was clear that Wilma's adventures were almost done. When she worked with Mary, she would often fall asleep in the comfortable chair in the corner. She had never had a large appetite, but recently, it had dwindled almost to nothing. Erin was very worried and suggested that it was time to move her Gran into hospice, but Wilma wouldn't hear of it. "This house has been my home for more than 60 years; I am not going to leave it now. It would miss me too much, and I can't have my home pining away over me. There is nothing more depressing than a sad home." Even Munchkin, the dog with boundless energy, became more subdued and often sat a quiet watch over Wilma while she slept. Finally, on the last Sunday of August, I got the call I had been dreading. I could hear Mary's voice on the other end of the line, holding back tears. "Gran says she's too tired and it's time to stop fighting. She told me to call you and Erin, and ask you to come;" I could hear the sobs building in her as she spoke, "to say goodbye." "Is James there with you, Mary?" "I called him. He's on his way." "I will call Erin and then go and pick her up. She won't be in any condition to drive." I figured the odds of there being a speed trap on the highway to Petoskey before 7 AM on a Sunday were slim to none, so I made it to Erin's apartment in record time. She must have been watching for me out of her window, as she threw herself into my arms before I was fully out of the truck. "I am so sorry, Honey," was all I could say, and I just held her in silence until the waves of grief that wracked her body had subsided. "We should get going," I said, not knowing what else to say. Maybe I should have told her that "Everything would be alright," but I suspected that it would be a while before that was true. But that was okay. People grieve in their own time. Erin held my hand tightly as we started the drive to Wilma's. "Why don't you tell me some of your favorite memories with your Gran and Grampy?" Erin remained silent for a few minutes, but once she started talking, the floodgates opened wide. She told me about the first time that her parents dropped her at the airport when she was only seven. How scared she was of these strange older people she didn't know. Phillip had seen her fear, and rather than trying to comfort her; how do you comfort a child whose parents have abandoned them; he had taken her for a long walk down by the lake. She remembered the sound of the wind blowing off the lake, as Phillip told her stories about their past. She remembered the summers she spent with Gran and Grampy as a teen. By that point, she had grown into a beautiful young woman, and her parents wanted to show her off to their important friends in Europe and places further afield. But she had already chosen to spend her time with the people that she loved. She spoke of coming to see them when she was in college. Of the awful year that Phillip got sick, and her grief at his passing. She said that her parents came to Good Hart for the funeral, but it felt like she and Gran were the only people to truly grieve his loss. She fell silent as we pulled into Wilma's laneway. "Go and see your Gran. Let me know what you need, Honey. I am here for you." Despite her grief, Erin looked at me as she took my hand. "What about you? What do you need, Davis? You love her too." "People show their love in different ways. I never really got the chance to give or receive love as a child, at least not in the way that most of us think of it. But being with you has made me realize something important about myself; I take care of the people I love. So, let me take care of you, Mary, and Wilma, one final time." By that point, Mary and Munchkin had come outside. Mary's eyes were red, and you could see the tracks that her tears had left on her cheeks. I got out of the truck and just held her for a minute. Erin came up behind me and enveloped her as well. Munchkin, mourning in his own way, stood watch for us, keeping us safe as we grieved. "Mary, you don't have to be here for the end if it's too hard. You can say goodbye, then take the truck and go and meet James. We can let you know when it's over." She just shook her head. "Where is she?" Mary led us into the living room. The wisp that remained of Wilma was in the comfortable chair by the fire. She had been a very small woman when we met less than a year before, but now she looked almost ethereal. Like the wind could slip right through her collecting her stories as it passed. She beckoned me over with one of her curled hands. "Davis, I am glad that you're here. I know I am a greedy old biddy, but I have three favors to ask, and I don't have a lot of time left to do the asking." "Of course, Wilma. You know I would do anything for you and Erin." She closed her eyes for a moment to collect her thoughts. "The first favor is that I need some time alone with my girls. I am sure James will be here in a minute; he is a good boy, don't hold those assholes in his family against him. He loves our Mary. Go outside, and when he arrives, I want you to go down to the lake and set up the five Adirondack chairs, so they are all together and facing out over the water. Then come back up to me." "Of course, Wilma." I went outside and sat on the front steps, scratching Munchkin's ears as I waited. James pulled up less than ten minutes later and I explained what had happened, and Wilma's request. When we were finished at the lake, we walked back up to the house, with Munchkin following quietly on our heels. We let ourselves in and saw Wilma, Erin, and Mary pulled together in an embrace. I was hesitant to interrupt, but Wilma saw us and called us over. "There's your big, strong men. Girls, could you get some of the outdoor blankets for James to carry down to the lake for us? And Davis, my second favor is for you to carry me down to the lake one last time. Would the rest of you give us a few minutes before you follow?" I picked Wilma up from the chair and wrapped her in my arms. She felt almost weightless, but I saw hints of her mischievous smile as we started walking. "You know, the last time a man carried me like this, the journey ended very differently." I couldn't help but smile, even at the end Wilma was still quick with the teasing and innuendo. "I bet you wish it was that other man carrying you now," I joked in return, but Wilma just rested her head against my chest. "No. No, I don't, Davis. I will see that other man soon enough. I am well content to be here with you. I am so proud of you. You are such a good and faithful man. It is a lot to ask of you, but for my third favor, will you look after my girls when I am gone?" By that point, we had reached the shore, and I set Wilma down in the middle chair of the five. "You don't need to ask, Wilma. Of course, I will look after them. Because you asked it of me, and because I love them just like you do." Wilma smiled and reached out to take my hand while she pressed three small objects into my palm. I looked down and saw that she had removed her engagement and wedding rings and given them to me. They were joined by an almost identical wedding band that must have belonged to Phillip before he passed. "You will know when the time is right for these. I would have liked to have been there to see it, though. Through these rings, maybe Phillip and I can continue to be a small part of your love for each other, even once we're gone." James and the girls had started down the path to the lake and would reach us in a minute. Before they arrived, Wilma gave me a final serious look. "All hell is going to break loose when they read my will after the funeral. Be there for Erin, please. The mistakes I made with my children are all my fault, but Erin will be left to bear that weight for a little while longer once I'm gone. It would mean a lot to a dying woman to know that she won't have to carry that weight alone." "I'll share that weight with her, for as long as she needs. For as long as she will let me." Wilma patted my hand. "That's good. I love you, Davis, but I think it's time." Mary and Erin arrived with James, and they made sure that Wilma was bundled in warm blankets as she looked out over the lake. Mary and Erin sat on either side of her and held her hands, while James and I sat at the ends. Munchkin settled against Wilma's feet, to keep them warm. After a while, Wilma started talking. She told stories about her life with Phillip; how they met, when they first came to this place, building a home, and raising their family. She spoke of their success as artists, and their failures as parents. She spoke of her regrets but also about her deep love for Erin and Mary, and how much she appreciated what they had done for her. She paused for a moment as the wind began to pick up, but we heard her last words before the wind carried the rest away. "You are all artists, and you are all worthy of love." She fell silent, and we sat for a long while listening to the wind off the lake. Epilogue. As always, Wilma was right. The reading of her will did indeed set off a firestorm, but she had made sure that we were ready for it. Do you remember Mr. Sage, that man in the suit who came to visit Wilma not too long before she passed? It turns out that he wasn't just an old friend, he was also a named partner at the largest law firm in the state and one of the most powerful firms in the country. It seems that Phillip didn't just paint portraits for the richest family in the state (you would recognize their name from the hospitals, museums, and other cultural institutions where it is featured prominently), but he also became a close family friend. You would never have known it, though, since Phillip refused to even acknowledge their friendship in public so that he didn't inadvertently trade on their name. Mr. Sage was also a good friend of that family and, over the years, became close with Wilma and Phillip, as well. After James told Wilma his story, she called those old family friends and, for the first time in their long friendship, asked for their help. She would never have done so for her own benefit, but she couldn't bear to think that Phillip's legacy would be lost because of the greed and treachery of his children. Within a day, Mr. Sage was working on a solution to Wilma's problem, and everything was signed and sealed well before Wilma passed on. The day of the reading of the will would have been comic if it hadn't also been so tragic. In the weeks after Wilma's death, her remaining children and grandchildren had gathered to express their deep sadness at her passing. Many black outfits were worn, and many sad faces were made. Not surprisingly, the entire McDougal family also showed up both to the funeral and to the smaller gathering at Wilma's house afterward. James stood with Mary, his arm around her shoulder, both to comfort her and to protect her from his own family, as best he could. The rest of the McDougal clan stood with Wilma's family and made sure to avail themselves of the free wine and hors d'oeuvres. As per her wishes, Wilma was cremated, and her ashes were scattered from the deck behind her house so that the wind could carry them towards the lake. Again, as per her wishes, the will was read immediately thereafter. The first surprise of the day came when Mr. Sage, who everyone thought was there merely to express his condolences at Wilma's passing, informed the family lawyers that the will in their possession had been revoked earlier that year. Both Wilma's family and their lawyers began to protest until the man formally introduced himself as a named partner at Sage, Bentley, and Carstairs, and as the new executor of Wilma's estate. The second surprise was the size and extent of that estate. The property by the lake was considerably larger than anyone had known and included a number of additional houses and cottages that Wilma and Phillip had acquired over the years. Unlike the previous will, however, that had left an equal share of the land to each of Wilma's descendants, the new one protected the entire property, in perpetuity, as part of a land trust that was established for the benefit and use of artists, local residents and even the Fudgies, when summer came to the lower peninsula. As part of the land trust, the dock was to be extended and reinforced and a public boat landing and park were to be built and maintained on the land, again, in perpetuity. Erin and I were named as trustees of the land trust, along with Mr. Sage and Mary, when she came of age. Given Michigan's strict laws around the use of eminent domain for private gain, there was no chance that the McDougals and the county would be able to move forward with their plans to seize the land. The third and final surprise was that Wilma and Phillip had done much better with the sale of their art and with their investments over the years than anyone had thought or expected. In addition to the property that was now in the trust, they had amassed a fortune in the low eight figures. Most of that money was left to manage the land trust, but a not inconsiderable amount was set aside to fund the college education of my brother and sisters and to pay off Erin's considerable student debt from medical school. The will also stipulated that the estate would pay for any costs that Wilma's family had incurred to attend the funeral (with receipts, of course.) Wilma's paintings were left to the public gallery in Grand Rapids and galleries further afield, with a few notable exceptions. Mary was given three paintings of her choice from the collection, that weren't otherwise named in the will. After much thought and consideration, she chose both the first and last works that Wilma had painted, both of which had been hanging in the living room, along with a small study of the house that Wilma kept in her bedroom beside a picture of Phillip and her on their wedding day. Erin was given Phillip's portrait of her as a young woman, and that portrait still hangs above our mantelpiece alongside his portrait of Wilma as a young woman, which she left to me. The only time they left our mantelpiece was when they were featured in a retrospective exhibit of their work at a museum in New York, but the house felt strangely empty when they were gone. Erin's family was furious at the changes in the new will. They threatened to fight it with every resource at their disposal. They tried every dirty trick they could think of, questioning Wilma's mental capacity in the months before her death, fighting the legality of the land trust, and trying to impugn our characters implying that we were gold diggers who wormed our way into Wilma's life to steal the family inheritance. In the end, though, the family's lawyers were no match for Brantford and his firm. When none of their ploys worked, Erin's family and the McDougals turned on each other, and the ensuing lawsuits are still ongoing to this day. I would love to say that that was the end of the McDougals, or that Erin's family came around in the end. Unfortunately, they are still just as terrible as ever. But at least their arrogance and corruption are now far enough away that we can safely ignore them. On a similar note, my mother is still absent from our lives. I don't honestly know if she is even still alive, although I assume that someone would have tried to find her next of kin if she had died. Sometimes, I am charitable and hope that she managed to face her demons and turn what's left of her life around. But most of the time, I am just glad that she is no longer able to hurt the people I love. After things settled down, Alison finished her schooling and became a nurse practitioner, as she had always dreamed of. In her last year of study, while she was doing a clinical practicum at a hospital in Detroit, she met a lovely internist who fell madly in love with her. Luckily for him, his feelings were reciprocated, and they are now married and living in Grand Rapids. They split their holidays between our family and her husband's family in Detroit, and they stay with us for a few weeks each summer. Their son is as thick as thieves with our daughter, and their imagination carries them through endless adventures together. Sharon was successful in her ambition to leave the peninsula and see more of the world. She finished her undergraduate degree in creative writing in Chicago before setting out to see the world, and she is still out there wandering. But she sends us lots of pictures when she gets the chance, and recently, Erin noticed that many of her pictures have the same very attractive woman smiling in the background. I think it was probably a coincidence, but Erin thinks otherwise. I sure hope Erin's right. There is nothing I want more than for my family to find love and happiness. When the spirit moves her to come home to us (with or without her friend), she will be very welcome. Mary spent months grieving her loss, but rather than turning inward, she channeled her emotions into a triptych of paintings that firmly established her as an upcoming talent in the world of art. She lived with us for several years until James proposed, at which point they moved into one of the cottages owned by the trust. Unfortunately, James' family found out that he told Wilma about their plans, and they disowned him. He had a few tough years, but Mary helped him through, and when he turned eighteen, I took him on as an apprentice. He now runs one of my crews. I used to worry that he loved Mary more than she loved him and that the imbalance would lead to heartache. My worries were put to rest when she painted her first portrait. James was her subject, and I have never seen a painting more suffused with love and desire. A few years later, a collector offered her an eye-watering amount of money for it, but she politely declined. As for Lane, well who knows what he will do with his life, but he is carrying a 4.0 GPA, and the world is his oyster. He was sure impressed by the lawyers who rained hellfire down on the McDougals, though, so I suspect that he might be leaning that way in the future. He is also building quite a following as a DJ, combining classics from the 40's and 50's with new beats. He recently started dating a new girl, and she is a real sweetheart. We haven't told her about the day that he met Erin for the first time; yet. But trust me, that time will come. But until it does, Lane is more than happy to keep up with his chores and help out around the house. But what he loves more than anything is to carry his rod out to the end of the dock and fish, while the wind off the lake plays through his hair. And then there is Erin and me. I have to say that things have worked out pretty well for us, in the end. It took less than a year for me to make use of Wilma's last gifts, and Erin and I were married the next summer in the new park down by the dock. Wilma left her house and a few acres of land to Erin, separate from the land trust, and we spent several years fixing it up and expanding it so that my brother and sisters know that there is always a place for them if they need it; for a day, a week, or a lifetime. I am still not the best at taking orders or following instructions; but gentle requests from the woman that I love, sealed with a kiss on my cheek? It turns out that I am more than fine with those. And I am still not always sure what a beautiful doctor sees in a plumber like me. But rather than let my insecurity get the better of me, I have learned to accept my good fortune with a smile. One tradition that we've adopted as our own is that we make time to dance together every Friday night. If we have guests, or family who are home, they know that they will be joining us as well; Wilma's 'no wallflowers' rule is still in full effect. Now that she is old enough, I am teaching our daughter to dance, and her favorite thing in the world is to twirl around the living room in her mommy and daddy's arms. Some nights, when it's just the three of us and our daughter has gone to bed, we let the soft crackle of Wilma's old 45s take us back. We dance together with the lights down low, the music threading through the quiet night like a whisper from the past. And when the music fades, we hold each other close and listen to the voices of those we have loved, as they linger in the wind off the lake. Based on a post by CleverGenericName, in 4 parts, for Literotica.

