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This episode we will finish up the travels of Xuanzang, who circumnavigated the Indian subcontinent while he was there, spending over a decade and a half travelings, visiting important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and studying at the feet of learned monks of India, and in particular at Nalanda monastery--a true center of learning from this period. For more, check out our blogpost page:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-122 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 122:  Journey to the West, Part 3 The courtyard at Nalanda was quiet.  Although hundreds of people were crowded in, trying to hear what was being said, they were all doing their best to be silent and still.  Only the wind or an errant bird dared speak up.  The master's voice may not have been what it once was—he was definitely getting on in years—but Silabhadra's mind was as sharp as ever. At the front of the crowd was a relatively young face from a far off land.  Xuanzang had made it to the greatest center of learning in the world, and he had been accepted as a student of perhaps the greatest sage of his era.  Here he was, receiving lessons on some of the deepest teachings of the Mahayana Buddhist sect, the very thing he had come to learn and bring home. As he watched and listened with rapt attention, the ancient teacher began to speak….   For the last two episodes, and continuing with this one, we have been covering the travels of the monk Xuanzang in the early 7th century, starting around 629 and concluding in 645.  Born during the Sui dynasty, Xuanzang felt that the translations of the Buddhist sutras available in China were insufficient—many of them had been made long ago, and often were translations of translations.  Xuanzang decided to travel to India in the hopes of getting copies in the original language to provide more accurate translations of the sutras, particularly the Mahayana sutras.  His own accounts of his journeys, even if drawn from his memory years afterwards, provide some of our most detailed contemporary evidence of the Silk Road and the people and places along the way.  After he returned, he got to work on his translations, and became quite famous.  Several of the Japanese students of Buddhism who traveled to the Tang dynasty in the 650s studied under him directly and brought his teachings back to Japan with them.  His school of “Faxiang” Buddhism became known in Japan as the Hosso sect, and was quite popular during the 7th and 8th centuries.  Xuanzang himself, known as Genjou in Japan, would continue to be venerated as an important monk in the history of Buddhism, and his travels would eventually be popularized in fantastic ways across East Asia. Over the last couple of episodes we talked about Xuanzang's illegal and harrowing departure from the Tang empire, where he had to sneak across the border into the deserts of the Western Regions.  We then covered his time traveling from Gaochang, to Suyab, and down to Balkh, in modern Afghanistan.  This was all territory under the at least nominal control of the Gokturk empire.  From Balkh he traveled to Bamyan, and then on to Kapisa, north of modern Kabul, Afghanistan.  However, after Kapisa, Xuanzang was finally entering into the northern territories of what he knew as “India”, or “Tianzhu”. Here I would note that I'm using “India” to refer not to a single country, but to the entirety of the Indian subcontinent, and all of the various kingdoms there -- including areas now part of the modern countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.  The Sinitic characters used to denote this region are pronounced, today, as “Tianzhu”, with a rough meaning of “Center of Heaven”, but it is likely that these characters were originally pronounced in such a way that the name likely came from terms like “Sindhu” or “Induka”.  This is related to the name of the Sindh or Indus river, from which India gets its name.  Xuanzang's “Record of the Western Regions” notes that the proper pronunciation of the land should be “Indu”.  In Japan, this term was transmitted through the Sinitic characters, or kanji, and pronounced as “Tenjiku”.  Since it featured so prominently in the stories of the life of the Buddha and many of the Buddhist sutras, Tenjiku was known to the people of the Japanese archipelago as a far off place that was both real and fantastical. In the 12th century, over a thousand stories were captured for the “Konjaku Monogatarishu”, or the “Collection of Tales Old and New”, which is divided up into tales from Japan, China, and India.  In the famous 9th or 10th century story, “Taketori Monogatari”, or the “Bamboo-Cutter's Tale”, about princess Kaguya hime, one of the tasks the princess sets to her suitors is to go to India to find the begging bowl of the Buddha.  Records like those produced by Xuanzang and his fellow monks, along with the stories in the sutras, likely provided the majority of what people in the Japanese archipelago knew about India, at least to begin with. Xuanzang talks about the land of India as being divided into five distinct parts—roughly the north, south, east, west, and center.  He notes that three sides face the sea and that the Snow Mountains—aka the Himalayas—are in the north.  It is, he says, “Wide in the north and narrow in the south, in the shape of a crescent moon”.  Certainly the “Wide in the north and narrow in the south” fit the subcontinent accurately enough, and it is largely surrounded by the waters of what we know as the Indian Ocean to the west, the east, and the south.  The note about the Crescent Moon might be driven by Xuanzang's understanding of a false etymology for the term “Indus”, which he claims comes from the word for “moon”.  Rather, this term appears to refer to the Indus River, also known as the Sindh or Sindhus, which comes from an ancient word meaning something like “River” or “Stream”. Xuanzang also notes that the people of the land were divided into castes, with the Brahman caste at the top of the social hierarchy.    The land was further divided into approximately 70 different countries, according to his accounts.  This is known broadly as the Early Medieval period, in India, in which the region was divided into different kingdoms and empires that rose and fell across the subcontinent, with a total size roughly equivalent to that covered by the countries of the modern European Union.  Just like Europe, there were many different polities and different languages spoken across the land – but just as Latin was the common language in Europe, due to its use in Christianity, Sanskrit was the scholarly and religious language in much of India, and could also be used as a bridge language.  Presumably, Xuanzang understood Sanskrit to some extent as a Buddhist monk.  And, just a quick note, all of this was before the introduction of Islam, though there were other religions also practiced throughout the subcontinent, but Xuanzang was primarily focused on his Buddhist studies. Xuanzang describes India as having three distinct seasons—The hot season, the rainy season, and the cold season, in that order.  Each of these were four month long periods.  Even today, the cycle of the monsoon rains is a major impact on the life of people in South Asia.  During the rainy season, the monks themselves would retreat back to their monasteries and cease their wanderings about the countryside. This tradition, called “Vassa”, is still a central practice in many Theravada Buddhist societies such as Thailand and Laos today, where they likewise experience this kind of intensely wet monsoon season. Xuanzang goes on to give an in depth analysis of the people and customs of the Indian subcontinent, as he traveled from country to country. So, as we've done before, we'll follow his lead in describing the different locations he visited. The first country of India that Xuanzang came to was the country of Lampa, or Lamapaka, thought to be modern Laghman province in Afghanistan.  At the time it was a dependency of Kapisa.  The Snow Mountains, likely meaning the Hindu Kush, the western edge of the Himalayas, lay at its north, while the “Black Mountains” surrounded it on the other three sides.  Xuanzang mentions how the people of Lampa grow non-glutinous rice—likely something similar to basmati rice, which is more prevalent in South Asian cuisine, as compared to glutinous rice like more often used in East Asia. From Lampa he headed to Nagarahara, likely referring to a site near the Kabul River associated with the ruins of a stupa called Nagara Gundi, about 4 kilometers west of modern Jalalabad, Afghanistan.  This was another vassal city-state of Kapisa.  They were still Mahayana Buddhists, but there were other religions as well, which Xuanzang refers to as “heretical”, though I'm not entirely sure how that is meant in this context.  He does say that many of the stupas were dilapidated and in poor condition. Xuanzang was now entering areas where he likely believed the historical Buddha had once walked.  In fact, Lampa was perhaps the extent of historical Buddha's travels, according to the stories and the sutras, though this seems unlikely to have been true.  The most plausible locations for the Historical Buddha's pilgrimages were along the Ganges river, which was on the other side of the subcontinent, flowing east towards modern Kolkatta and the Bengal Bay.  However, as Buddhism spread, so, too, did stories of the Buddha's travels.  And so, as far as Xuanzang was concerned, he was following in the footsteps of the Buddha. Speaking of which, at Nagarahara, Xuanzang mentions “footprints” of the Buddha.  This is a Buddhist tradition found in many places.  Xuanzang claims that the Tathagatha, the Englightened One, or the Buddha, would fly, because when he walked the land itself shook.  Footprint shapes in rock could be said to be evidence of the Buddha's travels.  Today, in many Buddhist areas you can find footprints carved into rock conforming to stories about the Buddha, such as all the toes being of the same length, or other various signs.  These may have started out as natural depressions in the rock, or pieces of artwork, but they were believed by many to be the actual point at which the Buddha himself touched down.  There are famous examples of these footprints in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and China.  Of course there are also traditions of creating images of the footprint as an object of worship.  Images of footprints, similar to images of the Great Wheel of the Law, may have been some of the earliest images for veneration, as images of the Buddha himself did not appear until much later in the tradition.  One of the oldest such footprints in Japan is at Yakushiji temple, and dated to 753.  It was created based on a rubbing brought back by an envoy to the Tang court, while they were in Chang'an. Like Buddha footprints, there are many other images and stories that show up multiple times in different places, even in Xuanzang's own narrative.  For example, in Nagarahara Xuanzang also shares a story of a cave, where an image of the Buddha could be just barely made out on the wall – maybe maybe an old carving that had just worn away, or maybe an image that was deliberately placed in the darkness as a metaphor for finding the Buddha—finding enlightenment.  This is not an uncommon theme in Buddhism as a whole.  In any case, the story around this image was that it had been placed there to subdue a naga. Now a naga is a mythical snake-like being, and  we are told that this particular naga was the reincarnation of a man who had invoked a curse on the nearby kingdom, then threw himself from a cliff in order to become a naga and sow destruction.  As the story went, the man was indeed reborn, but before he could bring destruction, the Buddha showed up and subdued him, convincing him that this was not right.  And so the naga agreed to stay in the cave, where the Buddha left an image—a shadow—to remind the naga any time that its thoughts might turn to destruction. Later in his travels, at a place name Kausambi, Xuanzang mentions another cave where the Buddha had subdued a venomous dragon and left his shadow on the cave wall.  Allowing for the possibility that the Buddha just had a particular M.O. when dealing with destructive beings, we should also consider the possibility that the story developed in one region—probably closer to the early center of Buddhism, and then traveled outward, such that it was later adopted and adapted to local traditions.  From Nagarahara, Xuanzang continued to the country of Gandhara and its capital city of Purushapura, aka modern Peshwar.  This kingdom was also under vassalage to the Kapisan king.  Here and elsewhere in the journey, Xuanzang notes not only evidence of the historical Buddha, but also monasteries and stupas purported to have been built by King Kanishka and King Asoka.  These were important figures who were held in high regard for spreading Buddhism during their reign.  Continuing through the region of Gandhara, he also passed through Udakhand and the city of Salatura, known as the birthplace of the ancient Sanskrit grammarian, Daksiputra Panini, author of the Astadhyayi [Aestudjayi].  This work is the oldest surviving description of classical Sanskrit, and used grammatical and other concepts that wouldn't be introduced into Western linguistics for eons.  Daksiputra Panini thrived around the 5th or 4th century BCE, but was likely one of the reasons that Sanskrit continued to be used as a language of scholarship and learning even as it died out of usage as the day to day language of the common people.  His works and legacy would have been invaluable to translators like Xuanzang in understanding and translating from Sanskrit. Xuanzang continued on his journey to Kashmira, situated in the Kashmir Valley.  This valley sits between the modern states of Pakistan and India, and its ownership is actively disputed by each.  It is the namesake of the famous cashmere wool—wool from the winter coats of a type of goat that was bred in the mountainous regions.  The winter coat would be made of soft, downy fibers and would naturally fall out in the spring, which the goatherds harvested and made into an extremely fine wool.  In the 7th century and earlier, however, the region was known not as much for its wool, but as a center for Hindu and Buddhist studies.  Xuanzang ended up spending two years in Kashmira studying with teachers there.  Eventually, though, he continued on, passing through the country of Rajpura, and continuing on to Takka and the city of Sakala—modern day Sialkot in the Punjab region of modern Pakistan.  Leaving Sakala, he was traveling with a group when suddenly disaster struck and they were accosted by a group of bandits.  They took the clothes and money of Xuanzang and those with him and then they drove the group into a dry pond in an attempt to corral them while they figured out what they would do—presumably meaning kill them all.  Fortunately for the group, there was a water drain at the southern edge of the pond large enough for one man to pass through.  Xuanzang and one other went through the gap and they were able to escape to a nearby village.  Once they got there, they told the people what had happened, and the villagers quickly gathered weapons and ran out to confront the brigands, who saw a large group coming and ran away.  Thus they were able to rescue the rest of Xuanzang's traveling companions.  Xuanzang's companions were devastated, having lost all of their possessions.  However, Xuanzang comforted them.  After all, they still had their lives.  By this time, Xuanzang had certainly seen his fair share of life and death problems along the road.  They continued on, still in the country of Takka, to the next great city.  There they met a Brahman, and once they told him what had happened, he started marshalling the forces of the city on their behalf.  During Xuanzang's stay in Kashmira, he had built a reputation, and people knew of the quote-unquote “Chinese monk”.  And even though the people in this region were not necessarily Buddhist—many were “heretics” likely referring to those of Hindu faith—the people responded to this pre-Internet “GoFundMe” request with incredible generosity.  They brought Xuanzang food and cloth to make into suits of clothes.  Xuanzang distributed this to his travel companions, and ended up still having enough cloth for 50 suits of clothes himself.  He then stayed at that city a month. It is odd that they don't seem to mention the name of this location.  Perhaps there is something unspeakable about it?  Still, it seems that they were quite generous, even if they were “heretics” according to Xuanzang. From the country of Takka, he next proceeded to the kingdom of Cinabhukti, where he spent 14 months—just over a year—studying with the monks there.  Once he had learned what he could, he proceeded onwards, passing through several countries in northern India until he came to the headwaters of the sacred Ganges rivers.  The Indus and the Ganges rivers are in many ways similar to the Yellow River and Yangzi, at least in regards to their importance to the people of India.  However, whereas the Yellow River and Yangzi both flow east towards the Pacific Ocean, the Indus and Ganges flow in opposite directions.  The Indus flows southwest, from the Himalayas down through modern India into modern Pakistan, emptying into the western Indian Ocean.  The Ganges flows east along the base of the Himalayas and enters the eastern Indian Ocean at Kolkatta.   At the headwaters of the Ganges, Xuanzang found a Buddhist monk named Jayagupta and chose to spend the winter and half of the following spring listening to his sermons and learning at his feet. From there he continued his travels, and ended up being summoned by King Harshavardhana of Kanyakubja, known today as the modern city of Kannauj.  Harshavardhana ruled an immense state that covered much of the territory around the sacred Ganges river.  As word of this strange monk from a far off land reached him, the King wanted to see him for himself.  Xuanzang stayed in Kannauj for three months, completing his studies of the Vibhasha Shastra, aka the Abhidarmma Mahavibhasha Shastra, known in Japanese as the Abidatsuma Daibibasharon, or just as the Daibibasharon or the Basharon, with the latter two terms referring to the translations that Xuanzang performed.   This work is not a sutra, per se, but rather an encyclopedic work that attempted to speak on all of the various doctrinal issues of its day.  It is thought to have been authored around 150 CE, and was influential in the Buddhist teachings of Kashmira, when that was a center of Orthodoxy at the time.  This is what Xuanzang had started studying, and it seems that in Kannauj he was finally able to grasp everything he felt he needed to know about it in order to effectively translate it and teach it when he returned.  That said, his quest was not over.  And after his time in Kannauj, he decided to continue on. His next stop was at the city of Ayodhya.  This was—and is—a city of particular importance in Hindu traditions.  It is said to be the city mentioned in the epic tale known as the Ramayana, though many argue that it was simply named that later in honor of that ancient city.  It does appear to be a city that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, visited and where he preached.  It was also the home of a famous monk from Gandhara who authored a number of Buddhist tomes and was considered, at least by Xuanzang, a proper Boddhisatva.  And so Xuanzang spent some time paying homage to the places where the Buddha and other holy figures had once walked. “Ayodhya” appears in many forms across Asia.  It is a major pilgrimage center, and the city of “Ayutthaya” in Thailand was named for it, evoking the Ramayana—known in Thai as the Ramakien—which they would adopt as their own national story.  In Silla, there is a story that queen Boju, aka Heo Hwang-ok, wife to the 2nd century King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya, traveled to the peninsula all the way from the foreign country of “Ayuta”, thought to mean Ayodhya.  Her story was written down in the Gaya histories and survives as a fragment found in the Samguk Yusa.  Members of the Gimhae Kim, Gimhae Heo, and Incheon Yi clans all trace their lineage back to her and King Suro. From Ayodhya, Xuanzang took a trip down the Ganges river.  The boat was packed to bursting with some 80 other travelers, and as they traveled towards a particularly heavily forested area, they were set upon by bandits, who rowed their ships out from hiding in the trees and forced the travelers to the shore.  There the bandits made all the travelers strip down and take off their clothing so that the bandits could search for gold or valuables.  According to Xuanzang's biography, these bandits were followers of Durga, a Hindu warrior-goddess, and it is said that each year they would look for someone of particularly handsome features to sacrifice to her.  With Xuanzang's foreign features, they chose him.  And so they took him to be killed.  Xuanzang mentioned that he was on a pilgrimage, and that by interrupting him before they finished he was worried it might be inauspicious for them, but he didn't put up a fight and merely asked to be given time to meditate and calm his mind and that they perform the execution quickly so that he wouldn't even notice. From there, according to the story, a series of miracles occurred that ended up with Xuanzang being released and the bandits worshipping at his feet.  It is times like this we must remember that this biography was being written by Xuanzang's students based on stories he told them about his travels.  While being accosted by bandits on the river strikes me as perfectly plausible, we don't necessarily have the most reliable narrators, so I'm going to have to wonder about the rest.  Speaking of unreliable narration, the exact route that Xuanzang traveled from here on is unclear to me, based on his stated goals and where he was going.  It is possible that he was wandering as opportunities presented themselves —I don't know that he had any kind of map or GPS, like we've said in the past.  And it may be that the routes from one place to another were not always straightforward.  Regardless, he seems to wander southeast for a period before turning again to the north and eventually reaching the city of Shravasti. Shravasti appeared in our discussion of the men of Tukhara in Episode 119.  With the men of Tukhara there was also mentioned a woman from Shravasti.  While it is unlikely that was actually the case—the names were probably about individuals from the Ryukyuan island chain rather than from India—it is probably worth nothing that Shravasti was a thriving place in ancient times.  It was at one time the capital city of the kingdom of Kosala, sharing that distinction with the city of Ayodhya, back in the 7th to 5th centuries BCE.  It is also where the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was said to have spend many years of his life.  This latter fact would have no doubt made it a place of particular importance to Xuanzang on his journeys. From there he traveled east, ending up following the foothills of the Himalayas, and finally came to some of the most central pilgrimages sites for followers of the historical Buddha.  First, he reached Lumbini wood, in modern Nepal, said to have been the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.  And then he visited Kushinagara, the site where the Buddha ascended to nirvana—in other words, the place where he passed away.  From there, he traveled to Varanasi, and the deer park monastery, at the place where the Buddha is said to have given one of his most famous sermons.  He even visited the Bodhi tree, the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama is said to have attained enlightenment.  He spent eight or nine days there at Bodhgaya, and word must have spread about his arrival, because several monks from the eminent Nalanda Monastery called upon him and asked him to come to the monastery with them. Nalanda Monastery was about 80 km from Bodhgaya.  This was a grand monastery and center of learning—some say that it was, for a time, the greatest in the world.  It had been founded in the 5th century by the Gupta dynasty, and many of the Gupta rulers and others donated to support the monastery, which also acted as a university.  After the fall of the Gupta dynasty, the monastery was supported by King Harsha of Kannauj, whom Xuanzang had visited earlier.  It ultimately thrived for some 750 years, and is considered by some to be the oldest residential university—meaning that students would come to the temple complex and stay in residence for years at a time to study.  According to Xuanzang, Nalanda hosted some 10,000 monks. Including hosts and guests.  They didn't only study Buddhist teachings, but also logic, grammar, medicine, and divination.  Lectures were given at more than 100 separate places—or classrooms—every day.  It was at Nalanda, that Xuanzang would meet the teacher Silabhadra, who was known as the Right Dharma Store.  Xuanzang requested that he be allowed to study the Yogacharabhumi Shastra—the Yugashijiron, in Japanese.  This is the work that Xuanzang is said to have been most interested in, and one of the works that he is credited with bringing back in one of the first full translations to the Tang dynasty and then to others in East Asia.  It is an encyclopedic work dedicated to the various forms of Yogacara practice, which focuses on the mental disciplines, and includes yoga and meditation practices.  It has a huge influence on nearly all Mahayana schools, including things like the famous Zen and Pure Land schools of Buddhism.  The Yogacharabhumi Shastra is the earliest such encyclopedic work, compiled between the 3rd and 5th centuries—so even if the monk Faxian had brought portions of it back, it was probably not in the final form that Xuanzang was able to access. Silabhadra, for his part, was an ancient teacher—some put his age at 106 years, and his son was in his 70s.  He was one of the few at Nalandra who supposedly knew all of the various texts that they had at the monastery, including the Yogacarabhumi Shastra.  Xuanzang seems to have been quite pleased to study under him.  Xuanzang stayed at the house of Silabhadra's son, Buddhabhadra, and they welcomed him with entertainment that lasted seven days.  We are told that he was then given his own lodgings, a stipend of spices, incense, rice, oil, butter, and milk, along with a servant and a Brahman.  As a visiting monk, he was not responsible for the normal monastic duties, instead being expected to spend the time in study.  Going out, he was carried around by an elephant.   This was certainly the royal treatment. Xuanzang's life at Nalandra wasn't all books: south of the monastery was the city of Rajagrha, the old capital of the kingdom of Magadha, where the ancient Gupta kings had once lived, and on occasional breaks from his studies, Xuanzang would venture out to see the various holy sites.  This included the famous Mt. Grdhrakuta, or Vulture Peak, a location said to be favored by the historical Buddha and central to the Lotus Sutra, arguably the founding document of Mahayana Buddhist tradition. After all, “Mahayana” means “Greater Vehicle” and it is in the Lotus Sutra that we see the metaphor of using different vehicles to escape a burning house.   We've already talked a bit about how the image of Vulture Peak had already become important in Japanese Buddhism: In Episode 112 we talked about how in 648, Abe no Oho-omi had drums piled up at Shitennoji in the shape of Vulture Peak. But although the sightseeing definitely enhanced his experience, Xuanzang was first and foremost there to study.  He spent 15 months just listening to his teacher expound on the Yogacarabhumi Shastra, but he also heard expositions on various other teachings as well.  He ended up studying at Nalandra Monastery for 5 years, gaining a much better understanding of Sanskrit and the various texts, which would be critically important when it came to translating them, later. But, Xuanzang was not one to stay in any one place forever, and so after 5 years—some 8 years or more into his journey, he continued on, following the Ganges east, to modern Bangladesh.  Here he heard about various other lands, such as Dvarapati—possibly referring to Dvaravati, in modern Thailand, as well as Kamalanka and Isanapura.  The latter was in modern Cambodia, the capital of the ancient Chenla kingdom.  Then Mahacampa—possibly referring to the Champa region of Vietnam—and the country of Yamanadvipa.  But there was still more of India for Xuanzang to discover, and more teachings to uncover, and so Xuanzang decided instead to head southwest, following the coast.  He heard of the country of Sinhala, referring to the island of Sri Lanka, but he was urged not to go by ship, as the long journey was perilous.  Instead he could stay on relatively dry land and head down to the southern tip of the subcontinent and then make a quick hop from there across to the island.  He traveled a long distance, all the way down to Kancipuram, the seat of the Pallava dynasty, near modern day Chennai.  From the seaport near Kancipuram, it was only three days to Sinhala—that is to say Sri Lanka—but before he could set out, he met a group of monks who had just arrived.  They told him that the king of Sinhala had died , and there was a great famine and civil disturbances.  So they had fled with some 300 other monks. Xuanzang eventually decided not to make the journey, but he did talk with the monks and gathered information on the lands to the south, on Sri Lanka, and on the islands south of that, by which I suspect he may have meant the Maldives.  While Sri Lanka is an area important to Buddhist scholarship, particularly to the Theravada schools, this likely did not impress Xuanzang, and indeed he seemed to feel that his studies in Nalanda had more than provided him what he needed.  Sri Lanka, however, is the source of the Pali canon, one of the most complete early canons of Buddhism, which had a huge influence on Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. So Xuanzang took plenty of notes but decided to forego the ocean voyage and headed northwest, instead.  He traveled across the breadth of India to Gujarat, and then turned back east, returning to pay respects once more to his teacher in Nalanda.  While there he heard of another virtuous monk named Prajnabhadra at a nearby monastery.  And so he went to spend several months with him, as well.  He also studied with a layman, Sastrin Jayasena, at Stickwood Hill.  Jayasena was a ksatriya, or nobleman, by birth, and studied both Buddhist and non-Buddhist texts.  He was courted by kings, but had left to continue his studies.  Xuanzang studied with him for another couple of years. Xuanzang remained at Nalanda, learning and teaching, expounding on what he had learned and gathering many copies of the various documents that he wished to take back with him, though he wondered how he might do it.  In the meantime, he also acquired quite the reputation.  We are told that King Siladitya had asked Nalanda for monks who could refute Theravada teachings, and Xuanzang agreed to go.  It isn't clear, but it seems that “Siladitya” was a title, and likely referred to King Harsha of Kannauj, whom we mentioned earlier.  Since he was a foreigner, then there could be no trouble that was brought on Nalanda and the other monks if he did poorly.  While he was waiting to hear back from Siladitya's court, which was apparently taking time to arrange things, the king of Kamarupta reached out to Nalanda with a request that Xuanzang come visit them.  While Xuanzang was reluctant to be gone too long, he was eventually encouraged to go and assuage the king. Kamarupta was a kingdom around the modern Assam region, ruled by King Bhaskaravarman, also known as King Kumara, a royal title.  This kingdom included parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.  Bhaskaravarman, like so many other regents, seems to have been intrigued by the presence of this foreign monk, who had traveled all this way and who had studied at the famous Nalanda Monastery in Magadha. He invited Xuanzang to come to him.  Xuanzang's teacher, Silabhadra, had exhorted him to spread the right Dharma, and to even go to those non-Buddhists in hopes that they might be converted, or at least partially swayed. King Bhaskaravarman was quite taken with Xuanzang, wining and dining him while listening to him preach.  While there, Xuanzang learned about the country of Kamarupta.  He also learned about a path north, by which it was said it was a two month journey to arrive at the land of Shu, in the Sichuan Basin, on the upper reaches of the Yangzi – a kind of shortcut back to the Tang court.  However, the journey was treacherous—possibly even more treacherous than the journey to India had been. Eventually word reached the ears of King Siladitya that Xuanzang was at the court of King Bhaskaravarman, and Siladitya got quite upset.  Xuanzang had not yet come to *his* court, so Siladitya demanded that Bhaskaravarman send the monk to him immediately.  Bhaskaravarman refused, saying he'd rather give Siladitya his own head, which Siladitya said he would gladly accept.  Bhaskaravarman realized he may have miscalculated, and so he sailed up the Ganges with a host of men and Xuanzang to meet with Siladitya.  After a bit of posturing, Siladitya met with Xuanzang, who went with him, and eventually confronted the members of the Theravada sect in debate.  Apparently it almost got ugly, but for the King's intervention.  After a particularly devastating critique of the Theravada position, the Theravada monks are blamed for trying to use violence against Xuanzang and his fellow Mahayana monks from Nalanda, who were prepared to defend themselves.  The King had to step in and break it up before it went too far. Ultimately, Xuanzang was a celebrity at this point and both kings seem to have supported him, especially as he was realizing it was about time to head back to his own country.  Both kings was offered ships, should Xuanzang wish to sail south and then up the coast.  However, Xuanzang elected to take the northern route, hoping to go back through Gaochang, and see that city and its ruler again.  And so the Kings gave him money and valuables , along with wagons for all of the texts.  They also sent an army to protect all of the treasures, and even an elephant and more – sending him back in style with a huge send-off. So Xuanzang retraced his earlier steps, this time on an elephant.  He traveled back to Taxila, to Kashmir, and beyond.  He was invited to stay in Kashmira, but because of his retinue, he wasn't quite at leisure to just go where he wanted.  At one point, near Kapisa—modern Bagram, north of Kabul—they had to cross a river, and about 50 of the almost 700 documents were lost.  The King of Kapisa heard of this and had his own monks make copies to replace them based on their own schools.  The King of Kasmira, hearing that he was in Kapisa, also came to pay his respects. Xuanzang traveled with the King of Kapisa northwest for over a month and reached Lampaka, where he did take some time to visit the various holy sites before continuing northwest.  They had to cross the Snow Mountains—the outskirts of the Himalayas, and even though it wasn't the highest part of the range it was still challenging.  He had to dismount his elephant and travel on foot.  Finally, after going over the high mountains and coming down, he arrived back in the region of Tukhara, in the country of Khowst.  He then came to Kunduz, and paid his respects to the grandson of Yehu Khan.  He was given more guards to escort him eastward, traveling with some merchants.  This was back in Gokturk controlled lands, over a decade later than when he had last visited.  He continued east to Badakshan, stopping there for a month because of the cold weather and snow.  He eventually traveled through the regions of Tukhara and over the Pamir range.  He came down on the side of the Tarim Basin, and noted how the rivers on one side flowed west, while on the other side they flowed east.  The goings were treacherous, and at one point they were beset by bandits.  Though he and the documents were safe, his elephant panicked and fled into the river and drowned.  He eventually ended up in the country of Kashgar, in modern Xinjiang province, at the western edge of the Taklamakan desert. From there he had two options.  He could go north and hug the southern edge of the Tianshan mountains, or he could stay to the south, along the northern edge of the Himalayan range and the Tibetan plateau.  He chose to go south.  He traveled through Khotan, a land of wool and carpets.  This was a major trade kingdom, and they also grew mulberry trees for silkworms, and were known for their jade.  The king himself heard of Xuanzang and welcomed him, as many others had done.  While he was staying at the Khotanese capital, Xuanzang penned a letter to the Tang court, letting them know of his journey, and that he was returning.  He sent it with some merchants and a man of Gaochang to deliver it to the court. Remember, Xuanzang had left the Tang empire illegally.  Unless he wanted to sneak back in his best hope was that the court was willing to forgive and forget all of that, given everything that he was bringing back with him.  The wait was no doubt agonizing, but he did get a letter back.  It assured him that he was welcome back, and that all of the kingdoms from Khotan back to the governor of Dunhuang had been made aware and were ready to receive him. With such assurances, Xuanzang packed up and headed out.  The king of Khotan granted him more gifts to help see him on his way.  Nonetheless, there was still a perilous journey ahead.  Even knowing the way, the road went through miles and miles of desert, such that in some places you could only tell the trail by the bleached bones of horses and travelers who had not been so fortunate.  Eventually, however, Xuanzang made it to the Jumo River and then on to Dunhuang, from whence he was eventually escorted back to the capital city. It was now the year 645, the year of the Isshi Incident in Yamato and the death of Soga.  Xuanzang had been gone for approximately 16 years.  In that time, the Tang had defeated the Gokturks and taken Gaochang, expanding their control over the trade routes in the desert.  Xuanzang, for his part, was bringing back 657 scriptures, bound in 520 bundles carried by a train of some 20 horses.  He was given a hero's welcome, and eventually he would be set up in a monastery where he could begin the next part of his journey:  Translating all of these books. This was the work of a lifetime, but it is one that would have a profound impact on Buddhism across East Asia.  Xuanzang's translations would revolutionize the understanding of Mahayana Buddhist teachings, and students would come from as far away as the Yamato court to study under him and learn from the teacher who studied and taught at none other than Nalanda monastery itself.  His school would become popular in the Yamato capital, and the main school of several temples, at least for a time.  In addition, his accounts and his biography would introduce many people to the wider world of central and south Asia.  While I could go on, this has already been a story in three parts, and this is, after all, the Chronicles of Japan, so we should probably tune back into what is going on with Yamato.  Next episode, we'll look at one of the most detailed accounts we have of a mission to Chang'an. Until then, I hope that this has been enjoyable.  Xuanzang's story is one of those that isn't just about him, but about the interconnected nature of the entire world at the time.  While his journey is quite epic, there were many people traveling the roads, though most of them didn't write about it afterwards.  People, artifacts, and ideas traveled much greater distances than we often consider at this time, well before any kind of modern travel.  It was dangerous, but often lucrative, and it meant that various regions could have influence well beyond what one might expect. And so, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan

Yesterday was our Winter Solstice, and today, our friend Ruha Cathy Delwiche will be leading us on a Holy Fire Karuna Reiki journey called "Whole Body Listening." This is the time of darkness – we will experience the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of darkness. This is a time of release and transformation – we use the available energies to release old habits, negative thought forms, and limiting beliefs. And just as the darkness must give way and change into the Light, we too can be ‘reborn' into the new Light and experience the rebirth of our Soul as the Great Wheel turns. We replace outdated ideas with new patterns of feelings, new ways of being – seeds carefully planted to manifest themselves at the proper time. Ruha Cathy's Reiki journeys are always super healing and transformative. Enjoy your journey! You're invited to join us LIVE for The Meditation & Healing Circle - every Sunday at 10am US ET / 7am US PT. When you join live, you can stay on after the recorded meditation for Q&A, support and discussion. https://CommunityforConsciousLiving.com

Plus why modern bikes require more frequent headset inspections, Ridley's new gravel bike, and a tonne more.It's a big episode this week as the geeks, Dave and Brad, cover a whole lot of ground including the latest new products, a rant on silly-priced items, a little on chain wear, why headset inspections matter more than ever, and there's an in-depth chat with a true geek of the wheel building world.That opening chat related to chains comes off a recent Threaded article about chain wear.Meanwhile, Dave jumps on a call with wheel build extraordinaire Tristan Thomas of WheelWorks to answer a multi-part Ask a Wrench question. It quickly gets detailed and geeky, but we figured that's exactly what you're here for.As a reminder, the Geek Warning podcast is only made possible through members of Escape Collective. We intentionally don't have any advertising, affiliate links, or sponsored content, so if you love this podcast, please support it (and then enjoy all the member-exclusive content you've been missing out on).Time stamps:5:30 - Chain wear, for those that missed it13:00 - Ridley's new Astr gravel race bike and thoughts on BB8624:00 - The Pro's Closet is shutting shop31:40 - On Dave's mind are silly-priced “limited” pulley wheels44:00 - a PSA on the increased importance of headset inspection58:10 - Ask a Wrench, all about wheel building with Tristan of WheelWorks1:25:00 - Bosch's new Performance Line CX e-bike system1:26:50 - PNW releases silver anodised dropper posts

Marsha is home from her Alaskan Advent-Ewe and we have lots to catch up on. Join our discussion of project updates and spinning for our Summer Spin In.  Full notes with photos and links can be found in the podcast section of our shop website: TwoEwesFiberAdventures.com Join the community on Ravelry or become a patron and support the show on our Patreon Page. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Subscribe on Android Marsha's Projects Socks: The Artful Ewe Clackamas. Finished first sock and about halfway through leg of second sock. Emotional Support Chicken: by Annette Corsino. Sweet girl on hold while I was in Alaska. Poppy Tee: by Jo Cottle. Cast on using Rowan Purelife Revive in the colorway Loam. Picked up in the NoCKRs 2024 destash room. Cast on and worked on this almost exclusively on my Alaska trip. I have completed the yoke and about 5” of the body. Pinot Noir Purchase Targhee: Started spinning the giant (2.2 pound) ball of Targhee roving I bought from an attendee at last fall's Fort Worden Knitting Retreat. You know I cannot resist those large balls! The woman I bought it from said she got it from a weaver's estate. It seems pretty dusty and I was sneezing like crazy last night. I'll have to wear a mask while spinning. Kelly's Projects Finished: Pride dish towels in German Birdseye weave structure. I used three variegated skeins of fluffy cotton singles plied with a thin thread of something else (polyester or nylon?). For the stripes around these three I used cotton or cottolin yarn in red, orange, green, and blue. I used all those solids as warp and also used a royal blue cotton, a brick red cottolin and some bobbin leftovers from the last project.  I ended up with 5 dishtowels and a square. I love these towels and can't wait to do another stash busting warp like this.  Two skeins of Jazzman (CVM x Merino x Columbia) are finished. I'm in the process of topping off the bobbins before doing more plying. It's turned out to be a lighter yarn than I expected–fingering weight. It didn't plump up as much as I thought it would after washing.  Use all the Spinning Tools Challenge: I've finished and wound off a second ball of the green singles from the tahkli. I've been taking it with me in the car and to dog class where we have a break between classes.  I also spun up small samples (about 6-8 grams) on the other two spindles.  Still to go: Charkha, Salish Spinner, Great Wheel, and Norwegian Found buttons for Marsha's baby sweater. Have three baby items to make–two for baby boys and one for a baby girl.  Anna sent me information about a colorwork sweater that I should make for myself. It used to be called Choose Your Own Adventure, now called Your Outdoor Adventure. Summer Spin In Started Memorial Day - Ends on Labor Day May 27 - September 2 Two Ewes in Walla Walla, Washington September 26-30 Alaska Advent-Ewe Met our ship Noordam in Vancouver, BC Ketchikan: Took a city tour and visited Potlatch Park. Juneau: It was pouring rain but we did a city tour and drove to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and hiked to the waterfall and to the glacier viewpoint.  Changing Tides (their yarn is One of a Kind) One of a Kind - sock - 80/20 merino/nylon One of a Kind - lace - alpaca/merino/silk/yak One of a Kind - mini skeins - 80/20 SW merino/nylon -  “Midnight Sun Memories” Skagway: Had a short city tour, visited the cemetery and drove over White Pass into Canada.  Aurora Yarns Raven Frog Fibers - Marvelous Merino worsted - 100 SW merino - “Totem Spirit” (3X) Nunavut Qiviut - lace - 30/60 arctic fox/superfine merino - natural color white Aurora Yarns - lace - 100 qiviut Quilt Alaska: Bought fabric squares with Alaskan flowers prints to make napkins. Anchorage: Visited the Musk Ox Farm and the Spirit Houses, an Athabascan/Russian Orthodox cemetery. Food: Tequila 61, Whisky & Ramen Musk Ox Farm - lace - 50/50 qiviut/silk The Fireweed Studio - project bag with musk ox print Wooly Mammoth (the shop is located inside Cabin Fever gifts) Alaska Yarn Co - sock - 75/25 SW merino/nylon - “Crayolas” Alaska Yarn Co - sock - 65/15 merino/Donegal nep - “Spruce” Denali: Park organized wildlife tour. Saw a grizzly bear. Polychrome Yarns: Bad Sheep Yarn - fingering - 75/25 SW merino/nylon - “Sockeye Salmon” AK Venture Co - sock - 85/15 SW merino/nylon - “Mizzle” (2X) and “Midnight Sun” (2X)   Fairbanks: Panned for gold at Dredge 8 and rode the Riverboat Discovery. Very nice shop but yarns I can buy at home so did not purchase anything. Food: The Library, Jazz Bistro on 4th (Cuban), The Crepery

Fallen Idols: Nick & Aaron Carter, Righteous Rick checks in, Robert De Niro fights at Donald Trump's trial, Nepo baby performer North West, drunk girl cop cam, Pope Francis: Shock Pope, and Maz has Kirk Gibson interrupt the show for birthday wishes. The Donald Trump Trial has reached the closing argument stage. Robert De Niro took center stage for the Biden/Harris campaign to argue with Trump supporters in New York. Remembering Deo Dubbs. ‘Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter' dropped on Max/ID and is the perfect reason to reconnect with Righteous Rick. JLo's life is in a complete spiral right now. Pete Davidson walked off stage after being heckled about Ariana Grande. Kirk Gibson and Tom Mazawey interrupt the show from Comerica Park. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis came out of hiding to attend Caitlin Clark's WNBA game. North West starred in a Lion King show in Hollywood and bombed. Mason Disick is now trying to be famous. SiriusXM still wants your business. Sean Kingston is facing multiple charges, but not as many as his mom. Draymond Green is not a fan of taxes or the NBA's effort to keep athletes wealthy. Former NFL RB and current Only Fans star Le'Veon Bell is also a boxer. Antonio Brown is in his corner. Cop Cam: Another drunk power rack gets arrested and gets stuck in her own shirt. Molly Ringwald was taken advantage of in Hollywood. Correction, Molly Ringwald's characters were taken advantage of in Hollywood. Richard Dreyfuss though a Jaws Q&A was a good time to “disparage women in film, the #MeToo movement and LGBTQ rights”. Diddy's glasses aren't doing well these days. Great Wheel of Fortune guess and reaction. “In the butt, Bob” turns out to be an urban legend, but the real story is better. Former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland cries racism for how she was treated at Cannes. Actress Mamie Laverock “fell off” a 5-story balcony while being transported in a hospital. She has a GoFundMe. Some people are saying that something is going on and somebody's not telling me something. The actor that played Brando Corbin in General Hospital was shot and killed in LA while his car was being robber. His ex-fiancé is very upset. Pope Francis is turning into the Shock Pope. Melinda French Gates pops off in The New York Times about leaving Bill's charity to start her own. Visit Our Presenting Sponsor Hall Financial – Michigan's highest rated mortgage company If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Page, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (The Drew Lane Show, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon).

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Inner Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Inner Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Our hosts, Fiona and Hamilton, continue their journey of the Inner Planes by visiting the Elemental Plane of Earth: A plane of hard, unyielding rock where every manner of stone can be found, from delectable gypsum to trustworthy granite to lustrous marble to soothing graphite.Book discussed: 'The Inner Planes (2e)' published by Wizards of the Coast (1998).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music: 'Road Trip' by Doug Maxwell and Jimmy FontanezAdditional music:'Icelandic Arpeggios' by DivKid 'Dreamer' by DivKid'Dusk' by DivKid'Rising Sun' by DivKid Background video by Miguel Á. Padriñán via Pexels.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Inner Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Inner Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Our hosts, Fiona and Hamilton, begin their journey of the Inner Planes by visiting the Elemental Plane of Air: An infinite vista of brilliant blue sky clearer and sweeter than any expanse of earthly air. Book discussed: 'The Inner Planes (2e)' published by Wizards of the Coast (1998).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music: 'Road Trip' by Doug Maxwell and Jimmy FontanezAdditional music:'Icelandic Arpeggios' by DivKid 'Dreamer' by DivKid'Dusk' by DivKid'Rising Sun' by DivKid Background video by Pressmaster via Pexels.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Inner Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Inner Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Our hosts, Fiona and Hamilton, start their tour with a quick introduction as to what to expect when visiting the elemental, paraelemental and quasielemental planes of exisitence!Book discussed: 'The Inner Planes (2e)' published by Wizards of the Coast (1998).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music: 'Road Trip' by Doug Maxwell and Jimmy FontanezAdditional music:'Icelandic Arpeggios' by DivKid 'Dreamer' by DivKid'Dusk' by DivKid'Rising Sun' by DivKid Background video by visualhub used under Pixabay's Content License.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Inner Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Inner Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Join us, Fiona and Hamilton on this adventure of discovery!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music: 'Road Trip' by Doug Maxwell and Jimmy FontanezBackground video by tommyvideo used under Pixabay's Content License.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Inner Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Inner Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Join us, Fiona and Hamilton on this adventure of discovery!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music: 'Road Trip' by Doug Maxwell and Jimmy FontanezBackground video by tommyvideo used under Pixabay's Content License.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

In a captivating conversation with Tom Kaiser, Managing Partner at The Revenue Engine, I, John Golden, gleaned invaluable insights into the transformative "Great Wheel" concept and its profound impact on sales and business growth. Tom, whose career highlights include pivotal roles at AIG, Zurich, and Arkwright, shared his extensive experience in driving companies to achieve remarkable success.

When it comes to selling in the B2B marketplace, not only can selling become quite complex, it also requires involvement and buy-in from multiple stakeholders in the selling organisation. Whilst the sales team may take the lead on strategy development and sales execution, there is a role to play for multiple people within the organisation, so that the organisation can create a profitable revenue engine, that is also sustainable. In today's episode, I enjoyed a terrific conversation with Tom Kaiser, President at SeaVista Management LLC and Co-Author of the book "The Great Wheel of Sales Success". Tom covers the 12 key catalytic conversations that sales organisations must have in order to create a profitable revenue engine. To connect with Tom and to learn more about the revenue engine, please go to https://www.masterfulcoaching.com/

You've probably seen video of the runaway barge in Elliot Bay last week slamming into Pier 66.The six-story wall of steel containers broke free in high winds and was headed towards the Great Wheel.Things could've been much worse if it wasn't for the quick thinking of Captain Dan Krehbiel, steering a water taxi from West Seattle.We met up with him on the boat over the weekend.Ballot Drop Box Locations: https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/elections/how-to-vote/ballots/returning-my-ballot/ballot-drop-boxesWe can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattlenowAnd we want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram at SeattleNowPod, or leave us feedback online: https://www.kuow.org/feedback

On this episode Mark gets Dan's thoughts on the wheel trading strategy: when he uses it, how he sets it up and when not to use it.  They also discuss ETPs, OTLY and much more.

On this episode Mark gets Dan's thoughts on the wheel trading strategy: when he uses it, how he sets it up and when not to use it.  They also discuss ETPs, OTLY and much more.

Here's what is happening in the markets today, Friday, August 11th Stocks struggle to stay positive for the week PPI higher than expected Semis sell off Solar tumbles UBS gets a win PLUS: We'll review our short puts that are in the money and show you how to find good Wheel Strategy trades using our Wheel Scanner. As you can see, there's a lot to talk about so let's get started. This wraps up today's stock market news. If you enjoyed the "Stock Market Today" episode, make sure to subscribe to this podcast. And for more stock market news, visit our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/rockwelltrading2008 #todaysstockmarket #stockmarkettoday #stockmarket

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!We continue our bonus journey as we explore Sigil; The City of Doors; the centre of the multiverse; or just the confluence of energies that bore a home. Its origins unknown, this city upon the spire is the beating heart of the outer planes; portals lead to everywhere a berk may want (or not want) to go. The “ruler” aka The Lady of Pain silently controls the city with her god-like powers; yet the Factions is where the day-to-day politic exists; pseudo-intellectual ideologies they hold pit them against one-another as they try to prove their theory for life and the multiverse. Its a crazy place to live; but where isn't?Audio originally from 'Sigil - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 17' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this special episode, we go into the area at the center of all the Planes, The Outlands; Also known as the Plane of Concordant Opposition, is the true neutral centre of the multiversal planes. However, this only means that good, evil, chaos & order are constantly in flux as the plane seeks to exert balance in all. This leads to it being one of the most complicated and conflicted realms of Planescape. With its centre it is also the border to all the other planes through their gate towns, all of which bring an essence of their being to the outlands, a sort of taster course, if you will, for adventurers to explore before the main meal of any plane. With all this, The Outlands is deceptively simple & safe, and in fact a perfect introduction for any adventuring party to the true wonder and dangers of the multiverse.Audio originally from 'The Outlands - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 17' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we enter the final plane in the Planes of Conflict, The Gray Wastes. Desolate wastelands of blood-stained earth sprawl upon this land of the purest evil. The original home of the Yugoloths; the denizens who manipulate and control the endless Blood War upon this battlefield at its heart. Here evil exists neither for power, strength or wealth; but just for evil itself.Audio originally from 'The Gray Wastes - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 16' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we make our penultimate stop in the Planes of Conflict, as we enter Elysium. The calm and beauty of pure goodness. Mountains and plains roll along the pure waters of Oceanus that flow from the endless sea of Thalasia. Calm magical landscapes that instill hope and calm.Audio originally from 'Elysium - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 15' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we delve further into the Planes of Conflict, as we brave the dangers of Gehenna. Flames burst from basalt floors and magma pools at your feet, tumbling down the endless mountains. Never a moment of rest on these sheer rocky slopes, and less on their interior. Some lands lay dormant from the fires, but worse rest within. And the moon itself is not what it seems…Audio originally from 'Gehenna - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 14' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

This episode is being brought to you by Forecast Salon, located in Homewood, Alabama. Forecast is a hair salon on a mission to shape a movement in the beauty industry, focusing on education, fashion, and creativity. Forecast strives to train stylists with the latest in education to provide their guests with the latest trends. Follow them on Instagram at Forecast Salon, or find them online with their new online store at www.forecastsalon.com. VIVID COLOUR WITH NORMAN BOULTON As this podcast goes to air, we are coming into the last Full Moon of Spring.  It's in the sign of Sagittarius. We sense the need for adventure. The energy is all about the wanderer, teacher, and philosopher. It is also the muse and the truth-seeker. Depicted as the half-man, half-horse with a bow and arrow in hand, this sign is many things. It teaches us that we are many things too. It's a time to remain curious about the many facets of ourselves, we continually expand our consciousness. Knowing your Spirit in this lifetime.. takes you deep. It's what connects you to your Soul… the soul that journeys with you from lifetime to lifetime.  It's easy to get disconnected.  To get hurt by life's experiences, your expectations.. your thoughts your feelings.   It is a cycle. We cover up our emotions. We cover up what we really want to say.  We often find ourself living from a place of trying to fit in.. to do what is “expected” .. to want to please others for our own validation.   People pleasing is a drain of energy… a subject I've been teaching all season in The Energy Mastery Sanctuary.  It has been quite powerful to break down the different archetypes that drain us of our energy.   As Empaths, it is easy to get caught in other people's energy and to lose our own knowing.  As we are seeing in the Monetize Your Energy class, once you have the awareness, you can use that awareness to break the patterns and create stronger boundaries for yourself. If you are wondering how you even begin (there is so much information out there) schedule a Spiritual Makeover Call with me.  I have a few new openings in my private mentoring. Soon I'll be opening my Energy Mastery Membership again so let's see, on this call, what you can do to get started. Let's see if my programs are a match for you. As I am recording this episode, here in the States we are on a holiday. I'm just getting back from a weekend retreat with several of my students from the Energy Mastery Sanctuary. It was a Glamping Retreat that started at the Medicine Wheel which you have heard me talk about many times.  We started there to walk the Great Wheel of Life.  To work with the sacred elements… air.. fire earth and water. To recognize the new growth, the weeds to pull, and what to nurture as we enter into the new season ahead, as we are almost there. Each person was asked to go out into the woods and find a rock. This rock was to then be a way to release and cleanse as we walked the Medicine Wheel. You were to blow into the rock (something I learned from my teacher) whatever the energy was of what you wanted to release and place it along the path in a spot of your choice. Medicine Wheels are cleansing and releasing.  I built this Medicine Wheel, rock by rock, during the time I was with my parents through their last years. It gave me peace and helped me to release my deep emotions.   The energy is beautiful and strong and you can feel it as you walk the wheel. Our biggest takeaway.... Course Correction .. move a rock, shift some energy! This is so important in life. It offers you the ability to notice what changes need to come forward in your life without judgment. We also took some time for what I call... Sacred Art.  I had gathered cuttings of plants… cedar .. the trees were in bloom with little blue berries.. lavender clipping, rosemary from my garden, sage and palo santo, rose petals and even Christmas tree clippings that I had collected around the neighborhood. With this we made beautiful sacred bundles wound in red thread. Each one so different in how they came together.     We traveled on to the Land of Bohamia.  SO MUCH FUN and what a great place! Mother Earth has a way of reflecting the many changes around and especially within us. When you sit still long energy you can discover that there is a power within to create transformation which can also lead to deeper social changes. As you come back to you and shine your light, you allow others to do the same. It's not selfish to take some time for yourself.  To slow down. To ask important questions.  To uncover what you are moving through.. crisis or no crisis…. These questions become important. Mother Earth is our body.  Our body is an amazing reflection of what's going on within and around us on our path. One of the things I wrote in my journal over the weekend was that I was standing in new feet, walking through old pains. Yes, I've had to buy just about all new shoes.  My stance is changing as I am emerging back out into the world after covid. The way in which I hold myself is shifting as I have re-connected with my Soul through my present-day experiences.  I'm not saying one weekend cured me although it sure made me feel amazing being out in nature but it was defining a direct reflection of my deep inner work this past year. I think I might be an official glamper now although I love my tent, I love the glamping style! And.. it was safe for us.. yes we were all women .. and one dog.. Riley! Safe enough I know I will be back by myself to enjoy again before the next retreat! We had more time for sacred art.. making medicine bags and painting rocks.  And we sat around the fire, drinking cacao and telling stories with the Tarot cards as our prompts.  So much fun and opened the conversations to deeper stories to share. The views of the mountains.. and the waterfall! OMG.. we hiked down to the water to refresh and sit. I soaked my foot in the cold water too. Mini Wiconi.. water is sacred.  And their drinking water… pure.. full right from Mother Earth. Incredible… Such a fun weekend.. when you can get back to Mother Earth.. strip down all the layers, to the truth of who you are, you can be happy with watt's on the inside and notice the course correction for yourself that will set you free of all the conditions that have been put on you. Being outside and having your feet on the earth makes you remember where you come from. It taps you into your Spirit. The World is moving so fast. There is so much stimulus coming at you that it is hard to want to slow down.. we good go go.. But Mother Earth is our constant. Her resonance becomes our resonance. We can breathe with her and feel the alignment. Our mind becomes clear and the nervous system calms. We feel love, peace, joy, happiness, and courage to make changes and keep going. These were our words of affirmation.  We painted them on rocks. We held the vibrations in our hearts and released them out into our Auric fields. Yes.. there will be more glamping and teachings from the Medicine Wheel.  For now.. take a moment to breathe, set an intention, and call in the sacred elements of life with the guided meditation. Remember you are Fire. Remember that you are Air. Remember you are Water. And remember you are of the Earth. Thanks again for listening. To your Spirit, Terri PS.. Want help getting started with your Spiritual Practice?  Schedule a Spiritual Makeover Call with me. PSS... The Energy Mastery Sanctuary is opening its doors again just in time for all the Summer activities. Click here to go ahead and download the Energy Mastery App.  

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we keep going through the Planes of Conflict, as we take a journey through Bytopia. Hard work leads to peace. Craft & art, skill & will combine to make and create the greatest treasures of the planes. It is engineering and design over magic and quick tricks. So be ready to roll up those sleeves and get working if you want to travel this plane…Audio originally from 'Bytopia - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 13' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

Cast:Benjamin ChandlerContent warnings: Themes of death and horror.#planescape #planescapetorment #dnd #audiodrama #podcast #opendndThe Nameless One learns about the Great Wheel cosmology and the various planes of existence.Listen along to the story of the Nameless One and his companions in this audio drama/podcast style re-telling of this classic game.To support this show, please consider joining our Patreon at: patreon.com/revocergmOr donating on our Ko-Fi page at: ko-fi.com/revocergmOn these pages you will also find my Discord invite link, available to everyone.You can also find us on Instagram and Twitter, both at @revocergmThank you,RevocerGM (Squidge) Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we'll continue in the Planes of Conflict, as we step into Carceri. Spirals upon spirals of maze-like spaces, to incarcerate the wash of the planes. The evil and wretched that are not even wanted in the evil halls of the other planes. Cast out to never return. Unless…Audio originally from 'Carceri - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 12' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we move on to the Planes of Conflict, as we take a tour of The Beastlands. Humid jungles, Mountain peaks, arid desert, marshed plains, mist-filled forest, all alive with the sounds of life. Birds flutter through the leaves, as a snake slides through the brush, as a lion roars in the distance. The hunt is on, so beware…Audio originally from 'The Beastlands - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 11' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Conflict (2e)' the third of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we continue moving through the Planes of Law as we enter Baator. The inverse mountain that burrows into the depths of evil. And evil with malice, intent, and desire. Evil so determined towards its own end. One-half of the blood war, and one-half of the evil that wishes to dominate the multiverse. One thing worth noting, do not enter, it's not worth it!Audio originally from 'Nine Hells of Baator - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 10' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Law (2e)' the second of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we explore another plane in the Planes of Law, Mount Celestia. Rest & Relaxation upon the crystal shores of the godly idyll. The home of all that is good, pure, divine, and celestial. Sun bathes upon Agean Seas, as the 7 Mountains of the 1 Mountain, rise to infinite heights of pure light. Choose your path, and make the pilgrimage to find inner enlightenment.Audio originally from 'Mount Celestia - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 9' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Law (2e)' the second of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we continue moving through the Planes of Law, as we explore Mechanus. Modrons march as the plane turns on infinite cogs. Incessantly spinning for all eternity. Is this the mechanics of the universe? Is this the realm that orders and maintains the functions of the planes? Or is this just the pure manifestation of that ideal, that we know to be false on some planes? We will probably never know, but it's definitely worth trying to find out…Audio originally from 'Mechanus - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 8' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Law (2e)' the second of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we continue traveling through the Planes of Law, as we visit Arcadia. Ordered fields of wheat, forests of aligned trees of perfect proportions, meadows on seamlessly rolling hills. This is the home of curated beauty & managed landscapes, an idyll of symmetry and perfection. Yet hidden amongst this unnatural organisation is something more sinister than some of the evil planes…Audio originally from 'Arcadia - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 7' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Law (2e)' the second of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we hop on over to the Planes of Law, as we take a trip to Acheron. Floating metallic cubes float upon a star-lit void, as battle rages endlessly upon their surface. War and the lust for battle is all that is known here. Armies form, fight and destroy in a cycle of violence. However, there are secrets within here that herald other fates…Audio originally from 'Acheron - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 6' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Law (2e)' the second of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we go to another location in the Planes of Chaos, as we explore Ysgard; The home of the Norse pantheon. Might & Heroism rule, with the glory of battle and the promise of Valhalla ever on the minds of its inhabitants. Rough and rugged landscapes dominate the horizon, with grand Fjords, towering mountains, and golden plains.Audio originally from 'Ysgard - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 5' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Chaos (2e)' the first of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we go to another location in the Planes of Chaos, as we explore Pandemonium; endless caverns, that howl with an ever-present wind, that with its incessant drone, turns the wise mad, and the hearty weak. Darkness is at every turn, and what lurks within seeks all light only to diminish it, and that which bears it.Audio originally from 'Pandemonium - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 4' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Chaos (2e)' the first of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we go to another location in the Planes of Chaos, as we explore Limbo; the plane of ultimate chaos! A warping mass in a constant state of flux, transitioning from solid to liquid to gas in a heartbeat. Where its inhabitants' survival depends on their mental fortitude to control this substance, and mould it into place.Audio originally from 'Limbo - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 3' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Chaos (2e)' the first of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we continue our journey through the Planes of Chaos, as we explore Arborea; a chaotic wilderness of bacchanalian excesses, emotional turbulence & wondrous enchantment. A Sylvan paradise, that harks to the lands of the Fey & the Grecian pantheon!Audio originally from 'Arborea - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 2' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Chaos (2e)' the first of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons!In this episode, we start our journey in the Planes of Chaos, as we explore the Abyss; a plane of infinite nightmarish layers, festering with evil at every turn. Home to the Tanari'i, the demons of the multiverse, and the lords of the plane, who warp their lands to their will!Audio originally from 'The Abyss - The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes Episode 1' on the Dragon YouTube channel.Book discussed: 'Planes of Chaos (2e)' the first of a trilogy of supplements describing the outer planes of the Planescape Campaign Setting, published by Wizards of the Coast (1994).Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

The hosts of The DM's Book Club proudly bring you a new limited series, The DM's Travel Bookclub: A Guide to The Planes!In each episode, we'll explore the Planes of Existence as outlined in the Great Wheel cosmology in the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Join us on this journey!Check out the full series on Dragon! Audio versions coming soon!Use the offer code "DMBC" to get 10% off any purchase from 3rd Space Gaming!Consider using our affiliate link when using DM's Guild!#SupportyourFLGSCredits The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). The DM's Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.Get in touch!Email: TheDMsBookClub@gmail.comTwitter: @TheDMsBookClubLinktr.ee: DMBC#DMsBookClub

Samhain descends upon the Northern Hemisphere, and The Etheric Veil becomes its most thin. Some say the world of all magical things lies beyond. What exactly is an ethereal curtain and what might we find there?http://www.troubledminds.org Support The Show! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/troubledminds https://rokfin.com/creator/troubledminds https://troubledfans.com https://patreon.com/troubledminds#aliens #conspiracy #paranormalRadio Schedule Mon-Tues-Wed-Thurs 7-9pst - https://fringe.fm/iTunes - https://apple.co/2zZ4hx6Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2UgyzqMStitcher - https://bit.ly/2UfAiMXTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2FZOErSTwitter - https://bit.ly/2CYB71UFollow Algo Rhythm -- https://bit.ly/3uq7yRYFollow Apoc -- https://bit.ly/3DRCUEjFollow Ash -- https://bit.ly/3CUTe4ZFollow Daryl -- https://bit.ly/3GHyIaNFollow James -- https://bit.ly/3kSiTEYFollow Jennifer -- https://bit.ly/3BVLyCMFollow Joseph -- https://bit.ly/3pNjbzb Matt's Book -- https://bit.ly/3x68r2d -- code for free book WY78YFollow Nightstocker -- https://bit.ly/3mFGGtxRobert's Book -- https://amzn.to/3GEsFUKFollow TamBam -- https://bit.ly/3LIQkFw--------------------------------------------------Thinning Of The Veil Meaning: Places In The World Where The Veil Is Thin | California Psychicshttps://www.californiapsychics.com/blog/mind-body-spirit/thinning-of-the-veil.htmlhttps://backpackerverse.com/the-veil-is-thin/https://catholicstand.com/living-thin-veil-earth-heaven/Guardian of the Threshold - Wikipediahttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_of_the_ThresholdRudolf Steiner - Life: The greater Guardian of the Threshold - HERMETICShttps://www.hermetics.net/media-library/mysticism/rudolf-steiner-life-and-death-the-greater-guardian-of-the-threshold/https://www.reddit.com/r/AstralProjection/comments/ych66u/was_told_i_was_in_danger_in_astral_realm/https://astralplane.com/astral-projection-entities/https://astralplane.com/astral-plane/Astral Projection Exposed: Sleep Paralysis & The Demonic Realm | Reasons for Jesushttps://reasonsforjesus.com/astral-projection-exposed-sleep-paralysis-the-demonic-realm/https://sciencemystic.com/how-to-astral-travel/Ethereal plane | Forgotten Realms Wiki | Fandomhttps://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ethereal_planehttps://donegalsquare.com/samhain-and-the-thin-veil/https://druidnetwork.org/what-is-druidry/learning-resources/the-season-of-samhain/https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2020/10/samhain-celebrating-the-season.htmlEthereal curtain | Forgotten Realms Wiki | Fandomhttps://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Ethereal_curtainhttps://www.academia.edu/8362987/Magicians_on_the_Paranormal_An_Essay_with_a_Review_of_Three_Books_1992_https://alchemical-weddings.com/alchemical-weddings/guardian-of-the-thresholdhttps://dungeonsdragons.fandom.com/wiki/Great_Wheel

In this episode, I speak with the poet, critic, and biographer Paul Mariani, professor emeritus at Boston College. We discuss his new book, All that Will be New and his biography of Robert Lowell, The Lost Puritan. We discuss Lowell's life, poetry, and his struggle with the permanent things: religion, marriage, art, family. Given the influence of Hopkins on his early poems, I think this episode pairs well with episode 38 with Nick Ripatrazone. As always, I hope you enjoy our conversation. Paul Mariani is the University Professor of English emeritus at Boston College. He is the author of twenty books, including biographies of William Carlos Williams, John Berryman, Robert Lowell, Hart Crane, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Wallace Stevens. He has published nine volumes of poetry: All That Will New, Ordinary Time, Epitaphs for the Journey, Deaths & Transfigurations, The Great Wheel, Salvage Operations: New & Selected Poems, Prime Mover, Crossing Cocytus, and Timing Devices. He is also the author of the spiritual memoir, Thirty Days: On Retreat with the Exercises of St. Ignatius and The Mystery of It All: The Vocation of Poetry in the Twilight of Modernity. His awards include fellowships from the Guggenheim and the NEA and NEH. In September 2019, he was awarded the inaugural Flannery O'Connor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Imagination Conference at Loyola University, Chicago. Jennifer Frey is an associate professor of philosophy and Peter and Bonnie McCausland Faculty Fellow at the University of South Carolina. She is also a fellow of the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America and the Word on Fire Institute. Prior to joining the philosophy faculty at USC, she was a Collegiate Assistant Professor of Humanities at the University of Chicago, where she was a member of the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts and an affiliated faculty in the philosophy department. She earned her Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh, and her B.A. in Philosophy and Medieval Studies (with a Classics minor) at Indiana University, in Bloomington, Indiana. She has published widely on action, virtue, practical reason, and meta-ethics, and has recently co-edited an interdisciplinary volume, Self-Transcendence and Virtue: Perspectives from Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology. Her writing has also been featured in Breaking Ground, First Things, Fare Forward, Image, Law and Liberty, The Point, and USA Today. She lives in Columbia, SC, with her husband, six children, and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @ jennfrey. Sacred and Profane Love is a podcast in which philosophers, theologians, and literary critics discuss some of their favorite works of literature, and how these works have shaped their own ideas about love, happiness, and meaning in human life. Host Jennifer A. Frey is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina. The podcast is generously supported by The Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America and produced by Catholics for Hire.

In this episode, I speak with the poet, critic, and biographer Paul Mariani, professor emeritus at Boston College. We discuss his new book, All that Will be New and his biography of Robert Lowell, The Lost Puritan. We discuss Lowell's life, poetry, and his struggle with the permanent things: religion, marriage, art, family. Given the influence of Hopkins on his early poems, I think this episode pairs well with episode 38 with Nick Ripatrazone. As always, I hope you enjoy our conversation. Paul Mariani is the University Professor of English emeritus at Boston College. He is the author of twenty books, including biographies of William Carlos Williams, John Berryman, Robert Lowell, Hart Crane, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Wallace Stevens. He has published nine volumes of poetry: All That Will New, Ordinary Time, Epitaphs for the Journey, Deaths & Transfigurations, The Great Wheel, Salvage Operations: New & Selected Poems, Prime Mover, Crossing Cocytus, and Timing Devices. He is also the author of the spiritual memoir, Thirty Days: On Retreat with the Exercises of St. Ignatius and The Mystery of It All: The Vocation of Poetry in the Twilight of Modernity. His awards include fellowships from the Guggenheim and the NEA and NEH. In September 2019, he was awarded the inaugural Flannery O'Connor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Imagination Conference at Loyola University, Chicago. Sacred and Profane Love is a podcast in which philosophers, theologians, and literary critics discuss some of their favorite works of literature, and how these works have shaped their own ideas about love, happiness, and meaning in human life. Host Jennifer A. Frey is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina. The podcast is generously supported by The Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America and produced by Catholics for Hire.

Episode 97 Streamed Live Tuesday July 19, 2022 Main Topic: Alignment in D&D Alignment is defined as a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of player characters, non-player characters, and creatures. Yes, we have covered this before going to try to go in more depth. When did it originate? It seems pretty clear alignment began in Chainmail as a way to have the “good guys” and the “bad guys”. The good guys were Lawful, and the bad were Chaotic. Later in Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, alignment became much more detailed and granular with the iconic 9 alignments. These have been debated on their meaning over the years, even though they were spelled out in the books. Some links as food for discussion: Changing Meaning of Alignment https://grognardia.blogspot.com/2008/12/od-planes.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons) Tolkien and DnD Alignment https://www.gamersdecide.com/articles/dnd-alignments-explained https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alignment_(Dungeons_%26_Dragons) https://adnd2e.fandom.com/wiki/PHB_Ch4_Alignment 5e Alignment Alignment Tracking https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/10032/whats-the-deal-with-alignment-languages https://viridianscroll.blogspot.com/2021/04/what-are-alignment-languages.html Inevitably the Palladium system rears its ugly head: https://imgur.com/gallery/DmKvb Alignment has been connected to cosmology in Dungeons and dragons sometimes tightly as in The Great Wheel, and sometimes loosely as in The World Axis Great Wheel World Axis The Planes Also in discussion: Alignment-based character classes (Paladin, Cleric, Barbarian, Thief, etc.) Changing alignment and its effects on your character Alignment languages The Geekosphere 1. Call-ins/emails 2. THE CONTEST OF CHAMPIONS: enter win here: http://biggusgeekuspodcast.com/contest-entry/ 3. Big Geek Emporium: biggeekemporium.com Shameless Plug Time: If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show, also: We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well. Cash Support PayPal Streamlabs Anchor On the Web: Website Email --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/biggusgeekus/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/biggusgeekus/support

This week we return to the Great Wheel as the Modrons continue their way around the Outlands! What more does this massive adventure have in store and how, of course, […]

We are trying anew setup which will hopefully be a lot clearer audio wise and less ear grating. This episode is an introductory episode to reference whenever you are confused about how the planes in DnD 5e actually work. you've heard us talk about a few planes before, so here's a breakdown of the basics. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obscurednd/message

It's the final episode of 2021, where we discuss goals for the new year, the history of calendars, and The Great Wheel of Wicca.Suggested Listening:  S1 E06: Witches & Witchcraft & Wicca... Oh, My!Selena Fox:InstagramFacebookCircle Sanctuary WebsiteJoin the Broomstave Witchery Community:Instagram: @broomstavewitcheryFacebook: Broomstave WitcherySupport the show

Wondering what it is like to visit Disneyland now that California is reopened? Want to hear about a fun place to stay near Disneyland that makes a great family vacation? Tune in this week while Kim shares her family's experience in Disneyland and Irvine, California. About Our Sponsor: Room Steals Today's episode is sponsored by Room Steals.  Listeners may remember Room Steals from our discussion on finding hotel deals in Episode 185, but Room Steals is a Chrome browser extension that works alongside existing booking sites to show you what the wholesale price is for that room. Just install the browser extension and search for a hotel as you usually would on Hotels.com, Booking.com, Expedia, or Google. Once you've done your initial search, Room Steals will show you in a pop-up if that same room is available for less. If it is, you can click on that pop-up and book it directly through Room Steals. Downloading and using Room Steals is free; however, if you want to book a discounted room you have to pay an annual membership fee. Listeners can save 20% off the annual membership fee with promo code vacationmavens.  If you travel multiple times in a year, the subscription will quickly pay for itself. One listener already saved $400 using Room Steals on her first booking!  To learn more, visit roomsteals.com. That's roomsteals.com and use promo code vacationmavens to save 20% off your membership to Room Steals, and we thank them for their support. Tips for Visiting Disneyland (Summer 2021) Disneyland reopened this spring and is now allowing out-of-state visitors, and has been steadily increasing capacity. The parks are crowded and they have not yet restarted Max Pass so you have no choice but to wait in long lines. The rides have also been breaking down frequently this summer, making it harder to ride all the rides that you want to get to. At the time, they were no longer offering annual passes, although there was a special for California residents. A new annual pass plan has recently been announced. When you purchase tickets, you need to make a reservation for a specific day to visit and which park you want to visit. Park reservations can be booked 120 days in advance of your visit. If you are visiting in less than 120 days, make sure you look at the availability calendar before booking your trip. If you purchase a Park Hopper ticket, you can hop to the other park after 1 pm. Two rides require boarding group reservations on top of your ticket reservation. You can try to claim a boarding group beginning at 7 am, and they are usually gone within seconds. Another opportunity will begin at noon, but only if you have already used your first boarding group or if you didn't have success in the morning. Those two rides are Rise of the Resistance in California Adventure Park and the new Avenger's Web Slingers. You need a Park Hopper ticket to be able to get two boarding groups/virtual queues within the same day. To get prepared for how to snag a spot in the virtual queue for Web Slingers, check out this post on Trips with Tykes. Mobile ordering for food is getting better but still a little spotty. It is best to plan on eating off hours and bringing snacks to tide you over. Kim stayed at the Hotel Lulu, which is nearby Disneyland and newly renovated. There are pharmacies on the corner, which are great for stocking up on snacks and drinks. There is also a Starbucks nearby. Hotel Lulu, which was recently taken over by Red Lion, is a good budget option. They are often allowing guests to go through security and the turnstiles before the opening time so for a 8 am opening, it pays to arrive around 7 or 7:10. It pays to stay in the Grand Californian hotel for easy access to the parks but the hotel pricing is $800+ right now so finding a nearby alternative helps the budget. If you stay at one of the Harbor hotels you can still take a break in the middle of the day. Just keep in mind that the hotels around Disneyland are suffering from major staff shortages this summer. Also keep in mind that car rental shortages and pricing continues to be an issue as well, especially with the smaller, non-airport locations. Auto Slash is a good option for finding deals on rental cars. Tips for a Family Vacation to Irvine, California Irvine is where the John Wayne / Orange County airport is located, which is the closest Disneyland Kim stayed at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum hotel, which was a nice way to decompress after a few days in Disneyland. The hotel has a nice pool and a rooftop bar on the 16th floor that is popular with locals and guests. There is also a Club floor that provides access to a lounge with snacks and drinks. Boomers is a cool family fun park with go karts, putt putt golf, laser tag, an arcade, and all kinds of games. Irvine has one of the lowest hotel occupancy taxes in California. Tanaka Farms in Irvine is family-owned and is a non-profit that donates food to people in the area. You can do a U-pick tour on a wagon tour and you can pick the produce that are in season. Irvine is also known for its outdoor hiking paths. Irvine Spectrum Center is a large outdoor mall with a ton of restaurants and the Great Wheel ferris wheel. There is a lawn with a stage and they have live music. Irvine is also home to the Orange County Soccer Club, which is fun to watch and is near the Great Park Balloon. Diamond Jamboree is a great spot to find authentic Asian cuisine. Full Episode Transcript [00:00:00.060] - Kim Tate It's summertime at Disneyland, listen to find out what it's like right now.   [00:00:15.900] - Announcer Welcome to Vacation Mavens. A family travel podcast with ideas for your next vacation and tips to get you out the door. Here are your hosts, Kim from Stuffed Suitcase and Tamara from We3Travel.   [00:00:30.690] - Kim Tate Today's episode is sponsored by Room Steals. Listeners may remember Room Steals from our discussion on finding hotel deals in Episode 185, but Room Steals is a Chrome browser extension that works alongside your existing booking sites. To show you what the wholesale price is for that room, just install the browser extension and search for a hotel, as you normally would on Hotels.com. Booking.com, Expedia or Google. Once you've done your initial search, Roo Steals will show you in a pop up if that same room is available for cheaper.   [00:00:57.210] - Kim Tate If it is, you can click on that pop up and book directly through Room Steals instead. Downloading and using Room Steals is free. However, if you want to book a discounted room, you will have to pay an annual membership fee. Listeners can save 20 percent of the annual membership fee with promo code vacationmavens. If you travel multiple times a year, the subscription will quickly pay for itself. One listener has already saved four hundred dollars using Room Steals on her first booking to learn more visit RoomSteals.com, that's roomsteals.com and use promo code vacationmavens to save 20 percent off your membership to Room Steals, and we thank them for their support.   [00:01:30.790] - Tamara Gruber So, Kim, last week we talked all about my trip to Greece and this week, we get to talk all about your return trip to California. You're really doing a lot of California these days, huh?   [00:01:41.620] - Kim Tate Yeah, it's so funny because we had family and friends say, you're going to Disneyland again. And it's tough because I know that in some ways we'd like to do other vacations. But the girls had missed getting to Disneyland. And I feel like they really liked it and that's what they wanted to do. And it's a pretty easy trip in a lot of ways. So we headed back to Disneyland for family vacation.   [00:02:05.650] - Tamara Gruber And it's a really nice, I'm sure, a change of scenery to go to from pine trees to palm trees, right?   [00:02:11.680] - Kim Tate Yes, exactly. It's so different. It's kind of funny how the atmosphere is so different there. And we experience that, especially because we did Disneyland for a few days and then we spent three days in Irvine, California, which is actually a city. It's kind of the neighboring city to Disneyland. A lot of people will know if you fly in and out of Disneyland. The closest airport is called in a also known as John Wayne or Orange County Airport.   [00:02:36.040] - Kim Tate And that airport is located in Irvine. So it's kind of a neighboring city. And we thought it would be a good time to kind of get that Disneyland trip for the girls, but then also be in a hotel and kind of have a more relaxed end to our vacation so that Paul could be happy and have, you know, time to sleep in and kick up his feet a little.   [00:02:54.360] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, that's good. I mean, plus like you've been to Disneyland, but it's probably been a couple of years or more since the girls have been. Right.   [00:03:02.110] - Kim Tate Right. Yeah. So in February 2020 we actually went to a conference in Disney World and then I was in Disneyland for a conference in March of 2020. Well it was end of February when I flew home March 1st before everything shut down. But yeah, the girls have not been to Disneyland in a little while and so that's what they were really excited about. And it was our home park that we kind of know the best. And I think for the girls, they feel really confident in how to manage it and touring it.   [00:03:30.440] - Kim Tate And so that was kind of a for them. It's a trip that they they feel, I think, empowered and excited about.   [00:03:37.970] - Tamara Gruber And it all worked out because they just reopened for out-of-state visitors in June.   [00:03:42.640] - Kim Tate That was one of the big reasons. When they got that news, they're like, that's what I want to do. I want to go back to Disneyland. And I figure, you know this, too. With the girls getting older and especially with Lizzy going into her senior year, it's getting tougher and tougher. Once they get into high school and even late middle school, it gets tough to pull them out of school. And so you kind of need to do those summer trips.   [00:04:04.070] - Kim Tate And that's where they wanted to go. I thought, well, you know, I guess that's what we'll do. And I was hearing these reports that everyone was saying, oh, it's the perfect time to be in Disneyland. You know, there's no crowds and it's really easy and it's really nice. And then they had the new Avengers campus that was going to open. So we thought it was going to be a great trip and we had a lot of fun.   [00:04:21.850] - Kim Tate But it's definitely not the it's not the low, low crowds that people were expecting, I think, for summer in Disneyland. You if you if you've been to summer to Disneyland in the summer and you know what those ride wait times were like, then, yes, it's going to be a real delight for you. But if you go normally in off-seasons or other times and you kind of are used to being able to really own the park and kind of fly through lines, especially with the fact that there's no Fastpass or Max pass, which we are very confident using, you are faced with just plain waiting in lines and that's something my girls were not very excited about.   [00:05:02.020] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, I was going to say. And just the fact that it's been so long since people have been around a lot of people and had to do these kind of things were waiting in line. It must have like probably gets to maybe even a little bit more.   [00:05:15.490] - Kim Tate Yeah, it is interesting, especially also because we some of the rides I felt like the rides were going down more often. Also it seemed like or they had limited capacity, not on, not for social distancing, but just you know, for example, Lizzy's favorite ride is the Guardians of the Galaxy, which used to be Tower of Terror. And on we were there for three days. And the first day she rode it twice, thinking she would write it the other days as well.   [00:05:40.390] - Kim Tate And they had two of their elevators break down. So they were only using one one elevator of. So basically they had to have six loading zones and, you know, park opening would happen and you would see it go from like a zero 15 minute wait all sudden in one hundred and twenty five minute wait, 90 minute wait throughout the day. And so that was real disappointing. They finally got it fixed, but she wasn't able to go on it again the whole trip.   [00:06:07.210] - Kim Tate So she was kind of bummed about that. So there are those little things where when you're used to doing that and then I don't know if it's just staffing or if the maintenance I mean, I don't know if Disneyland has been able to get all their workers back. But you can see that, you know, when something went awry that you love does go down, it can be tough. And then, you know, it's weird because Space Mountain is normally one of the top rides with long wait times.   [00:06:30.510] - Kim Tate And, you know, you're used to seeing it with those kind of wait times, normally 70 to 90 minutes is what I see a lot of times, and it was regularly 40 to 60 minutes throughout the day. So that was a real win. But like the railroad was 30 to 40 minutes. It's just unacceptable to me. So it was really weird how the the numbers kind of flowed. So I don't know what to think. And they had opened up a Disneyland California resident ticket offer shortly before our trip.   [00:06:59.340] - Kim Tate And I'm wondering how much of that special affected people, because, you know, they don't have annual passes anymore. And I think a lot of locals are craving their Disney fix, but buying tickets each time has gotten expensive. And I think this ticket coming out probably made a lot of locals who really understand the park flocked to the park. So I think it affected certain certain rides and things more maybe.   [00:07:24.810] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, I mean, that all makes sense. It seems like it's just in that transition kind of phase. Now, what you said that there's no max pass. So that obviously is a big change. What are some of the other things like do you need a reservation for that day in advance and that kind of thing?   [00:07:40.290] - Kim Tate Yeah. So you still need reservations so you can buy your tickets and then you have to reserve the day you want to visit and it's automatically linked to your ticket when you reserve the day through your, you know, like Disneyland, my Disney account. And so that's one nice thing, is that it's all linked. So as long as you have a reservation for that day, you have no issue booking, not Max, but the boarding groups for two other rides, which I'll explain in a minute.   [00:08:07.770] - Kim Tate And so there is that it's it's very fluid, like going through the turnstiles. It's all linked. You just show your ticket. It's it's good to go, but you do have to do a little bit of advance planning and definitely make sure before you plan a trip that there's the availability. So they are opening up the park reservations for you to book one hundred and twenty days out. So if you're, you know, planning a trip that's more than that, it's no problem.   [00:08:33.090] - Kim Tate Just decide what they want to do it and then you book it as those days open up on the calendar. And then if you are within the 120 days, you definitely want to make sure you check the availability calendar and make sure however, it's the calendar is pretty open. It seems like the capacity has definitely been increased. I know our week that we were there, they had it looked like the Disneyland park, because that's the other thing that I'll explain in a minute, because you book a specific park.   [00:08:58.290] - Kim Tate It looked like Disneyland had locked up and was closed and there weren't any more reservations. But then all of a sudden, I know they opened up more reservations. So it's kind of an interesting I don't know if people are releasing reservations and that's why it looks open or if they're strictly just adjusting capacity limits as they want, I'm not sure. So something to know about the reservation system is it is so Disneyland has the two parks, they have Disneyland Park and then they have Disney, California Adventure.   [00:09:24.990] - Kim Tate And the reservation works for one of the parks. And that's the park you start in. Now, if you buy a park hopper ticket, you can hop to the other park after 1:00 p.m., but you have to start in that starting park. And if you don't buy a park hopper ticket, then you're only in that park for the day, if that makes sense. So that's kind of an extra little level that you have to think about. And then it gets even further planning because there's two major rides have to have boarding group passes, which is a huge ordeal in itself.   [00:10:01.080] - Kim Tate And you try and get into a boarding group, which is basically the chance to ride. You still go stand in the line, although the line is very short, but you have to win one of those boarding groups and these things are gone in seconds, like not even minutes. These are gone in seconds. And your chances at seven a.m. and then at noon. And so whichever park you're starting in is the one you can get the seven a.m. for and then at noon you can get it for the other part.   [00:10:27.360] - Kim Tate So in Disneyland, it's rise of the resistance. That's that Star Wars in California adventure, the other is the new Avengers Web slingers ride. So that's another level that we had all four of us logging in trying to get these boarding passes. And it was it was stressful, but we were successful every time. So but that's part of it because I knew I, I knew this was a thing.   [00:10:54.420] - Kim Tate And I've been reading articles like our friend Leslie from Trips with Tikes has an article about it. And then I actually watched like a video on YouTube to show Paul and the girls, like, here's what you need to do. And it's sad, though, because I think people who are wanting to experience those, the fact that you have to know all of that and be, you know, like 6:58 we're there on our phones, like, OK, stop everything we're doing and get ready to get these tickets and then setting alarms for eleven fifty eight so we can get the noon one and it's it can be stressful.   [00:11:25.470] - Kim Tate So it's kind of an interesting and and if you don't have hoppers you only have the one. You do have it at 7:00 a.m. and noon, so so if you're booked at Disneyland and you miss out at the seven a.m. one, you can try again for the noon one. Either park, you can try again, but you can't go on the same ride twice. So if we were in Disney, California adventure, we couldn't go to Web slingers if we got a boarding group at seven a.m. and then try and get another boarding group for Web slingers at noon.   [00:11:52.100] - Kim Tate But we can. And then this is another level of it. Sorry, you guys. This is getting a lot of information, but you have to have already used your first boarding pass before you can get the noon one. So if you have a late boarding group that hasn't been able to ride yet and you haven't used your boarding pass yet, by noon, you won't get to try for the noon pass for the ride. Right.   [00:12:14.240] - Tamara Gruber But if you had like a one o'clock boarding, I'm sure by one o'clock they're all gone for the rest.   [00:12:18.740] - Kim Tate Oh, definitely. Yeah, in seconds. I mean, literally it's seven to one. There's nothing available like for people who sit there and they don't know the system and they think, oh, it's seven, I'm going to open my app and try and get a boarding group. Nope. They're already gone like you. There's some tricks. You have to have the like, we were rebooting our phone. Everything was closed. We had the app already open and then there's like refresh, refresh, refresh, and then you have to know exactly where to hit.   [00:12:42.230] - Kim Tate Like you hit here and then you hit start hitting here and you just get lucky you're not. And it's crazy.   [00:12:47.930] - Tamara Gruber I heard Leslie talking about that on her Disney deciphered podcast. It was yes. It was very intense. I know. And when Hannah and I were in Los Angeles, we had a free day and Glenn was like, oh, you should go to Disneyland so you can finally ride. You know, the the you know, Rise of the resistance. And I was like, no, it's like, first of all, like, I'm just not it would have been like the day after they opened to out-of-state people.   [00:13:10.370] - Tamara Gruber And I was like, I just can't deal with that stress. Like, I, I want to go when I know that I can ride that ride because that's why I would go, you know. Yeah.   [00:13:20.330] - Kim Tate We were talking about that as a family. We're just saying how, you know, hard and it's nice that we knew what to do and that we were able to do it. But then the other thing is it's kind of bad, like, OK, well, we got to ride the rides multiple times. What about like, we felt kind of bad. What if there's people out there like this little kid who really wanted to go on Spider-Man loves Spider-Man and we wish there was a way we could be like, here, just use our pass, you know, for this kid to be able to go, you know, because it's it feels bad because you.   [00:13:47.960] - Kim Tate Yeah, and I saw people on Twitter, you know, they're like, oh, I didn't get it, you know, and I just want to ride this ride. I'd wait three hours for it because and I think that's what they're trying to do, is prevent, you know, when Disney World opened Avatar, Pandora flight of passage. Right. And people were like parking out in the parking lot at three a.m. so that they could get out of their car and go wait at the gates and be the first people to the rope line and then be the first people in that line because the line would grow to like three hundred and twenty minutes.   [00:14:16.070] - Kim Tate It was just insane. Like, I don't even know how you spend your entire day there. It's just crazy.   [00:14:20.360] - Tamara Gruber So I could just say, like, I'm sure there's nothing in the world that I want to do that much.   [00:14:25.070] - Kim Tate I do. It's kind of crazy. I mean, you want to wait six hours for a ride. It's just insane. But yeah. So I think they're trying to avoid that because that's it's not a positive park experience. But unfortunately, right now and then the other issue you have is just these rides have a lot of working mechanisms and go down a lot. I mean, we got we were on ride of the resistance, and it went down and we got had to leave the line and then come back later.   [00:14:51.740] - Kim Tate And thankfully, they do have a fastpass working for that now. They didn't originally, I think, but they have that working again. So they were able to program that for our ticket. So we were able to come back when it was open and go back through. So it's interesting. It's it's definitely another level. So I would say if you're planning a visit and you're not wanting or willing to be obsessive about getting those passes, definitely maybe take those two rides off your agenda and just pretend you never heard of those rides and be happy with all the other things that are.   [00:15:24.440] - Kim Tate Yeah, right.   [00:15:25.820] - Tamara Gruber So this helps to be like Disney ignorant in a way. That just going to be like happy with what you get, I don't know.   [00:15:32.810] - Kim Tate Well, and there is certainly some great I mean the wait times can certainly be great. So in a lot of ways certain rides, if you're not trying to go for these certain rides, the wait times can be great, like Toy Story mania. We almost ride that only once because normally the family is not used to it and it normally has a long wait and nobody's willing to wait with me because it's one of my favorite rides. And this time, I mean, we went on it twice because the wait time was kind of low.   [00:15:56.390] - Kim Tate And but then you looked at Mickey's fun wheel, which you would normally. It's not too crazy, but it was easily fifty to sixty minutes. It seemed like there in the middle of the day every time we were there. So it's just weird. It was a really weird. That's why I think there was a lot of California people maybe who just kind of wanted to go for, I don't know how to read the visitors because it was just an odd, odd feel.   [00:16:19.580] - Kim Tate Yeah, the numbers didn't line up everywhere we wanted and dining was a little tough. Still, they've definitely they've got the mobile ordering down a little bit better, I think, at Disneyland. Where. You can place your mail order. We didn't really have an issue getting our order, we found we have one place that we love called bingo barbecue, and we had no real issue with finding an open time slot that fit with what we wanted. And it was almost always available right away.   [00:16:45.020] - Kim Tate And then it's like a half an hour time slot. So then you go and you're like, I'm here. And then once you say I'm here to pick up your food, it's normally a it can be, you know, a minute to ten minutes before they have your food ready. But it was pretty quick. Well, that's good. A little, yes.   [00:17:00.110] - Tamara Gruber But with that, it sounds like you guys had a good time, though. I mean, luckily, it all worked out for you with the with those particular rides, because I'm sure the girls, you know, really wanted to. Yes.   [00:17:10.970] - Kim Tate Yeah. Web slingers, we all kind of thought it was ho hum. In all honesty, we did it again. And once you do it a second time, you kind of understand it a little better. And so maybe it becomes a little more fun. But I think for people who are waiting and then we also we waited 60 minutes. Well, it was we got in line at like ten, I think it was ten or two or something.   [00:17:30.410] - Kim Tate And we left at eleven o four after the ride. And that was the ride had gone down while we were in line and it was probably down for 15 minutes. So I mean, even when you get there, it's you might still have a long wait to get on the rise of the resistance. We didn't have quite that at any other times. We rode that. So but just, you know, Web slingers is a you kind of put on these 3D goggles and you it's a bit like Toy Story in a way, but you use your hands to shoot webs and you're trying to attack these, you know, little bots on the screen.   [00:18:02.570] - Kim Tate And so your webs are shooting them and you earn points. And so at the end of the ride, you have accumulated a certain amount of points.   [00:18:09.260] - Tamara Gruber So instead of like shooting a little laser gun thing.   [00:18:13.280] - Kim Tate Yeah, exactly.   [00:18:14.630] - Tamara Gruber The next generation more interactive, I guess.   [00:18:17.060] - Kim Tate Yeah. Yeah. But you're just moving like it's I thought it would be more like I don't know how to explain it like spinning or like, you know, universal Orlando. That's the Harry Potter, the forbidden journey. I know how you go in front of the screens and you watch stuff happen, but going between the screens you're like, oh it's roller coaster.   [00:18:37.760] - Kim Tate OK, yeah, but I kind of wanted that kind of experience. And this you're just on a car like Toy Story mania and you just kind of get like moved over to this next screen and then you move to this next screen and it opens. And so there's no real there's it's it's literally like, yeah, Lightyear, not Buzz Lightyear, but like Toy Story with the screen. And instead of using a little gun thing that's in front of you, you're using your hands and then, yeah, you earn points and people want to do it because they want to get better at their points.   [00:19:07.700] - Kim Tate And that's it.   [00:19:09.380] - Tamara Gruber Yeah.   [00:19:10.070] - Kim Tate Rise, on the other hand, is amazing. We really liked it, although it it's funny because we were so excited for Paul to finally get to ride it because he was a he's a Star Wars guy like Star Wars. He's not a Star Wars freak, but he I don't mean to say freak if he runs into Star Wars fans. I know. No, I didn't mean like that. But he's he likes Star Wars, you know, like.   [00:19:27.890] - Kim Tate Yes. Age. He grew up with it and like, I know Star Wars, but yeah. So we are really excited for him to do rise. And then we took him to Millennium Falcon. He's like, oh, that was way better than it was so funny because we live opposite. We were like a Millennium Falcon is not that great. And then he just loved it and he thought it was so fun and he liked it. He liked Millennium Falcon and rides better than Web slingers so.   [00:19:49.580] - Tamara Gruber Well, it's just something about like when you're so invested in a franchise, like to have like the that more immersive kind of experience is so exciting. I mean, that's why I know, like, the first time we went to Universal and all the Harry Potter stuff, it was just like a dream come true, I think like to be like walking through Hogwarts and all this kind of stuff. So I think that type of response, you know, it doesn't surprise me too much because it's not just about the ride, it's about everything else.   [00:20:16.790] - Kim Tate Yeah.   [00:20:17.000] - Kim Tate The characters and all that. Yeah. The big thing we dining just eating off hours is a big thing because seating seems to be a little limited again. And so just I recommend I always say like take a granola bar so that they can tide you over and just try and plan to eat off hours. We actually saw the first day the girls did the full day in the park and we got there. We did rope drop every morning, which they're back to rope drop.   [00:20:42.410] - Kim Tate So I was kind of bummed because they had done with rope drop because they didn't want to have everybody congregating together. And so people were getting there early and they were opening the turnstiles early and people were able to go just on rides like an hour before the park officially opened. Wow.   [00:20:56.570] - Tamara Gruber Because it used to be like even if you could get through the turnstiles, like the rides weren't operating, but you could least get in line.   [00:21:02.210] - Kim Tate Yeah. And so that's what they're back to. So you can get through the turns, you can get through security, you can get through the turnstiles and then you go wait at this rope. Were these, you know, cast members are holding and a big group mob of people just line up there and it's kind of depending on where you're at, but the ropes are leading into the main main areas. So you kind of held back and you can get there early.   [00:21:25.160] - Kim Tate So that's what we did. So we aimed. So we kind of aim to be on our way. Walking, we got we stayed at a new renovated hotel, it's newly branded through a best western is called Hotel Lulu and it's nearby. It's kind of in walking distance a little longer. But the cool thing about it is it is near a Walgreens and a CVS. So we stopped in there and we're able to get like Gatorade's and water for much cheaper.   [00:21:49.440] - Kim Tate Kind of, you know, that was nice for stocking up on little snacks and drinks. And definitely, even though it's a pharmacy, you know, pricing it still way cheaper than in the park. And it was nice to have that. It was so convenient that it was next door and the walking distances, I would still call it walking distance. It was maybe a ten minute walk. And there was also a Starbucks next to it. They had mobile ordering most days, but they seem to close that down on our last day.   [00:22:14.100] - Kim Tate We're not sure why. So I don't know if they're just over staffed with mobile ordering, but that's something to check. And it made it easier for us to get coffee in the morning on our way. And so we try and get coffees and then be on our way. And then we'd be slightly outside of the park and at the six fifty nine, when we'd try and get those boarding groups, we'd walk or, you know, pull over to the side of the sidewalk and get it and then go get in line.   [00:22:34.080] - Kim Tate So we were showing up. It was an eight a.m. opening time. So we were getting to the security line up right around seven to seven tennish, you know, and it worked pretty well for us. We we got in there, so we went through the security line. Then we got through security fast and then we waited in the line for the turnstiles. They open the turnstiles a half an hour before the park opened. And then once you got through the turnstiles, you walked and waited again at the rope drop where you wait, you know, where you waited for the eight a.m. opening and then you quickly walked, don't run.   [00:23:05.070] - Kim Tate Even though people ran down to the whatever ride you wanted to go for. So that was it. It was fun. It was it's a lot to manage. I think Disneyland is one of those things where if you just want to show up in the middle of the day and go on some rides, you should probably allow for more time, because there are people who I mean, we know the ins and outs. And if you're not willing to learn all those ins and outs of tricks, then you're going to just have to wait in lines, be OK with that.   [00:23:31.080] - Tamara Gruber So I'm ready to go back after the fast passes are back and after the special like after hours events and all the kind of stuff.   [00:23:42.570] - Tamara Gruber I was just going to say I just really I don't love rides except some of the special ones like Flight of Passage and I'm sure I will love the Star Wars ones. And so just being able to do it without the lines, you know, that would be the way I prefer to go.   [00:23:58.260] - Kim Tate Yeah. Yeah. I think that's where our girls are at because they really liked the rides. And so it's funny because Paul he wants to just like oh I want to watch that show or I just want to sit on this bench and people watch and I and there was like, no, we're going to go get this right and we're going to get this right. And this was the trip, though. It's nice when you're a little older and the kids can be left alone.   [00:24:17.280] - Kim Tate Like like I said, the first day, the girls stayed the full time the park. And then Paul and I left towards the afternoon evening. We took a little break in the room and then we went and got dinner again. This hotel where we stayed down the road, it's near, you know, like tourist restaurants. So it's like Cheesecake Factory and Bubba Gump Shrimp and I don't know what else there was, but opening. So we went out there and it was nice to have that little break.   [00:24:42.270] - Kim Tate And then the next two days we left after we did the rope drop, the numbers were just going insane. And the girls, like I said, they're all about the ride. So when those rides, the wait times were more than they wanted to wait. We just left and went back and took a midday break in the hotel and then went back later in the day to do more stuff. And so I think those it's that's one of the benefits.   [00:25:02.010] - Kim Tate Where does that is if you stay on property, it's great because you're in kind of the bubble of Disney. And if you stay at the Grand Californian, it's got the private access into Disney California Adventure Park. But those rooms are going for like eight hundred bucks a night right now. And you don't get the early entry with it, which normally one of the benefits of staying on site is that you get into the parks an hour early. So it's definitely a tradeoff.   [00:25:26.580] - Kim Tate So if you stay off site on one of the harbor hotels, you can, you know, kind of take those midday breaks still and walk to and from the park. But you're faced with that extra, you know, a little bit extra going through more people and a few extra waits. But it is nice to have the midday breaks.   [00:25:43.820] - Tamara Gruber I'm telling you, if I ever come to Disneyland, I'm going to go with you. Yeah. You and Leslie. Oh, yeah. I follow you guys because, I mean, I feel like, you know, I had gone to Disney World a long time ago and then recently I've gone a few times in recent years. And so now I feel like comfortable with Disney World, you know, but I've never been to Disneyland. So whole new thing.   [00:26:03.870] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, well, I'm excited to take you and show you all the ins and outs, but I will say for anybody who's thinking of taking a trip, there's a couple of things I want to mention. First is hotels. So our hotel that we stayed at, Hotel Lulu, they, you know, mentioned that they're in a real staff shortage right now. And of course, there was no housekeeping. You can request your towels when you want them and if you need garbage taken out.   [00:26:26.550] - Tamara Gruber So we definitely did that and they took care of it right away and. But it's something to keep in mind, and the Hotel Lulu, like I said, it's the best Western property recently got taken over by a Red Lion. And so it's definitely a budget friendly park property. So if people are looking to save money, that would be a good option, especially since, like I said, it's near the Walgreens and there's a CVS right across the street.   [00:26:45.840] - Tamara Gruber They both have like Disney souvenir stuff at less price than what you're going to pay in the park. So if you want to surprise your kids with something, you could always go in there and grab it. They also have, you know, of course, sunscreens and anything. You might forget that it's just a little bit different than buying them in the park. So that's convenient from a budget standpoint. The rooms themselves, I, I think there they go for around, you know, depending on the season, around 150 a night.   [00:27:10.440] - Tamara Gruber So comparing that to some of the other hotels that are a little closer, it's definitely a budget savings. And then again, even with going down the street, you have those you know, there was a California pizza kitchen, P.F. Chang's, and Cheesecake Factory. So you've got some major restaurants there. If you're trying to save a little money and take a midday break and get lunch there, get an early dinner before you go back in the parks or something, that might be an option, but definitely something with all of the hotels around Disneyland right now is that they are all dealing with a severe staff shortage.   [00:27:42.240] - Tamara Gruber They went, you know, the hotels where I talked to the people at the hotel where we stayed and they went from having like 17 rooms booked to all of a sudden having over one hundred. And they just don't they haven't been able to hire the staff. They've increased their pay rate and they still can't get staff in. And so managers are going up to clean rooms. And it's just I mean, we've heard this everywhere. But in Disneyland, it's really obvious this summer is that hotels are hurting with staff.   [00:28:08.460] - Tamara Gruber I know one of the hotels that's a popular kind of mom and pop called candy cane inn. They are not even open again yet because of staff.   [00:28:16.720] - Tamara Gruber Wow. So, yeah, it's it continues to be a problem. I hope that by far maybe things will, you know, sort themselves out. I'm seeing even like restaurants around here like closing because they're not able to have the staff and service that they want. And it's yeah, I'm sure they'll be back, but it'll just take us some time.   [00:28:35.730] - Kim Tate Yeah. And so I think you just have to be, you know, little things to just be aware of and be a little more. I mean, we've talked about this be patient, but just understanding that like maybe the cleanliness level in hotels and what you're expecting or what you're used to is not perhaps going to be what you are thinking you're going to get. So just be aware of that. And then the other thing would be the car rentals. We had our own little issue with car rentals, which everyone knows the car rental shortage issue.   [00:29:01.860] - Kim Tate We rented a car from the airport to drive and go to Disneyland and do it. We visited USC and Cal Tech for Lizzy and we had no problem. The car was there. We rented it. I was like, phew, I think it is no issue. We are fine. We dropped it off after ours, dropped our keys and we dropped it off at this Alamo that was right near where we were staying at Disneyland. And we were supposed to pick up another car on Thursday, so we dropped it off on Sunday.   [00:29:28.650] - Kim Tate We're supposed to pick up a different car on Thursday because we didn't need a car for those three days when we were at the parks because we were just going to go to the parks. And we got called Wednesday night like five minutes before they closed, telling us they wouldn't have a car for us. That was it. And then they never returned my phone call. So I reached out to them on Twitter, gotten a reply, and finally just used auto slash, which we've I think we've mentioned that before, and a rental car episode.   [00:29:54.840] - Kim Tate But I've never used it before. But I used auto slash to just find a rate and they found me a great Hertz rate that was actually cheaper than what I walked through. Alamo maybe last minute, you know, they had some availability and I was able to go down there the next day and we got the car rental and had no issue. So thank goodness it all worked out. But just beware some of the smaller like I think this was part of it because it was a smaller location.   [00:30:17.160] - Kim Tate They're not managing their inventory well. And so beware.   [00:30:20.940] - Tamara Gruber Yeah. I mean, if there's problems at airports, I can certainly imagine that there's even more problems at these, like off, you know, airport kind of locations. Yes, it's it's sad. I mean, I definitely see as places are increasing, you know, we've talked about Hawaii before. I saw someone that just got back from Iceland posting that things were like five hundred to a thousand dollars a day. And then I saw someone in my Iceland planning group just saying, like, I can't find a rental, like, what am I going to do?   [00:30:48.450] - Tamara Gruber And so I was just advising my aunt to try to book something like in advance, you know, as far as you can. But it's just hard because like you did that and then they canceled that. What do you do? You know exactly.   [00:31:00.690] - Kim Tate And I know I have another blogging friend who had the exact same thing happen to her with the exact same Alamo's site there in Disneyland about a week or two before I did. I have that problem.   [00:31:11.010] - Kim Tate So definitely something to be aware of. You can do the booking and know that you have your your reservation made. But whether they actually have a car for you when you show up for that reservation and they what I experienced, they did nothing to help us. So you just I think when you you have to be ready to backpedal and hope for the best and. So we were ready to just, you know, use Uber, find another one available, and thankfully it all worked out and we were able to get another kind of wonder if that's a case where, you know, maybe it helps if you, like, pay more like Hertz is always usually the most expensive.   [00:31:45.940] - Tamara Gruber Right. But it's like if you pay more or if if you're part of a like a loyalty club versus. Yeah, you're going to save more if you use, like auto slash or Costco or something like that. But I wonder if booking direct helps at all, like if the first people they cancel are the third parties, like who knows. But it does. I have no idea. I even booked a premium car hoping that they like it would give us more as opposed to an economy.   [00:32:09.500] - Kim Tate I booked the premium because it was only two dollars more. And so I thought that would help. But no. So it was nothing help. So I don't know now.   [00:32:18.010] - Tamara Gruber I'm glad it worked out for you. Yeah. And then you guys had some time to chill out and. Yeah.   [00:32:21.960] - Kim Tate So that was the other part of it. Yeah. So we you know, Paul's not a huge Disneyland person. Even I like Disneyland, but I'm not crazy crazy. And I can you know, I enjoy taking the breaks. And so we booked our final three nights in Irvine, which was nearby and near the John Wayne Airport that we were flying home from. And they we stayed at a brand new hotel called the Marriott Irvine Spectrum. And we loved it.   [00:32:47.540] - Kim Tate We had such a good time is the perfect way to end our vacation, because we I worked with Irvine. They gave us a couple of ideas and helped us set up a couple of things. And then we got to our hotel, kind of had a lazy day that day and just had it. It was nice. We just had I don't know what the term and what I'm trying to think of, but we just didn't have a lot on our calendar, so it kind of worked out well.   [00:33:09.030] - Kim Tate So the first day that we were checking in, we got in there and then we went to this kind of family park fun center called Boomers, and it was where they had a huge arcade with the arcade. But we did putt putt golf and then we did laser tag game, which surprisingly enough, we were all super competitive. I was completely out of breath after that. It was brutal. The girls beat both the parents. Paul actually was very sad to find out he was last, which is kind of sad.   [00:33:36.890] - Kim Tate Doesn't surprise me at all that you would be competitive.   [00:33:41.150] - Kim Tate Yeah. Evidently I rubbed it off on my kids too. So but yeah. So it was kind of fun and we we had a great time there and then playing it was a lot of fun and it was a great, you know, like, that's like a vacation. Right. I mean that was so nice. Like we did the Disneyland thing, but then we had this break in Irvine so close we didn't need to do that much traveling on the crazy interstate's of, you know, Sokal and.   [00:34:05.420] - Kim Tate Yeah, so Boomers was fun. It was just kind of one of those family park fun centers. We didn't do any of the arcade. We just did the laser tag. And oh, they did have go karts, which Paul got. You talk about competitive. He got super competitive. I got taken out by like a twelve year old boy. It made me really mad because you're like you're not allowed to bump.   [00:34:22.670] - Kim Tate But they evidently care about the rules. And so and he was just going and going and going and he'd figured out that I think he was with a friend and they figured out which cars are the fastest. So they just kept going and going. And they would always like he would specifically skip cars and go to a specific car where the rest of us just got in the car where that was next in line and it was brutal. So that was one one negative.   [00:34:43.520] - Kim Tate Is the teenage boy or not? I guess tween boy, but we still had fun and it was nice. So that was, you know, kind of a relaxed day. And then, like, we just hung out at the pool and the hotel was really nice. They, you know, it was a new Marriott. It had trying to think of how many flaws there were. Now I think it was sixteen floors. And on the sixteenth floor, they have like a rooftop bar that's supposed to be really, really popular.   [00:35:09.170] - Kim Tate They actually were able to get in on our last night and kind of go up there and look. And it's absolutely gorgeous. And I talked to the manager of the bar and he was saying that it's like seventy percent locals and visitors and only thirty percent for the hotel. So it's got its own, like, vibe and social standing. Not that's not even linked to the hotel, if that makes sense.   [00:35:29.120] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, it's a place to go.   [00:35:31.130] - Kim Tate So, yes, the hotel itself is a gorgeous Marriott property. Knew the rooms were nice and everything was good. It had a view our room had like a view of the freeway, but it had mountains in the background. So it was really kind of cool. And Irvine, I think, is unknown. I'm trying to think of I thought it was something I'm trying to think of what I know them for. But they had a whole bunch of office buildings, so they must have.   [00:35:50.000] - Kim Tate I know they have really they're one of the lowest hotel occupancy taxes in California. So you know how you always get those, you know, 15 to 18 percent charges. There's just like ten percent. So if you're staying in a nice hotel for a while, that little bit of savings can be nice. So but they have a lot of businesses around there and we were staying right across from the Taco Bell headquarters. So we laughed. And I wonder if they have a drive through.   [00:36:15.920] - Kim Tate So the hotel is nice. They had a club lounge which we were able to get into. And you know that with Glenn's, you know, status, it's always nice because lots of water. I mean, we went there for so much water, it was nice. And the girls would go there to get all the. Free chips and stuff, and then, of course, we had breakfast in the morning there, which was a nice little perk.   [00:36:33.600] - Tamara Gruber Oh, that's surprising. Like the actual hotel perks, really, when we were seated that that nice Athens hotel, that's a Marriott and we were on the what did they call it like the the butler or concierge. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And we walk by like the little you know, usually the the lounge room and it was locked and I was like, oh well good thing we're only here one day and it included breakfast early. So it was actually a wonderful breakfast that included.   [00:37:02.730] - Tamara Gruber That's nice. Yeah. But we were like oh can we get a little extra perk.   [00:37:06.660] - Kim Tate Yeah. Yeah. This is nice because they had, you know, like the coffee machine there and then they had like three hot dishes so and a meat and potatoes and then they had like porridge and cinnamon rolls. But it was great. I mean it was really nice. And they have this little patio. I mean, the hotel itself, it's a really nice property is one of those. It's a it's like weird. It's kind of resource. We feel it's not huge, though, but it's a resource we feel in this, you know, city of California.   [00:37:33.180] - Kim Tate So it was nice. But the pool lounge and then the restaurant and bar area is just beautiful. It's absolutely gorgeous. Like downstairs restaurant of our not even the rooftop bar is just really, really nice. And we we enjoyed dinner there and it was great.   [00:37:47.760] - Tamara Gruber Nice properties. Sounds like you wanted to have that pool time and stuff.   [00:37:53.190] - Kim Tate Exactly. And we actually were able to get so we went down two times to middle of the day, like to lounge and everything, get drinks at the pool and we were able to get loungers each time and there's not tons loungers. So I think we definitely noticed in the weekend because we we were there Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and we flew home Sunday. And we definitely noticed Saturday was much busier. Whereas when we were there Thursday and Friday, the pool was not as busy.   [00:38:18.910] - Kim Tate So definitely kind of well. And a sports team came in for a competition. And so there was a lot of kids there in sports uniforms and stuff, which was kind of funny because it doesn't strike me as a I mean, it's definitely a business Marriott property. So it kind of struck me as funny that. But I don't know. There must I mean, there's a big sports complex that we went and saw a soccer game at. So it's possible that that's why they pick there, because it's close to that kind of one of the most popular hotels near that sports complex.   [00:38:48.200] - Tamara Gruber Makes sense. Yeah.   [00:38:49.680] - Kim Tate So one of the I'll just mention a couple of the other things we did was in Irvine, we went to a place called Tanaka Farms, which was really cool. It's like this family owned, you know, farm it actually they told us the story that I don't and I didn't I haven't checked this. But it's a Japanese family who they said that in when the war was going on and they were doing the internment camps in the U.S., that if you opened a farmer, were running a farm, you were able to not go to an internment camp.   [00:39:19.800] - Kim Tate And so this family opened this farm. And that's sort of how it's how it stayed and it's family owned. And then it's also a nonprofit. They have volunteers who worked there and they donate part of their produce and everything to local people in need in the area. So it was pretty cool. And so we did this. It's called a you pick tour. So it's like a wagon tour and they give you these little, you know, cardboard basket things and you go around to different parts in the field.   [00:39:47.940] - Kim Tate They're like, today we're going to be picking tomatoes and Sushmita peppers and melon. And so they drove us. I mean, OK, we're going to go here and you're going to pick from these plans on the tomatoes and you got your little cardboard basket and you could just fill it up with whatever you want to. And they drove you on the wagon to the next spot and they're like, OK, now we're picking Chido Peppers. And we picked those and then moved on.   [00:40:06.450] - Kim Tate OK, here's our melon. So we've already picked some but pick which ones you want. So it's kind of cool is a really neat experience and then they hand you it or. Yeah, we kept it so we ate it on our trip. We actually brought the peppers home with us in our suitcase and they were fine because we TSA says fruit and vegetables are allowed. Paul actually carried on some of the melons, but they were getting super ripe.   [00:40:25.350] - Kim Tate It was funny because we were on the plane and I was like, OK, those melons are starting to smell too, right? Like I can. I'm starting to smell them. So, like, they weren't soft. Yeah, but, you know, they just start putting off the strong scent. People are like smelling it. I'm like, don't put it at your feet. Definitely put it up. I was so embarrassed. I was like, no, I have such a sensitive nose.   [00:40:44.390] - Tamara Gruber I would have been like, you have melon like like hand cream or whatever was that   [00:40:50.220] - Kim Tate It was so embarrassing. I was like, oh my gosh. So anyways, but yeah. So we you got to keep the food and everything and it's just neat. And they had animals there. So we got to see some, you know, sheep and chickens and all that. But it was just a cool, you know, neat little thing to see this big farm and agriculture and then to get a pick food that you couldn't eat.   [00:41:08.430] - Kim Tate So we thought that was a neat thing. And then we like I said, we did. We went to UC Irvine, which they told you that. But Lizzy's college shop in and UC Irvine was kind of on her list of interested campuses. And so we drove there and got out and she actually really liked it. It was kind of funny because she it seems like she's drawn to more of the city college campuses, but this one's more suburb, and she really liked it, she thought it was really nice.   [00:41:34.710] - Kim Tate So who knows if she becomes an anteater that's still there, the anteaters. It's an interesting, interesting mascot.   [00:41:41.430] - Tamara Gruber But I've been watching, like, never have I ever. Is that what it is? Yeah. Netflix, have you watched that.   [00:41:48.030] - Kim Tate I haven't. But the girls I know, the girls were like, oh, there's a new season or there's new something.   [00:41:51.680] - Tamara Gruber It's so cute. It's like, I don't know. It's a teen comedy. Yeah. Yeah, I, I know. I love it. I thought it was so cute. But their mascot is a cricket like so terrible. Exactly.   [00:42:03.900] - Kim Tate I think anteater is slightly better than cricket. Yeah. How funny. So we did that and we, we drove by. So Irvine is known for their outdoor like they have so many bike paths, hiking trails and stuff. So it's really interesting. So if you're an outdoorsy person and looking to do something like that remains a great destination. So we they had a wild, wild wilderness access to this place called Bomber Canyon, and it's near the campus.   [00:42:29.670] - Kim Tate So we drove over there and it was basically they give you this access to this deeper part of the woods, the deeper part of the park that normally isn't open. And we didn't pack for hiking. So we just kind of looked at it and got a feel for it. It's definitely of course, not Pacific Northwest hiking. It's definitely like Southern California, more arid hiking. So we but it was just it was neat. So it's kind of a thing.   [00:42:52.200] - Kim Tate So if you're into outdoor stuff, Irvine is a destination for that. I don't remember all the facts, but I know they have a huge number of miles of bike and hiking trails. It's crazy.   [00:43:02.470] - Tamara Gruber So definitely interesting because my perception as an east coaster, Irvine has just been. Yeah, like the John Wayne Airport. I used to work with a guy that lived in Irvine and he would talk about like some kind of giant shopping mall that's out there. Like, I have very different view of Irvine. I think of it as very like Orange County upscale. Like, I do not think about outdoor activities.   [00:43:28.260] - Tamara Gruber So that's cool to know that it has that side, too.   [00:43:30.870] - Kim Tate It's really cool. It actually is a neat little city. I think. I think people would be surprised if they gave it a chance. It feels very spread out. So it's not total. OASDI like Huntington Beach, Newport. It's not one of those tiny it's not one of those. It's more spread out open a little more open area. But there's got some really cute little houses, lots of businesses. And then, yeah, the shopping mall, which I'll talk about in a minute, is a big part of Irvine, which is a huge aspect, but it was actually a lot of fun.   [00:43:57.960] - Kim Tate So but yeah. So that was kind of that aspect of it. But the big thing that you're talking about is the Irvine Spectrum Center, which is basically a large outdoor mall that has tons of restaurants. And then they have this thing called the Great Wheel, which is kind of a Ferris wheel. And so it's not really like it's not an enclosed wheel like some of the, you know, other cities have like. Yeah, like it a lot.   [00:44:22.920] - Kim Tate And I and I not as big as that and not even like the Seattle one. That's kind of like gondola Sized seating. This is more like Ferris wheel chair lift or not chair lift. It's that's the weird thing. So it's almost like a ride where it's got kind of bench seating around. So our family of four, we sat like in a circle and there's a center thing that you hang on. But it was really cute and they had live music there when we went and we just sat on this.   [00:44:47.670] - Kim Tate They have kind of Astroturf lawn in front of the stage that's right in front of the wheel. And I showed on my Instagram stories people might have seen it, but it was just so pretty and it was fun. And the girls, whenever they had a Hello Kitty cafe and then of course, they had Brandy Melville. And I don't know what other stores the girls went to, but they did a little shopping. I went early to a place called the Yard House, which we actually have in Seattle, but it's a big sports bar with lots of beers on tap.   [00:45:11.610] - Kim Tate And so I said, oh, Paul's never been to Yard house and he would love that. So we went there and kind of watch TV while the girls finish shopping. And then we got some, you know, ordered dinner and they joined us and then we headed home. But it was fun. So it is a it is a big shopping mall, but it's it's got a neat vibe and a good feel. And it was busy on the weekend, that's for sure.   [00:45:31.350] - Kim Tate Definitely the the Irvine teen hangout spot.   [00:45:34.830] - Tamara Gruber Well, then teens should fit right in.   [00:45:36.810] - Kim Tate Yeah, exactly. So I mean they, I mean they were happy, they loved it so and it's got a lot of name brand stores in Barnes and Noble. So Lizzie was excited about that. Yeah. It was good, good place. And one other cool little thing that we did was we went to a soccer match. So they have a it's called the Orange County Soccer Club. And so it's a, I think, level for soccer. So it's not MLS like level one.   [00:46:01.260] - Kim Tate So it's level four. And so some young kids, but some people who just love playing the sport, some are paid, I think in some aren't. I think some are just walk on. But it was a really cool kind of outdoor venue. And it's in this area, I think it's called Great Park, but they have this famous, like balloon thing called the Great Park Balloon. It's this giant orange because destination Irvine, their logo's and orange.   [00:46:25.110] - Kim Tate I never found out if they have a bunch of orange fields or Richard. Nearby or something, but it's this kind of I know that you've seen it from it's very similar to Walt Disney World, what they have that downtown Disney, the Disney Springs balloon that kind of goes up and people get in the basket. Yeah. So that's basically what it is. And it's supposedly free, but there can be long waits and of course, it's dependent on wind and all that.   [00:46:47.390] - Kim Tate And so we didn't we didn't have time and go up it, but we saw it when we went to the soccer match and we were able to see that it, you know, looks like a fun little thing, gives you an overview of the whole area. But in that that complex was where it was staying so that we watched the soccer match and then there's that balloon. And then there's also like baseball fields and soccer fields and softball fields. So I think it's a big little sports center for probably local teams to play it cool.   [00:47:13.760] - Tamara Gruber So does that wrap up your trip?   [00:47:16.040] - Kim Tate Yeah, I think I want it. I'll mention one of the things we did, and that's just about food, because we didn't you know, we did eat at the hotel and then we ate at the Irvine Spectrum Center, like I mentioned. But one thing that's interesting about Irvine that I learned is that they have a over 40 percent demographic Asian demographic for their in their citizenship. And so international, like Asian cuisines, have been a big part of their make up of their dining industry.   [00:47:41.210] - Kim Tate And they have this area called Diamond Jamboree, which is basically a strip mall, but it's filled full of, you know, like different Asian cuisine restaurants. And it was is they recommended that we go there. And so we went and it looked like a really popular place. And so it's funny because you think, oh, it's just a standard strip mall, but it's just neat. They have all these different places you can eat. And they'd given us a recommendation, like one of the places they had it was called Tim Huan, which is a Michelin star, like he's a Hong Kong based chef.   [00:48:10.640] - Kim Tate And I guess there was something about like, oh, it's a best paper place at Michelin Star meal. You can get her the cheapest Michelin star meal you can get. So I don't know what he is, but it's supposed to be pretty cool. So we were thinking about going there, but we ended up going to another one. They said it was called Pepper Lunch, which is like a DIY tepid restaurant. But it's more like kind of we did teriyaki, but basically you're served your food on a really hot, hot cast iron dish.   [00:48:37.220] - Kim Tate So you don't touch it. And they'll put like if you get a certain meat dish, they'll actually have the meat is raw and you kind of move it around and mix it with the rice to cook it because it's that boiling hot on that cast iron still. And it was it was a neat experience. And it was again, it was so fast. I mean, it's just order and it's there. So it's a popular lunch place for, I think, a lot of those businesses and working people in Irvine.   [00:48:59.570] - Kim Tate But it was a really neat place. It's called the Diamond Jamboree. And if you you know, it's a great little stop and a very affordable too. So that was nice. Double bonus. That kind of wraps it up.   [00:49:11.810] - Tamara Gruber Yeah, that sounds good. It's like I love being able to try different cuisines when you're traveling. I mean, here in Rhode Island, we don't have like I mean, I don't know, it's getting better, but there's not like as many different kind of ethnicities when it comes to cuisine. And so when I go other places, I'm like, oh yeah, I try that so well.   [00:49:32.610] - Kim Tate And I think, yeah, I think the cool thing about this is that you get so I mean, being Americans like us, sometimes we get so pigeonholed like, oh it's Asian cuisine, OK, like that must be Chinese or Japanese or and it's neat to think no, there's all Cambodian. Ah. There's, you know, there's a lot of types like, you know, different, you know, Hong Kong and different cuisine styles. And so that was kind of an interesting concept to consider.   [00:49:56.930] - Kim Tate And keep in mind,   [00:49:57.830] - Tamara Gruber when we were in Berkeley the first night, we're exhausted. Hannah could barely stay awake. And I walked out to get something to eat. And, you know, it's like a lot of just like more casual pickup places right near the school. Yeah. So I found, you know, like a good Korean place. And that was I think it

So it's time to dive into something really good. We're starting our "Into the Hickmanverse" series where we cover the major Marvel runs of Jonathan Hickman. Now if you've been a long time listener, then you'll know that we've not only talked about the works of Hickman a lot but we've also covered a lot of them already. But you're still not going to want to miss this series. First, while we've covered a lot of these stories already, it's really been all over the place. Some have been Character Corners, some have been premium-only Comic Book Book Clubs and some of the more recent stuff (like the current X-Men run) we've been covering on the Pull-List. But this series is going to be us going (mostly) in chronological order, all in one place. Secondly, we've never done the full Hickman run back-to-back-to-back like we are here. And why does that matter? Well, it lets you see how masterfully Hickman connects all of the dots. It also makes it easier to go back once things start clicking and go "hey, wait a minute...didn't that get mentioned here?" We're going to ease into it though with Secret Warriors. Something that could have just been a throwaway tie-in series to Dark Reign centered on Nick Fury. And then Hickman had to go an introduce DaVinci and the Great Wheel (and explain nothing) leaving you confused as to "what the hell was that?". Don't worry. It's by design and we'll dig more into it in Part 2 with the SHIELD series. But for now, just have fun reading about the spycraft of Nick Fury vs Baron von Strucker, the trashiest white trash name of all time, the God of Fear, Gorgon becoming a problem and so much more.  Part One: Secret Warriors 1-9, Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors, 10-16, Siege: Secret Warriors, 17-28. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!   Follow us on Twitter: @Dpalm66 @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic:  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!  

So it's time to dive into something really good. We're starting our "Into the Hickmanverse" series where we cover the major Marvel runs of Jonathan Hickman. Now if you've been a long time listener, then you'll know that we've not only talked about the works of Hickman a lot but we've also covered a lot of them already. But you're still not going to want to miss this series. First, while we've covered a lot of these stories already, it's really been all over the place. Some have been Character Corners, some have been premium-only Comic Book Book Clubs and some of the more recent stuff (like the current X-Men run) we've been covering on the Pull-List. But this series is going to be us going (mostly) in chronological order, all in one place. Secondly, we've never done the full Hickman run back-to-back-to-back like we are here. And why does that matter? Well, it lets you see how masterfully Hickman connects all of the dots. It also makes it easier to go back once things start clicking and go "hey, wait a minute...didn't that get mentioned here?" We're going to ease into it though with Secret Warriors. Something that could have just been a throwaway tie-in series to Dark Reign centered on Nick Fury. And then Hickman had to go an introduce DaVinci and the Great Wheel (and explain nothing) leaving you confused as to "what the hell was that?". Don't worry. It's by design and we'll dig more into it in Part 2 with the SHIELD series. But for now, just have fun reading about the spycraft of Nick Fury vs Baron von Strucker, the trashiest white trash name of all time, the God of Fear, Gorgon becoming a problem and so much more.  Part One: Secret Warriors 1-9, Dark Reign: The List - Secret Warriors, 10-16, Siege: Secret Warriors, 17-28. Like what you hear? Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!   Follow us on Twitter: @Dpalm66 @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork   Our shirts are now on TeePublic:  https://teepublic.com/stores/mtr-network Want more podcast greatness? Sign up for a MTR Premium Account!  

As we emerge from COVID, the pandemic has given rise to another health concern. And one Seattle council member is rolling up her sleeves to help. No question it "turns heads" along the waterfront, but the Great Wheel also marks the exact spot that led to a turning point in the city's history. Plus, Seattle Public Schools mobilized forces to help feed the community during the pandemic, while also creating a menu that caters to many cultures. Host Tatevik Aprikyan has these stories from an ever-changing waterfront! 

This week, we finish up our trek through the Inner Planes, visiting the Paraelemental Planes of Ice, Smoke, Magma, and Ooze, and talking about notable landmarks and denizens there. We also spend too little time talking about the Elemental Chaos (because it doesn't really fit into the Great Wheel cosmology), and give a brief overview of the Quasielemental Planes.  Find us on Facebook: Undercommon Taste Follow us on Twitter: @UCThomebrew Join us on Instagram: Undercommon Taste Support us on Patreon: Undercommon Taste  Check out our homebrew content here.    Our theme is Massacre Anne, written and performed by Mary Crowell, and used with permission. Find Mary on Bandcamp or Patreon.

01:14 Stones of Choice 04:00 Numerology 09:05 Astrological Energies 21:24 Messages from our Angels and Guides 34:22 Special Message based on Stone of Choice This is going to be an active month of shifts and changes! May is a Universal 10 Numerology Vibration which is about new beginnings with Divine Protection and Guidance! The reduced vibration of the 1 tells us it that May is about initiation, new directions and new opportunities. The 10th Major Arcana of the Tarot is the Wheel of Fortune, known as the Great Wheel in the Sirian Starseed Tarot. There is a shift in the karmic wheel of fate. We can expect energies of death and rebirth. The old is giving way to something new. Get ready! There are a lot of planets shifting into new signs this month. Mercury, ruler of the mental realm, Venus, ruler of relationships and personal resources, and the Sun, planet that rules our identity, are all moving into Gemini throughout the month. Jupiter, the Great Benefit and planet of blessings, is shifting into the spiritual and magical sign of Pisces. Then, we have Saturn, ruler of karmic lessons, that will be shifting into retrograde motion on May 23rd and Mercury, ruler of our perceptions and communications, going retrograde on May 29th. We have a New Moon on May 11th in Taurus but the highlight is the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on May 26th! Full Moons are about the completion of a cycle and the fact that it is an eclipse makes it even more powerful! The message from our angels and guides speaks of a new beginning on the emotional level AND the spiritual level. Our cup is overflowing with a new way of feeling. Our intuitions and empathic abilities are heightened. There seems to be much to be joyous and thankful for, and at the same time, we may feel emotionally overwhelmed as well. We need to ride the waves of our emotions as they seem to be ebbing ad flowing this month. There is a positive and creative energy entering our lives. The light is shining itself upon or path and showing us the way towards victory and success. We feel alive, energetic, inspired, confident, and ready to initiate something new! We end the message with confirmation that there is a definite shift that is happening on both a personal, as well as on a collective level. Open yourself up to the infinite possibilities! Blessings of Love and Light to All! Colleen Lemma offers her Sacred Soul Empowerment readings, healing sessions, and other services via phone, Skype, Zoom, and email. Please visit her website at: https://www.sacredsoulempowerment.com to schedule an appointment. For a list of services: https://www.sacredsoulempowerment.com... Sign up for her monthly newsletter for the latest astrological news, spiritual information, online classes and workshops and promotions and discounts on her intuitive readings, healing sessions and other services. https://www.sacredsoulempowerment.com...

Here is hour one of another incredible chat with Randy Maugans -- we find our way into the idea of gendering and how this construct is centered in on duality, we are looking through a lens of prophecy as we consider the larger turning of the wheel. Off Planet TV website: http://offplanetmedia.net Off Planet Media on YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZZY5qcEmnjon4KcNobVPgA If you enjoyed this and want more you my find many extras at my Patreon page along with the second half of all the shows that are in two segments: https://www.patreon.com/niish I would like to thank the producers of this show: Marcey Shapiro. Sannah Rebecka. Michael Watcher. Melanie Poe. Marin Kramer. Jason Lambson. Christy Tesmer. As well as the Booking Productions of Patrick Newlin. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/niish/support

In this episode the crew talks about the question everyone has had! What wheel size if best for me? 26 inch? 27.5 inch? or 29 inch? Make sure to like, subscribe and leave us a comment or question and we will talk about it on cast. Also make sure to leave us a rating! 

DM Matt takes a look Arcadia, MCDM Productions' new magazine for 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. What is Arcadia? It ain't in Greece, Louisiana, or the plane of Peaceable Kingdoms in the Great Wheel cosmology. Knowing Matt Colville it's probably a Duran Duran reference. Confusing name aside, this magazine rules. Check out the review! Links: Arcadia #1 Strongholds and Followers DMofNone Eyes Unclouded Review DMofNone Strongholds and Followers Review Music: Pac Div - Roll the Dice; The Meters - Cissy Strut; Jonathan Coulton - Still Alive; Jay-Z & UGK - Big Pimpin'; Beastie Boys - Slow Ride; Step Rideau and The Zydeco Outlaws - Yippi Yai Yo Yippi Yai Yay. 

12/01/2020, the second lecture of the 2020 Rohatsu sesshin for Green Gulch residents, co-led by Eijun Linda Cutts and Fu Schroeder.

Jo Graham comes back for a special hour to talk politics and discuss her follow up book to The Great Wheel: The Great Wheel WINTER  - Rituals To Thrive In The Dark Cycle Of The Saeculum. Jo Graham has practiced Pagan and Hermetic traditions for over 30 years, and is the cofounder of the Cult of Isis. For more of Jo's work, please visit: https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Graham/e/B001JSCECE  

The brilliant and amazing Jo Graham joins us to discuss her newest book, The Great Wheel - Living The Pagan Cycles Of Our Lives & Times, and her much anticipated book, The Great Wheel Winter - Rituals To Thrive In The Dark Cycle Of The Saeculum.

Every thing turns into something else. Something new, something strange. So what remains? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/alese-osborn/support

2019.09.01 - The Great Wheel - Luke 4:16-21 - Michael Mills, Pastor - Agape Baptist Church - Fort Worth, Texas

The Two Ewes are back home after a fun weekend at The Black Sheep Gathering. This year the festival was held in Albany, Oregon June 29th - July 1st. Kelly and Marsha discuss the highlights of festival. Marsha had twelve hours of knitting on the round-trip train ride from Seattle plus knitting time the festival. She is almost ready to start the ribbing and short row shaping on her Summer Fjord tee by Trin-Annelie. At the BSG Marsha fed her addiction with more braids for a combo spin in, this time in red. She also bought two braids to go with a white, grey, and yellow braid she bought a year ago. She is not sure how she plans to spin these braids. Will it be her Combo Spin 5?  Marsha gave into temptation and bought a beautiful Corriedale x Romeldale fleece in steel gray.  Kelly also bought a Corriedale x Romeldale fleece, this one is white. And she succumbed to a beautiful steel gray Romney fleece that was for sale in the non-judged market. Her purchases at the BSG were restrained because after the Gathering she picked up a Great Wheel style wheel that she was buying from a fellow adventurer. The wheel was made by Bill Wyatt in 2001. In addition to exciting additions to the spinning wheel flock, Kelly was able to make great progress on two projects. The Argyle socks are coming along nicely and the Clover, Bee, and Revery Pillow is almost done! For full show notes, including pictures and all the links, go to https://twoewesfiberadventures.com/blogs/podcast

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 073 The Great Wheel - In this episode I lead you through a thought experiment to help you better understand time and the operation of the "bluegrass machine". I preface this with a revelation of the process I go through to create each episode and then go deep into the complex gear train of a fully functioning band.  I then present my Great Wheel Theory. Enjoy! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird. For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-73-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the greatest music in the world!

Welcome to the world of Caroline Fleming and Sophie Stanbury. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is a collection of readings from the book entitled 'Dawn of the Dhamma' written by Ajahn Sucitto, which provides illuminations of the Buddha's first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, or the 'Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma'. Narration and reflections were given by Ajahn Amaro on 6 January 2015 during the Winter Retreat at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, UK The post Chapter 1 – The Great Wheel of the Law appeared first on Amaravati Buddhist Monastery.

This is a collection of readings from the book entitled 'Dawn of the Dhamma' written by Ajahn Sucitto, which provides illuminations of the Buddha's first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, or the 'Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma'. Narration and reflections were given by Ajahn Amaro on 6 January 2015 during the Winter Retreat at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, UK The post Chapter 1 – The Great Wheel of the Law appeared first on Amaravati Buddhist Monastery.

Lawson, Robert. THE GREAT WHEEL

Based in the West of Ireland this 5 piece was formed in 2011. With influences from the 70s Jazz and funk – fusion artists – like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock they are constantly evolving. Their EP ‘Proximity Effect' was released on the 11th of July 2014. Earthship play their lead single “The Great Wheel” live on this episode of Locals Only.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join me tonight as I chat a bit about Yule, Winter Solstice, how to have fun with Snow Magic, and Lots of Great Readings during the show tonight. Yule time Carols for Pagan type Folks, lol Yule Carols Why is a Pagan singing songs about Jesus?! Because they’re damn catchy, that’s why. Especially when sung a capella! And let’s face it.... Part of it is likely because I enjoy bringing myself back to a time when Christmas was magical. Not magickal, as in spells & Pagan-y stuff… but magical. Where the world seems to glitter, the air smells of pine needles and cinnamon, and the faintest sound of a holiday carol on your ears in the chilly night is enough to bring you to your happy place. So I found a few *Pagan carols and thought I would share them. *same old tune, new words HARK THE NEW AGE PAGANS SING!" by Coeis and Morrigant "(Tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing") Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King, Peace on Earth and mercy mild,God and Goddess reconciled, Hear us now as we proclaim, We have risen from the flames, Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, In the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! Herne by highest love adored, Herne the ever-reborn Lord, At all times behold Him come, Offspring of the Holy One, Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail Incarnate Deity! Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, in the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! YE CHILDREN ALL OF MOTHER EARTH by Ellen Reed (Tune: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear") Ye children all of Mother Earth join hands and circle around To celebrate the Solstice night When our lost Lord is found. Rejoice, the year has begun again The Sun blesses skies up above So share the season together now In everlasting Love! OH, COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL! by Ellen Reed Oh, come all ye faithfu lGather round the Yule Fire Oh, come ye, oh, come ye,To call the Sun! Fires within us Call the Fire above us O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee! Born again at Yuletide! Yule fires and candle flames Are lighted for You! Come to thy children Calling for thy blessing! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! SILENT NIGHT by Ellen Reed Silent night, Solstice Night All is calm, all is brigh tNature slumbers in forest and glen Till in Springtime She wakens again Sleeping spirits grow strong! Sleeping spirits grow strong! Silent night, Solstice night Silver moon shining bright Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth Hark, the Light is reborn! Hark, the Light is reborn! Silent night, Solstice night Quiet rest till the Light Turning ever the rolling Whee lBrings the winter to comfort and heal Rest your spirit in peace! Rest your spirit in peace! GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING by Ellen Reed (1st verse)Brothers, sisters, come to sing Glory to the new-born King! Gardens peaceful, forests wild Celebrate the Winter Child! Now the time of glowing starts! Joyful hands and joyful hearts! Cheer the Yule log as it burns! For once again the Sun returns! Brothers, sisters, come and sing! Glory to the new-born King !Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the newborn Sun Through the wind and dark of night Celebrate the coming light. Suns glad rays through fear's cold burns Life through death the Wheel now turns Gather round the Yule log and tree Celebrate Life's mystery Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the new-born Sun. DANCING IN A WICCAN WONDERLAND by Alexander & Aarcher Pagans sing, are you listenin', Altar's set, candles glisten, It's a Magickal night, we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Blades held high, censer smoking, God and Goddess, we're invoking, Through Elements Five, we celebrate life, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland, Queen of Heaven, is in Her place, Triple Goddess, now the Crone Face ,Above and Below, She's the Goddess we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Now the God, is the Provider, Supplying game for our Fire, Above and Below, He's the Horned One we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland In a Circle we can light a Yule Fire, And await the rising of the Sun, It's the Great Wheel turning for the new year, loaded with abundance and great fun. Later on, by the fire, Cone of Power, gettin' higher It's a Magickal Night we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland MOON OF SILVER by unknown (We Three Kings) CHORUS: Oh, Moon of Silver, Sun of Gold,Gentle Lady, Lord so bold!Guide us ever, failing never,Lead us in ways of old. Maiden, Mother, Ancient Crone,Queen of Heaven on your throne,Praise we sing Thee, Love we bring Thee,For all that you have shown. Lord of Darkness, Lord of Light,Gentle Brother, King of Might,Praise we sing thee, Love we bring TheeOn this Solstice night. JOY TO THE WORLD by unknown Joy to the world! The Lord is come!Let Earth receive her king!Let every heart prepare him roomAnd Heaven and Nature sing, etc. Welcome our King who brings us life.Our Lady gives him birth!His living light returneth to warm the seeds within usAnd wake the sleeping earth, etc. Light we the fires to greet our Lord,Our Light! Our Life! Our King!Let every voice be lifted to sing his holy praises, As Heaven and Nature sing, etc. GOD REST YE MERRY, PAGANFOLK by unknow (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen) God rest ye merry, paganfolk,Let nothing you dismay.Remember that the Sun returnsUpon this Solstice day.The growing dark is ending nowAnd Spring is on its way.Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joy!Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. The Goddess rest ye merry, too,And keep you safe from harm.Remember that we live withinThe circle of Her arms,And may Her love give years to comeA very special charm.Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joy!Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

Join me tonight as I chat a bit about Yule, Winter Solstice, how to have fun with Snow Magic, and Lots of Great Readings during the show tonight. Yule time Carols for Pagan type Folks, lol Yule Carols Why is a Pagan singing songs about Jesus?! Because they’re damn catchy, that’s why. Especially when sung a capella! And let’s face it.... Part of it is likely because I enjoy bringing myself back to a time when Christmas was magical. Not magickal, as in spells & Pagan-y stuff… but magical. Where the world seems to glitter, the air smells of pine needles and cinnamon, and the faintest sound of a holiday carol on your ears in the chilly night is enough to bring you to your happy place. So I found a few *Pagan carols and thought I would share them. *same old tune, new words HARK THE NEW AGE PAGANS SING!" by Coeis and Morrigant "(Tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing") Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King, Peace on Earth and mercy mild,God and Goddess reconciled, Hear us now as we proclaim, We have risen from the flames, Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, In the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! Herne by highest love adored, Herne the ever-reborn Lord, At all times behold Him come, Offspring of the Holy One, Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail Incarnate Deity! Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, in the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! YE CHILDREN ALL OF MOTHER EARTH by Ellen Reed (Tune: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear") Ye children all of Mother Earth join hands and circle around To celebrate the Solstice night When our lost Lord is found. Rejoice, the year has begun again The Sun blesses skies up above So share the season together now In everlasting Love! OH, COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL! by Ellen Reed Oh, come all ye faithfu lGather round the Yule Fire Oh, come ye, oh, come ye,To call the Sun! Fires within us Call the Fire above us O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee! Born again at Yuletide! Yule fires and candle flames Are lighted for You! Come to thy children Calling for thy blessing! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! SILENT NIGHT by Ellen Reed Silent night, Solstice Night All is calm, all is brigh tNature slumbers in forest and glen Till in Springtime She wakens again Sleeping spirits grow strong! Sleeping spirits grow strong! Silent night, Solstice night Silver moon shining bright Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth Hark, the Light is reborn! Hark, the Light is reborn! Silent night, Solstice night Quiet rest till the Light Turning ever the rolling Whee lBrings the winter to comfort and heal Rest your spirit in peace! Rest your spirit in peace! GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING by Ellen Reed (1st verse)Brothers, sisters, come to sing Glory to the new-born King! Gardens peaceful, forests wild Celebrate the Winter Child! Now the time of glowing starts! Joyful hands and joyful hearts! Cheer the Yule log as it burns! For once again the Sun returns! Brothers, sisters, come and sing! Glory to the new-born King !Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the newborn Sun Through the wind and dark of night Celebrate the coming light. Suns glad rays through fear's cold burns Life through death the Wheel now turns Gather round the Yule log and tree Celebrate Life's mystery Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the new-born Sun. DANCING IN A WICCAN WONDERLAND by Alexander & Aarcher Pagans sing, are you listenin', Altar's set, candles glisten, It's a Magickal night, we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Blades held high, censer smoking, God and Goddess, we're invoking, Through Elements Five, we celebrate life, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland, Queen of Heaven, is in Her place, Triple Goddess, now the Crone Face ,Above and Below, She's the Goddess we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Now the God, is the Provider, Supplying game for our Fire, Above and Below, He's the Horned One we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland In a Circle we can light a Yule Fire, And await the rising of the Sun, It's the Great Wheel turning for the new year, loaded with abundance and great fun. Later on, by the fire, Cone of Power, gettin' higher It's a Magickal Night we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland MOON OF SILVER by unknown (We Three Kings) CHORUS: Oh, Moon of Silver, Sun of Gold,Gentle Lady, Lord so bold!Guide us ever, failing never,Lead us in ways of old. Maiden, Mother, Ancient Crone,Queen of Heaven on your throne,Praise we sing Thee, Love we bring Thee,For all that you have shown. Lord of Darkness, Lord of Light,Gentle Brother, King of Might,Praise we sing thee, Love we bring TheeOn this Solstice night. JOY TO THE WORLD by unknown Joy to the world! The Lord is come!Let Earth receive her king!Let every heart prepare him roomAnd Heaven and Nature sing, etc. Welcome our King who brings us life.Our Lady gives him birth!His living light returneth to warm the seeds within usAnd wake the sleeping earth, etc. Light we the fires to greet our Lord,Our Light! Our Life! Our King!Let every voice be lifted to sing his holy praises, As Heaven and Nature sing, etc. GOD REST YE MERRY, PAGANFOLK by unknow (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen) God rest ye merry, paganfolk,Let nothing you dismay.Remember that the Sun returnsUpon this Solstice day.The growing dark is ending nowAnd Spring is on its way.Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joy!Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. The Goddess rest ye merry, too,And keep you safe from harm.Remember that we live withinThe circle of Her arms,And may Her love give years to comeA very special charm.Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,Comfort and joy!Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

Hello AGAIN from the Cheshire Plain! This is the last episode in this marathon catching up session, honest! We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! In this episode I talked about various events linked to the Cheshire Spinning Guild (the Ravelry Group for the Guild is here), including the Exhibition at Dunham Massey and the trip to Woolfest. I also mentioned the Wool Experience and the gorgeous ice cream at Blaze Farm. Here is the Great Wheel in use at Blaze Farm: I also attended a Woolly Wormhead sideways hat workshop at Fibre & Clay, based on her book Going Straight. My hat needs maybe an hour's more work before it's finished. And talking of finishing... which of these should I finish first? 1.Posh Yarn Featherweight cardigan 2. Poshman Mittens 3. Stripy Noro Messenger Bag 4. Modern Quilt Wrap 5. Tank Top in Noro Kuryon Sock Yarn 6. Lizard Ridge Afghan 7. Olympic Medal Socks (I'll probably take these on holiday anyway) 8. Pondemonium child's stranded sweater 9. Best of Both Whirls Cushion 10. Double Vision Cushion 11. Hipknits Silk Aran Fair Isle Cardigan So leave me a message here, drop me an email or post in the Ravelry forum! And finally.... which is THE yarn shop to visit in San Francisco? Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic

Doctor    * Peter Davison (Fifth Doctor)Companions    * Matthew Waterhouse (Adric)    * Sarah Sutton (Nyssa)    * Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka)Others    * Richard Todd — Sanders    * Nerys Hughes — Todd    * Simon Rouse — Hindle    * Mary Morris — Panna    * Sarah Prince — Karuna    * Adrian Mills — Aris    * Lee Cornes — Trickster    * Jeff Stewart — Dukkha    * Anna Wing — Anatta    * Roger Milner — AnnicaProductionWriter     Christopher BaileyDirector     Peter GrimwadeScript editor     Eric SawardProducer     John Nathan-TurnerExecutive producer(s)     NoneProduction code     5YSeries     Season 19Length     4 episodes, 25 minutes eachOriginally broadcast     February 1–February 9, 1982Chronology← Preceded by     Followed by →Four to Doomsday     The VisitationKinda is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from February 1 to February 9, 1982.Contents[hide]    * 1 Synopsis    * 2 Plot    * 3 Continuity    * 4 Production    * 5 Outside references    * 6 In print    * 7 Broadcast and VHS release    * 8 References    * 9 External links          o 9.1 Reviews          o 9.2 Target novelisation[edit] SynopsisAn idyllic paradise-like planet, Deva Loka, is not as it seems. Its inhabitants, the Kinda, are a gentle and seemingly primitive people. On the surface, a perfect place to colonise. But if it is so perfect, why are the colonisation team disappearing one by one? When Tegan sleeps near the Windchimes she is confronted by the true evil that threatens Deva Loka.[edit] PlotAn Earth colonisation survey expedition to the beautiful jungle planet Deva Loka is being depleted as members of the survey disappear one by one. Four have now gone, leaving the remainder in state of deep stress. The leader, Sanders, relies on bombast and rules; while his deputy, Hindle, is evidently close to breaking point. Only the scientific officer, Todd, seems to deal with the situation with equanimity. She does not see the native people, the Kinda, as a threat, but rather respects their culture and is intrigued by their power of telepathy. The social structure is also curious in that women seem dominant and are the only ones with the power of voice. The humans are holding two silent males hostage for "observation". Todd believes they are more advanced than they first appear, as they possess necklaces representative of the double helix of DNA, indicating a more advanced civilisation.Elsewhere in the jungle the TARDIS crew are also under stress, especially Nyssa of Traken, who has collapsed from exhaustion. The Fifth Doctor constructs a delta wave augmenter to enable her to rest in the TARDIS while he and Adric venture deeper into the jungle. They soon find an automated total survival suit (TSS) system which activates and marches them to the Dome, the colonists' base. Sanders is a welcoming but gruff presence, further undermining Hindle at regular intervals. At this point Sanders decides to venture out into the jungle in the TSS, leaving the highly strung Hindle in charge. His will is enforced by means of the two Kinda hostages, who have forged a telepathic link with him believing their souls to have been captured in his mirror. The Doctor, Todd and Adric are immediately placed under arrest as Hindle now evinces megalomania.Tegan faces a more metaphysical crisis. She has fallen asleep near the euphonious and soporific Windchimes, unaware of the danger of the dreaming of an unshared mind (one not engaged in telepathic activity with another humanoid). Her mind opens in a black void where she undergoes provocation and terror from a series of nightmarish characters, one of which taunts her: “You will agree to being me, sooner or later, this side of madness or the other". The spectres are a manifestation of the Mara, an evil being of the subconscious that longs for corporeal reality. Mentally tortured, she eventually agrees to become the Mara and a snake symbol passes to her own arm. When her mind returns to her body she is possessed by the Mara. In a scene reminiscent of the Book of Genesis she passes the snake symbol to the first Kinda she finds, a young man named Aris, who is the brother of one of the Kinda in the Dome. He too is transformed by evil and now finds the power of voice.Back at the Dome, Hindle has conceived a bizarre and immolatory plan to destroy the jungle, which he views as a threat. Adric plays along with this delusion. Hindle's world soon starts to fall apart when first Adric 'betrays' him and then Sanders defies expectation and returns from the jungle. However Sanders is radically different from the martinet in earlier episodes. Panna, an aged female mystic of the tribe, presented him with a strange wooden box (the 'Box of Jhana') which when opened has regressed his mind back to childhood. Sanders still has the box and shows it to Hindle, who makes the Doctor open it.The Doctor and Todd see beyond the toy inside and instead share a vision from Panna and her young ward, Karuna, who invites them to cave. The shock of the situation (accompanied by strange phenomena) allows the Doctor and Todd to slip away into the jungle where they encounter Aris dominating a group of Kinda and seemingly fulfilling a tribal prophecy that “When the Not-We come, one will arise from among We, a male with Voice who must be obeyed.” Karuna soon finds the Doctor and Todd and takes them to meet Panna in the cave from the vision, with the wise woman realising the danger of the situation now Aris has voice. She places them in a trance like state and reveals that the Mara has gained dominion on Deva Loka. The Great Wheel which turns as civilisations rise and fall has turned again and the hour is near when chaos will reign, instigated by the Mara. The vision she shares is Panna's last act: when it is finished, she is dead.In the Kinda world, multiple fathers are shared by children, just as multiple memories are held, and at Panna's death her life experience transfers to Karuna. She urges Todd and the Doctor to return to the Dome to prevent Aris leading an attack on it which will increase the chaos and hasten the collapse of the Kinda civilisation.Back at the Dome Hindle, Sanders and Adric remain in a state of unreality, with the former becoming ever more demented and unbalanced, and infantile. Adric eventually escapes, and attempts to pilot the TSS but is soon confronted by Aris and the Kinda. He panics, and Aris is wounded by the machine (which responds to the mental impulses of the operator) and the Kinda scatter.The Doctor and Todd find an emotionally wrecked Tegan near the Windchimes and conclude that she was the path of the Mara back into this world. They then find Adric and the party heads back to the Dome where Hindle has now completed the laying of explosives which will incinerate the jungle and the Dome itself: the ultimate self-defence. Todd persuades Hindle now to open the Box of Jhana, and the visions therein restore the mental balance of the two. The two enslaved Kinda are freed when the mirror entrapping them is shattered. The Doctor then realizes the only method of combating the Mara- he realises the one thing evil cannot face is itself and so organizes the construction of a large circle of mirrors (actually reflective solar panels) in a jungle clearing. Aris is trapped within it and the snake on his arm breaks free. The Mara swells to giant proportions but then is banished back from the corporeal world to the Dark Places of the Inside.With the threat of the Mara dissipated, and the personnel of the Dome back to more balanced selves, the Doctor, Adric and an exhausted Tegan decide to leave (as does Todd, who decides 'its all a bit green'). When they reach the TARDIS, Nyssa greets them, fully recovered.[edit] Continuity    * The Mara features again in the next season's serial Snakedance.    * Delta waves reappeared in the 2005 episode "The Parting of the Ways". Far from the brain wave-enhancing recuperation devices from Kinda, however, delta waves were described by Jack Harkness as being "waves of Van Cassadyne energy...your brain gets barbecued."    * A fairy like creature which is compared to a Mara features in the 2006 Torchwood episode Small Worlds, however there may be no connection between the two.    * In Time Crash (2007), the Tenth Doctor asks the temporally misplaced Fifth where (i.e. when) he is now – and speculatively references Tegan, Nyssa and the Mara from his own memories.    * In Turn Left (2008), the time beetle on Donna Noble's back is also revealed when faced with a circle of mirrors.[edit] ProductionSerial details by episode Episode     Broadcast date     Run time     Viewership(in millions)"Part One"     1 February 1982 (1982-02-01)     24:50     8.4"Part Two"     2 February 1982 (1982-02-02)     24:58     9.4"Part Three"     8 February 1982 (1982-02-08)     24:17     8.5"Part Four"     9 February 1982 (1982-02-09)     24:28     8.9[2][3][4]    * The working title for this story was The Kinda.    * This was the first story to feature Eric Saward as script editor.    * In the ancient language Sanskrit, "Deva Loka" means "Celestial Region".    * Nyssa makes only brief appearances at the start of episode 1, and at the end of 4, because the script had largely been developed at a time when only two companions for the Doctor were envisioned. When it was known a third companion would also be present, rather than write Nyssa into the entire storyline it was decided she would remain in the TARDIS throughout and be absent through most of the narrative. To account for this absence Nyssa was scripted to collapse at the end of the previous story, Four to Doomsday. In this story she remains in the Tardis, resting. Sarah Sutton's contract was amended to account for this two-episode absence.[4]    * For the scene in episode 2 in which the two Tegans talk to each other about which of them is real, John Nathan-Turner allowed Janet Fielding to write her own dialogue.[edit] Outside references    * Writer Christopher Bailey based this story heavily on Buddhist philosophy. He used many Buddhist words and ideas in writing Kinda; most of the Kinda and dream-sequence characters have names with Buddhist meanings, including Mara (temptation — also personified as a demon), Dukkha (pain), Panna (wisdom), Karuna (compassion), Anicca (impermanence) and Anatta (egolessness). Additionally, Jhana (also spelt Jana in the scripts) refers to meditation.    * This serial was examined closely in the 1983 media studies volume Doctor Who: The Unfolding Text by John Tulloch and Manuel Alvarado. This was the first major scholarly work dedicated to Doctor Who. Tulloch and Alvarado compare Kinda with Ursula K. Le Guin's 1976 novel The Word for World is Forest, which shares several themes with Kinda and may have been a template for its story. The Unfolding Text also examines the way "Kinda" incorporates Buddhist and Christian symbols and themes, as well as elements from the writings of Carl Jung.[5][edit] In printDoctor Who bookBook coverKindaSeries     Target novelisationsRelease number     84Writer     Terrance DicksPublisher     Target BooksISBN     0-426-19529-9Release date     15 March 1984Preceded by     Mawdryn UndeadFollowed by     SnakedanceA novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in December 1983.In 1997 the novel was also issued by BBC Audio as an audio book, read by Peter Davison.[edit] Broadcast and VHS release    * The serial was repeated on BBC One over 22-25 August 1983, (Monday-Thursday) at 6.25pm. This story was released on VHS in October 1994 with a cover illustration by Colin Howard.    * This story is set to be released on DVD in 2011 along with Snakedance in a special edition boxset entitled Mara Tales. It will feature an audio commentary by Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Janet Fielding and Nerys Hughes.[6][edit] References   1. ^ From the Doctor Who Magazine series overview, in issue 407 (pp26-29). The Discontinuity Guide, which counts the unbroadcast serial Shada, lists this as story number 119. Region 1 DVD releases follow The Discontinuity Guide numbering system.   2. ^ Shaun Lyon et al. (2007-03-31). "Kinda". Outpost Gallifrey. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20080731011611/http://www.gallifreyone.com/episode.php?id=5y. Retrieved 2008-08-30.    3. ^ "Kinda". Doctor Who Reference Guide. http://www.drwhoguide.com/who_5y.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-30.    4. ^ a b Sullivan, Shannon (2007-08-07). "Kinda". A Brief History of Time Travel. http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/5y.html. Retrieved 2008-10-04.    5. ^ Tulloch, John; and Alvarado, Manuel (1983). Doctor Who: The Unfolding Text. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-21480-4.    6. ^ Matthew Waterhouses' autobiography Blue Box Boy[edit] External links    * Kinda at BBC Online    * Kinda at Doctor Who: A Brief History Of Time (Travel)    * Kinda at the Doctor Who Reference Guide    * KI'n'DA - Cardiff Doctor Who group[edit] Reviews    * Kinda reviews at Outpost Gallifrey    * Kinda reviews at The Doctor Who Ratings Guide[edit] Target novelisation    * On Target — Kinda