Process of international integration arisinge of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture
POPULARITY
Categories
Send us a textGet your Cosmic Tower at: https://thewellnessenterprise.com/product/cosmic-tower/?twe=AquarianWaveUse code COSMIC10 at checkout for 10% off your own Cosmic Tower.What if the harmful EMFs saturating our environment could be transformed into healing energy instead? Nico Martins, former high-achieving corporate leader and Cosmic Tower spokesperson, reveals how this revolutionary technology is restoring balance to our lives and our planet.After his mother's passing triggered an unexpected spiritual awakening, Nico discovered that conventional science acknowledges only about 2% of our reality. The remaining 98% exists beyond the speed of light in the subtle realms where everything connects through resonance. This understanding became the foundation for his work with the Cosmic Tower – a device that mimics nature's sacred power spots by creating a toroidal energy field using special rainbow water and crystals.Unlike conventional EMF protection that attempts to block harmful frequencies, the Cosmic Tower works through harmonization, changing the quality of energy fields to benefit living organisms. Users report profound improvements in sleep, mental clarity, and overall wellbeing. The technology creates what Nico calls "a personal sacred power spot" in your home, similar to the energetic qualities found at ancient temple sites built on the Earth's natural power centers.The most remarkable aspect is the tower's range of influence. While personal-sized models harmonize approximately 300 feet around your home, the larger 7-8 foot towers can positively affect areas with a radius of 250-310 miles. With over 800 large towers throughout Europe and a growing network in the United States, this technology is building what many call a "grid of light" to support humanity's evolution during these transformative times.As Nico explains, "Don't worry so much about the future. We have the solutions to every problem we have." The Cosmic Tower represents one such solution – a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern challenges that reminds us of our inherent connection to nature and our ability to create harmony in a chaotic world.Ready to experience this remarkable technology for yourself? Visit https://thewellnessenterprise.com/nico/ and join the growing community of over 25,000 Cosmic Tower owners worldwide who are choosing to transform their environments and themselves. Use code COSMIC10 at checkout for 10% off your own Cosmic Tower.Support the show
Economist and forecaster Martin Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Economics, returns to the program for a powerful conversation on the escalating global volatility. As nations around the world descend into chaos—socially, politically, and economically—Armstrong breaks down how all of this ties into the broader push for an economic reset.We also dive into predictions from his advanced AI system, Socrates, which indicates that 2026 could mark a dramatic turning point: a transition from localized and controlled conflicts to widespread global war. Armstrong explains the data behind these forecasts, what signs to watch for, and how individuals can prepare in an increasingly unstable world.Learn more about Martin Armstrong at Armstrong Economics
Are you feeling the pressure? You're not alone, July 2025 is one of the most powerful and Volatile months we've seen in decades- astrology, psychically and Globally. at least that is what is being said through astrology and psychic predictions not only Psychic Debbie Griggs but well known like Jeanie Dixon. Are these predictions written in the stars,? the global political shakeups, cyber warfare, natural disasters and even a market crash?. We will talk about the potential earthquakes, volcanoes, plane and train disruptions, financial manipulations and rising truth movements. I will also share dates to watch, these are not facts , just predictions. Psychic Debbie is not a financial advisor or a doctor If you enjoyed this video and would like to make a donation, please use the following link. Thank You. https://psychicdebbie.com/donations/ ENTERTAINMENT ONLY Debbie's Links= https://linktr.ee/psychicdebbiegriggs email= photopsychicdebbie@gmail.com email= ghosthuntinggrandmas@gmail.com Debbie's P.O. Box: P.O. Box 5882, Oxnard, CA 93031, or for street addressing: 1961 N. C Street, #5882, Oxnard, CA 93031
- U.S. Smuggles in Chinese Minerals - BYD #3 Globally by Market Cap - China Loves Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” - Ford Still Qualifies for U.S. Battery Subsidies - Teens Can Rent Waymo AVs - Baidu Rents AVs By the Week - AV Race Car Smashes Track Record - Rivian Launches Gen-2 Quad Motor - Rivian Spin-Off Valued At $1B - U.S. Used Car Prices Climbing - VW AG Ekes Out Global Q2 Sales Gain - Bentley Reveals Jag-Like EV Concept
The terrifying role that A.I. has recently played globally in the world of politics.Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and contact foreign and US officialsThe State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The terrifying role that A.I. has recently played globally in the world of politics. Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and contact foreign and US officialsThe State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We spoke with Alex Vazquez, United Nations representative for the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD), about the vital role families play in shaping strong societies—and how policy, advocacy, and grassroots engagement can support that mission. Alex shared how IFFD works on both global and local levels to promote family well-being, touching on the challenges posed by technology, urbanization, and demographic changes. The conversation highlighted the importance of family-friendly policies, collaboration across sectors, and the growing need for public dialogue around the real needs of families today. Through examples of effective initiatives from around the world, Alex encourages listeners to become active participants in their local communities, engaging with decision-makers to advocate for policies that truly strengthen family life. Read the Venice Declaration HERE and learn more about IFFD and their work by visiting their website.
On today's show we talk about the latest in the Superman screenings, what is to be said about the marketing? Does John have a real beef with James Gunn? Jurassic World Rebirth crushes at the box office. Kristian interviews Andrew Fried, the producer behind Cheer, Welcome To Wrexham, Val and more. Enjoy! #shows #jurassicpark #superman #dc #feud #andrewfried #val SPONSORS: FACTOR: Get started at https://www.factormeals.com/kristian5... and use code kristian50off to get 50 percent off plus FREE shipping on your first box. That's code kristian50off at https://www.factormeals.com/kristian5... for 50 percent off PLUS free shipping. https://www.factormeals.com/kristian5... HYDROW: Skip the gym, not the workout—stay on track with Hydrow! For a limited time go to https://www.hydrow.com and use code KRISTIAN to save up to $475 off your Hydrow! That's https://www.hydrow.com - code KRISTIAN to save up to $475. https://www.hydrow.com - code KRISTIAN
In this episode I'm talking with Clain Udy author of Rebranding Autism, A Guide to Seeing Strength on the Spectrum. In this touching story Clain talks about his autistic son and his family's desire for him to lead a “normal” life. When something unexpected happened his view changed. From that day forward Clain knew that in order for his son to thrive there had to be something else, something better than what many call “normal.” His unstoppable determination to find answers led him to understand that how we see autism can determine our success. Clain's websites:Autism Elevated: https://autismelevated.com/First Ascent: https://autismcareerdevelopment.com/Clain's book: https://autismelevated.com/book/Support the showNOW RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY! Sunsama free trial: https://try.sunsama.com/xi4blkokndgk Are you an autistic person who has written a book about autism in autistic adults who would like to be a guest on the show? Fill out this form:https://tinyurl.com/autinterform Instagram: anautisticwoman https://www.instagram.com/anautisticwoman/Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon at this link: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite: theautisticwoman.com
Kerry Lutz interviewed Ryan Floyd, an experienced investment fund manager, who shared his investment philosophy focused on smaller, lesser-known companies often overlooked by mainstream investors. With nearly two decades in the industry and extensive travel experience, Ryan emphasized the importance of seeking unique opportunities in international markets, particularly highlighting India's economic landscape. He discussed the challenges posed by bureaucratic hurdles and judicial inefficiencies in India, while also noting the hardworking population and positive demographic trends that could drive consumer demand. Ryan cautioned that excessive debt could impede economic progress, drawing parallels to past crises. He stressed the significance of understanding local political systems for global investing and advocated for a cautious approach, contrasting the innovation in U.S. markets with the older companies dominating many international funds. Find Ryan here: https://www.barkacapital.com Find Kerry here: http://financialsurvivalnetwork.com/ and here: https://inflation.cafe Kerry's New Book “The World According to Martin Armstrong – Conversations with the Master Forecaster” is now a #1 Best Seller on Amazon. . Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/4kuC5p5
This is episode 230, From Knysna's Burning Forests to Tolstoy's War and Peace: The World in 1869. Globally, the end of the sixth decade of the 19th Century was full of fire and brimbstone, and some technology, social change, significant moments. The construction of the the Port Nolloth-O'okiep railway line is one notable tech development, but on the down side, the Southern Cape experienced a devastating fire that began in early February in the Meiringspoort area of the Swartberg Mountains, destroying numerous homesteads and ancient yellowoods. More about this in a few minutes. IN the United States, Elizabeth Cady Stanton testified before the U.S. Congress, thus becoming the first woman to do so, and later in 1869, Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Association. Sainsbury's opened in Drury Lane in London in May, Boston University was founded in the same month. A month later, John Hyatt patented celluloid in Albany New York, a product created by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor — thus creating the basis for the coming film revolution. Like all good ideas, Hyatt had actually bought the original patent from Englishman Alexander Parkes who couldn't figure out how to make money from his invention. It's amazing how many inventions were co-opted by entrepreneurs after the inventor struggled to make a buck out of a good idea. Take the common computer mouse, invented by Stanford Research Unit student Douglas Engelbart in the early 1960s. In the late 1970s, almost two decades after the mouse's invention, Apple's Steve Jobs saw a mouse being demonstrated along with what was called graphical user interface, GUI, at Xerox labs in Palo Alto California. November the 17 however, was probably one of the most significant dates in the calendar when it came to the Cape, because that was the date that the Suez Canal was completed. For the first time in history, ships could now sail through the canal, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, shortening the voyages between Europe and the far east by months. In Cape Town, there was fear and loathing about the Canal. And so, to South Africa, let's retrace our steps to February 1869. It began, as such stories often do, with a wisp of smoke on the horizon. According to the local newspapers, the fire that would become known ominously as the Great Fire of 1869 was first spotted on the 8th February. The conditions were perfect for a catastrophe. Southern Cape berg winds, searing, north-westerly to north-easterly gusts, swept down from the heights. Born of a low-pressure system sliding from west to east, they could reach gale-force strength, tearing through valleys like invisible predators. By the time the flames were first seen near Knysna, the air shimmered with heat, the humidity was almost non-existent, and the vegetation which was parched after years of relentless drought, stood waiting, tinder-dry.But in February 1869, the fire dominated every horizon. From its first sparks, it began a horrifying march: sweeping west towards Swellendam, east to Uitenhage, and threading through the Langkloof valley north of the Outeniqua Mountains. Then, inexorably, it spilled down towards the coast, devouring all in its path, Great Brak River, Victoria Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay.
Welcome to the Always Bayern Chelsea show. The 102nd episode of the show sees Danny breaking down Bayern Munich's heartbreaking loss in the FIFA Club World Cup to Paris Saint-Germain. The match was devastating for so many reasons, some bigger than football. Subscribe to the Always Bayern Chelsea YouTube channel for full coverage of the remainder of the CWC and all of the summer transfer news going forward. Bayern Munich lost a hard fought match to the best team in the world PSG by a final score of 2-0 to get eliminated from the FIFA CWC. Bayern & PSG truly put on one of the best matches of football we've seen in recent memory, two giants of the game going toe to toe at the highest of levels. All of this was unfortunately overshadowed by Jamal Musiala's gruesome injury from a reckless challenge by Paris keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The match was truly bizarre & fate was against the Bavarians. We saw multiple injuries to Bayern players, two offside goals, and a disallowed penalty. Danny breaks down the entire match from Vincent Kompany's lineup/tactics, to match highlights/lowlights, to scoring/injuries/cards, and individual player performances. Bayern's press was giving PSG all sorts of fits as the match began but no goals ended up sticking. Globally known as one of the poorest referees in the world. Anthony Taylor called no foul as Donnarumma snapped Musiala's ankle altering the trajectory of the game and Bayern Munich's entire upcoming season. PSG lost control of the match towards the end, earning two red cards for dangerous challenges involving studs to Leon Goretzka's leg and an elbow to Guerreiro's head. Josip Stanisic also suffered a hamstring injury and had to be subbed out. Before all was said and done Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele scored incredible goals and a handball in the box by PSG was awarded before Taylor inexplicably took it away. Bayern Munich is eliminated from the tournament. Chelsea's fortunates look great as they have a simple path to the CWC final. They beat Palmeiras 2-1 yesterday. Stay tuned for more soon on all of that! Subscribe to the YouTube channel to stay updated! Drop us a comment with your thoughts! Thanks for listening/watching. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@AlwaysBayernChelsea Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlwaysBayChe Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/42Vj80ldTbbBYMtR0IO146 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-bayern-chelsea/id1737637405 Timecodes: Intro 00:00 Bayern PSG 03:00 Intro music audio license code: UYNUULTKSLNBJMDV
Why is anxiety skyrocketing, not only here in the US, but all over the globe...from chronic stress and hormonal imbalances to digital overload, financial pressure, and unresolved trauma. Let's dive into this with help from a friend.Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @theanxietydrwww.theanxietydr.comwww.tesanawellness.com
Google has launched its Veo 3 video generation model to Gemini users in over 159 countries, Netflix is exploring the creation of new live programming content in partnership with Spotify, and OpenAI disavowed Robinhood’s crypto initiative offering tokenized shares of OpenAI. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS Live ad-free. A special thanksContinue reading "Google Has Launched Its Veo 3 Video Generation Model To Gemini Users Globally – DTH"
Global upstream oil and gas spending is expected to hit $543 billion this year, a 1.1% decrease from 2024, with reduced capital allocation across all regions except the Middle East. Capital spending in the US shale sector experienced a 3.2% drop in 2024, with forecasts indicating a further 1.9% decline in 2025, despite rising costs from tariffs on steel and other product. Despite conservative capital plans, US oil liquids production is set to rise by 672 kbd in 2025 and 530 kbd in 2026, boosted by substantial hedging during mid-June's oil price spike. Globally, oil liquids supply is projected to grow by 2.3 mbd this year. Speaker: Natasha Kaneva, Head of Global Commodities Research This podcast was recorded on July 3, 2025. This communication is provided for information purposes only. Institutional clients can view the related report at https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-4939838-0 for more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party. It is permissible to use J.P. Morgan Data for internal business purposes only in an AI system or model that protects the confidentiality of J.P. Morgan Data so as to prevent any and all access to or use of such J.P. Morgan Data by any third-party.
Loneliness isn't just a feeling - it's a public health crisis. The number of hours we spend with friends is rapidly decreasing, more and more Americans report feeling lonely, and loneliness is linked to bad health outcomes like risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, depression and anxiety. Kasley Killam, author of “The Art and Science and Connection”, joins us to talk about why social health should be the third pillar of wellness alongside physical and mental health.We discuss:The surprising finding that connected communities were more resilient during the COVID pandemicKasley's 100+ day experiment with acts of kindnessHow small investments in social health have big ripple effectsHer nuanced views on AI companionsKasley talks about how vulnerability is key to building trust and human connection:“When you share something a little vulnerable that goes beyond… surface level and small talk, that is like this magical way of deepening connections, right? It builds trust, it builds intimacy, it makes us relatable, it helps us get to know each other better. And so … there I am with a complete stranger who… I've maybe shared something on stage or in conversation, they're now sharing something really intimate and vulnerable about their life and that just creates this beautiful moment. ”Relevant LinksGrab Kasley's book “The Art and Science of Connection”See Kasley's TED talk: Why Social Health is Key to Happiness and LongevityGet more info on the APA poll on social connectionRead an Article on Kasley's 108-day experiment with acts of kindnessRead the Surgeon General's advisory on loneliness as a pandemicSee this Article on Scan Health Plan's “Togetherness” programAbout Our GuestKasley Killam is a leading expert in social health and author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. As a Harvard-trained social scientist, 2X TED speaker, sought-after advisor, and award-winning founder, Killam has been dedicated to improving well-being through human connection for nearly 15 years. Globally recognized for her thought leadership on social health, Killam's collaborations with top organizations like Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum contribute to building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities. Discover her insights in outlets like The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, CNBC, and The Washington Post and join her newsletter community at www.kasleykillam.com. SourceConnect With UsFor more information on The Other 80 please visit our
It's important for us to understand our autistic minds and bodies to deal with burnout, to choose healthy relationships and to build resilience. In this episode you'll learn from Dr. Megan Anna Neff how the autistic mind and body work and how self-care can help us become self-reliant, build flexibility and gain satisfaction from our lives.Dr. Megan Anna Neff websites:https://neurodivergentinsights.com/https://www.meganannaneff.com/https://neurodivergentinsights.com/self-care-for-autistic-people/Podcast: https://www.divergentpod.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurodivergent_insights/Support the showNOW RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY! Sunsama free trial: https://try.sunsama.com/xi4blkokndgk Are you an autistic person who has written a book about autism in autistic adults who would like to be a guest on the show? Fill out this form:https://tinyurl.com/autinterform Instagram: anautisticwoman https://www.instagram.com/anautisticwoman/Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon at this link: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite: theautisticwoman.com
Who said summer isn't busy? We have had many things happen in the world around us this summer, and we felt we needed to talk through some of them, including the recent developments in the Middle East.
Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 22 Andy answers the ladies most vulnerable concerns.. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. "So why me, huh?" Sarah asked her. "Why'd'ja choose me to play with you and Andy?" Piper bit her bottom lip, as if she was a tad nervous, before she shyly looked up at Sarah. "'Cause I'm kinda turned on with how you talk, Sarah, and I was kinda hoping you could talk to me that way while I was trying to make our man happy?" Despite all the massive confidence he'd seen Piper bearing almost the entire time he'd known her, she seemed almost nervous that Sarah would consider turning her down, as if her voiced desire was a step too far beyond the pale. Sarah licked her lips as her eyes widened. "I will totally fucking do that as long as you agree to just one fucking condition. If you don't, well, I can just go upstairs and leave you two to it." Andy was about to ask, but Piper beat him to it. "What condition is that?" "You can't, like, get fucking mad at me for anything I say, or anything I call you. 'Cause if I'm gonna fucking do this, then I'm gonna fucking do this, and I can't be all in my fucking head about you thinking I'm being mean or rude or shit. So you can't be all pissed off that I call you dirty things if you're fucking asking me to talk fucking dirty to you," Sarah giggled. "That cool, bitch?" "Not only do I promise not to get mad, Sares," Piper said to her. "I promise to like it." Sarah nodded. "Good, then why the fuck aren't you on top of that cock already?" Piper pursed her lips into a smile. "I was waiting for you to tell me I could, Andy." Sarah's hand swatted over and spanked Piper's ass with a loud smack. "He shouldn't have to tell you, you daft bitch. You wanted to fuck him, he totally didn't say 'not now' or some shit, so that means fucking time is on!" In the middle of Sarah's sentence, Piper reached down to grab his cock and get it aligned so she could slide right down onto it, straddling him to get his cock as deep inside of her as she could, her other hand resting on his shoulder. "That's a good girl," Sarah purred. "Don't you feel so much better without an empty cunt, you athletic slut you?" Piper nodded, leaning over to kiss Sarah again, although Sarah pushed her back after a few seconds, clearly intent on keeping her mouth free so she could talk to her. "I've had like a dozen partners, and not one of them made me feel like Andy does," Piper said, looking at Sarah's face. Sarah slapped Piper's ass again, this time even harder. "So why are you fucking telling me, bitch? Am I the one whose cock is jammed up your stupid snatch?" Piper moaned as Sarah's fingernails dragged against that reddening flesh, shaking her head, turning to look at Andy. "You feel so fucking good inside of me, Andy," she said to him. "Thank you for taking me in." On 'in,' she bounced down hard in his lap. "Thank you for saving my friend." On 'friend,' she did it again. "It's a shame you're on fucking birth control," Sarah teased, "because these are fucking breeding hips, and you'd look super fucking cute with a baby bump, but I guess you need to go and win your gold medal before we can talk about getting you bred like a proper bitch." Piper's tongue swiped out over her own lips, as she nodded. "I'll do it eventually," she said eagerly. "I'll happily bear your child, Andy, but I gotta do the Olympics first, to prove to myself that I can really do it." "You don't " Andy started but Piper kissed him once more, jamming her tongue into his mouth sloppily, making sure to silence him. "Hmm, I think she likes the idea of you fucking breeding her, Andy," Sarah said with a laugh. "The idea of you pumping her fucking cunt so full of fuck cream that it's practically oozing out of her, so messy and sloppy, like a good little whore. You like that image don't you, Pipes?" The athletic brunette nodded quickly. "I do I do I fucking do so fucking much," she panted, as Sarah reached one of her hands in to pinch one of Piper's tan nipples firmly, giving it a twist, which made the girl groan huskily. "And yet, you're still fucking holding back," Sarah scolded. "You gotta fucking give in like a good girl, otherwise you won't get what you fucking what, what I know you think you fucking deserve, but you don't deserve it until you've ditched all those fucking fears and embraced who the fuck you are from now on." She gave Piper's ass another hard smack before sliding her hand around the athlete's waist, moving her thumb down to rub against Piper's clit, as Andy felt her start to tighten up even more around his shaft. "But I bet, I just fucking bet, that if you just let it out, let it all fucking out, you'd feel fucking better, and you'd get what a good bitch deserves." "Fuck, Sarah, you're so fucking good with those fingers," Piper whimpered. "Damn fucking straight I am," Sarah said. "But I'm gonna stop if you don't cut loose." "I'm, I'm fucking scared," Piper whispered quietly. "We all were, Pipes, but you learn to fucking let go and trust, not just in Andy but in the family, in all the fucking rest of us, that we've got your fucking back, that we're gonna fucking take care of you, so either you're fucking in or you're out, what's it gonna be, bitch?" "I'm in,” she cried, her voice shredded and frantic, clearly about to have an immense orgasm. "I'm in I'm in I'm so fucking in,” "Not fucking yet you aren't," Sarah said harshly. "Gotta let that last fucking guard down, gotta let that last fucking truth out. You'll feel better, bitch, but you gotta fucking say it,” "Andy Rook, I fucking love you!" Piper shouted before she kissed him hard, and she started to have a monstrous orgasm, her whole body violently trembling, and the spasms of her cunt around his cock forced his own release, as he started spewing arcing loads of steaming jism inside of her, the two of them locked together on top and bottom, the intensity of the orgasm cratering them out. As soon as it had passed, Piper buried her face into Andy's neck, laughing a little bit even as he could feel her eyes watering, tears of joy slipping from her face. "I thought I'd never say that to another person as long as I fucking lived," she whispered against his skin, "but I do, I fucking love you, Andy Rook." "And I love you too, Piper Brown," he said, stroking her hair with one hand, his other intertwined with Sarah's. They stayed like that for a minute or so before Piper started to giggle, turning to look over at Sarah. "I don't know how you do it," she said to the tall redhead, "sitting there watching and not demanding to get involved." "Oh I'm happy enough to wait my fucking turn," Sarah giggled. "But pretty quick Imma need you to get off of him so I can fucking get off." Piper's giggle burst from her as she nodded then leaned over to kiss Sarah. "Thank you for that," she told her. "I hate having to ask for help." "That's what family's for," Sarah answered. "But get a little, give a little, so Imma also need you to help me out here." The brunette climbed from his lap, and his cock was absolutely soaked with their juices, and while he was starting to soften, that feral look in Sarah's eyes told him he wasn't done yet, and made him begin to stiffen up again. "Whatever you need, Sares," Piper said, "I got you, boo." "I'll just need a helping hand," Sarah said, getting up off the couch. Andy tried to get up as well, but Sarah shoved him back down once more. "Who told you you could fucking get up?" she giggled. "I need you to stay there and let me run the fucking show this time, 'cause I'm a little fucking nervous, and I want to have the fucking control to do this how I think fucking feels right. I hope that's fucking okay with you, because if it isn't, well, I don't fucking care, now, do I?" Andy wasn't entirely sure what Sarah had in mind, as she turned away from him and moved to straddle his legs, but very quickly, it dawned on him what she was doing. "I can't fucking believe Emily did this shit before I did," Sarah said, reaching one hand back to grab his cock. Her position had her legs spread wide, as she moved to rub the tip of his cock along her cunt before dragging it downward, nestling it against the rosebud of her asshole. "Had to be fucking first to something, I guess." He could feel the tall woman getting his cock aligned right and then slowly started sitting down on it, his shaft pulsing in excitement as he felt her body, tight and a little unprepared, try and resist his cock's entrance before she finally seemed to lose patience with her own hole, as she pushed down to get the head of his cock inside of her ass. Her head leaned back, her eyes looking up at the ceiling, as a guttural, almost paleolithic, moan of pain and pleasure boiled out of her. "Fuck that's fucking big that's big holy fucking shit balls that's a big fat fucking cock and it's fucking going up my fucking ass oh my fucking God what the fuck am I doing?" "We can stop if " Sarah looked back over her shoulder at Andy with a wildness in her eyes that he'd never seen before, a deranged grin on her face. "Stop? Are you out of your fucking mind? This is the greatest fucking feeling I've ever fucking felt in my fucking life! Why the fuck would I want you to fucking stop?! I want fucking all of it!" she said to him as she pushed herself down onto his cock until he was buried as deeply as he could get inside of her backdoor, the tall girl's skin covered with a layer of goosebumps that made the fine red hairs of her arms stand on end, her body vibrating in orgasm as she did. "Jesus Fucking Christ, I feel like such an utter fucking whore and I fucking love it! You've got that big fucking cock jammed right up my fucking virgin asshole and it made me fucking cum just going the fuck in, so now you gotta fuck me or I gotta fuck you but somebody's gotta fuck somebody right the fuck now!" Piper had sort of been standing off to the side a little bit, and one of Sarah's hands shot up and grabbed one of the brunette's wrists, yanking her close. "Er, what, what am I supposed to be doing here, Sarah?" "You can fucking rub or you can fucking lick, but you gotta fucking work that fucking clit of mine while he's fucking my ass, so get fucking to it!" she barked, and the commanding tone to her voice made it clear the actress was not asking for input on the matter. The tanned athlete took one of her hands timidly down to rub against Sarah's cunt before moving to stroke her clit, as Sarah began to bounce up and down in his lap, one hand on the arm of the couch, the other on Andy's hip. In this position, Sarah had completely control of the tempo and the force with which she slid her ass down onto his cock, something he'd expected her to use to keep it slow and tender, but instead, Sarah was practically trying to break the couch, slamming her ass down into his lap as hard as she cold each time, while Piper was caressing her clit. "Fuck that's so fucking good oh my god why didn't I ever get fucked in the ass before I love this so fucking much but it's all your ass, Andy, Daddy, it's only ever your fucking ass, you're the only one to ever fuck me this way, and I fucking love that and I keep God! I keep fucking cumming over and over again, so please Daddy, please please please cum in my fucking virgin ass and let me fucking feel it, let me feel you own the last fucking bit of me no man's ever had, because I don't need any other fucking man but you because I fucking love the ever loving shit out of you you big cocked motherfucker you hear me I fucking love you Andy so fucking cum, cum right the fuck up my ass! Fuck! Fuck! Muph!" She leaned her head back at the end onto his shoulder, craning her neck so that she could jam her lips against his, as he felt Piper's other hand cradling his balls, squeezing them gently, and the sensations were all too much, as his body let loose another orgasm, flooding Sarah's rectum with a gusher of an orgasm as their tongues clung to each other before they both slumped back, his back against the couch, her back against his chest, both of them nearly too exhausted to move. Huginn, who had remained completely undisturbed by all of this, finally had had enough, and the black cat got up and hopped down the couch, moving to a different unoccupied couch, hopping back up, curling into a ball and settling down once more, a perturbed look on his face. Then Sarah began to feverishly giggle, waves of curved red hair over her face before she pushed them out. "Em was fucking right. That was totally fucking amazeballs. Thanks Pipes." Piper winked a little bit as she pushed a fingertip inside of Sarah's cunt, causing the actress to gasp a little bit in surprise before Piper slid the finger back out, lifting it up to her lips, licking it in front of the two of them. "We're definitely gonna need a shower before we get into bed," she said, and they all laughed at that. Chapter 38 In a rather unusual turn of events, Andy woke the next morning on November 18th to an empty bed. It wasn't uncommon for him to awake with only a couple of the girls still in bed asleep with him, but a totally empty bed was almost an unheard of experience at this point. He glanced at his Apple Watch and saw that it was around 10:30, which meant he'd definitely slept in a bit. Like most writers, Andy was generally a nocturnal creature, staying up late and getting up late, which had put his schedule at odds with some members of the family, but they'd mostly learned to make it work. He slipped on some boxers, pulled on his jeans and tugged on a t shirt, this particular one a gift from some fantasy convention he'd been a guest speaker at, and headed over to the balcony, stepping out onto it with a smirk. Down at the pool, most of the girls were nearly finishing their morning work out, being led by Sheridan, a sea of sports bras and yoga pants, doing the last part of their high intensity section of the workout, and Andy could vaguely hear Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" being played from a portable speaker near them. (Andy still wasn't sure which bothered him more, the fact that they were listening to Vanilla Ice or the fact that Vanilla Ice opened that song with "Stop! Collaborate and listen!" and yet there were no signs of any collaboration going on. In fact, it didn't seem like Ice understood what the word collaborate meant. The writer in him just couldn't bear it.) Lauren and Taylor weren't there as he expected they'd gone in to work today, especially since it was Taylor's first day of working in months. He hoped that she fit in well with the 49ers organization, but at this point, he wasn't entirely even sure who was working there. Niko also wasn't working out as he figured she'd gone to work at the base today. He wasn't sure what her schedule was like these days so he trusted her to let him know when she was coming and going and when it would be important for him to know. She was more than capable enough to manage her own schedule. It was nice to spot that both Fiona and Moira were in the group, between Ash and Sarah in the front row of three, and both seemed to be in good spirits. Moira's unruly mass of red curls had been braided into a tightly woven tail that whipped behind her as she danced to the beat of the music, occasionally slapping against either Fi or Sarah, both of whom laughed wildly when it did. It made Moira look a little like a redheaded version of the original polygon model of Tomb Raider, now that he thought about it. The weather was still mostly overcast, and it looked like rain might even be on the schedule for later in the day, something he didn't mind one bit. California had mostly been in a drought for years, and any rain the state could get was seen as a blessing, particularly since they now lived in more densely wooded areas. The last thing Andy wanted was a wild fire to take his new home. He leaned against the railing, just enjoying looking over both the estate and his family before Sheridan finally spotted him up on the higher floor balcony as the song came to an end. She pointed to Andy to draw the girls' attention to him, as all of them turned to look at him. The words were out of his mouth before he even knew he was saying them. "Good morning, angels," he shouted to them. "Good morning Andy!" they shot back in matching cadence. "You know, you really ought to join us some mornings, Andrew," Emily teased politely. "Hmm. I'd be worried about making a fool of myself." "I can make sure we don't overwhelm you on your first work out, dude," Sheridan said to him with a wink and a grin. "Let's give it a go tomorrow, 'kay?" Andy groaned a little bit. "God help me. Okay, I'll give it a try, but no making fun of me!" All the girls made various catty comments and gestures as he rolled his eyes and headed back into the house. He had a little bit before any of them were back inside anyway, even if they were finished with their workout. While the pool house was being converted into Tala's workshop, it still had a large group shower room, and the girls tended to go and cool down in there before splitting off afterwards. A few of them would go and shower in their own individual bathrooms, but the majority of them enjoyed the communal experience, as it let them all continue to get to know each other. Andy headed down to the kitchen and found that Jenny had made him a mini breakfast burrito that was waiting with a glass of pineapple juice on the little kitchen island, Katie also sort of milling around the room as both women bowed to him when he entered. He'd tried to get them to stop doing that, but he'd learned that attempting to discourage his staff of anything generally only resulted in them doing it even more than they were originally, so he was trying a new tactic now, let them burn themselves out on it and hope they'd stop on their own. "Enjoy your breakfast, sir!" Jenny said, moving around the counter before dropping down onto her knees. "I know I'll enjoy mine!" Her fingertips unbuttoned Andy's jeans and he was thankful he hadn't put on a belt this morning, as Jenny began to lick and suck on his cock, slowly running her tongue along it while her wife watched on, although there was an unusual expression on Katie's face, something Andy wasn't quite sure of. "What's on your mind, Katie?" he said, feeling Jenny's lips slowly push down around his length. They had told him before that they wanted to make getting their needed dose as low impact for him as possible, and had stressed that they enjoyed this sort of casual acquisition. "You look like you're worried about something." The Hispanic girl sighed and nodded. "I, I wanted to discuss something with you, sir, but I wasn't sure quite how to bring it up. Shit, I'm nervous even thinking about it now." Andy nodded, chewing a mouthful of his food before taking a sip from the glass to wash it down. "Look, you don't have to tell me anything, Katie, but if something's on your mind, you'll probably feel better if you just get it out of your head. No matter how much worse you think it'll be if you say it, letting it rattle around your brain like a cage full of bees is only going to be worse." "I suppose that's fair, sir," Katie said, chewing on her finger nervously. "It's just, this isn't the sort of thing I thought I'd ever say, sir, and it makes me feel strange. I think it's probably just part of whatever the treatment's doing to me, but it's, it feels like it's both a part of me and not a part of me, you know? Like some part of me I didn't know about but was lingering in the dark shadows of my mind the whole time?" Andy frowned a little. "No, I can't say I do know what you're talking about." Jenny's mouth popped off his cock as she made an exasperated noise from his waistline. "Uuuugh! Just tell him already!" she said, frustration in her voice, before she pushed her lips back down around his cock once more. "Sir, I think, I think I'd like for you to fuck me, maybe just the once, maybe just to see if maybe I might like it," Katie said, her voice sounded terrified that he would reject her or yell at her. "I mean, I don't have a problem with if both of you don't, but you certainly needn't do it on my behalf, Katie," Andy told her, as Jenny started to suck harder, as if to pull the resistance out of him. "You made it very clear to me when I arrived that you were a lesbian, though, and I wouldn't dream of asking you to change that." Katie threw her hands up, her eyes widening a little bit, almost in shock at herself. "That's just it! I am! I know I am! I've always thought girls were the only sexy things in the world! The idea of being with dudes just made me uneasy! I imagine I felt about guys the same way you feel about guys, I don't want to be with that!" "Then why " "I don't know, alright?! I don't fucking get it! Thinking about any other man just makes my stomach all queasy and nauseous, but the last few weeks, when I've been thinking about what it looks like when I see you fucking Jenny, I don't feel like I do when I think about any other man, and I don't understand what's going on!" The woman looked like she was about to cry, and Andy reached over and grabbed her hand, pulling her over towards him, his fingertips curling around hers. "I am never going to make you do anything you don't want to do, Katie," he said sternly. "But they did tell us that the serum was going to have some side effects, and that it was likely going to make some physiological changes to our bodies, some foreseen and some unforeseen." Jenny had eased off the speed of the blowjob a bit, but hadn't stopped entirely. "If you want to try actual sex with me, I'm not opposed to that, but " "But you don't want me to think I'm doing it on your account. I'm not, sir, I assure you! I don't even know where these thoughts are coming from, but I told Jenny about a week ago, I had a sex dream with you in it, and we were fucking, and in the dream, it seemed like I liked it quite a lot," Katie sighed. "I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything,” "They say sex dreams generally aren't about sex." "But, but when you were taking Whitney the other day? I found myself getting wet, thinking about what it would be like, what it would be like to be her, to be getting fucked by you, and, and I think I want to try that at some point, not the tying up or collaring or anything but, but I think I'd like for you to fuck me once, just to see, just to see if I really do feel differently about you than I do all the other men in the world,” "And you're okay with this, Jenny?" he said, reaching down to stroke Jenny's hair back. Jenny nodded, popping her lips off his cock with a loud smack. "I still want both of us to be there any time you dose either of us, sir, but if this is a thing she wants to try, well, it would be unfairly judgmental of me to fuck you myself and not allow her to do so as well. 'Sides, she told me about these feelings long before she told you, and that's all that really matters." She smiled at him kindly, then lowered her lips back down around his shaft once more, her eyes still looking up at when she did. "Then it's fine with me, Katie," he said, looking back at the Hispanic woman, one of her hands being held by him, the other being held by Jenny from below. "Thank you, sir," Katie said. "For being willing to do that with me, and for not judging me because of it." "Katie, look. If you want to try it, that's fine. If you try it and you don't like it, that's fine. If you try and do like it and want it more regularly, that's fine. If you change your mind right before we're about to do it, that's fine. Whatever you want here, it's fine. I just want you to be satisfied with whatever decision you made, and I want it made because it's what you want, and not what you think I want, okay? I am surrounded by beautiful women, and I'm just trying to do everything I can to do right by all of you. So whatever you want, you just need to tell me." She nodded, before looking down with a smile. "You were taking your time because I was talking to him, weren't you, Jen?" The curvy girl between his legs giggled a little and nodded, then started thrusting her face into his lap faster and more intently, and Andy could feel that release building up inside of him, even as he finished the last bite of breakfast. He was more than a little taken back when Katie leaned in and whispered into his ear, "My wife's such a good little cocksucker, isn't she? Give us our breakfast, Master, that fucking load of hot cum right into her fucking mouth." The unexpected words made his cock throb and finally he pumped a few squirts of his cum into Jenny's mouth, as she shuddered at his feet. The woman kept her lips sealed just past the head of his cock while her fingers jerked along the rest of his length, making sure to milk out the last of it before she pulled her head back, keeping her lips pursed together before standing up and immediately kissing Katie, swapping that cum between them, Katie's form trembling as she leaned against Jenny, the Latina being held up by her wife for just a moment until the orgasm passed. Both women pulled from the kiss, licking each others lips for just a moment before turning to look over at Andy, almost as if they were ready for a second course right now. Katie winked at him. "You know, I know it's all chemical, but dios mio if that orgasm from tasting your cum doesn't leave one sweet ass high,” Jenny moved to tuck his cock back into his pants, zipping them back up and buttoning them, as she glanced over at Katie. "Don't forget to update the Needs Board, hun," she told her wife, who nodded in response. "Got it, babe. Anyway, sir, let me think about it, but next time, I think I'd like you to fuck Jenny with me there, and then fuck me with Jenny there, so I have some time to let it settle in my brain that I'm going to go through with it," Katie said to him. "You know, actually fucking a dude." "Whatever you want, Katie." "Thank you, sir. Oh, don't forget, you have a phone meeting at 2 with that director candidate, Erica Xiao." He nodded. "Good. Yes. Thank you for reminding me. I might have forgotten if you hadn't." Jenny snickered a little. "Em would've had your balls if you had." "She's got them anyway," Katie shot back. Andy arched an eyebrow at them. "Don't you two start." He drank the last of his pineapple juice then pushed the plate forward. "Thanks Jenny, for everything. I'm going to head to my office. Maybe send down lunch a little after one." "Yes sir. Also, don't forget that Miss Steele will be here sometime today." "Oh right," Andy said, chuckling. "Sometimes everything gets so busy, I can barely remember my own name, much less who's coming and going. Katie, can you set up a large portion of the back yard to fence off, so that Maya's dogs will have a place to run and play without us worrying about them getting into the pool if she wants to leave them outside?" "Miss Steele's got dogs?" Katie said, groaning. "Great. Now I get to start having to watch the backyard for landmines." "That's why I was thinking if we gave them their own area that's fenced off, at least we'd have it clearly marked that it's the part of the yard with occasional hazards, although Sarah insisted that Maya is known to always clean up after her dogs. Maybe put a bin outside for her to toss them all?" Katie nodded. "I can spend the day prepping the yard so we're not all worried about stepping in dog shit when we're walking in the grass." "Good on you." "Did Miss Washington said what kinds of dogs they were, sir?" Jenny asked. "Pomeranians, I think," Andy said. "Those aren't dogs, those are animated dustmops," Katie said with an amused snort. "And here I was worried they would be Saint Bernards or Rottweilers." As he headed down to his office, he was starting to run through the checklist of things he needed to do today in his head. He definitely wanted to talk to Moira now that she was up, but he figured he would let her come to him in her own time, as it had been so long since they'd really talked to one another. He would need to pair with Maya when she arrived, and he also needed to check on Lexi and see how she was doing. As much as he wanted to head over to Xander's and see his friend's new house and meet all the rest of his partners, Xander had asked him to wait until the weekend, so he would have more of a chance to get settled, both into the house and into the household. He was almost at the door of his office when his iPhone began to ring, and he fished it out of his pocket, surprised to see Phil The Younger a.k.a. Lesser Phil a.k.a. Phil Pak (not Phil Marcos), on the screen, as he answered it. "Heya man, long time no talk!" Andy said to him. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "Nothing good I'm afraid," Lesser Phil sighed. "I'm not going to be able to make poker night on Friday. In fact, I may not be able to make poker night for a while, I'm afraid." "That sucks man. What's going on?" "Well, me and the family were relocated, so we're quite a bit further from you now, and the place where we're at is very strict on quarantine procedures, so if we came and saw you and the rest of the gang for poker, we'd have to quarantine for a week before we would be allowed back in to our house, so while we'll try and do it a couple of times a year, for the foreseeable future, it's probably off the table." "Where's they move you to that's got such strict guidelines?" "They're calling the place Valhalla Shores. They decided that they didn't want to put all their eggs in one basket and have New Eden be the only place for Level Fives in the Bay area, so they built a new one over closer to the coast. We're where Pacifica used to be, basically, although I think they tore almost all the old city down and put up this place, like a giant gated mansion community. It's a little snobby for my liking, personally, but you know how Brandy has always been in terms of keeping up with Joneses, so when the NSA offered to move us over to here, she made me jump on it immediately. It's mostly just spooks and techbros over here," he sighed. "You'd fucking hate it. I know I do, but it keeps peace in my household, and that's about all I can ask." "Wait, techbros and spies crossbreeding? That sounds like a horrible idea, like, just the worst. On the other hand, if your quarantine protocols are that strict, it might mean I never have to deal with techbros again, and that might make the whole thing absolutely worth while. Hey, can I recommend a couple of cockish investors over here in New Eden to get transferred over there?" Phil the Younger laughed. "You fuckin' wish, dude. Whole place is fucking creepy anyway. Brandy says some of the women are kind of Stepford ish, and she feels like they're definitely an in crowd and an out crowd and she has zero interest in joining the in crowd. They keep trying to get her to join one of their hot yoga classes, but she said they'd have to break her legs to get her to do that shit. I hope she was being figurative, but you know Brandy." "That I do. Well, we'll miss seeing you guys, but I get it. You're doing what you have to do to keep your family safe and sound. Keep us posted, but I appreciate you calling to tell me personally." "Copy that, man," he said. "See you on the other side." After Lesser Phil had hung up, Andy wondered how many actual community hubs had formed in the Bay area since the cultural rebuilding had started. He also wondered how hard it would be for him or any members of his family to leave New Eden, even for a short while. He'd been craving an animal style In N Out burger for nearly a year now, and while he could ask Jenny to make something equivalent, there was nothing quite like having the real deal. He was certain Niko would know what the current entrance/exit policy for New Eden was, and he resolved to ask her when he saw her. It couldn't be that strict, he realized, because Lauren had been coming and going to the training camp for over a week now. Maybe he could just get in the Tesla and drive down to an In N Out, assuming he could find one that was open. When he walked into his office, he saw that his two cats, Muninn and Huginn, were curled together in a bundle in his writing chair, the two forming a sort of gray black yin yang symbol. Also, as promised, atop of his desk was a brand new laptop, a silver MacBook, with a Post It note on top of it. It was from Whitney (he could recognize her meticulous handwriting) and said "Try it. If you hate it, we'll get something different. “w" As much as he wanted to move the two cats so he could sit down in the chair where he got his best work done, he decided it was okay to sit at the desk for a while, even though it felt way more formal, although he realized he wasn't doing much creative today, mostly just the assorted busywork that sprung up around the actual creative process. The new laptop was set up with access to his emails and had all of his writing transferred onto it, so he could consult back to other things as he started answering questions from his agent and his editor, losing an hour or so before there was a knock at the door. "Come on in," he said. The door opened and Moira and Fiona slipped in together, closing the door behind them. All of their possessions clearly hadn't arrived from cross country yet, because he noticed each of them was wearing one of his t shirts, the fabric hanging big and loose over them like an overcoat. Moira had on one of his Biffy Clyro shirts, which he found fitting, whereas Fiona had clearly dived way back into the depths of his closet and was wearing a Gin Blossoms t shirt. "It's good ta see ya again, Andrew," Moira said shyly, smiling across the room at him. "I've missed ye something fierce." "How are you feeling, Moira? I knew the serum can react strangely to people who've had complicated medical history, and I imagine dengue fever isn't the only strange bug you've picked up over your wild and crazy life." "I cannae tell ye how great I feel, Andrew," she said, starting to move across the room to him. "An' how thankful I am ye trusted Fi enough t' let her bring me in wit' her. Yer, nae mad, are ye?" He shook his head. "Look, Moira. We had a wonderful time together, but that was decades ago. But I've always trusted Fi, and if you and her were together before now, there's no reason any of that should change." "Of course it'll have t' change, ye big dummy," she giggled. "Ye know she's always loved ye, ye daft shite? E'en when I came inta her life, that has nae changed." "Except she's changed and I've changed, so maybe it has changed too." "You haven't changed that much, Andy," Fi said, "and neither have I. You still trusted me enough to offer me a place in your family, even when I had a condition I wouldn't tell you about." "Were ye surprised when ye saw me?" Moira asked him. "Well, I'd figured it out before I saw you. I figured it out as soon as I heard your voice, and that let me put two and two together. But I was very surprised when I heard your voice, yeah." "Surprised inna good way, I kin hope?" "Naturally, although I was hoping you were going to be happy with me, even with the weight I've put on and the hair I've lost," he chuckled. "I think ye look sexy, ya galoot," Moira twittered. "Hold me hands, Fi. It's all I kin do t' keep from havin' a crack at him right now." Fiona wrapped her arms around Moira's waist, shaking her head. "He's not going anywhere, Moira," she said with a kind ease. "Aye, an' neither are we, an' I don' wannae be too far behind the other gare ruls, an' two of 'em are already in th' lead." "One day at a time, love. One day at a time." "You two want to sit and have a chat?" Andy said. On the other side of his desk were two chairs, so he could entertain meetings in here if he needed, although the chairs held the cats more often than they held people. "Oh aye, let's have a chinwaggle," Moira said, slipping from Fiona's arms, moving over towards Andy's desk, but instead of moving to sit in one of the chairs across the desk, she moved to slide herself up and into his lap, her legs dangling over one of the arms of the chair. Fi then moved across the room, and moved his laptop to one side, so she could scoot her ass up and onto his desk directly in front of him, making sure not to knock anything off. "So tell m " he started to say before Moira leaned in and kissed him hard, her body light in his lap, but the strength with which she pulled his lips onto her own was more than a bit forceful. "I bloody love ye, Andy," Moira said to him. "And Jaysis, do you smell fookin' amazin'." Andy grinned a bit, arching an eyebrow. "Sounds like you may have picked up a little bit of Piper's superpower along the way. I wonder if that's a side effect of the dengue fever antibodies you have in your system." "I cannae tell ye where it comes from, but Jaysis, you smell better'n any meal I've ever eaten in me life. I want ta breathe ye all day long,” She buried her face against the nape of his neck, as he looked to Fiona for sympathy, but saw only mirth on her face. "So, Moira, tell me what you've been up to since we last saw each other." "School," she said, pronouncing the word like 'skoo will,' "then more school, then residency, then Doctors Without Borders, at least until I ran in ta Fi again in DC. It's no tha' excitin'." "Doctors Without Borders, tending to patients in the middle of warzones? That's the absolute definition of exciting to me." "Then you're a fool," she giggled. "I mean, yeh, I was shot at now an' again, but that's a part o' life anyway, isn't it? I was tendin' to kids who needed doctors, an' while I loved tha' work, when I shacked up with Fi again, she wanted me to be safer, wha'ever th' hell tha' means." "It means you're saving lives without people trying to take yours, Mo," Fiona scolded, kicking the Scottish lass with the tip of her leather boot. "She's still undecided whether she wants to take up private practice here in New Eden, or if she wants to go and work in the hospital they're finishing up alongside the base." "In a few years, anyway," Moira said. "After I've given ye a son." Andy's head leaned back a little bit. "Little early to be thinking about stuff like that, isn't it, Moira?" "Like hell, Andy," Moira said, pulling her face back from his neck so she could look him in the eyes again. "You," she said, tapping his chest with a fingertip, "need children. I," she continued, tapping her own, "want tae have one or two before I get back to the medical life. So all we're doin' is just wastin' fookin' time until you get me ripe." "You still don't need to rush right into it, Moira," Andy said, stroking his fingertips against the back of her neck. "Take some time to get settled and comfortable here in the household before you go rushing straight towards the respawning finish line." "Spoken like a laddie who doesnae realize our clocks 'r tickin'," she grumbled. "But, aye, I'll do me best nae to rush it too much. And all the other gare ruls have bin sooo kind tae us. I didnae know what t' expect, 'specially wit' all th' famous faces y'got around these parts." "They're just people, like anyone else," Andy replied. "Think how I feel, trying not to let anyone down." "Ach, yer daft, laddie," Moira said, tickling him a flash. "Yer a good man, an' tha's all tha' matters." "Emily told us all about her experiences this morning, what with the poker game and how it felt being traded like cattle. She was horrified by what horrible things the few remaining men in power are up to, and Niko explained how she basically had to force you to get into the game to rescue Asha and her mother from Covington," Fiona said. "I'm sure that must've been quite taxing." "You had to risk people to win people, and while I certainly didn't want my ex as part of my life, I didn't want to consign her to a life with someone horrible either," he sighed. "I feel very fortunate that it all worked out in my favor, but it was such a gigantic risk." Fiona tugged his chair a little closer to the desk with her leather boot, shrugging. "Life's one colossal risk, Andy. You've always known that." "You think your mother's going to be okay with you being part of a polypod, Moira? I only met her the once, but she struck me as an especially stern Catholic." "When th' news comes out, she'll come 'round, 'specially since th' Pope's apparently okay wit' it, or so we were told a' th' base," Moira shrugged. "Besides, it saves me th' trouble from havin' t' tell 'er I'm shacked up wit' Fi here. She's still nae comfortable wit' 'th' gays,'" she said, making air quotes with her fingers. "Didnae know how t' break it t' her tha' her daughter's as queer as a two dollar bill." "I hope I'm not coming between you two," Andy said. "Nah," Fiona laughed. "We're both bi, and both need some cock in our life. Yours'll do. It was generally my favorite." "An' mine, although I didnae try tha' many." "Tell him how many, Mo." "I don' wanna." "C'mon." "Fi,” "Mo,” Moira sighed. "Fine, wha'ever. I've only had three cocks, Andy, an' yours was right smack dab in th' middle. Me first was a boy in school, and me most recent was another doctor jus' before I hooked up with Fi again. I generally prefer gare ruls to lads, but ye always felt, felt like home t' me." "She was worried that her piercings were going to put you off her," Fi said. "Between the nose stud and the pierced nipples, she told Niko that she felt too different than anyone else it sounded like you had in the family." "I'll admit, I'm not generally a big fan of excessive piercings, but the whole look works on you, Moira. I mean, if you'd had one of those septum piercings like a bull ring, I might have had some reservations, but who am I to tell someone what they do to their body?" Fiona giggled slightly. "I jokingly suggested she get one of her eyebrows pierced once and she slugged me hard enough that she almost dislocated my shoulder." "Do I look like I wanna join bloody Evanescence?" Moira growled. "Did you two decide if you want a bedroom to yourselves, or one each?" Moira shook her head. "We're wit' you, laddie, no matter where y' lay yer head down." "Although I was thinking I might turn one of them into an office for me to work, if that's okay," Fiona said. "Sort of like your little office here." "Yeah, of course," Andy said. "Whatever you want. At some point, all the rooms will be spoken for, but until they are, they're fair game for whoever wants them." "At some point, some of them are going to have to be nurseries," Fiona stressed. "Especially since you've already got two pregnant ladies in the house. How far along are they?" "A couple of months," Andy said. "So it's still early days, and we haven't really told many people outside of the family yet, since the first few months are the diciest." "When's th' big wedding gonnae be?" Moira asked. "Niko told me her family wouldn't give two shits if the wedding happened after the kid was born, but Ash said her family might have some issues with it, so she and I might have a legal ceremony beforehand and then when the world is open again, when I have the giant wedding ceremony, she'd be part of that too." "Seems a fair compromise," Fi agreed. "It would also mean you have someone to function as Head of Household if you were incapacitated and needed someone to make a decision on your behalf." "Don't go planning to have me put into a medical coma any time soon, Fi," Andy joked. "That's still a few months down the way." "Good thing you've got yourself a doctor in the house now, hmm?" "How're you two feeling about all of this? I know it's a lot to process all at once." "It's a lot of bloody names ta learn," Moira grumbled. "I almost want ta see nametags on e'eryone fer a few months." "You'll pick them up pretty quick," Andy said. "And I was smart or lucky enough to not get any two partners with the same first name, thank god for that." "I dinnae find out if they tol' you, Andy," Moira interrupted, "but jus' so ye know, my cycle's shorter than th' rest of th' gare ruls. They kin go about ten days 'fore they cannae think clearly, but I kin only go about six." "Nobody told me that, no," Andy said. "Any other differences I should know about?" "Nothin' ye need concern yerself with," she replied, kissing his cheek. "I'm sure all th' lasses have got their own quirks so ye need nae concern yerself." "Alright then, I'll try not to worry. Anyway, I appreciate you stopping by to say hello, but I do have an online meeting in just a little bit, so I hate to kick you out but " "No no! You've got work to do, so c'mon, Mo," Fiona said, hopping off his desk, pulling Moira from his lap. "Let the man talk to the voices in his computer." Moira leaned down and kissed him one final time, resting her face against his for what felt like minutes before she smiled and pulled back. "I love ye, ye daft git." "Love you both," he said, as they slipped out of his office. The meeting went as well as could be expected, and Erica Xiao seemed like she might actually be a good choice for directing the first Druid Gunslinger movie, as she seemed to intuitively grasp the undercurrents of the story without having to explicitly call them out, something that was a refreshing change of pace from the first couple of candidates he'd interviewed. Of course, he didn't get the final say on who was directing the movie, but Working Title seemed to genuinely care that he liked the director, so that they would remain true to the books. They'd gone against authors' wishes before, and it hadn't gone well for them, so now they were trying to make sure the author approved of, or at least understood the reasoning for, any changes that were made in the process of translating it from a book to a movie. After that, he decided he needed to go and check on Lexi. Even though Phil had told him that her imprinting process time would take a bit longer, he thought it wise to swing by and make sure that she wasn't in any pain, but when he arrived by her door, he found Niko sitting on a chair in front of it, a Lee Child book in her hands. "Hey Niko," Andy said, approaching her. "I thought you were on the base today?" Niko shook her head, smiling at him as she tucked a slip of paper in as a bookmark before closing the paperback up, setting it on a table next to her. "With Lexi having a different reaction to the serum, Phil asked me to stay here and keep tabs on her, and report in what other irregularities she was going through, especially since I noticed a few right away." Andy's brow furrowed in worry. "How concerned should I be?" Niko sort of tilted her head a little. "That's just the thing, babe. I don't think you need to be at all worried, but you are definitely going to have a challenge on your hands for the first few days after she wakes up. I think letting Jenny help with that, though, would be a wise move." "What the hell does that mean, Niko?" She jerked her head over her shoulder. "C'mere and lemme show you." After sliding off the chair, she opened the door and they both stepped into the room, and Andy immediately started to panic, but he felt Niko's hand take his and squeeze it reassuringly. "She's fine, Andy, regardless of how she looks." "What, what the hell is happening to her?" There was a large growth on one side of her, a faded white swell over her body, and Andy didn't even know what exactly he was looking at. "She's healing," Niko said. "The reason you're going to want Jenny to help is that by the time she wakes up, I think Lexi's not going to have any scars left. It's almost like she's shedding the scarred layer of skin and replacing it with fresh, newly healed skin, like a snake molting. We've seen it in rare cases on the base. I told you early on that I knew the serum did some basic additional healing when it was first taken into the woman's body, but that level of healing varies a lot from patient to patient, more than anything else about it. When she was injected on the base, I knew there was a, call it ten to fifteen percent chance this might happen, that the serum might go into overdrive with her scars and began repairing the skin and the nerves, but I didn't want to get her hopes up in case it didn't happen, because we still don't know what does and doesn't cause the reaction." "And, and you're telling me her skin will just be back to normal?" "Whoa, easy there. 'Normal' is a very flexible word, and one that we don't like using on the base," Niko told him. "She's likely to be healed but considering all of those nerves will be freshly regrown, they are going to be hyper sensitive, and that means people are going to have to be careful around her, because it'll be easy to overwhelm her until those nerves have gotten accustomed to working again and they know how to moderate their intake. We also have no idea what it's going to do to her PTSD, if anything, and that's what we need to keep an eye on." "But, she is going to be okay, right?" "This isn't going to be a problem, Andy, but it's up to all of us to make sure that the repercussions of her sudden healing don't overwhelm her. But I think it'll be okay." Andy sighed, turning to press a kiss against Niko's cheek. "Is there anything else you aren't telling me?" "Honey, what I'm not telling you could fill up Levi's Stadium, but you just have to trust me that I'm doing it all with your best interests at heart, okay?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're lucky you're so cute." "It's one of my natural defense mechanisms," she teased. "C'mon, let's leave her be." They stepped back out into the hallway and Niko closed the door behind her. "I figured I should be here when she wakes up, so I can explain to her all of what happened, and prepare her for what to expect. It's the least I can do." She jerked her chin upward, to get Andy to look behind him. "Looks like you're up." Nicolette was walking down the hall, a soft smile on her face. "Just letting you know, Master, that Miss Steele's ride over just buzzed the gate and she should be at the front door any minute. Miss Washington and Miss Stevens said they would meet you there." Andy kissed Niko again before turning to walk with Nicolette towards the stairs, heading to the front door. "Showtime!" Chapter 39 It was with a little surprise that Andy stepped out of his front door to see a familiar electric blue Tesla parked in front of it, Phil helping Maya remove her things from his trunk. "Hello Maya," Andy said, walking down the steps towards her, seeing Emily and Sarah were already there, Emily talking with Maya while Sarah was crouched down next to the little carrier, giving the dogs inside scratches while cooing at t
Socrates: War to Expand Globally in 2026, Approx 0% Chance Ceasefire will Hold w/ Martin Armstrong - SarahWestall.com
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Danielle Jeter. A public relations and event planning expert, and founder of Women in Media Global and AOI Events and PR (Affairs of Influence). Here are some key highlights from the conversation:
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Danielle Jeter. A public relations and event planning expert, and founder of Women in Media Global and AOI Events and PR (Affairs of Influence). Here are some key highlights from the conversation:
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Danielle Jeter. A public relations and event planning expert, and founder of Women in Media Global and AOI Events and PR (Affairs of Influence). Here are some key highlights from the conversation:
Globally, health and wellness is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Many products claim to help with sleep or stress, including natural remedies.
Born Into Fear - Healing a Broken System for the Future of Your Baby and Our Children Globally How do WE create and build healing before life in conception for pregnancy and birth? How can we cure the epidemic of emotional shutdown and disempowered actions? Where does the root begin in trauma? Is it possible to overcome one of many broken systems? “Birth trauma is not a primary trauma it's always secondary. It's a symptom of something deeper." IG Pushcomestoshove Special Guest episode: Nickita Starck is the founder of When Push Comes to Shove—the UK's first decentralised birth support network, with a 77% home birth rate. She is a speaker, writer, and trauma-informed birth practitioner, she has supported thousands across the globe to reclaim birth as a physiological, spiritual, and deeply human event. Her work bridges the worlds of health freedom, collective consciousness, trauma healing, and nervous system repair, tracing many of humanity's modern challenges back to a single, unspoken root: how we were born. @when.pushcomestoshove / @nickitastarckofficial /nickita.substack.com
Send us a textIn this episode, I explore whether the famed Blue Zones offer genuine insights for longevity or if they're more marketing myth than science, while highlighting what the evidence truly shows about living to 100.We begin by considering how many people actually reach 100. Currently, just 0.03% of Americans are centenarians, though this is expected to quadruple by 2054, with women comprising about 78% of that group (Pew Research). Globally, regions like Hong Kong show higher longevity, where 12.8% of females and 4.4% of males are projected to reach 100 (Nature). This brings us to the question: what might we learn from regions like the Blue Zones?I break down how the Blue Zones concept originated, starting with Sardinia where researchers Pes and Poulain mapped centenarians with blue dots, hence the term Blue Zones. Their 2004 study highlighted clusters of longevity (ScienceDirect). Dan Buettner later popularized these findings through his National Geographic article (Blue Zones PDF) and subsequent books, documentaries, and programs. The Blue Zones promote nine lifestyle habits: daily activity, minimal meat and processed foods, moderate red wine intake, calorie reduction, life purpose, stress reduction, spiritual community involvement, prioritizing friendships, and surrounding oneself with like-minded people.While these recommendations align in part with my six pillars of health—exercise, nutrition, mind-body harmony, sleep, exposure to heat/cold, and social relationships—the Blue Zones overlook critical factors like sleep and heat/cold exposure. Their encouragement of moderate alcohol use also contrasts with emerging evidence on alcohol's risks.I examine critiques of Blue Zone science, including flawed birth records that may inflate longevity claims, as seen historically in the U.S. and Greece (bioRxiv, UCL). Some regions, like Okinawa and Sardinia, no longer display exceptional longevity, possibly due to regression to the mean or changes in lifestyle (PubMed).I also share a rigorous epidemiologic study tracking 80-year-olds to 100, identifying key predictors like non-smoking, low alcohol use, regular exercise, healthy BMI, and dietary diversity (fruits, vegetables, fish, beans, tea). Those with high lifestyle scores had a 60% greater chance of reaching 100 (JAMA).Ultimately, while Blue Zones have helped popularize valuable lifestyle habits, the science behind their claims is mixed. My six pillars remain grounded in evidence that applies to real-world aging.Takeaways: Focus on proven factors—exercise, balanced nutrition, sleep, mind-body practices, social connections, and thoughtful heat/cold exposure—to enhance both lifespan and healthspan. Be cautious about adopting longevity claims without strong evidence. Remember, while genetics play a larger role at extreme ages, your daily choices still profoundly influence your journey toward living long and well.
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
Globally, coastal areas are being squeezed between rising seas on one side and human development on the other. The average distance from the high waterline to the first built-up area with human structures or paved roads is less than 400 yards around the world. The narrower a coast, the sooner rising sea levels cause problems. […]
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
In this deeply moving episode of the Holistic Wealth Podcast, I shared lessons from my father's death, my personal story of caregiving, and renewed purpose - a bold new mission to reach one billion people with the life-changing message of Holistic Wealth.On April 26th, I lost my father—I was also his primary caregiver. As part of the sandwich generation, I juggled the emotional and physical demands of caregiving while continuing to care for my children, maintain my professional life, and manage my own grief. A 2019 AARP report revealed that 23% of caregivers say caregiving has made their own health worse.60% of caregivers report depression or anxiety.And 78% of caregivers use their own savings or income to cover care-related expenses.1 in 4 adults is part of the sandwich generation. In the days and weeks following my father's death, I revisited lessons outlined in Holistic Wealth as well as the Holistic Wealth mindset powerful lessons to help create a life of balance, financial security, and emotional resilience—factors that science proves can be beneficial to those in the sandwich generation. In this episode of the Holistic Wealth Podcast, we explore the powerful connection between Holistic Wealth, care-giving and the sandwich generation. Resources Used In This Episode:Holistic Wealth (Expanded and Updated): 36 Life Lessons To Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial FreedomHolistic Wealth Personal Workbook by Keisha BlairThe Certified Holistic Wealth Consultant Program Holistic Wealth and the Sandwich Generation CrisisIn 2021, family caregivers in the U.S. provided an estimated 36 billion hours of unpaid care – work that AARP valued at approximately $600 billion. Studies have found that family caregivers often suffer career penalties as well as impacts on retirement over their lifetimes in lost wages and retirement benefits, especially for women dropping out of the workforce.Globally, the “care economy” is enormous – and often undervalued. According to the International Labor Organization, about 381 million people worked in paid care jobs in 2018, representing 11.5% of all global employment. Close to 2 billion people globally – are performing care work unpaid, often as full-time caregivers for family members.
Today's Headlines: Iran officially retaliated for the U.S. bombing of its nuclear sites by launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar—none hit, thanks to Qatari defenses. President Trump thanked Iran for the “early notice” and mocked the attack as “very weak,” while urging oil producers to keep prices down and demanding the Energy Department “DRILL BABY DRILL.” Trump later declared a 12-hour ceasefire between Israel and Iran, claiming the war is over. Reporting revealed he was warned by Iran of potential sleeper cell attacks in the U.S. and used vague public statements to mask his true plans. His decision to strike was reportedly influenced by Fox News coverage and online sentiment, leading one military official to call him the “biggest threat to operational security.” Globally, Iran's foreign minister met with Putin, who condemned the strikes but didn't pledge support. Meanwhile, Russia, China, and Pakistan introduced a UN resolution condemning the U.S., which America is expected to veto. Japan and South Korea pulled out of the NATO summit, citing the Middle East conflict. Domestically, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to allow Trump's administration to deport migrants to third countries, and the administration also overrode a federal judge's order to release smuggling suspect Kilmar Abrego Garcia. ICE had already planned to detain him regardless. In finance, FICO announced it will start factoring buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) loans into credit scores, affecting 90+ million Americans—raising concerns over debt risk in an already fragile consumer economy. And nearly 190 million Americans are under heat advisories as a record-breaking “heat dome” grips the US, setting over 360 daily high temp records last week alone. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: No casualties reported after Iran missile attack on U.S. base in Qatar NY Times: How Trump Decided to Strike Iran WSJ: Putin Tells Iranian Envoy U.S. Strikes Weren't Justified AP News: Iran-Israel live updates: Trump says countries agree to ceasefire The New Republic: Countries Ditch NATO Summit After Trump Decision to Bomb Iran AP News: Supreme Court allows Trump to restart swift deportation of migrants away from their home countries NYT: Judge Orders Abrego Garcia Released on Smuggling Charges Before Trial Axios: FICO credit scores to include buy-now-pay-later loans Axios: Millions at risk amid widespread heat wave Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Sol Smith, psychologist, former professor, coach, consultant and autistic advocate talks about his book, The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery. He tells about his personal experience as an autistic person with relatable examples of masking, rumination, imposter syndrome and more. He gives insights into how and why the autistic brain processes life experiences the way it does. Listen now!Sol's websites:https://www.professorsol.com/https://neurospicycommunity.com/https://www.instagram.com/theprofessorsolSupport the showNOW RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY! Want to be a guest or know someone who would be a good guest? Fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/autguestspotInstagram: anautisticwoman https://www.instagram.com/anautisticwoman/Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon at this link: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite: theautisticwoman.com Sunsama free trial: https://try.sunsama.com/xi4blkokndgk Check out other autistic shows:The Autistic Culture Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/auttacp The Neurodivergent Experience: https://tinyurl.com/autneuro The Horse Human Connection Matrix: https://tinyurl.com/authhcm From The Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/autftsYoSamdySam: https://www.youtube.com/@YoSamdySamOrion Kelly - That Autistic Guy http...
Julian Branch is an award winning journalist and communications professional. In 2012, he discovered Regina, Saskatchewan has 600 kilometres of old asbestos cement water pipes. That discovery has taken him on a fascinating journey of understanding Canada's complex relationship with asbestos, and identifying misinformation attached to what was once referred to as Canada's miracle mineral. 22min W5 piece: Something in the Water: Asbestos fibres turning up in Canada's drinking water | W5 INVESTIGATION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWPF6cUq3Q ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th of a five-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Yozo Otsuki from Kurasu. In this series, we're exploring the journey that Yozo went on, starting, building, growing, and expanding Kurasu within Japan and around the world with a franchise model.The five episodes in this series are:1. Becoming a Japanese Coffee Entrepreneur -https://youtu.be/UjLa9smn1Sg2. The Japanese Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/wO-8-1l7JZM3. Building a Coffee Concept - https://youtu.be/CSgDRXENn044. Growing Kurasu Beyond Homewares - https://youtu.be/T_mXVLBkxCg5. Expanding Kurasu Globally - https://youtu.be/TfohROuLiowIn this final episode of a five-part series, Lee and Yozo deep dive into the significance of maintaining integrity and values while expanding a global brand. Yozo shares insights on the holistic approach that drives Kurasu, emphasizing customer experience, partner relationships, and the importance of staying true to one's core values. They discuss the challenges and considerations of global growth, the impact of franchise models, and the complexities of integrating investors. The episode concludes with reflections on past journeys and advice to future selves, encapsulating the essence of intentional business growth in the specialty coffee industry.You can find out more about Map It Forward Japan at https://mapitforward.coffee/japan and https://instagram.com/mapitforwardjapanConnect with Yozo Otsuki and Kurasu here:https://kurasu.kyoto/https://www.instagram.com/kurasu.kyoto/https://www.linkedin.com/in/yozo-otsuki-84a13047/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailinglist
Do you fear aging? Do you dread getting older? Do you think that you'll likely be sick or have a disease? Many people are living longer yet not living healthier. Today's guest is health expert, environmental pioneer, and best-selling author John Robbins. John is the author of the best-selling books “Diet For a New America,” “The Food Revolution,” and “Reclaiming Our Health.” He talks about the growing population of people who are currently over 65 years old. Globally it continues to increase. John would like our older years to be a time of celebration and not a time to fear. It is possible to become much healthier as we age. It can be a time to be stable and connected. If we feel more positive about aging, we can add many healthy years to our life. On the other hand, if we shun it, and try to protect ourselves from the aging process, we close down possibilities. In the US especially, we can feel divided and separated. Many people ultimately die of loneliness. John talks about four cultures that he has explored where people live to be healthy at 100. The older people in these cultures are not interested in fast foods. They tend to have much more community. They eat simply, with many being basically vegetarian. This diet includes nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, and no artificial sweets. They don't have processed sugar. They are connected to the local food and eat seasonally. Family and friends are extremely important. The communities work together. By comparing the diets and attitudes of different world cultures with the American lifestyle, John shares the truth about the health effects of the foods we eat. The only son of the founder of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire, John was groomed to follow in his father's footsteps but chose to walk away from Baskin-Robbins and the immense wealth it represented to “…pursue the deeper American Dream…the dream of a society at peace with its conscience because it respects and lives in harmony with all life forms. A dream of a society that is truly healthy, practicing a wise and compassionate stewardship of a balanced ecosystem.” We air this interview today to honor health pioneer John Robbins, who passed away in mid-June. Info: www.johnrobbins.com
Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: John W. Wilson, M.D. Tuberculosis remains a significant health concern. Globally, in 2023, an estimated 10 million individuals developed active tuberculosis and over one million died of the disease. In the U.S., just under 10, 000 individuals in the U.S. were diagnosed with TB, representing an increase over 2022. While tuberculosis remains a treatable disease, it's important to suspect and recognize those who may have it. A class 5 tuberculosis case is part of a TB classification system and refers to a suspected tuberculosis infection that requires further investigation. Symptoms may or may not be present and these patients may have an active TB case that could be contagious. This podcast is about class 5 tuberculosis cases, and my guest is infectious disease specialist, John W. Wilson, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts
Rick Stanton, the writer and director of the film Spectrum talks with me about the new film and its message about “the transformative power of acceptance and the untapped potential for greatness within every individual, no matter where they fall on the spectrum.” Don't miss this interview and the spectacular film Spectrum. Links in the show notes!Watch Spectrum free at either site:Spectrum (YouTube): https://youtu.be/C161TZHJIjE?si=cre2wxPHbb5yU_CPSpectrum (Website): https://rickstanton.co.uk/spectrumSupport the showNOW RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY! Want to be a guest or know someone who would be a good guest? Fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/autguestspotInstagram: anautisticwoman https://www.instagram.com/anautisticwoman/Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon at this link: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite: theautisticwoman.com Sunsama free trial: https://try.sunsama.com/xi4blkokndgk Check out other autistic shows:The Autistic Culture Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/auttacp The Neurodivergent Experience: https://tinyurl.com/autneuro The Horse Human Connection Matrix: https://tinyurl.com/authhcm From The Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/autftsYoSamdySam: https://www.youtube.com/@YoSamdySamOrion Kelly - That Autistic Guy http...
【欢迎订阅】 每天早上5:30,准时更新。 【阅读原文】 标题:The stunning decline of the preference for having boys Millions of girls were aborted for being girls. Now parents often lean towards them 正文:Without fanfare, something remarkable has happened. The noxious practice of aborting girls simply for being girls has become dramatically less common. It first became widespread in the late 1980s, as cheap ultrasound machines made it easy to determine the sex of a fetus. Parents who were desperate for a boy but did not want a large family started routinely terminating females. Globally, among babies born in 2000, a staggering 1.6m girls were missing from the number you would expect, given the natural sex ratio at birth. This year that number is likely to be 200,000—and it is still falling. 知识点:fanfare n. /ˈfænfeər/ a loud and showy celebration or announcement. 喧闹;大肆宣扬 e.g. The product launched with little fanfare. 该产品上市时没有大张旗鼓地宣传。 获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记,请关注微信公众号「早安英文」,回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你! 【节目介绍】 《早安英文-每日外刊精读》,带你精读最新外刊,了解国际最热事件:分析语法结构,拆解长难句,最接地气的翻译,还有重点词汇讲解。 所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。 【适合谁听】 1、关注时事热点新闻,想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者 2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者 3、想快速掌握表达,有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者 4、参加各类英语考试的应试者(如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等) 【你将获得】 1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程,拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景 2、逐词、逐句精确讲解,系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法 3、每期内附学习笔记,包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等,帮助扫除阅读障碍。
Hi everyone! I know that we have discussed Saturn + Neptune on a few segments, but I thought this combination certainly deserved it's own deep dive. I've been witnessing individuals who are spiritually confused, longing, or uncertain. It seems that there is a pull away from "woo woo" spirituality, and a draw towards religions with more structure and regulations. (Has anyone else seen the rise in Christianity?) While I believe more people will be searching for meaning through things like astrology and tarot, I believe people are burning out on the "get rich quick" approach of some spiritual leaders. Saturn is rules, regulations, discipline, and consistency. Neptune is illusion, idealism, and dreaminess. These two planets joining forces will impact us all differently on a personal level... Some may be having "ah ha" moments, seeing a situation for what it is, or experience a crack in rose colored glasses. Others may be feeling confused, aimless, or stuck in a rut and unsure on how to move forward. Globally, we will see chaos and confusion with rules, structure, and government. Saturn is the government, after all. The truth will feel more elusive as accusations get thrown around. With so much confusion and uncertainty, this gives a beautiful opportunity to tap into Viveka, or discernment, the compass of the heart. Learn how to best navigate the energy of this transit here. YOUTUBE:Mars + Ketu https://youtu.be/J_gnbbOmqe8D9 exploration: https://youtu.be/HTgYcjltyasCharacteristics of Your Spouse: https://youtu.be/i_cOvdSbjy0Soulmate Astrologyhttps://youtu.be/ExnDysvjzUwChristine:website: innerknowing.yogainstagram: astrologynow_podcastpatreon: patreon.com/astrologynowpodcast keywords: astrology, jyotish, Vedic astrology, sidereal astrology, nakshatras, spirituality, Christine Rodriguez, aries, libra, scorpio, libra, capricorn, Nakshatra, new moon, taurus, Venus, Jupiter, Pisces, Spirituality, horoscope, retrograde, eclipse, solar eclipse, new moon, lunar eclipse
Today's Headlines: Roughly 2,700 U.S. Marines and National Guard troops have arrived in Los Angeles amid ongoing protests, though they haven't been formally deployed. The Pentagon estimates the cost of this operation, plus a military parade, could reach $200 million by week's end—despite the lack of proper housing for many troops. President Trump hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act. Meanwhile, over 100 LA schools are tightening graduation security due to fears of ICE activity. Nationally, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. removed all 17 CDC vaccine advisors, calling for a "clean sweep" to restore public trust—despite the committee's nonpartisan makeup. Globally, the World Bank predicts just 2.3% economic growth this year, citing Trump-era tariffs and global instability. U.S. growth is forecasted at only 1.4%. In Austria, a former student fatally shot 10 peers in Graz, prompting national mourning. And in Brussels, the EU proposed its 18th sanctions package against Russia, aimed at cutting off oil and gas revenue. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: Live updates: Newsom asks court to block Trump's use of military to support LA immigration raids AP News: RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee Axios: World Bank says global economy "running into turbulence" NYT: At Least 10 Dead After Austria School Shooting, Police Say CNN: Europe heaps harsh sanctions on Russia, saying ‘strength is the only language' Moscow understands Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Disney and NBCUniversal jointly sue Midjourney, OpenAI releases o3-pro, GameStop to shutter more physical stores in 2025. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS Live ad-free. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible. If you enjoy what you see you can support the show on Patreon,Continue reading "Nintendo Sells 3.5M Switch 2 Units Globally – DTH"
Mark X. Cronin is the Co-founder of John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise he launched in 2016 with his son, John, who has Down syndrome, to spread happiness and champion inclusive employment. With a background in public service and healthcare innovation, Mark previously served as Director of Medicaid Health Services in New York City and held executive roles in healthcare management firms. He advocates for people with differing abilities, frequently speaking at organizations like the United Nations and the US Congress. Under Mark and John's leadership, John's Crazy Socks has fulfilled over two million orders, employs a diverse workforce, and has donated over $800,000 to charities supporting disability inclusion. John Cronin is the Co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer of John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise that spreads joy through colorful socks. Born in 1996 and diagnosed with Down syndrome, John has become a prominent advocate for people with differing abilities, delivering TEDx talks and speaking at the United Nations and US Congress. He made history in 2019 as the first person with Down syndrome to win the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In this episode… Many ecommerce brands struggle to differentiate themselves in a crowded market where products alone rarely inspire customer loyalty. While some attempt to use charitable initiatives or mission statements, these often come off as superficial or gimmicky. How can a brand authentically integrate purpose into its business model in a way that drives growth and builds genuine connections? Social entrepreneur Mark X. Cronin and his co-founder son, John Cronin, share how building a mission-driven company rooted in inclusion and authenticity can create deep customer loyalty and sustainable impact. Mark, an advocate for people with differing abilities, and John, a passionate co-founder with Down syndrome, explain how their values inform every aspect of the business — from customer service to charitable giving. They advise business owners to start by uncovering their “why,” embed values into daily operations, and involve their team and customers in the mission. Mark also emphasizes the importance of making personal touches and staying true to your identity, even when facing criticism. In this episode of Minds of Ecommerce, Raphael Paulin-Daigle interviews Mark X. Cronin and John Cronin, Co-founders of John's Crazy Socks, about building a purpose-first ecommerce brand. Mark and John delve into how personal touches drive customer loyalty, how purpose attracts like-minded employees, and why consistency is key to authentic branding. They also provide insights into social enterprise structures, inclusive hiring, and evolving company values.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump is humiliated on the global stage by his feud with Elon Musk. Also, Trump likens Russia and Ukraine to “children fighting.” And The Washington Port reports $12 million in U.S. foreign aid to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS may be destroyed. Rep. Jamie Raskin, Lt. General Mark Hertling, and Dr. Atul Gawande join Lawrence O'Donnell.
The world will see lower economic growth due to tariffs and tariff uncertainty, according to the OECD. Global economic growth will fall below three percent this year, and the slowdown is expected to be most concentrated in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China. Also on the program: how steel and aluminum tariffs could drive up grocery prices, and the economic pros and cons of a small-market NBA Finals.
The world will see lower economic growth due to tariffs and tariff uncertainty, according to the OECD. Global economic growth will fall below three percent this year, and the slowdown is expected to be most concentrated in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China. Also on the program: how steel and aluminum tariffs could drive up grocery prices, and the economic pros and cons of a small-market NBA Finals.
Kipp deVeer is the Co-President of Ares Management, a leading global public alternative investment firm that manages $500 billion across credit, private equity, real assets, and infrastructure. Kipp came on the show last year to share the Ares story, and that conversation is replayed in the feed. Our conversation covers Ares' credit-centric approach to serving the wealth channel. We discuss Ares' dedicated focus and expansion in private wealth alongside a strategic acquisition five years ago, the resources and strategies Ares has developed since, the firm's approach to scaling distribution, servicing financial advisors, navigating procyclical capital flows in credit, and maintaining underwriting discipline amidst rapid growth. We discuss the challenges of building brand recognition in the channel and opportunities ahead in wealth for real assets and infrastructure investments, and in Europe and Asia. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
Are you tired of hearing “you don't look autistic”? Here are some examples of the unique ways autistic traits express themselves. Learn about the human side of autism. Support the showNOW RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY! Want to be a guest or know someone who would be a good guest? Fill out this form: https://tinyurl.com/autguestspotInstagram: anautisticwoman https://www.instagram.com/anautisticwoman/Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon at this link: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanLinktree: https://linktr.ee/theautisticwomanEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite: theautisticwoman.com Sunsama free trial: https://try.sunsama.com/xi4blkokndgk Check out other autistic shows:The Autistic Culture Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/auttacp The Neurodivergent Experience: https://tinyurl.com/autneuro The Horse Human Connection Matrix: https://tinyurl.com/authhcm From The Spectrum: https://tinyurl.com/autftsYoSamdySam: https://www.youtube.com/@YoSamdySamOrion Kelly - That Autistic Guy http...