This is a powerful Biblical story about brotherhood, destiny, deception, and divine promise, told in the Book of Genesis.Isaac, the son of Abraham, married Rebekah. After many years of prayer, Rebekah gave birth to twin sons. The elder was Esau, a strong hunter who loved the open fields. The younger was Jacob, a quiet and thoughtful boy who stayed near home.Though Esau was the firstborn and entitled to his father's birthright and blessing, he cared little for it. One day, exhausted from hunting, Esau returned home hungry. Jacob was cooking lentil stew. Esau begged for food, and Jacob asked for something in return—Esau's birthright. Without thinking of the future, Esau agreed and gave up his birthright for a single meal.Years later, when Isaac grew old and blind, he decided to bless Esau before his death. Rebekah, knowing that God had chosen Jacob, helped Jacob disguise himself as Esau. Jacob went to his father and received the blessing meant for his brother.When Esau discovered the truth, he was filled with anger and vowed revenge. Fearing for Jacob's life, Rebekah sent him away to live with her relatives. Though separated by betrayal and pain, God continued to guide Jacob's life, and years later, the brothers would meet again.This story teaches us that impulsive choices can change destiny, and that God's plans unfold even through human weakness and conflict.

Unraveling the Mystery: The Key ManThe conversation revolves around a gripping detective story featuring Philip Marlowe, who navigates a complex web of crime, betrayal, and murder. The narrative unfolds as Marlowe takes on a new client, Mark Hummel, who is threatened by a dangerous ex-soldier named Barney Kovac. As the plot thickens, Hummel is found dead, leading Marlowe on a quest to uncover the truth behind the murder, involving various suspects and a mysterious key. The story culminates in a confrontation that reveals the true nature of the crime and the characters involved.In the shadowy world of crime and intrigue, Philip Marlowe stands as a beacon of justice. In "The Key Man," Marlowe is drawn into a web of deceit and danger, beginning with a simple request from a fearful client, Mark Hummel. Hummel, entangled in a property dispute with a menacing ex-soldier, Barney Kovac, seeks Marlowe's protection. But as the plot thickens, Marlowe finds himself navigating a labyrinth of betrayal and murder.The Setup: A Client in PerilThe story kicks off with Hummel's desperate plea for help. Fearing for his life, he hires Marlowe to ensure his safe passage to New York. However, the plan takes a dark turn when Marlowe discovers Hummel's lifeless body, a victim of a brutal murder. The only clue? A mysterious key lying next to the body.The Investigation: A Trail of CluesMarlowe's investigation leads him through the gritty streets of Los Angeles, from a desolate theater to a bustling garage. Along the way, he encounters a cast of colorful characters, including the jovial yet sinister Hippo Link and the enigmatic Rhonda Beaumont. Each holds a piece of the puzzle, but it's up to Marlowe to fit them together.The Resolution: Justice ServedIn a thrilling climax, Marlowe uncovers a burglary ring operating under the guise of a legitimate business. The key, a symbol of both access and secrecy, becomes the linchpin in solving the case. With the truth revealed, justice is served, and Marlowe once again proves that crime, no matter how cleverly concealed, cannot escape his keen eye.Conclusion: A Timeless Tale"The Key Man" is a testament to Raymond Chandler's mastery of the detective genre. Through Marlowe's eyes, we explore the complexities of human nature and the relentless pursuit of truth. As the story closes, we're reminded that in the world of Philip Marlowe, justice is not just a goal—it's a way of life.Subscribe now to dive deeper into the world of Philip Marlowe and other classic detective tales.TakeawaysCrime leads to inevitable consequences.Fear can drive people to desperate actions.The importance of trust in dangerous situations.A key can unlock more than just doors.Betrayal often comes from unexpected places.Murder can stem from jealousy and greed.Detective work requires piecing together clues.Every character has a hidden agenda.The past can haunt the present in unexpected ways.Justice often requires navigating a murky moral landscape.crime, mystery, detective, Philip Marlowe, murder, investigation, Raymond Chandler, suspense, noir, storytelling

This sermon teaches the biblical balance between the love of God and the fear of God, showing that both are essential for a healthy, obedient Christian life. Using the story of “Philip,” the message illustrates how many believers unknowingly create a personal theology—embracing God's love while neglecting proper fear—resulting in compromised obedience and ongoing struggle with sin. Scripture reveals that love for God is proven through obedience, and obedience is strengthened by a proper fear of the Lord. The fear of God is not terror or avoidance, but a deep reverence, respect for His authority, and awareness of consequences. Proverbs and Psalms show that fearing God brings life, wisdom, protection from evil, confidence, and spiritual safety. Jesus Himself taught that God alone is to be feared, because He holds ultimate authority over both soul and body. The sermon explains that fear and love are not opposites but work together—love motivates relationship, while fear establishes boundaries that protect believers from sin and spiritual harm. The message warns that a lack of the fear of God in the modern church has led to moral looseness and self-made theology. True spiritual growth requires humility, willingness to change, and submission to God's authority. God's boundaries are an expression of His love, designed to keep His children safe. The sermon concludes with a call to self-examination, repentance, and renewed obedience—urging believers to live within God's loving boundaries, guided by both His love and a proper fear of the Almighty.

Saudi Uranium Enrichment and Proliferation Risks: Colleague Henry Sokolski discusses the risks of allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, fearing it creates a bomb-making option, warning that making exceptions for Saudi Arabia could trigger a proliferation cascade among neighbors like Turkey and Egypt, undermining global non-proliferation efforts amidst rising tensions involving Russia and NATO. 1954

 HEADLINE: Post-War Guilt and the Legacy of Stimson, Spaatz, and Togo GUEST AUTHOR: Evan Thomas SUMMARY: After the war, Henry Stimson and General Spaatz were haunted by guilt, fearing science had outpaced human morality. Foreign Minister Togo died in prison serving a sentence for war crimes, believing he did his best for peace, though he remains largely uncelebrated in modern ambivalent Japan.

Hello! Andrew is joined by Connor Bromley, a Sunderland fan and podcaster (you can find his channel here) to discuss the big derby game this Sunday. Sunderland come into this game in great spirits despite only one win in their last six. The first derby in the top flight for nearly 10 years will be a big test for the home side after a great start to their league campaign. But are their weaknesses? And who is their key man to stop? Ready for some EXCLUSIVE Everything is Black and White Podcast deals? Of course you are! You can get up to 60% off your FPRO football skills mat by using our discount code EIBW20 at https://fpro.com Or go to https://FPRO.COM/EIBW20 *** You can also get an exclusive discount on your NORD VPN by clicking here: https://nordvpn.com/toon⁠ There's no risk a 30-day money back guarantee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baltic Defenses and NATO's Uncertain Resolve: Colleague Blaine Holt discusses the Baltics preparing defensive "Mino lines" and bunkers fearing a potential Russian attack, noting Baltic citizens feel trapped between NATO bureaucracy and Russian hybrid warfare while doubting NATO's resolve to intervene, arguing diplomatic solutions are necessary as Europe lacks resources for a cohesive defense. 1848

Today's Promise: Pslam 31:19 Discover the incredible promise of God's goodness and mercy in this inspiring episode. God has already stored up blessings for those who honor Him and place their trust in His care. Fearing the Lord isn't about being afraid—it's about showing deep respect for who He is.   Taking refuge in Him means leaning fully on His strength, knowing He is your safe haven. Imagine a heavenly warehouse filled with every blessing you could ever need, already prepared before you even ask. When you live in reverence and trust, you unlock access to this abundance. No matter the challenges life throws your way, God's goodness and mercy never run out. They are waiting for you to receive.   Tune in to learn how to walk in faith, open the doors to His promises, and experience the overflowing provision God has planned for your life.

In this episode, we listen to words of delight after an awaited event, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 142, penned by Paranar. Set amidst the golden flowers of the ‘Kurinji’ or ‘Mountain Landscape’, the verse depicts the generosity of a king and the courage of a commander in the battlefield. இலமலர் அன்ன அம் செந் நாவின்புலம் மீக்கூறும் புரையோர் ஏத்த,பலர் மேந் தோன்றிய கவி கை வள்ளல்நிறைஅருந் தானை வெல்போர் மாந்தரம்பொறையன் கடுங்கோப் பாடிச் சென்றகுறையோர் கொள்கலம் போல, நன்றும்உவ இனி வாழிய, நெஞ்சே! காதலிமுறையின் வழாஅது ஆற்றிப் பெற்றகறை அடி யானை நன்னன் பாழி,ஊட்டு அரு மரபின் அஞ்சு வரு பேஎய்க்கூட்டு எதிர்கொண்ட வாய் மொழி மிஞிலிபுள்ளிற்கு ஏமம் ஆகிய பெரும் பெயர்வெள்ளத் தானை அதிகற் கொன்று, உவந்துஒள் வாள் அமலை ஆடிய ஞாட்பின்,பலர் அறிவுறுதல் அஞ்சி, பைப்பய,நீர்த் திரள் கடுக்கும் மாசு இல் வெள்ளிச்சூர்ப்புறு கோல் வளை செறித்த முன்கைகுறை அறல் அன்ன இரும் பல் கூந்தல்,இடன் இல் சிறு புறத்து இழையொடு துயல்வர,கடல் மீன் துஞ்சும் நள்ளென் யாமத்து,உருவு கிளர் ஓவினைப் பொலிந்த பாவைஇயல் கற்றன்ன ஒதுக்கினள் வந்து,பெயல் அலைக் கலங்கிய மலைப் பூங் கோதைஇயல் எறி பொன்னின் கொங்கு சோர்பு உறைப்ப,தொடிக்கண் வடுக்கொள முயங்கினள்;வடிப்பு உறு நரம்பின் தீவிய மொழிந்தே. There’s only a dash of this domain in this instance, as we listen to the man say these words to his heart, at a moment when he has trysted with his lady, after a long separation: “Celebrated by wise bards, who have skilled red tongues, akin to silk-cotton flowers, is the one with generous hands, exalted above all others, that conquering king with an unstoppable army, known as ‘Mantharam Poraiyan Kadunko'. Akin to the vessels of those impoverished, who return after singing about him, you shall brim over now, my heart! May you live long! Without swerving from his just path, with his talents, the great Nannan won over elephants with huge feet. In his town of ‘Paazhi', his commander Minili, renowned for his honesty, undertook the task of feeding the insatiable and terrifying spirits of death, and routed the famous Athikan, with a flood-like army, renowned for being a protector of birds. After this, Minili, performed the ecstatic ‘Amalai' dance, with his shining sword. Akin to the uproar that arose in the battlefield just then, slander would spread in town if they knew of our relationship. Fearing that, walking gently, wearing many neat rows of flawless silver, curving bangles on her forearms, having thick, dark tresses, akin to silt-laden sand, caressed by the river, extending and swaying beyond her slender waist, my lady love came at the dark hour of midnight, when even fish in the seas sleep, moving with a delicate gait, akin to a radiantly painted doll, which was just learning to walk, and making my honey-soaked garland of mountain flowers, tousled by the rains, shed flowers, akin to golden sparks that scatter in a smithy, she embraced me, leaving impressions of her bangles, and uttering sweet words, resounding like the well-played strings of a lute!” Let’s hear the heartbeat of this mountain man! He starts by talking about a great king, Mantharam Poraiyan Kadunko, one who was celebrated by silver-tongued bards, only here, their truthful tongues are placed in parallel to the red flowers of a silk-cotton tree. The man goes on to say how generous this king was known to be, and just like how the bowls of those who had come seeking to him would overflow, the man’s heart too was in the same state of brimming over with joy!  Before telling us why, the man talks about the nature of slander that would spread in the lady’s town if her relationship with him were to be found out. To do that, he makes the verse echo with the uproar in the battlefield at the moment a commander of King Nannan, a lord named ‘Minili’ defeated the powerful Athikan and did the victory dance. Connecting this uproar to the rumours in town, the man says the lady feared that very much. This nugget tells us that the man had not been meeting the lady as much as he would like, for she had been avoiding seeing him owing to her fear. But just a while ago, she had come walking like a doll, and making the golden flowers of his rain-soaked garland scatter, she had embraced him tightly, leaving imprints of her bangles on him. Not only that, she had ended by speaking words as sweet as the music of lutes, the man concludes. Since this event occurred, that’s the reason his heart is brimming over, we understand. A record of a relatable feeling that many of us would have felt when a much awaited meeting goes on better than our expectations! Situations may change, reasons may differ, but emotions remain the same!

Why do so many parents tiptoe gingerly around their children in today's world? More and more parents are afraid to step up, take the reins, and assume their God-given position of authority. Instead, parents have become like butlers, available to wait on and serve their kids' every desire and whim. Fearing rejection, we sometimes go against our better judgment and God's design to say yes when we should be saying no. God established the family with a pecking order. Those who are older and wiser are charged with the duty of raising, nurturing, and protecting those who are young and not-so- wise. In other words, parents are to parent their children. Dad, mom: you have a God-given responsibility to love your teenager, to guide them through life, to protect them from harm, and to provide for their well-being. This means that there are times when you will have to teach your kids God's will and way by saying no. Parent your teenagers to the glory of God!

Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff & Tommy Smith hear from new Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg. They look at the contenders chasing down Coventry – can Millwall make it to the Premier League? Everyone's fearing for Swansea down the bottom. And what about strugglers Plymouth Argyle, Port Vale and Bristol Rovers? Plus, send us your EFL ‘hard man' suggestions on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369.00:55 Middlesbrough continue to chase Coventry 08:45 Millwall up to third after beating Saints 17:00 Fearing for Swansea 21:10 Who makes the EFL ‘hard man' XI? 25:00 Jobi in the jungle 27:25 Plymouth & Port Vale struggling 34:45 FA Cup coming at the right time for Vale & Bristol Rovers? 36:50 72PLUS 72MINUS 39:50 Jobi nearly signed for Hibs!5 Live / BBC Sounds Premier League commentaries: Sat 1500 Bournemouth v Chelsea, Sat 1500 Tottenham v Brentford on Sports Extra, Sat 1730 Leeds v Liverpool, Sun 1400 Brighton v West Ham, Sun 1400 Fulham v Crystal Palace.

In this episode of Shrink for the Shy Guy, Dr. Aziz dives into one of the most subtle yet powerful patterns that drives social anxiety and people-pleasing: the fear of other people's feelings. Ever find yourself unable to say no, worrying you've upset someone, or constantly trying to make sure everyone feels okay, even at your own expense? This episode exposes the hidden contract behind those patterns: the belief that you're responsible for managing other people's emotional states. Whether it's guilt when someone's sad, panic when they're angry, or discomfort even when they admire you, this episode helps you finally break free. You'll learn how this core fear is rooted in outdated childhood wiring and how you can begin to rewire your system so you're no longer held hostage by others' moods. Through powerful examples and real-life metaphors, Dr. Aziz shows you a way out of emotional over-responsibility and into a life of greater freedom, truth, and inner peace. You're not here to manage everyone's feelings. You're here to live your life.”

Revisiting one of our most powerful and unforgettable conversations — our interview with Betsy and Gentry Mikesell. These inspiring entrepreneurs, known for creating Beddy's, the bedding company that transformed how families make their beds, open up about more than business success in this episode. They share the life-altering plane crash that reshaped their family forever — and the profound gratitude that came from surviving the unimaginable. As we enter the Thanksgiving season, their story is a reminder of what truly matters: family, faith, resilience, and the ability to find gratitude even in the hardest chapters of life. Their words still echo with one of the most powerful lines from the episode: “It was the worst thing to happen to our family… and yet the best.” This is an episode that will warm your heart, move you deeply, and inspire you to reach out to the people you love with a little extra gratitude today.Timestamps[2:56] Being an entrepreneur and the start of Beddy's [10:43] Snapshot of what Beddy's looks like today [17:10] The plane crash[21:33] Gaining consciousness [27:20] Having to wait for Gentry to heal [37:42] Fearing he might not make it [41:20] Learning to not be judgmental or critical [42:51] Where Alyssa was and how this experience touched her [49:35] Moving to Tennessee and how life was later [53:51] One final nugget of truth Notable quotes:“There were just so many things that came into place, like if we had crashed 20 seconds earlier, we wouldn't have crashed near campers. We would have been so remote that nobody could get to us. So we feel super lucky for the way it turned out.” [20:11]Relevant links: Subscribe to the podcast: Apple PodcastProduced by NC Productions!

Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff & Lyle Taylor react to Coventry going 10 points clear. They also have their say on Middlesbrough appointing Kim Hellberg. Should Tonda Eckert be given the Southampton job permanently? Stevenage top League One, Bromley are up into the League Two automatics and Christian Fuchs is in at bottom club Newport. Plus, we're now looking for your top EFL ‘hard men' - send your suggestions to us on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369.01:20 Coventry go 10 points clear 09:10 Middlesbrough appoint Kim Hellberg 12:10 Southampton interim Tonda Eckert wins again 16:50 Peterborough win first four under Luke Williams 18:05 Charlton suddenly shipping goals 21:30 The search for EFL hard men begins 26:35 Bromley up into League Two automatics 30:45 Christian Fuchs in at bottom club Newport 33:40 Fearing for Bristol Rovers after seven league defeats 34:50 72PLUS 72MINUS5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Wed 2000 Arsenal v Bayern Munich, Wed 2000 PSG v Tottenham on Sports Extra, Thu 1745 Feyenoord v Celtic on Sports Extra, Thu 2000 Rangers v Sporting Braga on Sports Extra, Thu 2000 Aberdeen v Noah on Sports Extra 2.

Eric Williamson, PhD, registered dietitian and Director of Nutrition at Canyon Ranch, lays out a clear, practical roadmap for building a better relationship with food. For starters, he explains why one-size-fits-all advice around protein, fiber, and fat often misses the mark. Learn how to optimize your diet without stress, fear, or gimmicks, especially as you age. From fiber-rich meals to evidence-based takes on seed oils and sweeteners, Eric offers straight answers rooted in science, not trends.How long will you live? Take our quiz today to find out!Special Thanks to Our SponsorsTimeline Nutrition: Our favorite supplement for cell support and mitochondrial function. Listeners can now get 20% off their first Timeline purchase by using the code “AGEIST” at checkout at TimelineNutrition.com/ageist.LMNT Electrolytes: Our #1 electrolytes for optimal hydration. Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase by using our link here. Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend.Our Place: Right now, Our Place is having their biggest sale of the year! Save up to 35% sitewide now through December 2nd. Head to fromourplace.com and see why more than a million people have made the switch to Our Place kitchenware. And with their 100-day risk-free trial, free shipping, and free returns, you can shop with total confidence. Shop the Our Place Black Friday Sale right now (no code needed). Key Moments“Protein is the nutrient that we have the highest needs for next to water.”“Fiber is the only nutrient where we don't see an upper limit for disease risk reduction.”“Instead of being scared of our grocery store aisles, we're better served by focusing on what to eat.”Connect with Eric Williamson, PhDCanyon RanchLinkedInInstagramConnect with AGEISTNewsletterInstagramWebsiteLinkedInSay hi to the AGEIST team!

Birdie Jaworski (aka Prudence Calabrese) became interested in remote viewing in 1995 after the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Stanford Research Institute declassified the Stargate Program. She was trained in military grade remote viewing by Dr. Courtney Brown and soon became Vice President of the newly created Farsight Institute in 1996. After a year, she left to form her own remote viewing organization called TransDimensional Systems (TDS), where she was joined by John Vivanco, who became Vice President. In 1998/99, she remote viewed the next terrorist attack on US and drew the twin towers with planes flying into it. Her successful prediction of the September 11, 2001, attack brought her mainstream media attention, where she was interviewed by news organizations from around the world. Her successful prediction also brought her the unwelcome attention of the intelligence community, whereby she began experiencing serious harassment and threats. Fearing for her five young children, she abolished TDS and went underground in 2002. After 22 years of staying out of the public arena with her remote viewing sessions, which she privately continued, she reemerged in 2024 to form a new remote viewing organization called TransDimensional Mapping (TDM). In her first Exopolitics Today interview with Dr. Michael Salla, Birdie discusses what happened to her and what she did during her 22 years of private remote viewing. She discusses remote viewing deep underground military bases where huge space arks are being built, Gray extraterrestrials who have been visiting Earth for millennia, Inner Earth civilizations, giants, human cloning, supersoldiers and the ancient origins of 3I/Atlas. Birdie Jaworski's website is: https://www.norivets.comHer YouTube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/@norivetsJoin Dr. Salla on Patreon for Early Releases, Webinar Perks and More.Visit https://Patreon.com/MichaelSalla/

Today on the show, NPR immigration reporter Jasmine Garsd introduces us to two families in Washington, D.C.. One has made the difficult decision to set up "emergency guardianship" for their son, in the case that the parents are deported to Guatemala. The other has agreed to take that son in, should anything happen. It's the second part in Jasmine's reporting series looking into how immigrant families are preparing for the worst under the Trump administration's current immigration crackdown.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

PREVIEW Brendan Weichert comments on the US-China AI race. While executives suggest China might win, the US has restricted sales of high-end chips, fearing misuse. China claims chip breakthroughs are imminent. Both sides are developing rapidly: China appears stronger in robotics, while the US maintains a lead in AI software development. Guest: Brendan Weichert.

We are back this week with a brand-new episode! As the jack-o-lanterns rot, the autumn leaves turn to dust, and the days get shorter, let us all rejoice in the glorious judgement contained herein that lifts the spirit, brightens one's day, and enriches the soul. Nikki is now an ambassador for Club WPT Gold! Check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://clubwptgold.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code NIKKI to sign up! Follow the podcast on Insta: @shttheydonttellyou Follow Nikki on Insta: @NikkiLimo Follow Steve on Insta: @SteveGreeneComedy To visit our Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.patreon.com/stikki To watch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/STDTYPodYouTube Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening, or by using this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/ShtTheyDontTellYou If you want to support the show, and get all our episodes ad-free go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stdty.supercast.tech/ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/ShtTheyDontTellYou To submit your questions/feedback, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@nikki.limo To call in with questions/feedback, leave us a voicemail at: (765) 734-0840 To watch more Nikki & Steve on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.youtube.com/nikkilimo To watch more of Nikki talking about Poker: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.twitch.tv/trickniks To check out Nikki's Jewelry Line: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kittensandcoffee.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fearing a Democratic-led House of Representatives, Donald Trump set off a state-redistricting arms race when he asked Texas to find him five more safe GOP seats. This triggered California to go hunting for five more Democratic seats, and states like North Carolina and Missouri to search for other seats in the margins. But in some states, Trump's demands are running into rare Republican resistance. Guest: Ari Berman, voting rights reporter at Mother Jones.  Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fearing a Democratic-led House of Representatives, Donald Trump set off a state-redistricting arms race when he asked Texas to find him five more safe GOP seats. This triggered California to go hunting for five more Democratic seats, and states like North Carolina and Missouri to search for other seats in the margins. But in some states, Trump's demands are running into rare Republican resistance. Guest: Ari Berman, voting rights reporter at Mother Jones.  Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices