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As the one-year anniversary of the deadly fireworks explosion at Aliamanu approaches, law enforcement is taking additional measures to prepare for New Year’s Eve. Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement director Mike Lambert shared with Spotlight Now plans to blanket the island of Oahu through manpower and technology by Dec. 31. Emergency Medical Services director Dr. Jim Ireland said the Aliamanu explosion, which killed six people and injured 20 more, was the worst call of his 40-year career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Fireworks, Friendship, and a New Year: An Oslofjord Tale Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-12-31-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Det var en stille og kjølig vinterettermiddag ved Oslofjord.En: It was a quiet and cool winter afternoon by the Oslofjord.No: Den vanlige travle basen var pyntet med lys og dekorasjoner.En: The usually busy base was decorated with lights and decorations.No: Sjømennene forberedte seg på nyttårsaften med entusiasme og forventning.En: The sailors were preparing for New Year's Eve with enthusiasm and anticipation.No: Gjennom all denne aktiviteten, hadde Solveig, Lars og Knut en spesiell plan som skulle gjøre festen uforglemmelig.En: Amidst all this activity, Solveig, Lars, and Knut had a special plan to make the party unforgettable.No: Solveig, alltid full av ideer og entusiasme, hadde en glimrende idé.En: Solveig, always full of ideas and enthusiasm, had a brilliant idea.No: "Vi må ha fyrverkeri!" utbrøt hun til sine nære venner, Lars og Knut.En: "We need fireworks!" she exclaimed to her close friends, Lars and Knut.No: Lars, kjent for sine uvanlige ideer, var enig.En: Lars, known for his unusual ideas, agreed.No: "Ja, det ville være fantastisk," sa han og smilte bredt.En: "Yes, that would be fantastic," he said, smiling widely.No: Knut, litt mer forsiktig av natur, rynket brynene, men nikket.En: Knut, a bit more cautious by nature, furrowed his brows but nodded.No: Han visste at de ville trenge noen tekniske kunnskaper for å sikre at alt gikk riktig for seg.En: He knew they would need some technical knowledge to ensure everything went smoothly.No: "Fyrverkeriet er under lås og slå i lagerrommet," sa Lars, med et glimt i øyet.En: "The fireworks are locked away in the storage room," said Lars, with a gleam in his eye.No: De tre vennene jobbet sammen; Solveig ledet dem med sitt smittende humør, Lars hadde en plan, og Knut, med sine nysgjerrige fingre, var på saken for å låse opp døren.En: The three friends worked together; Solveig led them with her infectious mood, Lars had a plan, and Knut, with his curious fingers, was on the case to unlock the door.No: Men, i deres opphisselse, smalt døren igjen bak dem, og de var plutselig fanget inne i lagerrommet.En: But, in their excitement, the door slammed shut behind them, and they were suddenly trapped inside the storage room.No: Lars kikket bekymret rundt og sa, "Vi er låst inne!"En: Lars looked around worriedly and said, "We're locked in!"No: Knut begynte å puste raskere, mens Solveig begynte å le.En: Knut started to breathe faster, while Solveig began to laugh.No: "Vi skulle bare få fyrverkeri, og nå har vi vår lille nyttårsaften her inne!"En: "We just wanted to get fireworks, and now we have our little New Year's Eve in here!"No: Hun så på de andre to. "Dette skal vi løse sammen."En: She looked at the other two. "We'll solve this together."No: Mens de ventet, fant Solveig en hårnål i lommen sin. "Kanskje dette kan hjelpe oss?" foreslo hun.En: While they waited, Solveig found a hairpin in her pocket. "Maybe this could help us?" she suggested.No: Knut smilte for første gang på lenge. "La meg prøve," sa han og begynte å jobbe med låsen.En: Knut smiled for the first time in a while. "Let me try," he said and began working on the lock.No: Han kjente ingeniørens lidenskap når han fumlet forsiktig med hårnålen.En: He felt the engineer's passion as he carefully fumbled with the hairpin.No: Minuttene gikk sakte, men Knut jobbet med besluttsomhet.En: The minutes passed slowly, but Knut worked with determination.No: Han fant den rette vinkelen, og kanskje med litt flaks, hørte de en svak klikk.En: He found the right angle and, perhaps with a bit of luck, they heard a faint click.No: Døren åpnet seg rett før midnatt!En: The door opened just before midnight!No: De stormet ut av lagerrommet, løp mot bakken, og rakk så vidt å fyre av fyrverkeriet.En: They stormed out of the storage room, ran towards the ground, and just managed to set off the fireworks.No: Da de blekblågnistene lyste opp himmelen over Oslofjorden akkurat i det klokken slo midnatt, ble trioen ønsket velkommen med jubel fra sine medseilere.En: As the pale blue sparks lit up the sky over the Oslofjord right as the clock struck midnight, the trio was welcomed with cheers from their fellow sailors.No: Smilende så de de fargerike eksplosjonene lyse opp nattehimmelen.En: Smiling, they watched the colorful explosions light up the night sky.No: Solveig innså at samarbeid og litt humor kan løse de mest uventede situasjoner, mens Knut fant glede i det uventede kaoset.En: Solveig realized that teamwork and a bit of humor could solve the most unexpected situations, while Knut found joy in the unexpected chaos.No: Det ble en nyttårsaften de aldri ville glemme, og med et siste blikk på de fallende stjernene i fyrverkeriets glans, visste de at de alltid ville ha hverandre i de rareste eventyrene.En: It was a New Year's Eve they would never forget, and with one last glance at the falling stars in the fireworks' glow, they knew they would always have each other in their wildest adventures. Vocabulary Words:quiet: stillecalm: kjøligbase: basendecorations: dekorasjonersailors: sjømenneneanticipation: forventningunforgettable: uforglemmeligbrilliant: glimrendeexclaimed: utbrøtenthusiasm: entusiasmecautious: forsiktigfurrowed: rynketbrows: brynenetechnical: tekniskeknowledge: kunnskapersecure: sikremood: humørinfectious: smittendeslammed: smalttrapped: fangetbreathed: pustesuggested: foreslodetermination: besluttsomhetunlock: låse oppengineer: ingeniørpassion: lidenskapfumbled: fumletwelcomed: ønsket velkommenjoy: gledelight: lyse
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Shanghai's New Year: Fireworks, New Hopes, and New Friendships Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-31-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 新年的前夕,上海的外滩笼罩在一片节日的欢腾中。En: On the eve of the New Year, Shanghai's The Bund was enveloped in a festive cheer.Zh: 黄浦江的水面反射着历史建筑的灯光,游客和本地人都期盼着午夜的焰火表演。En: The surface of the Huangpu River reflected the lights of historic buildings, as both tourists and locals eagerly awaited the midnight fireworks display.Zh: 梅,一个年轻的女子,站在江边,心中思绪万千。En: Mei, a young woman, stood by the river, her mind filled with countless thoughts.Zh: 过去的一年并不顺利,她希望在新年能找到新的希望。En: The past year had not been smooth, and she hoped to find new hope in the new year.Zh: 她身边是活泼的朋友梁,梁笑着说:“梅,今天晚上,我们一定要尽情享受,不要想太多!”En: Beside her was her lively friend, Liang, who laughed and said, "Mei, tonight, we must enjoy ourselves to the fullest and not think too much!"Zh: 梅微微一笑,En: Mei smiled slightly.Zh: 尽管内心对拥挤的人群感到不安,她决定尝试融入这欢乐的氛围。En: Despite feeling uneasy about the crowded scene, she decided to try and immerse herself in the joyful atmosphere.Zh: 与此同时,君,一个本地的摄影爱好者,在人群中寻找最佳的拍摄点。En: Meanwhile, Jun, a local photography enthusiast, was in the crowd searching for the best spot to shoot.Zh: 他的相机记录着这座城市的每一个动人瞬间。En: His camera was capturing every touching moment of the city.Zh: 君想在新年的一刻,抓住最美的烟火。En: Jun wanted to seize the most beautiful fireworks at the stroke of the new year.Zh: 人群越聚越多,时间也在逼近午夜。En: The crowd grew larger and larger as midnight approached.Zh: 君调整好相机,准备记录下激动人心的一刻。En: Jun adjusted his camera, ready to capture the thrilling moment.Zh: 就在烟火点燃的瞬间,梅和君不约而同地抬头望向天空。En: As the fireworks ignited, both Mei and Jun unintentionally looked up at the sky.Zh: 绚烂的烟火在他们头顶炸开,五彩斑斓,仿佛为新的一年揭开了帷幕。En: The brilliant fireworks exploded above them, colorful and vibrant, as if unveiling the curtain for the new year.Zh: “好漂亮!”梅不由自主地说道。En: "So beautiful!" Mei said involuntarily.Zh: “是啊,”君从相机后面抬起头,看着梅微笑道,“这座城市的夜晚总是充满惊喜。”En: "Yes," Jun replied, lifting his head from behind the camera and smiling at Mei, "the nights in this city are always full of surprises."Zh: 他们开始聊天,分享各自的新年愿望。En: They began to chat, sharing their New Year wishes.Zh: 君说他希望拍到更多感动人心的照片,而梅则希望能忘却过去的不快,迎接崭新的开始。En: Jun said he hoped to capture more touching photographs, while Mei wished to forget the past unhappiness and embrace a fresh start.Zh: 两人聊得很投机,不久就交换了联系方式。En: The two found their conversation congenial and soon exchanged contact information.Zh: 梅感受到了一种久违的轻松和快乐。En: Mei felt a long-lost sense of ease and happiness.Zh: 午夜过后,人群逐渐散去,外滩的灯光依旧明亮。En: After midnight, the crowd gradually dispersed, but the lights of The Bund remained bright.Zh: 梅和君漫步在江边,继续谈论着生活和梦想。En: Mei and Jun strolled along the riverbank, continuing to talk about life and dreams.Zh: 梅意识到,偶然的相遇可能带来意想不到的机遇。En: Mei realized that a chance encounter might bring unexpected opportunities.Zh: 也许正是这个晚上,她终于鼓起勇气,迎接新的可能。En: Perhaps on this very night, she finally mustered the courage to embrace new possibilities.Zh: 当他们分开时,梅的心中充满了对未来的憧憬和希望。En: As they parted, Mei was filled with anticipation and hope for the future.Zh: 她知道,这个新年不仅带来了灿烂的焰火,还有一个值得期待的新朋友。En: She knew that this New Year not only brought dazzling fireworks but also a new friend worth expecting.Zh: 冬夜的寒冷似乎因为心中的温暖而退去。En: The cold of the winter night seemed to retreat due to the warmth in her heart.Zh: 梅决定向未知迈出一步,去探索一个充满变化与成长的未来。En: Mei decided to take a step into the unknown, to explore a future full of changes and growth. Vocabulary Words:eve: 前夕enveloped: 笼罩festive: 节日的cheer: 欢腾reflected: 反射eagerly: 期盼smooth: 顺利immerse: 融入enthusiast: 爱好者capturing: 记录seize: 抓住thrilling: 激动人心ignited: 点燃spontaneously: 不约而同exploded: 炸开brilliant: 绚烂unveiling: 揭开involuntarily: 不由自主congenial: 投机embrace: 迎接encounter: 相遇anticipation: 憧憬mustering: 鼓起possibilities: 可能dispersed: 散去mustered: 鼓起strolled: 漫步retreat: 退去opportunities: 机遇unexpected: 意想不到
Graeme Raubenheimer speaks to Belinda Abrahams, spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, who says fireworks are far from harmless entertainment. She explains that inspectors routinely respond to frantic calls involving animals wedged into bathrooms, jumping through windows or suffering fatal injuries after panic-induced escape attempts. In some cases, criminal charges relating to animal abuse may be pursued when fireworks place animals at risk. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fluent Fiction - Italian: New Year Revelations: A Night at Piazza San Marco Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-31-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: La Piazza San Marco era viva.En: La Piazza San Marco was alive.It: Luci scintillanti danzavano sulle facciate degli edifici antichi.En: Twinkling lights danced on the façades of the ancient buildings.It: La gente rideva, abbracciava, e il loro fiato era visibile nell'aria invernale.En: People laughed, embraced, and their breath was visible in the winter air.It: Era la notte di Capodanno e l'eccitazione era contagiosa.En: It was New Year's Eve, and the excitement was contagious.It: Luca e Giulia erano lì, tra la folla, aspettando il nuovo anno.En: Luca and Giulia were there, among the crowd, waiting for the new year.It: Luca guardava il cielo.En: Luca looked up at the sky.It: "Giulia," iniziò, ma poi si fermò.En: "Giulia," he began, but then stopped.It: Sentiva una morsa allo stomaco.En: He felt a knot in his stomach.It: Il suo lavoro era diventato una prigione e desiderava il cambiamento.En: His job had become a prison, and he longed for change.It: Sognava una vita diversa, ma la paura di fallire e deludere la famiglia lo attanagliava.En: He dreamed of a different life, but the fear of failure and disappointing his family gripped him.It: Giulia, con un sorriso, strinse la mano di Luca.En: Giulia, with a smile, squeezed Luca's hand.It: "Che c'è?"En: "What's wrong?"It: chiese, i suoi occhi brillanti come le luci attorno a loro.En: she asked, her eyes shining like the lights around them.It: Era ottimista, sempre pronta a vedere il lato positivo.En: She was optimistic, always ready to see the bright side.It: Ma anche lei aveva le sue paure, il suo timore per il futuro.En: But she also had her fears, her concerns about the future.It: Luca esitò.En: Luca hesitated.It: Poi guardò i fuochi d'artificio che iniziavano a illuminare il cielo.En: Then he looked at the fireworks that began to light up the sky.It: Erano bellissimi, colori vivaci esplodevano in ogni direzione.En: They were beautiful, bright colors bursting in every direction.It: Il momento era perfetto.En: The moment was perfect.It: "Giulia," disse con più decisione, "voglio cambiare carriera.En: "Giulia," he said with more resolve, "I want to change careers.It: Voglio seguire la mia passione.En: I want to follow my passion.It: Ma ho paura."En: But I'm scared."It: Giulia rimase un attimo in silenzio.En: Giulia paused for a moment.It: Poi, con un sorriso dolce, abbracciò Luca.En: Then, with a sweet smile, she hugged Luca.It: "Non devi avere paura.En: "You don't need to be afraid.It: Se è quello che desideri, dovresti provarci.En: If that's what you want, you should go for it.It: Io ti sosterrò sempre."En: I will always support you."It: Le parole di Giulia erano come una luce nell'oscurità.En: Giulia's words were like a light in the darkness.It: Luca si sentì sollevato, come se un peso enorme gli fosse caduto di dosso.En: Luca felt relieved, as if an enormous weight had fallen off his shoulders.It: Aveva trovato il coraggio di parlare dei suoi piani, e l'incoraggiamento di Giulia gli diede la forza di andare avanti.En: He had found the courage to speak about his plans, and Giulia's encouragement gave him the strength to move forward.It: Mentre i fuochi d'artificio continuavano a esplodere sopra di loro, Luca si sentì fiducioso e chiaro sul suo futuro.En: As the fireworks continued to explode above them, Luca felt confident and clear about his future.It: La Piazza San Marco, con la sua atmosfera gioiosa e festosa, sarà ricordata come il luogo in cui prese la decisione più importante della sua vita.En: La Piazza San Marco, with its joyful and festive atmosphere, would be remembered as the place where he made the most important decision of his life.It: Il nuovo anno prometteva nuove avventure.En: The new year promised new adventures.It: E con Giulia al suo fianco, Luca era pronto per affrontarle tutte.En: And with Giulia by his side, Luca was ready to face them all. Vocabulary Words:the façade: la facciataembrace: abbracciothe breath: il fiatocontagious: contagiosathe crowd: la follathe knot: la morsathe stomach: lo stomacothe prison: la prigioneto long: desiderarethe failure: il fallireto disappoint: deludereto grip: attanagliareto squeeze: stringereto shine: brillarethe bright side: il lato positivoconcerns: timorethe hesitation: l'esitazionethe resolve: la decisionethe passion: la passionesweet: dolcethe courage: il coraggioenormous: enormethe weight: il pesoto fall off: cadere di dossothe encouragement: l'incoraggiamentothe atmosphere: l'atmosferato promise: promettereto face: affrontarejoyful: gioiosato explode: esplodere
The 2025 NFL season is 17 weeks old and with the playoffs right around the corner, a few playoff seedings and spots are still up for grabs. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears in an offensive shootout to keep their hopes of the NFC's #1 seed alive. Brock Purdy and Caleb Williams traded punches throughout Sunday evening until the 49ers defense stood tall. The Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks knocked off the Carolina Panthers, setting up a week 18 matchup that'll determine the winner of the NFC South. The Philadelphia Eagles held off the Buffalo Bills comeback attempt. Jalen Hurts commanded the first half and Josh Allen owned the second half but it was the Eagles defense that dominated the entire game, allowing the Eagles to stay alive in the race for the NFC's 2nd seed. The Steelers fell to the Browns, the Ravens knocked off the Packers and the Texans defeated the Chargers to all set up wild Wk18 playoff implications. Chris and the fellas break down the games, talk through the playoff outlooks and give their best thoughts on the teams that can win a Super Bowl this season. (00:00:00) - NFL Week 17 Reactions: Dawg of the Day (00:08:35) - Philadelphia Eagles vs Buffalo Bills (00:42:00) - San Francisco 49ers vs Chicago Bears (01:06:15) - Seattle Seahawks vs Carolina Panthers (01:19:00) - Miami Dolphins vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (01:27:45) - Baltimore Ravens vs Green Bay Packers (01:30:25) - Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers (01:42:45) - Houston Texans vs LA Chargers (01:54:20) - Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs (01:57:05) - Jacksonville Jaguars vs Indianapolis Colts (02:08:00) - NFL Playoff Previews: Teams That You Trust (02:22:35) - Bermuda Triangle Games: Lions vs Vikings, Bengals vs Cardinals, Cowboys vs Commanders, Saints vs Titans, Patriots vs Jets & Giants vs Raiders (02:36:15) - Locals Landline Presented By Zone (02:41:45) - BetMGM Moments (03:26:05) - MNF Preview: LA Rams at Atlanta Falcons Have some interesting takes, some codebreaks or just want to talk to the Green Light Crew? We want to hear from you. Call into the Green Light Hotline and give us your hottest takes, your biggest gripes and general thoughts. Day and night, this hotline is open. Green Light Hotline: (202) 991-0723 Also, check out our paddling partners at Appomattox River Company to get your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards so you're set to hit the river this summer. Green Light's YouTube Channel, where you can catch all the latest GL action: If you want some Black Friday merch, check out our sale:https://greenlightpodcast.shop/?fbclid=PAZnRzaAOR1RFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad3Jup6i1N2qH77pK8eUeSbKt2Y0OXMldIw1dRTq_xDRuY3Ctp99Qj4pfyGAw_aem_w9tp_XwGL-ZptFIHvlrM1g Green Light with Chris Long: Subscribe and enjoy weekly content including podcasts, documentaries, live chats, celebrity interviews and more including hot news items, trending discussions from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA are just a small part of what we will be sharing with you.
Bedtime Stories Podcast Fairytales and Folk Tales from the Lilypad for kids
Happy New Year, from Lily Shoutout to Josephine (as Ella Dawn) This largely forgotten but wonderful fairytale is written and rearranged by Marlene Wurfel, based on the concept and story by the American fabulist Emilie Poulsson (1853-1939) Music: “English Country Garden” & “Alpine Bierhalle” & “Christmas Homecoming” by Aaron Kenny courtesy YouTube Audio Library Auld Lang Syne (Instrumental) by the Jingle Punks courtesy YouTube Audio Library Sound effect attributions: “Fairy Logo” by DDmyzik courtesy of a Creative Commons Attribution Licence via www.freesound.org https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ “Coagulated” by Timbre & “Champagne Cork Pop” by Ruben Uitenweerde courtesy of a Creative Commons Attribution Licence via www.freesound.org "Fireworks, Close, A (H1).wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org
Honolulu city officials call on the public to take caution with fireworks ahead of NYE; Daniel Dinell discusses the legacy of his father, Tom Dinell, the founding chair of the University of Hawaiʻi Department of Urban and Regional Planning
On today's Czechia in 30 Minutes show: New Czech firework rules ahead of New Year's Eve: what you need to know; police warn more Czechs targeted in overseas drug courier scams; and later, how Czech NGO Koridor UA supports Ukraine's communities.
Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Finding Freedom: Áron's New Year's Resolution Under Fireworks Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A hő és gőz könnyedén ölelt körül mindent a budapesti termálfürdőben.En: The heat and steam gently enveloped everything in the Budapest thermal bath.Hu: Kint a tél csípős hidegét hozta az éles, friss levegő.En: Outside, winter brought the sharp, fresh air.Hu: Áron, a huszonnégy éves fiatalember, amely a fürdő különleges hangulatában, kereste saját útját.En: Áron, a twenty-four-year-old young man, sought his own path in the bath's unique atmosphere.Hu: Nemrég fejezte be egyetemi tanulmányait, de a jövő még homályos volt számára.En: He had recently completed his university studies, but the future was still unclear for him.Hu: A családi nyomás, hogy csatlakozzon a családi vállalkozáshoz, nagy súlyként nehezedett rá.En: The family pressure to join the family business weighed heavily on him.Hu: A család újévi összejövetelt tartott a fürdőben.En: The family held a New Year's gathering at the bath.Hu: Réka, Áron húga, boldogan lubickolt a meleg vízben, míg az apa, Gábor, büszkén nézte gyermekei játékát.En: Réka, Áron's sister, happily splashed in the warm water, while the father, Gábor, watched his children's play with pride.Hu: A meleg gőz és a nevetés betöltötte a levegőt.En: The warm steam and laughter filled the air.Hu: Áron ott ült csendben, elszántan gondolkodva.En: Áron sat there quietly, thinking determinedly.Hu: Az éjfél közeledett, az ünnepi fények fokozták az izgalmat.En: Midnight was approaching, and the festive lights heightened the excitement.Hu: Az emberek sorra gyűltek a medence körül, hogy figyeljék az újévi tűzijátékot.En: People gathered around the pool to watch the New Year's fireworks.Hu: Ahogy az óra ütötte a tizenkettőt, és a színes fények az égen táncoltak, Áron szíve őrült ritmusban vert.En: As the clock struck twelve and the colorful lights danced in the sky, Áron's heart beat wildly.Hu: Ez volt az a pillanat, amikor döntött.En: This was the moment he made a decision.Hu: A hangos koccintások és jókívánságok közepette Áron mély levegőt vett és odalépett apjához.En: Amidst the loud clinking of glasses and well-wishes, Áron took a deep breath and approached his father.Hu: "Apa," kezdte bizonytalanul, "beszélnünk kell.En: "Dad," he began uncertainly, "we need to talk."Hu: "Gábor kíváncsian fordult felé.En: Gábor turned to him curiously.Hu: "Mi a baj, fiam?En: "What's the matter, my son?"Hu: "Áron mélyen az apja szemébe nézett.En: Áron looked deep into his father's eyes.Hu: "Nem akarom a családi vállalkozást folytatni.En: "I don't want to continue the family business.Hu: Saját utam szeretném járni.En: I want to follow my own path.Hu: Másra vágyom.En: I desire something different."Hu: "A pillanat meglepte a család minden tagját.En: The moment surprised every member of the family.Hu: Réka érdeklődve figyelte bátyját, és az anyjuk is közelebb lépett.En: Réka watched her brother with interest, and their mother stepped closer as well.Hu: Csend telepedett a fürdő hangulatos atmoszférájára.En: A hush fell over the cozy atmosphere of the bath.Hu: Gábor az első meglepettség után lassan bólintott, arca ellágyult.En: Gábor, after the initial surprise, slowly nodded, his face softening.Hu: "Büszke vagyok rád, Áron.En: "I'm proud of you, Áron.Hu: A legfontosabb, hogy boldog legyél és megtaláld a saját utadat" - mondta végül nyugodt hangon.En: The most important thing is that you are happy and find your own path," he finally said in a calm voice.Hu: A család többi tagja is egyetértően bólogatott, érezhetően megkönnyebbültek ezzel a nyílt beszélgetéssel.En: The rest of the family nodded in agreement, clearly relieved by this open conversation.Hu: Áron szívében könnyebbség hullámzott át.En: A wave of relief washed over Áron's heart.Hu: Megértette, hogy az őszinteséget és a belső békét sosem szabad feladnia.En: He understood that honesty and inner peace should never be sacrificed.Hu: Most már magabiztosabb volt, készen arra, hogy szembenézzen a jövővel, amely saját döntésein alapul.En: Now he was more confident, ready to face a future based on his own decisions.Hu: A tűzijáték továbbra is izzott az éjszakai égen, és Áron boldogan állt családja mellett, aki elfogadta és támogatta új elhatározását.En: The fireworks continued to blaze in the night sky, and Áron stood happily with his family, who accepted and supported his new resolution.Hu: Nagyot sóhajtott, és tudta, hogy ez az év új kezdet az életében.En: He let out a deep sigh, knowing that this year marked a new beginning in his life.Hu: A termálfürdőt melegítő vízben búcsúzott a múlttól, várva, hogy az előttük álló téli éjszakában új utak nyíljanak meg számára.En: In the warm water of the thermal bath, he bid farewell to the past, anticipating that new paths would open for him in the winter night ahead. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: öleltatmosphere: hangulatábanunclear: homályospressure: nyomásgathering: összejöveteltsplashed: lubickoltpride: büszkéndeterminedly: elszántanapproaching: közeledettexcitement: izgalmatfireworks: tűzijátékotuncertainly: bizonytalanulcuriously: kíváncsiandesire: vágyommoment: pillanatsurprised: meglepteinterest: érdeklődvehush: csendcozy: hangulatossoftening: ellágyultrelief: megkönnyebbültekhonesty: őszinteségetconfident: magabiztosabbresolution: elhatározásátnew beginning: új kezdésbid farewell: búcsúzottanticipated: várvadecision: döntésgathered: gyűltekwildly: őrült ritmusban
Fluent Fiction - Danish: Love, Fog, and Fireworks: A New Year's Eve in Nyhavn Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-30-08-38-20-da Story Transcript:Da: Nyhavn var fuld af lys.En: Nyhavn was full of lights.Da: Både gled stille over vandet, mens de farverige bygninger langs kajen glitrede i vinterens klare aftenluft.En: Boats glided quietly over the water, while the colorful buildings along the quay sparkled in the clear winter evening air.Da: Astrid og Jens var ombord på en bådtur.En: Astrid and Jens were on board a boat tour.Da: Det var nytårsaften, og byen strålede med et festligt skær.En: It was New Year's Eve, and the city was glowing with a festive glow.Da: Astrid så ud over vandet.En: Astrid looked out over the water.Da: Hendes hjerte var tungt.En: Her heart was heavy.Da: Hun elskede arbejdet, men noget føltes ikke rigtigt.En: She loved her work, but something didn't feel right.Da: Jens sad ved siden af hende, ivrig og lidt nervøs.En: Jens sat next to her, eager and a bit nervous.Da: Han havde planlagt noget særligt for aftenen.En: He had planned something special for the evening.Da: Vejret var koldt.En: The weather was cold.Da: Pludselig begyndte en tæt tåge at dale ind over havnen.En: Suddenly, a thick fog began to descend over the harbor.Da: Lyset fra bygningerne blev svagt.En: The light from the buildings became faint.Da: Astrid så på Jens.En: Astrid looked at Jens.Da: "Tågen gør det svært at se noget," sagde hun.En: "The fog makes it hard to see anything," she said.Da: Jens nikkede.En: Jens nodded.Da: Han var skuffet.En: He was disappointed.Da: Han havde tænkt, at fyrværkeriet ville være en perfekt baggrund til hans spørgsmål.En: He had thought that the fireworks would be a perfect backdrop for his question.Da: Men nu kunne han næsten ikke se noget.En: But now he could hardly see anything.Da: Astrid rørte Jens' arm.En: Astrid touched Jens' arm.Da: "Jens," sagde hun stille.En: "Jens," she said quietly.Da: "Jeg har noget, jeg skal fortælle dig."En: "I have something I need to tell you."Da: Jens kiggede på hende med et blødt blik.En: Jens looked at her with a soft gaze.Da: "Hvad er det, Astrid?"En: "What is it, Astrid?"Da: "Jeg er i tvivl om min fremtid.En: "I'm uncertain about my future.Da: Jeg ved ikke, om mit arbejde er det rigtige for mig," indrømmede hun.En: I don't know if my job is right for me," she admitted.Da: Jens tænkte over hendes ord.En: Jens thought about her words.Da: Tågen blev tættere, og båden sænkede farten.En: The fog thickened, and the boat slowed down.Da: Han tog hendes hånd.En: He took her hand.Da: "Jeg forstår, Astrid.En: "I understand, Astrid.Da: Tak for at fortælle mig det."En: Thank you for telling me."Da: De stod på dækket i stilhed et øjeblik.En: They stood on the deck in silence for a moment.Da: Så sagde Jens, "Vi kan tale om det, når tiden er rigtig.En: Then Jens said, "We can talk about it when the time is right.Da: Jeg vil altid støtte dig."En: I will always support you."Da: Astrid følte en varme brede sig gennem hende.En: Astrid felt a warmth spreading through her.Da: Hun lænede sig op ad Jens.En: She leaned against Jens.Da: "Jeg elsker dig, Jens," sagde hun.En: "I love you, Jens," she said.Da: Da de havde delt deres tanker og følelser, lettede tågen en smule.En: After they shared their thoughts and feelings, the fog lifted a little.Da: Fyrværkeriet begyndte at lyse himlen op.En: The fireworks began to light up the sky.Da: Astrid og Jens stod sammen, oplyst af farverne.En: Astrid and Jens stood together, illuminated by the colors.Da: I det øjeblik følte Astrid sig lettere.En: In that moment, Astrid felt lighter.Da: Der var klarhed i hendes hjerte.En: There was clarity in her heart.Da: Hun kiggede op på Jens og vidste, at sammen kunne de klare alt.En: She looked up at Jens and knew that together they could handle anything.Da: Jens, som stadig holdt hendes hånd, indså, at dette øjeblik var perfekt, selv uden al planlægning.En: Jens, still holding her hand, realized that this moment was perfect, even without all the planning.Da: De smilede til hinanden under den strålende himmel.En: They smiled at each other under the brilliant sky.Da: Nyhavn summede stadig af liv.En: Nyhavn was still buzzing with life.Da: De gik i land med nye håb og drømme for det kommende år.En: They went ashore with new hopes and dreams for the coming year.Da: Med kærlighed og forståelse kunne de se frem til en lysere fremtid sammen.En: With love and understanding, they could look forward to a brighter future together. Vocabulary Words:glided: gledquay: kajensparkled: glitredefestive: festligtheartbeat: hjerteslageager: ivrigdescend: dalefaint: svagtbackdrop: baggrunduncertain: tvivlthickened: tættereclarity: klarhedilluminated: oplystleaned: lænedebuzzing: summedeashore: i landspread: bredegaze: blikadmitted: indrømmededescend: dalerealized: indsåbrighter: lyseresupport: støttesilence: stilhedfuture: fremtiddocked: lagdenervous: nervøswinter: vinterensharbor: havnenfireworks: fyrværkeriet
€10 discount on joining as yearly supporter : DECEMBER2025World news in 7 minutes. Wednesday 31st December 2025Today : UK-France disruption. Germany heist. Russia claims. Netherlands fireworks. US Venezuela hit. Powell lawsuit. Honduras protests. Brazil hiccups. Somalia protests. Spain Africa migrants. China Taiwan exercises. Turkiye arrests. Bangladesh Zia. Japan podcasts good.SEND7 is supported by our amazing listeners like you.Our supporters get access to the transcripts and vocabulary list written by us every day.Our supporters get access to an English worksheet made by us once per week.Our supporters get access to our weekly news quiz made by us once per week.We give 10% of our profit to Effective Altruism charities. You can become a supporter at send7.org/supportWith Stephen DevincenziContact us at podcast@send7.org or send an audio message at speakpipe.com/send7Please leave a rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify.We don't use AI! Every word is written and recorded by us!Since 2020, SEND7 (Simple English News Daily in 7 minutes) has been telling the most important world news stories in intermediate English. Every day, listen to the most important stories from every part of the world in slow, clear English. Whether you are an intermediate learner trying to improve your advanced, technical and business English, or if you are a native speaker who just wants to hear a summary of world news as fast as possible, join Stephen Devincenzi, Juliet Martin and Niall Moore every morning. Transcripts, vocabulary lists, worksheets and our weekly world news quiz are available for our amazing supporters at send7.org. Simple English News Daily is the perfect way to start your day, by practising your listening skills and understanding complicated daily news in a simple way. It is also highly valuable for IELTS and TOEFL students. Students, teachers, TEFL teachers, and people with English as a second language, tell us that they use SEND7 because they can learn English through hard topics, but simple grammar. We believe that the best way to improve your spoken English is to immerse yourself in real-life content, such as what our podcast provides. SEND7 covers all news including politics, business, natural events and human rights. Whether it is happening in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas or Oceania, you will hear it on SEND7, and you will understand it.Get your daily news and improve your English listening in the time it takes to make a coffee.For more information visit send7.org/contact or send an email to podcast@send7.org
Sydney's iconic New Year's Eve fireworks will ring in 2026 on Wednesday night, but celebrations will look a little different this year — with police officers carrying machine guns in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. - नयाँ वर्ष सन् २०२६ को पूर्वसन्ध्यामा सुरक्षा व्यवस्थालाई बलियो बनाउन न्यु साउथ वेल्समा २,५०० भन्दा बढी बर्दी लगाएका र सादा पोसाकमा प्रहरीहरू खटिने बताइएको छ। राज्यका प्रिमियर क्रिस मिन्सले ‘न्यु यर्स ईभ'का कार्यक्रमहरू हुने स्थानहरूमा पूर्ण रूपमा सशस्त्र प्रहरी सहितको व्यापक सुरक्षा व्यवस्था लागू हुने बताएका छन्। तपाईँलाई थाहा हुनु पर्ने कुराहरू के-के हुन्?
Jen Sabella, the Director of Strategy and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, joins Wendy Snyder (in for Bob Sirott) to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. She provides details on: 40 Ways To Celebrate The New Year In Chicago: Parties, Fireworks, Fine Dining And Family Fun: Celebrate the new year with midnight ball drops, fireworks shows, […]
Fluent Fiction - Italian: Facing Fears and Fireworks: A New Year's Eve in Venezia Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-30-23-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Luca guardava fuori dalla finestra del suo piccolo appartamento a Venezia.En: Luca looked out the window of his small apartment in Venezia.It: La città brillava sotto le luci natalizie, e l'aria era fresca e piena di aspettative.En: The city sparkled under the Christmas lights, and the air was fresh and full of expectations.It: Era la vigilia di Capodanno, e i canali riflettevano i colori delle luminarie, unendo cielo e acqua in un unico spettacolo.En: It was New Year's Eve, and the canals reflected the colors of the lights, merging sky and water into a single spectacle.It: Giorgia, la sua amica d'infanzia, era piena di energia.En: Giorgia, his childhood friend, was full of energy.It: Entrò nella stanza con un gran sorriso e disse: "Luca, questa sera sarà indimenticabile!En: She entered the room with a big smile and said, "Luca, tonight will be unforgettable!It: Non vedo l'ora di vedere i fuochi d'artificio in Piazza San Marco."En: I can't wait to see the fireworks in Piazza San Marco."It: Luca sorrise timidamente.En: Luca smiled timidly.It: Amava l'arte e la tranquillità del suo studio, ma il suo cuore batteva di più davanti all'idea di affrontare la folla.En: He loved art and the tranquility of his studio, but his heart beat faster at the thought of facing the crowd.It: Sapeva che la sua condizione poteva manifestarsi in qualsiasi momento.En: He knew his condition could manifest at any moment.It: "E se dovessi svenire?"En: "What if I faint?"It: pensava.En: he thought.It: La paura era una compagna costante.En: Fear was a constant companion.It: Giorgia sembrava leggere nei suoi pensieri.En: Giorgia seemed to read his thoughts.It: Si avvicinò e aggiunse: "Non ti preoccupare, Luca.En: She approached and added, "Don't worry, Luca.It: Ci sarò io con te.En: I'll be with you.It: Nessuno ti giudicherà.En: No one will judge you.It: Staremo insieme.En: We'll be together.It: Promesso."En: Promise."It: La sua voce sicura lo tranquillizzò.En: Her confident voice reassured him.It: Decise di fidarsi di lei, almeno per quella notte speciale.En: He decided to trust her, at least for that special night.It: Indossò un caldo cappotto e uscì, sentendo l'aria fresca sulla faccia mentre camminavano lungo i vicoli stretti e antichi di Venezia.En: He put on a warm coat and went out, feeling the fresh air on his face as they walked along the narrow, ancient alleys of Venezia.It: La città era viva.En: The city was alive.It: La musica riempiva le strade, e il profumo delle caldarroste invadeva l'aria.En: Music filled the streets, and the scent of roasted chestnuts invaded the air.It: Giunsero in Piazza San Marco, affollata di persone e di suoni di festa.En: They arrived at Piazza San Marco, crowded with people and festive sounds.It: I minuti passarono.En: Minutes passed.It: Proprio quando i primi fuochi illuminarono il cielo, Luca sentì quel solito senso di vertigine.En: Just as the first fireworks lit up the sky, Luca felt that usual sense of dizziness.It: Respirò profondamente, cercando di non farsi prendere dal panico.En: He breathed deeply, trying not to panic.It: Giorgia, accanto a lui, lo prese per mano.En: Giorgia, next to him, took his hand.It: "Vieni, sediamoci un attimo," disse dolcemente, guidandolo verso un angolo tranquillo della piazza.En: "Come on, let's sit down for a moment," she said gently, guiding him to a quiet corner of the square.It: Luca si lasciò cadere su una panchina di pietra.En: Luca let himself fall onto a stone bench.It: Giorgia rimase accanto a lui, il calore della sua presenza più confortante di mille parole.En: Giorgia stayed beside him, the warmth of her presence more comforting than a thousand words.It: Le luci dei fuochi riflettevano nei suoi occhi chiari, e Luca si sentì in pace.En: The lights of the fireworks reflected in her clear eyes, and Luca felt at peace.It: "Vedi, non sei da solo," disse Giorgia con un sorriso.En: "See, you're not alone," said Giorgia with a smile.It: "Sei più forte di quanto pensi."En: "You're stronger than you think."It: Luca annuì, sentendo il battito del cuore lentamente calmarsi.En: Luca nodded, feeling his heartbeat slowly calm.It: Guardò verso il cielo, i fuochi che disegnavano forme colorate nell'aria.En: He looked towards the sky, the fireworks painting colorful shapes in the air.It: In quel momento, non c'era paura, solo gratitudine.En: In that moment, there was no fear, only gratitude.It: La serata finì con loro due seduti insieme, avvolti nel silenzio e nel rumore dei festeggiamenti in lontananza.En: The evening ended with the two of them sitting together, wrapped in silence and the distant noise of celebrations.It: Era una notte in cui Luca aveva superato uno dei suoi timori più grandi.En: It was a night when Luca overcame one of his greatest fears.It: Aveva capito che appoggiarsi agli altri non era una debolezza, ma una forza.En: He had realized that leaning on others was not a weakness, but a strength.It: Rientrando verso casa, con Giorgia al suo fianco, Luca si sentiva diverso.En: Returning home, with Giorgia by his side, Luca felt different.It: Sapeva che affrontare le sue paure era possibile.En: He knew that facing his fears was possible.It: Con un'amica come Giorgia, nulla sembrava più insormontabile.En: With a friend like Giorgia, nothing seemed insurmountable anymore.It: E con questo pensiero, era pronto ad accogliere il nuovo anno con un cuore più leggero e speranzoso.En: And with this thought, he was ready to welcome the new year with a lighter and more hopeful heart. Vocabulary Words:expectations: le aspettativespectacle: lo spettacolochildhood: l'infanziafireworks: i fuochi d'artificiotimidly: timidamentetranquility: la tranquillitàcrowd: la follacondition: la condizioneto faint: svenirecompanion: la compagnato reassure: tranquillizzareancient: anticoto invade: invaderedizziness: la vertiginepanic: il panicoquiet: tranquillobench: la panchinapresence: la presenzacomforting: confortantegratitude: la gratitudinesilence: il silenzioto overcome: superarefear: il timoreto lean (on someone): appoggiarsiweakness: la debolezzastrength: la forzato approach: avvicinarsinarrow: strettoto guide: guidareto welcome: accogliere
What should you expect from your first New Year's Eve in Denmark? Couch-jumping? Royal speeches? Fireworks that feel slightly… unregulated?In this end-of-year episode, Derek and Conrad break down Danish New Year traditions from the perspective of internationals who've learned them the hard (and funny) way. From watching the King's speech at 6 pm and playing speech bingo, to the cult classic Dinner for One, jumping into the new year at midnight, and surviving Denmark's famously intense fireworks, this episode is your practical (and humorous) guide to doing New Year's “the Danish way.”They also share personal New Year routines, cozy dinner-party culture, parenting hacks to fake midnight for small kids, and a few classic cultural misunderstandings, including what happens when you accidentally perform comedy at the wrong julefrokost.Whether this is your first New Year in Denmark or your tenth, this episode will help you feel a little less like the odd one out and maybe even a bit more Danish.Happy New Year, or as we say in Denmark, Godt nytår!
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Mystery Beneath the Fireworks: A Shanghai Night Unfolds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-29-23-34-02-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海的冬夜,黄浦江畔灯火辉煌,外滩上人潮涌动。En: On a winter night in Shanghai, the banks of the Huangpu River were brilliantly illuminated, and the The Bund was teeming with people.Zh: 空气中充满了新年的欢庆,人们的笑声和烟花的期待在寒风中回荡。En: The air was filled with the celebrations of the New Year, with laughter and the anticipation of fireworks resonating in the cold wind.Zh: 嘉浩站在人群中,手中攥着一张神秘的信息卡,上面写着一个时间和地点——正是现在,正是这里。En: Jiahao stood amidst the crowd, clutching a mysterious information card that displayed a time and place—it was precisely now, precisely here.Zh: 他对这一切的好奇压过了心头的恐惧。En: His curiosity about it all outweighed the fear in his heart.Zh: 明知道这次会面可能充满未知风险,但嘉浩仍决定去见那个神秘人。En: Although he knew that this meeting might be fraught with unknown risks, Jiahao still decided to meet the mysterious person.Zh: 他脑中响起好友梅的声音,“小心一点,嘉浩!En: In his mind, he heard the voice of his friend Mei, who had said, "Be careful, Jiahao!Zh: 不行就别去。En: If it doesn't feel right, don't go."Zh: ”然而,他注定要找到答案。En: However, he was destined to seek the answer.Zh: 嘉浩沿着外滩慢慢走着,眼睛时不时扫向四周,寻找信息中提到的“标记”。En: Jiahao walked slowly along the The Bund, occasionally glancing around, searching for the “mark” mentioned in the message.Zh: 忽然,他看见一个风衣男子站在灯塔下。En: Suddenly, he saw a man in a trench coat standing under a lighthouse.Zh: 他心跳骤然加快,知道这就是他要找的人。En: His heart suddenly raced, knowing that this was the person he was looking for.Zh: 梅并不知道这么快就找到了,而嘉浩已无退路。En: Mei did not know that he would find them so quickly, and Jiahao had no way to retreat.Zh: 他深吸一口气走上前,那男子也注意到了他。En: He took a deep breath and walked forward; the man noticed him as well.Zh: 两人目光交汇,沉默片刻。En: Their eyes met, and they were silent for a moment.Zh: 然后,男子从口袋里掏出一个无标记的白色信封,递给嘉浩。En: Then, the man pulled a plain white envelope with no markings from his pocket and handed it to Jiahao.Zh: 就在此刻,天空中绽放出灿烂的烟花,五光十色的光芒在夜空中绚丽闪烁。En: At that moment, fireworks burst in the sky, colorful lights dazzling in the night.Zh: 嘉浩接过信封,“谢谢。En: Jiahao took the envelope, saying softly, "Thank you."Zh: ”他低声说,怀疑和好奇交织在心中。En: Inside him, suspicion and curiosity intertwined.Zh: 信封很轻,嘉浩感觉里面藏着某种秘密。En: The envelope was light, and Jiahao felt that it hid some kind of secret.Zh: 他小心翼翼地打开,只看到一把小钥匙和一张纸条。En: He carefully opened it to find only a small key and a note.Zh: 纸条上写着一个地址,除此之外什么也没有。En: The note had an address and nothing else.Zh: 无论如何,他知道自己的疑问又多了一层。En: Nevertheless, he knew his questions had just deepened.Zh: 他抬头,那名叫梁的男子已经消失在茫茫人海中。En: He looked up, but the man named Liang had already vanished into the sea of people.Zh: 嘉浩心中深知,这把钥匙和纸条并不是结束,而是一个新的开始。En: Jiahao knew deep down that this key and note were not the end but a new beginning.Zh: 他站在烟火下,漫天的光影之中,心中涌现出不一样的坚定。En: He stood under the fireworks, amid the dazzling light and shadows, feeling a newfound determination.Zh: 他决定无论这个线索将他引向何方,他都会勇敢地面对。En: He decided that no matter where this clue led him, he would face it bravely.Zh: 新年的钟声响起,嘉浩迎来了他的另一个季节,心中有了新的期待。En: The chimes of the New Year began, ushering in another season for Jiahao, with new hopes arising in his heart. Vocabulary Words:brilliantly: 辉煌illuminated: 灯火teeming: 涌动anticipation: 期待resonating: 回荡clutching: 攥着outweighed: 压过fraught: 充满unknown: 未知retrreat: 退路glancing: 扫向mark: 标记raced: 骤然加快envelope: 信封intertwined: 交织vanished: 消失determination: 坚定chimes: 钟声ushering: 迎来了bravely: 勇敢地curiosity: 好奇mysterious: 神秘dazzling: 灿烂risk: 风险carefully: 小心翼翼地hidden: 藏着secret: 秘密noticing: 注意到suspect: 怀疑shadows: 光影
Fluent Fiction - Danish: København Winter Magic: Friendship, Fireworks & New Beginnings Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-29-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Det var en iskold vinteraften i København.En: It was a freezing winter evening in København.Da: Julemarkedet blinkede med lys, og luften var fyldt med duften af gløgg og ristede mandler.En: The Christmas market was glowing with lights, and the air was filled with the scent of gløgg and roasted almonds.Da: Freja, en eftertænksom kunststuderende, gik forsigtigt ned ad strøget.En: Freja, a thoughtful art student, walked carefully down the strøget.Da: Hun var inviteret af Maja, deres fælles ven, til en lille møde ved de hyggelige boder.En: She had been invited by Maja, their mutual friend, to a small gathering by the cozy stalls.Da: Lukas, en glad softwareingeniør, besøgte København for nytåret.En: Lukas, a cheerful software engineer, was visiting København for the New Year.Da: Han glædede sig til at opleve juletraditionerne og håbede at møde nogen nye venner.En: He was excited to experience the Christmas traditions and hoped to meet some new friends.Da: Men der var også en ensomhed ved at rejse alene på denne tid af året.En: But there was also a loneliness in traveling alone at this time of year.Da: Freja stod udenfor en bod, hvor dekorationerne blinkede i alle regnbuens farver.En: Freja stood outside a stall where the decorations twinkled in all the colors of the rainbow.Da: Hun holdt sit kamera tæt, som hendes trofaste følgesvend.En: She held her camera close, like her faithful companion.Da: Pludselig hørte hun sit navn.En: Suddenly, she heard her name.Da: "Hej, Freja!"En: "Hej, Freja!"Da: råbte Maja med et stort smil.En: Maja shouted with a big smile.Da: Lukas stod ved hendes side, klar til at hilse.En: Lukas stood by her side, ready to say hello.Da: "Det her er Lukas," sagde Maja.En: "This is Lukas," said Maja.Da: "Han er her for at fejre nytår og vil gerne opleve, hvad vi har her."En: "He's here to celebrate New Year and wants to experience what we have here."Da: Freja smilede lidt tøvende men besluttede sig for at åbne op.En: Freja smiled a bit hesitantly but decided to open up.Da: Hun havde tidligere haft skuffelser men vidste, at livet handler om at tage chancer.En: She had had disappointments before but knew that life is about taking chances.Da: "Skal vi finde en bod med noget lækkert at spise?"En: "Shall we find a stall with something delicious to eat?"Da: spurgte hun.En: she asked.Da: Markedet var livligt, fyldt med latter og boblende stemmer.En: The market was lively, filled with laughter and bubbling voices.Da: Freja og Lukas gik rundt, omgivet af lydene og synet af festlige varer.En: Freja and Lukas walked around, surrounded by the sights and sounds of festive goods.Da: Hun viste ham hen til en bod med æbleskiver og fortalte historier om, hvordan hendes familie altid spiste dem til jul.En: She showed him to a stall with æbleskiver and shared stories about how her family always ate them at Christmas.Da: De satte sig ved et lille bord, delte de varme kager og talte om deres rejser og kærlighed til forskellige traditioner.En: They sat at a small table, shared the warm pastries, and talked about their travels and love for different traditions.Da: Lukas fortalte om sine oplevelser rundt om i verden, mens Freja lyttede med en interesse, hun sjældent følte for nye mennesker.En: Lukas spoke about his experiences around the world, while Freja listened with an interest she rarely felt for new people.Da: Efterhånden som natten gik, begyndte fyrværkeriet at male himlen med farver.En: As the night went on, fireworks began to paint the sky with colors.Da: Det var nytår, en tid til nye begyndelser.En: It was New Year, a time for new beginnings.Da: Freja indså, at hun havde fundet en ven, måske mere, i denne fremmede by.En: Freja realized that she had found a friend, perhaps more, in this foreign city.Da: "Takker du ja til flere markeder i fremtiden?"En: "Are you up for more markets in the future?"Da: spurgte Lukas med et skævt smil.En: Lukas asked with a crooked smile.Da: Med et varmt smil nikkede Freja.En: With a warm smile, Freja nodded.Da: "Ja, lad os holde kontakten."En: "Yes, let's keep in touch."Da: Da fyrværkeriet blev ved med at lyse op nattehimlen, vidste både Freja og Lukas, at de havde fundet noget særligt i hinanden.En: As the fireworks continued to light up the night sky, both Freja and Lukas knew they had found something special in each other.Da: De sagde farvel til det gamle år fulde af nye håb og lovede hinanden, at dette var kun begyndelsen på deres historie.En: They said goodbye to the old year full of new hopes and promised each other that this was just the beginning of their story.Da: Og således begyndte et nyt kapitel for både Freja og Lukas, mens København glødede smukt i vinterens omfavnelse.En: And so a new chapter began for both Freja and Lukas, while København glowed beautifully in the embrace of winter. Vocabulary Words:freezing: iskoldthoughtful: eftertænksomcarefully: forsigtigtgathering: mødemutual: fællescozy: hyggeligeloneliness: ensomhedtwinkled: blinkedefaithful: trofastecompanion: følgesvendhesitantly: tøvendedisappointments: skuffelserlively: livligtbubbling: boblendesurrounded: omgivetsights: synetpastries: kagerrarely: sjældentfireworks: fyrværkerietbeginnings: begyndelserforeign: fremmedecrooked: skævtpromised: lovedeembrace: omfavnelseglowing: glødedescent: duftenroasted: ristedestall: boddelicious: lækkerttraditions: traditioner
Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Fireworks, Fate, and The Unforgettable Night in Shanghai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/zh/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-zh Story Transcript:Zh: 上海外滩的灯光闪烁,在冬季的新年夜,空气中弥漫着期待。En: The lights of Shanghai's Bund flickered on the New Year's Eve of winter, with an air of anticipation in the air.Zh: 街道拥挤,游客们裹着围巾,脸上带着微笑。En: The streets were crowded, and tourists wrapped in scarves wore smiles on their faces.Zh: 黄浦江的水面反射着灯光,天空渐渐暗下来,等待着烟花表演的开始。En: The surface of the Huangpu River reflected the lights as the sky gradually darkened, awaiting the start of the fireworks display.Zh: 梅琳站在人群中,心里既兴奋又紧张。En: Mei Lin stood among the crowd, feeling both excited and nervous.Zh: 她是第一次来上海,期待与多年的笔友建见面。En: It was her first time in Shanghai, and she was eager to meet her pen pal of many years, Jian.Zh: 今晚,他们计划一起迎接新年,对梅琳来说,这个夜晚承载着许多期待。En: Tonight, they planned to greet the New Year together, and for Mei Lin, this night carried a lot of expectations.Zh: 渐渐地,四周的人越来越多,梅琳看到身边的人们都在欢声笑语。En: Gradually, more and more people surrounded her, and Mei Lin saw the people around her laughing and chatting joyfully.Zh: 她的小心脏扑通扑通跳得飞快。En: Her little heart was pounding rapidly.Zh: 突然,她看见一个熟悉的身影,以为是建。En: Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure and thought it was Jian.Zh: 她急忙向那个方向走去,心中默念着,希望他的真实模样如她想象的一样美好。En: She hurried in that direction, silently hoping that his real appearance would be as wonderful as she imagined.Zh: 但不知为何,她跟随的人其实是莉莉的哥哥。En: But for some reason, the person she followed was actually Lili's brother.Zh: 此时,莉莉正巧和建一起在人群中寻找梅琳。En: Meanwhile, Lili coincidentally was with Jian in the crowd, looking for Mei Lin.Zh: 莉莉是一位热情的本地导游,喜欢为游客制造神奇的瞬间。En: Lili was a passionate local tour guide who loved creating magical moments for tourists.Zh: 她很快发现梅琳跟错了人。En: She quickly realized that Mei Lin had followed the wrong person.Zh: 莉莉灵机一动,决定在最完美的时刻安排他们见面。En: Lili had a quick idea and decided to arrange their meeting at the perfect moment.Zh: 建急切地想找到梅琳。En: Jian was eagerly wanting to find Mei Lin.Zh: 他的心就像冬日的气氛一样紧张。En: His heart was as tense as the winter atmosphere.Zh: 旁边的莉莉则调皮地笑着,安慰他说她有办法。En: Next to him, Lili playfully smiled, reassuring him that she had a plan.Zh: 午夜即将来临,烟花即将绽放。En: Midnight was approaching, and the fireworks were about to bloom.Zh: 当梅琳意识到自己跟错人时,心里一凉,但很快烟花在空中开始绽放。En: When Mei Lin realized she had followed the wrong person, her heart sank, but soon the fireworks began to explode in the sky.Zh: 她抬头仰望,欣赏这美丽的光景。En: She looked up, admiring the beautiful spectacle.Zh: 这时,莉莉手中拿着一个小旗子挥舞着,指引着梅琳的方向。En: At that moment, Lili was waving a small flag to guide Mei Lin in the right direction.Zh: 梅琳顺着指引,看到了在人群另一侧的建。En: Mei Lin followed the guidance and saw Jian on the other side of the crowd.Zh: 他正向她微笑,眼里充满了坚定和温暖。En: He was smiling at her, his eyes filled with determination and warmth.Zh: 当时钟指向午夜,天空中一朵巨大的烟花绽放,形成了"爱"的字样,正如莉莉精心安排的那样。En: As the clock struck midnight, a huge firework bloomed in the sky, forming the word "love," just as Lili had meticulously arranged.Zh: 梅琳和建终于在人群中相遇,分享着属于他们的温暖时刻。En: Mei Lin and Jian finally met in the crowd, sharing a warm moment that belonged to them.Zh: 在这一刻,所有紧张和担忧都化为乌有。En: At this moment, all tension and worries vanished.Zh: 莉莉看到这一幕,微笑着向后退去,消失在热闹的人群中。En: Lili watched this scene, smiled, and quietly retreated into the lively crowd.Zh: 此刻,梅琳和建心中都有了不同的改变。En: At this moment, both Mei Lin and Jian felt a change in their hearts.Zh: 梅琳开始享受命运的惊喜,而建则鼓起勇气,终于大胆说出自己的心声。En: Mei Lin began to enjoy the surprises of fate, while Jian gathered the courage to finally express his feelings boldly.Zh: 在外滩,灯火辉煌,烟花如梦如幻,这真是一个难忘的新年夜。En: At the Bund, the lights were brilliant, and the fireworks were dreamlike, making it truly an unforgettable New Year's Eve. Vocabulary Words:flickered: 闪烁anticipation: 期待reflected: 反射surface: 水面darkened: 暗下来expectations: 期望surrounded: 围绕pounding: 扑通扑通familiar: 熟悉appearance: 模样coincidentally: 正巧eagerly: 急切reassuring: 安慰approaching: 将临spectacle: 光景guidance: 指引determination: 坚定meticulously: 精心vanished: 化为乌有retreated: 后退unforgettable: 难忘pen pal: 笔友crowded: 拥挤nervous: 紧张tourists: 游客chatting: 聊天magical: 神奇moment: 瞬间fireworks: 烟花bloomed: 绽放
Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Against the Odds: A Love Story Through Snow and Fireworks Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-no Story Transcript:No: Sindre så ut av vinduet.En: Sindre looked out the window.No: Snøen falt tett og dekket landskapet i et tykt hvitt lag.En: The snow was falling thickly, covering the landscape in a thick white layer.No: Han satt på bussen, tretti mil fra Oslo.En: He was sitting on the bus, three hundred kilometers from Oslo.No: Det var nyttårsaften, og han skulle overraske Kari.En: It was New Year's Eve, and he was going to surprise Kari.No: Hun visste ikke at han kom.En: She didn't know he was coming.No: Kari bodde i Oslo, og de hadde hatt et avstandsforhold i ett år.En: Kari lived in Oslo, and they had been in a long-distance relationship for a year.No: Sindre følte nervene i magen.En: Sindre felt nerves in his stomach.No: Han gledet seg til å se Kari, men også til å se om gnisten fortsatt var der.En: He was excited to see Kari, but also to see if the spark was still there.No: Etter et halvt år i Trondheim, hadde de bare sett hverandre et par ganger.En: After half a year in Trondheim, they had only seen each other a few times.No: Han spurte seg selv om det var verdt slitet.En: He asked himself if it was worth the struggle.No: Men så smilte han ved tanken på henne, og all tvil forsvant.En: But then he smiled at the thought of her, and all doubt disappeared.No: Plutselig stoppet bussen.En: Suddenly the bus stopped.No: Veien var dekket av snø, og trafikken sto stille.En: The road was covered in snow, and traffic was at a standstill.No: "Vi er forsinket," meldte sjåføren.En: "We are delayed," announced the driver.No: Sindre så på klokken, tiden rant ut.En: Sindre looked at the clock, time was running out.No: Han visste han måtte ta en beslutning.En: He knew he had to make a decision.No: Ved siden av ham satt en mann med sykkel.En: Next to him sat a man with a bicycle.No: Sindre la merke til det.En: Sindre noticed it.No: "Kan jeg låne sykkelen din?En: "Can I borrow your bike?"No: " spurte han, desperat.En: he asked, desperate.No: Mannen så skeptisk ut, men Sindre forklarte situasjonen.En: The man looked skeptical, but Sindre explained the situation.No: Mannen smilte vennlig og nikket.En: The man smiled kindly and nodded.No: "Ta den," sa han.En: "Take it," he said.No: Sindre takket ham, kastet sekken over skulderen, og gikk ut i snøen.En: Sindre thanked him, threw his backpack over his shoulder, and went out into the snow.No: Oslo Central Station var full av folk.En: Oslo Central Station was full of people.No: Lysene glitret, og det var hektisk aktivitet overalt.En: The lights glittered, and there was hectic activity everywhere.No: Men Sindre så bare en destinasjon: Kari.En: But Sindre saw only one destination: Kari.No: På sykkelen kjempet han mot snø og vind.En: On the bike, he battled against the snow and wind.No: Han måtte komme frem før midnatt.En: He had to get there before midnight.No: Han tenkte på Kari, og det ga ham styrke.En: He thought of Kari, and it gave him strength.No: Han passerte biler som sto fast, folk som skyndte seg mot stasjonen, og han kjente den kalde luften i ansiktet.En: He passed cars stuck in place, people hurrying towards the station, and he felt the cold air on his face.No: Klokken nærmet seg tolv da han ankom stasjonen.En: The clock was nearing twelve when he arrived at the station.No: Han hoppet av sykkelen og sprang inn i mengden.En: He jumped off the bike and ran into the crowd.No: Folk var glade og feststemte, noe som drev ham videre.En: People were happy and in a festive mood, which drove him onward.No: Der, midt i mengden, så han Kari.En: There, in the middle of the crowd, he saw Kari.No: Hun sto under stjerner og fyrverkeri.En: She stood under stars and fireworks.No: Hun så overrasket ut da hun fikk øye på ham.En: She looked surprised when she caught sight of him.No: De siste sekundene før midnatt løp han mot henne, hjertet banket raskt.En: In the last seconds before midnight, he ran towards her, heart pounding.No: Idet klokken slo tolv, nådde fyrverkeriet himmelen.En: As the clock struck twelve, the fireworks reached the sky.No: Sindre var fremme.En: Sindre had made it.No: Han pustet tungt, men smilte bredt.En: He was breathing heavily but was smiling broadly.No: "Kari," sa han, med et smil.En: "Kari," he said, with a smile.No: Hun så på ham, forbauset og rørt.En: She looked at him, surprised and moved.No: "Sindre!En: "Sindre!No: Hva gjør du her?En: What are you doing here?"No: " spurte hun, lykkelig.En: she asked, happily.No: "Jeg ville bare vise deg… At du er viktig for meg," svarte han.En: "I just wanted to show you... That you are important to me," he replied.No: De omfavnet hverandre.En: They embraced each other.No: Rundt dem feiret folk det nye året.En: Around them, people were celebrating the new year.No: I det øyeblikket visste Sindre at avstanden ikke lenger spilte noen rolle.En: In that moment, Sindre knew that the distance no longer mattered.No: For kjærligheten deres hadde vunnet.En: For their love had won.No: Han hadde tatt en sjanse, og det var alt som skulle til.En: He had taken a chance, and that was all it took.No: Under den stjernekledde Oslo-himmelen, med fyrverkeri som bakgrunn, sto de sammen.En: Under the starry Oslo sky, with fireworks as a backdrop, they stood together.No: For Sindre, var dette starten på et nytt kapittel.En: For Sindre, this was the start of a new chapter.No: En ny begynnelse med Kari.En: A new beginning with Kari.No: Han hadde lært at noen ganger må man ta sjanser.En: He had learned that sometimes you have to take chances.No: For kjærlighetens skyld.En: For the sake of love. Vocabulary Words:thickly: tettlandscape: landskapetsurprise: overraskerelationship: avstandsforholdnerves: nervenespark: gnistenstruggle: slitetdoubt: tvilstandstill: stilleskeptical: skeptiskbackpack: sekkhectic: hektiskdestination: destinasjonbattle: kjempetstrength: styrkestuck: sto fasthurrying: skyndte segfestive: feststemteembraced: omfavnetcelebrating: feiretmoment: øyeblikketdistance: avstandentook a chance: tok en sjansesky: himmelenfireworks: fyrverkerichapter: kapittelbeginning: begynnelselearned: lærtesake: skyld
Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Love Across Borders: Rekindling Hope Over New Year's Fireworks Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2025-12-29-23-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: Kata az ablak mellett ült a kis, hangulatos kávézóban, ahonnan csodálatos kilátás nyílt a Duna jeges vizére és a Lánchíd ragyogó fényeire.En: Kata sat by the window in the small, cozy café, from where there was a wonderful view of the icy waters of the Duna and the glowing lights of the Lánchíd.Hu: Körülötte emberek vidáman csevegtek, poharukat emelgették, nevetésük betöltötte a teret.En: Around her, people chatted merrily, raised their glasses, their laughter filling the space.Hu: Kint a hó halkan hullt, betakarta Budapest utcáit, varázslatos téli hangulatot teremtve.En: Outside, the snow fell quietly, blanketing the streets of Budapest, creating a magical winter atmosphere.Hu: Zsófi ott ült Kata mellett, próbálta megnyugtatni a barátnőjét.En: Zsófi sat next to Kata, trying to comfort her friend.Hu: "Tudom, hogy nehéz, Kata, de Bence szeret téged" – mondta Zsófi kedvesen, miközben kezeit melegen összefogta Kata hideg kezeivel.En: "I know it's hard, Kata, but Bence loves you," Zsófi said kindly, warmly clasping Kata's cold hands with hers.Hu: Kata szemei a kávéja gőzölgő felszínét pásztázták.En: Kata's eyes scanned the steaming surface of her coffee.Hu: Bence, a szerelme, hónapokkal ezelőtt Londonba költözött a munkája miatt.En: Bence, her love, had moved to London months ago because of his work.Hu: A távolság nyomasztó volt, és a folyamatos időeltérések nehézkesek.En: The distance was oppressive, and the constant time differences were difficult.Hu: Az ünnepek alatt ez az érzés még égetőbbé vált.En: During the holidays, this feeling became even more intense.Hu: Hiányzott neki Bence társasága, közelsége.En: She missed Bence's company, his closeness.Hu: Mindazonáltal Zsófi önzetlen támogatása segített, hogy ne érezze magát annyira egyedül.En: Nonetheless, Zsófi's selfless support helped her not feel so alone.Hu: Kata mély lélegzetet vett.En: Kata took a deep breath.Hu: "Úgy érzem, elveszítjük egymást" – vallotta be csendesen.En: "I feel like we're losing each other," she admitted quietly.Hu: "Számos dolgot nem oszthatunk meg, és néha úgy érzem, hogy a szeretet nem elég.En: "There are many things we can't share, and sometimes I feel like love isn't enough."Hu: "Zsófi megértően bólintott.En: Zsófi nodded understandingly.Hu: "Gondolkodtál már azon, hogy őszintén elmondod neki, hogy mit érzel?En: "Have you thought about honestly telling him how you feel?Hu: Talán még ma este?En: Maybe tonight?"Hu: "Kata elmosolyodott.En: Kata smiled.Hu: Az óra már közelített az éjfélhez.En: The clock was nearing midnight.Hu: Talán Zsófinak igaza van.En: Perhaps Zsófi was right.Hu: Talán meg kell próbálnia.En: Perhaps she should try.Hu: Amikor az óra elérte a tizenkettőt, és a városban az égbolton a tűzijátékok színes fényekkel robbantak, Kata elővette telefonját.En: When the clock struck twelve, and the fireworks burst with colorful lights in the sky above the city, Kata took out her phone.Hu: A szíve gyorsan vert, de mégis tárcsázta Bence számát.En: Her heart beat quickly, but she still dialed Bence's number.Hu: A vonal kicsengése végtelen időnek tűnt.En: The ringing felt like an eternity.Hu: Végül Bence fáradt, de szeretetteljes arca jelent meg a képernyőn.En: Eventually, Bence's tired but loving face appeared on the screen.Hu: "Boldog Új Évet, Kata!En: "Happy New Year, Kata!"Hu: " – kiáltotta vidáman.En: he exclaimed cheerfully.Hu: Kata nevetett, a könnyei megcsillantak a szemében, de ezúttal a remény és az öröm könnyei voltak.En: Kata laughed, tears shimmering in her eyes, but this time they were tears of hope and joy.Hu: "Boldog Új Évet, Bence!En: "Happy New Year, Bence!"Hu: " – válaszolta, miközben a tűzijáték színeiben fürdött a város.En: she replied, as the city was bathed in the colors of the fireworks.Hu: Abban a pillanatban, hogy nézték együtt a tűzijátékot – bár csak a képernyőn keresztül – rájött, hogy ezek a megosztott pillanatok számítanak a legtöbbet.En: In that moment, as they watched the fireworks together—even if only through the screen—she realized that these shared moments mattered the most.Hu: "Megéri, ugye?En: "It's worth it, isn't it?"Hu: " – suttogta, miközben a tűzijátékok utolsó robbanásai elültek.En: she whispered as the last explosions of fireworks faded away.Hu: Bence bólintott.En: Bence nodded.Hu: "Igen, megéri, és hamarosan újra együtt leszünk.En: "Yes, it's worth it, and we'll be together again soon."Hu: "Kata elmosolyodott, és érezte, hogy szíve megkönnyebbül.En: Kata smiled, feeling her heart lighten.Hu: A távolság még mindig ott volt, de a remény, a szeretet és a közös ígéretek felülírták azokat az akadályokat.En: The distance was still there, but hope, love, and their shared promises outweighed those obstacles.Hu: Az új év új lehetőségekkel kecsegtetett, és Kata elhatározta, hogy megbirkózik a távolsággal, mert ezek a pillanatok jelentettek mindent számára.En: The new year held new opportunities, and Kata resolved to cope with the distance because these moments meant everything to her. Vocabulary Words:wonderful: csodálatosicy: jegesglowing: ragyogóblanketing: betakartamerrily: vidámancomfort: megnyugtatniclasping: összefogtaoppressive: nyomasztóscanned: pásztáztáksurface: felszínintense: égetőbbéselfless: önzetlenadmitted: vallottanodded: bólintottunderstandingly: megértőeneternity: végtelenexclaimed: kiáltottaringing: kicsengéseshimmering: megcsillantakresolved: elhatároztacope: megbirkózikoutweighed: felülírtákobstacles: akadályokatopportunities: lehetőségekkelburst: robbanásaishared: megosztottpromises: ígéretekwarming: melegenglasses: poharukatcompanionship: társasága
Fluent Fiction - Italian: Love, Hope, and Fireworks: A Winter's Eve at Piazza Navona Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Piazza Navona era splendida quella sera d'inverno.En: Piazza Navona was splendid that winter evening.It: Le luci scintillavano sopra le bancarelle piene di dolci e piccoli regali.En: The lights sparkled above the stalls full of sweets and small gifts.It: La fontana di Nettuno brillava sotto il cielo stellato, mentre il freddo abbracciava la folla.En: The Fontana di Nettuno shone under the starry sky, while the cold embraced the crowd.It: Luca era seduto su una panchina, osservando tutto intorno a lui, ma con la mente lontana.En: Luca was sitting on a bench, observing everything around him, but with his mind elsewhere.It: Mancavano poche ore alla mezzanotte e lui aspettava, con il cuore pesante, una telefonata importante.En: Only a few hours remained until midnight, and he was waiting with a heavy heart for an important phone call.It: Il telefono pesava nella sua tasca come un macigno.En: The phone weighed in his pocket like a rock.It: Luca pensava a Giulia, la sua ragazza lontana.En: Luca was thinking about Giulia, his distant girlfriend.It: Vivevano in due città diverse e ogni giorno sembrava un po' più difficile.En: They lived in two different cities, and each day seemed a bit harder.It: L'ultima volta che si erano parlati, si erano lasciati con parole fredde.En: The last time they spoke, they parted with cold words.It: Ora, lui voleva chiamarla, ma qualcosa lo frenava.En: Now, he wanted to call her, but something held him back.It: E se la sua notizia di salute non fosse stata buona?En: What if his health news wasn't good?It: Come avrebbe potuto chiederle di restare al suo fianco?En: How could he ask her to stay by his side?It: Mentre la sua mente vagava, Marta, la sua amica d'infanzia, lo raggiunse e si sedette accanto a lui.En: As his mind wandered, Marta, his childhood friend, joined him and sat next to him.It: "Luca, hai già deciso di cosa fare?En: "Luca, have you already decided what to do?It: Assapora la serata," disse, stringendosi nel suo cappotto.En: Enjoy the evening," she said, wrapping herself in her coat.It: Luca sospirò.En: Luca sighed.It: "Aspetto i risultati.En: "I'm waiting for the results.It: E penso a Giulia.En: And I'm thinking about Giulia.It: Ho bisogno di chiarire con lei."En: I need to clear things up with her."It: Marta annuì con comprensione.En: Marta nodded with understanding.It: "Capisco.En: "I understand.It: Ma devi anche sapere cosa succederà con te stesso.En: But you also need to know what will happen with yourself.It: Chiamala, prima che scocchi la mezzanotte."En: Call her before midnight strikes."It: Il consiglio di Marta spronò Luca a prendere una decisione.En: Marta's advice spurred Luca to make a decision.It: Finalmente, Luca prese il telefono e compose il numero di Giulia.En: Finally, Luca took his phone and dialed Giulia's number.It: Dopo pochi squilli, lei rispose.En: After a few rings, she answered.It: "Ciao, Luca," disse con una voce calda che gli fece stringere il cuore.En: "Hello, Luca," she said with a warm voice that made his heart tighten.It: "Ciao, Giulia.En: "Hi, Giulia.It: Come stai?"En: How are you?"It: Le parole uscirono lente e piene di senso di colpa.En: The words came out slow and filled with guilt.It: "Sto bene.En: "I'm well.It: Ma, cosa succede davvero, Luca?"En: But what's really going on, Luca?"It: Gli chiese con preoccupazione nella voce.En: she asked with concern in her voice.It: "Sono qui in piazza, aspettando dei risultati medici.En: "I'm here in the square, waiting for some medical results.It: E pensando a noi," ammise.En: And thinking about us," he admitted.It: "Mi manchi, Giulia.En: "I miss you, Giulia.It: Voglio sistemare le cose."En: I want to fix things."It: Prima che potesse rispondere, il telefono di Luca vibrò.En: Before she could respond, Luca's phone vibrated.It: Era la chiamata del medico.En: It was the doctor's call.It: "Aspetta, devo rispondere, Giulia," disse, con la voce tremante.En: "Hold on, I have to answer, Giulia," he said, with a trembling voice.It: Le mani di Luca tremavano mentre ascoltava.En: Luca's hands trembled as he listened.It: La voce del medico era calma e rassicurante.En: The doctor's voice was calm and reassuring.It: "Luca, i risultati sono buoni.En: "Luca, the results are good.It: Non hai nulla di cui preoccuparti."En: There's nothing to worry about."It: Una sensazione di sollievo attraversò Luca, mentre il peso del mondo sembrava sollevarsi dalle sue spalle.En: A feeling of relief washed over Luca, as the weight of the world seemed to lift from his shoulders.It: In quello stesso momento, lo scoccare della mezzanotte illuminò il cielo sopra Piazza Navona con i fuochi d'artificio.En: At that same moment, midnight struck, illuminating the sky above Piazza Navona with fireworks.It: La folla esultava, e Luca tornò alla linea con Giulia, la voce ora più salda.En: The crowd cheered, and Luca returned to the line with Giulia, his voice now steadier.It: "Giulia, i risultati sono buoni.En: "Giulia, the results are good.It: E ora voglio davvero costruire qualcosa con te, nonostante la distanza."En: And now I really want to build something with you, despite the distance."It: Giulia rise, e la sua risata era come una melodia dolce nel caos della festa.En: Giulia laughed, and her laughter was like a sweet melody in the chaos of the celebration.It: "Allora facciamolo, Luca.En: "Then let's do it, Luca.It: Iniziamo questo nuovo anno insieme, anche se distanti."En: Let's start this new year together, even if apart."It: Luca sorrise, sentendo una chiarezza e una determinazione nuove.En: Luca smiled, feeling a new clarity and determination.It: Doveva affrontare le sue paure.En: He had to face his fears.It: Potevano farcela, e con questo pensiero, si alzò, guardò i colori in cielo e accettò che il futuro era suo da disegnare.En: They could make it, and with this thought, he stood up, looked at the colors in the sky, and accepted that the future was his to create. Vocabulary Words:the square: la piazzathe stalls: le bancarellesplendid: splendidastarry: stellatothe fountain: la fontanathe childhood: l'infanziaembraced: abbracciavathe bench: la panchinaelsewhere: lontanathe crowd: la follathe results: i risultatithe conscience: la menteheavy-hearted: cuore pesantethe medical news: la notizia di salutereassuring: rassicurantevibrated: vibròthe decision: la decisionethe midnight: la mezzanottesparkled: scintillavanothe celebration: la festathe pocket: la tascathe fireworks: i fuochi d'artificiothe phone call: la telefonatawarmed: caldacheered: esultavaconcerned: preoccupazionesweet: dolcefears: pauretrembled: tremavathe sky: il cielo
Welcome to the Celestial Insights Podcast, the show that brings the stars down to Earth! Each week, astrologer, coach, and intuitive Celeste Brooks of Astrology by Celeste will be your guide. Her website is astrologybyceleste.com.
On this episode:Day 1 of the Bishop LeBlond Holiday produced some exciting action including 2 overtime games.Hear from the Following:Bishop LeBlond boys coach Mitch GirresNodaway Valley boys coach Shawn Emerson Nodaway Valley Sophmores Jax Cowden & Braxton McGinness Wanna thank all of our great Sponsors who make all of this possible.Tolly & Associates Little Caesars of St. Joseph John Anderson Insurance, Meierhofer Funeral Home & Crematory HiHo Bar & Grill Barnes Roofing Jayson & Mary Watkins Matt & Jenni Busby Michelle Cook Group Russell Book & Bookball 365 The St. Joseph MustangsB's Tees KT Logistics LLC Hixson-Klein Funeral Home James L. Griffith Law Firm of Maysville Toby Prussman of Premier Land & Auction Group, HK Quality Sheet Metal, Redman Farms of Maysville, Melissa WinnHenke Farms, Green Hills Insurance LLC., Cintas, Thrive Family Chiropractic, IV Nutrition of St. Joseph, Roth Kid Nation Serve Link Home Care out of Trenton, Barnett's Floor Renewal LLC., Balloons D'Lux, B3 Renovations, The Hamilton Bank member FDIC, Wompas Graphix & Embroidery of LibertyEllis Sheep Company of Maysville, Bank Northwest of Cameron, Akey's Catering & Event Rentals, Brown Bear of St. Joseph, Whitney Whitt Agency of Hamilton, Wolf Black Herefords, The KCI Basketball Podcast Jacob Erdman - Shelter Insurance of Rock Port, Rob & Stacia Studer, Green Family Chiropractic , Annie & Noah Roseberry of Re/Max Professionals, Moseley Farms, Jake Anderson of Shelter Insurance Bray Farms of Cameron.A slice & a swirl of Maysville Adkison Barber ShopMoyer Concrete of Maysville Cody Vaughn Wealth Advisor with ThriventGallatin Truck & Tractor Grandmas Gun Shop in Agency Nash Gas in Dearborn Accurate Appraisal in St. Joseph Ryan Meyerkorth SeedB.W. Timber of Bethany Mosaic Medical Center of Maryville Exclusive P.R. of Chicago Great Than Financial Hogue Lumber Company of Albany Stifel in ChillicotheUnited Cooperates, INC out of Osborn & Pattonsburg MP and Sons Contracting in Maysville JA White Construction in Maysville BTC Bank Seth & Marcie Davis of the Fitz Group Home and LandGRM Networks Perry Plumming & Septic LLC of Rock PortCitizens Bank and Trust of Rock Port C&M Business Machines Deal Travel and Cruises LLCKovac's Fireworks
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Fluent Fiction - Danish: Fireworks in Santorini: A Journey of Family Connection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Freja stod ved kanten af calderaen og kiggede ud over det dybblå Ægæiske Hav.En: Freja stood at the edge of the caldera, looking out over the deep blue Ægæiske Hav.Da: Santorini var smukt, især om vinteren, når turistmængderne var væk.En: Santorini was beautiful, especially in winter, when the tourist crowds were gone.Da: Hun trak vejret dybt og forsøgte at lade roen sænke sig.En: She took a deep breath and tried to let the calmness settle in.Da: Men indeni følte hun sig rastløs.En: But inside, she felt restless.Da: Jonas sad længere tilbage på caféen, indhyllet i sin egen verden, med øjnene fæstet på sin telefon.En: Jonas sat further back at the café, wrapped in his own world, with his eyes glued to his phone.Da: Han havde været stille hele turen siden de ankom til Grækenland.En: He had been quiet the entire trip since they arrived in Grækenland.Da: Freja ønskede så inderligt, at de kunne bygge en forbindelse, men hun vidste ikke, hvordan hun skulle nå ham.En: Freja so desperately wished they could build a connection, but she didn't know how to reach him.Da: "Vil du med til nytårsfesten nede i byen?"En: "Do you want to come to the New Year's party down in town?"Da: spurgte Freja med et håb i stemmen.En: Freja asked with hope in her voice.Da: Jonas trak på skuldrene og svarede mut: "Måske."En: Jonas shrugged and replied sullenly, "Maybe."Da: Natten faldt på, og Freja tog mod til sig.En: Night fell, and Freja gathered her courage.Da: Hun foreslog endnu en gang en gåtur ned til byen for at se fejringen.En: She suggested once more a walk down to the town to see the celebration.Da: Jonas nikkede, næsten modvilligt.En: Jonas nodded, almost reluctantly.Da: Sammen bevægede de sig gennem de smalle, snoede gader oplyst af lanterner.En: Together they moved through the narrow, winding streets lit by lanterns.Da: Da de nærmede sig torvet, kunne de høre musikken og lyden af folk, der grinede og snakkede.En: As they approached the square, they could hear the music and the sound of people laughing and talking.Da: Stemningen var livlig.En: The atmosphere was lively.Da: En gadeperformer tiltrak en lille skare, og Jonas stoppede op for at kigge.En: A street performer attracted a small crowd, and Jonas stopped to watch.Da: "Se," sagde Freja leende og pegede på performeren, der jonglerede med glødende fakler.En: "Look," said Freja, laughing and pointing at the performer juggling glowing torches.Da: Pludselig, da klokken nærmede sig midnat, begyndte fyrværkeriet.En: Suddenly, as midnight approached, the fireworks began.Da: Det eksploderede over himlen og kastede glitrende lys ned over Santorinis hvide bygninger.En: They exploded over the sky, casting shimmering lights down over Santorini's white buildings.Da: Jonas så op, og for et øjeblik reflekterede hans øjne det samme lys.En: Jonas looked up, and for a moment, his eyes reflected the same light.Da: Mens den sidste raket bragede, vendte han sig mod Freja.En: As the last rocket blasted, he turned to Freja.Da: "Tak for turen," sagde han stille, næsten genert.En: "Thanks for the trip," he said quietly, almost shyly.Da: Freja blev overrasket, men glad.En: Freja was surprised but pleased.Da: "Selvfølgelig, Jonas.En: "Of course, Jonas.Da: Jeg er glad for, du kom med."En: I'm glad you came along."Da: De stod der et øjeblik i stilhed, mens en følelse af samhørighed langsomt begyndte at spire mellem dem.En: They stood there for a moment in silence, as a feeling of togetherness slowly began to sprout between them.Da: Med fyrværkeriet som baggrund og den nye begyndelse lysende i den klare nattehimmel, vidste de begge, at deres rejse som familie lige var begyndt.En: With the fireworks as a backdrop and the new beginning shining in the clear night sky, they both knew that their journey as a family had just begun.Da: Freja lærte, at tålmodighed og små skridt var nøglen til at bygge bånd, mens Jonas begyndte at acceptere den nye virkelighed — at Freja var en del af hans liv, og måske, med tiden, en del af hans familie.En: Freja learned that patience and small steps were the key to building bonds, while Jonas began to accept the new reality — that Freja was a part of his life, and maybe, in time, a part of his family. Vocabulary Words:caldera: calderaendesperately: inderligtsettle: sænkerestless: rastløswinding: snoedereluctantly: modvilligtapproached: nærmedeattracted: tiltrakjuggling: jongleredetorches: faklerfireworks: fyrværkerietshimmering: glitrendetogetherness: samhørighedsprout: spirepatience: tålmodighedbonds: båndbuilding: byggesettle: sænkecalmness: roencrowds: turistmængdernesullenly: mutglowed: glødendeexploded: eksploderedecasting: kastedebackdrop: baggrundlively: livligreluctantly: næsten modvilligtconnection: forbindelseshyly: genertreflection: reflekterede
Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Midnight Magic: A New Year's Eve in Venice Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Piazza San Marco glittrade av ljus.En: Piazza San Marco glittered with light.Sv: Det var vinter i Venedig, och hela torget var fyllt av förväntan inför nyårsafton.En: It was winter in Venice, and the entire square was filled with anticipation for New Year's Eve.Sv: Klara gick runt och organiserade.En: Klara walked around and organized.Sv: Hon älskade kulturutbyten och ville att evenemanget skulle bli minnesvärt.En: She loved cultural exchanges and wanted the event to be memorable.Sv: Johan, en ivrig fotograf, letade efter det perfekta motivet.En: Johan, an eager photographer, searched for the perfect subject.Sv: Han hoppades på att fånga det magiska ögonblicket när året skulle byta.En: He hoped to capture the magical moment when the year would change.Sv: Bland stånden sålde Elsa sina hantverk.En: Among the stalls, Elsa sold her crafts.Sv: Hon hade en liten butik och hoppades på fler kunder.En: She had a small store and hoped for more customers.Sv: Hon log mot alla som passerade förbi.En: She smiled at everyone who passed by.Sv: Plötsligt började det regna.En: Suddenly, it started to rain.Sv: Vinden blev kyligare.En: The wind became colder.Sv: Klara blev orolig.En: Klara became worried.Sv: Hur skulle de alla hålla sig torra och glada?En: How would they all stay dry and happy?Sv: Hon var tvungen att tänka snabbt.En: She had to think quickly.Sv: Klara beslutade att flytta en del av evenemanget inomhus.En: Klara decided to move part of the event indoors.Sv: De närliggande historiska byggnaderna hade plats.En: The nearby historic buildings had space.Sv: Med lite hjälp flyttade de dekorationer och matbord.En: With a little help, they moved decorations and food tables.Sv: Värme ersatte snart kylan, och glädjen återvände.En: Warmth soon replaced the cold, and joy returned.Sv: Johan stod vid ett fönster och väntade.En: Johan stood by a window and waited.Sv: Han ville inte missa fyrverkerierna.En: He did not want to miss the fireworks.Sv: Elsa bjöd på varm choklad, och det blev en populär plats för gästerna att värma sig.En: Elsa offered hot chocolate, and it became a popular spot for guests to warm up.Sv: Klockan närmade sig midnatt.En: The clock approached midnight.Sv: Alla hoppades att regnet skulle sluta till fyrverkerierna.En: Everyone hoped the rain would stop for the fireworks.Sv: Då, som om himlen lyssnat på deras böner, stoppade regnet.En: Then, as if the sky had listened to their prayers, the rain stopped.Sv: Molnen skingrades.En: The clouds parted.Sv: Klart och vackert väder återvände.En: Clear and beautiful weather returned.Sv: Fyrverkerierna ljusnade upp Piazza San Marco.En: The fireworks lit up Piazza San Marco.Sv: Klara suckade av lättnad och lycka.En: Klara sighed with relief and happiness.Sv: Allt hennes hårda arbete var värt det.En: All her hard work was worth it.Sv: Hon hade lärt sig att improvisera och hantera oväntade problem med framgång.En: She had learned to improvise and handle unexpected problems successfully.Sv: Johan tog sin bild precis när klockan slog tolv.En: Johan took his photo just as the clock struck twelve.Sv: Elsa skålade tillsammans med nya och gamla vänner.En: Elsa toasted along with new and old friends.Sv: En ny start för alla.En: A new beginning for everyone.Sv: Det blev en kväll ingen av dem skulle glömma.En: It was an evening none of them would forget.Sv: Alla firade det nya året med hopp och glädje.En: Everyone celebrated the new year with hope and joy. Vocabulary Words:glittered: glittradeanticipation: förväntanmemorable: minnesvärteager: ivrigsubject: motivcultural: kulturmagical: magiskamoment: ögonblicketcrafts: hantverkstore: butikcustomers: kundersuddenly: plötsligtworried: oroligdecided: beslutadeindoors: inomhusnearby: närliggandehistoric: historiskareplaced: ersattejoy: glädjewindow: fönsterpopular: populärapproached: närmade sigparted: skingradesbeautiful: vackertrelief: lättnadhappiness: lyckaimprovise: improviserahandle: hanteraunexpected: oväntadesuccessfully: framgång
Fluent Fiction - Korean: Fireworks and Friendship: Minseo's Santorini Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-12-27-23-34-02-ko Story Transcript:Ko: 산토리니에서는 새해를 맞이할 준비가 한창이었다.En: In Santorini, preparations to welcome the new year were in full swing.Ko: 흰 건물들과 파란색 돔이 에게해의 반짝이는 물결 위에 빛났다.En: The white buildings and blue domes shone above the sparkling waves of the Aegean Sea.Ko: 미세한 겨울 바람이 불었지만, 섬의 아름다움은 변치 않았다.En: A slight winter breeze blew, but the island's beauty remained unchanged.Ko: 민서는 산토리니의 국제학교 교환학생 프로그램에 참여 중이었다.En: Minseo was participating in an international school exchange program in Santorini.Ko: 그녀는 한국에서 온 고등학생이었다.En: She was a high school student from Korea.Ko: 하루 종일 책상에 앉아 있는 것보다 마을을 탐험하는 게 더 흥미로웠다.En: Exploring the village was more interesting than sitting at a desk all day.Ko: 하지만 아직 언어 장벽과 문화 차이로 인해 친구를 사귀기가 쉽지는 않았다.En: However, making friends was not easy due to the language barrier and cultural differences.Ko: 민서는 그리스 역사와 문화를 더 알고 싶었지만, 마음처럼 쉽지 않았다.En: Minseo wanted to learn more about Greek history and culture, but it wasn't as easy as she'd hoped.Ko: 어느 날, 학교에서 민서는 루카와 아마라를 만났다.En: One day, Minseo met Luca and Amara at school.Ko: 두 사람은 활기차고 친구를 사귀는 데 능숙했다.En: Both were lively and skilled at making friends.Ko: 루카는 이탈리아에서 왔고 아마라는 영국에서 왔다.En: Luca was from Italy, and Amara was from England.Ko: "우리 함께 오이아에 가서 새해 전야 불꽃놀이 보러 갈래?" 루카가 제안했다.En: "Do you want to go to Oia with us to see the New Year's Eve fireworks?" Luca suggested.Ko: 민서는 잠시 망설였지만, 이번 기회에 자신을 바꾸기로 결심했다.En: Minseo hesitated for a moment but decided to take the opportunity to change herself.Ko: 저녁이 되자, 세 사람은 오이아로 향했다.En: As evening fell, the three headed to Oia.Ko: 마을의 좁은 골목길은 화려한 조명과 장식으로 가득했다.En: The village's narrow alleys were filled with colorful lights and decorations.Ko: 바람은 차가웠지만, 사람들의 웃음소리와 이야기가 주변을 따뜻하게 했다.En: Though the wind was cold, the laughter and chatter of the people warmed the surroundings.Ko: 민서는 루카와 아마라의 이야기를 들으며 점점 마음이 열렸다.En: Minseo felt her heart opening up as she listened to Luca and Amara's stories.Ko: 자정이 되자 불꽃놀이가 시작되었다.En: At midnight, the fireworks began.Ko: 하늘은 다양한 색으로 물들었고, 에게해 위로 빛나는 불꽃은 장관이었다.En: The sky was painted with various colors, and the fireworks illuminating the Aegean Sea were a spectacular sight.Ko: 그 순간 민서는 마음의 벽이 허물어지는 걸 느꼈다.En: At that moment, Minseo felt the walls of her heart breaking down.Ko: 낯선 땅, 낯선 사람들 속에서 그녀는 오히려 더 따뜻함을 느꼈다.En: In this unfamiliar land, among unfamiliar people, she actually felt warmer.Ko: 불꽃놀이가 끝나고, 세 사람은 새해의 설렘을 나누었다.En: After the fireworks ended, the three shared the excitement of the new year.Ko: 민서는 루카와 아마라와 함께 웃고 있는 자신이 놀라웠다.En: Minseo was surprised to find herself laughing with Luca and Amara.Ko: 그녀는 깨달았다. 진정한 우정은 문화의 경계를 넘을 수 있다는 것을.En: She realized that true friendship could transcend cultural boundaries.Ko: 그날 밤 미세한 겨울 바람 속에서도 민서는 소중한 친구들과 함께한 따뜻한 순간을 간직했다.En: That night, even amidst the slight winter breeze, Minseo cherished the warm moments she shared with her precious friends.Ko: 민서는 이제 조금 더 자신감이 생겼다.En: Minseo now felt a bit more confident.Ko: 산토리니의 겨울은 그녀에게 소중한 추억과 용기를 남겼다.En: The winter in Santorini had left her with precious memories and courage.Ko: 새로운 경험이란, 두려움 끝에 있는 건지도 모른다고.En: Perhaps new experiences are found at the end of fear.Ko: 그것을 찾은 민서는 앞으로도 더 많은 이야기를 쓸 준비가 되어 있었다.En: Having discovered that, Minseo was ready to write many more stories in the future. Vocabulary Words:preparations: 준비sparkling: 반짝이는breeze: 바람language barrier: 언어 장벽cultural differences: 문화 차이exchange program: 교환학생 프로그램hesitated: 망설였다opportunity: 기회narrow alleys: 좁은 골목길decorations: 장식chatter: 이야기spectacular: 장관transcend: 넘다unfamiliar: 낯선confident: 자신감memories: 추억courage: 용기fear: 두려움cherished: 간직했다precious: 소중한exploring: 탐험하는interesting: 흥미로운discoveries: 발견high school: 고등학생midnight: 자정fireworks: 불꽃놀이illuminating: 빛나는boundaries: 경계heart opening: 마음이 열렸다new experiences: 새로운 경험
Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Fireworks, Friendship, and the Courage to Connect Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-12-27-08-38-20-sr Story Transcript:Sr: Док је зима облагала камене улице Сплита, празнични дух разливао се дуж обале Јадранског мора.En: As winter covered the stone streets of Split, the holiday spirit spread along the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Sr: Свака светлост на променадама блистала је као звезда која је украшавала небо.En: Every light on the promenades shone like a star decorating the sky.Sr: Иза очаравајућих светала, мирис куваног вина и смех туриста стварао је топлину у хладној ноћи.En: Behind the enchanting lights, the scent of mulled wine and the laughter of tourists created warmth in the cold night.Sr: Током ових свечарних тренутака, младић Вук ходао је сам, полако се крећући кроз шеталиште.En: During these festive moments, a young man named Vuk walked alone, slowly moving through the promenade.Sr: Био је из Београда, волио је да истражује нове крајеве, али усамљеност га је често пратила.En: He was from Belgrade, loved exploring new places, but loneliness often followed him.Sr: Његова резерва спречавала га је да се отвара људима.En: His reserve prevented him from opening up to people.Sr: Али у тој гомили, нешто је требало да се промени.En: But in that crowd, something was about to change.Sr: Насупрот њему, Јелена из Новог Сада весело је кренула дуж обале.En: Opposite him, Jelena from Novi Sad cheerfully strolled along the coast.Sr: Била је ведра и авантуристичког духа, путовала је да побегне од свакодневне рутине.En: She was cheerful and adventurous, traveling to escape the daily routine.Sr: Њена радост била је заразна, и у тренутку када су се њихови погледи срели, судбина је умешала прсте.En: Her joy was infectious, and the moment their eyes met, fate intervened.Sr: „Здраво“, осмехнула му се, протежући руку.En: "Hello," she smiled, reaching out her hand.Sr: „Јеси ли и ти сам овде?En: "Are you also here alone?"Sr: “„Да,“ одговори Вук, осећајући како му срце убрзава.En: "Yes," Vuk replied, feeling his heart race.Sr: „Сам, али не и изгубљен.En: "Alone, but not lost."Sr: “Разговарали су, свеопшти жамор људи био им је савезник, водећи их ближе једно другоме.En: They talked, the general murmur of people being their ally, drawing them closer to each other.Sr: Јелена је причала о својим путовањима, о местима која је видела и људима које је срела.En: Jelena spoke of her travels, the places she had seen, and the people she had met.Sr: Вук је био фасциниран њеном храброшћу и животном радошћу.En: Vuk was fascinated by her courage and zest for life.Sr: Међутим, упркос срчаној везаности, Вук је осећао како га преплављује стара стидљивост.En: However, despite the heartfelt connection, Vuk felt his old shyness overcome him.Sr: Иза гласова, подсећао се на оно што заиста жели: не само присуство, већ истинску везу.En: Behind the voices, he reminded himself of what he truly wanted: not just presence, but a genuine connection.Sr: Време је брзо прошло, а крај године се ближио.En: Time flew by, and the year's end was approaching.Sr: Пре него што су сви околни звуци истопили ту вече, Вук је, осетивши тренутак, одлучио да ризикује.En: Before all the surrounding sounds melted that evening, Vuk, sensing the moment, decided to take a risk.Sr: „Да ли би хтела да гледамо ватромет заједно?En: "Would you like to watch the fireworks together?"Sr: “Јелена се осврнула према мору, па према Вуку и насмешила се.En: Jelena looked toward the sea, then at Vuk, and smiled.Sr: „Била би ми част.En: "It would be my pleasure."Sr: “Док је поноћна муњевита светлост бојила небо, њих двоје стајали су раме уз раме.En: As the midnight flashes of light painted the sky, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder.Sr: Свако пуцање ватромета било је као нови нотни запис њиховог пријатељства.En: Each burst of fireworks was like a new musical note of their friendship.Sr: Часови су пролазили, разговори су текли, и одједном се чинило да нису више сами.En: Hours passed, conversations flowed, and suddenly it seemed they were no longer alone.Sr: Када је све било готово, осећали су се потпуно повезаним.En: When it was all over, they felt completely connected.Sr: Разменили су контакте, обећавши да ће остати у контакту, и тако, свако од њих оставио је Сплит с првим наговештајем нове пријатељске везе у свом срцу.En: They exchanged contacts, promising to stay in touch, and so, each of them left Split with the first hint of a new friendship in their hearts.Sr: Вук је те вечери научио нешто важно – да смелост може донети драгоцене односе, и да светлост ватромета није једина светлост која обасјава пут.En: That evening, Vuk learned something important—courage can bring about precious relationships, and the light of fireworks is not the only light that illuminates the way.Sr: Година, која је тек почела, обећавала је нове прилике за пријатељство и осмехе.En: The year, just beginning, promised new opportunities for friendship and smiles. Vocabulary Words:promenades: променадеenchanting: очаравајућихmulled wine: куваног винаreserve: резерваadventurous: авантуристичкогinfectious: заразнаfascinated: фасциниранzest: радостheartfelt: срчаноgenuine: истинскуshyness: стидљивостintervened: умешалаconversations: разговориfireworks: ватрометflashes: муњевита светлостshoulder: рамеconnected: повезанимilluminates: обасјаваopportunities: приликеcheerfully: веселоstrolled: кренулаroutine: рутинаcourage: храбростmurmur: жаморfate: судбинаmelted: истопилиprecious: драгоценеhint: наговештајемrelationship: односеlaughter: смех
As South Africans prepare to welcome the New Year, the NSPCA has sounded the alarm on fireworks and the terror they bring to animals, as well as the severe distress caused to pets and wildlife by loud explosions. The organisation warns that loud bangs trigger extreme distress, causing pets to panic, flee their homes, get lost, or become injured in accidents. Various municipalities allow private fireworks only from 11pm to 1am on New Year's Eve. Lighting them near animals, hospitals, or petrol stations is strictly prohibited and can lead to hefty fines. Elvis Presslin spoke to SPCSA spokesperson, Samantha Stelli
• Santa bit: hates his house, trapped at the North Pole, built his own prison • New-year housing + Fed rate cuts/interest shifts; sponsor: Bart Marek real estate (CFL experts, referrals, free consult) • After-Christmas mess: cleanup/trash, hangovers, household sniping, accidentally tossing important stuff • "Best Of" setup: clips across ACT/AMT/OG/BDM/Friday Free; Friday Free framed as semi-secret; Love Thy Neighbor included • Big thanks: T&D Media supporters + BDM members (money + community), events/merch/customer service, choosing them over other subs • Fake tribute → clarify Tony P is alive; real appreciation; staff love for Tracy (events/Beerfest), Melissa (social/video; curates Best Of), Merchman Eric (10+ years) • Colette/Andrea on-air counseling; Colette's media rise; joking 'no thanks' because she's doing too well • LTN main thread: sex vs connection—love languages (touch vs non-touch), 'new love language' joke, high-libido/sex-schedule/competitive frequency talk • Libido mismatch: exhaustion, sex feels long when you're not in it; resentment when you 'give in'; distractions/comments/chores can kill desire fast • Biology vs emotion debate: hormones/medical jokes; expert framing—men more spontaneous desire, women often need arousal + emotional safety/connection first • Connection fix ideas: empathy for workload, affection/conversation/help as warm-up; 'chores for sex' joke; phones/screens making partners feel unseen; groping without connection gets rejected • Burned-out pursuer: repeated rejection → emotional shutdown; warning it's hard to reverse; address disconnection early • Gesture fail story: wildflowers/plants meant as romance get lost in clutter/poor placement; gestures ≠ what partner asked for; define what "connection" means • Curiosity tools: better-than-'how was your day?' open-ended questions; admit it may feel clumsy but it's genuine care • Long-term love reality: honeymoon/limerence chemistry vs decades-long seasons; social-media comparisons distort expectations; longevity ≠ quality • Practical 'homework': non-sex touch as glue—two 6-second kisses, 20-second hugs, cuddling without turning it into sex pressure • Fireworks sponsor bit: preview/plan online, don't overpay big-box; escalating 'bigger fireworks' jokes • Random riffs: White Claw flavors (session vs Surge; clementine/orange fave); beer spa disgust + sanitation questions; dream of a giant martini-glass event prop • BDM block: tiers/schedule, app/site upgrades; 11+ year archive; protected stories + experiments like "Pukes of Hazard" and listener puke tales • Puke highlights + open-mic disaster: food-poisoning + religious intervention injury → losing religion; concussion/freezer/bar pukes; drunk dad pukes on disabled comic's shoes; host cleanup + backlash • Travel/adventure: COVID cancellations; South Africa; rhino dehorning conservation (heli tranquilizer, blindfold/earmuffs, horn=fingernail regrowth, secret storage, strict penalties); wild dogs + miserable moose safari/gnats/bog rant • Old radio/prank nostalgia: open Facebook posting + planted 'evidence,' corporate reprimands, later regret about wasting time • Home repair panic: buzzing/flicker danger signs, being talked down to; DIY vs pro, cost/insurance fear; aluminum wiring reveal (burned outlets, Illumicon/drywall confusion, inspection vs real safety) • Personal/comfort stuff: mentor/father-figure reflections; stereotype flip when mentor posts with new Xbox; gaming talk (Diablo IV); mortgage refi sponsor (proactive review, wait for the right moment) • Best Of guests: Green Jelly/Green Jello's Bill Manspeaker—lied into a deal, frantic claymation, MTV legend, Tool connections; Ross vs Bob Zany scheduling drama + 'final appearance' vibe • Family/kid segments: mud walk logistics + owl-pellet misunderstanding bet; Tracy + kid guest 'White Claw kid' gag (repeatedly: no alcohol); dance-discipline talk; library macramé → earrings biz (pricing vs integrity/'no outsourcing') + handwritten card ### • Social Media: https://tomanddan.com | https://twitter.com/tomanddanlive | https://facebook.com/amediocretime | https://instagram.com/tomanddanlive • Where to Find the Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mediocre-time/id334142682 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FtZWRpb2NyZXRpbWUvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Mediocre-Time-p364156/ • Tom & Dan on Real Radio 104.1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-corporate-time/id975258990 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2Fjb3Jwb3JhdGV0aW1lL3BvZGNhc3QueG1s | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Corporate-Time-p1038501/ • Exclusive Content: https://tomanddan.com/registration • Merch: https://tomanddan.myshopify.com/
December 23 2024: The date we announced our first Mixmas winner - Fireworks Factory. Neither he, or we, had ANY idea what would follow this announcement. He was only meant to win a DJ set, instead he's become a core member of our creative collective and has had a profound and very positive influence on the brand. We've released his music, twice, and done quite a few more shows than the single gig he was promised and we have so much more to do in 2026 and beyond. But first we look back over the year he's had and the journey we've shared. From my cringey over-excited first interview with him exactly a year ago all the way through to his recent single Back To U / Infinite Crashing Wave, this extensive interview maps out and explores the trip we've been on both from Max's perspective as an emergent new generation artist and from my perspective as a new label that is purposefully going against the grain at a time when a huge amount of the industry seems obssessed with only profits, metrics and maintaining an increasingly depressing status quo. Despite the raw reality of the current world, 1 More Thing remains a fresh, inclusive, community-minded space that encourages new ideas, urges its crew to break rules and insists on doing things differently. We know that Max Fireworks Factory shares those ethics too and that vision, too. December 23 2025: The date we celebrate this chance encounter and ongoing collaboration with a unique podcast. A must-watch for any new artist hoping to breakthrough right now. Enjoy! Visit https://1-more-thing.co.uk/ for more information on this podcast and other similar content. Like what you're hearing and want to support it? Subscribe on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/1_more_thing
The head of the state Department of Law Enforcement discusses concerns about illegal fireworks ahead of New Years Eve celebrations; The University of Hawaiʻi Refugee & Immigration Law Clinic has a deportation-defense hotline
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Hour 1 kicks off with laughs over Kim's donut-fueled birthday before turning to AmericaFest, where Erica Kirk's emotional message and Ben Shapiro's fiery takedown of Candace Owens dominate headlines. Marc then dives into Trump's move to reclassify marijuana, sparking a spirited back-and-forth with Kim and listeners over legalization, public safety, and cultural double standards. The hour wraps with Marc unloading on the “lawless” state of Missouri's pot laws and clapping back at critics comparing weed to whiskey. #MarkCoxShow #AmericaFest #EricaKirk #BenShapiro #CandaceOwens #MarijuanaDebate #TrumpPolicy #StLouisTalkRadio
#227 The Chemistry Behind Firecrackers and Christmas Crackers Melissa and Jam delve into the chemistry behind firecrackers and Christmas crackers. They discuss the key component, silver fulminate, explaining its unstable nature and how it reacts to create the explosive effects. The discussion also touches on the octet rule, formal charges, and isomers. Along with sharing personal experiences and pranks involving firecrackers, they also recount historical debates between chemists over the discovery of isomers and their eventual agreement. The episode highlights the importance of chemistry in understanding everyday phenomena and ensuring safety. 00:00 Introduction and Firecracker Anecdotes 00:58 Chemistry of Firecrackers 04:53 Explosive Chemistry Explained 19:55 Historical Discoveries and Isomers 24:20 The Origins of a Scientific Discovery 24:48 Friendship and Scientific Collaboration 25:24 Understanding Isotopes and Isomers 27:20 Chemistry Behind Christmas Crackers 30:26 Fireworks and Safety Concerns 35:52 Fire Alarms and Home Safety 42:33 Supporting the Show and Community Shoutouts Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife References from the Episode: Thanks to our monthly supporters Amanda Raymond Emily Morrison Kyle McCray Justine Emily Hardy Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Jeannette Napoleon Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Gov. Josh Green joined Spotlight Now to discuss top issues for the state, which includes looking for a new way forward to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on Hawaii Island. With New Year’s Eve and the anniversary of the deadly fireworks incident in Aliamanu approaching, the governor is urging the public to stay safe. He also warns law enforcement will be out in force. In this episode, he also addressed plans to pause tax cuts to shore up the state budget, and his stance on recreational marijuana and gambling in Hawaii.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In episode 300(!) of the podcast, we're joined by many of the artists who we had on this past year to enter more music into our “Perfect Songs” catalog. We hit on all genres, all vibes, and all the music nerdery you've come to expect from Podioslave over 300 episodes. We are genuinely thankful for anyone who has taken the time to listen to any of the 300 episodes in the Podioslave catalog. We love music, and we love that any of you are along for the ride with us. Thank you!Listen to the playlist herePodcast theme performed by Trawl. Follow them here:Website IG/X/TikTok: @trawlbandWe'd love for everyone to hear this episode! Support the Podioslave family by rating, subscribing, sharing, storying, tweeting, etc — you get the vibe. Peace, love, and PodioslaveCheck us out here:WebsiteIG/Threads/X/TikTok: @PodioslaveYoutube: Podioslave PodcastEmail: Podioslavepodcast@gmail.com
Send us a textThe fuse catches, your heart jumps, and instinct says run. That split second is where most firework injuries begin—not in the explosion, but in the rush, the stumble, and the moments when excitement outruns preparation. We unpack how holiday celebrations trigger the human states that lead to errors, and we turn that insight into a simple, repeatable plan you can trust.Host: Danny SmithAerial fireworks: Determine the height that the device can shoot up plus the blast radius, which is usually 45-55' per inch. So after traveling 250' in the air, the fallout on a 2.5" would be 150' or so and then double that.* Note SafeTalk will return 1/5/26. Happy and Safe Holidays!
A registered nurse and calisthenics coach who was at Bondi Beach when a shooting incident unfolded in Sydney on Sunday has described the experience as overwhelming and terrifying, saying the seriousness of the situation only became clear when panic spread through the crowd. - Nasa Bondi beach ang registered nurse at calisthenics coach na si Bjorn Santos noong Linggo nang mangyari ang pamamaril sa lugar na ikinasawi ng 16 na katao. Sa isang panayam, ibinahagi nya ang karanasan at mga nasaksihan sa tinuturing na isang malagim na araw sa Australia.
Fireworks design has come a long way from notebooks, guesswork, and scattered video files—and Pyro Vault is pushing the industry into its next era.In this episode, Jason sits down with Ty Kvasnicka, the creator of Pyro Vault, a powerful new platform built specifically for fireworks professionals. Pyro Vault brings everything into one place: on-demand fireworks video for testing and timing, full show planning and scripting tools, inventory management, and a smarter way to organize and execute displays from start to finish.Ty breaks down why Pyro Vault was needed, how it was built by listening to real-world pain points from pyros, and how it's already changing the way shows are designed, sold, and shot. Whether you're a one-truck operation or a large-scale company managing multiple crews and shows, this platform is designed to save time, reduce mistakes, and help you build better, more confident displays.Special offer for Pyro Talk listeners:Get 10% off Pyro Vault by using the code PYROTALK at signup—and the first 100 users get 50% off full access, making this the best time to jump in. Learn more and explore the platform at https://pyrovaultapp.com
Miracle On Route 34: Part 2 Virginia and Santa face extreme danger together. Based on a post by BiscuitHammer, in 3 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Someone attacked Santa with a wicked-looking spiked hand-axe, something out of a sci-fi movie. He batted the weapon aside and clapped his open hands across the man's ears, busting his brain. Before he dropped, Santa grabbed the corpse and swung it around in a wide arc, smashing it into the foes surrounding him and knocking them back. "Shit!" Ginny squealed as one of the targets landed near her. "It's like the fucking Matrix in here!" As he threw the corpse away, he paused very briefly and glanced at her. "Since you happen to be right there, how about a little mood music?" "What?" "I'm just saying some music would be nice if we're going to be doing this," he called. "You're next to the entertainment system, how about putting something on?" "You’re shitting me, right?" she almost complained, wincing as she heard something delicate-sounding and expensive smash behind her amidst the wild brawl. She stared at the multimedia system, flapping her arms in frustration as she tried to focus through the noise. This couldn't be happening. She clutched the sleeves of her plush robe for a moment, trying to concentrate on its soft, fuzzy texture and center herself. She'd almost forgotten the large nerf gun in her hands but ignored it now, fixing her gaze on the mp3 playlist. She pressed a button. "Silent night; Holy night;" Bing crooned through the room. "Not really what I had in mind!" Santa mentioned loudly as he rammed his knee into a man's chin. "Try again!" Ginny bit her lip and pressed the button again, this time rewarded with Gary Glitter singing 'Another Rock And Roll Christmas'. "Still not quite there," he said as he snapmared another foe. "Better, but not quite!" "Well I don't know!" she shouted in exasperation. "What kind of music do you put on while Santa kills things in your living room?" Santa turned sideways and thrust his foot out, kicking an intruder in the chest and sending him sprawling backwards, rolling head over heels until he thumped into the entertainment system, jolting it and skipping the player. "I am a bitch. How do you want me? From behind, or on my knees? I am a slut, please hold me down, I'll be your noise, This shit will fuck you up!" "Perfect!" he declared as he fought, swarmed once again by foes. "Seriously?" Ginny yelled. "Combichrist is Santa's fucking fighting groove?" "I'm trying to figure out why you have it on your playlist," Santa replied. "I don't remember you liking aggrotech!" "Why the hell do you of all people even know what it is?" she shot back, wincing as she watched another body sail into the opposite wall with a sickening crunch before dropping to the floor and leaving a huge, crumbling dent in the stone. 'This Shit Will Fuck You Up!' "I prefer the term 'Hellektro' myself," he added. "And I know all songs, silly. I remember when the Dayglo Abortions wrote that 'Hey Santa!' song back in the '80's, they didn't get presents for” "I didn't ask, why are you answering?" she hissed. "Kill! Kill!" All the while, the pounding rhythms of the music filled the room. "I am a bitch. How do you want me? From behind, or on my knees? I am a slut, please hold me down, I'll be your noise, This shit will fuck you up!" "Well, at least we know why it's on your playlist, anyway!" he mentioned as he broke someone's back over his knee. "Very funny, red man!" Ginny hissed, scowling. She ducked wildly as another assailant flew overhead and landed in the Jacuzzi, his neck slamming against the hard edge with a snap noise and then tilting at a strange angle, his eyes wide and unseeing. "Fucking hell," she muttered. "These guys eat too much red meat!" Santa smashed two heads together before punting a third man in the chest, sending him staggering back until he fell against the entertainment unit, right next to Ginny, his eyes spiraling in his head. She scowled down at him for a moment before smashing the pitcher of nog on his cranium and sending him to the floor. Every single intruder stopped and turned to look at her suddenly, their eyes narrowing and turning very yellow. "Eep;" Ginny said quietly, going pale. They all howled and lunged toward her, even as Santa fought to reach her first. She shrieked in fright. "Darn it, Ginny!" he shouted in what almost sounded like irritation. "I told you not to do anything!" "You said not to use the stupid nerf gun!" she shot back as she dodged wildly and began to run around, evading her pursuers. "I meant don't do anything to get yourself noticed!" he growled as he bulldogged one man's head into the floor. He sprang to his feet and grabbed another man by the back of the head, ramming his face into the stone wall, creating a small crater from which the body slumped only slowly and wetly. "How the hell did they not notice the mostly naked girl in the room?" she yelled, sprinting around the circumference of the room, being chased by yellow-eyed foes. "They're mostly quantum, they don't always perceive real-state things or beings until they're interacted with!" he answered. "They weren't looking for you until you announced yourself!" "Oh, you and your weird physics shit!" she groused, her robe coming more and more undone as she ran. One of her tits was exposed, bouncing annoyingly and the nipple hardening as a cold wind from the endless holes in her walls and windows blew into the room. "Now what?" "Well, since they know you're here, you might as well use the gun," he answered as he tackled a small knot of them who were looking to cut off her avenue of escape. "At least then you can defend yourself if you're careful!" "The fuck am I supposed to do?" she shouted angrily as she clutched the ridiculous, useless gun. "Nerf them to death? Hope I shoot one foam dart down a throat and hope the bastard chokes and dies?" "Didn't you just let me inside all of your orifices?" he pointed out as he spun low, sweeping one foe's feet from under him and then taking him by the ankles to slam him off the floor. "Trust me, Virginia!" "Dammit!" she spat, steeling her nerve, hoping her resolve was harder than her nipple currently was. Taking a deep breath, she stopped running and spun, pointing the gun and pulling the plastic trigger; She yelped in astonishment as coruscating arcs of lightning crackled and lashed out from the muzzle, enveloping several foes, who wailed in glowing agony before disappearing from view. "Jesus H Fucking Tesla!" she exclaimed in amazement as she gaped down at her toy. "Virginia, language!" Santa warned. She rolled her eyes and pointed at another man rushing her, pulling the trigger and watching him explode in a shower of scintillating particles. "This shit will fuck you up!" blared the speakers. The wall splintered next to Ginny and several terrifying creatures barged in, causing her to shriek in fright, they were easily Santa's size, vaguely humanoid but covered in a greyish, segmented carapace, with insectoid heads, evil-looking mandibles and huge claws at the end of four arms. They hissed as the lunged for her. "Fuck fuck fuck!" cried out as she began running. "Fucking hate motherfucking bugs!" She fired wildly behind herself without looking, managing to strike one of the new creatures but only slowing it down. Ginny raced for the stairs, stampeding up them only to find more of the yellow-eyed humanoids waiting for her. "Santa!" she cried out in terror. "Help!" He glanced her way and grimaced at her predicament. "Aw, hell;" With a strength born of the desperation to protect one of his precious children, he surged forward, shoulder-blocking his way through a knot of assailants, springing through the air with astonishing agility, alternately using the wall and railing of the stairs to get to the upper floor, twisting and executing a flying kick that downed a foe about to attack Ginny. "Good thing I wore my enhanced parkour boots tonight, eh?" he muttered as he glared at the foes crowding to get up the stairs or down the hallway at them. "I don't even know what that means." Ginny snapped, backing up warily as the horde coming for them grew in numbers. "If that's some sort of geek speak, then we, are you getting bigger?" "I guess I am," he replied, grimly, glaring at their foes. "I don't expect what I'm saying to make sense, but the other iterations of me, my other selves, they're all coming here, merging with me to help meet the threat." "You're; consolidating?" she asked in disbelief. "That's one way to look at it," he said, his blue eyes flashing. "It's gonna make finishing the Christmas run tight if I get held up here much longer." "Oh, terribly sorry if I'm inconveniencing you, your highness." Ginny said, trying to not sound too snide. He put his body between her and her foes, backing her up against the wall. "They can't come through the wall you're up against, it's the South wall," he said quietly but with a sense of urgency. "You're safe from that angle. You can fire your gun past me or over the rail at the guys down below. Since they're trying to reach you that means they've solidified enough that they can't do crazy things like jump seven meters up to reach you, they'll have to use the stairs." "I thought they were after you." Ginny said hotly. "They were, until you announced yourself with a jug of nog," he pointed out. "Now they want to destroy you to hurt me." "Oh. Sorry." Ginny mumbled somewhat sheepishly. "You can make it up to me later!" he said as he surged forward suddenly, bulling his way through the approaching crowd, clotheslining several at once. Shouts went up and the fight was on again. Santa punched, kicked, elbowed, kneed and wrenched his way through the enemy horde. Ginny swore he was indeed bigger than he had been earlier. His already hard body physique was almost bulging with muscles now, like a California beach bodybuilder. Black blood glistened on his flawless skin as he maimed the attackers. Droplets that hit the carpet sizzled and ate through it, burning the hardwood floor beneath. "No!" Ginny wailed in despair. "Not the hardwood! I loved that feature!" She glared and gritted her teeth as she leaned over the railing and pointed the nerf gun down at the endless crowd on the main floor, pulling the trigger. The crackling arcs of energy enveloped several foes, who wailed and vanished. Same as before, the giant insectoids rarely disappeared but seemed slowed or staggered by the attack. Santa fought his way forward, forcing the attackers back from Ginny. Try as they might, no one got by him, even if it meant that they could strike at him instead. He took their assaults resolutely, using his body as a shield to protect her. Before long, the floor of the hallway was littered with bodies, some barely stirring, others not moving at all. Still, the foes swarmed up the stairs. One of the bug-things swiped at him with its vicious claws and he ducked under the blow before kicking his boot into one of the reverse-jointed legs, snapping it. The bug screeched and tumbled and he leapt onto its back, grabbing hold of one of the large, wet-grey chitinous plates that armored its back and pulled, it tore away with a mushy crack and the beast's keened agony as it shuddered and thrashed. Without pausing, Santa whirled around and slammed the exoskeletal plate across several men's heads, dropping them. Ginny kept firing the nerf tesla gun, wondering what sort of sociopath would invent a deadly weapon that looked like a famous kid's toy. She pushed it from her mind, realizing that she wanted to live and didn't care at the moment about the social mores of the issue. Santa was using the huge chitin plate almost like a shield, driving his foes back with it to the stairs. It finally cracked in half and he punched through the mess, unwilling to give the enemy time to regroup. He spun one man around with a fist across the jaw before grabbing his arms from behind and ramming his knee into the man's back, lifting him off the floor and letting him slam his spine onto the stairs. Without waiting, Santa launched himself through the air, knee raised and smashed it into the face of a man on the stair's corner landing. The foe's head went back through the wall with a loud crunch and he hung there limply, no longer part of the battle. "Ack!" Ginny squawked as the nerf gun sputtered and let out several impotent flashes and then died. "Not now! No no no!" One foe had broken through the cordon and now raced toward her. She yelled loudly and smashed the butt of her nerf gun into his face, staggering him for a moment. She glared at him angrily, waiting for him to fall, but her didn't, so she kicked him in the crotch with her instep. He groaned and sunk to his knees, holding himself. Ginny was practically jumping up and down on top of him by the time he stopped moving. "Stay; the; fuck; down!" she shouted angrily as she turned his ribcage into powder. She failed to notice the one last foe who rushed up behind her. But then Santa was at her side and he delivered a devastating haymaker to the man's thorax. Stunned, the intruder staggered back against the railing. With a growl, Santa grabbed him by the face and ruthlessly bent his back over the railing before leaping over and slamming his elbow across the man's neck as he went down to the main floor. The lifeless form crumpled next to him as he looked around, glaring. No foes remained standing. Aside from the music, all was quiet. "It is safe?" Ginny called from the gallery. "Are the scary guys and bug-thingies all gone?" "No," Santa said warily. "And the next wave is even bigger." "Great!" Ginny complained, tossing the useless nerf gun over the side. "And according to you, there's no one that can help us!" "I didn't say that," he countered, beckoning for her to come down the stairs and be near him for protection. "I just said there was no Easter Bunny." "No Superman either, apparently," she grumbled as she approached him, letting him put a huge arm around her possessively. He was, indeed, bigger than ever. She was practically child-sized next to him now. "So who the hell is there to help us?" "If help's arriving it had better get here soon," he said, taking her to the remains of her big glass bay windows and back door. The wind was howling as snow drove into the living room. What was left of it, anyway. Which was nothing. "It's now or never. Can you see them?" She peered into the darkness outside and a chill ran down her spine, hundreds of red and yellow glowing eyes could be seen in the darkness. And they seemed to be getting closer. "Do; do they see me?" she asked, swallowing nervously. "I'm sure they do," he said, grimacing. "Not going to take a chance and assume they don't. I'll do everything I can to protect you, of course." "Is; is that going to be enough?" She could hear the angry hisses and an evil chanting outside clearly now, getting closer with each moment. It pained Santa that he couldn't lie to her. "I don't know, Virginia." She sighed and smiled weakly. "Well, at least I know there's a Santa Claus now. And he gave me the night of my life before it all ended." He returned the smile, trying to feign a cheerfulness he didn't feel. "I don't;" Ginny faltered, trying to find the words. "I don't suppose that you'd; well; that you'd be willing to kiss me one last time? You know, before the end?" He turned to look down at her, his hands holding her arms with an unreal gentleness and a warmth in his eyes that comforted her even now. "Nothing would make me happier, Virginia." She smiled and closed her eyes. "Merry Christmas, Santa." "Merry Christmas, Virginia;" he said softly as he leaned down to kiss her. Then the night was filled with high-pitched shrieks, a noise that made her eyes snap open. She'd heard noises like that before, once a long time ago in grade school. It sounds like the hissing passage of meteors above, and getting closer. Or what she imagined artillery sounded like when it was incoming, like in all those war movies. Santa's head turned and an almost evil grin crept over his face as he listened. "That's more like it!" he declared, standing tall and pointing at the blackness of the night. "Watch the sky, Virginia;" She looked up and noticed glittering points of light, dozens of them, seeming to get closer. The hissing shriek was indeed their approach and they seemed to be aimed right at them. She felt Santa's hand squeeze on her shoulder, almost in excitement. His blue eyes were blazing ferociously. Finally, what looked like dozens of giant icicles, each larger and longer than a semi, lanced out of the night sky and slammed into the earth around her house, shaking it as they buried their tips in the frozen ground and came to a stop. Several impaled the intruders as they came in, while others kicked up a covering spray of snow as the enemy stopped and looked around in confusion. Then doors or portals opened on the sides of the titan icicles and tall, lithe beings began leaping out of them, wearing weird, form-fitting armor and carrying space-age guns and swords or axes. Their armor and long hair was a riot of colors that was reflected by the snow and ice. Wild, ululating war cries pierced the air. And a savage, bloody battle began on her property. "Who the hell are they?" Ginny almost yelled in astonishment as she watched. They moved with inhuman grace and speed, the ones not wearing helmets revealing long, beautiful facial features that were often frightening because of the wrath they displayed. The helmets were all tall and peaked, showing fearsome designs and glowing eyes. Weird runes pulsed and throbbed with light all over their armor. Guns hissed and shrieked while swords hummed as they slew. "My elves," Santa said, clearly pleased and also eager to fight but not willing to leave her side yet. "They got my call and converged on my position." "Those are elves?" she exclaimed in amazement. "Aren't they cutesy little toy-shop people?" "Cute myth, but no, not these ones," he replied, watching as several elves wearing bone-white armor with feminine features raced past, throwing themselves into a knot of the hulking bugs. They screamed and the masks of their wild-maned helmets gave off vibrations that shook Ginny's teeth in her head as it melted their foes' faces off. "No, a lot of my elves are warriors, meant to help me fight Krampus. They keep Christmas safe with me." "What the hell are they wearing?" she asked in disbelief. How could this weird night get any weirder? Santa sighed. "Truth? They've been spending way too much time playing Warhammer 40k and they; appropriated armor, weapons and tactics from the Eldar faction. They're space elves." "Wow. Gay;" she muttered, shaking her head. "Well, they're certainly earning their keep tonight." He nodded. "Been a long time since Krampus moved against us this hard. Apparently he got bored and was feeling uppity. That or he just forgot what a good thrashing felt like." Ginny watched as three elves, clad in scary black armor and wearing helmets that looked like peaked skulls, marched relentlessly forward, firing little rockets from elaborate launchers they carried in their hands and on suspensor harnesses. The rockets punctured the bugs' chitin shells and exploded inside them, sending shards of exoskeleton and stinking goo in every direction. Ginny squeaked and hid behind Santa as some of the nasty effluence landed right where she'd been standing only a moment before. Beams of super-heated plasma and tiny, shuriken-like projectiles hissed and whizzed by them, the remains of her lovely house now the center of a battleground while the winter storm raged on. Warriors in green armor, carrying weapons that looked like a horrifying hybrid of sword and chainsaw, tore into a knot of foes, slicing them to bloody ribbons. As savage as the battle had been earlier, when it had just been her and Santa, she suddenly appreciated its relative civility. "They need my help," Santa said finally, cracking his knuckles, his expression grim. "We have to finish this off or Christmas won't come on time." "I thought you said there was plenty of time." Ginny protested, frowning up at him. "There was," he admitted. "But in order to defeat Krampus' minions, I summoned every single quantum iteration of myself back to here to help me fight. No one is delivering presents anywhere at the moment. I can't change real-time if I'm here in my entirety." He turned and looked at her. "Hopefully we're keeping them busy enough that they don't worry about you. Stay against the wall and work the music, will you?" "Manning the music station," she said, nodding, focusing on giving herself a task. "Music for Santa and his homicidal elves to kill by. Got it;" She watched as Santa leapt through the shattered remains of her bay doors into the howling storm and crashed into a knot of foes, savaging them. She watched in disbelief for some time, trying to figure out how Santa could kill anyone. I mean, even serial murderers got presents in prison, didn't they? Maybe they didn't, she had no way of knowing and chalked up thinking about this to what could only be described as the weirdest night of her life. She squealed and dodged out of the way as a body came flying through the doors and landed next to her. She scrambled over to the entertainment center and stood in front of it, trying to figure out what the hell she should play. "Okay;" she breathed, trying to focus. "Mass slaughter music; mass slaughter music;" What constituted mass slaughter music? Death metal? Panic At The Disco? Teletubbies music? She had no playlists, so she began cycling through the radio, hoping to find anything that might suffice. Oldies; Christmas music; hip-hop; trance; disco; "Son of a fuck," she muttered. "This is harder than it looks." She finally came across a station playing 'Jailhouse Rock' and decided that was good enough, she was sick of looking. She winced, trying to ignore another splintering crash as a body came through her wall. She hugged herself but then felt her robe. She frowned as she looked down at it, realizing it had been thoroughly shredded in the fight earlier. Those shuriken-thingies had been cutting it real close. Ginny grumbled as she pulled it off and threw it away, standing there completely naked, it hadn't been keeping her warm in its current condition and she was thoroughly beyond giving a shit at this point about who saw her naked. They were all too damn busy tearing one another apart anyway. And that sort of pissed her off. She was buck-naked and no one seemed to care. She'd shaved her cunt for this? "And I thought my night sucked before," she sighed to no one in particular. "Not getting my cunt pounded had been my biggest complaint before this hack!" She never saw the menacing shadow that had slipped up behind her. Santa picked one of his foes up overhead and hurled him into a cluster of foes, bowling them all over. He then punched another man as he tried to run by, knocking him off his feet and into his back. A quick stamp on his solar plexus made sure he stopped moving. The huge man thrust his fist in the air and shouted loudly. "Clear!" he thundered, indicating no other enemies surrounded him. His elves responded in kind, many of them gathering in a tight ring about him, weapons facing out as they sought to protect him. Hundreds of bodies lay strewn across the landscape, some burning from plasma blasts, other shredded and blown apart by rockets or sliced into bloody jerky. The storm seemed to be abating, no longer a blizzard so much as a stiff wind and swirls of snow. "Sire, we detect no enemies in the immediate vicinity," one elf wearing blue armor with a tall, crested helmet announced, striding up and saluting by thumping his gauntleted fist over his heart. "This attack has been defeated." "Maybe," Santa said, looking around warily. "But that doesn't mean anything just yet. We have to secure the area, make sure Virginia is alright and then get back to” "Kringle!" "Damn," he muttered to himself. "I thought this was too easy." He made several complex gestures, sending his elves fanning out in a wide arc as he began trudging forward through the snow, heading toward where the voice had come from out of the night. The winds and squalls of snow continued to die down until there was an almost deafening silence, the moon shining brightly overhead and revealing the sheer carnage of the battle that had been waged, the snow and ice glittered with frozen blood. "Kringle!" snarled the inhuman voice angrily. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" Santa said loudly, scowling. "Don't get your panties in a bunch!" He stopped in a clearing on the other side of the house, glowering at who confronted him, the beast was not as tall as he was, nor as muscular, but horrifying in aspect. The backward-jointed, hairy legs ended in wicked hooves. The skin not covered in coarse black fur was almost as dark and criss-crossed with innumerable scars. The vascular chest was crowned with a strong neck and sitting atop it was a blasphemous head, a demonic goat's visage from which grew four evil, twisting horns. The red eyes blazed like wrathful coals and sharp teeth glistened wetly inside the hateful mouth. Krampus. And in one of his powerful, clawed hands, he held Virginia by the neck, who looked like a rag doll. "Hi, Santa;" she said weakly, looking very apologetic. Santa kept walking forward, clenching his fists. "By all means, Kringle, keep coming forward if you mean to slay the child." Krampus growled, starting to squeeze and causing Ginny to shudder in fear. Santa stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing. His elves had now cast a tight net around the scene, hemming in Krampus. One circle of warriors faced inward, pointing their weapons at the abomination while another behind them faced out, prepared for any further attacks. Santa didn't move. "Let the girl go, Krampus," he said levelly. "This doesn't concern her." "Oh, I beg to differ," said the beastman in an almost non-chalant tone. "It's always about the children, isn't it?" "Hey!" said Ginny angrily. "I am not a child, jerk! I'm twenty, Gurr!" "Oh, do stop talking, you're such an annoyance." Krampus said, giving her neck another warning squeeze. "Let the adults work this out." "There's nothing to work out, Krampus," Santa growled, his blue eyes flashing. "You'll let the girl go." "I think we both know that's not happening," intoned the vile intruder. "She is my victory over you, and you know it. Revenge is not only a dish best served cold but often. And not often enough for me." "About this cold revenge dish thing," Ginny said, squirming slightly. "Couldn't; couldn't I just find you a nice tin can to chew on instead?" "Shut up, girl!" Krampus said harshly while several elves could be heard to chuckle and even Santa smirked at her jest. "I hold your life in my hands, to dispose of as I please." His foul breath crackled in the cold night air. His touch was uncomfortably warm, almost hot and strangely kept her body from freezing in the winter night. His touch felt evil and her skin crawled in revulsion. His strength was terrifying. "It wasn't enough that I slaved in coal mines for you, giving you carbon lumps to deliver to naughty children," Krampus growled, glaring at Santa. "It wasn't enough that I found the worst of them and brought them to you in the night so you could lecture them." "Hey, nobody asked you or ordered you to do the coal thing, pal," Santa said angrily. "And the whole kidnapping kids thing was your idea. I decided to let you have some creative control and look what happened. When it didn't work out, you decided that beating naughty kids with reeds was the answer. You're damn right that wasn't good enough!" "Silence!" Krampus snarled loudly, stamping one of his clawed hooves and making the ground shake dangerously. "Your kind-hearted foolishness with these puny mortals changed nothing about their behavior! Your failure to recognize their inherent selfishness was why our efforts were doomed!" "These puny mortals?" Santa countered. "You used to be one of them, Pete, remember? You were a well-behaved boy once." "Shut up!" growled Krampus. "Well-behaved, but not good," Santa continued. "You followed the rules and wanted everyone to follow rules. You were a control freak. I brought you north to show you what kindness could do, but you hated the cheer and the happiness and you fled to the coal mines in Greenland, hiding in the dark where the light of Christmas couldn't touch you! And when making kids feel bad with coal didn't bring them into line, you started the whole whipping them with reeds thing. Good job there, Pete!" "I'm warning you, Kringle;" Krampus said dangerously. "Oh, he really gets your goat, doesn't he?" Ginny sneered, causing several elves to laugh loudly. Krampus now snarled furiously and lifted her into the air by her neck, causing her to cry out in pain. Santa watched warily, knowing better than to make a move. "We seem to have an impasse," Krampus said, an evil smile playing over his slavering mouth. "You cannot harm me, because you know I can slay the child, but I cannot as yet slay her because she is my bargaining chip. But my need to hurt you, old man, is so very strong." He lowered Ginny down until her feet were just touching the snow-covered ground. She frowned as she heard a wet slithering sound she could not identify. "And there are other ways to hurt you than slaying the poor dear, aren't there?" Ginny felt something slimy touch her leg and then start to crawl up it, wrapping around her smooth skin. She shuddered and squirmed in horror as she realized exactly what was happening. The snake-like appendage wound up her thigh and then behind her. She gasped as it slid between her ass cheeks and then underneath to her cunt. She felt the blunt head split her lips and then move upward again. "Don't do this, Krampus." Santa said, trying to figure out what to do without hurting Ginny. "And why not?" replied the qliphotic abomination. "Don't you have a present for me? Then I guess I'll have to give myself one." Krampus' organ continued to slither its way around her body, leaving a glistening trail on her skin. She stiffened and moaned as his appendage wrapped around her tits, squeezing them, the head pausing and teasing the nipples. "Hey, asshole, dinner and a movie first!" she spat angrily. Ginny was about to say something else when the large, grayish cockhead snaked up in front of her face and then plunged into her mouth, causing her to gag and go silent. Her eyes widened and she thrashed furiously, but to no avail. He was simply too strong. "Language, young lady." Krampus chided, still staring at Santa. "Hasn't Santa taught you anything?" "This isn't gonna end well for you, Pete." Santa said, his tone dire. "Christmas never does, Kringle," replied the demon, his cock sliding in and out of Ginny's mouth. "I'm just hoping to make the holiday every bit as awful and intolerable for you as it is for me. After all, misery loves company." He brought her body close to his head and his other hand reached over and stroked her cunt lips, which were glistening. He leered at his foe, knowing Santa was helpless to get closer. "Is she good down here?" Krampus said mockingly. "Nice and wet and tight for you? Was she the best one ever, in the endless list of good girls you have fucked?" Santa said nothing, just glaring at Krampus. His knuckles were white as he clenched his fists. "Sharing your toys is the spirit of Christmas, isn't it?" Krampus said evilly, finally pulling his cock out of her mouth. Ginny coughed and sputtered, tendrils of resinous spittle and worse trailing away from her lips. She glared at Krampus but was still immobilized. "Just get this over with and fuck me already, whip-cock," she spat. "You won't be my first egotistical disappointment, trust me." Krampus' eyes blazed red and his tongue sped around her naked form blindingly quickly while he released her from his clawed grip. The tongue wrapped and immobilized her arms, holding them out straight while still encircling her tits. It then snaked around her waist and legs, pinning those as well while his long cock, swaying about like a cobra, came to a stop in front of her swollen cunt lips. The head teased and tapped against the opening, causing her to moan and squirm. "As you wish, child;" The head forced itself through her lips, sliding deep inside her. Ginny cried out in a mixture of shock and indescribable pleasure. She felt the tip of his pointed tongue probe trailing around her nipples. The python-like length of his cock churned inside her cunt. The blinding light behind her eyes finally receded and she lifted her head, looking out into the night, feeling his tongue constricting around her neck. She could dimly see a huge being in red pants and black boots watching nearby, his powerful chest exposed. The startling blue eyes flashed in the darkness of the night. She could tell he wanted to rescue her but didn't dare come closer. She gasped and shuddered as Krampus' cock pushed still deeper inside her. She felt fuller than she had imagined possible, the slithering appendage stretching her wide. The sticky, squelching noises were hardly to be believed. "Ew, gross! Hentai noises!" she thought in revulsion. "Krampus;" Santa warned. His elves all pointed their weapons menacingly but he held up his hand, staying them. "The child is naughty," Krampus said, smiling through pointed teeth. "Very naughty. Such a sordid past." "Hey, back off, she was young and needed the money!" Santa snapped defensively. "That thing with the midget and the donkey was” "You're not helping here!" Ginny shouted, blushing furiously, even as Krampus violated her. "Wicked child," growled the vile demon, shoving his cock in and out of her, the peristaltic actions of its length causing her to writhe and squirm in his grip, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Shameless. Even though I violate her, she finds a way to be concerned about how you perceive her. I find it; titillating." "Oh, do I make you horny?" she sneered, turning her head to smirk at him. "Couldn't tell, looking at that head of yours." "Silence!" Krampus hissed, spittle flying from his jaws, his eyes flashing angrily. "I hold your life and death in my hands." "How would I know?" she shot back. "Hope you're better with your hands than you are with your cock, Billy G." He plunged his cock deeper still inside her. She went rigid and cried out. "That all you got?" she rasped, trying not to faint as she felt popping inside her hips while he stetched her. "My brother got in deeper than that when we were little!" "Insolent!" Krampus snarled savagely, bouncing her up and down and he fucked her harder than ever, pulling on her arms and legs, stretching her joints til they creaked. She felt a deep, wet heat building inside her and in spite of the horror she consciously felt about the situation, even more dire was her need to cum. She felt her cunt squeezing around his cock. His snake-like tongue probed her ass and wriggled inside, further adding to her desperation. "Intholent bith, you will be punithed!" "What was that?" Santa asked, turning his head slightly and putting his hand to his ear. "I couldn't understand you, it's like you have a lisp or something." "Don't mock meef!" Krampus said angrily, his tongue whipping out of Ginny's ass, causing her to yelp suddenly. "I'll kill her, Kringle!" "Not before I cum, damn you!" Ginny panted, her body flushed and covered in sweat as she twisted and writhed in his grip. "Uh, so close, goddammit!" "Language!" Santa and Krampus both snapped at her. "Aw, c'mon!" she wailed. "You two are total pains in the ass! Do it, Billy! Show me what a bad boy you are!" Krampus glared at her and began fucking her harder than ever. "As you wish, child!" "Krampus!" Santa shouted, reaching out his hand in alarm. "Don't!" Krampus grinned evilly at Santa, his teeth clenching as he drew close to climax. His cock seemed to swell along its length, stretching her wider still. She threw her head back and gritted her teeth, straining as she was overwhelmed by sensation; Santa's fist slammed across Krampus' jaw with a powerful crack. The demonoid's eyes rolled into his head and he crumpled to the ground. Ginny wailed in frustration as his cock pulled out of her and retreated back to his body, like a wet, slimy Stanley tape measure. She collapsed to her hands and knees in the snow, panting and shaking, her eyes wide. Santa raced up and knelt next to her, his eyes shining with concern. "Fuck;" Ginny whispered, gasping for air. "Motherfucker;" She looked up at her rescuer now, her eyes flashing accusingly. "The hell? Couldn't you have let him make me cum first?" Santa paused. "What?" "I was so damn close!" she hissed, standing up and stamping her foot. "I was within half a second of the orgasm of my life and you had to choose that moment to intervene and play the hero! Don't expect a thank you card!" "Uh, Virginia," Santa said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to figure out what to say. "If he had brought you to orgasm, it would have killed you. When Krampus climaxes, his appendage you were so attached to bursts into spikes, basically killing you from the inside while denying you your orgasm." She paused and then deflated. "Holy cobra dildos. What a bastard." Ginny then pointed a finger at her savior. "But you still owe me an orgasm, then, pal. You may have rescued me from certain death, but that doesn't mean I don't need relief." Santa looked really confused. "What, here? Now?" "Damn straight," she said firmly, suddenly remembering she was buck naked in a snow-storm. In spite of the no-doubt freezing weather, her body was still warm and very wet with need. She put her hand down her cunt and felt around for a moment before presenting her sticky palm and fingers to Santa for inspection. "Do I look satisfied to you? You've already fucked me, Screamo the Goat Boy just fucked me, who cares if your freaky gay elves watch us? I need satisfaction now and I already am aware that you can't say no." Santa sighed. "It's gotta be quick, Virginia. I'm really behind, now that I'm completely temporal in one location." "Whatever, just get me to the promised land, man." Ginny replied, shrugging. "Who knows, maybe your entourage might enjoy a show." "Oh, right, about that," Santa said, standing up tall and shouting loudly. "About; Face!" As a single unit, the elves all turned around smartly on their heels, still arranged in a protective ring around their liege and his companion, weapons ready as they scanned the darkness for trouble, their eyes glowing menacingly inside their helmets. Santa strode up to Ginny, towering over her and ignoring the prostrate form of the still-unconscious Krampus, snuffling nearby. She smiled up at him, somehow warmed by his presence, in spite of the icy night she should have frozen to death in already. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She moaned into his mouth as she felt her already molten core getting even more heated in response to his touch. Tongues tangled and played as he took her ass cheeks in his hands and squeezed them, making her shiver. Ginny's hands fumbled with his large black belt until it fell away and then pulled down his red pants. He pulled her onto his powerful thighs, resting her on them. She hooked her legs behind his waist and began grinding her wet, eager cunt against his hardening cock, which swelled readily. Her head was almost spinning, she was so horny. "Hmm, give it to me, baby," she purred, feeling the head of his cock touch her cunt lips. "Make me cum hard and fast." She sighed loudly as he pulled her close, penetrating and sliding deep inside her. Ginny moaned shamelessly as Santa once again began to pump back and forth inside her. His huge cock stretched her cunt wide, but not in the violent, violating way Krampus did. This felt warm and utterly perfect. She nipped at the skin of his chest while he moved in and out of her. "Yes," Ginny breathed as he began to moved faster, pumping strongly and rhythmically. She could feel her wetness trickling down between her cheeks, her cunt clutching at him hungrily, greedily and unwilling to let go until it was somehow sated. "Oh, God, just what I needed. Yes, fuck me, Santa!" He gripped her tight and thrust into her, picking up his pace just the way she wanted. She was gasping and yelping now and he squeezed her cheeks, one of his fingers poking inside her puckered knot. She clenched her teeth and groaned at the intrusion, murmuring that she loved it. She grew warmer and warmer, her body tingling with an exquisite fire that rippled out from her core. Santa turned her around and set her feet on top of his boots, bending her forward and pulling on her arms. She cried out as he fucked her harder, his hips thumping against her ass cheeks. Her hands clenched wildly, her breath coming in gasps as his overwhelming strength dominated her. "Oh, God!" she panted, beginning to shudder uncontrollably, almost drooling. "Uh, cum in me, dammit! Fucking cum in me!" Santa pulled on her arms even tighter as his thighs slammed into her. Ginny strained, craning her neck, teeth clenched as she tried not to scream, but it was no use, she wailed loudly as he came inside her, filling her once again in a way she could not describe. Her orgasm shook every last atom of her being, transporting her to a world of nothing but pleasure, edged with mint. She buckled, hanging loosely in his arms, exhausted. She'd been fucked hard at least five times tonight and had a dreadful suspicion that this experience would only make her libido even more hyperactive. She sighed as Santa scooped her naked form into his arms and cuddled her against the cold. Ginny purred and traced a fingernail across his broad chest. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Just what the doctor ordered. That quenched the flames, for now." He finally put her down and she looked at the remains of her ruined chateau, which was completely leveled and now on fire. "Poor Oatmeal," she murmured. "Where am I going to live?" She scowled down at the still supine Krampus, anger flaring in her. "It's this jack wagon’s fault. You should totally napalm his face." Santa looked down at her in shock. "Did you just say I should jerk off in Krampus' face?" "Damn right, he'd deserve it too." Ginny announced. "That and shove your sleigh up his ass." "I am not jizzing in Krampus' face." Santa said, clearly repulsed by the suggestion. "Fine, leave a woman to do a man's job," Ginny said testily, striding over to Krampus and putting one leg on either side of his head. She stuck three fingers inside her cunt and managed to tease out considerable amounts of Santa's minty cum, which she smeared all over Krampus' face and into his fur with glee, even giving him a glistening white moustache. "Take that, asshole!" She looked like she might have been done desecrating the unconscious form, but then she paused and squatted over him, peeing on his body and face, the stream steaming in the cold night air. She grinned evilly as she thoroughly baptized him. "Teach you to mess with me." Ginny muttered as she walked back to Santa, nodding. The huge man had a wide smirk on his face and shook his head slowly. "I can't believe you just pissed all over Krampus," he said, hugging her to him. "However, you're going to freeze to death at this rate;" He held out his hand and one of his elves dutifully brought him a large, velvety red cloak, which he wrapped around her. She blushed and smiled gratefully at his consideration, but only until he slid it off her, revealing that she was now wearing some ridiculous 'Hot Christmas Elf' outfit, complete with striped stockings and high heels. She looked like a Yule whore. "Seriously?" she asked, unimpressed. "This is your solution to my naked issues?" He shrugged. "I liked you better naked, but you would freeze quickly." "Whatever," she sighed, looking down and appreciating the considerable lift it gave her cleavage. It was incredibly warm, in spite of how scant it was. "So now what? I still have no damn home, you and Goatse here blew it up with your little barnyard brawl." Santa looked around warily. "That might be the least of your worries. The wind's picking up again, which means that another assault is coming. We need to get out of here." "Sire!" said one of the armored elves, thumping his fist to his breastplate and bowing his head. "We will cover you. You must go while you still have a head-start and the dark one is unconscious." Santa nodded. "Yeah, he's not gonna be happy when he wakes up and he's really gonna want revenge on you, Virginia." She felt her mouth go dry at the notion of another battle and Krampus waking up to even the score. "So; now what?" Santa shrugged. "I'd say it's fairly obvious. I've still got to make my rounds before the night is over and I'm not leaving you here;" She gaped as he put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. "Virginia, you're coming with me and you're going to help save Christmas." Chapter 3, Christmas Wishes "How the hell do you drive this thing?" Ginny called in a panic, her eyes wide as she held onto the reigns, twisting them wildly as she tried to steer. Up ahead of her, eight large reindeer squealed and thrashed their heads. The sleigh corkscrewed while it hurtled through the cold night air, the moon shining down on them. "Well, first of all, stop panicking," Santa replied as he stood on the back of the sleigh, atop his huge red sack of toys. He was more or less back to his original size she had become accustomed to, now that he had sent his other 'iterations' of himself out over the globe to deliver presents. "That would be an excellent start." "Easy for you to say," she snapped, scowling back at him for a moment since taking her eyes off her designated path seemed to make no difference to how she was doing at navigating. "You're used to doing this!" "Trust me, between the two of us, you're the one with the easy job right now and I'd be happy to trade," he called back as he ducked wildly. A comically large rocket thundered by, with an evil-looking man strapped to the bottom of it, swinging a weapon wildly to hit Santa. "Try to keep her steady!" "While dodging psychos on rockets, no problem!" she grumbled, trying to ignore the howling wind and roaring projectiles. "Have I mentioned Krampus is a gigantic asshole?" "Repeatedly," Santa answered, watching warily. The sky was threaded with jets of fire as their enemies kept coming about in ponderous, elliptical arcs and heading back towards them, intent on their destruction. They had only just pulled off from the smoldering remains of Ginny's country chateau when the assault began. Krampus was nowhere to be seen, but his minions were clearly determined to avenge him. "Maybe urinating on him wasn't such a good idea. He never did take humiliation well." Ginny squawked in alarm and ducked as a rocket streaked right at her. Santa jumped in the air, doing the splits to avoid the projectile and landing back on top of his present sack. Another tried to pull up alongside them but Santa grabbed the harness the man was wearing and wrenched the rocket off course, sending it speeding into one some distance away. Both rockets (and presumably their pilots) exploded in a violent orgy of noise and flashing lights. "Really hope people just think those are fireworks," Santa muttered as he looked glared balefully at yet another rocket considering approaching. "Fireworks right in the middle of the world's most spastic meteor shower. Sure, they'll buy that;" "Funny part is I can't tell if you're serious," Ginny said loudly. "If they don't believe that narrative, then they've gotta accept that Santa Claus was engaged in an epic air battle over their town with quantum men strapped to rockets." "Truth is often stranger than fiction," Santa agreed, nodding. "Fighting these jerks off is taking too much time!" "Well, don't you have anything in your back of tricks there?" Ginny asked. In spite of the sleigh being open, it seemed to have some weird form of climate control and she'd been getting rather warm. To that end she'd pulled down her top, exposing her tits to cool herself off. The breeze allowed through made her nipples tingle delightfully, but not enough to distract her from driving the sleigh. After all, she often drove ninety minutes to her job wearing a vibrating insert in her panties, so she knew for a fact she could orgasm and still control a vehicle. A wheeled one, at least. She wasn't so sure about a sleigh doing Mach Three at twenty thousand feet. "You mean a weapon?" Santa asked. "In the bag full of toys for kids?" "You gave me a nerf gun out of that bag and it turned out to be some sort of doomsday device, didn't it?" she pointed out. "Scary lightning bolts everywhere. I refuse to believe you don't have some other goodies in there." Santa shrugged and squatted down to look inside the bag, getting narrowly missed by another rocket that shot over his head. The pilot cursed and came around again, aiming directly at the chassis of the sleigh from the side. Ginny's eyes widened in fright as she saw him approach. She jerked the reins to one side and the sleigh tilted ninety degrees, presenting its wide, flat red underside. The rocket slammed into it and exploded. Whatever it was made of or whatever shielding was in place, Ginny only heard the detonation and felt a rumble, but there was no damage aside from that. "Ha!" Santa said, standing tall and holding an electric guitar in the air, its black body gleamed in the moonlight. He put the strap around his neck and took several seconds to tune it, ignoring the aerial mayhem that swirled around him. "The hell are you going to do with that?" Ginny asked, scowling as she looked behind to see what he was up to. "You said to find something, I found something," he said simply as he checked the pickups. "Now let's see what we can do here;" He took the pick in hand and strummed it across the strings, a screeching pulse of sound blared out from the instrument, heading in all directions. It struck several rockets nearby, which exploded brightly. Other were knocked off course, spiraling around crazily as they fought for control. Santa laughed loudly, apparently enjoying himself. "Quit laughing and kill, red man!" Ginny yelled, nonplussed by his amusement. "I want to survive the night and I've had several close calls with death already!" "I'm working on it, Virginia, patience." Santa chided, adjusting the tuners momentarily. "Near-death experiences make you cranky." "No shit, Sherlock," she grumbled as he blasted out another screeching wave of sound. "Do you plan to play anything or just keep shrieking out that one sound?" "As you wish," he said cheerfully, pleased to be doing as she asked. Making her happy was all he cared about. He began playing a heavy metal version of Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyries', the pulsing walls of sound thundering out and striking every foe within hundreds of
Join The Great British Mickey Waffle LIVE as we compare Disney's two biggest festive hard-ticket events to help YOU decide which one is worth your money on your next Orlando trip:
### Episode Summary Today's episode features groundbreaking developments in space exploration, including the historic journey of Michaela Benthouse, the first wheelchair user set to fly to space aboard Blue Origin's NS37 mission. We also delve into a major survey of the Magellanic Clouds, revealing insights into their interaction with our Milky Way. Additionally, we discuss surprising findings from NASA's Parker Solar Probe regarding solar recycling, the new race for lunar resources, and the upcoming celestial fireworks from the binary star system V Sagittae. Finally, we explore the innovative Ristretto instrument aimed at studying Proxima B, our nearest exoplanet neighbor.### Timestamps & Stories 01:05 – **Story 1: Michaela Benthouse to Become First Wheelchair User in Space****Key Facts** - Michaela Benthouse, an aerospace engineer, will fly on Blue Origin's NS37 mission, marking a milestone for accessibility in space. - The mission emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in space exploration. 03:20 – **Story 2: Major Survey of the Magellanic Clouds****Key Facts** - A new five-year survey using the VISTA telescope will utilize spectroscopy to create a detailed 3D map of the Magellanic Clouds. - This data will help understand their interaction with the Milky Way and the dynamics of the Magellanic Stream. 05:45 – **Story 3: Surprising Findings from Parker Solar Probe****Key Facts** - The probe captured footage of coronal mass ejections showing material recycling back to the sun. - This discovery could enhance our understanding of solar activity and improve space weather predictions. 08:00 – **Story 4: New Space Race for Lunar Resources****Key Facts** - Nations and companies are developing technologies to mine the Moon for valuable resources like water ice and helium-3. - Concerns arise regarding environmental impacts and the need for updated space treaties. 10:15 – **Story 5: Upcoming Nova from V Sagittae****Key Facts** - The binary star system V Sagittae is predicted to undergo a nova explosion in the coming years, followed by a supernova event. - This celestial display may be visible to the naked eye, potentially occurring around 2083. 12:00 – **Story 6: Ristretto Instrument to Study Proxima B****Key Facts** - Ristretto, a new spectrograph, aims to analyze the atmosphere of Proxima B, our closest exoplanet. - It will use advanced techniques to block out the star's glare and search for potential biosignatures in the planet's atmosphere. ### Sources & Further Reading 1. Blue Origin2. European Southern Observatory3. NASA Parker Solar Probe4. Lunar Mining Developments5. Very Large Telescope### Follow & Contact X/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod Instagram: @astrodailypod Email: hello@astronomydaily.io Website: astronomydaily.io Clear skies and see you tomorrow!
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True Cheating Stories 2023 - Best of Reddit NSFW Cheating Stories 2023
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WEEI Celtics Insider Justin Turpin joins the show // Red Sox rumors coming out of the Winter Meetings // More on Red Sox fans confidence in Breslow //
-Rob launches into Friday by roasting Tim Walz, Minnesota Democrats, and anyone else within comedic range as he unwraps the state's massive Somali-linked welfare fraud scandal. -Carson and guest Tony Kinnett (Daily Signal) tear into media spin, Jake Tapper's “white black pipe bomber” misfire, and political double standards with tag-team precision. Today's podcast is sponsored by : BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit!WEBROOT : Live a better digital life with Webroot Total Protection. Rob Carson Show listeners get 75% off at http://webroot.com/Newsmax To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 2012, a 16-year-old girl in a quiet Dutch town made a simple mistake: she accidentally set her Facebook birthday party invitation to "public." Within days, the invite went viral, attracting tens of thousands of RSVPs and becoming known online as "Project X Haren." While the birthday girl and her family fled, thousands of strangers descended on the small town, ready to party. What started as a digital joke quickly spiraled into a real-world riot. Fireworks, flipped cars, and clashes with police turned the night into a scene of chaos that made international headlines. This is the unbelievable true story of how one click of a button unleashed the power of the internet and turned a quiet Sweet 16 into one of the most infamous parties in European history. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueStory #Podcast #ProjectXHaren #FacebookFail #Viral #Riot #Netherlands #SocialMedia
-Rob opens the show roasting the Turkey Pardon like it's a Comedy Central special, insisting he absolutely refuses to call Gobble and Waddle “Chuck and Nancy.” -HUD Secretary Scott Turner joins on the Newsmax hotline, bringing updates on crime crackdowns, public-housing cleanup, and a federal hotline that actually answers the phone — a true Washington miracle. Today's podcast is sponsored by : BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! WEBROOT : Live a better digital life with Webroot Total Protection. Rob Carson Show listeners get 60% off at http://webroot.com/Newsmax To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices